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OUT OF DATE BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION A MAN is somewhat like an almanack, he has, like it, his day and date, his coming out, and his going out. The novelty of seeing him gives him a starting point; the world goes with him in his progress, but age, like a relentless creditor, arrests him. He is then out of date, neglected, and laid on the shelf. Thus I have found it too; but let me further follow the simile, why is it thus with us both? Because mankind only praise us for what they can get out of us; they consult us for their own information, to assist their memory, or to pass an idle moment When a successor comes out in fresh print, well tagged with gilding and morocco, a new picture, a fresh face,--farewell old friend and old almanack; the last impression is like a prosperous man rising into notice; or, like the ghost in Macbeth, it pushes us without ceremony from our stools. The new almanack is to be found in everybody's drawing-room, at the breakfast table, on the sofa by lady fair, by the fire-side, or is carried about like a vade mecum by Prince and Peer, by Lord and Commoner, by rich and poor. The young thriving man, in like manner, is welcome at every board, admitted to stately library and elegant boudoir, the arm companion of the gay, and, in short, known to all the town. "Ah, Angelo ! and so it used to be with thee. Where do you dine to-day? Shall we see you at our party? Do you go to Covent Garden, Old Drury, the Opera, or Promenade, to-night? Can you spare XXX1