KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



367 



or the draft is swallowed ; injured nature, 

 after having struggled against unwholesome 

 food, enters upon another and fiercer struggle 

 against adulterated physic (physic is bad 

 under any circumstances)] till, at last, it either 

 succumbs under the repeated inflictions, or 

 else rises superior to all its assailants by a 

 desperate effort of its vital powers. 



We have as yet said nothing about 

 drinkables, — such as beer, wine, spirits, &c. 

 These undergo the vitriolic, and other com- 

 pound processes, without mercy. We 

 abjure their use in toto, unless we know 

 whence they come. Poison meets us at 

 every turn. We see it registered in the 

 countenances of passers-by, every five 

 minutes throughout the day. Human life is 

 fearfully abridged by these diabolical acts. 

 But who cares ? The trap is baited ; victims 

 rush in, and are caught with their eyes wide 

 open ! 



Such is the condition of man's life, in 

 most of our large towns; pregnant with 

 insidious causes of malady and death, 

 against which no care or foresight can guard. 

 The mischief has reached an alarming 

 height : and we might fill some half dozen 

 pages by describing the daily risk we all run 

 of being poisoned by what we eat and drink. 

 But this is not needful. The hint we throw 

 out, will suffice to put people on their guard 

 — for, verily, " there is death in the pot." 



PROFITABLE READING. 



Books,— rightly chosen, should to four ends conduce, 

 Wisdom, Piety, Delight, and Use, 



Denham. 



We have ever spoken out so plainly 

 and distinctly on the kind of reading which 

 we consider profitable, that it is refreshing 

 to find ourself backed in the argument by so 

 sensible a champion as Archdeacon Hale. 

 We offer no apology (as this is our last 

 appearance) for again harping on the old 

 string. At a time like the present, there 

 must be no false modesty shown in with- 

 holding " the truth." The archdeacon says, 

 whilst deploring the prevalent public taste 

 for depraved mental (!) food : — 



" I, myself, have ever gained the most 

 profit (and the most pleasure also) from the 

 books which have made me " think" the 

 most ; and when the difficulties have once 

 been overcome, these are the books which 

 have struck the deepest root, — not only in 

 my memory and understanding, but likewise 

 in my affections. 



" If you would fertilise the mind, the 

 plough must be driven over and through it. 

 The gliding of wheels is easier and more 

 rapid, but only makes it harder and more 

 barren. Above all, in the present age of 

 light reading, — that is, of reading hastily, 



thoughtlessly, indiscriminately, unfruitful!^, 

 (when most books are forgotten as soon as 

 they are finished, and very many sooner) — 

 it is well if something heavier be cast now arid 

 then in the midst of the literary public. This 

 may scare and repel the w r eak ; it will arouse 

 and attract the stronger, and increase their 

 strength by making them exert it. " In the 

 sweat of the brow is the mind, as well as the 

 body, to eat its bread." 



All this is excellent; but while early 

 education is neglected as it is, and children 

 are permitted to select just what books they 

 consider best — so long will all good advice 

 be thrown away. We pity the children, 

 — truly. But what do we feel for their 

 teachers ? Disgust ! The present state of 

 society is not only superficial ; it is morally 

 depraved. We progress rapidly ; but not in 

 the right direction. 



"HIGH" ART, AND "LOW" ART. 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE, SYDENHAM. 



I AM very anxious, my dear sir, to hear 

 your opinion of the gigantic building erected 

 at Sydenham. Attracted by the flaming 

 notices of it in the public papers, and hearing 

 it was built for the express purpose of giving 

 "a taste for art," &c, &c, I paid it a visit 

 on Monday, June 19 — the first of the " Shil- 

 ling Days." It appeared only half com- 

 pleted. 



The attendance of persons, although it was 

 a very fine day, was by no means large ; and 

 myself and friends had plenty of opportunity 

 to inspect everything comfortably. A very 

 splendid building it is, truly - T and very con- 

 siderable taste has been shown in the deco- 

 rations and paintings of the various courts. 

 The flowers, too, are pretty, and tastily 

 arranged ; and the sculpture is deserving of 

 marked attention. Then there is plenty to 

 eat and plenty to drink ; and there are 

 spacious grounds to walk in, and there is a 

 good band of music. 



Having seen and heard all this once, and 

 having devoted a whole day to the careful 

 examination of the various objects, one begins 

 to inquire — why so large a sum of money 

 should have been invested in such an under- 

 taking, situated so completely out of the way 

 of the people at large — more particularly 

 after everybody had seen the Great Original, 

 and useful Exhibition in Hyde Park — so 

 centrally placed ! 



We were all debating this matter,when, on 

 more leisure examination, we discovered 

 that the whole was a speculation I A well- 

 informed person pointed out to us the various 

 shops erected there ; and told us to note how 

 busily the assistant shopkeepers were urging 

 people to buy their goods — gloves, toys, 



