Class _JEi-LOi Book. ■ S ^ ? 1 GopyiightN 10 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. A CENTO or APHORItSHiS REASONABLY ftl^iYnED- - BY- . - - LORLNZO^^SSQ I>£51(;Kf BY HAKSHAIL WUCLASS. • HDCCCCIV - JE\NFRANC1.5Ca LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two Copies Received JAN 12 1304 !>, Copyright Entry CLASS^^'Mc?'no, y u i^ z ^ COPY 3 Copyright M. ROBERTSON San Francisco 1903 TO MY MOTHER A little offering for a great love Preface Alas ! for the fate of the social reformer, Who finding things warm only makes things warmer. TT was from the mouth of the garrulous Polonius that Shakespeare let fall one of those inestimable pearls of wisdom wherewith his genius was so lavishly endowed: " Brevity is the soul of wit. " 0, brilliant truth ! And as condensation is the highest attainment in the art of literary expression, whether rhythmical or rhetorical, so over the portal leading to the temple of Fame are carven in letters of gold the words multum in parvo. Of late there has been a plethora of Proverbs. Some perverted from their proper use ; some cynically (and scenically) presented, to be calendered for all time; some the whimsies of a frivolous mind ; some eviscerated of all wit; others the evaporation of wisdom con- densed into a drop of fancy. The author of this little booklet has not attempted to rival these later Solomons in their loquacious utterances for the benefit of both the elect and uninstructed. Emerson has stated that '* Proverbs, like the sacred books of each nation are the sanctuary of the intuitions." They are also an epigrammatic epitome of the common sense of the people, which neither the wit nor the jester, the satirist nor the sage, can entirely invalidate. And there are no wiser commentaries to the prosaic tomes of Time than those proverbs which the peoples of all nations have originated. Indeed, many a proverb would serve as a fitting epitaph for mighty empires passed away. It would be futile therefore for the writer of these pages to claim absolute originality for his production. But by casting them into a rhythmical form, after usages of eastern nations, it is hoped they may be easily memorized, and serve the apter purpose of quotation for the minister, the lecturer, the author, the orator, the lawyer, the publican, and all those wiser Philistines of our day whose modicum of morality is dispensed from their philters of wit one drop at a time. No other merit is claimed, And where no reward is expected, no rebuke should attend, •• With which moral I drop my theorbo," and come to an end. Whenever you would give advice Be not too liberal; keep a slice. This is the law by which to live : To give to get, to get to give. No want of will will always be No want of opportunity. It will not help your feet to mount To look upon the steps and count. 'Tis not the luster of the blade Which makes the enemy afraid. Silence hath many ways For winning Wisdom's praise. Quickly is love's duration reck- oned, With woman a minute, with man a second. How great their folly who suppose The thorn adds richness to the rose. It is through what they instigate Some men succeed in being great. If quality be nature's law Then Jacob still should rule Esau.