form one of his own, if he pleases. On the whole, it is quite likely that he or she will get along just as well without any theory whatever—the petrified trees are there anyhow—and in doing so, save himself and mankind generally a world of trouble. I have observed in my capacity as a journalist, that the detective or other officer who forms a theory in regard to the perpetration of a crime, invariably warps all the facts to accommodate them to that theory, and in nine cases out of ten ends by going wide of the truth, and having-the mortification of seeing some dull-headed, non-theorizing plodder carry off the reward for the discovery of the criminal. As a rule, what is cheap is not worth having at any price, and the mere fact that a theory on any subject costs nothing at the start, is rather against it than otherwise. I used to have theories on politics and religion and social economy years ago, but I found that they kept me in hot water all the time, so I discarded them all, and have had abundant reason to thank a merciful Providence for having done so. As a rule, theories don't pay. It is true there are exceptions. I once knew a famous southern journalist who retired from the pursuit of his profession, and settled down as a theoretical and practical sheep-raiser, in Coural county, Texas. He had a theory. It was, that the sure road to fortune—for others—lay in buying blooded sheep for improving the native breed. He succeeded in convincing his fellow-citizens of the Lone Star State of the truth of this theory, and became rich by selling them the sheep at round prices. But you will readily observe
