BY

A MIDDLE-AGED ENGLISHMAN.

"Ridentem dicere verum

Quid vetat?"

LONDON:

WARD AND DOWNEY,

12, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

TO

FRANCIS VALENTINE PAXTON, M.A., M.D.,

LATE TRAVELLING FELLOW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

THESE

FROM AN OLD CHRIST CHURCH FRIEND

WITH GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION.

PREFACE.

THE first two essays of this volume will best explain its title page. The volume itself, such as it is, will show traces of the accompaniments of its composition, in the books and travel, the scenery, society, and hard work of a fully occupied life. In these respects I think it will be found to give a tolerably fair transcript of an average existence in these uniform modern days. It conveys a kind of philosophy of human life, such as men formulate into set terms, or unconsciously construct for themselves as life wears on to its

sunset.

The essays are almost studiously confined to the everyday common-place aspects of life. The author mingles with the crowd, and reflects and shares its moods and feelings. He makes abundant use of adage and anecdote. He has brought together some of the fleeting talk and passing incidents of the society in