fate, the comforter of a lonely hearth, the binding link of association with days that once were happy, of faces now cold and mouldering away in the dark grave!
It is generally understood, I believe, that the excellence of all penal and prohibitory laws, consists in the general applicability of their several provisions, and a clear definition of the mode of their administration and execution. Prompt to overtake the offender, efficient in the punishment of the guilty, yet free from the objection of cruelty or wantonness.
Tried by these principles, how imperfect, how injurious are the provisions of this civic statute. Whence the necessity for encouraging the practice of outrage and theft? Whence the necessity for putting to death an innocent and harmless animal, even for the culpable neglect or want of proper caution on the part of its owner? But, it may be said, all this is useless outcry and fault-finding, unless you can point out a remedy, and suggest a more effective means of protecting the public from the dangers which are known, or are generally believed, to exist, in a large city, by the unrestrained roaming of dogs during the hot and sultry portion of the summer. Without attempting to discuss the questions whether such an evil really does exist or not, or if it exists at all, whether it is not much magnified in degree, by the apprehension of those who do not properly consider or investigate the relative nature, of canine or human insanity, and the comparative infrequency of the former, I will close this article by respectfully proposing, that when the next occasion arrives, on which it shall appear that the promulgation of such a law is deemed expedient for the public welfare, it should provide as follows: for the capture and safe-keeping (a supply of food and water being essential for this) of all dogs found at large without a sufficient muzzle; that they be detained for the space of one week, during which time they are to be delivered up only to the person, who by accurate description can, prove himself the owner, and by recognition on the part of the animal identified, on the payment of a stipulated allowance for board and a ⟨limited⟩ fee for the liquidation of pound ⟨expenses⟩. After the expiration of the week, all dogs then unclaimed, to be sold at public auction to the highest bidder, the surplusage of the purchase money, over the expenses and fees, to be applied to the use of the charitable institutions of the city.
BARTLEBY, THE SCRIVENER.
A STORY OF WALL-STREET.
I AM a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty years has brought me into more than ordinary contact with what would seem an interesting and somewhat singular set of men, of whom as yet nothing that I know of has ever been written:—I mean the law-copyists or scriveners. I have known very many of them, professionally and privately, and if I pleased, could relate divers histories, at which good-natured gentlemen might smile, and sentimental souls might weep. But I waive the biographies of all other scriveners for a few passages in the life of Bartleby, who was a scrivener the strangest I ever saw or heard of. While of other law-copyists I might write the complete life, of Bartleby nothing of that sort can be done. I believe that no materials exist for a full and satisfactory biography of this man. It is an irreparable loss to literature. Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable, except from the original sources, and in his case those are very small. What my own astonished eyes saw of Bartleby, that is all I know of him, except, indeed, one vague report which will appear in the sequel.
Ere introducing the scrivener, as he first appeared to me, it is fit I make some mention of myself, my employées, my business, my chambers, and general surroundings; because some such description is indispensable to an adequate understanding of the chief character about to be presented.
Imprimis: I am a man who, from his youth upwards, has been filled with a profound conviction that the easiest way of life is the best. Hence, though I belong to a profession proverbially energetic and nervous, even to turbulence, at times, yet nothing of that sort have I ever suffered to invade my peace. I am one of those unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury, or in any way draws down public applause; but in the cool tranquillity of a snug retreat, do a snug business among
