Last night we owned, with looks forlorn,
        “Too well the scholar knows
      There is no rose without a thorn “—­
      But peace is made! we sing, this morn,
        “No thorn without a rose!”
      Our Latin lesson is complete: 
      We’ve learned that Love is “Bitter-sweet”

      Lewis Carroll.

In October Mr. Dodgson invented a very ingenious little stamp-case, decorated with two “Pictorial Surprises,” representing the “Cheshire Cat” vanishing till nothing but the grin was left, and the baby turning into a pig in “Alice’s” arms.  The invention was entered at Stationers’ Hall, and published by Messrs. Emberlin and Son, of Oxford.  As an appropriate accompaniment, he wrote “Eight or Nine Wise Words on Letter-Writing,” a little booklet which is still sold along with the case.  The “Wise Words,” as the following extracts show, have the true “Carrollian” ring about them:—­

Some American writer has said “the snakes in this district may be divided into one species—­the venomous.”  The same principle applies here.  Postage-stamp-cases may be divided into one species—­the “Wonderland.”

    Since I have possessed a “Wonderland-Stamp-Case,” Life has
    been bright and peaceful, and I have used no other.  I
    believe the Queen’s Laundress uses no other.

My fifth Rule is, if your friend makes a severe remark, either leave it unnoticed or make your reply distinctly less severe:  and, if he makes a friendly remark, tending towards “making up” the little difference that has arisen between you, let your reply be distinctly more friendly.  If, in picking a quarrel, each party declined to go more than three-eighths of the way, and if, in making friends, each was ready to go five-eighths of the way—­why, there would be more reconciliations than quarrels!  Which is like the Irishman’s remonstrance to his gad-about daughter:  “Shure, you’re always goin’ out!  You go out three times for wanst that you come in!”

My sixth Rule is, don’t try to have the last word! How many a controversy would be nipped in the bud, if each was anxious to let the other have the last word!  Never mind how telling a rejoinder you leave unuttered:  never mind your friend’s supposing that you are silent from lack of anything to say:  let the thing drop, as soon as it is possible without discourtesy:  remember “Speech is silvern, but silence is golden”! (N.B.  If you are a gentleman, and your friend a lady, this Rule is superfluous:  you won’t get the last word!)

Remember the old proverb, “Cross-writing makes cross-reading.”  “The old proverb?” you say inquiringly. “How old?” Well, not so very ancient, I must confess.  In fact, I invented it while writing this paragraph.  Still, you know, “old” is a comparative term.  I think you