PROF. Very true :—for a salt-box which never had, hath not now, and perhaps never may have, any salt in it, can only be termed a possible salt-box. What is a probable salt-box? STU. It is a salt-box in the hand of one going to a shop to buy salt, and who hath six-pence in his pocket to pay the grocer: and a positive salt-box is one which hath actually and bona fide got salt in it. PROF. Very good:-but is there no instance of a positive salt-box which hath no salt in it? STU. I know of none. : PROF. Yes there is one mentioned by some authors: it is where a box hath by long use been so impregnated with salt, that although all the salt hath been long since emptied out, it may yet be called a salt-box, with the same propriety that we say a salt herring, salt beef, &c. And in this sense any box that may have accidentally, or otherwise, been long steeped in brine, may be termed positively a salt-box, although never designed for the purpose of keeping salt. But tell me, what other division of salt-boxes do you recollect? STU. They are further divided into substantive and pendant: a substantive salt-box is that which stands by itself on the table or dresser; and a pendant is that which hangs upon a nail against the wall. PROF. What is the idea of a salt-box? STU. It is that image which the mind conceives of a salt-box, when no salt-box is present. PROF. What is the abstract idea of a salt-box? STU. It is the idea of a salt-box, abstracted from the idea of a box, or of salt, or of a salt-box, or of a box of salt. PROF. Very right :-and by these means you acquire a most perfect knowledge of a salt-box: but tell me, is the idea of a salt-box a salt idea? STU. Not unless the ideal box hath ideal salt in it. PROF. True :-and therefore an abstract idea cannot be either salt or fresh; round or square; long or short: for a true abstract idea must be entirely free of all adjuncts. And this shows the difference between a salt idea, and an idea of salt.-Is an aptitude to hold salt an essential or an accidental property of a salt-box? STU. It is essential; but if there should be a crack in the bottom of the box, the aptitude to spill salt would be termed an accidental property of that salt-box. PROF. Very well! very well indeed!-What is the salt called with respect to the box? STU. Because the cook is content quoad hoc to find plenty of salt in the box. PROF. You are very right. I see you have not misspent your time: but let us now proceed to LOGIC. PROF. How many parts are there in a salt-box? PROF. How many modes are there in salt-boxes? STU. Four. The formal, the substantial, the accidental, and the topsey-turvey. PROF. Define these several modes. STU. The formal respects the figure or shape of the box, such as round, square, oblong, and so forth; the substantial respects the work of the joiner; and the accidental depends upon the string by which the box is hung against the wall. PROF. Very well-And what are the consequences of the accidental mode? STU. If the string should break the box would fall, the salt be spilt, the salt-box broken, and the cook in a bitter passion and this is the accidental mode with its consequences. PROF. How do you distinguish between the top and bottom of a salt-box? STU. The top of a box is that part which is uppermost, and the bottom that part which is lowest in all positions. PROF. You should rather say the lowest part is the bottom, and the uppermost part is the top.-How is it then if the bottom should be the uppermost? STU. The top would then be the lowermost; and so the bottom would become the top, and the top would become the bottom: and this is called the topsey-turvey mode, which is nearly allied to the accidental, and frequently arises from it. PROF. Very good.—But are not salt-boxes sometimes single and sometimes double? PROF. Well, then mention the several combinations of salt-boxes with respect to their having salt or not. STU. They are divided into single salt-boxes having salt; single salt-boxes having no salt; double salt-boxes having salt; double salt-boxes having no salt; and single double salt-boxes having salt and no salt. PROF. Hold! hold !—you are going too far. PARODIES ON ROMEO'S DESCRIPTION OF AN APOTHECARY. BY SAMUEL EWING. I Do remember an old bachelor And hereabouts he dwells-whom late I noted And in his silent parlour hung a cloak The which the moths had used not less than he ! An if a man did covet single life, Reckless of joys which Matrimony gives, Or slut, or idiot, or the gossip spouse, Were each a Heaven, compared with such a life.— But this same thought does not forerun my need, Nor shall this bachelor tempt me to wed. As I remember this should be the house; I Do remember a precise old maid— An old work-basket, sal-volatile, Portraits of maiden aunts, in ball-room suit, With lamb or lap dog hanging on their arms, Novels from Circulating Library, "Law's Serious Call to unconverted folks," Love elegies, a Bible, and a cat, Were duly ranged, for ornament or use, As spleen prevailed or visiters came in. List'ning, as through the house her shrill voice screamed, Scolding the servants, to myself I said, An if a man did wish to gain a wife, With show of courtship, here's an ancient maid, Following as quick as echo to the sound! And this same thought does but forerun my need. |