Sun-dials 



361 



deciphering of what has been happily termed the 



Literature of the Bookless. This literature was 



placed that he who ran might read ; and its opening 



chapters were in the form of inscriptions and legends 



and mottoes 



which were 



placed, not only 



on buildings and 



walls, and pillars 



and bridges, but 



on household 



furniture and 



table utensils. 



The inscribing 

 of mottoes on 

 sun-dials appears 

 to have sprung 

 up with dial- 

 making; and 

 where could a 

 strict moral les- 

 son, a suggestive 

 or inspiring 

 thought, be bet- 

 ter placed? Even 

 the most heed- 



Yes, Toby ! It's Three O'clock. 



less' or indifferent passer-by, or the unwilling reader 

 could not fail to see the instructive words when he 

 cast his glance to learn the time. 



The mottoes were frequentlv in Latin, a few in 

 Greek or Hebrew ; but the old English mottoes 

 seem the most appealing. 



