The Superintendent led us up some dark stairs to a corridor, then along a narrow passage, then down a broad flight of steps into another passage-way, and opened a large door which looked out on the main entrance.

“We have not seen the cell for the confinement of ’violent and unmanageable’ Punsters,” we both exclaimed.

“This is the sell!” he exclaimed, pointing to the outside prospect.

My friend, the Director, looked me in the face so good-naturedly that I had to laugh.

“We like to humor the Inmates,” he said.  “It has a bad effect, we find, on their health and spirits to disappoint them of their little pleasantries.  Some of the jests to which we have listened are not new to me, though I dare say you may not have heard them often before.  The same thing happens in general society,—­with this additional disadvantage, that there is no punishment provided for ‘violent and unmanageable’ Punsters, as in our Institution.”

We made our bow to the Superintendent and walked to the place where our carriage was waiting for us.  On our way, an exceedingly decrepit old man moved slowly towards us, with a perfectly blank look on his face, but still appearing as if he wished to speak.

“Look!” said the Director,—­“that is our Centenarian.”

The ancient man crawled towards us, cocked one eye, with which he seemed to sec a little, up at us, and said,—­

“Sarvant, young Gentlemen.  Why is a—­a—­a—­like a—­a—­a—?  Give it up?  Because it’s a—­a—­a—­a—.”

He smiled a pleasant smile, as if it were all plain enough.

“One hundred and seven last Christmas,” said the Director.  “He lost his answers about the age of ninety-eight.  Of late years he puts his whole Conundrums in blank,—­but they please him just as well.”

We took our departure, much gratified and instructed by our visit, hoping to have some future opportunity of inspecting the Records of this excellent Charity and making extracts for the benefit of our Readers.

* * * * *

THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR.

Dean Swift, in a letter to Lord Bolingbroke, says that he does not “remember to have ever heard or seen one great genius who had long success in the ministry; and recollecting a great many in my memory and acquaintance, those who had the smoothest time were, at best, men of middling degree in understanding.”  However true this may be in the main,—­and it undoubtedly is true that in ordinary times the speculative and innovating temper of an original mind is less safe than the patience of routine and persistence in precedent of a common-place one,—­there are critical occasions to which intellect of the highest quality, character of the finest fibre, and a judgment that is inspired rather than confused by new and dangerous combinations of circumstances, are alone equal.  Tactics and an acquaintance with the highest military