BAIT, n. A preparation that renders the hook more palatable. The best kind is beauty.

Painting, n.: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather, and exposing them to the critic.

ILLUSTRIOUS, adj. Suitably placed for the shafts of malice, envy and detraction.

LEAD, n. A heavy blue-gray metal much used ... as a counterpoise to an argument of such weight that it turns the scale of debate the wrong way. An interesting fact in the chemistry of international controversy is that at the point of contact of two patriotisms lead is precipitated in great quantities.

SYLLOGISM, n. A logical formula consisting of a major and a minor assumption and an inconsequent.

Experience - the wisdom that enables us to recognise in an undesirable old acquaintance the folly that we have already embraced.

A leech who, having penetrated the shell of a turtle only to find that the creature has long been dead, deems it expedient to form a new attachment to a fresh turtle.