a broken heart, if it were a
heart as brave and gay as his, than beat Methuselah by means of a
mincing, calculating, cold-blooded attention to irritating self-made
little rules.

Oh yes, I know well the value of little rules. And I know also that
Nature offers us only two alternatives--obedience or death (either
sudden or slow). But then Nature is something more than Mistress and
Lawgiver. She is Beauty. And in that aspect, as in all other aspects,
Nature is unescapable. We turn our backs on her only to find her
awaiting us at the next turn in the road. Looking at the matter all
round, I don't think we can come to any other conclusion than that
Nature (or whatever you like to call It, Her or Him) is aiming at
beauty all the time. So that we who are literally, if not
figuratively, the children of Nature, had best do likewise.

Some mystic or other has said that man's search for God is God's
search for man. If he was right--and I think he was--it follows that
man's quest for beauty is Beauty invading life; and that the only
healthy life worth the having is that which begins with "Lift up your
hearts!" and issues in "a stately music. Enter God."

EDGAR J. SAXON.

* * * * *

_SEMPER FIDELIS._

Do two things worth doing, every day.
Be scrupulously polite and kind, rather than witty or entertaining.
Cherish cleanliness, sobriety, frugality and contentment.
Cultivate sweetness of disposition and tranquillity of mind.
Think before speaking, and so reduce your causes of regret.
Seek peace and be peaceable for _lis litem generat_.
Begin at home, let home always find you faithfully on duty.
Care carefully for those whom Providence has entrusted to your care.
And the reward of the faithful will abundantly yours,
And your heaven will go with you wherever you go.

"A.R."

MORE HOLIDAY APHORISMS.

Two's company, three's fun.

* * * * *

Levity is the bane of wit.

* * * * *

Braggers mustn't be losers.

* * * * *

Never put on to-day what you can't put on to-morrow.

* * * * *

It's an ill mind that finds no one any good.

* * * * *

It's no use crying over spilt milk: you're better without it.

* * * * *

Look before you sleep.