A LITERARY CURIOSITY. Tas following very
remarkable little poem is contributed to
the San Francisco Times from the pen of
H. A. Demig. The reder will see that
each line is a quotation from some one
of the standard authors of England and
America. This is the result of years of
laborious search among the volnminons
writings of thirty-eight leading poets
of the'past and present. The number of
each line refers to the author below. 1.
Why all this toil for triumphs of an
hourt 2. Life's a short summer, mrn's s
flower. 3. By turns we catch the vital
breath and die 4. The cradle and the
tomb, alas! so nigh, 5. To be is better
far than not to be,' 6. Though all men's
lires may seem a tragedy; 7. But light
cares speak when mighty griefs are domh,
8. The bottom is but shallow whence they
come. 9. Your fate is but the common
fate of all; 10. Ufimingled joys here no
man can befall. 11. Nature to each
allots its proper sphere ; 12. Fortune
makes folly its peculiar care. 13.
Custom does not often reason overrule,
14. And throw a rucel sunehine on a
fool. 15. Live well; how long or;short,
permit to Heaven ; ' G6. They who
forgive most shall be most forgiven. 17.
Sin may be clasped so closewe cannot see
its fae n; . 18. Vile intercourse, where
virtue has no place. 19. Then keep each
passion down, however dear, 20.
Thonpendulum betwixt a smile and tear.
21. Her sensual snares let sensual
pleasure atoy, 2. With craft and skill
to rain and betray. 23. Soar not too
high to fall, but stoop to 24. We
misters growof that we despise. 25. Oh,
then, renounce that impious selfesteem!
26. Riches have wings, and grandeureis a
dream. 27. Think not ambition wise
because 'tis brave; 23. The pethsof
glory lead hot to the grave. 29. What is
ambition l 'Tisa glorious cheat30. Only
destruction to the brave and great. 31.
What'seall the gaudy glitter of a crown
I 32. The way of bliu lies not on leds
of down 33. Ho' long we lire not years
but "atotiei tell- . , 34. That man
lives twice who lives the erat life sell
8.5. foke then, while yet ye may, your
God ysour friend, 06. Whom Christians
worship, yet not com-. prehend. 37. The
trust that'sa given guard, and to
yourself be just, 38. For live we how we
can, di, we m t: 1, Young; 2, Dr.
Johnson; 3, Pope; 4, Prior; , Sewell; 6,
Speaser; 7, Daniel; 8, Sir Walter Scott;
9, Longfellow ;10, Southwell; 11,
Congreve; 12, Churchill; 13, Itchester;
14, Armstrong; 15, Mlilon ; 16, Bailey ;
17, Trench ; 18, Somerville; 19, Thomson
20, Bron ; 21, .Smollett ; 22, Crabbe;
23, Lefas singer; 24, Cowley; 25,
lieattie; 26, Cowper; 27, Sir Walter
Davenant ;2?8, Gray ; 29, Willis 30,
Addison ; 31. Dryden ; 32, Francis
Charles 33, Watkins; 34, Herriek; 25,
William Iaston 36, Pitt ; 37, Dan ; 38,
Shakespeare.