Beware of the fatal flower, dread So fair and bright are its leaves outspread, 'Twill draw thee far from the truth aside, God keep my soul from this poison flower, Give me grace to resist the tempter's power, SPECTACLES. THEIR USE AND ABUSE. Ir is generally those whose sight is already impaired who feel any interest in its preservation; for in this respect there is that same effort to be wise too late which distinguishes so many of our proceedings, and which popular observation has crystallized into the homely proverb, Locking the stable after the steed is stolen.' Yet surely in vision, more than in anything else that pertains to our physical welfare, is prevention better than cure; because here the loss that is not prevented can never be cured: and what the present prodigally wastes, no future can regather. Though there are numerous exceptions, yet with the large majority the eye begins, some-where between thirty-five and forty-five years of age, to lose a part of its bending power. The ball and crystalline lens get flatter, and the rays of light, instead of being gathered together and drawn inward with sufficient force upon the retina, are scattered, and the sight confused. If the eye is close to the object, it catches the divergent rays at their source, and being weak and unable to manage them, the habit is involuntarily acquired of holding the newspaper or work at a distance in order to get rid of the unmanageable part of the light. This is the first symptom of decaying sight and should never be neglected. Donders-now universally accepted as the highest authority-says, whenever it is necessary to hold a fine type eight inches from the eyes in order to read it, the prudent person will at once give his eyes the assistance of a glass of low convex power; which, however, must only be worn when occupied in close study or work, and in whose selections the advice of a good oculist is always well worth the fee. The curved glass interposed between the eye and the light does a part of its work; and the organ too weak for the entire task can, however, complete what the glass begins. But as the eyes get flatter with age, glasses more and more convex will be needed; for the preservation of the sight demands that they should be constantly guarded from unnatural efforts. When once spectacles are required from natural decay of vision, the disease, like age, is incurable; all glasses can do is to 'linger and linger it out.' A confusion of the letters in reading or writing is an imperative order for older spectacles, but if the eyes are used economically, and protected from sudden and strong lights, the same focus will often serve for several years. In choosing a pair of spectacles, see first that both eyes have the same focus. The left eye has a habit of lagging behind and leaving the right eye to perform the largest share of the work, in which case the glass suitable for the right eye might be injurious to the left, since the sight has worn unevenly. The correct focus found, it is very important that the centre of the glass and the centre of the pupil be directly opposite each other. In this respect the selection of glasses is difficult, for the space between the eyes varies in almost every individual, yet very little attention is paid to this fact in the manufacture of the frames. To be sure that the glasses are without speck or flaw hold them before the flame of a candle; and to prove their uniformity of substance and exactness of shape, it is only necessary to raise them from a book slowly towards the eyes, and if the letters are not distorted they are correct. On no account buy glasses that do not fit the eyes, or at once relieve the sight, because the seller insists the eyes' will get used to them.' The eyes, indeed, may be forced into harmony with new refractions, but it encroaches fearfully on the resources of other years, and they are urged a long step onward to darkness and decay. M. Jourdain was not the last to wear tight boots because the shoemaker assured him the pain was all imaginary. Lenses made of the best optical glass, and carefully ground by the best makers, are now nearly universally used in place of pebbles. Pebbles-except that they are harder to break-have no real advantage over glass, and they are very much dearer. Where comfort and effectiveness are regarded more than appearance, the rims should be neither of gold nor tortoise-shell, but of light metal. These made in Wolverhampton are now so perfect and of such dainty and exquisite workmanship that, with their lenses and all complete, they weigh under a quarter of an ounce. It is a very foolish idea that the years snatched from the use of glasses are so much added to sight. The reverse is the case, if the sight is strained; yet it is every optician's experience that many delay until their first pair of glasses is the last on his list. Consequently, when the power of these is exhausted, nothing remains for the unhappy victim of vanity or ignorance but 'darkness visible' for the rest of life. There is a popular fallacy, often very fatal to vision in its results, that short-sighted people do not need glasses, and that their sight will improve with age. If it does, the possessor of it will need no one to inform him of the fact. But if it does not do so perceptibly-if, on the contrary, the infirmity continues to progress, or even to remain in about the same condition-Donders says troublesome symptoms will set in at from fifty to sixty years of age, if not earlier; and the power of sight be lost either from the separation of the retina from the choroid, from effusion of blood, or from atrophy of the yellow spot. Short sight is sometimes hereditary, but it is a well-ascertained fact that by far the greater majority of such cases are found in the cultivated classes, and chiefly among students and literary people. Among ten thousand recruits for the English foot service, not a dozen men were rejected for this imperfection, while in one college at Oxford thirtytwo short-sighted men were found out of one hundred and twentyseven: (Donders on the Eye,' London, 1864). This enormous difference points to the one great cause-tension of the eyes for near objects. Short-sighted people-that is, all who cannot see objects distinctly beyond ten inches-should at once procure glasses enabling them to see at sixteen or eighteen inches. They should look off at intervals towards the distance, and never work in a stooping posture. But 'a tool may become a weapon' in a careless or improper hand, and spectacles worn before they are needed, either through affectation or foppery, will seriously injure even a vigorous eye. Some people imagine that they impart to them a wise and learned look. Opticians, in such cases, would do well to follow the example of the celebrated Ramsden, who invariably supplied this class of his customers with common glass, assuring them in the blandest accents that they were 'peculiarly fitted for their case;' and he usually found them received with perfect satisfaction or delight. There are also very frequent epidemics of affected weak sight, when no belle or fop considers the toilet complete without an eye-glass. Certainly, if not required, it is a very suitable insignia of folly, for they get nothing for it but present self conceit and future unavailing regrets. The novice in spectacles must not expect that the glasses suitable for reading will also enable him to see clearly at a distance. For this purpose they must be removed, or else, if it be necessary to raise the eyes frequently, Forensic spectacles may be used. These spectacles-so called because invented for the benefit of lawyers in Court, who must look from their notes to the jury and judge-are also excellent for students. They have the upper circle pared to a straight line: the eye can therefore in pauses of thought look over the glasses. It thus gets cooled and refreshed, without interrupting the mental operation by removing them. Spectacles have added greatly to the pleasure and independence of human life. They have lengthened many a useful career by prolonging its usefulness; there is, indeed, no computing the benefits and pleasures they have conferred. Dr. Johnson was amazed that their inventor was regarded with so much indifference, and had found no biographer. But we are not even certain to whom the merit rightly belongs. Friar Bacon, about the middle of the 13th century, in his Opus Majus describes a plano-convex glass or segment of a sphere, and says it' is useful to old men and to those who have weak eyes, for they may see the smallest letters magnified.' However, Alexander di Spina, a Florentine monk, seems to have first reduced Bacon's theory to practice about the year A. D. 1313, so that if Spina was indebted to Bacon for the hint, the world is indebted to Spina for the spectacles. And truly it is a wonderful and happy invention that keeps the curtain from falling till the great drama of life is over.-Christian Union. 134 JOHN PLOWDEN'S WEDDING-DAY. A Funny Tale with a good moral. JOHNNY PLOWDEN was a man who could keep anything except an appointment. He kept his temper at all times, his good looks, his money when needful, and his seat across country; but if you invited him to dinner at eight, he came at nine, and touched everybody by the repentance he showed, though he had always a true excuse to urge. If you wanted him to catch a mid-day train, the only way was to implore him to be at the station at ten; and Johnny had been known under such circumstances to turn up punctually at half-past eleven. We all of us have our enemies, and Johnny Plowden's two were time and tide, which wait for no man. Some months ago Johnny was engaged to be married to a pretty creature who loved him well, but was aware of his besetting sin. Not even with her had he been able to make his footsteps keep pace with the clock, and the ordinary prelude to all interviews between himself and his affianced, was for Miss Amy to draw out her watch and say, 'There, now, you are an hour behindhand again!' It was very natural, therefore, that, on the eve of the wedding, Miss Amy should remark beseechingly, 'I do hope, Johnny, you will be punctual to-morrow! I should look miserably ridiculous if you were late.' 'Late! I should like to catch myself late on such a day!' echoed Jack with feeling; and he added, characteristically enough,' You all seem to think I am unpunctual; but, you know, if I was behindhand this morning, it was only because I had forgotten to wind up my watch last night.' 'Well, let me wind it up myself now, then we shall be safe,' said Amy, soothingly; and taking Jack's key she set his watch by her own, and sent him home rejoicing and full of good resolutions. He got up at six the next morning, dressed, breakfasted, and found himself at eight o'clock with nothing to do for the next two hours and a half, his appointment at Amy's house being for 10.30. Now Amy lived at Hampton Court, and Jack himself was lodging with an aunt who resided in the Palace. Every one knows that the park adjoining the palace is a fine park, just the place for a nice stroll on a sunny wedding morning; so Johnny, after deliberating the question, decided that a two hours' stroll would prevent him from un |