That which makes thousands (perhaps millions) think.
A less distinguished poet has, in expressive, and though in quainter, humbler, yet in noble strain, said what is equally appropriate in this place:—
Books are a part of man’s prerogative:
In formal INK, they thought and voices hold,
That we to them our solitude may give,
And make time present travel as of old.
Celsus, who lived in this world, about the commencement of the Christian era, has left a little memorandum on this subject which is worth quoting.
We give his words entire:—
There are two kinds of bald spots occurring on the human head,—one of them a baldness which creeps over the scalp like a serpent,—the other showing itself in the form of round spaces uncovered by hair. Some recommend the use of acrid irritant articles, combined with oils, &c. But there is nothing better for you than to have the bald place shaved every day with a [very dull] razor, and, after having done that, you needn’t do anything else but rub on the place thus shaved a little atramentum sutorium—(“shoemakers’ ink,” “copperas-water,”)—[solution of the Di-proto sulphate of the (per) sesquoxyd of iron].
The editor of the printed copy of the edition of the works of Aulus Cornelius Celsus which was printed in Padua, made a material error on this point.