During the disastrous fire of the Kent East Indiaman, a lady on board
exhibited a very singular instance of _sang froid_ and presence of mind.
Being in one of the cabins, with a large, helpless, despairing, and of
course, most troublesome party, chiefly of her own sex, "all hands" of
the other being "turned up," we presume, to check the advances of the
devouring element, she proposed, by way of keeping them quiet, _to make
tea for them_, and we believe her proposal was accepted, and had the
desired effect.
_Great Marlow, Bucks_.
M.L.B.
* * * * *
ABSTRACT STUDIES.
(_For the Mirror_.)
Demosthenes to be the more removed from noise, and less subject to
distraction, caused a small chamber to be made under ground, in which he
shut himself up sometimes for whole months, shaving half his head and
only half his face, that he might not be in a condition to go abroad. It
was there, by the light of a small lamp, he composed his admirable
Orations, which were said by those who envied him, to smell of the oil,
to imply that they were too elaborate. He rose very early, and used to
say, that he was sorry when any workman was at his business before him.
He copied Thucydides' history eight times with his own hand, in order to
render the style of that great man familiar to him.
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