unfavourable judgments which he forms. Further observation, new circumstances, unexpected changes, may essentially correct his judgment, and therefore a prudent man will keep them to himself: they are his own peculiar property, and were obtained for his own use. The worst form of insincerity is undoubtedly that which leads one to pretend to feel a warm friendly interest in the welfare of a person who is an object of indifference to him. This is a charge which has been frequently brought against the dispensers of patronage. There can be no doubt that public men, from their peculiar situation, are liable to be greatly annoyed by appliIcations for the exercise of their influence in behalf of individuals in whom they take little or no interest; and in replying to these applications great caution and delicacy require to be employed, lest, on the one hand, they give offence by their bluntness and sincerity; or, on the other, excite expectations which they have neither the ability nor the intention to fulfil. The petitioners may be over-sanguine, and may from the courtesy of the reception they meet with, be led to entertain unreasonable hopes which are destined to be disappointed; and therefore it is incumbent upon those to whom the applications are addressed, while they say nothing that can offend the delicacy, or hurt the feelings of the applicants, to express themselves in such a manner as not to excite any hopes which they are not only able but willing to realize. The same rule ought to be observed by individuals in every station of life; and then fewer disappointments would take place, and more confidence would be entertained, between man and man, in the unavoidable intercourse

of society. Insincerity is often demonstrated by paying false and silly compliments, which assume the form of flattery a word which is derived from the Latin, and signifies wind, breath, puff. This is a kind of ailment which perverted self-love finds to be exceedingly pleasant. Although it is in truth precisely what its origin indicates, there is hardly a man, woman, or child who is not disposed to partake of it, if it be artfully disguised. But, on the other hand, all sensible persons, of whatever age or sex, who see what it is, and why offered, feel for the flatterer the contempt which he deserves. This insincerity is, and ought to be, deemed a high offence. It implies art and deceit in the flatterer, and sufficient weakness in the flattered, to be subdued to the purpose in view. The flatterer's purpose may be to secure to himself no more than a better esteem than he can have any pretence to, and it may be, through that, to secure to himself something which may be very costly to his victim. All extravagant commendation of any person, however estimable may be his qualities, and however highly they may be appreciated by the bestower of the praise, ought to be avoided. The praised may be perfectly sincere, but still it is a violation of good manners, and is a direct insult to the understanding of the person to whom it is administered. Sincerity requires no such breach of the other moralities; and, whenever it is exercised in such a manner, it degenerates into rudeness.

THE MAN OF BUSINESS AND THE BUSINESS

MAN.

THE distinction made between the man of business and the business man, by the Merchant, a Philadelphia newspaper, is a good one-a distinction with a difference too palpable to be gainsaid or denied :—

It is a great mistake to confound these two characters, as is frequently done, by the thoughtless and unreflecting. The difference between them, is the difference between the man who ascends the ladder of fortune with a quick, lithe, and easy step, and he who is always attempting to climb, and never gets beyond the first round or two of the ascent. And how many of this latter class do we see-the men of business, who are always standing at the bottom looking upward, yet never put their hands and feet to the work. They don't exercise the business talent and energies which they possess, but fold their hands and stand spell-bound; while the man of quick, lively, and venturesome parts, takes hold and mounts up, securing a firm grasp upon each round of the ladder as he fearlessly and rapidly advances in the upward way of fortune. But we will endeavour to give a more definite explanation of the difference between these two classes.

The man of business and the business man both have business to do; but the business man is the one who does it. The business man thinks, moves, acts, and makes himself felt in the world. If a thought comes into his head, it is one of breadth and compass-it don't centre on

self and its narrow world. It reaches away and embraces others. It has a wide range, and does not stop till it touches, and affects for good the interests of all. Nor are the thoughts of such men immobile. They become acting, living realities in the wide and busy world. The authors of them make of these business thoughts actualities-give them "local habitation and a name;" and steamboats are built, an ocean is navigated, and distant climes and nations brought together; an electric telegraph springs into being, as by enchantment, and lightning becomes garrulous and voluble, and thought out-travels the winged winds; and in a twinkling the bands and shackles of trade are loosened. Such are the workings produced by the business man. He awakens the drowsy and helpless multitudes, puts life and thought, energy and action, into them, and makes the world leap rejoicing along the path of ages. Where its step before was but a single year, now it strides by scores and fifties.

"Men of thought, men of action,

Clear the way."

And they do clear the way-their thoughts become tangible, moving, demolishing forces, that break down and crush all opposing barriers, opening a pathway of progress, into which the more sluggish and timid portion of humanity may securely travel.

But the man of business is emphatically what the name indicates. His business is always on his hands. He don't do it. He don't know how to go to work in the right way. His thoughts are all measured and slow. He weighs self-made doubts and supposed contingencies, and, before he moves, the business man gets up and runs

away from him, and wins the race. The man of business won't go a-head, he only eddies round and round-he don't "progress," his path is a circle. He don't find himself at night many miles on his journey's way, but, like the hour-hand of a clock, just where he started. He is not clear and decided in what he does, but often stands hesitating and puzzled. He ventures and falls back; has a stout heart in fancy, but none in fact. Such a man may get a living-he may even help others to live; but the throbbing heart of the great world will not be accelerated by his presence nor his work. Thus you will perceive that a man of business is not necessarily a business

man.

"Act-act in the living present,

Man within, and God o'erhead."

A PHILADELPHIA MERCHANT.

JAMES HOLFORD has risen step by step up the ladder of fortune, until he stands securely at the summit, with fame, wealth, and honours surrounding him. Some twenty years ago this same James Holford was at the very foot of the ladder, pondering how he should rise. The ladder was very curious to contemplate, and still more curious was it to hear what the world said about it.

"It is all luck, sir," cried one, "nothing but luck; why, sir, I have managed at times to get up a step or two, but have always fallen down ere long, and now ·I have given up striving, for luck is against me."