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THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE. 



A Betrosjoect. 

 By Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain. 



Among the advantages of old age (and there are 

 some, although you, my young Apollo, with your 

 athletic limbs and ambrosial locks, may not think 

 so) is that of being able to compare the progress or 

 decadence, as the case may be, of anything wherein 

 we may be interested. From the mighty things of 

 an empire, down to the smallest matter that can 

 engage our consideration, there is to oneself always 

 matter of interest, and I believe in many instances 

 to others also ; and so, as I have been asked to 

 contribute something to this little brochure, and as 

 I could do nothing on the subject of "culture" 

 compared Avith those " past masters " in the art 

 who contribute to its pages, I may perhaps interest 

 some of its readers if I take a retrospect running 

 back over some sixty years. 



I shall endeavour to keep clear of that Avhich is 

 said to be one of the failings of old age, the 

 praising of the past at the expense of the present, 

 like the two old men in Punch cowering over the 

 fire and complaining that the coals do not give 

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