There is also the pleasure of seeing others at hard work, and the indulgence of everybody’s belief (which is common to all present,) that he or she could suggest an improvement upon the work proceeding, and the manner of doing it.  Then they look at each other once more and depart contented.

Upon a moderate calculation, the amount of time devoted by human beings to this amusing study, in the City of New York, amounts to 2,450,000 hours per annum.

* * * * *

ENGLAND’S QUANDARY.

Conjecture and expectancy, O PUNCHINELLO! have been the order of the day in this European turmoil, with regard to the position of what are called neutral Powers.  People have been looking at England with much curiosity to see what she really does intend.  With the facilities which our special wire affords, I am enabled to report a highly interesting soliloquy delivered by the Rt.  Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE, to his bed-post, at his home in Spring Gardens, London, after a hot night’s debate at St. STEPHEN’S.  Our reporter concealed himself in the key-hole and took verbatim notes.  As in the case of the speeches delivered by the rival monarchs to their armies, which you published a week in advance of the speeches themselves, the following can be relied on: 

“I’m tired of answering questions.  Let me think awhile.  Is war the only alternative?  They blame me for not talking out.  Fools, they don’t know where they stand.  At home and abroad, difficulty.  Our workmen emigrating; the Irish irreconcilable, (curse that word!) nothing cheerful that side.

“France can rock her irreconcilables to sleep to the war lullaby of that man we have so trusted only to betray us; our irreconcilables only wait for war to side with our enemy.  Prussia, grasping bull-dog as she is, makes capital out of it, and calls us to her side, while our stupid people burn with a Prussian fever, which may turn to a plague to-morrow.

“Is the Prussian whom we have helped to humble to be our only ally?  Then must we write ourselves down asses in Constantinople.

“If we had some other head besides weather-cock expediency.  France has an Emperor, Prussia a King to lead them; we have a Queen who takes walks in the Isle of Wight; and her son—­bah! a roue about town.  Their marriage alliances are drag-chains, not bonds of love.  Denmark does not forget our treachery in ’65.  Holland is afraid of France.  We are safe from America yet.  They are too much afraid of the German vote, thank Heaven, to side with France, but “Alabama” is her watchword, and she only waits to strangle us.  LAFAYETTE and the Hessians are only memories, they have no votes.  Ah! it was a mistake to sympathize with the South.

“Our statesmen—­Heaven save the mark!—­are our worst enemies.  D’ISRAELI, the Jew, doubles our difficulty by showing our weakness.  He would play the part of PITT without his brains or his chances.  Then we led, now we are dragged at the tail.  We may sign treaties, but we cannot write them.  BRIGHT would be friendly with both; GRANVILLE with neither, and thus each is offended.  It is ridiculous, and the only course left is to bluster about Belgium.