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GEMS.

Forgive not the man who gives you bad wine more than once.  It is more than an injury.  Cut the acquaintance as you value your life.

If you see half-a-dozen faults in a woman, you may rest assured she has a hundred virtues to counterbalance them.  I love your faulty, and fear your faultless women.  When you see what is termed a faultless woman, dread her as you would a beautiful snake.  The power of completely concealing the defects that she must have, is of itself a serious vice.

If you find no more books in a man’s room, save some four or five, including the red-book and the general almanac, you may set down the individual as a man of genius, or an ass;—­there is no medium.

The eye is never to be mistaken.  A person may discipline the muscles of the face and voice, but there is a something in the eye beyond the will, and we thus frequently find it giving the tongue the lie direct.

I never knew a truly estimable man offer a finger, it is ever a sign of a cold heart; and he who is heartless is positively worthless, though he may be negatively harmless.

Cut the acquaintance of any lady who signs a letter with “yours obediently.”

Always act in the presence of children with the utmost circumspection.  They mark all you do, and most of them are more wise than you may imagine.

Men of genius make the most ductile husbands.  A fool has too much opinion of his own dear self, and too little of women’s to be easily governed.

A passion for sweetmeats, and a weak intellect, generally go together.

I have known many fools to be gluttons, but never knew one that was an epicure.

The affection of women is the most wonderful thing in the world; it tires not—­faints not—­dreads not—­cools not.  It is like the Naptha that nothing can extinguish but the trampling foot of death.

There is a language in flowers, which is very eloquent—­a philosophy that is instructive.  Nature appears to have made them as emblems of women.  The timid snow-drop, the modest violet, the languid primrose, the coy lily, the flaunting tulip, the smart marigold, the lowly blushing daisy, the proud foxglove, the deadly nightshade, the sleepy poppy, and the sweet solitary eglantine, are all types.

W.C.  B——­ M.

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There are a set of malicious, prating, prudent gossips, both male and female, who murder characters to kill time; and will rob a young fellow of his good name before he has years to know the value of it.—­Sheridan.

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MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.

No.  XII.

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A BURMESE EXECUTION.