possessed of so many excellent qualities of heart as well as of intellect. The following collection of essays, or papers, is designed to suit the tastes of a more numerous class of readers than were some of my former books, which are not likely to be of special interest to many besides students of comparative folk-loreamongst whom your own degree is high. The book, in fact, is intended mainly for those who are rather vaguely termed "general readers"; albeit I venture to think that even the folk-lore student may find in it somewhat to "make a note of," as the great Captain Cuttle was wont to say-in season and out of season. Leaving the contents to speak for themselves, I shall only say farther that my object has been to bring together, in a handy volume, a series of essays which might prove acceptable to many readers, whether of grave or lively temperament. What are called "instructive" books books-meaning thereby 'morally" instructive-are generally as dull reading as is proverbially a book containing nothing but jests-good, bad, and indifferent. We can't (and we shouldn't) be always in the "serious" mood, nor can we be for ever on the grin; and it seems to me that a mental dietary, by turns, of what is wise and of what is witty should be most wholesome. But, of the two, I confess I prefer to take the former, even as one ought to take solid food, in great moderation; and, after all, it is surely better to laugh than to mope or weep, in spite of what has been said of “the loud laugh that speaks the vacant mind.” Most of us, in this work-a-day world, find no small benefit from allowing our minds to lie fallow at certain times, as farmers do with their fields. In the following pages, however, I believe wisdom and wit, the didactic and the diverting, will be found in tolerably fair proportions. But I had forgot-I am not writing a Preface, and this is already too long for a Dedication; so believe me, with all good wishes, Yours ever faithfully, W. A. CLOUSTON. GLASGOW, February, 1890. Sketch of the Life of the Persian Poet Saádí-Character of his Writings-the Gulistán, or Rose-Garden-Prefaces Boy's Archery Feat-Advantages of Abstinence-Núshírván on Oppression-Boy in terror at Sea-Pride of Ancestry -Misfortunes of Friends-Fortitude and Liberality- Prodigality-Stupid Youth-Advantages of Education- The Fair Cup-bearer-January and May'-Why an Old Man did not Marry-The Dervish who became King -Muezzin and Preacher who had bad voices-Witty On Taciturnity: Parallels from Caxton's Dictes and preface to Kalila wa Dimna-Difference between Devotee and Learned Man-To get rid of Troublesome Visitors- Man a Laughing Animal--Antiquity of Popular Jests- 'Night and Day'-The Plain-featured Bride-The House of Condolence-The Blind Man's Wife-Two Witty Persian Ladies-Woman's Counsel-The Turkish Jester in the Pulpit; the Cauldron; the Beggar; the The Two Deaf Men and the Traveller-The Deaf Persian and the Horseman-Lazy Servants-Chinese Humour: The Rich Man and the Smiths; How to keep Plants alive; Criticising a Portrait-The Persian Courtier and his old Friend-The Scribe-The Schoolmaster and the Wit- The Persian and his Cat-A List of Blockheads-The PAGE Ashaab the Covetous-The Stingy Merchant and the Hungry Bedouin-The Sect of Samradians-The Story-teller and the King-Royal Gifts to Poets-The Persian Poet and Unlucky Omens-The Old Man's Prayer--The Old Woman in the Mosque - The Weeping Turkmans - The Ten Foolish Peasants - The Wakeful Servant-The Three Dervishes-The Oilman's Parrot-The Moghul and his |