's Asylum (or sometimes Hospital) is a
plain, ugly, square mass, as all specimens of the so-called Georgian
"architecture" are apt to be. The London atmosphere has rather
blackened than mellowed its crude tone of red brick and white
stone till the whole is of the uniform color of India ink. Over the
projecting portico stands the bust of the founder in wig and bands,
looking more like a scholar or a divine than a brewer, and leaving the
impression of a good, truthful, thoughtful face, with a long slender
nose, thin mouth and broad and massive forehead. Behind the Asylum
stretches a garden--not a small one for such a locality--and, though
London gardens are not apt to be cheery places, this one has at
least the merit of standing as evidence of the kind-hearted founder's
intention to bestow as much fresh air as possible on his _protegees_.

B.M.

NOTES.

TURKEY is the _piece de resistance_ of European politics. It has
lasted through the sitting of a century. At intervals the assembled
gourmands would simultaneously bend their eyes upon it; and an
energetic sharpening of carving-knives and poising of forks would
spring up with a synchronous shuffling of plates. Slashing would
sometimes follow, and slices were served round with more or less
impartiality and contentment. But the choice cuts remain, and never
was the interest or anxiety of the guests more highly strung than at
present. The excitement, pleasurable in itself, has become more so
from habit. Were the dish to be finally cleared, how sadly it would be
missed! "What shall we do with it?" would have lost its perplexities
in favor of "What shall we do without it?" It may be well doubted if
the latter question will soon become troublesome. Empires are, like
the Merry Monarch, an unconsciously long time in dying. Atrophy
appears to spin out their existence. The process lasted with the
Turk's predecessor at Byzantium six or eight centuries. For barely
two, if we date from Sobieski instead of Don John of Austria, has
it been going on with him. He bids fair to live long enough to see a
great deal of change disturb, if not prostrate, his physicians before
it comes in its final shape to him.

* * * * *

This land of law, lawyers and lawmakers is badly in want of a jurist
or two. Advocates, special pleaders, log-rollers, and codes that
are recodified every twelvemonth are poor substitutes for a few men
capable of perceiving the pri