regards of a human creature than his own image' /nihil respectabilius
homini quam formam suam/! Is not that one of our children the most dear
to us who is called 'the picture of his father'? But take what pains you
will with a picture, it can never be so like you as the face in your
mirror! Think it discreditable to look with proper attention on one's
self in the glass! Did not Socrates recommend such attention to his
disciples,--did he not make a great moral agent of the speculum? The
handsome, in admiring their beauty therein, were admonished that handsome
is who handsome does; and the more the ugly stared at themselves, the
more they became naturally anxious to hide the disgrace of their features
in the loveliness of their merits. Was not Demosthenes always at his
speculum? Did he not rehearse his causes before it as before a master in
the art? He learned his eloquence from Plato, his dialectics from
Eubulides; but as for his delivery--there, he came to the mirror!

"Therefore," concluded Mr. Caxton, returning unexpectedly to the
subject,--"therefore, it is no reason to suppose that Dr. Riccabocca
is averse to cleanliness and decent care of the person because he is a
philosopher; and, all things considered, he never showed himself more a
philosopher than when he left off his spectacles and looked his best."

"Well," said my mother, kindly, "I only hope it may turn out happily.
But I should have been better pleased if Pisistratus had not made Dr.
Riccabocca so reluctant a wooer."

"Very true," said the captain; "the Italian does not shine as a lover.
Throw a little more fire into him, Pisistratus,--something gallant and
chivalrous."

"Fire! gallantry! chivalry!" cried my father, who had taken Riccabocca