OTHER PEOPLE'S PECULIARITIES.

I MAY say at once that I have no peculiarities myself, or I would not presume to write this essay. Being blessed or afflicted, as the case may be, with what is called "a well balanced mind" (a synonym, by the way, for mediocrity), and being, therefore, incapable, on the one hand, of astonishing the world by any brilliant flashes of wit, wisdom, or originality; or, on the other hand, of disgracing my friends by any flagrant exhibition of absurdity or depravity; I feel that I am especially qualified to speak impartially and disinterestedly on this subject.

It may be said that such an assertion betrays, at once, a peculiarity on my part, which might be described as "the reverse of modesty ;' but, to me, such a remark would only afford a striking instance of that peculiarity, so strongly developed in some people, of mistaking sarcasm for argument; and I might retort still further by saying that a good opinion of one's self, so far from being rare or peculiar, is the most prominent characteristic of mankind: such at least is my experience in the circle of my acquaintance.

I am not clever enough to write another learned dissertation on the "Eccentricities of Genius," nor am I, I trust, spiteful or cruel enough to dream of criticising the physical defects of any man or woman. My object is simply to draw attention to those peculiarities which may be described as bad habits unchecked.

Everybody, I firmly believe, is afflicted with a peculiarity (the writer and reader of these lines, of course, excepted) of which he or she is entirely ignorant; for it is one of the standard peculiarities of human nature to prefer rather to laugh in the sleeve at a friend's bad habits, than boldly and bravely to tell him of them face to face. One reason,

and probably an all-sufficient one, to account for the general reluctance to take this step, is the fact that in nine cases out of ten the reminder would be considered impertinent, and the friend would speedily become a foe.

Burns evidently saw the difficulty of personal interference in these matters when he said with such earnestness :

"O wad some power the giftie gie us,

To see oursels as others see us!

It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
And foolish notion."

If anyone should question the truth of my statement that everybody is afflicted more or less with small vices of habit or manner, let him

study, if only for a day, the acts and actions of those with whom he may come in contact in the course of his ordinary avocations, from his ride to town by train or omnibus in the morning, to his return home in the evening, and he will not only confirm my assertion, but will find ample interest and amusement in the study. For, if Pope's dictum that

"The proper study of mankind is man

be correct, surely we are as abundantly justified in taking note of the peculiarities of our fellows, and dilating upon them, as are our friends the entomologists in bottling up, or pinning down, their special specimens of the insect tribe for subsequent microscopical investigation and

comment.

I can see, in my mind's eye, as I write, my friend Smiler, who invariably begins to laugh mildly as soon as he catches sight of me, even if a distance of thirty or forty yards intervenes (and I am quite sure there is nothing in my appearance to excite laughter). As the space between us lessens, the smile develops into a broad grin, and though our conversation, when we do meet, may be of the most prosy and common-place character, he maintains his idiotic smirk to the last.

Then there is Sam Fidgit, who always poses on one leg, the calf of which he rubs most diligently with the toe of his other foot, only varying his movements by reversing the interesting process. But Sam is endurable compared with Fred Blower, poor fellow! his infirmity arises entirely from nervousness. No matter when or where we meet, he is instantaneously afflicted with symptoms of influenza, so violent, indeed, as to necessitate the constant application of his mouchoir.

An

Few of the unfortunate victims to bad habits have the slightest conception of the extent to which their peculiarities are noticed; or how closely they themselves are identified by or with such habits. instance in point just occurs to me. Some years ago I dined frequently with some old friends at a certain table d'hôte in Paris. On a recent visit to the same hotel, a lady who had often joined our party in the days gone by enquired very politely after one of my friends whose name she had forgotten. Seeing that I failed to call to mind at the moment to which of my former companions she referred, she exclaimed at last, "Don't you know the one I mean ?—the gentleman who always polished his plate with a crust." I recognised the individual instantly.

Now, the friend in question was a well-educated, intelligent man, with many conspicuous good qualities, and yet the lady remembered only his one vulgar peculiarity. Verily, it behoves us to be on our guard against small vices, and always to bear in mind the words of Shakespeare, "How use doth breed a habit in a man !"

One of the most tantalising individuals with whom I come in contact occasionally is a man who invariably forestalls the conclusions of my sentences by spasmodic ejaculations of "Ah! ah! yes! yes!" as if he knew intuitively what I was going to say, and wished to intimate that it was time I began a fresh sentence. An affliction such as this indicates, no doubt, the man of action, quick and energetic, but he is none the less a nuisance from a conversational point of view.

We have all heard the story of the school-boy, who came suddenly to grief in his class owing to the favourite button of his waistcoat having been secretly removed by a rival; and I am sure I could name a dozen eloquent speakers who would certainly lose the thread of their discourse, and fail ignominiously in their peroration, if suddenly deprived of the mysterious support of eye-glass or watch-guard. It may, perhaps, be considered a cruel pastime to scrutinise the movements of nervous speakers, and to note the absurd actions which they unconsciously practise; but when we consider the extent to which even small vices detract from the interest of a speech or an address, and lessen the dignity of the speaker, and how easily they might be overcome by watchfulness and perseverance, it would almost seem to be a real kindness to point them out. One twists up his notes as if he were busily engaged in making pipe spills; another, while his thoughts are intent upon his speech employs his hands in arranging and re-arranging all the articles within his reach on the table before him. A third always appears dissatisfied with the position of his chair, and keeps moving it backwards, forwards, and sideways, until he has concluded his oration; whilst a fourth tugs so persistently at his collar as to give one the impression that he is on the eve of strangulation.

It is remarkable that women, as a rule, are much more self-possessed and less the victims of bad habits than men. If I could express myself without risk of giving offence I should attribute this virtue to the fact that they think a great deal more of themselves than men do; not in the ordinary acceptation of the phrase as deeming themselves superior to mankind, but, being so petted and idolised by the rougher sex, they make greater efforts to render themselves pleasing in our sight, and seek to avoid any action or movement that would detract from their universally acknowledged grace and dignity. Or it may be that women, having no moustache to curl or beard to claw, are compelled to rely upon their innate presence of mind in trying emergencies; but it is noticeable that of twenty men who enter a church, chapel, or public room, nineteen, at least, will play with their hirsute appendages in the most persistent and idiotic fashion.

Among other peculiar people I meet with in my "down train" is a gentleman who has never yet been known to agree with anyone, no matter what subject may be introduced; and who invariably backs up his opinion by offering to bet a hat on the result; and although he has in this way provided most of his fellow passengers with head gear, he is by no means cured of his propensity.

If time permitted, I might call to mind an almost endless number of "peculiar people;" but my allotted space is filled, and furthermore, the thought arises that, after all, it may be that these very peculiarities and dissimilarities form half the charm of, and give zest and piquancy to, our social life. If we saw nothing to condemn in our neighbours, how could we complacently hug ourselves (metaphorically speaking) with the delicious, but pharisaical thought, "Thank God I am not as other men."

THE WORK OF THE SESSION.

The Annual Conversazione was held at the Royal Hotel, on Friday, 9th January, 1880, and was attended by 197 members and friends. The Operetta, "Cox and Box," was admirably performed by Messrs. Bragg, Johnstone, Priestley, and Willson; and a very enjoyable meeting was well sustained to the end.

Fanuary 23.-Impromptu Debate :-"That Co-operative Stores are opposed to the public interest, and ought to be discouraged." The names of the speakers were drawn by lot, and Messrs. Biggs, Perks, Collier, W. Mountfort, Hipkins, Lloyd, and Lean supported the question; and Messrs. C. C. Smith, Gardiner, Holden, F. W. Grew, Crosbie, and H. O. Jeff opposed it. Votes:-affirmative, sixteen; negative, eight. Attendance, thirty

seven.

February 6.-Debate:-"That the Laws relating to Real Property should be assimilated to the Laws relating to Personal Property." Supported by Messrs. J. Rowlands, G. T. Smith, and F. Taylor; and opposed by Messrs. E. B. Rawlings, S. Tonks, and A. Canning. Votes-affirmative, twenty-seven; negative, five. Attendance, forty-seven.

February 20.-Lecture on "Schubert and Chopin," with pianoforte illustrations, by Mr. C. J. Duchemin-Semi-public. Attendance, 225.

March 5.-Debate :-"That the demand for enquiry into the merits of the question of Home Rule' should be granted." Supported by Messrs. McEvoy, F. R. Heath, Moore, and Jas. McClelland; opposed by Messrs. Titterton, J. W. Tonks, and C. Hemis. Votes:-affirmative, eighteen; negative, fifteen. Attendance, fifty-five.

March 19.-Debate :-Semi-public.-"That national interests require that the approaching general election should result in the return of the Liberal Party to power." Supported by Messrs. T. H. Smith, G. D. Newman, Dr. Simon, J. McClelland; opposed by Messrs. J. Collier, E. M. Coleman, J. W. Tonks, L. Brierley. Votes:Members only, affirmative, twenty; negative, twenty-one. Members and friends, affirmative, thirty-five; negative, twenty-six. Attendance, ninety-three.

Correspondence.

IN the belief that the movements of our esteemed Vice-President will be of interest to the members of the C. L. A., we print the following brief but characteristic letter recently received from that gentleman by our President. (Ed. C.L.M.).

MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,

RIGGS HOUSE, WASHINGTON, D.C.

3rd March, 1880.

I have this day had the gratification of interviewing the Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States; and I hasten to apprise you of the fact lest you may hear it from some other source, and imagine that I have preferred another man to my own honoured President at home.

It occurred to me to ask your brother-President to allow me to propose him as a member of the C.L.A., and so bring him under your jurisdiction, but I have vowed never to introduce any man (however eminent) who cannot attend the debates regularly.

Yesterday, in company with my friend, Mr. G―, I attended a debate in the Senate House. The fluent and healthy Senator, who was in possession of the floor, cannot compare, as a speaker, with many of our members, but he had an amount of hold-on and dogged pertinacity which I admired very much.

This afternoon we have visited the House of Representatives, where there were no speeches, but two addresses were read in eulogy of Senator Hewston, of Alabama, recently deceased.

The proceedings in both Houses were quite as orderly as in our own Association, but it appeared to me that the Representatives were unfairly treated in the matter of spittoons, they having only one to five members, whereas the Senators have one each. Such is the reward of merit.

It was my intention to have sent an article for the Mag. written on shipboard, but owing to roughness of weather, and general laziness, I was unable to do any thing that I thought would be acceptable; therefore, please be so kind as to make excuses for me to our respected Editor.

INTENDING CONTRIBUTORS to the July number will oblige by sending their papers to the Editor (Mr. Leonard Brierley) not later than June 3rd.