rooted belief that no man can do two things of different kinds equally well.

a word to throw at me." What is to be said to all these poor, neglected people? So much for what I have called neglect I think you must show them that they in literature. Now comes neglect in office. often omit all consideration of the chief To that word office I mean to give an ex- elements of human life-namely, time, tensive application. It is meant here to space, money, trouble, illness, and adverse apply to all kinds of occupation in the way or hindering eircumstances of all kinds. I of business, wherein the person, whom I will give an instance, apparently of a very suppose to complain of neglect, can be em- trivial character, but which will serve as a ployed. He often goes home, and com- good illustration of what I mean. A great plains in the domestic circle that nobody lady, now, alas! dead, who of late years seems to recognize his services, whereas was the foremost entertainer of our time, they all know how hard he works, and and whose parties were certainly most suchow devoted he is to his duties. I sup- cessful, happened once to discuss the subpose him to be a very sensitive man; and ject of invitations with the writer of this there are many such whose experience of essay. After speaking generally of her the world, long as it may have been, fails difficulties, she said, "Now there is dear to harden. If one wished to comfort this Lady one of my oldest and best man, one must say to him much of what I friends; she has five daughters. I have have said beforehand as regards the vet-known the girls ever since they were baeran man of letters. The merits of this bies, and I like them all; but I am afraid good man in office are so fully recognized, I have vexed her by not asking all of them. that both superiors and inferiors have If I ask them, I must ask others of the ceased to talk about them. It is an old same age members of large families; story that he does his work well. People and our rooms, though tolerably big, are have something else to talk about some- not palatial, and, unfortunately, are not thing new. Yes," he replies, "but why stretchable, else and I am sure I would don't I have my share of substantial re- have all the young things; for I am very wards?" Often the rather awkward re-fond of them. But Lady sponse must be made- "You fill your present office so well, that you cannot possibly be spared. Now you would not wish to fill it less well, would you?"

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I admit that the foregoing seems to be a very ungracious rejoinder. It is, however, often true, and there is always some comfort in the truth, although unwelcome.

- does not see how I am situated, and, I have no doubt, is much offended with me."

The moral of the foregoing instance is only this that when we exercise our imagination, we should not make the central figures of our imaginings to be our own unworthy selves. The Christian maxim, to do as you would be done by, requires a He should recollect, too, that in-door great deal of imagination to carry it out work work done intra muros, as it has thoroughly; for the difficulty is, not so been called is, of necessity, known but much in subduing selfishness, as in imaginto few. It has no chance of popular ap-ing the circumstances in which your neighplause. Often the better the work is bour is placed, and so appreciating what done, the less likely it is to come to the he would wish and might fairly ask of surface, and to be appreciated by many people.

I now take up a most thorny branch of the subject: it is what I call neglect in society. There is an immense amount of misery (I scarcely use too strong a word) arising from social neglect. I am not sure that it does not outweigh all the rest. "Why am I not invited here? How is it that I was invited there last year, and now they seem to have quite forgotten the fact of my existence?" This is but one form of social neglect: it is myriad-formed. There is the neglect of salutation; the diminution of correspondence, the decrease of that companionship which used to be so long and so unwearied; but now it appears, as the neglected person peevishly exclaims, "He can hardly spare

you.

Now I will speak of neglect in friendship. The preceding observations about want of time, deficiency of energy, and dulness of imagination apply here. But there are also special considerations. Friends very often differ essentially in character. Of two friends, one has a steady, composed character, whose affections change but little, and who has no idea that other persons are perpetually suspecting a change of affection. The other, perhaps, is a man who requires to be constantly assured that he is as much loved and cared for as he was formerly by his friend. The first friend I have described has no notion of this, and fails to give, from time to time, the requisite assurances of loving friendship.

Hence

The simple story I am going to narrate affords, as it seems to me, a good illustration of much that has been said in this essay; and, indeed, it was the cause of my attempting to write the essay. The circumstances are much disguised, but the story is essentially a true one. It was told me by an official friend; and I give the anecdote in his own words.

there comes a coldness between the two. That is why I have ever striven to find Again, and this is an almost universal some apposite facts in real life, or some case, there is an inevitable awkwardness short story which should illustrate any in the meeting of friends, who, however maxim I have ventured to lay down. firm their mutual affection, meet but rarely. It is as when a vase of any kind is very full, but has a narrow neck, and, even if you turn it upside down, only a few insignificant drops will come out, if but a short time is allowed for the pouring. It has always been noticed what unsatisfactory meetings those are which occur when two friends meet at sea, in ships going contrary ways. The ships heave-to, and there is an interchange of civilities between the pas- "A sensitive, affectionate man, of much sengers. The two friends who meet can ability, well known in society, had come hardly do more than exchange civilities, on a sudden rather prominently before the though, when the ships have parted com- world. He had done, said, or written pany, there are many things that occur to something which rather affronted the each of the friends which he ought to have world. He had, we will say, taken the said to the other. A similar awkwardness, and poverty of thought and expression, occur in the meeting of friends, not only at sea, but in the streets of a great city or in crowded drawing-rooms; and the sensitive friend goes away and says that the other is beginning to neglect him.

unpopular view of some great question, and found himself in a very small minority with only one or two other recusants of popular opinion. Shortly afterwards he came to see me. He was evidently much out of heart, and had a disappointed look. I soon found out what was the matter. There is a frame of mind which people, His friends had on this occasion- - a very who deem themselves to be neglected, important one, as he thought, in his lifeshould greatly beware of. Jean Paul neglected him. The Thanes fly from Richter says, "The first thing that we me,' was the burden of his complaint; and have to contend against and despise, in his Thanes, unlike Macbeth's, were, as he sorrow as in anger, is its poisonous ener- had supposed, loving friends. 'I don't vating sweetness, which we are so loath to blame you,' he said (I knew he did); exchange for the labour of consoling our-you are a very busy man, and there is selves, and to drive away by the effort of reason."

A similar remark is to be made with regard to neglect. If you wish to conquer the habit of mind which leads you to suppose that you are constantly being neglected, you must abjure the enervating sweetness of neglect, as Jean Paul counsels us to avoid the enervating sweetness of sorrow. Mawworm exclaims, "I like to be despised;" and many a person says to himself, "I like to be neglected." Not that he does like it; but this is a way of getting over some of the pain of it, namely, by dramatizing himself as a person usually neglected. There is a great deal of cleverness in this mode of reconciling oneself to a disagreeable position; but it does not answer in the long-run, for it induces the habit of considering ourselves to be neglected; and such a morbid state of mind never fails to bring its own punishment.

some excuse for you; but the others! You know that Jones and I were the most intimate college friends, and up to this time scarcely a week has passed without our seeing one another. I know, too, the fellow thinks as I do, only the world has pronounced against me, and there was always a little world-serving about Jones, I am sorry to say. As for Smith, his conduct is abominable. What will you say, my dear friend, when I tell you that Smith was the first person to put this thing into my head, and I have merely been carrying out his unblessed crotchets? Not a line from him, though; and he is not a busy man like you, but always mooning away his time in that study of his. Robinson, too, has behaved very ill to me. He is not a man whose opinion I value much; but I did think he was a firm friend, and would not like to see me abused, as I have been, in those confounded newspapers. Not a word I have always thought that abstract from him! He might have looked in upon statements, however just and true they me some evening. We do not live so very may be, have comparatively little weight, far apart, but that Master Robinson might and dwell but a short time in the memory, have made the journey of five miles. I unless they are wedded with the concrete. 'never thought much of Brown, as a man

of any intellect; but still I imagined he joined; 'I've been the greatest fool alive. was a hearty sort of fellow, and his very I am a calumniating scoundrel.' And then obstinacy would, I thought, have made came out the whole story, which, of course, him take the weaker side. Brown and II knew before. There had been a real belong to the Direction of the same Insur- cause in each case for the non-manifestaance Office; he has contrived to be absent tion of sympathy, that had been so bitterly at our last two meetings. The chairman felt by my poor sensitive friend. Jones takes a different view from what I do in had been desperately ill; there had been this matter, and I suppose Brown did not a death in Brown's family, which accounted like to go against the chairman, though, in for his absence at the two previous meetmatters of business, he is a steady oppo- ings of the Insurance Office; Robinson nent to him, to show his independence. had gone to fetch his daughter from a Green is the worst of all. You know how school in Paris; Green had been in sore I pulled him through that very awkward distress, but had not liked to apply again affair of his. I must own that, hitherto, to his former benefactor. he has ever been most profusely grateful in word and deed, but his gratitude does not extend to battling with the world for a friend who is now himself in some trouble. Good heavens! how afraid you tion. all are of this same world so many "In short, there were not merely millions of insignificant units mostly excuses, but valid excuses, in every case, fools.' for the apparent neglect from which my friend had suffered so keenly.

-

"To this tirade I replied, 'I am very busy now; let us go and dine at the "Garrick next Saturday. We'll talk it over then.' I like dining at the "Garrick," and looking at the portraits of the great actors and actresses, about whom the last generation used to tell us such grand things. What play-goers they were, that last generation! How they knew their Shakespeare by heart. I remember an old gentleman whose favourite phrase, when he wanted to describe an ignorant man, was, Sir, he is as ignorant as dirt.' I ventured one day to ask the old gentleman where he got his simile. Young man, you don't seem to know your Shakespeare,' he replied, and true enough that simile is to be found in Shakespeare.

My friend then withdrew, having a very sour aspect, sourer even than when he entered, thinking me no doubt frivolous, vexatious, and unkind. But I had some meaning in what I said.

"In the next few days I was not unmindful of my friend; and, as you may imagine, had, as they say in official life, some communications' with those unkind fellows, Brown, Green, Jones, Smith, and Robinson, with all of whom I had, luckily, some slight acquaintance.

66

"I'll do my best for Green once more," exclaimed my generous friend.

"There had been a marriage in Smith's family, which had occupied all their atten

"The best part of it was, that three out of the five thought that they had been neglected, and complained that they had seen nothing of him on occasions which were so important to them. All five vowed that his conduct had been most noble and disinterested, and that they entirely agreed with his opinion. The perfect sincerity of that statement I doubt a little; but my friend was quite satisfied with the truth of it. We had a most pleasant dinner at the Garrick,' for no one could be more agreeable than my sensitive friend, when he was not in one of his most sensitive moods. I was, however, left to battle out with him the original question of dispute; for I was unfortunatly, one this occasion, of the opinion of those wicked newspapers.' But what did he care for me or for the newspapers, as he almost told me, now that he had his dear friends, Jones, Smith, Brown (Brown's intellect was much underrated by people who did not know him well), Green, and Robinson, entirely on his side, and on the side of right?"

It is needless to comment much on the foregoing story. It was, no doubt, a singuMy friend and I met at the Garrick'lar coincidence that all five of the sensiat the appointed time. His countenance tive man's friends should have had valid was mightily changed, and was, indeed, excuses for their seeming neglect. But, quite pleasant to look upon. I pretended perhaps, it would be safe to assume that to be entirely occupied in admiring the at least three-fifths of what we suppose to theatrical portraits. Do let me tell you be neglect of ourselves are to be attributed before dinner,' he said. 'No, no,' I replied; to simple ignorance, on our part, of the let us have our dinner first, grievances circumstances of others. Not knowing afterwards.' 'But I must tell you,' he re- where the shoe pinches, or that the shoe

strong camels, and two camel-drivers, trusty Arabs, outlaws from some Desert tribe. My last step was one that may seem a singular one to my readers; but it was well intended, and it proved my salvation. After dusk I went to a Turkish officer whom I had known for years, and, to his infinite astonishment, borrowed a pair of handcuffs. All these arrangements completed, I presented myself before Her Majesty's representative, and from him I received every possible assistance in carrying out the minor arrangements for my dangerous undertaking.

In the spring of 18—, I was intrusted by government with some despatches of the greatest importance, to be carried from Damascus to the English political agent at Bagdad. The journey from Syria At six A.M., while the city was still only to Chaldea was, I knew from experience, a half awake, I, with my two camel-drivers, perilous one, whether performed on camel started for the house of an English lady in or horse, and with whatever escort; and, the suburbs, who had kindly undertaken even if uninterrupted, would take me six to store all my heavier luggage till I refull days. I was an old hand, and had not turned. This extraordinary woman, the Ived for months among Arab tribes with- modern Lady Hester Stanhope of Arabia, out knowing that Russian spies, French has been married no fewer than seven agents, and Turkish robbers (in which times. Her first husband was a welcomprehensive word I include all Turkish known English nobleman; the present is officials of whatever rank) would certainly an Arab sheik, the chief of a powerful brew me some trouble by the way, if they Bedouin tribe between Bagdad and Dacaught even the faintest inkling of the mascus. Shaking hands with Lady object of my journey. So I prepared ac- remounted my camel, and pushed on cordingly. straight for Tadmor, once Palmyra, the magnificent city of palaces, but now a ruined heap of broken pillars, the abode only of the jackal and the snake. We had scarcely ridden a mile through the palm-groves and corn-fields before a clat

I

The more poor, wretched, and forlorn a Desert traveller looks, the more likely he is to reach the end of his journey in safety. The Bedouin sees showy dresses, fine 1:orses, and well-filled purses, as far off as the vulture can see a dead gazelle. Thor-ter of quick hoofs made me look round, oughly impressed with this fact, the day and a sight fitted for a land of romance, before my departure I ferreted out the mystery, and enchantment met my eyes. most dingy rag-shop in the narrowest and The lady I had just left, escorted by a gendirtiest street of the most filthy quarter tleman, who proved to be a Knight of of all Damascus. Seated there, cross- Malta, came galloping after me to guard legged, beside the one-eyed, hunch-backed me half way to Tadmor. It was one of proprietor, I wrangled with him for two the sudden, generous, and chivalrous cagood hours over a ragged robe, patched prices of this strange person, whose heart with as many colours as Benjamin's gar- misfortunes and faults had still left warm, ment. For this thing of shreds and kindly, and full of womanly tenderness. patches, I paid the enormous sum of Her body-guard was as strange a one as twenty piastres, or about half a crown if she had been an enchantress of the times English, and took care to get a formal re- of Al Raschid. It consisted of half a dozceipt, flourished in goodly Arabic, the en thorough-bred Bedouin colts, of the Llessing of the pilgrim who kept the stall royal race; they were without saddles or being thrown into the bargain. In addi- bridles, and were playing and skimming tion I bought an enormous dirty red tur-round her, like butterflies round a flower. ban as big as a prize pumpkin, beneath which my long black hair fell down twelve inches long. I took care also to provide myself secretly with two little Derringer revolvers, and I further laid in two pounds of fine snuff, several cases of powder, some quinine, and a large bottle of castor-oil for the use of some Arab workmen employed in the town near Bagdad, to which I was ultimately destined. I next hired three

Beautiful creatures, light-footed as deer, playful as monkeys, they chased each other round their mistress, and the moment she called them by name, stood stock-stili in a wondering but obedient circle, or came thrusting their noses into her hand for the customary cakes. To some of those pets she had given Arab names, but others were christened, playfully or sarcastically, after English celebrities. Two of the finest of

her equine attendants were Palmerston | had reflected much, through all his life and Pitt, the most ill-tempered and kick- confined to so narrow a sphere. He said ing was Ellenborough. to me, with much pathos: "I have seen We arrived at night at a village, out- nothing in this world but wickedness. side which my servants pitched our tents, which were easily built up with a sheet or two, and a few palm-sticks; and there, like gipsies or Irishmen at a fair, we had our meal and our coffee. Before long the beauty of the lady's escort began to

attract attention.

The village being on the outskirts of the Desert, the men were nearly all excellent judges of horse-flesh, and they at once set us down as horse-stealers, on our way to sell our spoil to the Bedouins. In vain we assured them that the colts were not to be sold. Still they kept asking the price of this and that one, and patting and pinching them with a true horsedealer's unction, believing my strenuous denials to be nothing but the coquetry generally practised by all dealers on would-be purchasers. At last I quieted my somewhat troublesome friends by getting them in crowds round me, and telling them the latest news from Europe, and assuring them, to their infinite delight, that the Turkish government would not last long.

The Turks seize all we have in the name of Allah and the sultan. I am very old, fourscore and ten, nearly blind, and dying fast, yet I would make them bring me here to see the man who paid for what he and his horses and camels wanted, for I never saw a man before who really fe red Allah and showed justice to his fellow-man." He was certain I could not be a Turk, he knew I was not an Arab— of what nation was I?

I replied, smiling, that I found it difficult to tell him, for I was born in Ireland, educated in Rome, and brought up in England.

He replied, that England must be a glorious country, where, though a woman governed, every one could obtain justice. "Here we," said he with a sigh, "poor wretches, on the frontier of the Desert, in a land of barbarism, although living between two of the most ancient cities of the East, are slaves from our birth to our grave. We are governed in the name of the sultan, and we are robbed in his name. The Turks reduce us to beggary and our children to shame. There is no redress. Old and respected as I am," added the old sheik, "if I were to dare to petition at Damascus or Bagdad against any acts of injustice, in three days the village would be razed to the ground, and I should, perhaps, be beaten to death, in spite of all the men I could arm. Yes," said the old man, his eyes lighting up with almost youthful fire, "it will be a happy day for Syria when the Russian legions cross the frontier, and summon us all to rise, for the Turks are only fit to be slaves, and the day of their fall must come."

The next morning at daybreak I fired a pistol as a signal for starting. Lady

I need scarcely say that for the lamb we eat, the dates we needed, the milk, honey, and the corn for the camels and horses, we paid as liberally and as scrupulously as if we had been in Europe. This seems a foolish fact to mention, but in that Syrian village such a proceeding was by no means a matter of course. So little, indeed, a matter of course, that the whole village was roused by the news of such justice and generosity. A great surprise awaited us, which impressed this astonishment sufficiently upon us. After supper, in the cool of the evening, I was sitting at my door, when I heard in the distance drums and dervish flutes approaching; presently, behind a crowd of was asleep, surrounded by her horses, excited Arabs, waving sticks and swords, her tent-door guarded by the gallant Malcame a litter borne by six people, and on tese chevalier, who carried a drawn sword the litter, like a prisoner on a stretcher, in his hand. My first proceeding was to lay a very old white-bearded man, the wash my face with water in which a lemon sheik of the village. He was four-score had been squeezed, the best of all precauand ten he told me, and he had never tions, next to the dry Desert air, against before known any traveller who came ophthalmia. After breakfast I supplied there to pay for anything he took. He myself and my two camel-drivers with sufhad, therefore, ordered his servants to carry him before he died, to see the wonderful man who paid his way, so that he (the sheik) might give him his blessing, and then return home and depart in peace.

The old man spoke well and wisely.

He

ficient bread, water, grain, cheese, and dates for six days. We were soon ready to leave the village for all the dangers of the lonely, melancholy waste, that has known no change since the Creation. But already my enemies were on my track. Two Turks, French and Russian spies,