A1s kisd .Anszoey. may seem a mat ter of no extraordinary difficulty to give plain answer to a plain question; and yet it is an art which it evidently re- quires some trouble to learn. In all half civilized nations, the inquirer for the most simple thing is met by an enigma for an answer; and, among the peasan- try of Scotland and Ireland, civilized as tine general communities may be, the system oftenseen1s to be studied evasion.

 This dialogue is the model of thousands

 in the sister isle;-s. Is this the nearest

 road to Cork?'' ( Is 1t to Cork you are going?' " Yes, but my question is, as

 to the nearest road?" "Why, thisroad IS as near ;.s that on the other side Of the hill; forneither of them is any road

 at all." ( Then which way ought l to go?" Oh, that depends on your hon.

 or's own liking. Perhaps you wouldn't like to go back again?" z EsCertainIy not.

 But, one word for all, my good fellow l; do you know any thing about any kind of road here?o "There now, if yonr honor had asked that before, l could have told you at onee." "Out with 1t thep.e Why the truth is, your honor, that am 2 stranger in these parts; and the best thing you can do is to stop til somebody comes that knows all about

 the way.o Stupid scoundrell why did you not say so at first?n ss ssStupidt that's all my thanks. But why did not your honor ask me if 1 belonged to the place? that would have settled the bu-

 siness. Take q fools advice, and stop

 where you are.''