AMONG THE MAGAZINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 36

AMONG THE MAGAZINES.

By Liseub. Fin de (Siecle. tvi* ; \ In February 1890, M. Blum wrote for a Paris theatre a caustic picture (says the Atlantic Monthly) of Parisian life, entitled " Paris Fin de Siecle." The play was most successful, and part of its title, borrowed apparently from " Mensonges," by M. Bourget, who himself may have borrowed it, has gained world- wide currency. Everywhere we are treated to dissertations on fin de siecle literature, fin de siecle statesmanship, fin de siecle morality. People seem to take for granted that a moribund century implies a weariness of all tilings, and that in 1901 the world will make a fresh start. _ This appears to be a new sensation. Ib is true that towards the end of the tenth century there was a widespread belief in the end of the world, and ordinary duties were neglected, but at no subsequent fin de siecle have people betrayed a morbid self-consciousness. Carlyle set the fashion of anathematising the eighteenth century, and taught us to regard the French Revolution as the grand collapse of an age of shams ; but our grandfathers on the whole did not consider their times particularly bad. We are apt to forget that a century is a purely arbitrary division, so that there is no moral or material difference between 1900 and 1901. No doubt a new century, like a new year, may inspire good resolutions, and I good resolutions are to be welcomed, evan if prompted by a kind of superstition. Foibles might be renounced to-morrc% without waiting for a round age, but if everybody has not the requisite force of character for this' let us be thankful for the second best. If the world contemplates turning over a new leaf with the new century it will be a cause for rejoicing. But meanwhile do not let us imagine that because we are in the 90's we have an excuse for lassitude and flabbiness. J If, as Plutarch says, vice should wither and virtue strengthen with age, why should hot the same be the case 'with a century ? In point of fact tenth decades have had a full share of events. The Exodus is commonly dated 1491, the siege" of Troy 1193, and the birth of Homer 900 — all B.C. But let us pasS to more certain chronologies. The death of Socrates took place B.C. 399, of Roger Bacon A.r>. 1292, of Chaucer 1400, of Montaigne ' 1592, and of Washington 1799; but B.C. 100 boasts the birth of Caesar, a.b. 1692 that of Analogy Butler, 1694 that of Voltaire, and 1795 that of Carlyle. Solon legislated 80. 594 ; Charlemagne was crowned at Rome in 800; Paris became capital of France in 996— tkatwas a grand Paris fin deaiecle; Dante commenced his " Divine Comedy " in 1300 ; America was discovered in 1492; English trade with India commenced in 1591 ; and the edict of Nantes gave France religious peace in 1598. Let us hope that within the next nine years there will be some great achievement, and let. as also take to heart the conviction that for reformation or any other work one year is as good as another, or rather tha£ the present year is better than any other. One to-day is worth two tomorrows.

A Costly comma.

There is scarcely a session of Oongrees in which bills are not found to contain mistakes in orthography or punctuation. The only wonder is that more do not occur when the hurry and confusion of the end of the session is remembered. Rest or sleep is tnen oftentimes impossible for several days, and the clerks become nervous, wearied, and sometimes wholly exhausted by the intense strain and prolonged physical labour. Probably the smallest and apparently most insignificant of all such blunders was the most expensive one of the kind ever made. It occurred in a tariff bill more than 20 years ago. There was a section enumerating those articles to be admitted free of duty. Among the many articles specified were " all foreign fruit-plants," &c, meaning plants imported for transplanting, propagation, or experiment The enrolling clerk, in copying the bill, accidentally changed the hyphen in the compound word " fruit-plants " to a comma, making it read, all " foreign fruit, plants," &c. The consequence was that for a year all the oranges, lemons, bananas, grapes, and other foreign fruit were admitted duty free. This little mistake, which any man might have made, cost the United States Government about 2,000,000d01.

Carlyle on a Literary Profession.

In " Poet Lore " is printed what is said to be a hitherto unpublished letter of Oarlyle's. His correspondent had asked his advice concerning tbe pursuit of journalism in lieu of the printer's craft, and the advice given was as follows :— " Chelsea, Ist April 1870. Dear sir, — Your letter manifests a great deal of good will to me, for which I am much obliged. It also bespeaks in yourself an amiable and honourable disposition, and a stock of natural faculties and aspirations which, if well cultivated and wisely guided, may turn to excellent account for you in life. I by no means adv'se you to look towards literature as a goal. I do advise you to continue seriously devoting all your leisure hours to acquirements of solid knowledge and clear understanding of yourself and the world .that is about yon, If in

the course of years you should clearly feel yourself to have attained some real wisdom of conduct and thinking, and then to have actually something to say, there can be no harm whatever in your saying it by any ' honest method, but probably also there may be little or no advantage (to jourself above all) ; and it is dangerous to count as certain that such a result (the one real sanction for literary enterprise) will arrive in one's own case while still undecided I It is true multitudes of persons do rush into newspaper and other literature without the shadow of any such sanction; but their life, accordingly, turns out to be miserable, bad, and despicable, almost beyond that of any other class of men I know. You may believe me, an honest, rational, and really good printer's course of life offers far more capabilities in the world, with its many colonies, &c. Be wise, tie steadfast, modest, diligent; you will infallibly arrive at something good, and if it be a quiet thing instead of a noisy think yourself all the luckier. Wishing you heartily we ll._ Yours faithfully, Thomas Caelyle."