Note 139 — [From the "New Year's Address and Messages to Blackfriars Bible Class." Aberdeen, 1873.] "ACT, ACT IN THE LIVING PRESENT."[136] Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Christmas Eve, '72.

The following letters were addressed by Mr. Ruskin to the author of a pamphlet on continence, entitled "The Science of Life." There were two editions of the pamphlet, and of these only the second contained the first and last of these letters, whilst only the first contained the last letter but one. Some passages also in the other letters are omitted in the first edition, and a few slight alterations are made in the second in the letter of February 10.