Page:Bassetts scrap book 1907 03-1909 02.djvu/222

24 should be very simple and without jewels. In fact, it was only a little circle of gold, but, to cover the painting, a great diamond, shaved thin, served as a glass. Mme. de B. having sent back the diamond, the Prince de Conti had it crushed, reduced to a powder, and then used it to dry the ink of the note which he wrote about the matter to Mme. de B. The pinch of powder cost four or five thousand francs, but one can imagine the wording and the tone of the note.—Taine.

A writer has discovered that many of the worst foes of the horticulturist begin with "w," and he instances worms, weevils, wind and other workers of wickedness. This suggests a question as to whether there is any natural grouping of good or evil things under particular letters.

Take "b," for example, and consider how many boons and blessings to man begin with it. The baker, butcher and brewer bring him bread, beef and beer. For additional food he has bacon, black bass, beans, bloaters, broth, bivalves, bananas, berries, biscuits, buns and butter. These are but a few of the beneficent things included under that blessed letter "b."

Now, as a contrast, take "d," and among the first words we think of are damp, dark, dreary, dank, dull, drowned, dismal, dirty, dusty, dastard, daft, ducked, dosed, digusted, diseased, doldrums, dungeons dead, drunk, and so on, the very sound of which is enough to drive one into doleful dumps.

When I have felt anger overcoming me, I have