146 HOESE POKTRAITURE. 



true struggle for the thousands of dollars said to be at 

 stake, went away dissatisfied when the transparency of 

 the humbug was made apparent. 



PUPIL. The copartnership existing between the ancient 

 patrons of the Olympic games has been dissolved, so far 

 as the stars, or rather those managing them, are con- 

 cerned. The God of Strength has been discarded, and 

 they have enrolled themselves as the disciples of Mercury, 

 without deigning to copy the adroitness which gave his 

 stealings the charm of being so skilfully done that the 

 victim's admiration nearly compensated for his loss. We 

 are told by those conversant with the habits of one of the 

 western tribes of Indians the Blackfeet that stealing 

 is a weighty part of the education of the young. The 

 junior dusky warrior is unmercifully punished if detected, 

 and as highly applauded if undiscovered. This is akin to 

 the story of the Spartan youth, who denied, with un- 

 changed countenance, the theft of a fox. The savage ani- 

 mal, covered by his mantle, gnawed flesh and bones till 

 lie reached the vitals. The stoicism shown by enduring 

 this terrible torture rather than be convicted, is certainly 

 to be admired. The corresponding thief, who makes the 

 noble horse the vehicle of getting his hand into other 

 men's pockets, is not the possessor of this redeeming qua- 

 lity of manliness. However, my acquaintance with the 

 class has been .limited, and they may possess attributes 

 which I have never seen, though it will take conclusive 

 proofs to have me believe there is any good in them. It is 

 a pity the Indian and Spartan method had not been 

 employed in finishing their education ; and while they 

 learned to be adepts sufficient to conceal their depre- 

 dations, it would have saved the obloquy from resting on 

 the whole fraternity by the evil-doings of a few. 



PKECEPTOE. It is a matter to be forever regretted that 

 there should have been those who were willing to degrade 



