CONFUCIUS.

CONFUCIUS was a great moral teacher, and the most eminent character that ever appeared among that vast, and in many respects mysterious nation, the Chinese.

He was born nearly four centuries and a half before our Saviour; about which period it is remarkable that several very admirable philosophers appeared in different parts of the earth, as if to prepare the way for the gospel of Christ. Passing over the king-worship of the books of Confucius, which heathen error has been singularly unfavourable to the development of Chinese intelligence and prosperity, passing this by, the famous moral sayings of Confucius

have been for twenty-two centuries living fountains of truth and virtue, wherever the despotic government of the Celestial Empire has not interfered to prevent their free operation. Those sayings are to this day only surpassed by His who spake as never man spake. The very manner of teaching of Confucius approaches more nearly to that of our Great Teacher than the manner of any other moral philosopher, Pagan or Christian, At the present time, every district in China contains a temple of Confucius, in every Chinese school-room the scholars burn incense twice a day before a tablet bearing the name of the philosopher, and his books are reverenced as infallible guides for faith and duty. Let us hope they will soon be more rationally studied, under the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

CONFUCIUS AND THE FOWLER.

WALKING one day with some disciples, Confucius beheld a fowler snaring birds with a nɛt. "How is it," he inquired, "that none of the old birds are caught?" "They are too wary,"

replied the fowler, "and the young ones that follow them attentively, likewise escape. But those young ones that separate from the flock I generally catch. Occasionally, too, I take an old bird, but only when he follows the young ones." "Now," said Confucius, turning to his disciples, "attend to my instructions. The young birds escape the snare only when they keep with the old ones; the old ones are taken only when they follow the young. Thus it is with mankind. Presumption, hardihood, want of forethought, and inattention, are the principal reasons why young people are led astray. They rashly undertake acts without consulting the aged and experienced; and thus, following their own notions, are misled, and fall into the first snare that is laid for them."

D

JOHN LOMBE.

THE originator of the silk-mill in England was a clever and courageous youth named John Lombe, the youngest of three brothers, manufacturers at Norwich. Prior to 1715, all silk thread came from Italy, where very superior machinery had been invented for its formation. This machinery the Italians kept secret among themselves during many years, and reaped inestimable advantage from its possession. But such secrets are never very long lived, and modern times have grown too wise to attempt them; and no nation in Europe would now venture to attach to the discovery, or attempt

at discovery, of any invention, such penalties

as confiscation of goods, death, and public infamy after death, which the Italian laws thundered forth for the protection of their silk thread machinery.

In the face of those dreadful penalties John Lombe went to Italy, to endeavour to discover the secret art, which he trusted would enrich himself and his brothers, and confer a signal benefit on his country. His adventures are deeply interesting. The English silk merchants had of course agents in Italy, and it was a common thing for them to send their sons and apprentices to those agents, in order that they might study the trade. The brothers Lombe availed themselves of this custom, and John set out for Leghorn in 1715. There was nothing to excite suspicion in his going to visit the Italian silk works, for they were occasionally shown to visitors, but with such rigid precaution that not even John Lombe could comprehend them, though he went repeatedly, in different disguises, o -one time as a lady, another time as a priest, and had, we may be sure, a quick eye, a rapid observation, and a keen memory.