A LITERARY CURIOSITY. The following
remarkable little poem is a contribution
to the San Francisco from the pen of
Mrs. H. .A. Deming. The reader will
notice that each line is a quotation
from some of the standard authors of
England and America. This is the result
of a 3'car'a 'laborious search among the
voluminous writings ol thirtyeight
leading poets of the past and present.
The number of each line refers to^ its
author below: LIFE. 1. Why all this toil
for triumphs of an hour ? 2. Life's a
short summer, man a flower. 3. By turns
we catch the vital breath and die4. The
cradle and tiie tomb, alas! so nigh. 5.
To be, i3 better far than not to be, 6.
Though all man's life may seem a
tragedy; 7. But light cares speak when
mighty griefs are dumb, 8. The bottom is
but shallow whence they come. 9. Your
fate is but the common fate of all; 10.
Unmingled joys here to no man befall.
11. Nature to each allots its proper
sphere; 12. Fortune makes folly
her*peculiar care. 13. Custom does 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 for
given. 17. Sin may be clasped so close
we 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. SI. Her sensual snares let
faithless pleasure lay, 22. With craft
and skill, to ruin and betray. 23. Soar
not to high too fall, but stoop to rise;
24. We masters grow of all that we
despise. 25. Oh, then, I renounce that
impious self-es teem"; . 26. Riches have
wings, and grandeur is a dream. 27.
Think not ambition wise because 'tis
brave; 28. The paths of glory lead but
to the grave. 29. What is ambition! 'Tis
a glorious cheat 80. Only destructive to
the braie and great. 31. What's all the
gaudy glitter of a crown; 32. The way to
bliss lies not on beds of down. 33. How
long we live, not years, but actions
tell;. 34. That man lives twice who
lives the first life well. 35. Make,
then, while yet ye may, your God your
friend, 86. Whom Christians worship, yet
not compre hend. 37. The trust that's
given guard, and to your self be just j
38. For, live we how we can, die we
must. 1, Young; 2, Dr. Johnson; 3,Pope;
4, Prior; 5, Sewel; 6, Spenser; 7,
Daniell; 8, Sir Walter Raleigh; 9,
Longfellow; 10, Southwell 5 11,
Congreve; 12, Churchill; 13, Rochester;
14, Armstrong; 15, Milton; 16, Bailey;
17, Trench; 18, Somerville; 29, Thomson;
20, Byron; 21, Smollett; 22, Crabbe; 23,
Massinger; 24, Cowley; 25, Beattie ; 26,
Cowper; 27, Sir Wm. Davenant; 28, Gray;
29, Willis ; 30, Addison; 31, Dryden;
32, Francis Quarles; -33, Watkins; 34,
Herri ck; 35, William Mason; 3G, Hill;
37, Dana; 38, Shake speare.