Sparks from the Philosopher's Stone, by J. L. Basford (David
Bogue), is a peculiar little book, in eight divisions, and each of these divisions cut up into unconnected sentences, intended to be considered as proverbs, we presume, for a motto on the title-page says, "A proverb tells a long story." If one of them, on page 4, did not remark that "A well-cultivated mind is always a kindly critic," we should be strongly tempted to apply to the author one on page 2, which says that, " Some minds are like those auction- rooms which have nothing to offer but second-hand furniture." But then, again, we feel real pity for him, if the first remark on page 6 be the result of his own painful experience, "There are thoughts which appear not to have come from the senses, but rather to have been forced through the skull ;" and we feel inclined to for- give him a great deal, in consideration of his kindly feeling for the short-sighted, as expressed on page 7, Behind near-sighted eyes there is often a far-sighted mind." Again we commend to the numer- ous persons respectively concerned with them the doleful maxim, on page 63, that "Friendship is never wrought in Art, nor found in Science." But we must conclude with the saddest one of all, "No man ever did or can govern himself,"—though to that we add, "not by himself."
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