Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 1, 1874, Page 9

THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1, 1874 9 LA BELLE FRANCE. An Exquisitely - Beautiful Country. Its Climate, Topography, and Vege- table Productions, careful Manner in Which the Country Is Cultivated. Absence of Fences and Farm- Houses---The Rural Village, Progress in Education---Beautification of the Cities—-General Prosperity. he Immensely-Beneflcial Results of the Revolution of 1789. Special Correspondence of The Chicago Tribune, Nice, France, Jan. 11, 1874 Frenchmen are in the habit of speaking of {heir country 88 La Belle France; sod some gravelers, especially English, say that it is an expression of vanity, and that the country is not »ntitled to be called *‘beautiful.” But, so far aslam competent to judge, it is an . ‘EXQUISITILY-BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. It is a1l T anticipated, and more. That any one can pass through this charming land, with his tres open, aud Jook: st tho endless variety of hill 30d dale, mountain and meadow, with limpid yivers and strcams winding through broad vallegs or dashing in cslaracts down mountain-gorges, and count the varietios of forest snd fruit-trecs and ehrabs, gnd bebold every production found in temperato and semi-tropical climates, and ob- serve tho cate oud taste exhibited in the agri- cultura of the country, and enjoy tho bright sansuine, even in mid-winter, and still dony that ftis = beautiful laud, can only be accounted for 2 the gronnd that he Lias erected a standard of beauty not found in this world, or is incapabie of sppreciating 8 lovely country when Lo soes it. If France is not a beautiful country, where is snotobe found? If it is not finely caltivated, whero is its superior in that regara? 1If it has ot 8 great varioty of natural productions, what conntry excels it? What nation, of its range of climate, produces a grester variety of nseful and besntifnl vegetation? ~What nation, largo or small, in the 014 or New World, excels France in saristy of trees, fruits, flowers, vines, shrubs, grazsss, grains, Toots, vegetables,—everything, ‘n short, to sustzin lifo or please the eya? TRANCE POBSESSES A CLIMATR not anlike that of the Virginias, Carolinas, Ken- “tucky, snd Tennesseo; and contains just about that ares, Butit is mot as cold in winterin Korthern Franco s in Kentucky, while South- ern France is milder than South Carolina in summer. Hers, in Nice, in the middleof January, the gardens are foll of flowers, and oranges, and temens, and the hills arc covered with the ever- green olivo tree, whose fruit has only just been picked; while, 28 far north as Peris, water had gearcely congealed npto New Year's day. Inthe . greater part of TFrance, there are really but three seasons: summer, sutumn, and spring. Think of that, ye dwellers on the shores of the lakes and on the great prairiesof the West, whose blood is chilled by the piercing blasta of win- ter's winds, and who hurry over the snow-clad, frosted earth, shivering beneath s wrapping of woolens and fura ! The whole eastern side of France, from Prus- #ia to the Mediterranean, a distance of 500 miles, 1a broken up by mountains and precipitons hills for100 to 150 miles in width. The sonth of Franch, from Bayonne, on the Bay of Biscay, to Nice, smong the Maritime Alps, near Italy, ia tidged with mountains for an average width of 100 miles; while the peninsula of the Province of Brotague is slso mountainous. But among ihose mountains there are thousands of BEAUTIFUL BUNNY VALLETS, exceodingly fortilo snd rich in productive- vess; whilo the mountain-slopes snd steep hill-sides, which, in sppearance, are poor, barren, or waste Isnds, are put tonses which yield larger profits than can be derived from the level lands of Western Frauce, On tho mountains in Northeastern France are grown immense quantities of chest- ants, which constituto quite an_articls of food. and are asten by nearly every one. Milions of acres of vineyards aro planted on the hill-slopes and mountain-sides ; and other millions of hilland vale are dovoted to the growth'of the mulberry- tree, the olive, date, fig, almond, orange, peach, ond other fruite. Isaw, between Toulon and ice, in & district of 100 miles, at least half-a- mmillion of acres that were mainly devoted to the prowth of the olive-tree. Tho ‘mountain-gidos woro clothed with these evergreens to their very tops, wherever there was earth emough in which the roots could hide or hold. FRANCE IS DRAINED BY FIVE RIVERS, vhose water-sheds carry off the rains of nine- {anths of the country: First—Tho Northeast- em provinces, including Alssce and Lorraine, Crin into the Rhine and its branches. Second— The whole Southeast drains into the Rhone; bus district, of porhaps 80,000 square miles, embraces the best and chief wine and silk-pro- cucing parts of Trance. Third—The Secino denins &8 Northwestern France, of which Paris the centre, being an aren of something like 35,000 square milcs, and constituting the best wheat-raising part of the nation. Fourdr, is tho valley of the Loire, which extends across the hasrtof France, from the outlying spurs of the Alps, on the east, to the Bay of Discay, on tho wast, draining a space of not much less than tho rreaof the whole State of Ilinois. The old City of Tours is the centro of this district. The Sfth drainage district is thatof the Gironde b2 Garonne River, which carries off the water of tis Pyrenecs and sll Southwestern France.. This 1150 » great grape and mulberry-growing por- m of the country,—Bordeaux being ita ief and the largest wine-exporting port of The portions watered by the Soine, Loire, and Gironde Rivers may be doscribed as rolling P'aing,—not a5 level as Illinois or Alichigan, but ware like Ohio and Indiana in surfaco; while the other two districts, and especially thatjof the Chone, are a8 hilly and precipitous 28 Pocnrylvania. Tho Moscllo and the Nense, which run northward; the BSeine, vhich’ runs porthwest; the Loire, which £owe to tho west; and the Rhone, which die- clinrges its waters due south,—all take their rise in the vicinity of Dijon, which is within 100 miles of Switzerland. The country soems fo 1.1l off in every direction from tho table-lands of the Provinco of Bourgogne, aronnd Uijon. _ The traveler, in passing throogh Francein any Girection, cannot help observing the ABSENCE OF FENCES AND FARX-HOUSES, Inthe level portions the whole country is an on- broken cxpanse of tillage, withont inclosure, or ai1ght to mark ope ferm from another. Why there are no fonces, seeing that the thorn grows * Dearly as well in France as in Great Britain, is to ©s & puzzle, The only live-bedge fences ona sces are those planted by the railroad compsnies 90 sither side of their tracks, of which there are thousands of miles, Everywhere one notices 01d men or women, boys or_girls, herdiog cattle 21 sheep, or particular patchies of ground. As ro are 5,000,000 of farms in France, and the oamers of each keep borses, cattle, or sheep, it must consumo the mejor part of the time of 5,000,000 of persons to watch tha live-stock when Eazing. this expenditure of time and labor %3uld be obviated by planting_hedge-fences, a8 i3 done in Great Dritsin and Ireland. Perbaps Jae reason is, that the people do mot want ta raste the epace of ground which the hedges ould occupy; and onother, that they donot live on ftheir lands, but s, in _village ‘ ind the cattle would hsve to ba dnven to pesture and back morning sod evening. But whatever may be the causes, thers are no fences tobe seen, and sl live stock must be watched by the owners. Somotimes one will see a single oW or half-s-dozen sheep kept in place by & gray-haired old woman or a little girl. It must 'fii,fiéua the exerciso of aonsiderable patience to it As remarked before, .. TEE PEOFLE LIVE IN VILLAGES, sentsining, on a general aversge. o hundred families, and each with its old church in the eentre, but often no achool-house. ‘These vil- lages aze neerly always located with reference 8 water and cunshine. A good spring oat of & hill-side ; = little valley with 8 brook t not go dry in tummer ; o sunny elope o}m: ‘}fiff sholtored from the north - and ¢ cold winds, and supplied’ with wm?i aro the spots that were selected centu- ries ago for thoso clueters of farm-hous Thousands of villages Liavo stood for ton or more centuries; and thero is litile perceptiblo change in the manners, customs, or patois of Lhe inhabitsnts, since the days'of the Crusaders, or, for that malier, since the conquest of Frauce !a;: I;Y:x}x‘;: ‘fim!;lr{hl.m years ago. I havo looked of ese anciont 2 observe they zre all alike. zunibstlsgesand esctin ADESCIIETION oF Oxe 193 description of all. Generally, thera i Gne utrect, bt someiaics » second. erossing it st any angle except s right one. The strect it about” 25 0 35 fect wide; hus no gidewall ; is cleau, but crooked as a ram’s horn, Each house is built of brick or stone, aad covered with tile, Laving steep roofs, with gablos fronting tho steeet. Tntherear of cach house are a stable for tho eheltar of cattle ; somo other farm-buildings; a stack-vard; a place for farm-implements; littlo cellars in the ground for vegetables, wino, etc. ; and a pile of wood (or turf, where that is pro- duced), cut ehort_and cseorted into twigs for k}udhugs, and split wood for heating. Ivyor other croeping vines grow up tho sides of the houses,—on tho south front, generally grape- vines. Froquently & protty little garden may bo seen between the house on tho frontaud tho etabling on the rear of the lot. Everythiug is old and quaint. The umiversal vehicle of the farmer is & cart, or rather tho body of a dray mounted on Ligh wheels. If more than ono borse is used, thoy are driven tandem. This moda of conveyance is only varied by tho em- ployment of peck-mules and donkeys, which carry enormous loads for their size. Ono will often scea fat old woman going to market mounted ou alittle donkey not much larger thian o sheop, which hobbles and staggers aloug under its overload of ancient damo and of straddle-baskots filled with'poultry and vegeta- bles, with all the patience and gravity of an— ass. In addition to the farmers, cach villege, or commuve, has its wine-shop, its lLttle variety store, a blacksmith, tailor, and some other primitive artisans, and a_carate, but rarcly a schoolmaster. Some of tho villages contain govoral hundred houses, and transact a little local trede. But I moticed that, no matter whether the town was large or smull, & portion of its inhabitants WERE FARNEPS. This is 28 truo of a city of 100,000 population as of a commune of 500 souls. However, in some paris of ¥ranco, I saw toparate farm-houses after tho English style. That is, whero s man owned s considerable tract of land,—say 200 or 400 acres,—ho lived on it, and hod built in prox- imity to his own dwelling s number of emaller dwallings for his hired laborers. There are said to be 56,000 of there rural hamlots and villages, enlled communes, in Frauce, containiug, in the aggregate, upwards of 25,000,000 of Houls,—lear- ir_:kg gbout 12,000,000 in’ the largor towns and cities. Since writing tho foregoing, an intcllizent Frenchman ioforme mo that in parts of Drit- tany, and in portions of the country south of the Loiro, all the way south to the Pyrences, tho farms are inclosed with hedge-fences, and that many of the farmers live on their_lands, as in America ; but those are parts of Franco rarely visited by travelers, and I onlyhave his word for it. I Dave traveled at lesst 1,500 miles in France in various directions, and bhave seen. in all that distance, no fenced farms, and but few farm-houses away from villages. Another thing that arrests the sttention of the touriet is the UNIVERSALLY-CAREFUL MANNER in which the country is cultivated. There seems to b pot an acre of ground in Irance that is not devoted to some useful purpose. There is no waste or idle ground. The marshes appear to be drained and reclaimed; the brooks and .croeks have been straightened, aud, whers they would be likely to wash sway the earth, tho banks thereof are carefully walled up ; snd the same is done with rivers where, in malking bends, tley wonld cut away the adjoining fiolds ; stono walls protoct the land sgainst such apprelicudod loss. Whoro streams, large or small, overflow their banks, levees are raised to prevent it, and protect the adjacent lands from gmm.gu. Tivo Stone-arch bridges cross all the streams. Tho largast rivers in France have been {hus spanned. Pefore the era of railwoys, the Government built those bridges for military purposes, and they will endure for conturies. All the country-roads I have secn ars SOLID TUBNTIKES, paved with the hardest-procurablo stone. The French take great pains with their ronds. ard keep them cerefully repaired. Ride outinto tho country in any direction, from any city, and you are always sure of finding s smooth, solid, clean road. At iutervals of a mile or two will be Jound road-menders, breaking stone or repair- ing epots meeding it. All along, at short dis- tances apurt, may be ssen piles of “ Macadam " on tho rond-sides, ready for use when required. Where the country is billy or the ground even, the track of the rosd is crooked, but rans where the oasiest grade can bo found. WHEREVEE A TREE CAN BE PLANTED without injury to grain-crops, thero it will be found. Along the sides of tha road, along lanes leading into the farma, along tho banks of brooks or streams of any eize, will bo found beautiful rows of troes of different kinds. Wherever thers is s patch or strip of ground not arable or fit for vine or grass, it is sure to be planted with trecs, unless it be nzked rook. The northern mountain-glopes are all covered with forest-trees where it is posgible to grow them ; and tho sams ia true of the stoep ‘hill- pides. The suony sides of all acclivities aro kept for the growth of grapes, mulborry, olive, peach, and othar valuabla trees} but the sbady sidos are given to the fire-wood trees. The willow is Erown on the wot or low lands, for baskot-mak- ing and for fuel. Trees are encouraged to pro- duca large tops and many branches; and these are clipped off for fuel as regularly and system- atically as sheep aro shorn in Wigconsin for their wool. The Lombardy poplar is largely grown for tho sake of the biennial or the trien- pial crop of limbs they produce; and so of mauy other varietics of trecs. In addition to the trees grown by the farmers for fuel, shude, and_ornament, thero atc many large forests owned by the Government, in which wood is prodaced for city-consumption. There are reveral of those foresis in tho vicin- ity of Paris, nomfiuini:ach from 15,000 to 50,- 000 Reres, and which have been carefully pre- served as state timber-lands for ceoturies. Parig is maiuly supplied with fuel from thoso forests. They are full of deer. bares, and other game. AANURE is collected and saved with asmuchcare in France a8 anything clse. All tho leaves of the trees are carefully reked together and conveyed to the stable-yards to assist in forming compost-heaps, 30 bo applied in the production of crops. Lime and gypswn are also largely used where procura- ble; and sli manures and night-soils of the cities, as well as bones and blood of slzughtered animals, are carted off into the conntry. sud pre- Parod for the use of the fields and gardens. 'In short, no substanco which will help the Iand, and increase the growth of vegotation, but iatilizod in France. The English, I know, aro 1o tho habit of saving ibat the farming of France is inferior to that of Great Britaio. And the reacon they asdlra is, that the Jand is cut up jnto small frecholds, and not so scientifieally cultivated as in England, where the farms are Jarge snd not owned by the caltivator. Itis true that more machinery is employed on En- glish farms, and that the plowing is deeper, be: csuse four or eix horses or steam power is used to subsoil plow ; and more guano is imported, end more manuro is spplied, bocause there arc s Targer proportion of cattle to producs it1oa given area than in Franco; but, for allthese, the Forming in England is [no botter thanin France, and NOTHING LTKE AS TASTY AND NEAT. - England has a climste better adapted to the growth of grass, grain, and root crops than France, because it ia cooler and more humid ; yet Groat Britain does not produce balf the food sho hila France yiclds enough and to consumes, Wl 0 spare. The wheat productiocn of Franca ex- ceeds that of the United States. Sho exports less breadstuffs than the latter, becanse sho consumes more wheat. The people of our Southern States chiefly subsist on comn ; where- us, in France, everybody eats * white bread,” ss whesaten flour is called. The wheat sx?oxlad by the United States wonld not bread the * South,” if its people did not eat corn. Wherever 1 have traveled through France, I have been impresaed with tho carefal, PAINSTAKING CHARACTEE OF IT8 FARMING. No woeda or thistles ure sllowed to appear. Trvery acre seems to be cultivated, or made to contribute to the wants and necessitics of the opulstion. Everythiog is neatly aod_exactly gune. One secs no slovenly, careless ag- ricnlture. The Fremch are naturally s tasty, clesnly, tidy people, with an ose to the beautiful as well a8 _usefal. They love flowers and fruits, shrube, climbing- Tines and ornsmental trees, and caltivate_them with great care and taste. = Thoy are good agri- cultarists and horticulturists. 1t could not be otherwise to effect the great results they do. Here1s a population nestly equal to that of the whole United States subsisted in comfort on 3 territory no larger than the four States of - nois, ¥issonri, fiow‘, and Wisconsin, and almost DOt te o coal for fuel or power. ' The soil is not naturally rich. It is far inferior to that of the Statespamed,and has been subject tothe exhaus- tion of twonty centuries of continual cropping. And yot, since the farmers came inio posseseion of the land, eighty years ago, aud ceased to be tenants ground into the dust by landlords, they Liave more than TREDLED THE ANNUAL PEODUCTS of France, They havo sustained tremendous wars, and farnished the men to fight all Europe. Their country has been ravazod by savage invasions, and thewr indusiry at times broken up by the, spoiler. They have survived all thoso desolations and destructions of human life and property, and supplied the moncy to pay off the national ransoms and indemnifications imposed upon the nation Ly invaders; and to-day the visibloand realized ealth of France is ten times as great 88 beforo the Revolution of 1789. The material improve- mont of France only dates from 1815, after the overthrow and banishment of Napoleon. For tho twenty-six years subsequent to the com- mencement of tha Revolution, France was drenched in blood, and drained of hifs and treas- ure to support tho carnage and destruction. But she Lias survived all her losses and disss- ters, incloding the lest, and presents A MARVELOUS DISPLAY of prosperity and wealth, in despite of enormous and oppreseive taxation, now excecding $500,- 000,000 por annum for netional purposes, ex- clugive of all local and municipal burdens and exactions. In searching for the causo of theso wonderful results and trinmplis over adversity, I find it in the remarkablo industryand sptitude of tho Teonch people; in_their habits of economy, Bobricty, and thriftiness ; their persoverance in labor, hopefulness, cheerfulness, skillfulness, and esthetic tastes ; but, above all, in the eman- cipation of the farmers from the degraded condition of landless serfs, and elevation into that of independent frecholders, with overy family owning their own farm, cultivating theit own vino and fig-tree, and enjoying the fruits of their own labor, with no landed aristocral Lo seizo their earnings and squander them in admin- istering to his profligate dissipation. It was their TRANSITION FROM SERFDOXM INTO FRELTIOLDERS tl:at gave the opportunity to convert Franceiuto o garden of fruits and:flowers, and to render ita prosperity irrepressible, in_dcfiance of misgov- ernmiont and invesion, war-taxes and spohation. While education is not universal by any means among the farmers of Frauce, still great prog- ress af lato has been mado. There Las been a national awakening in France, as in Great Brit- ain, to the necessity of better education among the common people. At the beginning of this century, only onc adult in ten could read and write, Now two-thirds can doso. And, whero ono mewspaper was read aslate as the roign of Touis Philippe, now throe or four aro rcad. Free public libraries have been established in overy city in France, without excoption. There is hardly a town of 5,000 inhabitants but hes its public library. In some cilies mnot larger than Springfield or Peoris, I found libra- rics of 20,000 to 10,000 volumos. The general Tule seems 1o bo to provide a public library with a number of volumes at least EQUAL, TO THE POPULATION of the place. Ln connection witl theso libraries, whick are doposited in fire-prcof buildings, are museuma for the collection and presorvation of all local enriosities of Art or Naturo, literature, history, geology, souvenirs, rolics, etc.; for nently all the cities of France havo curious old bistories and traditions, dating far back into the soes of antiquity. There is & Fronch Historical Society, with hcndti‘umem at Paris, which ram- ifies all France,--thero being branch socicties a0d corresponding members in every city of any noto or magnitude. In theee matters, the French are far abead of the Americans, or even tho English. The offect of this progress of national educa- tion and expression of general intelligerce is meen in tho improvement and advancement of tho cities and larger towns. Btrangers are all fillod with astonishment and admiration at the wonderful improvements mada in Paris during tho last twenty-five vears,—the widening and cxtenaion of strests; the beautiful parks; tho ornamental trees; the artistic fountaina; the numerons columns and statusry ; and the multi- tude of elegant Luildings which have been erected; and they seem to suppose thatin o other parts of France has ansthing been done in ihe way of improvement and adornment. But such 2 view is 8 mistaken one. * _ALL THE CITIES OF FRANCE have been imitating Paris to the extont of their ability ; and the improvements in many of thom have been relativoly greater even than in Paris itaell. All Fronchmen visit Paris,—most of them once a year. and all of them oncoin o life-time. They rarely go anywhero else, for no other city has at- tzctions for them. They return filled with ad- miration at tho sights and chows, and straight- way sot about roproducing Paria in their own cities, to the extont of thoir means. Thereforeit is that I find, in old, quaint, medioval cities, a spirit of progross and improvement which I was not oxpecting to flnd. Almost overy city has ita adorned parlks, drives, and squares, with fouu- tains playing, snd statuary and monuments com- memorative of the noted charactera there born, or of cvents in its history. It has its new quar- tor, lnid ont in broad, straight streots, and clo- gontly built up in modern style, with villas and mansions placed on_ every spot where a pictur- eaque landscape can be produced. The effect is Teightoned by ornamontal troes, vines, shrubs, and flowers, 8o placed and arranged as to aad 3 singular charm to tho whole, In these respects, it scoms to me, THC FRENCH ARE UNEXCELED in nicety of tasto and percoption of the beanti- ful in Art and Nature. Their temperament is poetical and emotional, and they arc always studying poses, surprises, cffects, elegauces, charme, and songations in all they do. They are shocked and ther fechngs wounded by coarse, unartistic things, or vulgar, blunt, stupid ac- tions. While théy study the useful, they will gacrifice it witbout hesitation to preserve or se- cure tho besutiful; and to Vuas a flattering compliment, or to utter a brilliant, false senti- ment, they will disregard the trnth without the least’ compunction,—feeling rather the wrong would consist in adhiering to prosaic fact at the oxpenso of exuberant fancy. \Vith such a temperament, tastes, and inclina- tions, France, under its sunny skies, could not be otherwisa than A A BEAUTIFUL LAND, highly adorned and cultivated, 'and made as charming as the art of man is capable of doing. And such it is from contro to circumference. moch a8 Paris cxcels all other cities in beauty 1nd reined luxary, to an equal degres does France surpass sli other lands in artistic adorn- ment, clegant huebandry, and decorated land- scape, Its Govornment is parental, inquisitive, annoying, impertinont, expensive, unstable, and despotic: novertheless, by reason of ‘buoyant epirits and poetical temporament, the people, a8 a whole, sra prosperous, progressive, artistic, polite, literary, and happy; and only desiro that the Paris apitators, demagogues, and Commun- juts would let them nlone to live in peace with all mankind. J. AL ——— The Loancd 3abye From the Petit Journat Pour Rire. Recently an sctor presented Limself with his first born ot the Mairie, in order that it mizLt bo rogistered in conformity with the civil lnw. As he waited in an ante chamber for the opening of the Duresu, the following couversation took place between two persons near him : +Yes, dear cousin, my wife Las just presented mo with a superb boy. The mother and child are doing well.” « All goes well, then, and you have come to register it 2" “ Cortainly.” # Where is the bambin 2" 4 With his nurse.” « Bat he ought to be here with you. They will not take your declaration without him.” 4 Oh, that's only & formelity. In genoral they only aticnd to what the father says, without tronbling to ook at tho child.” “You will sce. They will demand to see it, just becnusoit isn't here.” & 2 0D, how annoying. Howover, with wit snd andacity ono can pull onesell .through every difficulty.” ' In fivishing the sentence the sudacions father turmed himself to the actor, snd lending him aside said = 3 i “§ir, I expect from you a signal piece of ser- vice. % “What is the trouble, eir 2" # Lend me your baby." #Tend youmy baby! What do you take me or “You don't understand me—" + Why, 1t is my frst-bora.” * Thai's nothing.” x:use me; &I had five or six it might be minute or two. I have from tho house, and as goon s yours is registered I will borrow it from voit, presons it in my tarn, a8 il it were my big . then T will return it to you, and then Leball bo saved the trouble of going Lome again to fotch him.” S 4 But sir, your child is & boy, and mine is » 1 : “Well, wberedia the difficulty ? The children aronot oxamined.” ) § ?‘nl?utsn;p'ou they shonld take it into their 4] tell yon thoy “lili"l)a nothl:ng_gf the kind.' # Very well, you sh ave ber. . Thi:g tnmetyi out exactly as the baby-borrow- er tod ; tho child was ro, iatered as of both sexes, and the two men weat bome Lappy. that—" +* Bat it is only for & forgotten to bring mine B LITERATURE. mrs. Somervilic, PEXSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF MARY SOMER- E. Dy Her Daughter, MARGARET SOMERVILLE. Boston : Roberts Brothers. This book has all the charmof sn sutobi- ography, for her danghter has drawn so deeply from the diary sod correspondence of her mother that Mrs. Somerville is made to tell her own lifs. It is hardto sssociate such perfect simplicity of character witha woman of such grand schievements snd wonderful learning. Her early life was passed at Bruntisland, then s quiet seaport town, on the coast of Tifo, jusc opposite Edinbargh. Hor mother was obliged to live here in great seclusion, from mo- tives of economy, during the absence of her hus- band, Sir William Fairfax, who was at that time in the navy, and who afterwards became Admiral Fairfax. Of the life at Druntisland, extracts from the journalof Mrs. Somerville giveusa most charming account,—uot orly of her youth, ‘but of the quaint old town and its ideas and cus- toms. Blesays: ‘Tho mannera nd customa of the people who inhab- ited this pretty spot st that time wero exceedingly primitive. Upon the death of any of the townspeople, aman went about ringinga bell st the doors of the friends 2nd scquaintauces of tho person just dead, aud, after Galling ont “Oyez!” threo times, he announced the Geath” which had occurred, This was atill called by tho name of the Passing-Beli, whick, {u Catholic times, fuvited the proyers of the living for the spirit just pasied 8TAY. . . - < Tenuy-woddings Were by no means uncommon in my young daye. _ When a very poor conple were goiug $o b m,arried, the best man, sud even the bridegroom Ihmedlf went from Louse to house, asking tor small summs to enable them to have o wedding-supper, and Tay the fown-fddier for'a dsuce. Any one was ad- Initted who paid 3 penny. . . . . ‘Liceneed egzars, caliod ¥ galerlunzie-men,” were still common, They wore a bias coat, with 8 tin badge, and wanderod about the country, kuew all that Tas | going om, oud were slways wel- come &t the farm-liouse, whore the gade e Mked to bave 2 erack (zos<ip) with tho bluc-coat, id, in return for his news, gavoliim dinner or coffce, 38 might be, Edlo Ochiltrée i8 a perfect specimen of fhis extinct race. There was another specics of beg- gar, of yet hignerantiquity. If2 man were 3 cripple £nd poar, his relations put him in a hand-barrow, and Wheeled 'him to ther next neigiibor’s door, and left Liza there, Some one came out, gave him oatcake, ot Fowemeal Lannock, and then wheeled Lim to the next Qoor 3 and in thie way, going from house to Louse, he ovtaitied n fair livelinood. o . . . My mother taught me to read the Bible, and to say 1y prayers, morning and evening: otherwise s al- lowed n:o to grow up » wild creatare. When I waa 7 or 8 vears o, 1 began to bo useful, for I pulied he fruit for preserving, ehelled the peasand beaos, fod the poultry, and looked after the dairy; for wo Koptacow. » - . . My mother sent mo in due timo to learn tha catechism of tho Kirk of Scotland, and to attend the public ecxuminatious in tha kirk. "This was & wevere trial to me; for, besides being timidana shy, I had abad meimors, and did not un- derstand onc word cf the catechism, ' These meztin: hich began with prayer, wero attended by all children of the town aud neighborhood, with their mothers, aud a great many old women who camo to bo edified. ’ Thiey wero an acuts race, aud could quote Chapter aud verso of Scripturo as accurately as the minister himself, I remember he eaid toone of them: W Poggie, what lighted the world before the sun was madet” After thinking a minute, ehio faid: *'Doed, Wr, the question ix mair curious than edifying. About this time her father returved from one of bis voyages, and was shockod at the stato of ignorance m which ho found ber, and sho was gont off to & boarding-uchool at Mussclburgh, whero she passed one wretched, homesick, tear- ful year. *Upon my arrival,” sho says, “al- though perfectly straigut aud well-made, I was inclosed in etiff atays with a steel busk in front, while, abovo my frock, bands drew my shoulders back till the shoulder-blades met. Then a stoel rod, with s semi-circle which went under the chin, was claspod to the steel busk in my stays.” In this dreadful rig her education be- gan. Probably it was only the intense desire for knowledge, then dormant, which kept her from hating evorything connected with books; indeed, for a tim something quenched all desiro to study, and, at the end of the year,sho was faken home almost 88 ignorant as when she weat. According to her own story, *‘the school at Musaclourgh was very cxpensive, and I wasro- proached with having cost 8o much money invain. 3y mother said _sho would have been content- ©od if 1 had only learned to writo well and Lecp accounts, which was all a woman was expected to know.” So much for the early childhood of Mzs. Somerville. When she was 13, her mother took a emall apartment in Edinburgh, and there sho again at- tonded school for & short time. This time she mastered writing sud lesrned the common rules of arithmetic, and she 2lso commenced learning to play the piano, aftorsards becoming & skillod musician. She says : > On returning to Bruntisland, T spent four or five Thours daily at the piano ; and, for the gake of having something to do, I taught myself Latin enongh from Such boolks 33 we had, to read Cirer's *Commenta- Ties.” I went that suiamer on a visit to my aunt at Jedburgh, and, for the first time in my lifé, T met in my uncle, Dr. Bomerville, s friend who approved of my thirst for kuowlodge, During long walks with him in the early mornings, he was so kind that I Lad tho courage to tcll him that I had bLeen trying to learn Latin, but I fearcd it was in vain ; for my Drother and oter boys, superior to mo in talent, and with every csmstance, spent years in lesraing it. e sesurod me, on the contrary, that in ancieut times many women—some of them of the highest rank in England—had been vory clogant echolary, and that Le Would read Virgil with me if I wonld como tohis study for an hour or two every morning before braakfast Which I gladly did. From this time on she never failed to avail hersclf of any opportunity to study or gain as- sistance from those who were better educated than hersclf- When 2 young lady in Edinburgh, she led quite & gay life in the best society there, though never becoming 80 absorbed in ‘it as to give up her studics, music_or painting. In 1804, when ghio was 21 years old, she married a distant cous- in, Mr. Samuel Greig, who died three years atter. Ris wife returned to Bruitisland with her two little boys, where sho repaincd until her gecond marringo, five years later, to Dr. Somerville, ber cousin,” Hor first mar- riage was mot porticularly happy onmo, o8 Mr. Greig shared the provailing projudices of the times in regard to the advanced education of women. Bat her sccond marriage seoms to haye ‘been tuo perfect one. She aod Dr. Somervilla were dovotedly attachod to each other, having similer tostes, and ho was ever ready to assist ber in every way. Each fresh achicvement of hers scemed to give him more pleasure than it did her, and 1o sign of jealousy on his purt at her great fame and many triumphs ever ap- peared to mar the harmony of their lives. For the Rev. Dr. Somerville, her uncle and father- in-law, she always felt the deepest nffection and gratitude, for to him she owed the firat wordsof encouragement she ever recoived. Dr. Somervillo died in Frauce, June 26, 1860, Mre. Somorville becoming » second time & widow, and living sbroad with her daughter until her death, which occurred Nov. 29, 1872, at Naples. One of the most_intercsting features of the book is the aprightly recollections she bas left of the people she met at differcut timea ; and, 23 they are of people known to the world, it is doubly interesting to read her opinion of them. Of Cuvier, whom she met one evening in Paris, che eays: Cuvier had 5 remarkable countenance,—not hand- some, bt syrecable,—und his manner was pleasing and fnodest, and his converaation very instructing. Madame do’ Stacl, having died lately, was much dis- Ccuesed, Sho war much praisea for her good-nature, and for the brillianey of her conversation. They agreed that the energy of her character, not old age, Liad worn her ont. Cuvier said the force of her fmag= ination misled her judgment, and made her see things ina different light fron &ll tho world. As s proof of ihis, he mentioned the fact that she makes Corinne lean on a marble lion ona tomb in St. Poter’s, at Rome, more than 20 feet high. In Florence ehe met Miss Hosmer, then s young girl traveling with Gibson, whoss pupil sho {hen was. *‘I have the sincerest pleasuro in expressing my admiration for Miss Hosmer, who has proved by her works that our sex gm— sessea both genius and originality in the highost branches of art.” Near the close of the book is the following description of Mrs. Somervillo's character, given Dby herself : "Although T have been tried by many severe afic- tions, my life, upon the whole, has been happy. In my vouth I had to contend with prejudice and Dlib~ emality; et T wasof a quict tomper, ‘and easy to live with, and I never interfered with or pried into other people’s affaira,- However, if irritated by what I con~ sidered unjust criticiam or_interference with myself, or any one I loved,I could resent it fiorcely. I was not good at argument ; T was apt to lose my temper ; but I never bore ill-will to any one, or forgot the man- ners of s gentlewoman, bowever angry Imight bave been st the time, But I musteaynoome cver mot with such kindness sa I bave dome. I moverhad an _ememy. 1 have s.eor been of: & mele ancholy diapesition ; thoumis dapsemas’ sometimes by circumstances, I always rallie2 aszeZa ; and, althongh I seldom langh, T can Iaugh besriif¥ at Wit or on At oo~ castons. The short time I havs t live natarally occa- pica my thoughts. In the blramed hope of agein meet— ing ry beloved childzry, a0 taase who were dear to me on earth, I think of Grath with composuro and per- fect confideticn in thie 1aercy of God. Xet to me, Who am afraid to eleop Voc on & stormy _night, or even to slcep comfortelly ca any night, unless someoneis near, £ ‘s o feurZol {hought that my spirit must enter thet Taw pate of existence qaitealone. . Wo are told of tke ingnite glories of that state, aud Ite- Tig"= in them, though it is incomprehensible tous; but, B 10 comprolond. in some. dagres at lesst, the 62 quisite love of the vimble world, X oconfess I #hall bo sorry to leave it. I shall resret the sky, the sea, with all the chanzes of their besatifal m..'?:-ing: { tho'earth, with its verdure 2nd flowers ; but far more shall T grieve to leave animals who have followed our steps affectionately for yeare, without knowing for certam their ullimate fate, tLough I firmiy believe that the living principle is never extinguished. ~Since the atoms of matter are indestructiblo, 28 far as wa know, it {a diffcult to believe that the spark which gives to their union life, memory, Adelity, intelligence, and affection, i3 evanescent, Every atom in tho human frame, 03 well 23 that of animals, undergoes s reriodical change by continual wasta 2nd renovation ; the abodo i8 changed, not ita Inhabi- tant, If snimals have 5o future, the existenco of many {s moet wretched; multitudes are starved, crueily beaten, and losded during life; many dio under a bsrbarous vivisection. I caunot believe any creature was creeted for, uncompensatcd misery s it would be contrary to the’ attributes of God's mercy and justice. Iam sincerely bappy to find that I am not ihe only believer in the immortality of the lower animals, The above gives, as well as can be given in a ‘hasty review, her beautiful character in its wido range of sympathics and interests. _Although tho fasorite pursnit of Mrs, Somer- ville, and the ona in which she most excelled, was mathematics, no question came up in 8Ci- ence, literature, politics, or philosophy, in which ehe did not take a viuid and comprehensivo interest. She was passion- stoly fond of poetry,—Dante and Shakspearo boing hor favontes. Music, during her whole life, was a great source of bappinces to her; and for landscape-painting sho had great talent. Her daughtor has proved herself a fit biog- rapher, and hes written of her mother with tho tenderest affection and appreciation, and_it is not often oue has the opportunity of reading o more fascinating book. Heminiscences of Distingunished Peo~ Ple. MEMORIES OF MANY MEN AND SOME WOMEN, By MAuNeELL B, F1eLp, New York: Harper & Brothers, Mr. Field has been an cxtensive traveler in foreign lands under circumstances which cave him an entrance into elevated circles, and has held officinl positions in our own country which have sccured him similar privileges in the best society of New York and Washungton. He has beguiled tho leisure of the last summer's vaca- tion by putting on paper some of the reminis- conces of distinguished people which these favorable opportunities for observation have alorded him. IHe makes mo protense for the book that incloces them, beyond the hope that it may prove amusing, which it really does, with many now and interesting anecdotes, related in snimaled style, and woven into & slight fabric of sutobiography. A specimen or two culled from the collection may not be unat- tractivo at the presont moment, . In rocalling the memories of refined and beautiful homes in London, Mr. Tield draws a pleasant sketch of a literary aseembly wkich in- cluded several celebri of whom the briefest glimpse is always welcome. e writes : ©One of the most dolightful houses which I visited in London was that of %r. S, C, Hzlland his accomplished ife, who both lield high positions in tie world of let- ters, s well 28 cocially, 3rs, Tall Bad the facully of Dringing together in Ler drawing-rooms people tho moet distinguiehed inall the walks of life. I met tLere one evening Prof, Owen, Jenny Lind, Lover, Haw thorne, Mien Poole, and I don't know whom besid Prof, Owen looked like one of his own pre-Adaml Toseila reanimated. T had not secn Jenny Lind sinca e parted in America after her extrzordinary musicsl tour through this country. She looked thin 2nd wen,— very unlike the vigorous Swedish, peasant-like womsn whom I had so well kmown. As I entered the room, she crossed it to meet me, and we seated ourselves upon a £ofs, and had 2 long; chat about old times upon this side of the Athatic. Lover sat down to the piano, and warbled, a3 Tom Moore is said to have done, Tath- or than szng, The fow-backed car,” and others of his compositions. T had heard him many years befors in tbe old Burton Theatre, on Chambers street. in New York; but the drawing-room, rather than tha stage, wos evidently the proger place for him, Hawthornc's superh head was by all odds the fineat in the room. 1fc looked gental, and, marabile dictu ! appearsd at his cage. To me, who had not ecen him since s lived at Lenox, 1n Bassschnsetts, this transform- tion apreared marvelous, T sat down by his side, ana he talkod brilliantly for Lalf an hour, without ex- hibiting any of the shymess which for years bad made hima perfect recluse. It was £aid that he was still ‘unapproachable in his Consulato at Liverpool, but ho appearcd completely humanized ot Mrs. Hall's, - Apropos to Hawthorne, we quote ono of sov- eral whimsical facts related of that eccentric gerius. It was immediately after the pomina- fion of Gen. Pierce to the Presidency of the United States. The two gentlemen wers inti- mate and life-long fricnds, and, as was befitting the circumstances, Hawlhormo called upon the General to offer his congratulations: The General happened to be 1n bis room at the time, Hawthorne, npon cntering, wrung bis hand, and then, without a word of ealutation, abruptly threw himself upon a lounge at the other side of the room. ~ Here ho Iny for several minutes, withoutspeaking, and tangling himeelf into all ‘Rorts of contoriions, At last, with on cxpression of sympathy and woo upon his counte pance, he gazed upon the Genersl's face, and exclaimed : “Frank, I pity you. Indeed, I do, from the bottom of my heart” ‘With snother incident occurring at an evening party at Stockbridge, 3ass., we forbear : 1 distinetly remember = certain ovening-parly at the Sedgwick manor-house. When I arrived, I found Mrs. Butler (Fanny Kemblo) at tha piano in the front draw-~ ing-room, singing Spanish ballids, which she did very swoetly ond effectively, After a time sho coused sing- ing and entered into conversation with me, Her arms, Which she called her “ deformities,”. were' bare, and {hey, 88 well as her_face, were very mnch burned by the sun. Bhe told me that ehe bad been out all the day alone upon the lake, fishing; that she Lad had no dinmer ; that, when she retnrned to the house, #ho for (he Arst time heard of the party for that evening; and that ebe had pot the timo to both est and dress {Vithout detaining the rest of the fomily. The result was, that she had not tasted food since breakfast, and Telt’ very faint and exhansted. Al this timeshe was carclecsly thrumming the keys of the planv. At length the arosa from her seat and_slowly sauntered into the back dining-room, while I remained standing where I yeas, AftoF a short futerval, hearing very loud talking i the other room, I lounged into it to sea what it ‘meant, The rear of the house was very near the Houea- tonic, and it bad a bay-window on that side. Seated inthik window, with her back to the river, wan: Fanny Kemble, and sitting on cither side were {he Rev. Dr. Parker and tho Re. Justin Field, toth clergymen of the Protestant Epieconal Church. Thercupon { drew up a chair, and, facing the lady, comnleted the partie carree, She was doing the talking just then. 20 her sabject was horses, for which antrunls she Lad 2 passionate fondness. From horses in general, she Pobn pacsed 10 war or cavalry-horses. * By tho way,” “ho went on {0 ray, * this reminds me that, the lart time T wa In Englind, T met Sir Horry Smith. He fold me that e waa 3 Caplain of Lorse at Waterloo, but tht bis command was not called into action dur~ Tu the afternoon, the Duka of Wellington, at the héad of bis stafl, rode up o whera ho s, and called o bim, *Come, sir, get sour troop in motion—got your ironp in motion ¢ Now, Sir Horry did mot yet kuow anything about Lo for- tunea of tha day; £0, saluting Lis commander, he Desitatingly asked, *Which w2y, sir? ” As she gave the Duke's reply, rhe resc to et feet like a fragely- queen, end, with clenched hand, shouted : “Forward, oir, by God 1 At this hier immcdiate auditors started 28 if electrified ; but she calmly resumed ber chair, 2nd went on with the conversation, 2a if unconscloud that he liad violated any of the proprictics. ing the day. The Twain-\Warner Novel. THE GILDED AGE: A TALE 07 To-Dax. By Mazmx TwaTN (SANUCL L. CLEMENS) and CitanLES DODLEY Wapsen, Fully Illustrated from New Designa Ly FloPRINs, STCPHENS, WILLIANS, WIITE, Etc., Lo Sold by Bubscription only. Hartford: Americen Publishing Company. In an introduction of » flippant, slightly-defi- ant tone, the authors of this joint work declare, 4 1¥e do not object to criticism, and we do not expect that the critic will read the book beforo writing & notice of it. . . . . Bas, if the Ju- piter who passes his opinion on the novel ever liappens to peruse it in some weary moment of his snbsequent life, we hope that he will not be the victim of & remorse bitter but too late.” The present critic has read tho book—num- bering 574 psges—from cover to cover and, to eave himself from the possibility of remorso * in the fatare, is compelled to speak of it in terms of the severest censure. Itisnofasif the book had been written by a pair of obscure writers. It then could be passed over ineilence, in tho certainty that it would obtain & circula- tion in accordance with its merits. Dut it comes indorsed with the names of two of the most popular authors of Americon humorous Lters: ture. Tho work which both hzd hitherto pro- duced hed been of such excellent gu:\lity 08 to uecare the respect of tho public, and the confi- dence that whatever either might present would be worthy of the giver and the receiver. Therefore, when the two have condescended to trifle with their honorable reputation and with tho confidenco of the public, indiguation is just- Iy excited and outspoken. 1t was well enough for the writers to furnisb tbemselves diversion, if tha fancy erose, 1n the concerted production of & novel. Althoughsuch efforts ate not usually favorable to the highest success, nobody has, in the present instance, felt like quarreling with them; on the coatrary, 2 pleasant cariosity has been stimulated concern- ing tho result. Every one, however, had a right to expect the book, when given to the world, theugh it ehon!d lack the unity an colierence of s work conceived and brought out :by & single mind, skould at least be redeemed with passages of the refined and delicate beauty which distinguiehes tho ome wiiter, acd with the guaint sad fertils humos that has created far tho other even a trans- Atlantic popularity. When, therefore, 8 book 8o utterly bald, so puerile, 60 vicions sven, 25 +The Gilded Age,” appears with tho ignatures of Maxk Twain sad (.Phn les Dudley Warner to give it & passpert among respectable readers, Srath and cisgust may rightfolly inspire the critic to chastise them with mercy. It is not, as we have eaid, asif these writers were unknown apd withont hfluenco or capacity. They had both shown a tal- ent for first-rate work, snd thereby given a pledge as horest men that they would Eeep their products somewhere near their own standard. Their names had become a sort of certificate of high charcter. It is a fraud to the reading public to append them to a trashy book like the mongrel before us, Stupidity can be forgiven, but deliberate deceit—never. Moreover, it is not as if the work were to be deposited on tho shelves of the booksellers, to bo sold as called for. Itis to be carried from door to door throughont the country, into the rural districts, where a voice of warning from the press usually does not penetrate; and tho names of its suthors are to be heldnpassa guaranteo of its excellence. Thousands will bo deluded into its purchaso, only to find themsclves cheated androbbed. Mr. Clemens and Mr. Warner | well know how much worse & wrong it is to sell & worthless book than a worthless balt of cotton or a worthless articlo of diet; how much lighter a crime 1t is to dofrand tho body than the mind, Thoy have willfully degraded their craft, abused the peoplo’s trust, and provoked a starn con- demnation. Ag for a sketch of the book, the critic has al- ready had too heavy a task in reading it to ot- tempt an outline. Itisapretended sotire on Washington society, on tho mad desire to be xich that infects the nation, and on the corrup- tions that disgraco the speculationsof Wall street and the deliberations of Congress. There are two or thyea paves descriptive of Weshing- ton and its sights that disclose Maak Train's ironical pen avd do it credit. There are, perbaps, 3 half-dozen otber places where, by o fleeting paragraph or two, some intimation of porwer is felt ; and there are two or three minor wood-cuts out of the profusion that vividly illustrate tho text in connection. With the ex- ception of these, the novel is a miserable failure. As for identifying the hand of the two writers. that is impoesible when both aro performing work too inferior for recognition. It is with sincere regret we realizo that our delightfnl memorics of “ My Summer In a Gar- den,” “ Back-Log Studies,” and ** The Innocents Abroad,” must hereafter be clouded with a pain- ful remembrance of * The Gilded Age.” Impressions of European ‘Travel. THE ALHAMBRA AND TIE KREMLIN. By Sax- vre Inrxxus Penue, Ilustrated, New York: An- «on D, F. Raudolpl. No moro accurate definition can be given of the aim of this vivacious transcript of the im- pressions of travels than that expressed in tho preface. Tho Sonth and the North of Europe are con- trasted, not,as Dr. Prime remarks, **by any formal comparison of of morals and manners, thio institutions and condition, of their people,’ but by o candid description of life as it was viewed by an American, in Spain and Scandinavia. Tho Alhambrs is selected as a typo of the South, and the Kremlin of the North. Theso inclosed palaces,—the one ruined, the other in glory—form the leading objects in viow, and close at either extremity the vista of travel. But this vista is itself elaborated, and—including chapters on the most interesting regions of Spain, Switzerland, Gormany, Norway, Sweden, Tinland, and Denmark—gives a wide area of exploration, advonture, scenery, and character. The details of the riches and diverse splondor of the typical palaces aro rendsred with a faithfal | minutenees that annihilates to the reador the dimness of distance, and fixes upon the mental will lovo and cherish her to his life's ena; bt ho will' miss—it {5 impossible ho stould not misa—all that she hss lost ; all that sho has fuiled to gain ; all which makes her ual and comrade. Nasby's Abel was a villuin 3 if he had beea sa angel, ba could nat bavo enjoyed Ilimmah Jane do- Mother, Js.it for your san’s sako you are grinding in the prison-houso of -drudgery? For their sake, if possible, ascend out of it, For their sake, if for noth- iug chie, cultivate your mind, Do not bestow upon them the pitiable kindness of giving heir aspiring ° young mankppd 3 worn-out drudge for a motier. This awful abnegation may be the etern fiat of fate,— may scem the only resource of love; but, whether it be fate or chiolce, ot the last it biteth like a serpent and stmgeth like an adder. Etiquette, A MANUAL OF ETIQUETTE: Wrrz Hinrs o¥ POLIrENESS AND GOOD-UREEDING. Ly Dasy Eve- BriagT. New York: G. P. Patnsm's Sons. A thoroughly-practical and satisfactcry gaides book to the details of enlightened courtesy. Not only are established rules of etiqueite given with clearncss and precision, but the good reasons for many customs which at first glance seem arbitrary aro convincingly shown, the stylo of the book is plensing; and everywhere. without intrusiveness, but, on the contrary, witha brightand quito feminino grace. The spirit of Kindlincss is made to shine through all overlaying punctilios as tho truo basia of good manners. # If you are impolito to your washerwoman,” says this discriminative Daisy Eyobright, or to your maid, you are in danger of being o te those whose good opinion you desire to possess. Tle charm which true politencss sheds aver ite possessor i8 not easily described ; yet it ia felt by every one, and wnvariably responded to by the best feelings of their nature. 0 1t 1 the secret sympatliy, Tae eilver link, tho silken te, Which heart to heart aud mitd to mind In body and 1n soul can bind." The volume is uniform with ¢ Puatnam's Handy-Book Serics ;" and its chapters includs, with all necessary subdivisions, the general and special rules for Etiquetto in tho Home-Circlo ; Reception and Entertaioment of Visitors ; Dutics of Guosts; Salmations; Loave- Taki: Introductions; Behayior in Traveling; ‘[able Etiquctte, Ornamentation and Doing the Honors ; Dinner-Parties; Evening Ens meunta; Proper Forms of Address ; Social Inter- course snd Conyersation ; Dress: Deanty; Mar- riage; Husbands, Lovers, Bacnolors, and Old Mnids ; Politenesa in Fuany Porsons ; Manners Abroad and at Watering-Places; and the book concludes with s pago upon the Necd of Pa~ | tionce in All Things,” embodying the followisg charmingg illustrazion : Hiliel, the wiss Rabbl of anclent times, had been talking to bis disciples upon the virtus of patience, And said they s * Maater, give us now, a3 thou art wont, animsge and mimilitude whercupon we may compare it.” Hillel answerod: “T will liken it unto the most contly treasure which this eacth begets within her Dossotn,—the precious stong | Pressed down by rocks and sand, it rests within the dark lap of eari. ; Although 110 beam of light can approach tho precious i Jewel, yut it ehineth still in unfading beauty,—n child of the heavenly light, which it faithfully tzeasuzes up inits own bosom. Thus does its rotaln ila spicndor even in the doopest darkness, But, when it i3 freed from its gloomy prison-house, and brougat forth fnto the clear light of day, then, enchased in’ gold, dotl it form the badge and the ornament of soverelynty,—tlo Ting,.tho sceptre, and the crewn ! Y5 {t with tho chiefest ornament of earthly splendor that thou comparest the stillest and most hiddeu of all hesvenly virtues?" asked the discipler. *Even 30, roplied Hillel, “ for its end is a crown of life!" ’ Periodicals Received. Blackwoood's 2Magazine for January. Leonard Scoit Publishing Company, Now York. Conu- tents: “The Parisians,” Part the Last; *‘The retina the living colors of thoso far-off scenes. . Thronghout the volume one notices & pocaliar impressionabloness on the part of the author to musical sounds. The degcriptions of music are among the exalted passages of the book, and serve to relieve the mony plasful, and oven mocking, portrayals of less sacred things. The following fragments are selected from pagos that surround the *Plan of the Centre of Moskva City,"—one of the many illustrations af this en- tertaining and instructive book: A cloudless sky and o blazing sun are over us, All toe buildings are dazzling in whiteuess, and the domes of thirty-two churches within the Kremln, and hundreds below and sround, are blazing at noontide in’thelr gold and green. Eack ome of the 370 churches han several domes; snd, berides them, thero arc theatres, and palsces, and convents, and otber Public buildings,—roofs Painted groen, sides white, and gilt overlaying domes, turrets, and epirca, Gar- dens filled with trees among the dwellings, 33 in Orjen- tal citics, and the river circiing its way iuto and out of the town, give us some idea of what Babylon or Nine- veh might have been in thelr vast inclosure and pic- turesque rural attractions within their masaivo walls, In the midst of the Kremnlin, and above every other structure in Moscow, rides toward the aky the white, solid, simple tower of Ivan. Majestic in its simplicity and lieight, a5 if it were the axis about which this fairy world of Afoseow was revolving, it stands aub- 1imely there, with a bell of 444,000 poundsat ita foot, and anotlier of 130,000 mwingiug in its crown. . . . o Tn Russia, tho bell is an instrament of music for the worship of God, -as truly and reslly m the organ in any other country. The fact is not mentioned in _tls ccounts we have of the wonderful, enormous, and al- moat incredibly-heavy bells tuat have been cast at Aoscow. But it is the key to what would, otherwice be difiicult to explain. . . . . When the bellis a nedium of communication with tio Infinite, and tho worsLip of a peopie and an Empire finds expression inits msjestic tones, it ceases to be a wondur that it should have a tonzue wiuch Tequires twenty-four men to move, and whose music should send s thrill of praise into every housc in the city, and float away be- yond the river into the plainsafar, . . . T eame down from the Eremlin to my lodgings at Billot's, and, wearied with the wanderings of the day, have béen Iying on the bed and looking out on tho city. Itis just before munset, and the day has been oppressively warm. A delicious glow from the gorgeous west is Lathing all the domes and roofs with splendid colors, and silence {8 stealing in, with the setting sun, upon the crowded town. It s the eve of one of the most holy festivals of the Greek Church, One vast church-edifice 18 directly jn visw of my Win— dow, and but « short way off. AsI lie musing, from this'church comes tho fofteat, swectest tone of an evening bell. Another tone responds, A third is lieard. Tho Ivan Tower on the height of the Kremiin utters his tremendous voice, Hke the voice of meny waters. And all tho churches and towcrs over the whole eity, 400 bells and more, in concert, in barmony, “with mots almost divine,” lift up their voices inan acthem of praise, such ua I never thought tobear with mortal ears: wavea of melody, an ocesn of music, decp, roli- ing, heaving, changing, swelling, minking, Reing, over- whelming, exlting. I lud beard the groat organs of Europe, but_they were tsme and trifling eompared With this. The antbem of Natureat Niagara is ona grest monotone, The music of Moscow's bells is above aud beyond them all, 1t s the voice of the people. It utters the emotions of millions of loving, boating, Jouging bearts,—not enlightencd. perhaps, like yours, ‘but ali ‘erying out to the Great Father u these solemn snd inspiring toncs, 15 if tuese tongnes had voices to ery, “Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord God Almighty: Haaven and Earth aye full of Thy Glory.” Gail Ramilton’s Book. VE MILES FROM A LEMON, By Gam HAMILTOR. New York: Harper & T, Thera is 0 much of that magnetic mental quality to which we give tho familiar term of “presence” in tho writings of Gail Hamilton, that her books, aod this last not loast, must be | treated, both in enjoyment and in criticiam, as an individuality rather than as a work or achiove- ment. “Tsclve Miles from a Lemon,"—a record of raral experience,—s0 named from an eXpression of Sydvey Smith, is bright, forcible, and witty. Tho brightness and force make all the chapters amazingly interesting, and many of thieir passages strikingly perauasive. The wit is marred by its too frequent fabrication from 2 jocoss usa of Bible phrases; and it wonld be botter if that sparkling accomplishment had been more restrictively derived from its sscribod school, s knowledge of the poets.” - The excellent common sense of the didactic portion of “Twelvo Miles froma Lemon” com- miends itself especially to women. Into the fominine community, Gail Hamilton’s breczy and invigorating presence and lLearty Well yoet™ bring a senso of refreshment 2nd reani mation, to some phases of ** death-in-life,” 2 veritable resurrection. How many women ara there who should come forth from their solf- rmade graves at the scarching appeal to which we give transcription : - What shall be #aid of the mother whose weary years Bave but minketered to the necessitics of othcrs, tnd neglected ber own soul's necd? Alas, the tragedy of ek 8 life] Alas, that it s too often’ s real togedy! The past cannot be restored, but the foture is ours, The man who turns from the wife or mother who has {hun gacrificed heruel at his altar iyaccuraed ; but the s=crifice ought mever to be made. The very precious ointment was not taken to auncint tbe fect of the Tord, but to rub up the pots aud Xettles. Iin mered- Tess was in its usalessncas, Iia wse was from his wife. A , cruelly wrong in ‘malking i Peggulfim . ‘”fir l:“h!lpoun of “Hanmah Jane,” pives ua guch & L0 MY echdiven ihatitina Byt women cught to ses for, wiste of ibe ointment, Sometimes, perhapa, it can- T e helped. Fale closcs around the cbild, and fizes Il the grave releazes ber, Porlups, Mtnk that, in this country, any fate is 20 “ha wvd fast, If the will bonot first 2 ~ruen n0t foel that any such iy, wney injure the very opes whom &ef \';;h to vinefl ‘EE Doblest ;fln i= the 2 o Gt L6l deligh » ruds and ignorsnt A e & would foel I 4 ntelligent mother. willbe unspeakably grateful, tender, faithtul} e Story of Valentine and His Brother,” Part I “International : No. IL + John Stuart Mill: An Autobiograph oto Relating to the Story of the Missing Bills:" * A Pieco of Heather,” by H. C. Merivalo; *'The Indian Mutin; Hope Grang;” *The New Year's Political Aspects.” 1 Schem's Statistics of * the World, compiled by Prof. Alexander J. Schem, aud to be published somi-aonuslly, by C. J.Moulton, New York. The tables givo the statistics of all countries of the globe in parallel colamns, under the follow- ing hesdinga : Ares, form of govornment, head of government, population, cxpenses, public debt, paper money, standing army, navy, mer- chant vessels, imports and exports, chicf pro- duce, coins_(and_their valuo at tho United States Mint), weights (compprod with both, ounds, avoirdupois ond kilogrammes), inear ' measures (compared with both, fect and metres), measures of eapacity (com- pared with both, bushels, gallons, and metres), the population of capitals, principal_cities, and seaporte, with the year of census. In sddition to tho sbove there aro various side-tablos exhib- iting statistics of Christianity, religious statiz- tics of Europe and of the United States, rail- roads of tha world and of the United Statos, ostal and telegraph statistics of the world, tha Presidents of (%\n United States, and Presiden- tial elections from 1788 to 1873, school statistica of the United States, etc. Phrenological Journal for February. Samuel K. Wells, Now York. “Northwcestern Review for January. B. R. Dear- den, Chicago. ‘Sanitarian for February. A. 8. Bames & Co., Now York and Chicago. American Artisan for February. Brown & Allen, New York. National Sunday-School Teacher for February. Adams, Blackmer & Lyon Publishing Company, Chicago. Home Grange for January. St. Lonis. * DBook-Buyer for January. Scribuer, strong & Co., New York. Beloit College AMlonthly for January. Arm- Literary Notes. The Hon. John Bigelow has his edition of the life of Fraoklin elready in the press. —Mr. Disraeli is reported to be engaged on a new novel dealing with tho questions of Social- ism snd Communism. —George Sand is writing in the Revue des Deuz, Mondes a new novel, “* 3a Beenr Jeanne.” —Lord Chisf-Tustice Cockburn is still engzged on his articles on Junius. A pow Shakspenre Socicty is projacted in Tondon, of which Mr. Tennyson ia ons of the promoters. . It is rumored that Longfellow Lias & poom in prsp‘ntion which is nos to ses the light ill Oc- tober. —The author of *Ginx's Baby " is going to write a book with tne strange title of * Luckmee and Ditto.” Tho scene of - the story is to be ia the West Indies. 4 —It is reported that Martin Farqukar Tapper has received 2 pension of £120 u yearon tha English Civil-Servico list s the autbor of 4 Pro- verbial Philosophy.” s —Pzof. fommson, the great historian of Rome, is to leavo the University of Berlin for & chair i thet of Leipeig,—a vory serions blow to the former institatisa, —The last piece of literary werk dons by tho lats Charles Astor Dristed wa3 tha ‘ransiati=a of Clerbuliez’s novel, *¢Prospero,” - for ibo # Loiaure Hour Series.” - —The great mathematic impossibility hasbees achioved by a litferaleur ; Mr. Haia Friswell an- pounces » book called * Our Square Circle.” —1Ve aro authorized to state that tho letters and journals of Lord Macanlsy aro in the hands of Lady Hollznd and 3Ir. Trevelyan, with 2 view to pnblication.—Athenoum. _~Clarles Francis Adama is reported to bs writing s historical work. i A volume on * Prophetic Yoices Concerning Americs,” expanded from his_ Allantic_article, will shortly bo sdded to the uniform ecition of the work of Charles Bumnor. ® A Lifo of Weshington ” in Japanese, con- sisting of fort;-four velumes, illuatrated, kea Just been publivied in Yeddo. Wasbington i Yepresented in tas costumo of the present timo, With a mustache, a canc, and a Skye terrier. s Par frown the Madding Crowd,” o story in the Cormhill Magasine, i ascribed to George Fliot, bat oxly i neconnt of internal evidence. Tt is to be republished by Oszood & Co. _Pinf. Bernard Ten Erink, of Strasbarg, hopes to finish his History of English Literaturs this year. It wiil be of un-German bravity, in two volumes. k; 3 ‘—A French editor was waylaid one evening, and stabbed in the back with a poniard by a Iady whoso poems he had criticisod severely. All raviovers sionld take warning. '—A new novel may be expected shortly from the pen of Mra. L: Linton, the author of * Joshua Dayidson.' —A devotional book by George MacDonald, 4 Qnre for Thonght-Taking,” will sbortly be is- sued by Warren & Wyman. —Among the literary announcements for {ko firat month of the new year is the promise of tho third and last volume of 3r. Forster's * Life of Dickens,” which is to be ready by the eud of January. —+ 11, L" did not write the *Eaxe Holm Stories,” but Mrs. Lucis Gilbert Calhoun Rua- Klo did, according to ber brother-in-law, Juzias Henri Browne, aad he ought to know. —Samuel Smiles’ ** Hiutory of the Hague After the Bevocation of tas Edict of Nantes, just published in England. E —A memoir, written bv ex-Marshal Bazaine, and left with & friend on his imprisonzoent, con- taining a fiuent and soldier-like scvount of ths ts is e ta of the Im] party to nogotista with ;’mnmpg is to be “ when cirumsiznces