676 
A VOICE EROM A DURHAM COAL MINE. 
of expression as you would like, is nevertlieless no more unwel¬ 
come. To neit-licr read of the doings or opinions of others, 
or write to allow of others to judge of yours, is to bottle up 
your ideas with a malignant spirit, by which the judgment 
can never be' so far matured as to decide whether the columns 
of either the Veterinarian or Edin/mrgh Veterinary llevieio 
are so confidently believed. There is a great responsibility, 
winch every member of the profession should feel he takes a 
j)art in ; and unless he takes his share of the great work, the 
superstructure can never be raised; it is but a trifle, but 
many trifles make the whole in which each holds a brilliant 
])Osition. It is related of a Manchester manufacturer, that 
in retiring from business he purchased a large estate from a 
noble lord, and it was part of the agreement that he was to 
take the house, with all its furniture, precisely as it stood. 
On taking possession, however, he found that a cabinet, 
which was in the inventory, had been removed, and on 
applying to the former owner about it, the latter said, ^ IVelt, 
I did eertainhj order it to he removed; hut 1 thought you would 
not have cared for so trifling a matter in so large a purchase.^ 
^ My lord,^ was the characteristic reply, ^ if I had not all 
my life attended to trifles, I should not have been able to 
purchase this estate; and, excuse me for saying so, perhaps 
if your lordship had cared more about trifles, you might not 
have had occasion to sell itJ ’’—Smiles^ ‘ Self Help.’ 
Again. Are you afraid 3 'our writing will be criticised? 
Never fear, you are upon the right road, and benefiting 
others. Can you not write without makingyonv case? 
Then do not write. To all I say, if you do write, let us have 
the plain facts, and never mind being compelled to own an 
error committed by you in the estimate or treatment of a 
case. Your failure will teach you better in future, from 
which we outsiders, in reading your plain statement, will also 
derive information and warning. 
It may be said of me—Why has “Mentor” troubled the 
editors with his hot-tempered epistle about persons who 
neither read nor write in the veterinary journals, and who are 
not likely to know his sentiments towards them ? My reply 
is, there are those who need the American’s advice, viz., 
“Purchase ^mur own paper; do not borrow that of your 
neighbour, or sift him for the news it contains.” The man 
who has lately done so now sees the value of the information 
contained therein, which he formerly spurned. 
A word about the “ Alsike cloverV 
I have received by this day’s post a letter from a respected 
friend and fellow-student, nowin Scotland, who expressed his 
