an who, having accustomed herself to play with and carry a
young calf in her arms, and daily continuing to do so as it grew up
obtained this by custom, that when grown to a great ox she was still able
to bear it. For, in truth, custom is a violent and treacherous
schoolmistress. She by little and little, slyly and unperceived, slips
in the foot of her authority, but having by this gentle and humble
beginning, with the benefit of time, fixed and established it, she then
unmasks a furious and tyrannical countenance, against which we have no
more the courage or the power so much as to lift up our eyes. We see it
at every turn forcing and violating the rules of nature. _Usus
efficacissimus rerum omnium magister_. Custom is the greatest master of
all things."

And now I finish with a fable. A knight surprised a giant of enormous
size and wickedness sleeping, his head lying under the shade of a big
oak. The knight prayed to heaven to aid his strength, and lifting his
battle-axe dashed it with all his might on the giant's forehead. The
giant opened his eyes, and drowsily passing his hand over his eyes,
murmured, "The falling leaves trouble my rest," and straight he slumbered
again. The knight summoned his energies for another stroke, again
whirled his axe in the air, and furiously dashed it to the utter
destruction of the giant's scull. The latter merely stirred, and said,
"The dropping acorns disturb my sleep." The knight flung down his axe
and fled in despair from an enemy who held his fiercest blows and his
vaunted and well-tried might but as falling leaves and dropping acorns.
Reader, so do I. My hardest blows shall seem but as leaves and acorns to
the giant with whom I am at war, and would fain destroy.

CHAPTER XII.
LONDON MATRIMONIAL.

Last year 25,924 couples were married in the metropolis. The
Registrar-General tells us the increase of early marriages chiefly occurs
in the manufacturing and mining districts.

In London 2.74 of the men and 12.11 of the women who married were not of
full age. There is an excess of adults in the metropolis at the marrying
ages over 21; and there are not apparently the same inducements to marry
early, as exist in the Midland counties.

Sir Cresswell Cresswell must have but a poor opinion of matrimony. At
the very moment of my writing, I am told there are six hundred divorce
cases in arrear; that is, after the hundreds whose chains he has
loosened, there are, i