dangerous, and the lack of courage to undertake what may sometimes appear hazardous and uncertain, in the case of one who is not prompt to see and use the favorable moment, affords the opportunity to the energetic, go-ahead man to carve out for himself a long coveted fortune. While one should ever bear in mind the rule which we have before mentioned, we would not advise him to waste time by unnecessary haste, and it should ever be remembered that time may be wasted by being too soon as well as by being too late. All our affairs should be so regulated that by making a reasonable allowance for unforseen delays, and a difference of watches, not a minute shall be unprofitably employed. By so doing we shall be surprised at the amount of work which will be accomplished, and our systematic employment of time will be productive of much personal success, and we shall thereby contribute our share in the general progress of the world. The man who is noted for promptness of character inspires all with whom he may have dealings with confidence, and the community learns to look up to him for example. If anything relating to the public weal is to be undertaken, he is to be consulted, and his advice is deemed of the utmost importance. Is any thing requiring skill and energy to be accomplished, he is the one to be entrusted with its management and direction, for the people know that whatever he undertakes will be done promptly, at exactly the right time, and when it is done it will be done. Nothing will fail in his hands for want of decision or through procrastination, which is the thief of time. Think of this, ye loiterers, and remember that you owe the world something, and that time and tide wait for no man. In this active, stirring country of ours there is no room for the lazy, prodigal spendthrift of time, and he who sees the boat leave him behind, or hears the train thundering out of the depot without him, must not complain of his ill-luck, but must remember that the world cannot afford to wait for him, and if he wishes to be in the first rauk, he must be up and dressed, ready at the instant, and setting this good example to others he will reap the fruits which they may find sometimes snatched from their grasp, and the glittering prize which another more prompt might win, will never be seen borne away just at the moment it is ready to be caught in hand. "SAVE IT IN SOMETHING ELSE." It is an every-day expression, with people about to indulge in a questionable expense, "Oh! it won't cost much after all, and we can save it in something else.'" There are hundreds of households where these or similar words have been used this very day. Does a husband wish one costly delicacy for his dinner, which his careful wife thinks they cannot afford, he quiets her scruples or forces her to deny herself what is positively needful, by telling her she " can save it in something else." Is a wife determined to outshine her neighbors in a dress? she passes lightly over her extravagances in milliners and mantua-makers, by assuring her husband volubly that she can "save it in something else." Does a man who can illy afford it, buy a fast trotter? he is sure to inform you that he can "save it in something else." Is a woman bent on giving an extravagant party? she has her answer ready, "I can save it in something else." Rarely is a foolish expenditure entered on, an expenditure which is beyond a person's means, than the reply is not made to the conscience, if not to others, "I can save it in something else." In point of fact, however, the saving is never made. Those who are first to launch into extravagance are always the last to retrench. The habit of selfindulgence, which is the cause of yielding to one temptation, is continually in the way to prevent resisting others. Neither the husband, who cannot deny himself a good dinner, nor the wife, who is unable to resist the purchase of a costly dress, are the persons to " save it in something else." If the folly is remedied at all it is because the husband has a self-sacrificing wife, who deprives herself of comforts to keep the family from running into debt, or the wife has a patient, economical husband, who lives like a hermit, that she may dress like a duchess. Our experience of human nature has yet to furnish us with a solitary instance in which selfishness of this kind did not pervade the entire character. The saving is never anything which the guilty person likes. Those who insist on gratifying themselves, when they know they cannot afford it, do it invariably at the expense of others. From the husband who practically stints his wife, to the spendthrift who cheats everybody, his tailor included, those who talk of "saving it in something else," actually enjoy themselves at the cost of innocent parties. There is but one road to economy. Without self-denial, nobody can avoid extravagance, for we all have something that we dearly wish for, and the desire to indulge ourselves is as powerful in one as in another. Virtue does not con sist in never being tempted, but in successfully resisting temptation. Those who lament so loudly that they cannot be as economical as others, because they have what they call more elegant tastes, are simply more self-indulgent. Luxury is the same sweet singing syren to us all. A just man schools himself to resist her allurements, but a weak one abandons himself to her wiles. It is insulting the long, hard, severe discipline which habituates a man to self-denial, to tell him that he is lucky in being made of sterner stuff than others who cannot emulate him; for if those others would do battle as strongly and perseveringly with their foibles, would learn to go without the luxuries and elegances they cannot afford, they also would become of sterner stuff. The evil lies in ourselves always. "Oh! save it in something else" means "somebody else must save, for I will not," and is the type of a selfish nature. This is plain speaking; but it is truth. COIN SALE IN PHILADELPHIA. Extraordinary high prices for coins were realized at an auction sale recently held in Philadelphia. The following are some of the prices, showing the extreme rates:-A Martha Washington half-dime brought $17; a Washington cent, small eagle, $19 50; a Washington cent, different die, $59; Liberty Cap cent of 1793, $17 50; a cent of 1799, $13; a cent of 1829, proof, $10; a cent of 1831, proof, $13; a half-cent of 1842, proof, $23 50; a half-cent of 1844, proof, $11 50; a half-cent of 1846, proof, $10 75; an experimental piece of 1836, flying eagle silver dollar, (Gobrect,) fine proof, $23 52; a flying eagle dollar of 1838, proof, $22; a flying eagle dollar of 1839. proof, $23 50; a pattern threecent piece of 1849, $14. The sale of ninety-six copper cents amounted to $281 17, and forty-eight half-cents to $135. Eight hundred and one lots brought $2,057. THE BOOK TRADE. 1.- Personal History of Lord Bacon from Unpublished Papers. By WILLIAM HEPWORTH DIXON, of the Inner Temple. 12mo., pp. 424. Boston Ticknor & Fields. It was but a month or two back we had occasion to notice Mr. James Spedding's collection of the works of that great author and official, Francis Bacon, denominated the wisest and brightest mind of the 16th century, now being in course of publication by Messrs. Brown & Taggard, of Boston. In this volume we have his personal history, bearing the imprint of Messrs. Ticknor & Co., publishers. Of Bacon's great acquirements, both in literature and the arts, there has latterly been but one opinion, though scorned at by many enemies of his time. Besides the acuteness and real wisdom displayed in his numerous essays, his philosophical researches in mastering the secrets of nature and applying them to human use are deserving of still greater credit. He clearly, for instance, invented a thermometer; he institued ingenious experiments on the compressibility of bodies, and on the density and weight of air, besides suggesting chemical processes. He suspected the law of universal attraction, afterwards demonstrated by Newton; and he likewise foresaw the true explication of the tides, and the cause of colors, which he truly ascribed to the manner in which bodies, owing to their different texture, reflect the rays of light. But as Bacon grew older his moral dignity proved not on a level with his intellectual penetration. Giving himself up to improvidence, his want of money betrayed him into practices of corruption while Lord Chancellor, which ended in his disgraceful fall, added to fine and imprisonment. But in the lapse of time his unworthy deeds have mostly dropped away from memory, leaving the greatness and usefulness of his thoughts a monument of imperishable glory. 2.- Considerations on some of the Elements and and Human Progress. By C. S. HENRY, D. D. D. Appleton & Co. Conditions of Social Welfare 12mo., pp. 415. New York: The pieces contained in this volume consist of a number of lectures delivered by the author at various times before such special bodies as the pupils of the New York University, Geneva College, University of Vermont, etc., etc, combining in their scope various topics, such as " The importance of Elevating the Intellectual Spirit of the Nation." The Position and Duties of the Educated Men of the Country," "California: the Historical Significance of its Acquisi tion," "The True Idea of Progress," The Destination of the Human Race," Politics and the Pulpit," "Corruption, Violence, and Abuse of Suffrage." included in which are three letters addressed to the Hon. Joshua Quincy, on President making. These ingenious addresses, touching upon the great problems of human thought and embracing questions of the highest practical interest, are not without value, particularly those in relation to the working of our political institutions and our future fortunes as a nation. 3.—The Mother in Law, a Tale of Domestic Life. By Mrs. EMMA D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH. 12mo., pp. 497. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson & Brothers. Is another new tale by that well known and much esteemed authoress, Mrs. Southworth. It represents the imperial days of Old Virginia, when her sons and daughters almost vied with Europe in aristocratic pride and dignity, and is told in her usually happy strain. Copies of the book will be sent to any part of the United States free of postage on persons remitting the price to the Messrs. Petersons, the publishers. 4.-Education; Intellectual, Moral, and Physical. By HERBERT SPENCER, author of "Social Statistics, The Principles of Psychology," and "Essays; Scientific, Political, and Speculative." 12mo., pp. 283. New York: D. Appleton & Co. The four chapters contained in this work originally appeared in the English reviews as separate articles, severally treating different divisions of the subject, where they claimed for themselves much attention. but an interdict being put on their publication in a collected form in England, by the proprietors of one of the reviews, the Messrs. Appletons believing Mr. Spencer's researches into the science of life and laws of mental development combine a masterly analysis in bringing to bear the latest results bearing on the art of teaching, have resolved to give it an American issue, knowing that it must prove useful to instructors and school directors, and become a valuable addition to the literature of education; and, at the same time, serve to make known an author, the strength and depth of whose thought is as remarkable as the clearness and vigor of style in which it is expressed. 5.-Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character. By E. B. RAMSAY, M. A., LL. D., Dean of Edinburgh. 12mo., pp. 297. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. There are doubtless many families and many individuals scattered throughout this country who, from ties of kindred or from their own recollections of the Land o' Cakes, will feel their hearts glow with emotion when they read stories such as these on such subjects as the religious feelings and religious observances of the Scotch, old Scottish conviviality, old Scottish domestic servants, humor proceeding from Scottish language, including Scottish proverbs, Scottish stories of wit and humor, etc., etc. The quaint mode of expression pertaining to the old Scotch dialect has always been proverbial, and when combined with the natural simplici ty of the Scottish character, possesses a charm far above what we deem common-place smartness. As Pope has it, There is majesty in simplicity which is far above the quaintness of wit." The object had in publishing the little volume is to furnish a class of anecdotes peculiar to Scotland, and to preserve a page of their domestic national annals which, in the eyes rising generations, is fast fading into oblivion. of 6.-Autobiography of the Rev. Dr. Alexander Carlyle, Minister of Inveresk. Containing Memorials of the Men and Events of his Time. Boston Ticknor & Fields. : 12mo., pp. 471. This will be found a deeply interesting volume to all those interested in Eng lish church history so far back as the beginning of the present century, embracing, as it does, the private diary of Alexander Carlyle, D. D., for fifty years minister of Inveresk, who, if persons be estimated by the influence they have imparted from mere personal character and ability, was a very remarkable man. Born in a simple manse, learned, eloquent, liberal, and exemplary in his manners, he ever remained that type of humble respectability-a village pastor. His lot not being cast in any of those revolutionary periods which gave men of his stamp a place in history, he seemed pervaded with but one ambition to dignify his calling by bringing it forth in the world, and making for it a place along with rank and distinction of every kind. He was eminently a good man, and his autobiography will be found one of great interest as historically connected with men and events of his time. The style is easy, rambling, and familiar, and shows the author to have been possessed of a good memory, great observation, and much penetration. |