emarked a new building
which he had never seen, and asked what it was designed for? Dr.
Kingsbury answered, "That, Mr. Dean, is the magazine for arms and
powder, for the security of the city." "Oh! oh!" says the dean, pulling
out his pocket-book, "let me take an item of that. This is worth
remarking; my tablets, as Hamlet says, my tablets--memory, put down
that." He then produced the following lines, being the last he ever
wrote:

Behold! a proof of Irish sense!
Here Irish wit is seen,
When nothing's left for our defence,
We build a magazine.

The Dean then put up his pocket-book, laughing heartily at the conceit,
and clenching it with, "After the steed's stolen, shut the stable
door."

JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN.

HIS BIRTH

John Philpot Curran was born at Newmarket, a small village in
the county of Cork, on the 24th of July, 1750. His father, James Curran,
was seneschal of the manor, and possessed of a very moderate income. His
mother was a very extraordinary woman. Eloquent and witty, she was the
delight of her neighbors, and their chronicle and arbitress. Her stories
were of the olden time, and made their way to the hearts of the people,
who delighted in her wit and the truly national humor of her character.
Little Curran used to hang with ecstasy upon his mother's accents, used
to repeat her tales and her jests, and caught up her enthusiasm. After
her death, he erected a monument over her remains, upon which the
following memorial was inscribed:--

"Here lieth all that was mortal of Martha Curran--a woman of many
virtues, few foibles, great talents, and no vice. This tablet was
inscribed to her memory by a son who loved her, and whom she loved."

CURRAN AS PUNCH'S MAN.

Curran's first effort in public commenced when a boy in the droll
character of Mr. Punch's man. It occurred in this way: One of the
puppet-shows known as "Punch and Judy," arrived at Newmarket, to the
great gratification of the neighborhood. Young Curran was an attentive
listener at every exhibition of the show. At length, Mr. Punch's man
fell ill, and immediately ruin threatened the establishment. Curran, who
had devoured all the man's eloquence, offered himself to the manager as
Mr. Punch's man. His services were gladly accepted, and his success so
complete, that crowds attended every performance, and Mr. Punch's new
man became the theme of universal panegyric.

CURRAN AT A DEBATING SOCIETY.

Curran's accou