FRANCIS OSBORNE

(A. D. 1593-1658.)

FRANCIS OSBORNE, from whose "Advice to a Son" the following injunctions are selected, was an English gentleman of ancient family, born in the later years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who lived through the period of the Civil War, the Commonwealth, and the Protectorate, nearly until the Restoration, adopting the Parliamentary side, in opposition to his relatives. He was the author of a number of writings, among which the "Advice" received most attention. Throughout the eighteenth century it seems to have been a book that was considerably known and read. It is mentioned by Pepys, by Swift, and by Dr. Johnson. well liked it; but Johnson dismissed it with a contemptuous fling. "Were a man to write so now," said the Doctor, "the boys would throw stones at him."

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As late as 1826, we find Henry Crabb Robinson, in his "Diary," saying: "Read the first part of Osborne's 'Advice to his Son,' a book Wordsworth gave to Monkhouse, and which, therefore, I supposed to be a favorite. But I found, on inquiry, that Wordsworth likes only detached remarks, for Osborne is a mere counsellor of selfish prudence and caution.'

So recently as 1896, a new edition, "with an introduction and notes by his Honour, Judge Edward Abbott Parry," was published in London. Judge Parry speaks of the book with the affection of one who "has spent many hours in its company and got to love the good in it and ceased to be amazed at the evil, as though it were an old friend.”

His fondness is not likely to be shared by many at the present day; for there are few kernels of wisdom or wit to be picked out of much chaff in it; while the tone and the style are equally uninspiring.

SELECTIONS FROM FRANCIS OSBORNE'S "ADVICE TO A SON."

A few books well studied, and thoroughly digested, nourish the understanding more than hundreds but gargled in the mouth. . . .

Follow not the tedious practice of such as seek Wisdom only in Learning.

The way to elegancy of style is to employ your pen upon every errand; and the more trivial and dry it is, the more brains must be allowed for sauce.

Wear your clothes neat, exceeding rather than coming short of others of like fortune.

Never buy but with ready money; and be drawn rather to fix where you find things cheap and good, than for friendship or acquaintance. . . . If you get nothing else by going from one shop to another, you shall gain experi

Such as are betrayed by their easy nature, to be ordinary security for their friends, leave so little to themselves, as their liberty remains ever after arbitrary at the will of others.

.

Honesty treats with the world upon such vast disadvantage, that a pen is often as useful to defend you as a sword, by making writing the witness of your contracts.

Beware. . . of thinking yourself wiser or greater than you are. Pride brake the angels in Heaven, and spoils

all heads we find cracked here.

Shun pride and baseness, as tutors to contempt, the first of others, the latter of yourself. . . .

To whisper with another, in company of your betters, is uncivil, and the more eminent the person is, the greater suspicion it raiseth. . . .

When you speak to any (especially of quality) look them full in the face; other gestures bewraying want of breeding, confidence, or honesty. . .

Impudence is no virtue, yet able to beggar them all; being for the most part in good plight when the rest

starve.

Beware what company you keep, since example prevails more than precept.

Let your wit rather serve you for a buckler to defend yourself, by a handsome reply, than the sword to wound others.

Be not the trumpet of your own charity, or vices; for by the one you disoblige the receiver as well as lose your reward; and by the other you alarm the censures of

men.

RENÉ DESCARTES

(A. D. 1596-1649.)

RENÉ DESCARTES, the father of modern philosophy, was a native of Touraine, in France, born in 1596, of an ancient and excellent family. When eight years old, he was placed in the Jesuit college of La Fléche, in Anjou, where he remained for eight and a half years. The result of his studies was so to disgust him with the emptiness of the knowledge he had acquired that he refused to continue them. He remained two years at home, and was then sent by his father to Paris, where he plunged for a time into the gayeties and dissipations of the capital. But he soon tired of so unsatisfactory a life, and shut himself up for two years, concealed from all his friends, in a small Parisian house, where he devoted himself to mathematical studies and philosophical meditations. His retreat having been discovered at last, he was drawn from it, and put into the army. As the French were engaged at the time in no wars, he sought active service as a volunteer, first in Holland, under Prince Maurice of Nassau, against the Spaniards, and afterwards, at the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, in the army of the Emperor Ferdinand. While in Germany, during the winter of 1619-20, he was quartered in the town of Neuberg, on the Danube, and there, becoming absorbed again in meditations, he conceived the idea which he afterwards worked out in his famous philosophical "Method." It was based on four rules: 1. Never to receive anything as true which did not show itself to be clearly so. 2. To divide all difficulties into as many parcels as possible, for distinct examination. 3. To proceed orderly in thought, from the simplest matters to the more complicated. 4. To make such complete enumerations and general reviews as to be sure to omit nothing. At the same time, he framed for himself what he called a provisional set of maxims of life and conduct. These are given below.

Soon after his winter at Neuberg, Descartes quitted the army. He then travelled for a time, before settling himself again, as he did, for several years, in Paris. In 1629 he went to Holland and resided mostly in that country. for twenty years. Invited to Stockholm in 1649, by Queen Christina of Sweden, he died there a few months later.

His "Discours de la Méthode," which gave a new direction to modern thought, was published in 1637, during his stay in Holland. It is on this that his fame principally rests, though he was author of other treatises, mathematical in the main.

PROVISIONAL RULES OF DESCARTES.

When one has resolved to rebuild his house from the foundation, it is not enough to knock the old structure down, collect stones and timber, call in an architect or make a plan for oneself: one must also, and indeed first, seek out some commodious lodging to dwell in till the new house is habitable. To this business I therefore forthwith addressed myself, and presently laid down my provisional system of conduct, which consisted of the following three or four maxims :

First, I would conform to the laws and customs of my country, holding fast by the religion which by God's grace had been taught me in childhood, and in other matters regulating myself by the customs of those about me, giving the preference always to such as lie midway betwixt either extreme.

My second maxim was, when I had once made up my mind, to go stoutly through with it. If you lose yourself in a wood, the best course is to take some one path and march in a straight line. If this does not carry you where you want to go to, it will at any rate sooner or later lead you out of the wood.

My third, to aim at conquering rather my desires than