A LITERARY CURIOSITY. Ton following very

remarkable little poem is contributed to

the San Francisco Times from the pen of

H. A. Deming. The reader 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 voluminous

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

hour? S2: Life's a short summer, man's a

flower. S3.' 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

lives may seem a tragedy; 7. But light

cares speak when mighty griefs aredumb,

8. The bottom is but shallow whence they

come. 9. Your fate is but the common

fate of all; 10. Unmingled 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 cruel sunshine on a

fool. 15. Live well; how long or short,

permit to Heaven; 16. They who forgive

most shall be most forgiven. 17. Sin may

be clasped so close wo cannot see its

face; 18. Vile intercourse, where virtue

has no place. 19. Then keep each passion

down, however dear, 20. Thou pendulum

betwixt a smile and tear. 21. Her

sensual snares let sensual pleasure lay,

22. With craft and skill to ruin and

betray. 23. Soar not too high to fall,

but stoop to rie, 24. We masters grow of

that we despise. 25. Oh, then,

renounce.tbat impious selfesteem I26.

26. Riches have wings, and grandeur is a

dream. 27. Think not ambition wise

because 'tis brave; 28. The pathsof

glory lead but to the grave. 29. What is

ambition ? 'Tis a glorious cheat30. Only

destruction to the brave and great. 31.

What's all the gaudy glitter of a crown

? 32. The way of bliss lies not on beds

of down. 33. How long we live not years

but actions tell That man lives twice

who lives the first life well. 35. Make

then, while yet ye may, your God your

friend, 36. Whom Christians worship, yet

not comprehend. 37. The trust that's

given guard, and to yourself be just,

3S. For live we low we can, die we must.

1, Young; 2, Dr. Johnson; 3, Pope; 4,

Prior; 5, Sewell; 6, Spenser; 7, Daniel;

8, Sir Walter Scott; 9, Longfellow ; 10,

Southwell; 11, Congreve; 12, Churchill;

13, Rochester; 14, Armstrong; 15, Milton

; 16, Bailey; 17, Trench ; 18,

Somnerville ; 19, Thomson ; 20, Bvron ;

21, Smollett ; 22, Crabbe; 23,

MaIssinger; 24, Cowley ; 25, Beattie;

26, Cowper; 27, Sir Walter Davenant; 28,

Gray; 29, Willis; 30, Addison ; 31.

Dryden; 32, Francis Charles; 33,

Watkins; 34, Herrick; 35, William Mason;

36, Pitt; 37, Dana ; 38, Shakespeare.