ADVERTISEMENTS.
THE news columns and editorial columns of the journals are all very well in their way, but be who would know something of real life must con the advertisements sedulously. There he will learn what men want, and how they try to trick each other. The following, which has just caught our eye in the Times, is a whole history in itself—" A gentleman of independent fortune, residing at a flourishing and fashionable watering-place, is desirous,for the sake of employment, to undertake any respectable agency, whereby his time may be occupied and the interests of both parties promoted." They must have considerable faith in human nature who could in- trust their " interests" to the agency of this volunteer. Here is as broad a caricature of shifts to keep up a genteel appearance as ever SAIOLLET or DICKENS imagined—" Wanted, a boy in an attorney's office, in which (if he could write a tolerable hand) he could have a good opportunity of improving his condition : but in such service he would be required to attend to the lamps, clean boots and knives, and make himself generally useful." A "tolerable hand 't seems to be considered a good recommendation for higher and more delicate offices ; for in the next column, a "Roman Ca- tholic lady, about thirty years of age," wanting a situation as companion or housekeeper, intimates that "she will be particu- larly useful as amanuensis to a professional man." Protestantism seems quite as saleable an article as Catholicism—" A young per- son, a native of Germany," begs to inform the public, that "she can dress hair in a superior manner ; understands dressmaking, millinery, and the getting-up of laces ; and is of the Protestant re- ligion." The peculiar tastes evinced by persons in search of em- ployment are sometimes not a little curious—" A gentleman, for- merly on half-pay of the Army," applies for employment "as li- brarian to a mechanics institute," or "gatekeeper to any nobleman or gentleman." "A young lady, highly recommended for activity in housekeeping," informs us that she "would be invaluable in a widower's family." These, however, are after all but the prose of advertising ; one advertisement will often imply a whole romance : as, for example—" M. A. J. Say where I can address a letter to you, and I solemnly promise no one shall molest you : it is respect- ing business : write immediately." Or—" A. B.'s communication is gratefully acknowledged: it is astounding : he is earnestly re- quested to grant an interview without delay." Or—" J. L. L.'s communication has been received, and the parties it was addressed to would be glad to know his ideas of liberality." There are many peol)le whose "ideas of liberality" one would like to know, as well as J. L. L. It would almost appear that gentlemen begin to arrange affairs of honour through the medium of the press—" Cap- tain Egan is requested to communicate immediately with Mr. J. T. R. on business of the most urgent importance, by the direc. tion of G. G. D., Esq." The Times has long been celebrated for the facilities it affords the tender-hearted to "waft a sigh from In- dus to the Pole :" here is a specimen—" Why does Frederick come no more to St. John's Wood ? "
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