ing this
point. See here!" (pulling down some three or four ordinary-looking
volumes, and opening them at random). "By casting your eye down almost
any page of any book in the world, you will be able to perceive at once
a host of little scraps of either learning or bel-espritism, which are
the very thing for the spicing of a Blackwood article. You might as well
note down a few while I read them to you. I shall make two divisions:
first, Piquant Facts for the Manufacture of Similes, and, second,
Piquant Expressions to be introduced as occasion may require. Write
now!"--and I wrote as he dictated.

"PIQUANT FACTS FOR SIMILES. 'There were originally but three
Muses--Melete, Mneme, Aoede--meditation, memory, and singing.' You may
make a good deal of that little fact if properly worked. You see it is
not generally known, and looks recherche. You must be careful and give
the thing with a downright improviso air.

"Again. 'The river Alpheus passed beneath the sea, and emerged without
injury to the purity of its waters.' Rather stale that, to be sure, but,
if properly dressed and dished up, will look quite as fresh as ever.

"Here is something better. 'The Persian Iris appears to some persons
to possess a sweet and very powerful perfume, while to others it is
perfectly scentless.' Fine that, and very delicate! Turn it about
a little, and it will do wonders. We'll have some thing else in the
botanical line. There's nothing goes down so well, especially with the
help of a little Latin. Write!

"'The Epidendrum Flos Aeris, of Java, bears a very beautiful flower, and
will live when pulled up by the roots. The natives suspend it by a cord
from the ceiling, and enjoy its fragrance for years.' That's capital!
That will do for the similes. Now for the Piquant Expressions.

"PIQUANT EXPRESSIONS. 'The Venerable Chinese novel Ju-Kiao-Li.' Good! By
introducing these few words with dexterity you will evince your intimate
acquaintance with the language and literature of the Chinese. With the
aid of this you may either get along without either Arabic, or Sanscrit,
or Chickasaw. There is no passing muster, however, without Spanish,
Italian, German, Latin, and Greek. I must look you out a little specimen
of each. Any scrap will answer, because you must depend upon your own
ingenuity to make it fit into your article. Now write!

"'Aussi tendre que Zaire'--as tender as Zaire-French. Alludes to the
frequent repetition of the phrase, la tendr