Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, May 3, 1874, Page 11

iae THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, MAY 3, 1874 1 » CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHECLS. Righ, District, Grammar, and Inde- pendent Primary. Object and Nature of the Spring Ex- aminations. Ths Relative Rank of the Various Schools. Pedagogues, Peanuts, and Oranges. e public echool is as much an inetitution of {his country 2s tho American eagle. The pro- feesional politician or the unterzified stump orator soldom permits the ono to scream without Erioging the other into disrepute by extrava- gant, insincero, sud ndiculous laudation. And set the publio school is a blessing notwithstand- ing. There are few among us who do not owe much to its humble lessons, and very many of our best business and professional men owoe 21l fhnt thos aro to its beneficently universal infu- ence. From timo immemonal il the territory of the Northern States has been divided into cebool-districts, every foot of ground, whether city lot, village garden, or rural farm, pays fis portion Of echool-tax, and every child is forpished with facilties for getting 4n cducation. Theso facilities are gencrally convenicnt and sufficient in proportion to the wealth and intelligence of the locality, In s commaunity g0 cosmopolitan as Chicago, no ex- tended allusion is necessary to the imperfes- tions or excellences of the old-fashioned dis- trict achool. The mutations and changes which it has undergore indicate progression, marked and profitable, Tather than any change of nature orof aim. Particularly is this true of the PUBLIO ECHOOL IN CITIES. There are, douotless, in many sections of the rura! istricts, neighborhoods that rival in un- desicable characteristics the * Flav Crick” Dis- trict that o tmed the soul of Eggleston's + Hoosier Schoolmaster ™ in Hooppole County, Ind. Indeed. a receni occurrence which took Iace ** 30 miles from Chicago,” and upon which astice Hinsdalo pronounced judgment, shows that the incidents which varied the montony of tho school-life of our fathers and grandfzthers are etill repeated someshat after the mauner in which history is aid to repeat itgelf. DBut tho tem has been vastly improved in all tho larger cities. While its benelicent features bave all been retained, most of its weaknesses have been eliminated. By the adoption of a method analogous to that of the division of labor in the industrial arts, young people are now as well prepared to mest tho varied and complex de- mands to which they aro subject in this wonder- fal age as were their fathers in the pro-rsilroad, pro-telegraph dsvs to discharge their simple and obvions duues. While this is true in general, we are mare especially concerned with the BCHOOL SYETEA OF CHICAGO. No one can examine the public schools of this sity at all carefully or_intelligently without bo- Ing impressed with their ndmirable charactor. Free to the poorest child in the city, and yot s0 conducced 88 to be in every respect. suitable to o wealthiest. Every boy and girl in Chicago ho bas the dieposition snd ability may have mpleted the High School conrso of study apon ttaining_the age of 17 years. This course of dy will compare very favorably with the average college course. The public schoolsof Chicago may be divided Into five classes,—tho High School, the Normal Behool, the District Bchools, the Grammer Schoals, and the Primary Schools. TEE HIGH BCHOOL. _ The High Bchool District comprises the whole eify. It.:cgupfln Jhiave completed the work of the district schools, and are admitted annually after heviog passed the required examinstion in Juse. The course contemplates four years' work, bat there is a special conrse for those de- siriog to enter collego, tho work of which may be completed in three years. The echool num- ‘bers 700 pupils, and is taoght by more thana score of teachers, more than half of svhom are males. The sttendance cf pupils at the High Bchool s not as large as the population of the city warrants, or- the culture of its youth de- mands. When the feverish hi acd bustle 20d mania for money-getting, which have char- acterized 8o many of her people, shall have ven way to the maturer thoughts and better udgment that will accompany easier circam- tances, the maguificent opportunitics which the High Scheol offers will be more gencrally em- oraced. THAE NORMAL SCHOOL. The Normal School is in some sense a branch of the High School, althongh it is now, and has peen for two years, entirely independent of it. Like the High School, the limits of its district are coextensive with thoso of the city. Its pu- glh aro selocted from such of thoso in the High chool as desire to prepare for the work of teach- ing, tnd bave comploted the first year's work fn the High School. It is the only purely technical Jepartment of the putblic schools. [ts pupils, in wdit:on to reviewing their elemontary studies, and pursuing a brief but well-selected and use- ful course of mathematics, English literaturs, and natural ecience, bave special drill under the eye_of experienced teachers in class- work. . No pupil is graduated until sat- Isfactory evidenca is given by sctusl work In the echool-room of sbility to discharge tho ordirary dutics of a teacher with propriety. Two clasees are graduated each yoar—in June 10d December. A constant supply of fresh gnd Irsined teachors is thus provided to take tho plsce of those who wear out or leave the work Tor ny other reason. Tho importauce and yzlue of this school to the educational system of the titycaunot bo overestimated. Tho constantly- Improving scholarship, and the easy, yot almost perfect, dicipline which characterize the public schools of Chicago, and the manifest and steady Eowv.h in these particulars, are especially aud I;%ely due to the gentle influcnco and beneficent E&nenmd sud imperted by the Normal School. Four teachers are employed, and 100 pupils are in attendance. THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS. + But the chiefest educational glory of Chicago A1 her district schools. Technicallr, therois a erence betwecn district, grawmar, and pri- mary schools, but it is tecLuical only. The prammar and primary school aje but branches 9t the district school. All the pupilsin attend- oes upon the latter are diviaed according to tbeir degreo of advancement into ten grades, ‘bumbered from tenth to first, the tenth being tho lowest grado and the first tho highcst. The district school contaips sll the grades. The gremmar echool contrans all except the first and 3%cond, The primery echoul contains, only pu- Pila of the five lower oncs. The highest grade of the pnmary school is the sixth, upon eing from which pupils go to the Dneigh- fng grammar or' district school. In _ maaner, third grade pupils upon rflmgwsmnd go to their di-inct sckool, luctas the first grade pupils of the lasler pass in Weirtunto the High School. The primafy lepartment of all tho Fchools coneists of the Hth, seventh, cighth, pinth, avd tenth grades. B ® grammar depactment conaists of the five Fper grades, or such of them s may be in_the Kbodl.” The work pursued by any ono_grado is ibe eamo throughout tho citx, the qualitications o puseing grade aro as nearly uniform g8 ¢ wnderstapdiag of the written requiremcnts toree dozen Principals. Tis A JISUNDERSTANDING, a8 trequently aileged by friends of popular ueation thet the graded school sysiem de- £om individuality, abd grocceds on a3 erione- Toa msaumption in subjecting !l the pupils of & o preor ity to the gazo infiucnoes, and deem- T, e capable of attmning thio samo rceults. e similo of reducing variously-sized children g onllorm stature by chopping of a port of hof the tall ones and stretching with Inesietible force the short ones, ox) I es, oxpresses this 1dea of mppopcd vinlcnse tl:m gx dan; Ién the rganization of pupils by the rraded sys- m. ThG Sofion is the resuit of focrogcal “ulation rather than actual knowledge. Asa not ool fact, tho graded system of Chicago is fapaetible. ' Clasees and individuals ero ex- ed in every schiool every month and every :g:m-lmm for promotion. It is mot an 0mmon thing, | especially in the lawer Slien for a child to paes tbrough two ekl ‘0¢ srades in a year. The progress of no £ sy 2 B8 public achiools of Chicago i rotard- Lo 52k the operation of tho graded eystem, the wory realenge simplifics and syslematizes iy ork done, and increases bovond cslculation tasosedes. | Owing toits peifection, the 600 darwiyy Of the city who resume work on Mon- &2y, 1agilOW exactly what is to bo douo on that g . 2¥E5y one of the 36.000 pupils will fall iy prmapPropriste place. Thue, in imrarting Ereny omledge pecessacy to complete success in ¥hioy ponet of life, and in oponing the avenues e byt er the highest culture not only possi- Wy s $22Y of sitainment o the humblest within' her walls, tho distsict schools of Chicago combine the most perfect tem with all tho flexibility that is dcnfi'nblfl. o THE SPRING EXAMINATIONS. » . Enough has been enid to give tho roader an idea of the grading and general work of the dis- trict echools. Pupils thus complete Practical Arithmetio, Political Geography, a ehort course of Englieh Grammar, a bnef History of the United States, acd carry on meauwbils an easy comse of vocal music, and the study, chiefly oral, of various topics of matural science and genesal information, which serve to relieve tho monotony which is popularly supposed to be en- throxned in every achool-room. Theso topics thus pursucd are not tho only things that serve to arouse both teachers and papils, Tho annual oxamination for admission to the High School, is looked forward to with intenss interest by those whom it concerns especially—the teachers and puflila of the first grade. 2 Lut the device which more than all others stirs up the interest and excites the feelings of tho wholo grammar department is_tho **Spring ELxamination.” Secc. 69 of the Rules of the Board of Edneation provides that: ** At some time daring the last part of the winter torm, the Superintendent shall have a written examination of one or more grades in the Grammar Depart-+ ment in euch branches a8 he may designate.” Tho pupils in this department, a8 well as their toachers, work during the year, koowing their liability o be called upon * during the last part of the winter term " to show their relativo knowledgo of nny topic included in their own or any previous grade, a8 compared with any aod all the other schools in the city. The questions upon the separate topics for tho fated grades are propared by the Superintendent some time proviously, aod soal- ed up, “not to bo brolen until the time for ox- amiuation i that topic arrives.” Thereisa sufficient amount of uncertsinty in this, both as tothe timeand matter of tke examination, to lend to 1t & constantly-increasing interest, which only culminates when the eacred seal which hides the “ questions” is_broken, at the hour when the examination begins. * THE OLJICT. Tt is not easy to conceive any plan better cal- culated_to erouso tho interest appealed to than this. It isan application on tho partof the Scnool-Board to the teachers of what the lalter in their. doalings with their pupils innocently call “tact.” It is true that it may be regarded by many honest but wordly-minded people 88 & +“deep * expediont to get work out of ambitious teachers and unwilling youth. Dut a proper spirit of emulation is a universally recognized and spproved _incentive to effort in scliool- work. Tho examinations for successive yoars ere never precisely alike, and the variety tends toward fair-dealing, aud to check any die- position that might be feit on the part of Princi- pals to conduct their school-work with . view simply to make a good appearance on this oc- casion. One year & given proportion of the choice pupils in two grades wero solected to Tepresent cach chool. On. another occasion, all pupils who had been kept in their grade more than ten months wore excluded. —This yoar, overy pupil in tho third and fourth gradds iu the - city was examuwed. It will thus be readily socn that the only safe course for schools which desire to stand well to pureue is to do all their work well, and to do it tn 8 reasonable amount of time. It nced not bo added that this sunual test promotes tho progress of the pupils, and is in every sense an admirable expediens to sccomplish that object. SPRING EXAMINATION OF 1874, The epring examination of - the present rear took place ‘Phursday, April 16. As already in timated, all puplls in tho third sud fourth grades were examined. The number of schools iz which wero found pupils in those grades, and theroforo participating in the exsmination, was twenty-six. The number of pupils examined was not far from 5,000. Each grade was ex- 2mined on questions on wo topics—arithmetic and langusge. The papers upon the latter sub- ject received three marks,—one in reference to ihe questions asked, one in spelling, aud one for tue “ appearance” of the papers, the latier mark including the paragraphing, margins, and punciuation. CHARACTER OF THE QUESTIONS, Tho questions wero practical, rather than teckni In arithmetic questions were given involviog the analysis of common-sense prob- lems within tho observation and experienco of the pupils, and involving also the enuucistion and pplichtion of priciples previonsly learncd. “The language embraced soveral points usually aswigned to grammar, and yet differed materially from the grammar of the books, in that it was more practical. Thus, in addition to some of the more inportant techuical principlea of grammar which were called Tor in their application, pupils in the fourth grade were requested to write 5 paragraph in_description of their achool® building covermg the points of its matorial, size, hoight, number of rooms, and the strests bounding the block npon which located. Pupils also of tho third grade were called upon to write, fold, and superacribe_a letter to their Principal 0% upon & given topic. Whilo, therefore, the ques- tions wero not difficult ina technical sense, they involved much knowledge which until re- cently was never obtained in gchool. TRE BESULT. Although the examination took place more than a week before she close of the term, the result was unknown until las: Mondsy, upon which day Principals wera invited to meet at the rooms of the Board of Education, Nos. 84 and 86 LaSalle stroet, at 4 o'clock p.m. The gen- eral averago attained by the several schools and their relative rank are as follows: Ar. Rank., sl PEANUTS AND ORANGES. The relation of peanuts and oranges to achools and pedngogues 18 oy very obvious to tho uninitiated, . But pedagogues, with all their propriety, have their lijtio weakucsses as well s other morta!s. From time immemorial the oc- sion of the announcement of tho result of the epring examinations has been the scene of a pedagogical ** spree.” ‘The Principal of the vic- torious scliool is expected to lsy befuro the se- sembled crowd & plentitul supply of oranges, aud the uufostunate, at tho other ex- tremity, is expected to manifest resig- nation oand go in_quest of & pack- az0 of peanats, 1o be there disposed of. Then somo disappointed oves toll wny they were mot number one, and others bear their downfall guimly. But good nzture predominatos, and tho Wit and laughter heard are not of the dismal and Ingubricus kind that is popularly attributed to the * erafr,” CONCLUSION. Tho echaol system of Chicaga fs not as well understood_ss iv deserves to be by all its patrons, I.s ofiicers, policy, and coureo of in- straction, will bear investigation, and compari- £on with any others in tho country. - The inter- ents affcoted by it are second to none in exist- ence. Itisnotidio then to consider its workings, to scquire a kuowledge of its expodients, sud {o invostigate that we may admire its wisdom 1t is & gracetul as well as a just thing lo think kindly of the teachers. Thero isno classin the community upon which rest responsibilities of euch maguitude. They are particularly accossi- ble, 100, from the nazure of their duties, to the intluonce of kind eentiments. Aside from relief from physical want, which their remuneration secates, they heve no reward 80 great as the 2p- preciation of &a mtelligent public. Let the prst be dead between us,— "All ita happizess 3 o'er, And the Jove-dreams that once bleat 1t ‘Can reura to us no wore: <'ry tie lics roken—shatter'd— "Taat once bound us beart to heart ; Ev'ry hoye has faded from us, "And naught ' left us but to'part. Ceaso! °T were useless to implors mo,= Words of thine aro empty all,— For the spell that oncs beguiled me Now has passed beyond recall * Eviry heart-string that once echoed Fondly to thy whispered name Thrills no moro; thy power s dying With love's fading, flickering fame. Go1 The world 18 wide; betweeaus ‘Even fricndship may notbo; Pledges once o fondly uttersd’ ‘Are as nothing now to me: Teave me hece; il words ate idley "For their old-time power is o'ez, And the love-dreama onco we cherished Can to us return no more. “QorracE HOXE? Owx M. WrLsox, J5, Pike’s Pealk. Thedreary wintor blocksdo on topof Pikes Peak is over, and oe of the men who has been doiog Quty on that elovated weather post hss come down to tell his expericnce. At times the tizer- mometer was over 30 degrees below zero, the wind blowing so strongly that exposure to it was dangerous, =nd the sposr drising in blinding clouds. The signal service men in their substan- tial stono houss, with plenty of wood and provis- jons, wers securs from hunger or frost, and came oat of their seclusion in good heslth. The nevw trail is €0 easy of ascent-that a man can ride & mule to the top of the peak. FROST. A Beply to His Sermon on the Drama, Mr. Chanfrau Defends the Reputa- tion of His Colleagues. And Calls Attention to the Record of Exposed Clergymen. ‘What Actors Recently Did for a Bap- tist Church. Shall There Be a Libel Suit$ For the second time in tho paat fen years a Chicago clergyman, on Sunday last, in & sermon, charged actors with being hypocrites and actresses with being almost universally vicious. “No man who wanted a virtuous wife wonld marry an actress,” romarkod this clergymean of the Christian Church. Anxious to discover how this sweeping chargs would bo answerod, a reporter subjected Mr. ¥RANE 8. CHANFBAT, #The Arkansas Traveler,” to an interview. Mr. Chanfrau, be it remarked, is o wan of ex- tromely moderate habits, and looks ten years youngor than his age, 8 circumstance not gen- erally considered indicative of a fast and reck- less lifo. He is a man of culture, and has the good fortune to be the husband of one of the most popular Iadies on the American stage Iady againat whom no broath of scandal has ever been uttered; one whoso private life has been ure -and womanly, and whose professional career has been equally without stain. It was natural that Mr. Chaofrau should feel inaigoation against” the preacher who deliber- ately charged his wife with unchastity, and used the privilega which his profession afforded him to vilify & lady whom ho had nover seen. The reportor was ot surprised, thercfore, on nsking his opinion of the eermon, to hear him reply with some warmth : “You will excuse my feeling somewhat xeenly, eaid he, “It is not easy to bo dignified in such a case, but I willnot retort on the clergyman as hedeservos.” Roporter—Yon read the sermon, I perceive. Mr. Chanfran—Yes, my attontion wes called o it. Who is the preacher 7 Reporter—I believe his name is Frost, but I never heard of him befors, A BENSATIONAL MOVE. Mr. Chanfrau—I supposed not. It is not clergymen of whom any one_has heard before who ¥ilify virtuous women. It is unnecessary. Do you not sce that & young and obscure preach- er con make himself suddenly prominent by as- spailing the stage? Itisadodgo to attract at- tention, nothing moro, on the part of thess 0o~ casional obscurities. I will not gratify BMr. Frost's ih:bin% for motoriety by personally Doticing him. Individually, such & manis be- neath notice. The clergy, as a rule, are above the ignorancoe that manifests itself in such an array of folly. Afthe same time, there are many _ foolish ~ people, lgnorant and bigoted enongh to beliovo nll that such & man tolls them. They have nevor seen & play ; only judge of actors by the roports of thewr equally ignoraot pastor, and, therefore, receive them without question. THESE FROSTS AND WATFIELDS, granted even that they are sincere, what dothey Toow themnelvos? Has this particular apeci- men ever visited s theatro? If he has, he stands condomned by his own words. If mot, where can he find the brazen impudece that can criti- cise that of which he knows nothing . 3Mr. C. R. Gardiner—It has always puzzled me to know where the pulpit obtains its private in- formation of the wrong-doing of actors and aotresses, A PLATX WORD TO FROST. Mr. Chanfeau—Such men as this ono, Frost, 2ro beneath argument, But I cannot let the op- portunity pass to say somothing in that line through TaE Trmmuye. Did Mr. ¥rost—I speak to him a8 & sort of lay-fignre—ever condescend to look at facts ? Where are the tomptations to an actress to go astray? The very gayoty which plays a conspicuous part in the ruin of yonn, women is part of her daily life. She is behin tho ecenes of life aswell ag of the theatre. What is gold to the working-girl, the society-belle, evon the clergyman's wifo snd dsughter, is only tinsel to her. Isshe a monster of depravity merely becauss she knows tawdry tmsel from pure metal? Then again: WHAT OPPORTUNITY does an actress find for fast life ? Her daya are given up to study, be she naver 5o insignificant ; her nights are epent in_labor, for acting is not fun to an actress. Tho pubhc has an extra- ordinary idea of the life of ons of these maligned ladies, ~ Bless my soul, they don't live on Dbrandy-smaches, mint-juleps, and Bourbon for breakfast and dinner; nor do they sit round the festive-board after tho performance. drinking _wine until they are carried away hopelessly intoxicated. The public would not recognize in the quiot, modest little Iady, who with her motber or sister, friond or hus- Dband, steals wearily home to' ber family, for whose support she has anbnps been laboring, tho nctress it applauded half an hour before. These poor girls aro_maligned becauso they are misunderstood—maligoed by men who endeavor 10 coin their lies into money by nttering them from the puloit, Were any other bumax being to utter such monstrous statemsnts, whoro is the man who would not reseat it ? BUING FOR LIBEL. Reporter—Have you everregarded these state- ments from a legal point of view ? Mr. Chanfrau—I'll be ono to give $1,000 toa tand for the prosocution of sny clergyman who dares to assail the virtue of Isdies of the pro- fession. - Reporter—I have no doubt 100 more such con- tribations would be forthcoming. AMr. Chanfrau—Where is_the man who will daro to asperse Maggie Mitchell, Little Lotta, Mrs. Chanfrau, Mrs. Hoey, Mrs. Thomas Barry. Charlotte Cusbman, Mrs. Charles Kean, Mrs. Warren, whose bedsido attendant was Queen Yictoria, Fanny Kemble, Jano Coombs, or any of the. thousand others? Let your Frosts be specific if they dare, and breathe 3 word against vour Chicago ladies, Mre. Stoneall, 3frs. Maader, Mra. Allen, Miss Meek, Miss Flstcher, Sydney Cowell, or any one of them. ) Reporter—I do not think any clergyman in tho country will aceept your challéngs. THE OLERICAL DLACK LIST. Afr. Chanfrau—These slanders againet actors come from the pulptt to-day with lees grace'than ever. An actor, s friend of mino, has a record which will fill 8 emall volume. It isa list of in- famous clergymen exposod,—mind, not all that are guilty, but all that have been exposed in the ast twenty-five scars. It is s terrible weapon, 15 that book. How can the pulpit dare to utter such thiogein the face of Dr. Huston, of Bal- timore, Gilbert Roberison, of Bpringfieid, Hon- dricks, your Chicago specimen, McCarthy, and the hundreds of others? Talk of impurity! Let the pulpit purge itself ; then the churches, and then it may come behind tha scenes if it wants to; I will toll you A’CHIOAGO ANECDOTE: When I was in Chicago before the firs I was visiting tho Marbles, Dan came home from tho theatre with his sister, one night, a8 ho always did, but he w2s a trifle excited on this particalar occasion. I asked him what was the matter. “There's a fellow hero insulted my sister— caught hold of her, and msed some pretty vile language to her,” eaid Dan. *Como along.” paid I, “we'll attend to him.” I found this chap—he was a good desl bigger than Dap— swaggering round m s bullying way. He guessed be coutd defend himself, and if Dan didn's ebut bis mouth he'd ehat it for him. Dan didn't scare, but just went in for the man snd gavo him 28 sound & drubbing as I ever saw dis- pensed. And who do' you supposo this fellow proved to bo? Reporter—A clergyman? Mr. Chanfrau—No, not quite, bat the next thing to it.—a clergyman's son, whose father was one of the most cminent divines in the West, I believe. CHANTRAU AS & CHURCE MEMDEE. Reporter—You are a member of a church ? Mr. Clanfrau—Of courso I am. So is my wife. I number among m{ warmest friends goveral clorgymen, not only of the Episco- pal, but of other churches, They do mot re- gard me as s moral leper, a hypocrite for at- fompting to play heroio parts, and s scoundrel for delinesting othera” which are mot heroic. They like me and Ilike them. They are edu- cated men, and gentlemen, besides teing Chris- tisns. THEATRICAL AID FOR THE BAPTIETS, % Reporter—TIhe profession you represent has i, PR the stage. always enjoyed among tho unredcomed a reputa- tion for I.\zmymlity. & 5 Mr. Chanfrau—I could give you instances of thoir unselfishness all night. Il give you one in which I sm personally in:zresteff Bome Iadies of the Sea Shore Baptist Church at Long Branch cama to me recently and solicited a subscrip- tion of €5 to sy the interest on a church debt of $1,500. " I told them they could bave the debt paid off if they wanted, andled off a subscription-list with 8100.. Henderson, of the Providence Opera-House, Will Floyd, Edwin Adams; Mrs, Paddock (Maggie Mitchell), Lester Wallack, Canning, and soveral other theatrical people, gave 8100’ each, and the dobt waa paid off.” And this is the way the charches acknowl- edge our offorts—by assailing the character of our wives and sisters. Reporter—Not the churches: say, rather, a fer insignificant members. BETALIATION. Mr. Chanfrau—Of course, of course. I have too much respect for the Church to say anything sgainst it se & body. Bat, aupgflning 1 were to appesar upon the stage some nizht and play spart in which the words of Mr. Frost were Pun to my mouth, with no other change than * ministers’ danghters ™ for “actresses,” and * clergymen " for “*actors.” What would be the consequence ? I shonld be rotten-egged off the stage, And yot = congregation of Christians, professing to fol- low Him who preached *‘Judge not that ye be not judged,” sat through such a sermon as Mr. Frost's without romonstrance. Reporter—How loag bave you been on tho stage ? Mr. Chanfran—Since 1842—thirty-two years. Had I found the stage such a slough of iniquity as rome Hatfields aud Frosts represent it to be, 1'd have loft it many years ago. 1 could tell you stories hero all night, only you could not pub- lish them, There is one view of the case these anti-stage people never learned. I mean TIZZ HONOR OF ACTORS. A youngman onthe stagois persccuted by Indies in front of the house. I ventureto say your young actors of Chicago aro in receipt of & bushel of Jettera o week from young, eilly gixls, women in the best socioty—perhaps even clergy- men's daughtors. Ar. Frost does mnot know anything about these people ; ho docs not know the temptations of the aage. One of these villains in Chicago received s letter from a young Iady in one of our highest-toned somina- Ties, 8 bright and handsome girl, I am told, of good family. The letter praved an appointment, 20d spoke in no measured terma of tho wildest passion entertained by the 'silly writer. The villainons player rend the letter, indorsed on it : “Yon'd better get your ma's permission,” and returnea it. Half the ladies in Chicago went crazy over Frank Aiken when he first came here, and sent him the most extravagant letters of admiration. These amatory episiles did not come from actresves, you may be sure. TILE BAD ONES. Reporter—Of course thero are soms chiaracters on the stage. Mr. Chanfran—certainly: and when they are bad their faults are found out by a herd of {ealous preachers, anxions to sava s soul by committing every other soul to perdition. Thera are bad politicizns, bad newspaper men, bad actors, bad clergymen, Ican call to mind a clergyman who way hanged a fow years ago in Jersoy for butchering hiswife. I can remember: one, a few miles from Chicago, who drowned his wifoin o shallow stream by holding her head under water to get the insurance on_her life. I forget what became of him. Would Mr. Frost kindly draw the infarence that the Church was all tad on that account ? Reporter—You do not dofend the staze”as im- maculate ? Mr. Chanfrau—Of course I do mnot. Thore are picces played which I condemn heartily, and s0 does the press. So would the Church, if the Church would only come in and pass judgmeut upon them, ivtelligently, rationally, and without prejudice. ' It nocds the co-operation of all good influences to bring about a reform. bad THE PULPIT IS TEROWING AWAT ITS OTPORTTXITY in neglecting tho theafro. It might as well try in this age to silenco the press. Hero is its manifest duty, to encourago all tendencies for good in tie theatro, to lend its voica in condom- nation of what is bad; to foster that which canobles, and denounce that which depraves. Tho attitude of a preacher who, in the security of his pulpit, calls actors knaves and actresses harlots, is that of & coward, en ignoramus, and a liar to boot, If any man eaid such a thing in my presonce 1 would knock him down. So would any man of spirit. Roporter—As it js— Ar. Chanfrau—I willstick to my offer of $1,000 toward a fund for the prosecution of clergymen who aseail the private character of my sisters of —_— THE LETTER AND THE SPIRIT. With books and papers round his table spread, Tse pastor in hin study sat one night. Upon his hand he laaned his silvery head 3 “And through his large round spectaclos tho light ©f thought fore-ran the words be meant to write. ‘He turned his wéll-thumbed Dible, as he sought To choose some fitting chapter aad text Whose words might well embody his deep thought; Boms utterance concise and unperplexed, To wing his sermon-ehaft on Sanday noxt. No mystic garm of theologic loro; No Hebrew version of ** Thus saith the Loz ;" But one of those grand texts that ope the door Into the inmoat apirit of the Word, ‘And truths that with the docpeat heart accord. And a3 he mused there was s gentle tap, A neighboring farmer cama to ask about Some Bible passages. He lafd Lis cap Aside, and, sitting, said: **I have s doudt, - Dear sir, from which I wish you'd Lelp mo out, 4 Th.e Bible 15 the Word of God, you say. Then we must take the Bible through and through; Put in no notfous of our own; obey Tho letter 2nd the spirit; think and do Just what it says, Docs this seem right to yon? T find things tlere, a8 by the Lord's command, That seem a3 If (bey warn't of hesvenly grace, Or meant for some old time and ancient land, They don't apply. I couldn't bave tho facs To tell my child, *This text jest suits your cave.’” The pastor emiled, "Twas what was in his thought When the good farmer entered. Long he spoke, And shiowed how in the truths the Scripture taught The letter kills, the spirit lifts'the yoke. ‘Past ia not present—nor the germ the ok, ‘The best texts ars like friends along life's rosd, Not the policemen of sect. We hear Their voices, dud take beart and bear our loed Upon our journey with serencr cheer. Their wisdom and their love cast out our fear. Supreme authority s that which msn First tests through ages of bellefa and deeds, God 18 10 tyrant—ifs decrecs no ban. Tlie laws of States decayed—the dust of erezds— Can never il the soul’s diviner needs. Bat that which still survives, and in the heart And common conscience of the race secures Wha wisdom sanctifies snd sets apart, From Iow and selfish passions—that tosu Tho weifare of the world—snd that endures. 0On the next Babbath the good pastor presched ‘A “lifiing " sermon. Clearer Lizut was given To many s sonl whose aspiration reached Beyond the doubts with whi¢h t long had striven. The text—That which ye bind on curth is Lound in Icaven, —C., P. Cranch in tha Christian Union. e RS Taking off the Shoc3z. In Syria the people tiever take off their caps “or turbans when entering a house or visiting & friend, but they always 16ave tneir shoes at the door. 'T'he reason is that their floors are covered with clean mats and rugs, and in the DMoslem honses tuo men kueel on the rogs to pray, sod prees_ their forcheads to the roor, o thatit would not be decent or respectfal to walk in with dirty shoes and roil the sijjady on which they kneol to pray. They bave 10 foot-mat or scrap- ers, and it is much cheaper and simpler to lcave the shocs, dirt, 2nd all, at the door. Ttis very curious to go to the Syrian echool- houses and sco the piles of shoes at the door. There are new bright red shoos, and old tattered ehoos, and kob kobs and black shoes, and_eome- times yellow shoes. The kob-kobs are wooden clogs, made to raise the feet out of the mud and water, having a little strap over tho toe to keep it on the foof, You will often sco toys and girls running down eteps and paved streets on heso dangerous kob-kobs. Sometimes they slip, and then down they g0, on their noses, and the kob-kobs fly off and go ratthng over the stones, and littie Ali or Yusci, or whatever his name is, begins to shout, “Ya Imme! Ya Imme!” *O mymother!" and cries just like little children in other countries. But the funniest part is to see the boys when they come ont of school sud try to find their shoes. ‘There will bo £fty boye, and, of course, a hundred shoes, all mixed together in one pile. When school i8 ont, the boys make a rush for the door. Then comes the tog of war. A dozen boys are standing sad shofiing on fhe pile of shoes, looking down, kicking away the other choes, running their toes info their own, stumbling ovor the kob-kobs, and. then making a dack to get out of the crowd. Sometimes shins will . be kicked, and hair pulled, apd tarbooshes thrown off, and a great screaming follow, which will only cease when the teacher comes with *‘ Asa,” or s atick, and quells the riot. That pile of ehoes will have to answer for & good many echool-boy fizhta aad brmsed noses and hard feelings in Syria. You will wonder how they can tell their own shces. SodoL And the boys ofien wear off each other’s shoes by mistake or on parpose, and then yon will see Selim running with one shoe on and one of Ibrahim’s in his hand, shouting and careing Ibrahim's father and grandfather until he gots back his lost propesty. ~The Women of the Araba. SLING-STONES. A Hungarian Story. BY MORITZ JORAL \ Inthe old days, when Kuzuk was still Pacha of Grosswardein, the good city of Debreczin, the headquarters of the real Magyar race, suffered many trisls. That mad Tark became enraged at the merest trifle, and then he at once threatened to destroy tho city with fire and sword, to slaughter its mep, to drag its womeninto slave- 17, to give up its treasures to pillage, and to sow with salt tha place where it had stood. The mild and wise msgistrates of Debreczin used to try with prayers nnd presents to soothe the anger of this crazy Turk. Butone day Mein Herr Stefan Dobosy, the great grandson of ichael Dobosy, the immortal hero of 1526, be- came a magistrate. 0 He was au obstinate and flery man; and when Pacha Kuzuk, for some foolish reason, again throatened to attack the city, Mein Herr Stefan Dobosy sent word to him: *coME oNi" Thereupon Pacha Kuzuk fell intoa terrible rago; and, commanding his troops to monnt, ha set out that same night, and the next morning ho stood before Debreczin, “Well, then, I am bere!™ No, the city had by no means anything liko strong walls, neither moats nor draw-bridges. It stood, indeed, on & wide and very fertiloplain of black soil. Its sole defenses consisted of twelve crumbling towers, from which the citi- zons unsed to defend themsolves against tho roving bands of thieves. These were of brick, unplastered, and were roofed with reeds. They would bave fallen to pieces at the first shot. Each oneof them had been provided on the back with a stairway of rotten planks, which led up from without to s surrounding wooden landing, which gave access to tho tower ; and 8o, if this stairway had been removed, no one who was in the tower could leave it. Each of theso ninepin-shaped towers guarded ono of the gates of Debreczin, but at & respect- ful distance, 8o that it should not be destroved by so enmemy attacking tho city,—thereby keeping _the city from the necessity of builditg & nmew ome. When you saw the towers, oll that you thought of was, that the roof of each was good for nothing buf for tho storks to build their nests on ; for these harmless birda stood till eveniog upon one leg, and chattored for hours long, as if they pro- tectea the city in the securest manper. Pacha Kuzuk had 80 arranged his arrival as to bring his troops before ALL TOE TWELVE GATES AT ONCE; and directed against each of the red brick towers one of the great round cannon, loaded to the muzzle, desiring to speak to tho Debrecziners in this fashion. 2 TInstantly there came out of the city s Greek vamed Papajoti, who, although a native of Stamboul, was established in Debreczin: he was an old nczgninlnnco of Pacha Kuzuk. So. when the city had any nice affair to set:le, they rogularly sent this Greek with the sama to the Pachs, believing he wouid not be immediately impaled. # Well, what do the magistrates in Debreczin say?" “ Your Excellency, the truth is, that this Ste- fan Dobosy is a drunken dog. When your threat came to us, he immediately put all the young girls, women, ané children into wagons, and sent them away to Tokaj. Then he had the order criod through the town, that whosoever had any valuable property shouid tear it to pleces, how it down, or throw it into the wella; and, as aoon a3 the enemy should seize the city, that they shonld at onco set it on fire in forty places, throw fire into every church, into every tower; and thon that every one should seize_his spear, or mount his horse (if he had ome); and then would he, Dobosy, fell them from which gate théy ehould rush out; and truly should they so retroat from here that nbver- more should any ono of them so much as even turn his face towards Debreczin. Mein Herr Kuzuk, how would your Highness be justi- fied, should tbe Sultan inquire what has become of the great City of Debreczin, which has so loyally paid to the Porto 80 many taxes, which has furnished such distinguished advisers, and Las so nchly furnisbed the army with flour and forago? Willbe, then, be plossed that your Higinees has DURNT THIS CITY TO ASHES, and sowed the place with salt, where it stood in rightcous anger, because your water-pipe no longer drew well, and burned unevenly ? " All this Mein Horr Stefan Dobosy had in- structed Panajoti to say; and he repeated it word for word. “ You confounded, thick-skniled Calvinist!™ cried the Pacha angrily : * he is just obstinate and crazy enough to do what ho Fays." Kuzuk wished, in fact, not to be answerable for de- etroying B0 fine & city sa_Debreczin merely in ordsr to appease bis own_ill-bumor ; for at that time there was in the Hungarlan lowlands no other city 80 thickly settlea and well provisioned in s doy's journey. The city was 80 necessary in that place, that, bad it not been standing, the Turks would have thought it necessary to build ono there. *The vagabond dog,” growled the Pacha again, “ koows very well that Ido not wish to destroy his city; and therefore he dares to ad- dress me in thia lofty tome. Yet, should I re- ceive him out hero upon the open, I know I shonld make him, in that case, travel such a ninddthathjn footprints would be marked with blood. . k Pavajotl declared, earnestly, that the resi- dents of Debreczin were resoluto to tho highest degreo, and just as soon as the Pacha should have a_trumpet eounded, or a cannon fired, the whole ~city would at once burst into fames, and everything would bo lost; for all the treasures bad been buried, and the women and children weroe already far on the other side of the Theisa; the men would bo enraged; one [ would seize & scythe, another a saber; and even then they could hardly do sufficiont execution to sntiofy themsélves, o highly exasperated would they Le, Tho Dacla saw that Panajotl was right. The Debrecziners bad for once TRIUMPHED OVER HI. He called back the troops be had deployed before tho gates; he had the cannon turned about, snd said he would show mercy to the Debrecziners; that they might be tranguil, he wonld do them no harm; that in the future ho would treat thom raciously. He specially praised Moin Herr tefan Dobosy for- his resolute and coura- eoun conduct, and said he would bear him no (l-will on account of this skillful triumph. Nay, more, should he ever be in trouble, let him come to me, he canrely npon my protection ; and, Bhould Mein Herr Btefan Dobosy ever come to Grosswardein, he must certainly find tho Pacha's house: the Pacba would certainly re- ceive him more cordially than he had been re- ceived by Dobogy.” So the Pacha turned back, with all his army and all his baggage, to Grosswardein, which was then the central post of the Turkish power in Lower Hungary. & 9 The Debrecziners drew = long breath aftor his doparture; and everybody praised the magis- trate, who had shown =ll his ten claws so plainly, that the Turk had besten his re- treat 8o quickly, DBut Kuznk Pacha bad bardly come back to Grosewardein, when he sent to Badrul Bey, the chief of his black cavalry, and GAVE HIX THIS ORDER: «To-morrow evening, &8 soon 28 it ia dark, start with 500 horsemen, and ride at your quick- est to Dioszeg. Whoever you meet going out or coming in, ask bim what 18 the way to Grosskalo, Ride on that road yourself with your men, Keep on till midoight so, but then stop, and ‘break across to a swampy meadow, where nobody can track you. As soon as you hayo passed the swamp and como ont on the upland, y0u can pick what sheep and oxen you chooee from the flocks and Lerds. So keep on till you come in sight of Leta. As goon a8 you sco the towers of Leta, cut down your guide, and take your whole party into the thick woods there youreelf. In tho woods you will find somo charcosl-men, of berdsmen; snd yon must make thom lead you throngh the Torest, without showing your- Bselves till vou come out at the other end of it above Hadhaz. Then put your guides ont of the way again, and rema’z in your hiding-place : stay there day after dsy, thouzh yoa shonld stay aweek: but never come back to me out of the woods until you see four or five bundred bag- gage-wagons, coming up from Toksj. The wagons will be crowded full of lovely girls and women: they will bave with them some money and other gold; and all theso women yon will bring to me, down to the smallest brat. 1f thers should be any men_there, cut tbem down also, and leave them, Whatever money you find, divide among vour soldiers. Bat all the womeu and little folks you are to bring to me at Gross- wardein. Understand what I say. Your head is iu your own hands: NOW TAKE CAPE OF IT.” Badrul Bey understood his orders and started out. The negro chief was a good man to trust with such a basiness. He was s shifty fellow, ho would push through swamp or wood through the whole Kingdom without once dismounting from his horse; he never brought his troop into withont plenty of meat and drink, and would carry out the order given him without fail, ;:d ::g outting-down of every peasant-boy that im. . _Now, Euzuk Pacha could sayto the Debrec- ziners, ** Where is the joke now? Haye you ontwitted me, or are you chuckling at me? You may bave to Jaugh on the other side of your mouths, still.” - Alongline of country wagons is grinding along the highway from Tokaj to Hadbaz. Itis the caravan from Debreczin—fvo hundred wag- ons, ons behind another, crowded full of women and'girls; not one man'among them, nor & boy biz enough to hold a whip! The women were their own teamsters. All the men-folk they had in the party had their handsbound tight in baby- clothes : for they ware coly nursing babies. So many women and 80 many girls together, you can guess what CHATTERING AND CRYING thore was, and what queer- notiona they bronght along the'way with them. * Will Master Dobosy drive tho Turks away from the town? Will ho really frighten them?” That is all they have to talkabout, a5 a wholo week crawls by; and out of that their little hearts made frigat enough, I can tell you. One of the wagons was full of young girls, who sang, over and over again, a very old song, which you may hear to this day anywhers be- tween the Theiss and Molda : . My duckling dives down in the wter, ‘All in the country of No Land; For mammy calls out to her daughter All the way off to Poiand. Or another ane would sing : ‘Where ahall I hide? Bee, I am tiod I— * Tied hand and foot, And in frons, to a’l“lhlu song ‘{:“ very &nuch in fashion then; od knows, the poor Hungarian sung it right {from the bottom g‘;chia heart. oE " This time, the girls sung it all through their weary way; and thir quivering voices flung it up into the heavens so high that the poor little larks hardly dared to eing back again. en 'mid-dsy came, the whole caravan rested under the edge of the green mound which rose above the broad puszta.* Who built up thismound ? Are our bones in it, or somebody’s else ? Probably only ours, because the whole region round thera i8 80 very cold. There was mo village and Do town in the neighborhood. Hers and there you would como on an open hamlet, what they called a * Tanys,” surrounded by hay-stacks; and even these were jory tax apari, There was no traco of cultivated 1and; tho whole plain was given up to sheep and to cattle, Bat the “FATA MODGANA" what the Hungarians call *‘Delibab,” and other people * mirage,"—that wonderful, fanciful, and many-colored reflection in the air which yon may seo on the steppes of the Eastern world, and the prairies of the West,—would bejuggle them evary day by showing its ravishing pictures on the enormous plaing of the Hungarian puszia. Yet the people of thoso regions are £0 much so- customed to them, that they pay no more atten- tion to them than to shadows in the sunshine. Thero might be the sight of raging seza; bat nobody would think of goiog there to swim: or there might be the sight of broad forests; and nobody wonld go there for shade. the cities and palaces which the ** Fata Mor- gana” represent sre images.to which they are 31l entirely sccustomed ; and nobody pays suy more thought to them than you do to Pepper's Ghost when you see it. Just at thia time, the Delibab was overy morning in partio@rly good bumor. Hot and heavy blazed the sun down upon the puszta; so that the earth ecracked open, and the deep soil all broke into little bita. That is just the day for the *‘Fata Morgana " to delight in. A" troop of )'oun%ngirlu who wanted to seo the wonder ran up to the top of the green mound, and LOOKED OUT UPON THE SEY. Al around them extended a ees of raging waves, sa far as tho borizon; from this thera strotched up to the heavens all the different shadow-pictiires,—blue ialands swimming in the sui{whic_h would grow larger and higher 88 they looked on, All covered with green forests of leafy trees. They could ses the reflectionsof tho trees pointing down into the water; then the island wonld sink away, and the waves of the soa would flow together over it, and cover it mora and more, till it was altogether gone, There, on the otber side, are great palaces with wonderfal towers, and churches of pale blue; and all around these the ses is washing; and it shakes tbem all as they swim here aad there, till at last they tumble into rains, and the towers and the steeples fall down npon each other. At last the sea is gone, and all you can see is the track of a stray cranewho is quietly flying across from one side to the other. The girls on the top of the mound were talk- ing about all these changes: **See! that one is just like the white church in Debreczio. There is ope just like the watch-tower in Grosswardein. The roof is split in just the samo way." “ Gurls, girls!” cried out & young mother, who was at tho foot of the hill, hushing her chubby baby, */it isn't good to_play with witch- craft. *Taill bring ©o blessiog to the house. when you make it ont in the Delibab; it's bad Iuck for any city to be copied in the'siy. Be atill with your godless chatter!” wHosh1" cried _ suddenly all them together; and then the words died away upon their lps: they all looked speechiess, with eyes amazed. What wasit that th}e{ saw on the sky? Tn the direction of Hadhaz, bigh above the sea of the mirage, there was TIE TNAGE OF A HOBSEMAN, which appeared suddenly npon the pale sky. A ‘horsoman, not to be mistaken, of colossal pro- portions, with a quiver over his shoulder, with a pointed turban on his head, and with the.reins in his hand, rose in one instant above the broad ocean. The fest of the horss did not touch the eartn; the whols waa like a light-blue shadow of 2 phantom thrown actoss the yellow heaven. “Jesus Christ, do not forsake us!" cried out these poor frightened folk, a5 they eaw this shadowy phantom pass by,—s_phantom not terrible to us mith all our ecience, but which, they had never aeen nor heard of. This torm of a warrior far away moved across the heavens as large aa the clondy ghost of & giant ; in the next moment 3 crowd of new forms passed across tho sky—all armed giants, Some stood Testing against their horses over the mirror of the deceitful sea; of some you could only see the heads and shoukders; but there were some whore you could seer the whole body, and these would be fastened toother bodies. You would sec two shadows sticking together, and the h arms, and weapons utretchiog up and down from the point where they united. BSuddenly all this dissppeared ; and nothing was left in the heaven but two broad rays of light, and two light-blue strips of ribbon upon the cloudy background, cx- tonding down to the very horizon. + Jesus Christ! Turls and Tastars ON THE WATCH FOR US." This was the ecry of the crowd of women a8 they buddied all together, without help and withoat council, there in tho' midat of the great desert. : g The mothers clasped their bables in their arms, and rushed with them to the wagons. The maidens scattered on the road even their beloved scarfa and their earrings, thinking that, while the robbers stopped to collect these, they could be hastening on tbeir flight; for they all knew that the troop must b watching for them. “Away. away! To Boesormeny! Hasto, basto §e musk leave the track. Hastel” So the poor army of women, in terrible fear, surned aside from their wey. All the line of swagona followed at the risk of the very lives of the beasts, as they went ovar the prairies, where there was no track. Nobody sang any more ; but many & psalm come to them as they rode; and many .a heart sighed to itself, as they looked back mpon the frightful distance, and wonld ery out to Heaven : 0 merciful God above! protect us from our cursed enemy, as Thon hast revealed him to us %0 wonderfally; save Thy poor handmaidens from his pursuit’; for we Lave no ono but Thee to rest upon, O Lord, God of heaven!” And the Lord had indeed another miracle in atore for that day. As tho frightened women looknd back from moment to moment, the wholo sky behind them ow black, just where they had seeu the terri- lo phantoms. Instead of the giant ghosts which had been chasing each other, the whole horizon between the heaven and sarth, andall the birch-wood of Hadhaz, were dark as night in the distance. First the mountzing of clouds stood sharp sgainst the sky; then the wind horled them up bigher and higher; in a moment more, the grest black pilo strotched as far as you cosld see; then there moved across it othor masesof & dead bluo gray; and you conld_hear tho mutter- ing of a giant's voice, which said, ¢ g-p-p-uy! B-B-2-UN!" The wagoma rumbled on with the horees at a op, till they found rest st the villago of S80TIeDY.- ‘Padrul Bey waited two days In his ambush in the Hadhaz woods, He bad done to tho letter all that Kuzuk Pacha had bidden him do. If he asked the way from anybody, he satred him at once, by way of thanks, so that he might tell no tales. Every troop kept the very place appointed to1t; and, if any unwitting wayfarer stumbled upon them, Badrul Bey and his men made sn end of him {n no time, For thia they ured their ® These Hungarisn puaztss are precisely ufmilar to mwfi‘&:tnpflinu. L silent arrows. not choosiog to e th;{'us:diay ‘muskets. i fo sk i Tepers of obody conld discover them; and nobod: could warn the girls and thewomen of Debrerzin that they were 80 near. - No. Aud God ?—He saw them; and in the mirror of the Delibab He revealed them to the poor women rushing ot g_x:x{ flestxmc';::n, :‘;gl stretched ont the whole play c hidden treache: Praised bo Kfi:bhnly el baloes e 100D o third day, the acouts of Badru Bey cam into the thick of the wood to snnounce to him that in the distance, on the prairie, there ‘wasa long train ia sight, which threw up s per- fect clond of dust, as hundreds of wagons, one after another, came trajling on. Badral Boy himesit roabed 1 i E v himae to tho top of a little hill to look around him. Was hs,‘ggmps, tho ;nurnmlu g:;ntb;hos_o uhndomppumd on tho eavous, wil uiver on his_back, aud Torntatintban on b Sy ek mithe *That is they! Let them oomo near, No- body can put them on their guard,—nobody " Of & sudden, the dust-clond’ that was ap- proaching wavered for a moment; and then, in- instead of approaching leisurely, as befors, tmned hastily on one side; m&thec&m’agu could be seen with tha poor beasts, galloping url;y d!rr:!m B:ha mo?dsu. 3 looked on in & rage. * Wh have betrayed na g B Then, a8 if in answer to his question, s rustling swept through the wood; the high beech-trees all bent, groaning, down; anda maost terrible gale swapt Lowling over the plain and a cloud of thick yellow dusf enveloped all tho country. Badrul Bey was not used to be afraid of * storms. He bad studied in Kuzuk Pacha's school. “Up with yvour lances!” he cried to hisy horsemen. ‘‘The points of the Iances will scat- ter tho storm. We must after the runaways. Out on the plain!” Ah! there was another commander on tha plain. Btraight acrosa the prairie, cutting right mmufih the train of the pursuers, there rode the wild Whirlwind, _ THE BRIDE OF THE STORM. The lithe spirit proudly dauces over the whola plain, tosses her locks in the clouds, so that al! her bair flutters free; while on her delicate feet, hidden in the dust, she is twirling faster acd faeter. Now she bows to the right, and now tc the left; now stretches up, fine by degrees, and tosses ber proud head higher and higher. Woe to anything mortal or earihly that comes in Lier way! she shatters it in pieces, and scatters it to all'the winds. Roofs, and Eay-ricks, and trece, torn up by the roots, dance round and round, like chips in a whirlpool. Aftar her comes her bridegroom, the Thunder-storm. He is driving Bis fierce brido before him, with his fire in hand ; he is stretching out his arms for her, and will chaso ber to the death. Oh! the love of thesa spirits for each other i8 something terrible. In an instant the whirlwind enveloped Badral Bey's troop in such & clond of sand, that no one knew which waa forward, or which was back. The air was dark a8 pitch. Not one of the horse- men could aee another through the cloud which was g0 thick that even tho lightning did not shine throuzh ; only you could hear the thunder drawing nearer and nearer. Badrnl Bey's horse trembled under him. The storm tore off his turban from his head, and nzripged his little banneret from his lance. 0 God! of the Hungarians!" muttered the negro, shaking his fist abave him st the aky. * Chon hast taken the part of thine own peo ple; but thou canst not deliver them from me!® Af soon a8 the braggart chief had nitered this blasphemy, something hard atrack him sharp oo his shoulder, 8o that his arm fell lame from tha low. What was it 2 A GBEAT DLOCK OF IOE, which did not come alone ; for sfter it Heaven let loose all its tbundor-stones, crashing and cracking quick and hard. The misshapen stoncs. smashed down out of the sky,—some as Lig as anogg; others like iransparontnuts, or mera Like the head of Badrul Bay's own mace, studded withpails ; for a dozen lumps would be frozen together, 80 that, wherever the heavy thing le:la it gave a murderous blow. The lightaing fashs from one end of the sky to the other ; and, as the white plain was piled fetlock deep with blocks of ice, there was s grosning so loud that you would have thought it was being crusked by the fall of the heavens. “Allah Earim! Allah Ekber! ™ cried out the dissppointed slave-hunters, fiying wildly bofare the icy sling-stones, which wers banging dowa upon them, with horrid rage, from every side, and which they had never seen in their livea at home. Thestruggles of their horses, whioh wore raging with terror, made the alarm more Lorri- ble; and, if any one keEt up his courage for sn inatant, the terrible lightning was too much for im, flashing here and cracking there, while pouring dqwn upon them the blocks of ice, a3 ‘millions of diamonds and silver-stones, poured down out of the heavens. © Allah is Allah; and thereis no help butin him,” 8o cried the predestined Turks sa thay rusbed here and thers, wherever their horscs part rushed to the forest which they had just left; anod there they were caught among tho trunks and troes which were flung down by the gale; another part pressed forward, and 80 plunged into the ragiog stream into which the swampy brook had awelled in half an hour aftor the breaking of the cloud. Bome, who tried to ride through the storm, kept all the way in its path, snd were hustied and beaten by it for miles. When it had spent its fary, Badrul Bey could not rally MORE TIAY FIFTY of his 500 horsemen. Some twenty of them wers mortaily wormded, Iying here 20d there with gaping wounds in their Broasts, or with their hoads knocked in, or theic riba broken. Many had been thrown from their hotees by the ice; others wers buried in it 20 completely that you conld hardlvaes s haad. The whole plain looked like a wildernoss sown all over with white and little pebbles, all so white and o cold! ol These sons of the palmy oasis of Ethiopia had never geen ice beforo. “ Wondora upon wondors {" said the crestfall- en Badrul Bey. ' Who can_fight against Heaven? This is a Btrange god, whom these Hungarians scrve; and he works wonders to show his love of them. Allsh preserve us from the wrath of the strange God!" And now he began to ask himself how Kuzzk Pacha would be satisfied,—whother he wonld believe him when he came back with his troop g0 cut up, after ho had let the womon sacapo him; and whether Kuzuk would bolieve in such s miracls a8 none of them had ever heard of be- fore. He could not have any better voucher for his words than to fill those very iron-bound cheata, which he had brought with him for the jowels of the Debreczin girls, fall of THE THUXDER SLING-STONES 18 they had fallen from heaven. He wonld ahow these to the Pacha to confim his marvelous story of misfortune. 80 ho filled four of the [ron-bound cheste to thelr brim, and bade the men swing them, {w0 and two, over the backs of the pack-horses which he bad brought with him. To make sure of his treasure, he locked the trunks himself, and kept the keys, and sealed the locks with wax. Two weary days they toiled back before they camo to Grosswardein. Meanwhilo the wrecis of the shattered army straggled together once more. Bome bad broken bones; all werewonnd- cod or braised: there was not ono who did aok show a bruise or a scar. ‘Meanwhile, from morning till night, the blaz- fng sun sirsamed down upon them. Drop by drop, the water trickled outof tho iron-bound trunks, and dried up as it came to the surface. Arrived at Grosswardein, the black Doy, with hin lame arm and bang-dog head, went st onos to Kuzuk Pachs, told him his story, and waited in terror. i Kuzul Pacha heard the story with & sccrnfal face, aod would not believe s word of it. Bad- rul Bey ordered in the iron-bonnd trucks, aad begged the Pacha to see with his own oges the sliag-stones which had fallen from heavea. When the seals wers taken off, and tke locks were opened, there was not inany of tho truaks aepeck or & siraw,— XOT A TRACE of one of the sling-stones! Badrul Bey tore off his clothes. */ Allah, be gracious to me! The God of tho Hungarian has made the aling-stones disappear with which ho strack down my warriors.” + Lying coward!” screamed the Pacha, who did not believe one sylizble of what had been * geese ofton kill hounds ; and thess hero- hearted women are more than a match for you. So ho hanged Badrul Bey outside the door. There he swung till eveniog. But he pardoned all the negroes who came home with bim; for the rest he cut off half an ear of each, ana sent them to Belgrade. The women of Debreczin all came home safe and sound. Kuzuk Pacha was _glad to let aloao people who bad treated Eadrul Bey so mercilers- Jy; and from that momeas ke keld them in great honor. carried them. A This story is wiitten in the records of the Council of the noble City of Debreczin. Tkod who readest, remember that God still lives; that in His high Heaven He knows haw to protect His own ; and that His arm jsno shorter than i§ waa then.— 0l and New.