BLACKWOOD'S

EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.

No. DLXXXV.

JULY 1864.

Vol. XCVI.

CORNELIUS O'DOWD UPON MEN AND WOMEN, AND OTHER THINGS

IN GENERAL.

PART VI.

A GRUMBLE.

I WONDER is the world as pleasant very tangible advantages too—I do as it used to be ? Not to myself, of not think the present occupants course—I neither ask nor expect it; make the house as pleasant as their but I mean to those who are in fathers did, and for the very simple the same position to enjoy it as I reason, that they never try. was years ago. I am delicate Indifferentism is the tone of the about the figures, for Mrs O'D. OC- day. No one must be eager, pleased,

. casionally reads these sketches, and displeased, interested, or anxious might feel a wifelike antipathy to about anything. Life is to be a record of this nature. I repeat, treated as a tiresome sort of thing, I wonder is life as good fun as it but which is far too much beneath was when I made my first acquaint- one to be thought of seriously—a ance with it? My impression is wearisome performance, which good that it is not. I do not presume manners require you should sit to say that all the same elements out, though nothing obliges you to are not as abundant as heretofore. applaud or even approve of it. This There are young people, and witty is the theory, and we have been people, and, better, there are beau- most successful in reducing it to tiful people, in abundance. There practice. We are immensely bored, are great houses as of yore, main- and we take good care so shall be tained, perhaps, with even more our neighbour. Just as we have than bygone splendour : the horses voted that there is nothing new, are as good—the dogs as good—the nothing strange, nothing amusing, trout-streams as well stocked-the we defy any one to differ with us, grouse as abundant-foreign travel on pain of pronouncing him vulgar. is more easy—all travel is more North American Indians are not facile—there are more books, and case - hardened against any more illustrated newspapers; and show of suffering under torture, yet with all these advantages

than are

our well - bred people VOL. XCVI.NO. DLXXXV.

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