HINDOO BURIAL SERVICE.


During the funeral ceremony, in some parts of Hindostan, the Brahmins
address the respective elements in words to the following purport:--

"O Earth! to thee we commend our brother; of thee he was formed, by thee
he was sustained, and unto thee he now returns!

"O Fire! thou hadst a claim in our brother during his life; he subsisted
by thy influence in nature, to thee we commit his body, thou emblem of
purity, may his spirit be purified on entering a new state of existence!

"O Air! while the breath of life continued, our brother respired by
thee; his last breath is now departed, to thee we yield him!

"O Water! thou didst contribute to the life of our brother, thou wert
one of his sustaining elements. His remains are now dispersed, receive
thy share of him, who has now taken an everlasting flight." SWAINE.

* * * * *


ORIGIN OF THE ACADEMY DELLA CRUSCA.


Crusca is an Italian term, signifying _bran_, hence the name Academy
_della Crusca_, or the _Bran_ Academy, which was established at
Florence, for purifying and perfecting the Tuscan language; it was