Exaltation Society. The present writer will be secretary. The only
remuneration he would expect would be that all the members should
undertake, at least six times every day, to make favourable mention
of a recently published work. Six times a day would they be expected
to say promiscuously to any intelligent friend or stranger, 'Have
you read the Recreations of a Country Parson? Most wonderful book!
Not read it? Go to Mudie's and get it directly '--and the like.
For obvious reasons it would not do to make public the names of
the members of the association; the moral weight of their mutual
laudation would be much diminished. But clever young men in various
parts of the country who may desire to join the society, may make
application to the Editor of Eraser's Magazine, enclosing testimonials
of moral and intellectual character. Applications will be received
until the First of April, 1861.

I wonder whether any real impression is produced by those puffing
paragraphs which appear in country newspapers about some men, and
which are written either by the men themselves or by their near
relatives and friends. I think no impression is ever produced upon
intelligent people, and no permanent impression upon any one. Still,
among a rural population, there may be found those who believe all
that is printed in a newspaper; and who think that the man who is
mentioned in a newspaper is a very great man. And if you live among
such, it is pleasant to be regarded by them as a hero. The Reverend
Mr. Smith receives from his parishioners the gift of a silver
salver: the county paper of the following Friday contains a lengthy
paragraph recording the fact, and giving the reverend gentleman's
feeling and appropriate reply. The same worthy clergy-man preaches
a charity sermon: and the circumstance is recorded very fully, the
eloquent peroration being given with an accuracy which says much