Answers to Correspondents.
"One who fears rats."—better bear with the rats than become acquainted with the cat.
"Peter."—Yes; all Scilly people are English.
"Ignorance."—A latitudinarian is a man who finds the latitude at sea and elsewhere. A vegetarian is a man who grows vegetables. Why don’t you buy a dictionary?
"Enquirer."—Very little is known of the first settlers of central Africa; but the supposition that it was colonized by an Irish Chieftain named Tim Buctoo appears to be a popular error.
"One eager to learn."—Your question, to say the very least that can be said about it, is abound, and betrays your unfounded ignorance. However we will condescend to enlighten you. First, then, Mexico is an island in the Red Sea, from which it is evident it takes its name. Its inhabitants are of a light blue color, and not black as you supposed. They are very industrious people, but they never work on holidays (of which they have 365 in the year.) On those gala days their dress is richer than usual, being composed of a pair of spectacles and a bludgeon; on all other days they vary their costume by omitting the spectacles. Their Government is a despotic anarchy, and they are very happy under it, indeed. We cannot devote any more of our valuable space to you; but if you wish to become thoroughly acquainted with this subject we advise you to study the "London Directory" for 1612.
We should be very sorry to injure anyone, even unintentionally; and, if we have done so we will be willing to make reparation. Will "Endymion," then kindly inform us in what way we have deserved his ill will, that he should inflict on us such trash as his "Plaint to the Moon".
"A Constant Reader."—We don’t believe it possible to cozen the captain out of the sheep shanks made by the crew; neither do we think they would improve the soup.
"They’ll come again when south winds blow."
SATURDAY, NOV. 9th 1867.
Home Thoughts.
In our passage through this world we sought wisdom by a stern monitor,—Experience. Pain, and sorrow and suffering, take each their part in giving to us the golden lesson; and but for their powerful influence the end of our pilgrimage would often be dark and cheerless, although the path itself might have been lighted up by the false glaze of excitement and pleasure. By their rude discipline our minds are prepared for the mild and soothing balm and consolation of religion, and rendered softer and better in our intercourse with our fellow-man. They tame the wayward heart of the thoughtless youth and turn his pliable mind to the truer and more enduring pleasure of home with all its endearing ties of parental love and brotherly affection; and they tone down the stranger passions of maturer years and guide the mind in that strait and oft-neglected way that alone leads to true and perfect happiness. "Sweet are the uses of Adversity," wrote the poet; and in that brief sen-
