Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 31, 1874, Page 9

CHTCAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1874---SUPPLEMEN o e e LA BELLE FRANCE. An Country. Ets Climate, Topography, and Vege- table Productions. Careful Manner in Which the Country ' Is Cuitivated. Absence of Fences and Farm- Houses---Tho Rural Village. Progress in Education---Beautification of the Cities--General Prosperity. The Immensely-Beneflcial Resulls of the Revolution of 1789, Swecial Correspondence of The Chicngo Tridune, Niox, France, Jau, 11, 1674, Trenchmen aro in the Dabit of spenking of their country a8 Ln Belle France; nnd some travolers, capocially English, say that it is an sxprossion of vanity, and thet the country is not satitled to bo callod *‘beautiful.” Dut, 8o far 18 I am competent to judgo, it is an EXQUIBITILY-IEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. It $a all I anticipated, and more. 'That any one tan poes through {his chiarming land, with bia #yes opon, and look at tho ondless varioty of hill and dale, mountain aud mendow, with Hmpld rivors and atreams winding through broad valloys or dashing in ontaractsa down mountain-gorges, and count tho variotios of forest and fruit-trees aud shrubs, snd bohold every production found in tempornto ond semi-tropical chmates, aud ob- Bervo the care and taste oxhibited in the agri- culture of the country, and enjoy tho bright sunshino, oven in mid-winter, and still deny that it is o beautiful land, can -only bo nccounted for on tho ground thint ho has orected o standard of benuty not found in this world, or is incapabia of appreciating o lovely country whon ho sees it. If Prance is not n beautiful country, where is onotobe found? If it is not finoty caltivated, whoro is its superior in that rogard? If it has not a great variety of natural productions, what country oxcola {t? What nation, of its range of climate, produces a groater varioty of useful and beantiful vogotation? What nntion, Iarge or emall, in the Old or Now World, excels France in variety of troes, fruits, flowers, vines, shiubs, grasses, grains, roots, vogotables,—overything, {n short, to sustain lifo or ploase the cyo? FRANCE POBSESSES A QLIMATE ot unllko that of tho Virginias, Carolinas, Ken- tucky, and Tennesnoo: and contains just about that aren. But it is. nob s cold in winter in Northern Franco a8 in Kentucky, while South- orn Franco is milder than South Carolia in esummer. ;Hero, in Nice, in tho middloof January, the gardens are full of flowers, and oranges, and lemons, and tho hills are covered with tho over- groon olivo treo, whoso fruit has only just beon picked; while, as far north ss Paris, water Lad ecarcely congealed up to Now Year's day. Intho + groator part of Franco, thore are really but threo scasous: snmmor, autumn, snd spring. Think of that, yo dwcllers on tho ehores of the Takos and on tho groat prairicsof tho West, whose blood is chilled by the plorcing blasts of win- tor's winds, and who hurry over the snow-clad, frosted catih, shivering boroath a wrapping of woolons and fura | Thy y nstorn sido of France, from Prus- ‘win to e Meiliterrauenn, & distancs of 500 miles, I8 broken up by mountains and procipitous billy’ for 100 to 160 miles in width, The south ¢™ Franch, from Bayonne, o the Bay of Brad- " Nico, wmong the Maritina Alps, noar-‘fdad * tidged with mountaing for an average widfa%he 100 miles; while the peninsuin of the Proviuen of Brotague is alco mountainous. But among thoso mountains there are thousands of DEAUTIFUL SUNNY VALLEYS, axccodingly fertilo sud yich in productive- uess; _while the mountain-slopes and steop hill-sides, which, in nppearance, aro poor, barren, or wasto lands, are put touses which yield larzer profits than can . be derived from the levol lands of Westorn .France, Ou tha mountaing in Northeastern Tranco are grown inmenso quantitios of chaste nuts, which constitute quito an articlo of food. 1nd aro eaten by ncarly overy ono. Millions of seres of vineyards are planted on the bill-slopes and mountain-gides ; and other millionsof hilland vale are dovoted to the growth of tho mulborry- treo, tho olive, dato, fig, nlmond, orange, peach, snd other fruife. I paw, betweon ‘Tonlon and Nice, in o district of 100 miles, at least Ialf-a- million of ncres that wore mainly devated to tho growth of the olive-trea. Tho mountain-eldes ware clothed with these overgroons to their very lope, wherover thoro was encth enough in which the roots could hide or hold, FDANCE IS DRAINED DY TIVE RIVERS, whone water-eliods onrry off tho raing of nine- tentus of the country: = First—Tho Norih orn proyincos, including Alsace and Lotraiuio, dratn into the Rhine and ita branches, Second— ‘The whole Southenst drains into the Ithone; this district, of perhaps 80,000 square miles, embracos the best and chief wine and sitk-pro- ducing parte of Trance. Third—Tha Seive draing all Nozthwestorn France, of which Paris 18 tho centro, boing an arca of something like B5,000 equare miles, and constituting tho best wheat-raising part of tho nation. Fowrtr, is tho vatloy of tho Laire, which extends ncrosa tlia heartof Frauce, from the outlying spurs of the Alps, on the east, to tho Bay of Bitcay, on tho west, draining a spaco of not much less than the arcn of the whole State of Illinois. T old City of ‘Toura in tho contre of this district, The Jifih draivage distvict is thatof tho Gironde or Garonno River, which carries off_tho water of tho Pyreneos and all Southwestern France. This i alao a great grape and mulberry-growiug por- tion of tho country,—Bordeaux being its chief city, and the laygest wine-oxporting port of France. ‘The portions watered by the Ssine, Loire, and Girondo Rivers may be described ss rolling plaing,—not a8 lovel as linois or Michigan, but mors like Ohio and Tudiane in surface; while the othier two districts, and especially thatfof the Thouo, sre as hilly and procipitous ns Pennsylvanin, The Mosolle and tho Mense, which run northward; the Soine, which runs northwent; the Loiro, which flowa to tho west: and the Rhone, which dis- charges its wators due south,—oll tako their riso in_the viclnity of Difon, which is within 100 miles of Bwifzorlaud, The country scems to foll off in every dircction from the table-lands of the Provineo of Bourgoxne. around Dijon, The ‘Lraveler, in passiug throngh Fincoin any dizection, cannot help obeorving the ATSENCE OF FENCES AND FARM-1OUSES, In the levol portious the wholo country is an un- broken oxpnnse of tillage, without inclosure, or acglt to mark one farm from another, Wy tho are no fences, scoing thet tho thorn grows nourly a8 well in Franco as in Great Britain, isto mo,a puzsle, ‘Tho only livo-hedge fences ona seet aro thoso planted by the railroad companios on ¢lthor sido of thoir trucks, of which thero sre thousands of miles, Everywhore one noticos oid n:en or women, boys or girls, hording cattlo on sheop, or particulnr patchics of ground, As \hero are 5,000,000 of farms in France, and tho ownors of anch fieop horses, cattlo, or sheep, it must consumo tho mojor part of the time of 5,000,000 of persons to watch tha live-stock whon giszing. All this oxpenditura of time and Iabor could o obvinted by plauting_ledga-fonces, ay is done In Great Brituin and Ireland. Perhaps oune reason i, that the peoplo do not want to wasle the space of ground which the hodges +would oeoupy; and_auothor, thut thoy do not liva on thoie lauds, but fu vilisgos, and the cattlo would huve to be driven to prsture and buck morping and eveniug. But whatover may bo the causes, thera aro no fances to bo seon, andall live atock must ba watohed by tho owners, Bomotimes one will soe o singlo caw or half-a-dozen sheep kept in placo by u groy-haired old woman or a little girl. It must S“"I"“’ the oxorcise of considernblo patience to o it, As remarked bofore, THE PEOPLE LIVE IN VILLAGKS, coplaining, on ® general avernge, u bundrod families, and each with ita old church in the coutre, Lut ofteu no school-house, Thaso vil- lages aro neurly alwsys locntod with referonce o water and sunahis A good spring out of & J BExquisitely - Beautiful fl-ldo; a Wil vatloy with a brook thint doon not go dry fu snminer ; & sunay slopo of. & hill, holterad” from ~ tho merth —and cunkh cold winde, and cupplicd with wator,— uro the gpots that wero woleeted cenine riey ngo for thoso cluntors of farm-houwos. Thousundy of vmni,ren hnyo stood for ten or maro centuries; and thero is littlo percaptible chaugo i the mammers, customs, or paloia of the inhinbitnnts, rinco tho days of tha Crusndors, o, for that mattor, pluca the conquest of Franco by Tullua Cresar, 1,000 yonrs ago. - I have lookod athundreds of theso anclent rural villages, and obeorve they aro all aliko, A DESCRIPTION OF ONK 1sa deecription of all. Gonorally, thero is only oo streot, hut somotimos n sccond, orossing it ot any nnglo excopt a tight one, Tho stroot is abaut 25 to 85 feob wides hins no aidewall; iu elean, but crooked as n yam's horn. Ench liouao I built of brick or stono, and cavered with tile, having steep yoofs, with gables fronting the stroot. TIu tho roar of ench houae aro a stablo for the shelter of onttlo; somo other farm-buildings; n stack-yard s a plnce for farm-imploments; littlo collurs in the ground for vegatables, wine, ote. ; and n pilo of wood (or turf, whors that }s pro- duced), cut ehort ond aesorted into twiga for Lindlings, and split wood for heating. Ivyor other croeplug vines grow up the sides of tho housos,—on tho south front, generally grapo- vines, ' Froquently a protty littlo garden mny bo soen botweon the houso “on the front and the stabling ou_the rear of the lot, Evorything ia ol and quaint, The univeraal vehiclo of the farmer is o cart, or rather tho Lody of n dray mounted on high whoels. If more thau one horse ia used, thoy are driven tandem. This modo of conveganco is ouly varied by the em- ployment of pack-mulos and donkoys, which carry onormous loads for their size. Ono will ofton sooa fat old woman going to market mounted onalittle donkey not much Inrger tha a slicop, which hobbles and stoggors along undor its overlond of ancient damo and of straddle-baskots filled with'poultry and vegota- Dbles, with nll the patiouce and gravity of an— aer. In addition to tho farmers, each village, or communo, has its wine-shiop, ita littls varicty store, o blackemilh, toilor, and somo other primitive artisans, and a curate, but rarely a schoolmastor. Bome of the villages contain soveral hundred houses, and traussct n little local trade. But I noticed that, no mattor whethor thio town was Inrgo or small, o portion of its inhabitants WERE FAIMENS, Thir is a8 tmo of & city of 100,000 population ns of & communo of 500 souls. However, in somo poeres of ¥rauco, I anw eoparate farm-houses after the English style. That is, whore a man ownod n considorable tract of land,—eny 200 or 400 acres,—he lived on it, and had built in prox- imity to his own dwelling & numboy of smaller dwellinga for his lired Inborers. 'There are aaid 10 b 36,000 of these rural hamlots and villages, ealled communes, in France, containing, in the aggrogato, upwards of 25,000,000 of nouls,—lany- ing abont 12,000,000 in’ tho larger towns and citics. Since writing the foregolug, an {ntelligent Frenchman informs mo that in parts of Drit- tany, snd in portions of the country south of tho Loiro, all the way south to the Pyrenoes, tho fariny aro inclosed with hedgo-fencos, and that mnpy of the farmers live on their lands, as in Americn ; but those are parts of France ravely vigited Dy travolers, and I onlyhave his word for it. I lave travelod ot lenst 1,600 miles in Franco in various directions, and hnve scen, in all that distance, no fenced farms, and but fow farm-houses away from villagos. Anothor thing that arrests the attontion of the tourist is tho UNIVERSALLY-CAREFUL MANNER in which the counlry is cultivated, Thero seoms to bo not an acre of ground in Fronco that is not dovoted to somo usoful purpose. Thoro is no waste or idlo ground, Tho marshes appear to be drained and roclaimed; tho brooks and crocks have been straightened, aund, whore thoy would bo likely to wash nway tho earih, the banks thereof are earofully walled' up ; and 'the same isdono with rivers whero, in making bends, they would out awny the adjoining fields ; stone walls protect tho Innd against such apprehiended loss. Whero streams, large or &mall, overflow their banks, levees are raised to prevent it, and protoct the adjacont lands from damage. Tine stone-arch brjdges cross all tho streams. Tho largost rivers in Franco havo bean thus spanned. Bofora the era of railways, the Govorament built those bridges for military putposes, and they will endure for conturies, Al the country-ronds 1 hnve seen are FOLID TURNTIKES, paved with the Lardest-procurable stone. Tho Fronch take greal paius with their ronds, and keop them carefully ropairod. Ride outinto the country in any diroction, from any city, snd you aro alwnys sure of fuding a smooth, solid, clean rond, At intervals of & milo or two will bo ufi’ “ond-monders, breaking stone or repait- hop8ts nesding it. Al along, atshort dis- tances apart, may be seen piles of *“ Macadam ™ on tho roed-sides, ready for use whon required. ,Whete the country is hilly or the ground un- oven, tho track of the road ia crooked, but runs whero tho oasfest grade can be found. WIENEVED A TREG CAN DE TLANTED without injury to grain-crops, thore it will be found. Along the sides of tho road, along lanos jeading into the farms, along the bauks of brooks or stroams of auy size, will Lo found beautifnl rows of trees of different nde. ‘Whorever there is n patch or strip of ground not arable or fit for vino or grass, it ia sura to bo plantod with trecs, unless it be naked rock. The northern mountain-slopes are sll covered with forest-trees whero it i8 possible to grow shiem ; and tho snme is true of the stocp hill- sides, Tho sunny sides of all ncelivities aro kent for Lhe growth of grapes, mulberry, olive, peach, And yot, sineo the farmera camo fnto pesseseion of thin land, olghty years agn, and consed to bo tenanty gronnd nto'the - dust by Inudlords, they have moro than TREBLED TIE ANNUAL FRODUGTS of Trance. Thoy hnve sunlained tremendons aware, and furnialied the mon Lo fight all Kuvope. Their conntry hina baen ravaged by savago invaslons, aud thetr Induntry ot times broken up Dby the spoiter, Thoy havo auryived nll thoso desolnations and dostructions of lwman lifs and property, and supplied the money to pay oft tho national ransoms and indomnitleations Jmposed upon thoe nation hy invaders; and to-day tho visiblo and reallzod wonith of Franco ia ton times ns grent as hefore tho Itovolntion of 1780, The matorial itmprove- mont of Franco only dntos from 1815, nfter {he ovarthrow and banishmont of Napolaon, Ior tho twonty-sis yenrs subsoquent to the com- mencement of tho Revolution, France wns drenched jn blood, and drained of lif and trens- uro to mupport tho enruago and destruction, But sho hna survived nll lror lowsos and disne- tors, including tho Jnst, and presonts A BARVELOUS DISPLAY of prospority and wealth, in despite of enormous aud oppressivo taxation, now exceeding $600,~ 000,000 per annum for national purposes, ox- clusive of all loeal sud municipal * burdons and oxnctions, In soarching for tho cause of theso wonderful results and triumphs over adversity, I find it in the remarkablo industry and nptitude of tho Fronch peoplo ; in their habita of economy, gobriaty, aud thriftinesy ; thoir porsovorwnco in Inbor, lmlmhllnnus, cheerfulness, skillfulnoss, and osthotic tastes | but, nbovo all, in tho oman- ciontion of tho farmers from the dograded condition of landless serfs, and clovation into that of indopondout _froohiolders, with avery fomily owning thelr own farm, cultivating tholr own vino and fig-treo, and enjoying the fruits of their own labor, with no Iauded aristoernt o solzo theiranrnings and squandorthon i sdmin= istoring to bis profligato dissipation. It was their 'CHANSITION YROM BERFDOM INTO FRELHOLDLRS that gave the opportunity to convert Franco into o garden of fruits and’flowors, aud to reuder its proaperity irreprosuible, in deflanco of mikgov- ernment and invaslon, war-taxes and spohation. While education ia not umversal by any meany among the farmers of France, ntill groat prog- rews of lato has been mado. Thore lns been n national awakening in France, as in Great Drif~ nin, to tho necossity of bobter education among the common people. Al tho boginuing of thia century, ouly one adult in ton could read and swrite. " Now “two-thirds_can do #o. And, where guo newspapor was rond as Into ns the roign of Louis Philippe, now three or four are road. Free publie Jibraries have boen established in avory cily in France, without excoption. Thore is hardly » town of 5,000 inhabitants but has its publie library, In domo cities not Inrgor than Springfiold or Peorln, I found libra- rios of 20,000 to 30,000 volumes. The poneral rule soems to bo to provide a publie library with n number of volumes at Ieast EQUAL TO THE POPULATION of tha place, In connection with these librarics, which aro doposited in fire-proof buildings, are ‘mmgoums for tho colloction and presoryation of all local ourioeitics of Art or Naturo, litorature, . history, goology, mouvenirs, rolics, ete.; for noarly all tho citfes of Franco have curions old historics and traditions, dativg far back into the agos of antiquity. There is & French Historical Bociety, with hendquarteys nt Paris, which rnm- ifie all France,—thera boing branch societies and corresponding mombors in every city of any noto or mngnitude, In thewo mattors, tho Fronch aro far ahead of tho Americans, or oven the English, The effoct of this progress of nationnl educa- tion aud expressjon of gonoral intolligones is goon in tho improvemont and advancement of tho cities and largor towns. Strangera are all fillod with astonishment aud admiration nt tha wonderful improvements made in Paria during tho Inat twenty-fivo years,—ihe widenng aud oxtenslon of streets; tho beautiful packs; the ornamental trees; the artistic fountains; tho numorous columos and ptatuary ; and the multi- tudo of ologaut buildings which havo boon crocted; and thoy eocem to suppose thatin no othor parts of France hos naything heen dono in the way of improvemont and adornment. But such a viow is o mistnken one. ALL THE CITIES OF PRAKCE hayo beon imitating Paris to tho extont of {koir ability ; and the improvements in many of them R“"Xfl heen rolatively greator oven than in Paris el All Fronehimen visit Paris,—most of them once & year, and 21l of thom oncoin a lifo-time. They nroly go anywhero elno, for 0o other city hag at- tractions for them. 'Ihoy roturn fllled with ad- mirstion ot tho sights and shows, and straight- way Eot about reproducing Pais in thelr own citles, to the axtent of thoir menns. Thoreforeit ia that I find, in old, quaint, medioval cities, a apirit of progross and impzovoment whicl I wns not expeeting to find. Almost overy cily bas ta adorned parks, drives, and squares, with foun- tains playing, nnd statuary and monuments com- momorativo of tho noted characters there Lorn, or of ovents in it history. It Lins its now quar- tor, Jaid ont in broad, straight stroots, and olo- gantly built up in modern style, with villas and mansions_placed on evory spot where a pictur- esque landscape ean bo prodiced. Tho effoct is licightened by ornamental trees, vines, shrubs, and’ flowers, 80_plaeod aud arranged as to add a singular chnrm to tho whole, In thoso respeots, it scoms to me, THE FRENCIY ATE UNEXCETED in nicoty of tasto and perception of tho beanti- ful in Art and Nature. Thsir temperamont is poetical and emotional, and they aro always studying poses, surprives, ecffects, clezances, cherms, and sensations in all they do. They aro and othor valuable lroes; but tho shiady sides aro given to tho flre-wood trecs. The willow is grown on the wot or low lands, for basket-mnk- ing and for fuol. Troes are encouraged to pro- duco large tops and many branches; and those are clipped off for fuol 23 regularly and aystem- aticelly an sheep aro shorn in Wisconsin for their wool, Tho Lombardy poplar is largoty grown for the sake of the biennial or the trien- pinl orop of limbs thoy produce; and o of muny other varictics of trcos. In'nddition to the troes grown by the farmors for fuc), shado, aud_ornamiont, thora aro many lurgo forosts owned b‘fll the Goverument, in which wood i produced for city-consumption, T'hero aro gevoral of thoso fovests in tho vicin- ity of Paris, canl.nluiuf each from 15,000 to 50,- 000 acres, and ich have beon carefully pro~ norved ag state timber-lands for conturies,” Taris is mainly supplied with fuel from those forasts. Thoy ave full of doer. haros, and other gume. MANURE is collected and aaved with aymuch care in France a8 auything olse, Al tho leaves of the trecs avo carotully raked togolhor and conveyed to the stablo-yards to assist in forming comjost-heapy, to bo applied in the production of crops. Lime ond gypsum are also Iargely used where procura- blo; nnd all manuros and night-solls of tho citien, a8 well as bones and blood of slaughtered animals, are carted off into the country, snd pro- parad for the ugo of tho flolds and gardens. fu short, no substance which will help the Innd, aud inicrease the growth of vegotation, but i utilized in Frouce. ‘Tho Egllsh, I know, aro in tho labit of snying that the farming of Franco is inferior to thav of Groat Britain, And the renton they assign is, that the land ia cut up into small frooholds, and not o acientifically cultivated ns in Englaud, where the farms aro lurge and not owned by the cultivator. Itis trug that more machinery is employed on En- glish farms, and that tho plowiug i deopor, be- causo four or six horses or steam power is used to eubsoil plow ; and more guano is imported, and moro mnnure is applied, becauso there are s Intger proportion of caltlo to producs it o o ven ares than in Frunce; but, for allthese, the m'{uing in England is ;no botter thun in I'rance, and NOTHING LIKE AS TABTY AND NEAT, Englaud hasa olimate belter adapted to the growth of grass, grain, and root crops than Tranco, boeausa it is coolor and more humid ; yot Greut Britaln daos not produc half tho food shio consumes, whilo France yields enough and to spuro, 'The wheat production of TFranco ox- coody that of the United States. Sho exports less breadstufs then the Iatter, because sho coniumos more wheat, Tho peopie of our Routhorn Btates chiolly subsist on corn ; whoro- a4, in Franco, overybody eats * whits bread,” a8 wheaten flour is enilm]. T'ho wheat oxportod I.\‘\- the United Statea wonld not bread the ** Houth,” it itn poaplo did not ent corn. Whorever I have travelod through France, I have boon improssed with the careful, TAINSTAKING CHAUACTLR OF IT8 FARMING. No woeeds or thistles ura allowed to appear, Every ucre scons to bo oultivated, or mude to contributo to the wanta and necossitios of tho population. Evorything is noatly and cxacily donn, Ono wecs no slovenly, careless ag- riculture, The Fronch aro naturally & toaty, ocleanly, tidy people, with an ove to the beautiful as well as useful. They love flowers and fruits, shrabs, climbing- viney and ornamental trees, and onlilynte_thom with great caro und taste. ‘They are good agri- oulturists and horticulturists, " 1t could not be otherwlso to effect the gront rosults thoy do, Hore s 8 population nemly aqual to that af the wholo United Statgs subgisted In_comfort on o tcrritory no larger than the four Btatos of flii- nols, Missouri, Yowa, und Wisconsin, nnd almost destitute of caal for fuol or powar, ~ ‘Tho woil ls not nnturally rioh, Tt I for fnfoiior to that of tho Statespamed,nnd has boon subject 1o tho oxhaus- tion of mm\‘y centurics of coutfuual orapping. shocked sad their foelings wounded by conrdo, unartistic things, or vulgar, blunt, stupid ac- tions. While they atudy tho useful, tisey will sacrifico it wathout hesitation to preserve or se- eure tho Dbeautiful; and to pass a flattering compliment, oc to ufter o brilliant, falsa sonti- ment, they will disregard tho truth withont the Jeant’ eompunction,—fecling rather the wrong would consist in adlicring to prosaic fact at the expaonso of oxuberant funcy, ° \Vith such a tomperament, tastes, and inclinn- tions, France, under its sunuy skies, could not bo otbierwise than A BEAUTIFUL LAND, highly adorned and caltivated, and made 08 chiarming au the art of man it capablo of doing. And such it is from contro to circiforence, As much us Parls oxcels all othier cities in bonaty and refined luxury, to an équal degrco docs France surpass all other lands in artistic adorn- mont, olegant busbandry, and decorated Innd- scapo. Its Govarument i parcntal, inquisitive, anpoying, impartinent, expensive, unstable, and despotic: mnevortheleas, Ly reason of buoyant spirits and poetieal tomperament, tho pooplo, as » whole, aro prosporous, progicesive, artistic, polito, litorary, and bappy; and only desiro that the Paris ngitators, demagogues, and Commun- ints would let them nlone to live in poace with all mankiud. J. M, —_—— » Lonned ginby. From the Petit Journal Pour Rive, Recontly nu actox pregonced himself with his first born at tho Mairie, in order thut it meht bo rogistored in conformity with the civil law. As o waited in an anto chamber for the openlng of the DBuresu, the following conversation toolk plico between two persons near him: “Yes, dear consin, my wifo has just progented mo with o superb boy. " The mother and ehild are doing well,” All goos well, then, and you hnve come to registor it 2" i " Cortaiuly." Whor it tho bambin 2" ¢+ With his nurse.” “T3ut ho ought to bo bors with you. 'They will not take your declnration without him." 0h, that's only o formahity. In genoral thoy only attond to wiat the fatlior suyx, without troubling to look ut tho chiid.” “You will soe., They will domand to sce it, just beeause it isn't here,” i\ *Oh, how annoying. However, with wit and andacity one can pull ouesell through every didicnlty," In Huishing the sontenco tho andacions fathor turned himself to tho nctor, aud leading him asido waid ¢ “B!r. I oxpoot from you a slgnal plece of sor- co." vico, ¢ What is the trouble, #T,oud o your buby. “ Lend you my babyl for " i “You don't undorstand me—" * Why, it s my fiest-born," Pty nothing. 1 had fivo or eix It might bo ** Eixengo me ; that— *Bul it Iu only for & minute or two, I have forgotton to bring mine from the house, nud ag Soon us yours is rogintered I will borrow it from ou, provont it in my turn, 88 If it wore my bij oy, thon I will return it to you, and thon L shal! Lo’ snved the trouble of golug homo apain to foteh him,” ‘;hut sir, your child is & boy, and mino s o {5 Lt Woll, where is the difiienlty 7 ‘Phe childron aro not oxamined,” Int supposo they should (nko it into thelr hends to—-" 1 toll you thoy will do nothing of the kind," * Vory wall, you shall have horw" "Things turned out oxnotly us Hio baby-borrow- er predioted ; tha child was registored us of both eexod, aud tha two men went home hupov, Alr 7" What do you take mo Mrs. Somervilte, PEKSONAL RECOLLEOTIONS OI' MARY SOMER. VILLE, By Hor Daughter, MARGARRT HOMRRYILGR Tionton s Rohoris Brothers, This boole has all the charmof sn sutobi- oyraphy, for hor daughter hns drawn no decply from tha dinry and corronpondence of hor mothor that Mrs, Somerville is mada to toll hoer own life, It s hord to associnte auch porfoct simplicity of eharacter withn woman of such grand - nchiovements and wondorful learning. Ier enrly life was parsed at Druntisland, then = qulet senport town, on tho const of Tifo, jusc opposito Edinburgh. Ier mothor was obligod to live hiera in groal seclusion, from mo- tives of economy, during the nbsonco of lier Lus- Dand, Sir William Inicfox; who was at that timo in tho navy, and who afterwards beeamo Adiniral Tairfax. OC tho Jifa ot Bruntisland, eoxtracts from the journnl of Mrs, Somorville give usa mont charming account,—1ob only of her youth, but of the quaint old town nud its idens and ons- tomn, BhoHays: “Ihe manuers and customa of the peoplo who inhab- el thin prefty pol nt that thno” wero axccodingly primitive, e on o death of any of thn townepsople, n mu went about ringing a bell at the doora of the friendn und nequnintatces of tho person Just daud, sud, after clling out “Oyenl? {hres times, ho aunonuced tho derdly wilich Dad oceurreds Thfs was still enlled by ihe name of the Passing-Hell, which, (1 Gathalle Umes, Suvlled ho prayera of tho livinir for tha aplrlt jut PO BWYs L . . s Tonny-weddings wero Dy no menus uncommon in my young days, Wil & very poor conplo vvre gofng 10 o myarried, tho best ma, and oven the bridegroom Ttowelf went from lionse. o honse, asking for amail suta to ennble them {0 have a wedding-supper, aud wuy the tovneddier for o dance, AUy ono. wae ade mitted who pald » penuy, . 4 L o Ticenned bearars, ealied ¥ gaherlunzinmen,” were stfll common, "They wora o blite cont, wilh o tin badge, and wandored aliout the country, kuow all tha was on, gnd wera slwaye wele came farm-house, ~ whero ~ the gudo wife iiked bo have w orack (goeslp) with tho bluc-coat, oud, in return for his news, govehim dinuer or coffec, a might be. Edfo Ochiltresn & porfect specinien of thia extinet Tace, "hero was, nuother apecies of beg- gar, of yul bighermnliquity, 104 man woro a erippie and pode, Tiia Telations put L fn o hand-barrow, aud wiicoled ihn to {helr next neighbor's door, and left him there, Homo one camo out, gnve him vateake, or yosemenl bannock, nnd thep wieeled him to tho noxt door ; ond in thin Way, golug from hoveo to Louse, Lo obtatned o faiv lvelihiood, . . . . My mother taught we to read the Bible, and to say my prayers, morning and_eveuing ; otheriwise eho wl- lowed 1o t6 grow up a wild creative, When L was 7 or § yeors oid, I began to be useful, for I pulicd thie frult for proserving, shellod tho peasnnd beans, fod the poultry, sud Tooked after tho dairys for we Toptacow, o o o . My mother aent me in duo timo to Tearn tho catochism of tho Kirk of Hcotland, snd fo nttend the public exominatfons in the 'kirk, “Thig wan 3 gevero trial to me; for, besfdes helug timid ana_ahy, Tbad & bad_maormory, and dii not un- derstand ono word of thie catechiani, ' Thesemoetings, which began with prayer, were attended by ail tho chfldren of ths town and nelghliorhood, with thelr mothers, and & great many old women who camo o he edificd, ' Thoy woro an acute race, and conld quote chupler ond verso of Scripturo as acouralely av tha sninistor imself, I remerabor Lie xadd toona of them: # Yioggle, what lighted tho workl befora tho sun wos mndo?" After thinking o minutc, shosald: *‘Dead, air, tho questfon is mafr curious than edifying.” About this time hor father returned from ono of bhin voyages, nnd was shockod at the stato of iguorauco 1 which bo found her, and sho was gont off to a bonrding-school at Mussolburgh, swhers sho passed ono wrotchod, homesick, tear- ful year. “Upon my arrival,” eho oy, “al- though porfectly straight and woll-made, I was incloged in stifl stays with o ateel busk in front, whilo, abovo my frock, bands drew my shouldors back till the shoulder-blades met. Then o stoel rod, with u semi-circlo which went under tho chin, wan clasped to tho steol busk in my stoys.” In this dreadful vig her education be- gan. Trobably it was only tho futenso desire for knowladgo, then dormant, which . kept hor from hating overytbing connocted with books; indeed, for o timo sonething quonched all dosire to study, and, ot thoond of the yoar, sho wns taken homa almost as ignorant as whon sho wout. According to her own atory, *tho school at Musselburgh was vory oxpeasive, and I whaze- proachied with having cost o much money in vaine My mothor snid _sho would have boen contont- ed if I had only learned to write woll and keep nceounts, which was all a woman was oxpected to lmow.” S0 much for the eatly ciildlicod of Dre. SBomerville, When sho was 13, her mothor took a emall apogtmont in Edinburgh, and thoro slio again nt- tended school for n short time. This time she mastorod writing and learned the comion rulos of arithmetio, aud slie slso commenced learning to piy tho pisno, aftorwards bocoming o skitlod musician, She snys ¢ Ou returning to Bruntisland, T spont four or five Liours dndly at the plano ; aud, for the eake of having something to do, I taught myself Latin enough from Bitcls books as wo hud, to read Cusars *Commentn- Tiea I went {bnt gwbiner on o ikt to my sunt 8t Jedburgh, and, for {ho fivst time in my life, I mot In my uncle, Dr, Bomorville, a friend who approved of my thirat' for Tmowledge, ' During long wlks with hiu in’tho early moEnings, ho was Ao kind thet I hind flig conrage to tell him that I had heen trying i0lesrn Lattu, bul T fearcd 3t wos in vain; for my Drother aud other boys, superior to mo in talont, and with every acsistauce, spent years in learning i, o winrod me, on the contrary, that in unclent iimes many women—some of ihem of the Lighest rank in Tngimd—had been very clogant Acholars, and that ho oulld read Virgil with me if T would coma to bi study for an hour or two every miorning before breakfust; which T gladly did, From thin time on sho never failed to avall horself of any opportunity to study or gnin as- sistanco from those who were better educated than horgell- Wiion o young lady in Edinburgh, sho lod quite o gay lifo in the hest socioty thevo, though nover bocoming o absorbed in it 08 to give up hor studies, music_or painting. In 1804 whon sho was 24 yanrs old, ahe marviod a distant cou- in, }Ir. Bamuel Groig, who died thre years ‘Bin wifo roturnod to Bruitisland with her where alie remained until ber second martingo, five years later, to Dr. Somerville, ler cousin. Hor flist mar- tinge was not & patienlarly happy ono, na Mr. Groig vhared the proveiling prejudices of ho times it regard to the advanced education of women. Bitt hor nocond marringe scems to have heen tho parfoct one. Bho and_Dr., Someryilla were dovoredly attached to cach oher, having similar tastes, and ho was over ready to assist hior in overy way. Each fresh achievement of liors seemed to give him more pleasurs than it did her, and no sign of jenlousy on his part at hor great famo and many tyiumpbs cver ap- onred to mar the harmony of thoir Jives, Tor ho Rov, Dr. Somorville, her uucle and fathor- in-law, sbie always folt the doopost nffection and gratitude, for to him she owed the firat wordsof encouragoment she aver recoived. Dr, Somerville died in Frauco, June 26, 1860, M. Somorvillo becoming s second time o widow, und living_ubrond with_hor _danghtor until her donth, which oceurrod Nov. 29, 1872, at Nanles, One of the most _interosting features of the book i the aprightly recollections she hes loft of tha ponple slie met at dilferant times : and, a8 thoy nro of people known to the world, it i doubly inleresting to rend her opinion of them. Of Cuvier, whom she mot ono evenlng in Paris, sho saya: Cuvior bod a Temn anile countensnce,~not hand- siomic, but agreesble,~and kis mauner was plosaing windd modest, nud hiv consersation very inntructing, Madamo do 'Staol, haviug died lately, Wos much dis- ctiked, Sbo wak muelr pratsea for Ner good-naturo, and for tho brillimey of her conversation, Thoy agroed that tho cnergry of hev character, not old ago, nod worn hier aut, Guvler ankd tho foreo of Lior fmoyg~ ination misled her Judgmont, ond mado her ree things {n & qifferent Nyht from nif tho world, Asa proof of this, hie anentioned tho fact that sho makes Corfuno leal on n marble lon ona tomb iu St. Peler's, at Tiome, moro tun 20 oot high, In Florcuco she met Miss Hosmer, thon a youug girl traveting with Gibson, whoss pupil wha thon was, **1 hnve the sincorest plensure in expressing my ndmirstion fov Miss Iosmer, who has proved by her works that our sox pos- seasos both gonlus sud originality in the highest Lranchos of axt.” Nonr the close of the hook ix the following deseription of ra, Somervillo's chnractor, given by hiossolf : Altliough I hiave been tried by mony sevore aflfcs tions, my lifo, npon tho wholo, haw been buppy, Tn my yonth 1 ind to contend with projudico und jitib- crality 3 yet I wos of o quiof tomuer, aud ewy to livo with, ud 1 never terfured with o pried iito othor people’s affals, Mowever, If irrltuted by whot I cone sidored unjust eriticlem or intorforoneo with myself, or soy onu T Joved, T could revent it fiorcely, I wan noL good at nrgumenit s Twas apt to loss my fempor 3 bt T noever hore ill-will to eny one, or forgot the mans ners of 4 goutlowomny, however angry Imight have beow ot the tne, LU T must say na one over mot with wuch kindnoss ns I havo dove, I nover hod an enemy, I hayo < heck | of a mels snehaly dlporltion 3 thongl i somotlmes by circumstances, T alwiys rall ung), although scldom lawh, T cunt i i wit o an fitoe- cusions, T #hort {ie Tivo naturally acey- 1 ssed hopo of paniil meot- sy a0l {howo who wora deat to 3 with composira aud pers yof God, Yet to me, who aight, or avou to i , iniless bonio ono i il tlianght’ thut my spirit must stato of existdivo qnitoulons, Wo are twiinile glorics of fhat stalo, nud T boe o, dhioujeh § s ucomprehonstbio to s but, ar 1 2 comprohon, i1 sorae degres nt loust, (1o ax. auisiio loveliness of (o visble world, I coufess I shull bo rarry to loays it, T shall regrot tho pl ana, with nll the changen of tholr beaatifat tho'uagii; Wh il vordure nnd flowera ; bt shatlif o7oen o Iesyo animals who havo fotluse ntopa'afinctiountely for years, wilhout lnowing for cortagn their nltimato fate, thoiigh T Armily belfove that Ure tving prineipln a nover extinguiaked, Bince the afoms of mattor nro {ndestructible, on far un wo know, it is difionlt to Deilevo thal the spark Whiclh givea to thele unfon Jifo, menary, fdeiity, fntollfjrenice, aud nffeetion, Jn svmncscent, Bivery tom i (o humin frume, ok well i that of antnias, tudergoes & perlodieal ctungo by neontimal wanto end renovation ; tho abodo 8 ehanged, not ita nhiati- fant, It anlindle hinve no fature, tho s of many a st wrolclied; multiluded ato_ntoryer, eruelly beston, ond loaded during ife; niny o under n barbarous vivigeetion, 1 eannot'Leliove any creuture wan crented for uncompuikited siwry s { would be contrary {0 the tiributes of God's morey and fustice, Tnin sincerely happy tn not flin only belfevor fn the tmunrtatlty snimala, . Tho abovoe gives, an well ag enn ba givan in n hasty roview, bior honutitul character in its wido ranga of sympathion and intorestu, Althiough the fayorlte pursult of Mrs, Nomer ville, and tho one in which she most excelled, was mothomntics, no question came up in sel- enco, literature, politics, or philosoply, In which eho il “not take o vivid and comprehensivo intorest. Sho was pamsions atoly fond of poctry—Dante and Shakspearo Doing her favorites, Musle, during her whola life, wos o groat sonrco of happiness to her; and for Iandscape-painting sho had grent talent. Hor daughtor has proved horeell o flt biog- rapher, and hns written of her mother with tho tondorest affection and appreeintion, and it 18 not often ono haw the opportunity of reading o more fascinating book, nd Mt T ntiy of th lower Eeminiscences of Distinguished Peo~ Ples JEMORIES OF MANY MEN AND SOME WOMEN, Dy MAUNsELL I, Firen, New York: Harper & Lrothors, . Mr, Field bns boen an oxtensive traveler in foroign lands wnder circwmatonces which mave him an entranco into ‘elovaled ecircles, avd has held offtelal poritions in our own country which have secured him similar priviloges in tho best rociety of Now York and Washington. Ho has boguiled tho lelsuro of tho last summer's vaca~ tion by putting on paper some of tho reminis- cences of distinguished peoplo which tlicso favorable opportunities for observetion bave efforded him, Ho makes no protenso for tho book that inclosos thom, boyond tho Tiope that it may prove amusing, which it really doos, with many now and intercating snecdotos, rolated in animated stylo, and wovon into w alight fabric of autabiography, A mpecimon or two eulled from the coliection may not bhe nnat- tractivo at the presont moment, In recalling the momories of rolined and Dosutiful honies in London, Mr. Tiold drawsa plensant aketch of o litorary assombly which in« clndod soveral colobrities of whom the briefost glimpso i always welcome. Ho writes : Ono of tho mont delightful bouses which T visited fn T.ondon was that of Mr. 8, C. lalland his accomplished Wife, who both beld high positions in tho world of det. ters, s well s socinlly, Birs, Hall had the faculty of Dringing together in hor drawlug-rooms people tho most diatingnished fnnll the- walks of life. I met thero one evenlng Prof, Owen, Jenuy Lind, Lover, Haw- tliorne, Migs Poole, and I don't know whom Desldes, Prof, Owen looked like ono of his own pre-Adamite foails reanimaled. T had not seen Jenny Lind miica wo paried in America after her extraordinary musical tour through this country, Sho looked thin and wan,— vory unlike tho vigorous Swedlah, neasant-liko woman whom I in 40 wefl kuown, As T entered the room,: she crossed it fo meot me, aud we seatod ouraclves 11pon & ofa, sud hiad A lons chot sbout old timea upon thia nlde of tho Atlntic, Lover sat down ta the plano, and rwarbled, as Tom Moore is rald to have done, rath- or ihinn sang, “Tho Jow-backed car,” and others of his ocomposftions. I bad heard lim mauy years before in the ol Burton Theatre, on Chumbers streofy in Now York; but the drawing.room, ratlier than the stnge, was ovidently the propor piaco for him, Iswthorne's suporb head wan by nll odda tho finest in (hie room. 1Lc looked gonial, sud, mirabile dfette I appearod at Lik case, 'To me, who had not o m ginco ho lived at Lenox, in Massachusetts, thia transform. ation appeared marvolous, I eat down by hin side, and Lo talkod brilliantly for' Lalf an hour, without ex- hibiting any of tho shyziess which for years ad mnde him s perfect recluso, Tt was aald that he was atill unappronchablo in hfs Consulate at Liverpool, but ho appeared completely humanized aé Mro, Talfs, Apropos to Hawikiorne, wo quote one of sey- eral whimsical facts related of that eccentrio ouius. It wos immediately aftor the nominn- ion of Gon. Piorco to the Presidency of the United Btates. The two gentlomen wera inti- mpte and life-long frionds, and,.ns was hefitting the circumstances, Hawthorno cnlled upon. the General to offor his congratulations : ‘The General happened to bo in his room at the time, Hawllorne, upon ontering, wrung his hand, and then ‘witliout word of salutation, abruptly thréw himaclf upon n founge at the other iile of tha room, - 1iore ho Iny forsevoralinfnutes, withont speaking, sud tangling himself into all jsorts of contortions, At last, with sn oxpreaxton of sympathy aud woo upon hia’ counte- nance, ho gazed upon the General'a face, und exclalmed : “Fyaik, T pity you, Indeed, I do, from the boltom of my heart, With another incident occurring nt an evening purty at Stookbridgo, Mass., wo forbonr : T diatinctly remember cortain evening-party ot tho Bedgwick manor-house. When I arrived, I found Mrs, Butler (Fanny Komblo) at tho plano fu thie front draw- fug-room, siuging Bpanish ballads, which she did very sweetly and effectively, After a {ime sho censed ning ing an eutared into conversation with me, Her arims, which ehe ealled hor # deformitics,” wora bare, and tlioy,as well as hier face, were vory much burned by tho hun, 8te told mo that ehe had bLeen oul all the day alone upen the Inke, fiahing; that sbe hed Tiad no dinner ; that, when she refurned to tho house, shi for {he firat time hieorcl of the party for that eveniug; and that slie had not the time o both eat aud droxs without dotaining the rest of the family. The result was, that &he had not tasted food aince breakfust, und felt’ Yory faint and oxhausted, Al this tme sho was carclesuiy thrumming the koys of the plano, At lougth she aroso from lier seat and_slowly siuntered mto the back dining-room, while I remained standing where I wine, After a shiort juterval, hesrlng very loud talking in tio otlier room, I lounged into it to see what it meant. The rear of the liouse was very near fhie Housa- tonie, aud it had o bay-wiudow on that side, Seated in tbih windovw, witls her back to the tiver, was Fanny Kemble, and sitting on eithor side were flio Ttov, Dr. Parker and ibe Rev, Justin Ficld, both clergymen of the Profestant Eplacopal Church. Thercupon 1 arew up 4 chinlr, and, focing the lady, comploted tho partic carrer, Sho was doing the talkiug Just then, fnd her sithject wus horses, for which aulmals she had o passionato fondnees, From horses {n goneral, Ao foo passed to wor or cavalry-horses, & By tho way," she went ott o ray, * this remiuda mo that, the Inkt thine T wps in England, T mot Sir Harry Siniih, la told mo tbat hio was @ 'Captaiu of hores at Waterloo, hut that his command was not called into action dur~ ing the doy, In the ofiernoon, the Duke of Welliuglon, at {he head of his staff, rode up ta where he was, and called to him, * Come, &ir, get your troop in Motion—get your {roop in' molion I° Now, Hir Harry did aot yot know anything about tho for- tunes of the day; s0, saluting s commander, Lo Dieaitntingly askod, *WWhicl way, slr?' » An sbo gave io Duko's soply, Bio toro ta Lo ook Wke o trneds- qcon, md, with clonched hand, shouted : # Forwari sir, by Gad ¥ AL this hor fmmedinte anditors stneted 64 if electrified : but gho calmly resumed her chnir, aud went on with theconversutlon, 88 if unconacious that she Lisd violated any of tlio proprieties, ‘The Twain=Warner Novels THE GILDED AGE: A TALE oF To-Dav, By Mank WAIN (SAMURL L, CLENENS) and CUATLES DUDLEY Wanngn. Fully Tlusirated from New Designs by Horkins, BTEPHENR, WILLUASE, WiiTe, Bte,, Eie, Bold by Subscription only, Ilurtford's American rublishing Compnny. In an introduction of a flippant, slightly-dofi- ant tone, the authors of this joint work declaro, Vo do not ebject to criticism, and we do not expoot that the critic will read the Look before writing nnoticoof it o+ . . o Bug,ifthe Ju- piter who pusses his opinion on tho novel ever Lappens to peruso it in some weary momient of his subsequent life, we hopo that ke will not be the victim of a ramorao bitter but toe Into.” The prasont eritio hos read the book—num- bering 674 pagos—from cover to cover and, to savo himself from the possibility of remorso in the future, i compelled to speak of it in torms of tho soverest consure, Itisnotas if the bool had beon written by a pair of obsewse writers, It then could be passed over in silouce, in tho certainty that it wonld obtain u circula- tion In pecordance with it merits. Bub it coniws {ndtorsed with tho names of two of the most popular authors of Awmerican Lumorous litora- turn, Tho work which both had hitherto pro- ducod had heen of such oxcellent quality i to geouro the respeut of tho public, and the” confi- dence that whatover cither might prozont would bo worthy of the givor and the recolver. ‘Pliovefore, when thoe two havo condescended to triflo with their honorable roputation and with tha contldenco of the publte, indignation is just- 1y oxoited and outnpoken. It was well gnough for the writers to furnish themealves divoraion, if tho funcy nroso, i the concorted production of a novel, Although mch afforls are not usually favorablo to the highest puccoss, nobody hag, in the present iustanco, Tolt Jike quurroling with thew ; ou the contrary, a ploasant curioalty has boen stimulated concorn- ing tho result, Evory oue, howover, hnd u right ta oxpect tha book, when given to the warld, though it should luck tho unity and cohoronce of & work convelved and bronght out by o singlo mind, snould at lonst Lo redecmed with passagos of tho rofined and dalicate bumlt{ which distinguighes tho one writor, and with the quaint aad fortile humer that fos oronted for tho other ovoir o teanue Athintlo popularily. When, thorefore, » baok 80 utterly bald, so” puorilo, #o visious ovar, as *The Gilded Age," appears with ihio giguatures of Mork 'I'wain and Chorles Dudley Warner fo givo It o pasaport among rospoctnblo rondots, wrath and disgust may righttully {napiro tho eritie to-chantiso thom with merey. It 18 not, na we have nafd, na if Lhone writors were unknown and without inllionce or ungnmy. MThoy had both slown n tal- onf for first-rate work, and thereby ‘ on o pledgo ns honest men that they would rop thelr products somewhore near thoeir own #landard, ‘Thelr names had heeomo o sort of cortifieato of high chwracter. 1t s a frand to tha rording public to_append thom to n trashy boole like tho mongrel hofore us, Blupidity can ha forgivon, hnt dellboratn decolt—novor. Moreovor, it in not an if the warl wora to o deposltod on the sholven of the bookscllors, Lo ho rold an ealled for. Itis to bo carried from doar to door throughout the conntry, Into the Tural distriots, wheta n volca of warhing from the press usnally doos not penofiato: and the wamos of ity nuthora are to bn lield up asa guarantea of s oxcelience, Thonsands will ho doluded into ils purchnso, only to find themsolves choated androbbod. Mr, Clomens and Mr.Warner waoll know how mnel worso a wrong I is to goll o worthless book than n worthleas bolt of cotton or & worthloss article of dict; how much lighter & erimo 1t {4 to defraud tho body than the mind. Thoy have willfully dograded their craft, abusod tho poople's iruat, and provoled a stern con- demnntion, As for n sketch of the book, the critic has al- rendy had too honvy & task in roading i to at- tompt an outline. It s & pralended satire oun Washihgton socioly, on the mad deslra to bo rich that infects the nation, and on tho corrup- tious thnt disgrace tho mpeculntious of Wall sireet and tho deliherations of Congress. Thore aro Lwo or threo pagos desoriptivo of Washing- ton and ity sighta that discloso Mank ‘Twein's ironical pen’ and do it eredit, Thero ara, perliaps, a nif-dozon oblier placen whoro, by n Nleating prragraph or two, somo intimation of powor 15 folt ; and thore sre two or turae minor wood-cuts ont of itho profusion that vividly illustrate tho toxt in conncction, With the ex- coption of theso, the novelis a miserable failure, As for identifying the lnnd of i two writors, that 1s impossible whon hoth are performing work too inferior for recoguition. Tt is with sincoro rogrot wo_roalize that our drllqmrul momorics of My Summer In s Gar- don,” * Back-Tog Studiog,” and “ The Innoconta Abrond,” must horeaftor be clouded with o pain- ful romombrance of ** The Gilded Ago.” Tmpressions of Buropean Travels THE ALHAMBIA AKD TIHE KREMLIN, Dy S ury Inexxus Paisie, Illustrated, New York: Ane son D. F, Handol No more accurate daflnition cau be given of the nim of this vivacious transcript of the im- preaaions of travels than that oxprossed in the preface. Tho South end the North of Europe are con- trasted, not, as Dr, Primo remarks, *‘by any formal comparison of of morals and mannors, tho institutions und condition, of their people,” but by a eandid description of life am it was viowed by an American, in Bpain and Seandinavin, Tha Allawbrn is selectod nu a typo of the South, and tho Kremlin of the North, Thiose inclosed pnlacos,—tho one ruined, the other in glory—form tho lending objects in view, and closo at cithor oxtremity the vista of travel. But this vista In itsolf claborated, snd—including chapters on the most interosting rogions of 8poin, Switzerland, Gormany, Norway, Swedon, Finland, and Denmork—gives a wide aren of exploration, ndvonture, scenery, and charactor, The details of tho riches aud diverse splondor of tho typical palaces sro rendored with a faithful minutonoss that anvihilates to tho reader the dimnogs of distance, and tixes upon the mental toting the living colors of thosa fay-off scenss. Throughout the volume one notices a peenliar improssionableness on tho part of tho author to mnsical sounds, The degeriptions of music are among tho cxnlted pussages of the book, and sorve to ralieve the many playful, and oven mocking, portrayals of less sacred things. The following fragmenta are selected from pngos tint surround the “Planof the Centre of Moskva City,"—one of the many illustrations of this eu- terlaining aud instructive hook: A cloudlcss sky and s blazing sun ars over us, Al 4b buildinga aro dozzling in whiteness, and the domes of thirly-two churches within the' Kromlin, and hundreda bolow and avound, axo blazing st noontide in their gold and green, 'Each oue of tho 70 churchos bius several domea; and, besldes them, thern aro theatres, and palscos, hnd Gonvents, aud'otlier public buildings,—roofs painted green, sides white, and gilt ovorloglig douies, Wirrulh, and npircs, Gnre dens fillad with trees smong the dwellings, a8 in Orien. tal citice, and the river clreling ita way into snd out of the tows, give us #omo idea of what Babylon or Nino- el mnfght hiavo been in thelr vast inclosure and pic- turesque rural attractions within their massiva walls, In tho midat of the Kremlin, end sbove every oflier stzuctire In Moscow, rides toward the sky the white, solid, simple tower of Ivan, Majestic in its stmplicity and height, as if it were tho nxis about which this fairy world of Moscow was revolving, it stands sub- linsoly thiere, witl a boll of 444,600 pounds at its foot, and anothor'of 130,000 mwiuging in ite crown. . v o In Rueata, the be is su Instriment of music for fie worship of God, ae traly and really as tho organ fn any othor country, The fact $8 not mentioned in_the accotints we have of the wouderful, enormons, and al- most incredibly-heavy bells that have been cast at Moscow, But it Is the key to whnl would othervawe be difficnlt to cxplafu, . . . . Whon the boll i® & nedium of communication” with the Infinite, and {ho pie and an Empire finds expresaton Inits_majestic toncs, it ceasex to bo o wonder thut it sliould hiave & tonguo wiich requires twenty-Four men to move, and whase muste should send a thrill of pratse into every hiouso in the clty, and float away bee youd the river into tho plainsafar, . . . T came down from the Kremlin to'my lodglngs at Billot's, and, wearlod with the wanderinga of tho day, livo ben Isug on tho bed nnd dooking out ou tih city, Tt is Juek. before munset, &nd tho dny has been oppressively warm, A deliclous glow” from the govgeous west Is batbing all tho domes and roofs with fplendid colors, and silenco i3 stesling fn, with the soiting sun, upon the crowded town, Itis (he eva of one of the okt koly foativals of the Greck Ohurch, On vast churcheedifico 4 dircetly n viow of iy win- dow, and but » short way off, AsIllo musiug, from thin ehurch comos tho wofteat, wweetest tono of un ovening bell, Anather tono rosponds, A Wird is lieard, Tho Ivan Tower on the beight of the Kremlin utters his trcmendons voice, like tl volea of mapy waters, Aud @l the churchies sud fowers over the whola cily, and more, in copcert, in lurmony, “with notes almost divine,” Uft up their voices inau authom of prufse, such a5 I never thought tohear with mortal eurs : ‘waves of melody, an aceaw of mitislc, deep, roll- ing, heaving, clangiug, swelling, sinking, ristng, over- whnhnhlg. exnlting, I bad heard the great orgaus of Hurope, bik_thoy were tame and trifling eompared with thfa, The anthem of Naturs st Niagara is ono great monolono, ‘e musiv of Moacow’s bells 18 atova aud boyoud them afl, It is tho voles of tho people, 1t utters tlw emotions of millions of loviug, beating, louging hienrts,—uol endighienod, perbupy, Wko yowrs, but all eryiug out 1o tho Great Fathier fn theso solemn sud fuspiring tones, an f these tonguos had voloes to cry, “Holy, Holy, 1loly, God Almighty: Uasven und Earth aze full of Thy Glory.” Gail Mumilion’s Boolk, TWELYE MILES ¥ROM A LEBON, Iy GAL Haitron, New York: Horper & Drolhers, ‘Fhere is ;w0 much of that magnotic mental quality to which wo give tho familiar term of ©presence® in the writings of Gail Hamilton, that her books, and this last not least, must be treated, both in enjoymant and in criticism, na an individuality rather than as & work or nchioyo- ment, “Twolve Milos from a Lemon,"—a record of rural expevionce,«o0 namod trom an expression of Bydnoy Smith, s bright, forcible, and witty. Tho brightness and force malke ull the chaptors smazingly interesting, sud many of thoir pussnges strikingly porsunsive. The wit is marred by its too fraquent fabrication from a jocoso use of Bible phrasos ; and it would bo better if that sparkling accomplishment had been more restrictivoly dorived from its ancribod achool, “a knowlodgo of the pocte.” The excollent common senso of the didactle portion of *‘I'welve Miles from s Lemon " com- monds tself ewpecially to women. Into the fominine communily, "Gail lHamilton's breezy and invigorating presenco and hearty * Woll met” bring o sonse of refreshment and roaul- mution, and to rome phasoes of * death-in-life,” # veritable resurrection, How many women aro theore who should como forth froin thelr solf- made graves at tho searching uppoal to which wo give transcription : Whut shall o sald of the mother whoes weary years hiva but miniatered o tho necessitios ol othiers, anid ncglected her own souls nevd? Ala, the tragedy af such s lifo] Aluw, thnt It §s toa often’ a veal trigedy! The past canuot be restored, but the Iuture ia onrs, “The mun who turns from the wife o mother who Las thun socrificed Lierself at Liv allar dsncoursed ; but ilo eneritico aught nover Lo bo made, 'The vory preclous olntment wax uot taken to annalnt tho feet of the Tord, but to rub up tho pots aud kottiea, 1ts sacred- wieks win b 1tk uselesshioss, Tis www woa eacrilege. Ofifldren caunot provent it, Tho fire v asliew on the altar beforo thoy know its cost, Buta man is worse than brutal to doniand or to uceopt stoh a sacrifice from Lis wife, A woman s wholly, cruelly wroug In malilug it Totrolem V. Nasby, o his poem of “Huunuh June, gives wwsucl o life-blstory. But women ought to seo for them yastu of tho olutivent, Somctinogy peviioks, 14 - not bo helped, Fato closes nrownd the child, wnd fiss her in one grooye thi the grays veleuses hoe, Perhapa, 1 can hardly think that, in thls country, any fato iv so strang 44 t enp o o faut, If the Wil bo not first Irallor, Ui ol Wiet &% @wuct not fonl that auy auch wiealleo i el tuly, taey njure tho vory ones iy 0 uanelll, (Tho aoblest son i tho U i aot 5! that dulight du n rede and ignorant Ler Lat wt would feol i nu intelligent motuer, 1 willbe uuwpoukably grateful, tender, fuithtul; he will love and chorish her to hin life's ¢ fo will | mimit dn - fmpomtblo e horny not misa—nll that wlio hiaa Toat § all that sha has fajled 1o gatt 3 all whieh makes her Jiw equal and comesde, Nwby'a Ael waa a villati 3 but, If ha had heon an ol o enld 10t iava. Enloyid Hannah Jos do graded. boew Mother, ia it for your ron's snke you aro grindi; the prison-hovieo of drendgery 7 For llln?r nlnk':g lfl b, adeend out of it s tiole enke, I far ot g olne, cullivate vour mind. Do not Leatow wpon hem tho pitiable kiminesa of wiving thelr sapiring young manhiond & warn-ont drudgo for a moflior, "tuts awlul nbucgation may be the atern fiat of fate,— may eeem the only resniren of lovas but, whetlior 1f b fato or eholee, nt the Jawt it biteth ke a serpont and stingeth itke an adder, Etlquette, A MANUAL OF BTIQUEITE: POLITENESS AND (I00D-BRYEDING, D5 DAlsY Evee srianT, Now York: Q. P, Putnanvs Sons, A thoronghly-practical and satiatactory guide- book to the dotails of enlightenod courtesy. Not ouly are established rulos of etiquotte givon with clenrners and precision, but the good reasons for many cuatoms which ot first glanco soom arbiirary are convincingly shown, the stylo of the book is plessing; and everywhoro, without intrnsivenoss, but, on tho contrary, with & bright and quite feminive groce. Tho #pirit of Kindliness Is made to shino through all overlaying punctilios e the true basis of good mnmors, ‘¢ If yon are impolite to your washerwomen," seya this discriminativo Dalsy Eyebright, % or to your maid, you are in danger of boing so to those whose gaod opinion you dosiro to possoss. ‘The charm which truo politeness shods over its osnoasor 17 not aasily lt,llnscnlmtl jJot I folt )y avery oue, and mvariably respondod to by tho bast faglingrof their natura, T ¥ It {a tho searet sympathy, ‘he allyer link, tha llken tie, Which heart 0 heart snd miid to ming Tn body and fu soul can bind,” The volumo iy uniform with *Putnam's Handy-Book Series ;” and its chapters include, with alt neccruary subdivisions, the genoral sud spacial rules for itiquetto in tho Home-Circlo ; Recoption and Entertainment ot Visitora ; Duties of Guosts; Salutations; Loavo- Taking; Introductions; Bohavior in Traveliug; Tublo Ltiquotte, Oruamentation and Doing tho Honors ; Dinnor-Partios; voning Entortuin- monts ; Proper Forms of Address ; Socinl Inter- course and Conversation ; Drass; Boauty; Mar~ xingo; Husbands, Lovers, Bacholors, aud Old Malds ; Politencss in Fanny Porsons; Manuors Abroad and at Watoring-Placos; and the book concludes with o page upon the * Neod of Pa- tienca in All Thinga," embodying the following charming illuatratio Hillel, {ln wio Rabbi of auclent times, had been talking to hin disciples upon the virtue of paticnce, Aud’ pald they : Master, give us now, as thou art wont, an fmoge and similiinde wheroupon wo may compara It Iitllel answered : “T will lkon it unto tho most costly troasuro which this eacth begels within her hossan,—thio preclous stons | Presaed down by rocke and pand, it rests within the dark lnp of carth. Although no beam of lll’\d can approach tho precious Jewe), yet it shinetl sthil in unfading beauty,—a child ‘of tho hieavenly light, which it falthfully treasures up inits own bosom. Thus does ita rotnin fts splendor even in tho deepest darkncss, Dut, when it ia freed from ite gloomy prison-house, aud braught forth iuto tho closr light of day, then, enchased in- gold, doth it form this badgo and tho ornament of saverefgnty,—thio ring, the sceptre, and tho crown1” “1p it with tho clifofest ornament of earthly splendor that thon compareat the atilicst and most hidden of all hoavenly virtues?” asked tho disciples, *Evon #0,” repliod Hillel, * for ita ond Is a crown of life!" Wron HinTs_ oN Perlodicnls Iecelved. Blackwooo's Magnzine for Jannary. Leonard Scott Publishing, Company, New York. Con- tonta: “Tho Parisians,” Part tho Last; “*The Story of Valenting and Tlis Brother,” Dart “Internntional Vanities: No. IL.—Forms; + John Stuart Mill: An Autobiography " ¢ Note Relating to the Hto? of the Missing Bills " * A Pieco of Teather,” by H. C, Merivale; * The Indian Mutiny: Sic Hopo Grant;" “The New Year's Political Aspects.” - Schem's Slatistics of the World, compiled by Prof. Alexander J, Schem, and to be publishe semi-anmnlly, by C. J. Moulton, New York. Tho tables givo the sfatistics of all countrios of the glaboe in parallel columug, under the follow- ing hoadiugs : Ares, form of government, head of government, population, oxpenses, public dobt, paper money, standing army, navy, mor- chant vossols, imports and exports, chief pro- duce, coing (and their value at the United States AMint), weights (compared with both, ounds, avoirdupois ane kilogramnmen), incar moasures (compared wl&: botly, feot and motres), moasures of capacity (com: pared with botl, bushels, gallons, aud motros), tho population of capitals, principal_citins, an soaports, with the year of census. In addition to tho above thero are various side-tablos exhib- iting atatistics of Christianity, roligious statis- tics of Lurope and of tho Unlted States, rail- roads of the world aud of the United States, ostal and tole -m{;h statistics of tho world, the residonts of tt\n nited States, and Presiden. tial eleotions from 1788 to 1872, school statistior of the United States, etc. Phrenological Journal for February. Samuel K. Walln, New York, "Northwestern. Review for Janusry. R, R. Dear- don, Ohicago, Sanitarian tor Fobruary. A. S. Bames & Co., Now York and Chicngo. American Artisan for February, Allen, Now York, Nalional Sunday-School Teacher for February, Brown & Adamw, Blackmor & Lyon Publishing Company, Chicago. Honie Grange for Juuuary. St. Louls. Took-Buyer. for Jammary. Scribner, strang & Ca., New York, “Beloit College Aonthly tor January. Arm- Literary Notes. The Hon, John Bigelow has his edition of the life of Franklin already in the pross. —>yr. Disraeli is reportod to be engaged on a new novel dealing with the questions of Social- ism and Communism, —(corge Hand is writing in the Revue des Deuz Mondes & now novel, **Ma Baour Jeauno.” —Lord Chief-Justice Cookburn is still engagod on his arlicles on Junius. —A now Shakepeara Soclety is projected in London, of which Mr. Tenuyaon is one of the promoters, ¢ —It is rumored thot Longfellow has & poem in prfipnrauon which is not to aes tho light till Oc. tober. —The author ef *‘Uinx’s Bahy " iu going to write & book with the atrange title of * Luchmee and Ditto.” . The scone of the story is to be in the West Indies, —1It is reported that Martin Farquhbar Tupper bas recoived & pension of £120 & yoar on the English Civil-Bervico list as the author of ** Pro- verbial Philosophy.” —Prof. Mommson, the grent historian of Tom, is to lonve tho Univorslty of Berlin for a chnir fu thet of Loipzig,—a very serious blow to the formor instiiutis . ~—The lagt pieco of litersry werk done by the lato Charlen Astor Dristed Was Sho T of Cherbulies’s novel, *‘Prospero,” for il “ Lolaure Hour Beries,” —-The great mathomntic impoesibility has beon achioved by a litteratenr ; Mr, Hoin Friswell an- nounces & book called *' Our Square Qirclo,” —Wae ore authorized to state that tho lotters and journals of Lord Macaulay aro in the bands of Ludy Holland ond Mr. T'revelyan, with a viow 1o publiention.—Atheneeum. —Charlos Francis Adams Is reported to ba writing a bistorical work, —A volume ou * Prophetic Volcos Conderning Amorien,” oxpanded from bLis_Aflantic articlo, will shiortly bo added to the uniform edition of the wark of Cuarles Summar, —A “Tife of Wauhington " in Japancse, con- slating of furtj-foucr volumen, illustrated, has Just been pubiishel in Yeddo. Wasbington is reprosentec in the costume of the presont timo, with » nustadie, a eane, and o Skys terriar, —* Far fiom tho Madding Crowd," o story in the Cornhilt_Megaxine, is nscribod to Goorge Eliot, but ouly on account of intornal evidence. Tt is to ba rojiablished by Qagood & Ca. —Prof. Bornard Ten Briuk, of Strasburg, hopes Lo finish his History of English Litoratura this yoar, it wilbo of un-Germmn brevity, in two volumos. —A French oditor was waylaid one evening, and stabbed in tho back with a poniard by a Iady.whoso poems ho had criticiued save: 1 reviewers should take warning. —A now novel may be oxpocted shortly from the pou of rs. Lynn Linton, the suflor of # Joshun Davidson," —A dovotionnl book by George MacDanald, “Caro for Thought-Taking," will' shortly be is- sued by Warren & Wyman, —Among the litorary announcements for tho firat month of the now yoar is the promiee of iho third and Jast volumo of Mr. Forstor's *“ Life of Dickous,” which is to be ready by the end of Jauuary. L I Nd pot write the ¢ Baxe Holm Btories,” but Mra, Lucls Qilbovt Calhoun Nun- llo did, according to hor brother-iu-law, Junius Homyl Drowne, and he ought to know, —Samuel Smilew’ ** Tistory of the Huguecots Aftor the Revaoation of (lio Fdiet of Nantes,” is Just publishad in Eugland. —A momoir, written by ex-Marahal Bazaine, and loft with a friend on lis imprisonmont, con- taining a fluent and anoldior-like acvount of the n\.tmnrm of the imyerial party to negotiate with Trussls, 1s to be published * whon cirnumrisie will peruuit.”