known-"You are a father, Signor Ambassador, and so we will finish our ride." This is one of those numerous little incidents which show that even monarchs are not unlike other mortals, but can enter into childish games. It reminds us how Cardinal de Richelieu was one day found jumping with his servants, to try who could reach the highest side of a wall. De Grammont offered to join in the contest, and, in the true spirit of a courtier, knowing how jealous the Cardinal was of his powers, he allowed his efforts to surpass his own.*
So, too, it must be remembered that many of our great men have not thought it below their dignity to while away their leisure hours in some trifling game, glad to throw aside, and forget, the trammels of life; although it has been asserted that a disinclination to athletic sports, and exercises, will be in general found among the peculiarities which mark a youth of genius. In support of this common notion, D'Israeli quotes Beattie, who thus describes his ideal minstrel
Concourse and noise and toil he ever fled,
Nor cared to mingle in the clamorous fray
Of squabbling imps, but to the forest sped.
But experience only too frequently shows the contrary to be the case.
* See D'Israeli's "Curiosities of Literature."