From the Baltimore Sun.

Inheritance of Talent.

carefully guarded, to become but a brilliant villain. Or take a third instance. One parent may have much imagination, but little A cotemporary says that great men usually little else; and the other nothing remarkable, inherit their talents from their mother. This but great perceptive faculties. The union of is the popular belief, but none the less errone- these two characteristics in a child will proous. The mistake has arisen from attending duce a poct. The transmission of either in only to those cases in which the mother had a excess, unless balanced by strong reasoning superior mind, to the equally numerous exam-powers, may make only a human monkey or ples where the father possessed remarkable romantic fool. abilities. Everybody quotes the fact that Napoleon derived his genius from his mother. Nobody mentions that Burns owed his vast abilities to his father. A traveller would commit a similar blunder who should describe all Americans were light-haired, or say that every Philadelphian was a Quaker. The rule-for rule there is-lies deeper.

Great abilities, in a word, arise from such a fortunate union of the mental characteristics of the parents as renders the progeny a genius, though neither father nor mother, perhaps, were such. The catalogue of eminent men, if carefully made up and honestly scrutinized with a view to elucidating the truth, would establish this, we have no doubt, beyond controversy. For it is already known that the child takes its mental nature in about equal portions from its parents, and this fact at once leads to our conclusion, as well as explains why brilliant parents often have dunces among their offspring.

Let us illustrate this. A man has the purely intellectual characteristics in great force, but is wanting in will: he is consequently a dreamy philosopher, or a visionary speculator. He marries a woman, who, with but ordinary intellect, has immense energy. One child of this pair may combine the weakness, of both parents; and will be, in that event, an irreclaimable fool. But another may inherit the mother's will, with the father's intellect; and this child, unless ruined by a bad education, is certain to become distinguished.

This law explains also why so few eminent men belong to one family. There have rarely been two distinguished poets, painters, generals, or even statesmen, who were father or son, or even brothers. The elder and younger Pitt, though both Prime Ministers, and both famous speakers, were strikingly dissimilar in their mental constitution, so this example which seems at first to oppose our theory, really sustains it. In fact, when we consider that the mind has so many and so distinguished ingredients, ideality, casuality, benevolence, reverence, destructiveness, constructiveness, and that they are combined in millions of varieties in as many million persons, the wonder is not that two individuals, even of the same family, resemble each other so much. Given the score and odd of separate bumps into which phrenology divides the brain, and take the child of any two persons whatever-and who shall say in what exact proportions out of the ten thousand possible ones, these qualities ought to unite?

There is too much falsity taught for truth on this and similar subjects, not only in the newspapers but in elaborate books. The reason is that few persons think soundly, or dare to deny the pre-conceived or popular ideas. We would, however, have every man reflect for himself, "prove all things; hold fast to that which is good."

A Young Hero.

Or take another example. A woman of no MASTER Walters had been much annoyed remarkable abilities, but with a fine moral by some one of his scholars whistling in school. nature, is married to a man without principle, Whenever he called a boy to account for such but possessing shining abilities. One child of disturbance, he would plead that it was uninthis pair may inherit the good qualities of both tentional-" he forgot all about where he parents, and becomes a Bunyan, a Nestor, or was." This became so frequent that the maseven a Washington. But another may inherit ter threatened a severe punishment to the the deficiencies of both, and grow up, unless next offender. The next day, when the room

another world for him to conquer, set fire to a city, and died in a scene of debauch.

Hannibal, after having, to the astonishment and consternation of Rome, passed the Alps, after having put to flight the armies of the

was unusually quiet, a loud sharp whistle broke the stillness. Every one asserted that it was a certain boy who had the reputation of a mischief-maker and a liar. He was called up, and though with a somewhat stubborn look, he denied it again and again-mistress of the world, and stripped three commanded to hold out his hand. At this bushels of gold rings from the fingers of her instant, a little slender fellow, not more than slaughtered knights, and made her very founseven years old, came out, and with a very dation quake-fled from his country-being pale, but decided face, held out his hand, say-hated by those who once exultingly united his ing, as he did so, with the clear tone and firm air of a hero," Mr Walters, sir, do not punish him-I whistled. I was doing a long, hard sum, and in rubbing out another, rubbed this by mistake, and spoiled it all, and before I thought, I whistled right out, sir. I was very much afraid, but I could not sit there and act a lie, when I knew who was to blame. You may ferule me, sir, as you said you would." And with all the firmness he could command, he again held out the little hand, never for a moment doubting that he was to be punished. Mr. Walters was much affected.

name with that of God, and called him Hannibal-died at last by poison, administered by his own hands, unlamented and unwept for in a foreign land.

Cæsar, after having conquered eight hundred cities, and dyed his hands in the blood of one million of foes; after having pursued to death the only rival he had on earth, was miserably assassinated by those he considered his nearest friends, and in that very place the attainment of which had been his greatest ambition.

Bonaparte, whose mandate Kings and Em"Charles," said he, looking at the erect perors obeyed, after having filled the earth form of the delicate child, who had made with the terror of his name, deluged it with such a conquest over his natural timidity, "I tears and blood, and clothed the world with would not strike you a blow for the world. No sackcloth, ended his days in lonely banishment, one here doubts that you spoke the truth; almost literally exiled from the world, but you did not mean to whistle. You have been where he could sometimes see his country's a hero, sir." banner waving over the deep, but which could The boy went back to his seat with a flush-not or would not bring him aid. ed face, and quickly went on with his sums. He must have felt that every eye in the room was upon him in admiration, for the smallest scholar in the school could appreciate the moral courage of such an action.

Charles grew up, and became a devoted, consistent Christian. Let all our readers imitate his noble, heroic conduct.

From the Rural New Yorker.
Four Great Men.

It is a remarkable fact that four of the most renowded men that ever lived, closed with some violent or mournful death.

Thus four men, who, from the peculiar situation of their portraits, seemed to stand as representatives of all those whom the world calls great-those four whom, each in their turn, made the earth tremble to its very centre by their simple tread, severally died—one by intoxication, or, as some suppose, by poison mingled in his wine, one by suicide, one murdered by his friends, and one in lonely exile.

THE LIBRARY OF LIFE.-Life is a library, composed of several volumes. With some these volumes are richly gilt; with others, quite plain. Of its several volumes, the first is a Child's Book, full of pretty pictures; the Alexander, after having climbed the dizzy second is a School Book, blotted, inked, and heights of his ambition, and with his temples dog's-eared; the next is a Thrilling Romance, bound with chaplets dipped in the blood of full of love, hope, ruin, and despair, winding countless nations looked down upon a con-up with a marriage with the most beautiful quered world, and wept that there was not heroine that ever was; there is a House-keep

LEARNED IGNORANCE.-When the commit- eulogist dispenses every other person from the tee of the French Academy were employed only obligation to praise him. A truly moin preparing the well known Academy Dic-dest man, emerging from his transient obscurtionary, Cuvier, the celebrated naturalist, ity, will obtain those delightful praises which came one day into the room where they were holding a session.

"Glad to see you, M. Cuvier," said one of the forty; we have just finished a definition which we think quite satisfactory, but upon which we would like to have your opinion. We have been defining the word Crab, and have explained it thus:-Crab, a small red fish which walks backward."

"Perfect, gentlemen," said Cuvier; "only, if you will give me leave, I will make one small observation in natural history: The crab is not a fish—it is not red-and it does not walk backward! With these exceptions, your definition is excellent."

the heart awards without effect. His superiority, far from being importunate, will become attractive. Modesty gives to talents and virtue the same charm that chastity adds to beauty.—Droz.

We are always, in these days, trying to separate the two (intellect and work.) We another to be always working; and we call want one man to be always thinking, and one a gentleman and the other an operative; whereas, the workman ought to be often

thinking, and the thinker often working, and both should be gentlemen in the best sense. It is only by thought that labor can be made happy; and the two cannot be separated with impunity.

EDUCATION IN RUSSIA.-According to a re

A CANDID MIND.-There is nothing sheds so fine a light upon the human mind as candor. It was called whiteness by the ancients for its purity; and it has always won the esteem due to the most admirable of the virtues. How-port from the minister of public instruction, ever sought for or practised, all felt the power there exists in the empire of Russia 47 public and charm of its influence. The man whose libraries. The total number of educational opinions make the deepest mark upon his establishments is 3,872, frequented by 194,490 fellow man, whose influence is the most last- pupils. The number of private schools is 614, ing and efficient, whose friendship is instinct- having 21,893 pupils. The number of persons ively sought where all others have proved of both sexes employed in education is 2,087. faithless, is not the man of brilliant parts, or In the four governments and the three terriflattering tongue, or splendid genius, or com-tories of Siberia there are 3 colleges, 71 schools, manding power; but he whose lucid candor and two private institutions, frequented by and ingenuous truth transmit the heart's real 4,346 pupils. feelings pure and without refraction. There are other qualities which are more showy, and other traits that have a higher place in the world's code of honor; but none wear better, or gather less tarnish by use, or claim a deeper homage in that silent reverence which the mind must pay to virtue.

FIVE WORDS IN SEASON.-About two centuries ago, the Legislature of Scotland enacted that "a good and sufficient school" should be introduced and maintained in every parish. To these five words, "a good and sufficient school," introduced into an act of Parliament not longer than a man's thumb, is Scotland indebted at this day for nearly every solid glory she possesses.

MODESTY. A simple and modest man lives unknown, until a moment, which he could not have foreseen, reveals his estimable qualities and generous actions. I compare him to SELFISHNESS.-Selfishness has no soul. It the concealed flower springing from an hum- is a heart of stone encased in iron. Selfishble stem, which escapes the view, and is dis- ness cannot feel the pangs and thrusts of covered only by its perfume. Pride quickly hunger. It robs its own grave-sells its own fixes the eye, and he who is always his own bones to the doctors, and its soul to the devil.