that ass had been able to speak like a man, when they saw every day so many men speak like asses."

XXX.

THE BRIDGE OF ARCOLE.

During the revolution of July 1830, a young man, who carried a tricolour flag, rushed at the head of the insurgents on the bridge of the Hôtel-de-Ville, defended by the royal troops, raised this heroic cry, "My friends, if I die, remember that I am called d'Arcole.” He fell dead, in fact, but the bridge which received his corpse has at least preserved his name.

XXXI.

THE ATTORNEY WHO HAS A CALF'S HEAD.

An attorney said to a friend, "If I had anything good, I would invite you to dine with me." His servant, who was following him, said to him in a low voice, "Sir, you have a calf's head."

XXXII.

HOMAGE PAID TO A RIVAL.

When Turenne was killed, the Prince of Condé went to take the command of the army.

It was then that he made that beautiful remark, which shows so well the nobleness of his character: "Could I but converse for a quarter of an hour with the shade of M. de Turenne !”

XXXIII.

THE SAVANT WHOSE HOUSE IS ON FIRE.

The learned Budé was working in his study, when a servant, all out of breath, came to tell him that the house was on fire. "Go and tell that to my wife,” he replied; “I don't meddle with household affairs."

XXXIV.

HOW MUCH ARE DONKEYS WORTH?

A Prince passing through Mirebeau, a place noted for its fine donkeys, was addressed by the mayor of the town. A nobleman, wishing to amuse the prince, interrupted the mayor in the middle of his address by saying to him, "How much are donkeys worth, sir?" The mayor, not at all put out, looks at him from head to foot, and replies, "Sir, one of your colour and size would cost about ten crowns," then he continued his address.

in it, and was showing his father his astonishment at not being able to find it there.

"How," answered the latter to him, "canst thou look for that town on the map! Thou shouldst know very well that it has been burned."

XLI.

WHAT DID DAVID SAY.

A minister had ordered Dick, his servant, to go to David Black, the butcher's, and get a gigot of mutton on credit for the dinner. As Dick entered the church after executing his commission, he heard the parson exclaim several times: "What did David say? What are the words of David, my brethren?" "Mr. Minister," exclaimed Dick, "David said, No money, no gigot !"

XLII.

IRISH INSCRIPTION.

There exists in the north of Ireland, on the bank of a river, a stone with the following inscription, which will appear curious, and which without doubt had been placed there with the intention of serving as a warning to the strangers who should pass by that road: "It is to be noticed, that when this stone is under the water, it is not prudent to ford the river."

XLIII.

LOUIS XIV. AND THE PROTESTANTS.

During the times when they pursued the Protestants in France like criminals, an English ambassador begged of Louis XIV. the liberty of the Protestants, who were condemned to the galleys for the sake of their religion.

“What would the King of Great Britain say," replied Louis XIV., "if I were to ask him the liberty of the prisoners in Newgate?" "Sire," replied the ambassador, "the king, my master, would grant it to your majesty if you claimed them as your brothers."

XLIV.

THE WOUNDED GRENADIER AND NAPOLEON.

During a furious charge which took place before Ulm, the Emperor Napoleon found himself near a grenadier grievously wounded. This brave grenadier cried out like the others, "Forward! forward!" The Emperor approached him, and threw upon him his military cloak, saying, "Try to bring it back to me, and I will give thee the cross of honour in exchange." Sire, this shroud is well worth the cross," replied the grenadier; and he expired, enveloped in the imperial cloak.

B

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XXXV.

ALEXANDRE DUMAS AND THE BAILIFFS. Some one asked 25 francs from Alexandre Dumas to bury a bailiff who had died in poverty. Dumas went to his desk, took from it 15 louis, and gave them to the person, saying to him, “Ah! it is to bury a bailiff. Here

One day M. de L . . ., finding himself in a brilliant and numerous society, was placed at table between Madame Recamier and Madame de Staël. "How happy I am!" said he. "Here I am between wit and beauty." "Without possessing either," replied Madame de Staël.

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XXXVII.

A COXCOM B.

Madam," said a coxcomb, in introducing a young provincial in a drawing-room, "I introduce to you my young kinsman, who is not such a fool as he appears." "That is,” replied the young man, "the difference there is between my cousin and me.”