This very curious coincidence also occurs in a comparatively short sentence in “The Beth Book,” by Sarah Grand:—“It was an exquisitely deep blue just then, with filmy white clouds drawn up over it like gauze;” and here “j” is itself in evidence.
APT ALLITERATION
Schopenhauer, the famous German philosopher, who was a confirmed bachelor and misogynist, was compelled while living at Frankfort to support an old lady who had been crippled by his violence. When her death came as a welcome relief to him, he composed the following clever epitaph:—
Obit anus,
Abit onus.
which by the interchange of two letters pictured the position. It may be freely rendered:—
Old lady dies,
My burden flies.
A DOUBLE SEQUENCE
The following clever composition, which appeared in the pages of Truth, contains a double sequence of words, which increase a letter at a time, the same letters appearing in varied order until at last “o” culminates in thornless, and “a” in restrainest. It is quite a remarkable tour-de-force.
O lack-a-day! at eve we sat,
One star had lit its lamps on high.
We did not note the circling bat,
Start from the stone when flitting nigh.
For the strait gate of honest doubt
Shut off the thrones of Love and Gain;
We dreamed not, as we mourned without,
That Time’s swift transit shortens pain.
O Thou, Who trainest souls to shine,
Though once we craved a thornless lot,
This gracious truth we now divine:
The bruised reed Thou strainest not;
But by restraints, that gently tame;
Restrainest Passion’s kindling flame.