Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, August 23, 1874, Page 13

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THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUN AUGUST 23, 1874 15 WAUKESHA. Gossip from the City of Springs. Corvespondence of The Chicano Tribune. WATERSIU, Wis., Aug, 21,1874, started out for 8 drive. Who does not that dsits Wankeaha? The drives here aro grand poulevard in avy direction. Nature did mauch, ghen a1 emigration from New Engiaug finished pe work. Dut I camo to a full stop. A tine- ing old gentleman, iv & morping-gown and fieg‘nm-emb:mdcmd slippers, salutes uswith 3 good moruing, and Ayt You pny 2™ [orgot 1 was in the land of mineral water, 1nd replied, I don’t caro if I do;” and nlled syoung ehine-sir ” to hold my horses. Z5uppose wy fiiend is included?” eaxd wCenainly, sir; pobody is slighted bhere four coirespondent bLad fully made up his gind for 5 good brace for the day, and looked stbis now-foand friend with sdauration and an countenance, plainly showing the gratitude snd appreciation of this most welcome and hos- pusbie taguirs. We were shown through a gate £ 1nto » beautiful yard, and scated in the ot esquisite and tastefully-arranged liztle rummer-house we Lave met with in many a day. Hese a8 & water-cooler (ominous), & miniature Jountain playing into s vase of gold fish, flowers a profusion, rustic seats and vases till your oves tired, when, lo! the sound of s pump. * Hold m.friend! 3ino clear, if you please,” ¢* That's Toc whst you'll ger tiere.” ' Here is water— ‘mineral water—equal to, if mot better than, Buhesde.” Our thermometer went down {hrough sho bottom in & moment, bat we ratlicd puticiently to express swprise and wonder av this now discovery. THIS 1S LETHEAN WATER fom the bed-rock.” We closed oar eses, and found ouiselves outside s mug of water without tatwer Questions. Our friend sna fedow- Iseler didn't drink. e belonged to the Cra- sadors of Ohio. our eutorteines loctured us out of the yard, yheuwe:s ssiust a curious specimen, an old Tettler—ikio st inhubitaut of Wakesba, forty yewsago. said be, * Young men, 1f anyshing 3lled vou, you are all rigot now. Do you see fust liree Tock i the yard? That came trom e bottom of Lethean, When tins country, teatunes 820, was whubited by mastodons, one of those munsters died there, aud 80 wuch of tim bas been uuenrthed. Lethean meaus death 1 mastodous, but driuiing of these waters by men mesua life.” We were satistied with this xplauation, 2nd resuned our drive. Ll time wo cowe up standing by the base of THE TOWER, @ “!ight—housa" a3 the boys call it. This somer = about 100 feet high,—the first story sicne, the remainder wood. It s situated iu the pountain-range lying northwest of the village, 3tap sititude of near 200 feet above the valley Tlerothe main part of the village lies. The view Lere without the tower is truly beautiful. Que of Nature's lovelicst pictures 15 opeved be- foreyou. The little forest-city, in all its fresh— pess of folisge, shows off to he best possible advamage. After poying toll to & plump Teu- tonic laeie, tov old 1o Le & miss and too goud- Leungto be a0 old maid, we proceeded on our iudizg way to the very topumost iandiug of this Sover, ard, by the aid of an old-fashioned epy- g, sud huving objects pointed ouc by an olich Censdian geutlenau, we looked down wpa A FEW OF THE SIGHTS. TIncre direction we saw a little village, Hart— leud; in suothier, the place whero ho said Mil- waukée was, but the city was so small ic did not ghow well at £0 g1eat 8 distance. L'hen ho point- edout tne eprings. Lovking porthward, just skre & pond, were two pavilions of wood, wlich, we wero assured, covered Lwo of the most important_mineral springs i the world; their nes, *Horeb,” Our informant was the pro- prietor, who eaid there was a great demand for tese waters in Cunada. Looking esst, up the mer, was u_cher pavilion,—a gorgeons piece of wchitecture, Eome of Chicago's bandiwork. Dis wss the **White Rock Spring," woere aug Indisn mothers used to iuwerse their 5, sud 2 bapusm it this himpd fountain was aprecursor of Lealth, fortune, aud fame. Look- gdown upon the village was sometling like e balloon-view of laris at the Exposition- bulding, Chicago. The Fouutain Spring House Lomed up awsy to the south; while, 1 te wuthwest. the beautiful Bethesds aud the Stete Industrial Scbool for Boys, with the back- ound of rolling pruiries, and, as far a8 the exa tuld rencly, 1be miniature ravge of mountains fomed & picture worth many times its cost aud bor 1o b Let no_visitor to Waukeshs Ail to visit tus tower aud fewst his eyes upon these pictures 1 have 8o faintly lined. We ure again in the clean, shaded streets, filug along Wisconsin strest, wiuch, i is truth- fally said, 3 HAS FEW EQUALS. Tie Firet Baptist Chasch is located upon this Et.cer,—the anest charch editice in the village, —tuill of the stoue from the quarry I tus vicinit. There sio eight _well- buls church buildings wherein Divine services ae held every Sabbath, showing {bat spiritual interests are not overlooked by the ue, notwithstanding the mania for water. On West Division street Andrew Atkins has a chalybeate well =0 lroug in taste as to be diss- reeable, though I find many who use itand de- Tive venefit. A litle further east and south are the Mineral Rock sud Fountain Springs, which floy water enough to run s Richmoud, Va, fpurmill. But, stravge to state, this great flowuf #ater disappears in the ground but s £hart distauce from the spriugs. Where it azain finds a0 outlet, thu deponent ssyeth not. These Epriugs are smd by their owners 1o have per- (0im=d cures sim:lar to those of Bethesas. If Ates hove, their fame must become estublished soue coy. The tirst week has shown a still farther INCREASE 0F VISITORS. Whle many buve returned to their homes, ttuers have come to fill their places. The ar- vals wow are mainly from the South,—Alabama, Missiscippi, Texas, Tenoessee,and Lomsisna. The Ko, Barbour Lowis, AL C., from_the Memphis rict, Tenr., is a guest of the Fouutuin Spring House. Col. Edwara Daniels, editor of the ate Journal, Richmond, Va., with his family, isvisting relatives. Gen. Halbert E. Paiue aud {family are the guests of the Rev. 1. J. Watson. Bsruum Blake, of Chicago, snd daughter—Mra. Boetwick, of Port Wasnington—have been en- joring a few days at the Fountan House, James W. Sherman and Charles H. Shermau, of Indian- " polis, are on a visit to the New Saratoga, their fomer home. They are young men who seem Yobe great fuvorites in this Jocality. & THE FOUNTAIN SPRING HOUSE HOP of Saturday evening last was o testive snd en- lo occasion. The music was weetly dis- oursed by a select few of the Great Western Light Guard Band, of Chicago. The band gavo Mesered concert Sunday eveuing, from the bal- s of the hotel. for the beneut of the guests Uthe Houge, and for all of the village delight- ’f.{mmuuch worship. I ehoutd judpe thai at 1,00 people heard and sppioved the per- Sormance. Weukesha is favored with two weekly newspa- Pere—the Plaindealer and Freeman. ~ Both are Laiaged und edited with ability, aod are guite Iy supported. 2 | sgree that the greatest enterprise of the ; Syisie | by 8 &m‘f"“‘ from the othor work " d:};.rrr.ur OF THE TEIDUNE ON SUNDAY el of the villagers of Waukeha before fsst on the day of 1ts publication. Every d25 morning. béfore 8 o'clock, TaE TRIBUNE 150 cried about the streets and sells quickly Weenta s copy. The supply last Sunday did 2t begiu to moet demand. It comes {rom Mil- 2kee, 20 miles, by pouy express. vobo amncements aud ontertainments the past Jeck managed to fil up all tho evenunge. Yoa save gour choica between bope,chiurel sociables, B ‘adget’s Comedy Company. The latter %6 Leen playing to crowded houses, and their ‘ormances scem to be well reeived. Hnm BETHESDA EPRING TO BE SOLD. et bve the best authority for stating that ne- Q:}.uu'ua now on foo: looking to the pur- e of the celebrated BethesdnCSYring by par- ol. in Chicago. The owners, oad Ars. Dambar, hiave quite recently met with a bereave- Sal,—th deatls by drowning of their accom- {itted end promising son, Edward. ~The great Mdhnusuglnam over their future, and & hprachock to their smbition. The son took ¥ ¥e thara of the heavy business of the great 308 npon himself, and s s business mavsger o 7T populer. Now the burdens and detwils thg, /28 prowing business fall - upon Jyabieuts, and, what to them was former- & MPleasure, is mow irksome. This 18 their e Tesgon for parting with their valusble ey Itia to be hoped that Col. Duubar o insome kivd of sn interest in the fip‘%fi-;ug identified with every stage o: 2 rom ite discov to 1ts presenl Yd-wide reputation. & b An Intemperate Spirit. Zrom the Vallejo (Cal) Chiranfcle, Tase Was 3 pathering of Spirituslists st 8 residence o few evenings 8go, at which _ orid were sum- & largo numbars. After Bumo COnVELS tron with & long array of dead annts, nucl it et i A e b up the sprit of s coriain Cantain who way drowued in Vallejo waters by fulling off a small raft while in_ay intoxicated condition, about year ago. ‘The L. O. tried to make a pointer by askiug bim 1f he bad uot become satistied of the evils of intemperance by tho manner of kis death, Angwer—*'No, it wasn’t whieky that xilled me; it was too much water. I Laven't drawn o sober breath sinco 1 loft vour world.” . —+ Where aro you nosw 7 A.—*Qu, I'm down hete,” - Q.—* Wlhiat place is * down here’ 7" A—I don't kuow what the name of the place is.” (The wterrogated was, of course, ashumed to tell.] —* Whet donot do where you ar Wha d of 2 life do you lead " o4 el . A=W © don't do much of anything; wo just lfla;\t around in nouungness Lke o mauy bal- oous. +¢Tg there any brimstono whers yon are A.—* O, yes, there’s lots of brumctone, but 1 tell you the oy are mighty careful Low thoy rub ap against it ; 1t goex off like a match when they do, and makes it mighty hot. The departed mariner bero refused to hold any further conversation, aud the gatheriuz broke up. ‘T'his is the most coherent and valuable state- ment that the Spiritualists huve obtwiwed fromy tue other eide yet. —— GIUSEPPE VERDI. The Celebratrd Opera~Composer. . From tne lliustrated 22 "There is 1o couutry in the presens day moro prolitic of operatic composers tLan ltaly, aud yot very few of thom over attainto a heanig beyond the littie theatre of tueir nutive town. In their cuse the prophet has no houor out of Lus own country. The uswes of Pouchielli, of Yetcelly, and of (obalti, are known verhaps to afew stray tiaveles or musival mwatears, bat bave scarcely penetrated beyoud the contiues of the peninsila. Even Verdi, by far tho iost celebrated ot modern Italian composers, aud in mauy respects the greatest composer whom Tualy has produced, bas gained a tavoravle Lear- iug tor a very faw works, aud is pernaps best kuown by those by which bo would the least care to ba rememoered, and has beau allmost as persistentty decried s Wagver uumself. And yot Liis career has shown a remarkzble aruount of talent, and perseverauce inferior to that of no other musician. 4 Giuseppe Verdi wasborn on the 9th of October, 1814, at Busseto, = lide village uf the Duchy of Yarma. His parents were i a bumbie rauk of lite aud nuable to provide bim with acy better wusicat insiruction than that atforded him by Provesi, the organistof the villaze chureh. Hap- pily, however, among the inhabituots of Busseto was one mote disceruivg aud at the same timo in beuter circumstances than tho#s around bim. Siguor Antonio Barezzi, » namo whick deserves wwell to be banded Gown to posterity among the fow real patrons of art, was able to seo 1 the crude efforts of young Verd: traces of the tal- ent he was afterwards to displuy, and gener- ourly offered to defray the expeuscs of bis education at the Conservatoire of Mulan. Verdi aceepted the ofter, aud proceeded to ilaniu the summer of 1835, but was et st tho vers outset | at that time with n repulee. ' Francesco Basili, Dircctor of the Conservazoire, renc s1id, by the cold and unsympatbeti spulicant, faily refused to sdwmit him to any of hius classes. Verds was however uot discouraced. e piaced himself uuder tie turtion of Lavizna, the maestro al cembale, or piamst at the grand tieatis of La Scala, a musician who did utte ‘more than look over aud correct the compositions of his pupils. For three yests Verdi worked here uuder the direction of Lavigua, writing picces of various styles, amoug them bemga “S.abat Mater.” but to the want of more thorough instruction svd more careful guidance moy be tiaced many of those inequalities of mabner ana cruds writing which 50 many crtics Llame 1 his operas. THis tirst debut ae & composer took piace on the 17wn of MNovember, 1549, when his iowantic op- era, * Oberto, Conte d1 San Lionifuzio,” was pro- duced at La Scala. The wtluence of Bellini, es- Pecially of his * Norma,” vas uoticeablo in the wark, which showed, moreover, sigus of that drsmitic spint which runs througn all Verd's operas, aud - Oberto ” was rcceived with much fuvor. His secoud sitempt was less fortunase. +Un gioruo di reguo,” bronght out at La Scala in the December of tho Lext year, was per- formed only once. Verdi, however, aud his librettist, Felice Romani, remodeled _the work, sud under the title of ** Il finto Stan- islao.” 1t was brought out at Milan agam in tue following year. Tiie work was dciicient in terve and geumlity. Humor, except in verv few in- etances, sl a8 the convent ecene in the lasc nctof **La Forza del Deetino,”is nota characteristic of Verdi, and opera-bouffe uot i bis lipe. The opera is curions, however, as showing the germs of many of Lis celebrated orchesiral effects. But his failure was amply redeemed in tue March of 1833, when ** Nauuc- co™ was broughi out and entuusiastically re- ceived. The pmit of the Kingetll remams s favonte with dramatic baiitones, and Rovconi especially found ampie opportuniiies for acting in it. The music is, however, noiwmly written, Tull of ear-piercing passages for the brass instru- meots, aud, except s melodious chorus of captives, is Bow but little beard. The nork was produced in Paris in 1835, and in London 1u 1316, the name on the last occasion being cliniged to ** Aino,” in order to avoid sbocking religious susceptibilities. 1t has never proved very atiractive bere, owing in a great degree to tho shghtness of the tenor part, end on the oc- casion of 1ts revival for Signor Cors’s debut in 1857 was receivod with complute iudifferance. During the nest two years Verd:t produced two comparatively successful works. “I Lom- bardi,” brought out at Milan on the 3d of February, found its way to London in 1816, sud, grestly expanded, was introduced to & Parisian audience at the Grand Opera under the title of * Jorusalem,” ov tho 26th of November, 1848, In Englund the spirited and dramatictrio, ©Quat volutts,"” is still "beard 1n the concort- room, aud toe tenor air, *‘La mia letizia,” has Jong been ground on the burrel-orgun ; but otherwise the mustc failed to please hete, though both in France and italy the work bus proved successful. ** Eruani,” founded on Victor Hugo’s well-known drama, was produced nt Venics in Aarch, 1844, with immeuse success. Tho poet objecied to the title, and to gratify big ecruoles the name was cbanged to Il Proscritto,” and _ the _ecene transferred from Spain to ltaly, Victor Hugo's wrath was very short-hved, sud ** Eruaui® soon resumed its Tightral name.- It was the srst opers by Verdi which was played in England, but neither on the occasion of 1ts first production at Her Majesty’s in 1645, or on thoso of ita subse- quent revivals, has it ever obtained more than a very limited amount of popular favor in this country For seven years Verdi had next to encounter o scries of reverses and babitual ili-success, which would have broken down the spirit of most men. QOut of niue operas, one ouly sained uny favor at the time of production, and most of them iailed utterly, or liave been revived occasioually only to guatify the caprices of indiviaual artists. **T due Foscari,” given at the Theatre * Argentina ™ of Rome, io November, 1544, patly owing to & Lad aud repulsive Lbretlo, failed utterly, sud was searcely more succeesful in England. ** Giovzo- 18 d'Arco,” produced at Milanin February, 1845, in which the librettist makesthe laid of Otleans Llte mistress of the Dauphin, was coldly received, and even the efforts of Aladame Patti, owing to howe desire to appesr in srmor tho work was produced at the Theatre Italien of Peris in 1568, on & grand scale, failed to mako it & suc- cess. 'The music, though unequal, was admitted fo contain many beauties, but the bad tuste of the hbretto was utterly repulsive to the Trench. * Alzira,” brought out at Naples in 1845, is known ovly_by uame. *‘Ainla,” pro- duced onginally at Venico in March, 1546, and in London st Her Majesty’s on March 14, 1546, was o dreary failure, +*Macbeth,” upappreciated at Florence m March, 1847, has lately been revived successfully st Mian, andis nof uufrequently given by Alr. Mapleson’s troupe in the Provinces, notably st Dublin. I Masuadierj,” founded on -+The Bobbers” of Schiller, was brought out in TLondon by Mr. Lumiey on July 2, 1647, having been offered by the composer, in substitution for an apera on the subject of *‘King Lear,” which he was commissioned to write. Although Jenny Lind saug the music of the leadmg part, “T Masnadiera,” the only part she ever created fell flat, and fared but little petter wkhen given Dot long 280 at Paris. "A slight gleam of light in the success of **Je- rusalem” at Paris, in 1848, chesred Verdi, but the clouds soon sottled down again. ** Il Cor- saro,” played a Trieste in the October of the same year, and the ** Battaglis di Legnano,” produced” at Romo m January, 1849, enjoyed each but one brief and stormy night of existonce. + Luiss Miller,” the book taken from Schiller's ¢ Kabaleund Licbe,” by the best of Verd:'s libret~ tists, Cammsarano, wa8 well received ou its firat gmdnc(iou at Naples, in December, 1349, and bas ecu beard both in Loudon and in Paris, but « Stiffelio,” brought out at Trieste, in the November of 1850, proved a complete fiasco, tho 1ast of the loug and disastrous sequence. ‘The turn of the tide of foriune soon ariived. The dramss of Victor Hugo were again laid under contribution for & libretto, and this time the ghastly tradegy of “*Le Roi s'amuse” was selected. Fraocls 1. was chenged into s Duke of Mantus, the other characters recewved Italian names, aod * Rizojetio” was played for th3 &'zt time at Venice on tho 11th of March, 1851 T'ho overa ix, Lerliaps, the best Verdi hus ever wnitten. Unpleasant as the story is, the music i8 vividly drawatic. The reckless gayety of * Questa o quells,” the tender pathos of **E il gol dell’ auima,” and. *Vegla o donna,” “the dramatic sceao’ where the Jester is sesrching for s danghter, and the admirably con- structed quartet’ in tho Jast act. ome of the very best bits of writing in_its way. in the wholo rauge of the Iyric dzama, may be cited as somo of the choicest morceans iu the opers. * Rigoletto™ was pro- dueed i Loudou with Roncoui as the Jesler, and in Pzris in 1357, aud is one of the standard works of opera, wherever a baritoae of nuy hus- wionic capacity is included in the compeuuy. Verdi's fawe was now thoroughly establiched, aud hLe was universally sdmitted to be the cruo successor of Bellivi and Donizetti, and, mdeed, Dow that the Achilles of music was “sulking in his tent ” amidst the peaceful glades of Pussy, the representative composer of modern Italy. His next work still further agvanced his reputation. Of _*II Trovatore,” produced at the Apollo Theatre of lomo on the 17th of Jauuary, 1853, aud brought out the fol lowig year in’ Parif, aud in Londoa in 1855, there1s but httle need to speak in auy detail. Attacked Ly mowt critics, denounced as full of vlagiansms, aud as badly written, ** It Trova- tore ™ by always been a popular work, and no prima donna rests satisfied till she has suog the part of Leonora. Verdi's noxt work is the one which made him best known in Eugland. © La Traviata,” fonnded on the unpiensant * Dime aux Camo- | lias™ of the vounger Dumas, was produced at Venice in March, 155J. Three years later,, Mlle.y, Piccolomini, a piynante sciress, but a singer of mno prelensions to any real ment, inzroduced the frail herowe to Englind, aud, owing partly to ber clever aciing aud to tho cry of Immorality which our Virtaous press at once et up, “*La Traviza™ soou became populer. 1u Decemper of the same yoar, Mile. Piccolomin playea the part in Paris, snd the opera soon became the iage, &nd LOW bvery PIma donus of By note atlowpts tho character of Violett The “Yraviata” was followsd by ‘‘Les Vopres Sicilicunes,” & grand opers in five acts Dbroughr out 1w Paris on tho 13th of June, 1835, with Jlle. Cravelli as the neioine, and produced five vears later at Drury Lave. 'Che French stylo was no: congenial to Verdi, nnd tue bus never been very popular. mone Boccutegra,” written after the elaborate fashion of Wagner's gchool, produced ac Yenice, March 12, 1836, and * Aroluo,” a new vorsion of **Stiffeho,” fus Dext works, were buth failures. He was luckier, bosever, in “Un Balio in Maschers,” which, written origually iu 1835 for tise Sun Caclo of Naples, was prohivited by the ceusor at the specisl tustanca of King Yerdinand. Transferred iv the course of tho ensmiog year to the Apolio at Rome, it was welt received, aod though inviting comparisons with tha ** Gustave " of Auaber, has alwuys besu popu- lar botis in London aud in Paris. Three more works—'* La Forza del Destino," written espressly for the lmperial Opeca of St. Petersburg, sod pluyed there ou the 1lth of November, 1863; *¢Dor Carlos,” produced at Paris in March, 1867; and **Aids,” com- posed st the request of the Khedive for"tue Grand Opers of Caro. and produced thete on { the 24th of Decemoer, 1871—complete the list of Yerdi's operatic works. ** La Foiza del Dostino” was brought out at Drury Lune, with & strong cast, during Mr. Mapleson's management, sud Ay, Gye hus eu us ** Don Cuclos;™ bat the heavy fibreito of the first, and tho want of mel- oay of the second, prevent their becuming pop- wiar 2dditions to the repertoire of those houses, though ** La Forzs del Destiuo” coatsing some the pilgrim’s chuut id heard outsude, the duct wnen the heroine secis sdmissivn into tne convent, which was magvificently sung by ‘litiens aud Rolutsocky in Lou- i don, aud the muric of the last act. “Aida," though performed in every other great city, bas bitherto been neglected 1n Lon- ou for a0 ob vious reagon. The composer bas Iearned the value of bis work. and—protected listiguts! Veudi's last work is the *‘liequiem Alass™ in bonor of Manzoni. As the representative of ltalisn music, he was invited, iu company wich Meyerbeer, Auber, and Sterndile Denuect, to send 1 a composition to be performed at thio opeing of thio so-called In- ternutivn Exhibition of 1862, but the wo:k he contribuied wos of 8o fantastic snd peculiar & nature that it was declined. The composer's labors have brought him fortuue a8 well 84 fame. Lis na- tive wvilage of Busseto, the hamble lad whom the wise charity of Signor Barezzi sent to Milsnis now one of the caief landed pruprie- tors, and “ La villa del Professote Verdi” is oue of the sights of tho place. During the Ausirizn accupation Do shout wag mOre common than thut of “Viva VERD L," an anagram under which were coucealed the initials of * Vittorio Emmanuele Be D'Italia.” The posiion tha Verdi holds smong com- posere ‘s 8t presont dificult to detine accurately. must ba judged by & purely operatic staud- ard, and in this respect he may fairly n’:ur.» with Bellini _snd Douizeti. Ho baus beecu nccused Of rwming kalf the voices of _ modern Italy by the excessiva strain Le puts upou them, aod m some respects the accusation 18 well-founded. His voice-parts are not perhaps written higher than those of other composers, and he may fairly plesd that Meyeibeer gives Lis singers quite as bLeavy insrumentaton to coutend agninst. But niuch that Verdi writes is ungrace- ful and unvocal. In canfabile passages Le writes with ease aud tenderness, but the succeeding movement is froquenily violent and tormented i conception. A ready instance of this occurs in Leonora's scena 1n * 11 Trovatore.” Nothing can be more graceful than the opcuing move- ment avd the ascendiog scalo on tho words, “Dolci #'udiro o febili" ja charm- ing. But the cabatetfa, “Di tale amor,” is clumsy aod freakish, without mean- ing or charscter, aud full of awkwerd and inclegant wtervals. 1t is in this respece mare than in that of oveilaying tue voice with “ gounding brass,” thot Siguor Verdi bas strain- ed sud injured the voices of Lia singers, Thon many of his airs are ili-fitied to the words, whilo lus Larmonies are seldom of a very elaborata sivle, and bis froquent introduction of unison ‘passeges is trivial sud monotonous, But agaiust these defects Signor Verdi may eet gome rate gifts. Maoy of his melodies are de- hiciously pure and free, dispiayiug perhsps no ~ory cteat originulity, but still thorougbly pleas- ing. Therebe possesxes in & bigh degrea the pov- er of coustruetion. The quartet in “Rigoletto,” 1a which the gay accents of the Duke, the coguec- tieh sentences of Alnddalena, the sobs of Gilds, and tho muttered veogeance of the Jester are so matvellousty wrouglt together, and yet s0 thor- oughly individualized and distinct, is s master- piece. The well-known quintet in *‘ Un Ballo in Mascbera,” the double caorus of students and pilgrims in ““La Forza del Destive,” and, no:- withstanding the curious coincidenco of its harmouies with & German **Volkslied,” the uni- ~eteally popular * Miserere,” may be cited also as instances of constructive power. Aund then Verdiis alwoys dramatic and efective. He is quick in seizing a sicuation and taking tull ad- vantaze of it, aud this is a tolent which redeems triviality of melody in ulira-gim- plicity of harmony. His more ambition works— we except ** Aida,” which we have not heard— are to our mind less successful than those writ~ ten for pare Italion theatres. It is oot given to every one to wield tho gigantic force of Meyer- ‘beer or Wagner, especially one whose choral hat- mony i8 s weak point. It 15 posaible that with increased leisure snd less need for constant ex- ertion, Sigaor Verdi mey produce some work #8 superior to the seties which commenced with * Rigoletto,” a6 they are to their predecessors, A greater discrimination used in the selection of alibretto isa first step tdwards this success. “ Aidn,” which is by all sccounts a really great work, may_prove the precursor of still greater efforts, which will raise their author from the rack of a great Italian composer to that of a composer great among musicians, Marringe in Paris. From u Paris Letter. The native Parisian Las ever been an enemy to marriage. His babits seem to tend more sud more toward solicitude, the evasion of what might be called natural duties. Religion, moral- ity, and political economy eolicit his homage in vain. Btatistics show that the number of mar- ringesis continually waning, and the counsel sven originally to the Romans by the Censor Metetlus might vers appropriately be addressed 10 the Parisian of the present day : * Citizens,” said the wise and unselfish sistesman, **if it were possible for us to exist without women, it would be well, and %e should thus escape an- noyance; but sinco Naturo renders it_as ntterly impossible to live without them as it is disagree- abia to live with them, let us sacrifice the com- forts of this short life of ours to the interests of the Republic, whica is destined to live forever.” - Tom Collms. William Price, a mining boss in Giiroy, Cali- forpia, was sent ou a search for Tom Collins. He was told that the noted myth bad sccused him of robbery, aud the joke was 8o successful that he carried a revolver ready for shooting when he should meet the defamer. The wild- goose chase was kept up all day, aod at last he was told in & saloon that Colling had jast gons into the back yard, At this ho boeama 50 ex- fiuo music, motabiy the sceue iu e inm, when | citad thathe tnintentionally pulled wie trigger and abiot himself fatally. THINGS WE HAVE EATEN. Rambling Thoughtsof a Rambling Feeder. Whenever wa leave our *‘ native heath." which wo confess we do s often 8 wa convenieutly can, there is one subject which invariably recars tous, and fills us with pleasaut anticipations, namely, ** What wo shall eat.” With some few notsble excoptions, which may be meutioned Lerealter, our experienco bas led us to the cou- clusion that foreiguers sre more bold, because less prejudiced, than we English in the matter of investigeting what 16 zood to be eaton, and more successful in manipulating the same when discovered. VIANCE ILAS EVER TAKEN THE LEAD i the mtelligent direction of the cusine, and tuat not merely in the ngher branches, but io tho ordinary affains of every-day life. Of this latter assertion the Euglisbman finds ample proof on his firat laading at Calais or Boulogoe. A5 ho leaves Lis uzeamboat he passes into & com- fortable, well-warmed, well-lighted room, and finds little marble-topjd tables seattored about, while wstead of the ewerusl sandwich, the saw- Aust bun, or the leathery pork-pie. be will find swaiting his choice two or three agmirabiy- cooked piats, with thoir appropriate vegetables Bot and appelizing, which he may eat com- fortably seated, and wash down with & half bot- tle of excollent po:it Bordeaux. or more expen- give wine if Le choose. Should he have no ap- I{»umc hiere in consequence, it mav be, of too un- indly treazment on the.part of Neptune, ho will find similar faro to tempt bLim sgain st Amiens. In fact, thronghout Frauce tue buffets are such 28 become a highly cwvilized nation, aud are vory far indeed removed from tho Mugby Junction style. At Dijon, at Avignon, and many another station, we have dined like Princes for threo fraucs and a hal(; but peraaps our sunni- est memory rests upon the buffe: at Morconx, 8 tiny little place botween Lordesux sand Pau. There, for the first time, did wo taste that ex- quisite fangue, the Cape (Holelus Cervi), large and succulent, snd, in our opinion, superior in flsvor to both the musaroowm and the trufile; yet » compatriot ac tlio eamo table refused to toach them Lecause “THEY LOOKED 80 QUEER.” As it that were a reazon for not risk- jug & new experience. What indeed looks more queer than the now domestic oyster? Burely around his bieast way ** rohur el &3 irip- lex” who firat concerved the idea of coolung & lobster, aud thus by his audacity conferred 2 Ins:ing bencfit upon mankind. So let anv man, who travels 1 this part of Krance, seok for the Cepe till be fizd 1t, sud, notwithsianding it8 somowhat strange aspecs, let Lim cat in porfect contidence ; ho will thauk us for the hint. ‘Although, of counse, 1n the best reataurants of Pans the gourmet may find everything Lo can desire, Yot for general good feeding com- mend us to tho South of Frauce. Draw a largo circlo which will in- cludo Periguenx, Toulouss, and Aviguon, and find its ceutre. Take tlus as the omphalos of the world of cookery. Then as you draw concentric circles outside tho first, you will bave zones represeuting deterioration in gastronow- ical seience 1o 4n almost constant ratio ; capitals and grozt con res of commerce, 0f course, being exce ted in this arrangement. Still 1 most countries there is * SOMETMING TO BE LEARNT: some peculiar dish (not unirequently the queer- est lookiug) which will reward in- vestigation, . Occasionally, indoed, the in- qurer will mee: with 8 rebuff; but is not this tho case in all onunal re- eearch ? Never shall we forget our first and last acquainiance with that northernest and nastiest o foods called stockfische, We had urrived at 8 seter’s but far away in the Arcuc regious of Norway, hungry as starved wolves, and lo] one set before us what looked snd felr Like a large svlinter of pive wood. As we rused it to our {1ps, hawever, we became fully aware by tho per- fiune, which can only be described s uoisowe, that it consisted of avimal matter; still, un- daunted, wo managed to bite off & portion; st firat it seemed tasteless, but, as it became slowly reduced by actively-sorxing jaws, such s nicken- ing Bavor untolded itself that in horzor and amazement %o fled from the food and tho Lut that could harbor it. Our feeling on first tasting the plum soup of Norway, served at the commencement of dinner, was oue of INDIGNANT BUBPRISE not much inferior to that of iue bucolic gentle- msu who biv 1nto an olive under the impiession that it was & preserved greeugage; aud though itisnotin itself sbsolutely nauseous, we con- fess wo could vever abide it. Thece is, how- ever. one excellent dish which the Norweyian traveler meets with at every little inn, Itis called ** carbonado,” and cousista of minced meat, ezgs, snd fino_berbs made up into a kind of cake und then fricd or baked. The meat probably, if cookel in sn ordinary wav, would defy mastication, but tuus ireated, tu really 3 duoty pial. Equally common at tho post stations is salmon, dried aud prapsied in sowe sublime manner, far superior to tho Iappered salmon of commerce, aud eaten 7aw in the chinnest pousible slices. Croseing thie North Sea, we meet with suother strange dish, which looks awfu! aud grewsomo to Southron eyes, sheep’s head. True to our< principles, we tasted it, and found 1t excellent; particulacly luscious are the portions ebout tho exes, but Se would that the odor attendivg this dotioacy could ba modified. Of thiat ottier much landed Scotch dish, hag- gis, we can only say tbat, were it not for the poem of Burns, and the chapter in tho Noctes Ambrosiatie, which it bas inspired, in our opin- fou it would be better for the world tnay IT HAD NEVER BEEN INVENTED. In passing to bLappier fiolds lot us sayone word ia favor of that which at one time was con- coived to be the favorito, 1f not the universal, food of Frenchmen., How rarely in real life frogs are actually met with, all travelers know ; ‘bat when served they are well worihy of atten- tion. 'They strongly resemble both in flavor and appearance the white meat of a chicken, to whick, however, they are somewhat superior. 1In no way are they calculated to excaite tue feel- ing whicl: Bon Gaultier facetiously attributes to Her Majesty aftor supping on frog-pies offered her by Louss Plulippe : The Quoen she gaed until her bed, Aud Prince Albert likewise, And the Jast word that gay Iady ssid Was, O thae puddock pies ! 1t would, of course, be far wide ol our sim to discuss horo tha delicions mysteries of the Freuch cumine. Are they not wntten n the books of the Chronicles of Brillat Savarin, of Ude, of and a thonssnd worthies? But us on to Rome, tue native land of somo of the most extraordi- nary dishes in Europe. Still ere leaving Mar- seilles, let us vot fail to remember that woare in the home and birthplace, 80 to speak, of BOUILLABAISSE, hat most perfect of fsh-soups, which, thongh sung by Thackeray, is, we fear, known to but fewout of Southern France. It is s noble hotchpotch of every sort of fish that esn bo netted. nothing too 1arze, nothing too small, to be placed in the bubbliug cauldron, but the Jarger fish must becut in pieces; tben erown tie mess with bay, sharpen it with lemon, stim- uiste it with tomasoes, forufy it with whito wine, ticklo it with garlic, and behold bouills- ‘baisse. When you have tasted, you will feel in- clined to spend a second dsy at Marseilles. ‘But baving arrived at Rome, let bs first wan- der through tue market in the early morning, and see wost manner of things theso Romans gell as things edible. Here 15 8 fishmonger's stall. But, ob, what monsters be thesel Here aro hugo misshapen fish, unfamiliar to our eyes, and that look tho very_quintessence of coarse- noss and tonghuese, piles of Gea-anails, and most unattractive-looking conchylia, and Liere, 38 we live, lie three or four CUTTLL-FISH WITH LONG SLIMY FEELERS. Oue thing alone is pieasant'to the eye, that brilliant bank of fresh red mullet. Moving on to the poulterer's, wo sce, of COUIse, 6ome POOT specimens of skinny fowls ; but regard then this Heterogeneous crowds of ‘small birds that are Lung up by their legson ail sides; hero be finchea (green, gold, aud chaf), blackbirds and turashes, sparrowa and robins,—choughs and magpies evem, for the poor purchasers; but the rest will be served at noble tables, probably entered in the menu as mauviettes. Here is esuspended s freifal porcapine with all its quills, said to be most excellens, but unfortunately not among our pereonsl ex- periences. Not far off hangs a dog-fox; letus hopo be is meant to be stuffed by s naturaliss and no: by 8, cuisinier. All these have been brougtht in by Campagus*pessanta or keen sports- men, who déeem ail creatures game that come within gun-shot. ‘But enongh of the uncooked. We witt not dine to-day st any of the grest Angto-Romaa caravanaerais (though at the ‘ Angleterte,” by- the-by, wo snould probsbly meet boar's hesd served with o most perfect sweet acid sauce con- taining ail sorts of wild berries, a sauce which is amongst tne hiddeu mysteries of the house, Tnowa only to the snpreme chef), bat to-day we will visic A REAL BOMAN RESTAURANT, | boiliug water (0 that betw whers we shall mze: real Romans, and being at Rome dme 28 Rome does. Through numeroas y-lanes and alleys, none the cleanest or beut lighted, wo make'our way to the ‘*‘Angelito," where dinner bas slready been ordersd by the kindliest of friends sad the sagest of caterers, Biguor Q. well }navn 10 old babitues of \us Eternal City; & man who in his esrly life has kpown stormy days, bas known the msde of & Papal prison in consequence of what he termed a lttle political offense, & scheme iu wuich certain_other politicians joined, to blow np the Chamber of Cacrdinals, has also koown the agouy of being kept lourteen days without water, *a punishment” indicted upon Lim i tius same Papal prison for hurling lus water-jug at an oily ecclesiastic, who tempted him by the promise of filthy Jucre to betrav hus associates ; but wheu I Iast aw him, in o old ago, be was bright and sunny, and had for years relinquishied these lit- tlo political offenses in favor of youuger men. Bat let us see what dinger he hus ordered. First appear, as arani-couriers, caviore, olivaes, thin slices of hom and sausage ; then s dish to be often dreamtof, macaroni cooked in & sublime manner with truffles; next a spigols, ane of those ugly fish we have seen in tho mar- ket, but now stuffod with an oxquisite pudding aud served with sauce bleue auz 3uu'ln'l ; then appear red mullet grilfed; butthe pext dish makes us tremble, for we recognize the snake-hke faelers of onr friend the cutcle-fish. We over- come the weakness of shrinking humanity, and taste. Well that we do! for it turns out to be the curious pla, tho four de force of the oveuing. By careful stowing this strangecresture has beon reduceld to a DELIGHTFUL SUCCULENT GELATINOUS MASS, and flavored with all worts of spices and savory bherbs it earns our highest approval. An interlude follows of truffles on toast. And then a dish of laccia, a small fish uot uulike our whitebait, served cold in u_delicious proparatiou, in which oil largely predominates. Woodcocks and ortolana close the feast, in which the ateutive reader will note that no tlesh-meat 18 served, yet all alike mani- fested tho feeling of thorough after-dinner con- teut. Now that monster aquaria are coming ioto Yogua, why should uot the sopja be largely bred, and stewed cuile-fish become a ‘dainty easily attaivable at Euglish tables? Nay, even his formidable brother the octopus, if exe- cuted instantaueously by wsertion 1o & pot of n him and the cook thiere aught be 1o such terificencounter us that which Victor Hugo bas described), snd then stewed slowly and carefully for Lours 1n a prop- erly propared liquor, would probubly turn out a delicacy of the lughest order. Let the two great curatora scriously consider the matter. Let them enter on 2 fricndly contest ss to wiich shall pro.uce the umore perfect dish, bearing 1 mind that tiie resuits will be known hereafter a8 Octopus s la Cryatal Palace and Octopus a ln Brighton. , At the ' ¢ Falcone,” auother of tno purely Roman uns, We on another oceasion met with a thick soup composed of seu- snaily, mussels, whelks, and otber mallusks, which'deserved, and meg with, careful considera- tion aud loud commendation. Tucro, 0o, the cefalo, which without bigh art would be nearly worthless, was tondercd most palatable. lu fact, the great sriuwphs of the Loman cuinme are in respect of tish ; for although, save tho red mullet, scarcoly 8 fish thit swims i Roman waters wonld prove attractive if simply boiled or fried, under the careful manipulation of the clef it uecomes altogetuer a TRANSPORMED AND ELEVATED CREATURE. In Southern Italy thero sre indeed two mag- niticeut fishes which call for 1o Buch artisai 1n- terierence, 'The tunoy aud the sword-fsh—the former a constant and the laiter by no means a rare visitor at the tables d'hote of Messina in the season—are best cooked plain, and eerved with oil or clanified butter. Thoy are siwilar in appearauce, ar firm a4 salmon, oud their tlesh 15 of dark sadron huoe. Tho sword-fish, bow- over, is the moro delicate and the more highly Lavored. Bat it s time to leave Italy aud tho monsters of the deep. In Switzer- land there is @ certain dish at the sight of which we bhave reen British matrous sbudder and & bronzed paterfamnilias turn pale ; perhape from some curious patental instinct, torit canuot be denmted that omarmol, when cervea at table, is rather suggestive of s plat which is now, wo believe, the exclusive privilege of sumo South Sea Islauders aad a few carious qgourmels in tho iuterior of Afnica. But this Teeling of dislike, however it arise, should cer- tamly be overcome ; for ¥Your marmot is & MoKt excellent creature ; it is vastly ke suckiug-pig, but hes o gamey flavor, and is of course In the reign of the mors mature. great Iaadlordchef Horr Wellig, st tho SSggiscbboru, s marmot was almost alwaya to be obtained, 1f due notice were given aud oue of our last recollections of that must excitable gentlemen counects itself with a speci- men which had been procured for our spectal delectation. Cortain lotters arriving, rendered it Decessary for us to have some two' hours be- foro the pretiy beast could be served. Thougn our grief mas great, we know how to practice resiguation; but Herr Wellig PLACED NO CONTEOL UPON HIS FEELINGS. He raved, he tore his hair, be cursed the lecters, cursed the postman, curscd. we fear, the puor murmot humself, while with the pext breath be lauded lim to the skies as the finest, tho fattest, and altogether quite tho most porfect maimot be had over seeu. Bat, alas the separation was iuevitable; we lers hum bathed in tears, ourselves with saldened hearta. He probably consoled aimself eventually oy eat- ing the luscious dis intonded for us: if so, I am sure ho must bave 1orgiven what e di nounced at the time o4 a base desortion. No man couid eat spundautly uf a roast marmot without feeliag profound]y benevoleut towards all maukind. . Auoiber strange and delightful dish once fell o our lot in the land of gliciers, but it was aud remaius shreuded 1 myssery. We wero stayingat & mountain ion in the neighborhood of S.. Gothard, not very remarka- ble for the gooduess or the abundanca of its sup- plics, whon one day a dish was banded rouud ‘hich met with the Joud approval of all, thongh nonecould puc snswe toit. Wo apuealed to the groesque hoyden who waitod, sud_who weni by tho nume of Chignon from her haviug ouce beg- ed 5 member of the Alpine Club to bestow upon Br Lis wealth of beard to supplamenc her owa scant locks; we appealed to the fair young mis- tress of tho house, but no intelligible answer waa obtsived. [Tho apimal had cerisinly had four logs, the whola body was clothed with du- licious fat ; at Just the word chien was whispered, tlion boldly suggested to our aitendsnts, bub peither assent nor denial followed.—nothing but shrieks of obstreperuus laughter. Two facts are certaiu. Ouo, that the plaf was simply perfoct; the other, that A PET DOG of extreme obesity belonging to & hostile estab- lishwmont kiad disappeared two days bfure, end was never again secn alive. Poswibly the’ Chi- nese are wiso 1 thowr generation, after all. In Spain, though there is little to attract tho gourme, for their cuinune is for the most part s third-rate imitation of third-rate Fronch cook- ery, tus bear.ng about the same proportiou to Tiie'real thing that a tailor does to s man, yet ab & emull inn just outeide the gates of the Al- hambra we met with 8 ravishivg dish, which is amougst the julciest of our recollections. Slices of ham that had been cured in tho snows of the Sierrs Nevada were served stewed with fresl tomatoes, These bams are Xnown 28 the Jamones dulces de las Al- pujarras; the Alpajarras being & por- Ton ihe Sierra Nevads chain. Scarcely ooy ealt 18 used, but the hums sce placed ina light pickle for about a week, and thou rrusfer- red to themountainsnows. Notlung so delicate in the way of pig's Hlesh have we eaten before or since, and we failly sstopished our host Ly the number of dishes hot and hot that we called for and dispatched. A A desvert of sresh picked oranges (how differ- ent to thio oranga of domesuc Lfel) provented any discomfort from thiret, But this Teference to fruit reminds us that we must mot omst to do honor to the SPANISH MODE OF PRESERVING, which 18 quite pecuiiar to themselves. A slice betugs cut from one end of a dargo melon, the seeds and sofc part of the flesh are removed, and into tho Liollow thus formed o luscious heteroge- Deous crowd of apricots, nectarines, sod neaches, of aranges both sweot aod pitter, of slices of pineapples, of strawbernes, of raspberries, i8 pressed and closoly packed ;' then all iu stecped in the preserving sirup, the slice ia restored to the oad of the melon, reuaited by the stickiness of the sugar. How long it remains under treat- ment, how often the sirup may be made 10 sim- mer, are details nnknown to us: what we do Luow is that the final result is altogether tne supremest form of preserved fruit. it it 1s tume to bring thess rambling remarks to an end with some_account of *things which wo have eaten ™ 1o England, To our self-appointed character as inspectors on bebalf of the University of Cambridge, we assisted (strictly in the Freuch sense) at the eat dinger at the Langham Hotel when tho Fago cicomie de chetal wos brought into tbe din- mgoropm on the ehoulders of four stalwart giaots in tbe well-known beef-alers’ garb, & hich wea perhaps slightly inappropriate. Wo carefully invesigated every dish that Tas horsey (for slternative dislies were provided for the weaier brothrén), we even se- Jected soles as our fish, becsuse, according to the menu, tuey wera cooked in oil extracted {rom hores, Wwe ate of every entree from the petils pates de cervelle down to Jills a la Francaise, 3id we partook of tho Toast, Alas! that we Shonld have to as it, but candor compels ua to confess, we wers not overwhelmed with pleass 2rablo sonestions. Whila disguised by ssuces, horseflesh will psas, but 88 pisio roast it is na Not wiat there 13 sny disagreealls ttached to it, but it simply suggests the INFERIOR BEEF. Nevertheloss, it 13 wholesoma food, and if prejudice coula be osercowe, should prove most acceptable to those who canuot afford prima beef, though it ia bardly everlikely to become a favorite pla’ st a pelit diner soigne. Thore was, however, we canuot help fancying, one mistake made by the managers of this excellent banquet : the older horses wera used for the entrees, while the'vicomfe was cut from a 4-vear-old. Would nat the maturer meat have bad” & beter chance when roasted ? On tuw occasion we had the privilege of sittiug at the same table with Mr. Frank Buckland, aod, thauks to lum, had ihe opportunity of increasing our kuowledgze by tast- mg bear.” Perbaps as tue vichm ad” hved some years in the Zoo, his couetitution may bave been undermined, and even the flavor of Lis ficsn affected by the extraordinary gharncter of the food daily adminisiered to Lim BY adiniz- ing cusildren and nureematds, but we frankly mit wo did not like hiu Our attendance, howaver, at the Lanzham Totel dinner remotely led toa very important experiment, which was soon after niade at Cam- bridge, o placa wheie *the plulosoplers™— Heaven #ave the mark '—complain that there is v such thing as original research. Thie report of our experiences clicited 8 sug- gestion on the P of vne distingwshed 2like for classizal aud cnlinury lore, that it wouid be well to test the qualities of ASS-FLESIL Accordingly, s doukey, who had sttained the macure uzo of 6, was purcunsed, and carefully fattened for tho space of three month, till it becamo quite a pleasuro to pay our duily visit and voke hir professionally 1 the ribs as he put on yot more sud more flesh. At last came the day of doom. He was pronounced perfect, was duly siaughtered, and the series of experiments commenced. The day after his deceaso the brains wero caten withh unmized satisfaction, sod the liver proved superior tothat of the calf. All this was wel, but our auxiety way about the joiuts ; o, whenit bad haug s week, we ven- turcd on & culolte d'ane braisee a la_jardiniere, whica proved 8o atiructivo that on the next day we boldly attacked & roast swlomn, pure and gimple. We felt at once we had our reward. Thero was no hesitation abontit. Not culy did roas, donley prove vastly superior to horse, but Fithoat s dissenting vote we placed 1t above beef. The mesat is_very dark and nich-looking, and fully performed its promiso; thers was a shight suggertion of venison about it, wnd the under-cut was mimply euperb. Our early in- vestigations having thus been compietely crowned with success, iv was Cecided that tlo second sirloin should form the central poiutof » banquet, whose general character might be desenbed as asimne. ~ rding our menu: e potage a ia Midas, ererians, sauce 3 o Mayonnaise, ‘e ragout IEdovara, Ty vol-au-vent de bumard. Lialoyau d'sne. s dinde rotie. e pudtiing de Mok-Tec. La geles au Alsresquin, Though otber wines wero provided, Assmsn- bausen was the one specially recommonded uud generally adoptod. We bave sat at many a good man's feast, but 3t 0o cniertainment Lave wo seen the convites more deeoly iuterested or more thoroughly contented. It was - " A COMPLETE STCCESS, and the bold speeulacor wao would breed 25308 for the food-marke: ouxht to succeed nlio. Some slight account of these proceediugs hav- ing appeared in tho daily press, attracted the attention of a distivguished Florentine Pro- fossor, who was at the 1ime enguged in translating *Tae Physiology of Common Life” into Itulist. Ansiou for informaion, yet not knowiog to whom he sbould apply, the Professor boldly took the nss by the ears, and addressed & letter ‘A un membre quelqu'il soit de Lrimty Houxe, Guiversite de Cambridize.’ Vaguo 28 this was, the epistle fell info the proper bands; a statement was duly forwarded, which we havo since had the satiefaction of reading, doue into ctoice Italian. Wit one more Cambrilge experiment we will close theso remarks. It 1s but & few weeks ago tha: & hamper of TWELVE ¥INE RATS arrived at & certamn colleze kitchen. They hiad been hilled the day before, ou’ the pulliug down of a wheat-siack, 80 that thcy had beew clean feeders, and they wero ail plump and comely to look at. The thres largest, which were veritable monsters, wero selected for roasting. whilo the rest were to be made into s fricassce. At the sppoiuted timea party of six sat down to test their merits. After toup aod fish tho head waiter, with an expression of pity uot uumized with coutempt, brought in the roast. Half a rat, which had beeu carefully wrapt in bacou pro- vious to roasting, was served to each. It was & trying moment, but the plinge was taken, and ides of the firs momthful elicited tho ~remaris: “Well, at all events it’s not nasiy;” _* No, in- deed, it's & gieat cnal better thag rabbit:" “1 call it very tair eating.” Each man finished bhis portion, and three or four picked the bones. Then camo the fricassee with = white gauce; this was exceedingly good, but of course owed 84 much, 1f not more, to the artof the chef, than to the raw material. ‘Fhe final decision was that rats were not a deli- cacy, but tuat they were whoiesome food, and certainly attractive to a ungry, to #ay nothiug of & starvig man. The laureate of the party delivered his comments in the following form: Rats are not a dainty dish to set before a King, Bat fors reslly hingry man they're Just the very ‘veforo the fire, Wrap exch rat in bscon fat, roast Al you've all you Take him down and serve hiw Lrown ; cau require, Tho last word stood oriinally desire, but was alterad by request.—Fraser's Jagazine, THE TRABUCO IN ARAGON. An Episode of Life in Saragossn. Trapsiuted from the German for Apuleton's Journal, My Catalouran traveling companion had olten calied my attention to the trabuco, whichin ‘Aragon plays the same role that navaja plsyed iu Audalusia, The wauis for *kniving " is o rife hero among the midale and lower orders, tlistno gatherig amoug them 18 conceivable withous two or tireo bloudy collisions. The moro cultured classes also suffer from this choleric irntability, which, on every occasion, seizes the Luife. Nor is tho method- which the Aragonese adopts in bis “kuiving” atall consousnt with the knightly honor the world is wout_to attribute to thein- babitants of the Iberan Peuinsula. The French- o his feuds, evinces more or less of the ierman_nobility which characterized the Franks snd Normans. Among the sontern peo- ples of Bomen origin, on the contrary, there 18 o preponderance of cutning and brutality, which, geemingly, has come down to thom from_Rome, when she was in her decline. While in France, a9 in Germany, the enemy 18 chullenged to sin— gle combat, farnished with the samo weapon, aud given the same chaaces, in the south of Eu- rope they seem to think that the injured party, or tho party who_thiuks bimself injued, slune bas ooy rights. Itis specialiv the midale snd soutiiern Italians and the Arsgonese who beloag to this category, and what the latter lack in cun- ping and pertidy they wake up in the fury of their auger and the viulity of their energy. If the Aragonese expended half as_much en- ergy in usefal lzbor 88 in avenging real or imaginary Wrongs, Sargossa within twenty years would rival the ncighborhuod of Heidelberz in beauty and productivencas, Teruel would re- corve millions yearly for ber stone-cosls, and Hucsca would gupply the whole pepinsuls with motals; but tho inbabitants of this unfortur- ate province much prefer flourishing a kuife to bending over aspade. The tollowing characteristic incident shows that even the first circles of Saragosss are ot without their trabuco-gpisodes. [have e par- ticalas from & young Euglisumas, who ¥is, for some years, been a resident of the Aragunese Capital. Anywhero else such an_event would De talsed of for years, but bere it was seemingly forgotten before the end of the season. Ay informant narrated the incident essentially a5 followa: Last winter I went for the firat time to the annual subscription ball, giveo at the city theaire. Very naturslly I looked forward to the fete with some juterest, for nowhers csn you study the peculiaritiea of thd Spanish choracter so well a3 at these public reunions. 1 arrived at 9 o'clock, and found the large hall already well filled. The Spauiard, lazy and in- different a4 he naturally iy, hikes 10 be punctual a1 places of amusement. Tir the way, you shiould go to the next sub- seription ball. You will have no other oppor- tunity 50 good to see our'best people, especially the Isdies. The Saragossa women, for a time, are remarkably handsome, but their charms soon fade. When they are 30 they are alreads Qecidedly passees ; ses, at 30 thoy are usua:y old women 1n the most disagreeable signification of the word. 1t does not seem possible that the lithe, graceful sylphy, who, in the bright hght of the chandeliezs, glide over the flour of the par- quette with such ease and rupidity, in & few years will be eallow, ¥Ii duennas, whose &harp, unsympathetic voices at the outset inspire e with & cer‘ain antipathy. ‘There are no more beantifal dancers ia the world than the soung girls of Saragosss; but he who marrien one of them is like the inexperieaced Eas: Indian who bunght of & Britisher a beaatiful piece of ice, aad undertook tg carry it in the bot suz. ‘Among she Isdies, on the evening in question, who graosd the ball with their prexoncs, the two dsughters of a prominent official were con ous, as well on account of their_social p 28 of tneir personal attractions. Wuen I entered iho bali, they wero jusz about to make 1:3 Cir- cuit, leaning ou thio arws of their mother. Obe of them, & pale, lim girl, with an inter- esting a3 well as beautiful face, a0d a_wealth of dack, wavy bair, seemed 0 bo_in an exceedingly melancholy mood. The mother, from time to dared to try to cheer her up; now she - per an encowaging word in ber ear, and now by a look secin to entreat her to bear berself with o httlemore diguity.. Everybody seomed to taks au intorest in the soung lady, and of course to ouserve her. hina me stood two elderly gaptlemen in conver- sation. I could distmetly hear what they said. There iy Senonita oez," observed the one. Yes,” repiied the other. “The jovruey did not last 8s long 18 was anticipated. What will Licut. Don Pablo do now 2" * Ah, you don't seem to know that they have coma to 3o understaudug.” © “*Indeod! That's news to me.” “Yes, the affair is olf, bv mutual comsent; at Least, so I was told yesterday at the clun.” enorita Inez ia already botrothed to another. ‘The mother thought it advisablu w marry ber to some one else as soon as poxsible.” ** Poor child!"™ “I gon’t kuow that she is go much to b pitied.” ** How 0 2" “Well, Do Pablo is one of the most jealous men in the world. He would have worried her to deatn.” Al ! but love readily excuses such trifles.” Who knows? Besides, her future husband js an exceedingly ostimable man, who will be sure to make ber bappy.” “But how is that possible, vhen she loves anotner *Well, at all evenis, the matter s settled. Her parents were so decidedly opposed to Pablo, that a reconciliation was imposdible. You have 1o 1dea bow decermined they weio to seperste them! Ag first they went to the commundsat aud asked him to trausfer Pablo to suother gar~ rion; but tho commandani repled that he could net comply with their requesr, a3 Lieut. Pablo had slways discharged s duties to the eutire satisfaction of hiy supcriors; -and, be- sides, that bis family counections justitied him in becoming a suitor for the hand of woy lady in the proviuce. The parents, however, wera immovable, aud seat their aaughior to Burgos.™ “+ And ho' long was she away 2 ‘liree mouthy.” s Lo paients could not have thought their danguter susceptiblo of & very lastiug attach- ment. Three montis! ™ + Long euotgh to forget & caprice.” ¢ And are you s0 sure thut the sifair is really ended # 7 # Ob, thers is no doubt of it. Senorita Inez has writion to the Licutenant, informiug him that she releases hiw from lus prowise.” Well, sud—" “Well, sud? Isu't that sufiicient to end tha mstter for good and allz™ . ~*But is the Licutenant willing to bo releas- ed?” Well—no.” + Ab, do yousee! Tomalters of this kind it takes two to uumake a burguiu, 8 well a3 ta make oue.” *Well, yes, I supposo it does. And then Paplo docé uob scew to relinquish s preten- Stow, for be has wiitten to ber, exprossing the wisia that, 1f_she realiy cares 1or him, she will avoid all places of public awusement.” “ Au! do you ree thut 2" 4 But how dues it happen that Senorits Inez, in defipuca of tuis demaud, comes to the ball “This cfrcumstance is certunly Lot Yery encourag- ing for tho Lieutcusnc.” Ob, shie 1 here w obedience to Lier mother's wishes.” o Tust 15 possible ; indeed, 1t seems proba- o Now a third perdon 2pyroacked tho two gen- tlemen, and begaa with geuulue Spanish baour- dage to discuss the same tueme. 1fe was a little, nervons mau, about 30 years of age, whose ;mll(i head contrasted singularly with his youth- ul face. * Do vou kuow,” said he, with a clitckle, “do u koow thst Licut. Lublo Las forbudden his ci-devaut tisuces to dance 2" - 1a iz possiblo 51, caballeros,” continued the little man, *it is. Sewotits Inez wrote lim s letter in which she told bim she was compelled, ultkongh much ngainst her will, toauteud the bull, and bezged him uct to judge ber too severely, for, if BEo was ouliged to outwardly seem indiffcrent, sbo was most sod at heart. To clus the Li.utenang sumwered tht bo hoped sho would at_least noy dauce, for tue mere thouglt of secing ber ix the arms of anotber was of iwself almost suth. cient to drive hun mad.” The orchestra now began to play o spirited polka. Within two minutes tne tloor was full of dancers, =+ There, there, you see what effect the Licn tenaut's letter has,” said one of tho elderly gen- tlemeu to whom I had beeu lisseuing. “ On my koul, you uro right!” rinmered dy other ; ** there she is, dsacing. v Senorita Inez had fivally yielded to the im. portuutties of & cavalier, aud, alhough deathly pale, was whirling around the bl with the others. You eeo I was right, after all,” weid tha ic, who had douuted tie depth of her love. “80 it poes! to-day dying of a longiug after one, sud te-morrow the happy Lride of suother. The gentlemun is douttless ber preseut fiance i “I don't kuow; buc look youder—by the columu!" ** What is it 2" *The Licutcnant risen from the g aver 1t!” “ He ig pale with rage.” *‘Ah, be hastens away—be i3 going to be avenged. In another moment you will see bim whirl past us with some senorita, liko_tho rest.” Ihe conjecture was wroug. The Licutenant disappeared 1n the crowd, and was not seen aguin duriug, the dance ; nor did he apneer again vt Senorits Inezw partuer couductel fer back or. Then ho purbed his way hasti- the thronx. I could badly Les licvo my oses, when Lsaw him, a8 be reucted Senorita fuez, draw some durk object from his bosiom aud thrust it toward her bacs. It looked to me much dike s fan, aud the whole movement seemed more like & bit of pleasautry than any umfi clso—such a lLberty, for example, s & brozher would take with a_aister, or ouo consin with gnother. But I was destived to socu be convinced of my error. When tho Lieutenant withdrew the dark object, tho yonng giri fell for- ward with o groan, aud 10 @ Very fow miuttes sbe breathed ber last in the arms of heér mother. The myeterions weapon the Licutenant hnd thrust into the back of the iil-starred girl was & trabuco. ¢ 3farder !—murder !—murder " eried the wowau, aud in & mowent sl was commotion and oxcitement. Doa P'ublo made no effort whatever to cscape. He folded bis arms and looked ut his victim with 3o expressiou of wild content. He gave the mothor of the poor girl a ook of savago hatred, allowed bim=elf to be led qui What now foliows is eveu more charae thau tne incident itvelf. A very courideratlo portion of those prescut expreseed a desire, de- epite the tertivle crime tnat bad juet beou com- mitted in their midst, to continue the cancing a8 though uothing Liad dcearred, and, had tho muu- agers uot bad o suflicient sense of yropriety to obpose it, they would bave gore on duncing over the very spot wera one of their number bad just buen assassinated. "I'ne ooiniond expressed with rezard to the Lieatensot's critmuality differed as widely from what thiey nould have been under normal condi= tions us can well be imagined. The majority of the young men boldly asserted that the nssassin was quite right—that they would have sacted gimilurly under like circumstances; and oue of Pavlo’s army comrades even went eo far u8 to eay ho ougiit to have served the tother us he dia the duughter, for she was tho real cause of the tragedy. ‘The nexi day m: was eaid in one of the churches for the murdered girl, all traces of the bloody deed were wasbed from the hall, and in the evening it way a8 well flled as wsual Wik amusement-seckers, The admsnistration of justice in Aragon runs parallel with the Aragonese predilection for the irabuco. Under nouoof tho various goveri- ments of Spain have they succecded in ezecu- ting the leiter of tho criniusl Jaw 83 wa gee it exccuted in other civilized countiies. And tbis wnfliciently accoants for the nonclalzoce with which the fiery sons of Saragossa and Hoescs deal each other’ their frabuco-tbrusts. Iwice out of three times the assassiu sacceeds in pet= ting bevond the jurisdiction of tto local couris, in which case he is quite securc against Aragon- ue justice. As for o well-organized and well- 1plined police force, sach as we find in other European countries, they have noue. Tlcir quardias civiles are but a lame apology for eti- cient gendarmes. Not unfrequeutly it happens, especialiy io tne villages sud srall cities, that & man who has kitled auother for some resl or eupposed injucy Lakes refuge for & year or two in Navarre or Southern Frauce, and thun returna to his native town with perfect socaritv.—'"Skiz~ 2en aus Aragonien,” ton Ernst Eckstein. Doeen’t be look like one ve? What a face he makea —Near Philo, Chiampaiga County, Wedneaday, 0 aflray occurrod, in which Mr. Huoter was badlr beaten with clubs by Mr. ‘Tuber, his son, and hired man. Hunter fired on his antagoniate, us failed Lo bit any of them.

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