Teeth for the toothless, ringlets for the bald, would be valueless, compared with this more potent elixir of life. The practice of the old surgeons, who sometimes filled the shrunken veins of decrepitude with the rich blood of bounding youth, might be considered a precedent for such efforts as we propose. Scruples were sometimes entertained as to the lawful to the twenty years which may be supposed still to lie before her? It would be irksome to pass so long a period in silence, and mortifying to continue to talk nonsense without rosy lips to set it off. Here a certain amount of knowledge might be communicated by those whom inexorable plainness of person had condemned to intellectual exercises in early life; and the circumstances might prove mutually beneficial, since the husbands of the once beautiful would undoubtedly be willing to pay liberally for hav-ness of that mode of repairing the decay of ing some ideas infused into their minds, as provision for the conversation of old age. The face could no longer be injured, while the head, and perhaps the heart, too, might gain materially. Nature; but to the attempt to make education the substitute for beauty, we are sure, society will not object, even though the result should be that "dim horror"-a literary woman. RUSE D'AMOUR. STANZAS TO BY EUGENE EREWHILE I Vowed, in cynic mood, Ambition came, with lordly train, I took ne heed, ne care. Soon Love, with sauntering step and bold, LIÉS. Next Jealousy, who, long, I ween, Dear girl, it was a thought of thee. Alas, the pleader looked so kind, MRS. JAMES K. POLK. BY MRS. C. W. DENISON. (See Engraving.) In that exalted station, Mrs. Polk was a sweet exemplification of lowliness. She was as retiring, as gentle, as though the public eye had never scanned her conduct, and the public tongue never sounded her praise. MRS. SARAH POLK was born in Buckingham | with him the four years of his term, with the County, Virginia. When she was quite young, exception of the summer of '47, which she her father, Major WILLIAM CHILDRESS, a very spent in Tennessee among her friends and respectable and wealthy gentleman, removed acquaintances. to Rutherford County, Tennessee. She had the misfortune, in early life, to lose her mother; and in the tender years of childhood, was much of the time away from home. She was a pupil at the Moravian Institute, and remained under the care of this quiet and remarkable people, two years. Here, probably, were formed many of those distinguishing traits of character, which have made her life, so far, brilliant with examples of loveliness, worthy to be imitated by all her sex. Thrown, to some extent, upon her own resources, with no mother's guiding hand or approving smile, she early displayed an independence of mind, and a strength of will, joined to remarkable perseverance, which few acquire until the ripeness of middle age. Soon after the completion of her education, she returned from North Carolina, and took up her residence at Murfreesborough, Tennessee; where, at the age of nineteen, she was married to Mr. Polk, he having been recently elected to the legislature of that state. Mr. Polk was in 1825 chosen a member of Congress, and out of the fourteen sessions he remained at Washington, Mrs. Polk was with him thirteen. Many, who had then opportunities of knowing, and often meeting with her, testify to her uniform sweetness of disposition, her eminent piety, and the purity of her life and conversation. Mr. Polk being chairman of several important committees, his house was much frequented by persons of high social and political distinction; hence his lady early made the acquaintance of many of the most illustrious characters of which our country can boast. In 1834, when Mr. Polk was called to fill the office of Governor of Tennessee, Mrs. Polk exerted an excellent influence, even upon those members of the legislature who were among his opponents, by her social qualifications, her amiability, and devotion to the interests of her husband; and when, subsequently, he was elected President of the United States, she removed to Washington, remaining The leading feature in her character is consistency. Everywhere, and at all times, she is the same gentle, yet dignified woman and Christian. She possesses equanimity of temper in a remarkable degree; and her penetrating mind can readily read the motives that influence those with whom she comes in contact. The angel of benevolence hides itself in her heart, like the lily, that seeks the deep shelter of the valley, to bless unseen. Many has she assisted, of whom the world knows not; for her charities fall as noiselessly as the snow. The trumpet voice of praise echoes them not, and the blessing of the poor is her only reward. Never was an applicant for the promotion of useful knowledge, or of any truly charitable work, sent from her doors unaided. To objects really worthy of support, her donations were always munificent. Mrs. Polk, though as far removed as possible from what would be called a politician, has yet taken pains to make herself well informed on public affairs. One who knows her intimately says, there are not twenty days in a year, that she does not spend a certain time each day, in reading the leading public journals— not those filled with trashy, 'fashionable' literature, but the solid productions of sterner intellects the strong, argumentative, philosophic matter, which none but strong and reflective minds can comprehend, none other than healthy brains digest. Though perfectly acquainted with politics, yet with a rare judgment, and a comprehension of womanly delicacy, she seldom makes them a subject for conversation, and never takes sides in an objectionable manner. Whatever was identified with the public career of her husband during his life, interested her. She made herself, on this account, fami |