know physicians whose mental possessions, beyond their knowledge of drugs and diseases, are not worth anything. We are acquainted with lawyers who are never seen out of their offices, who live among pigeonholes and red tape, and busy their minds with quirks and quarrels so unremittingly that they have not a thought for other subjects. They are not men at all; they are nothing but lawyers.

Often we find not more than five whole men in a town of five thousand inbabitants. Those who pass for men, and who really do get married and have families, are a hundred to one fractional men, or exclusively machines.

Elihu Burritt cultivated the man that was in him until his trade and his blacksmith's shop would not stay with him. They ceased to be useful to him. He could get a living in a way that was better for him. Benjamin Franklin was an excellent printer, but he used his trade only as a means. The development of his mind and his manhood went on above it. Printing with him was not an end of life. If it had been, we should have missed his words of wisdom; some one else would have built the kite that exchanged the first kiss with electricity, and less able men would have been set to do the work which he did so creditably in the management of his country's affairs. It is not necessary that you be learned blacksmiths or philosophical and diplomatic printers, but it is necessary that you be a man before your calling, behind your calling, above your calling, outside of your calling, and inside of it; and that that calling modify your character no more than it would were it your neighbour's.

LETTER V.

SOCIAL DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES.

"The primal duties shine aloft like stars;
The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless,
Are scatter'd at the feet of men like flowers."

WORDSWORTH.

PROPOSE in this letter to talk to you concerning your relations to society. Many, and I may say most young men, fail for many years to get hold of the idea that they are members of society. They seem to suppose that the social machinery of the world is self-operating. They are sure to pay their first tax with a grudge. They see political organizations in active existence; the parish, and the church, and other important bodies that embrace in some form of society all men, are successfully operated; and yet these young men have no part nor lot in the matter. They do not think of giving a day's time to society. They do not think of giving anything to society. They have an idea that the business of society is to look after them; that they are to be provided for; that all social movements whatsoever are

to be organized and operated without their aid, and that they exist as legitimate objects of their criticism. This is the very stupidity of selfishness. Some of you haven't known the fact until now, and are not very much to blame. It is one of the incidents of what Mrs Fanny Kemble once called your detestability."

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age of One of the first things a young man should do is to see that he is acting his part in society. The earlier this is begun the better. Half the ills of society originate in the fact that its burdens are unequally borne, and that the duties of individuals to it are not discharged. Therefore I say to every young man, begin early to do for the social institutions in which you have your life. If you have intellect and accomplishments, give them to the elevation and delight of the circle in which you move. Do your part, and be a man among men. Assume your portion of social responsibility, and see that you discharge it well. If you do not do this, then you are mean, and society has the right to despise you just as much as it chooses. You are, to use a word more emphatic than agreeable, a sneak, and have not a claim upon your neighbours for a single polite word.

Young men have all noticed how easily some of their number get into society, and how others remain out of a good social circle always. They are very apt to think that society has not discharged its duties to them. Now all social duties are reciprocal. Society, as it is called, is far more apt to pay its dues to the individual than the individual to society. Have you,

young man, who are at home whining over the fact that you cannot get into society, done anything to give you a claim to social recognition. Are you able to make any return for social recognition and social privileges? Do you know anything? What kind of coin do you propose to pay, in the discharge of the obligation which comes upon you with social recognition? In other words, as a return for what you wish to have society do for you, what can you do for society? This is a very important question-more important to you than to society. The question is, whether you will be a member of society by right, or by courtesy. If you have so mean a spirit as to be content to be a beneficiary of society-to receive favours and confer none-you have no business in the society to which you aspire.

You ask me what society would have of you. Anything that you possess which has value in society. Society is not particular on this point. Can you act in a charade? Can you dance? Can you tell a story well? Have you travelled, and have you a pleasant faculty of telling your adventures? Are you educated, and able to impart valuable ideas and general information? Have you vivacity in conversation? Can you sing? Can you play whist, and are you willing to assist those to a pleasant evening who are not able to stand through a party? Do you wear a good coat, and can you bring good dress into the ornamental department of society? If you do not possess a decent degree of sense, can you talk decent nonsense? Are you a good beau, and are you willing to make yourself

useful in waiting on the ladies on all occasions? Have you a good set of teeth, which you are willing to show whenever the wit of the company gets off a good thing? Are you a true, straightforward, manly fellow, with whose healthful and uncorrupted nature it is good for society to come in contact? In short, do you possess anything of any social value? If you do, and are willing to impart it, society will yield itself to your touch. If you have nothing, then society, as such, owes you nothing. Christian philanthropy may put its arm round you, as a lonely young man, about to spoil for want of something, but it is very sad and humiliating for a young man to be brought to that. There are people who devote themselves to nursing young men, and doing them good. If they invite you to tea, go by all means, and try your hand. If, in the course of the evening, you can prove to them that your society is desirable, you have won a point. Don't be patronised.

Young men are very apt to get into a morbid state of mind, which disinclines them to social intercourse. They become devoted to business, with such exclusiveness that all social intercourse is irksome. They go out to tea as if they were going to jail, and drag themselves to a party as to an execution. This disposition is thoroughly morbid, and to be overcome by going where you are invited, always, and at any sacrifice of feeling. Don't shrink from contact with anything but bad morals. Men who affect your unhealthy minds with antipathy, will prove themselves very frequently to be your best friends and most delightful companions.