8 THE PIGEON-FANCIER. 



not ride to their door. They send princely 

 escort ; she will not take their arm. They make 

 their gateways triumphal arches ; she will not 

 ride under them. They upholster sumptuously 

 their withdrawing rooms ; she will not recline 

 on their deep-cushioned lounges, nor show her 

 face in their scintillating mirrors. They spread 

 a costly banquet on golden plate ; she turns 

 away from their festivity with unmitigated 

 disgust ! 



Their search after happiness cannot be con- 

 sidered a success. There may be pleasure in 

 the chase, but they are baffled at the end, be- 

 cause where they hunt, the covers are empty. 

 The secret is, men bid too high for their enjoy- 

 ment ; they fallaciously conclude the more it 

 costs the more delectable it must be. The 

 truth lies at the opposite pole. Real pleasure 

 is found in simple things. The heart easiest 

 satisfied is the happiest heart. Ruskin says 

 of his old friend and first Editor, Mr. Harrison, 

 " He was an object to me of quite special ad- 

 miration in the quantity of pleasure he could 

 take in little things." Lord Rothschild paid 

 50,000 for two of the Marlborough pictures. 

 Expensive toys ! Will he extract 50,000 worth 

 of quiet, profitable enjoyment out of his high art 



