Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 9, 1876, Page 9

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1876—TWELVE PA JITERATURE. The Life of John Locke, the Great Philosopher. 3pancinl Principles, and Their Application to Current Questions, i sl(;ry by Pushkin---Christmas- Books--Churchyard Lit- erature. The Salt-Mines of Wieliozko—- Somothing About the Orange Free States ‘ondon Musical Association=== Austrian Arctic Expedi- tion===Remarkable Longevity. LITERATURE. JOIIN LOCKE. LIPE OF JOHN LOCKR, Bounse. In Two Volumes, 8vo., " Neéw York: Warver & Brothers. The pame of John Locke is so_{dentified writh {reabstrure sclence of Mental Philosopby that ye lovoluntarily assume that o blography of the an will partako of the character of oncof his orrecondite treatises. It fs very natural to abook ns & reflection of its author, ancl losuppose that behind {t thero oxists an indi- yiuality bearing the same distinetlve traits dais- \iogulshing {taelf. The notion is apt to proves aceptive one, however, for books arc more Jften the representatives of tho ideal than of {he sctual author, and embody his Intellcctunl funcles and theorles rather than the qualities aud potives which {nflience his datly ltving, This mlebolds true With regurd to the workeof John Lcke; for, in place of the slow, grave, heavy ferson wo Instinctively look for aftor readinig them, we find a high-bred, genial, humoroue, jmable gentleman, in whoee soclety It 18 a con- foual pleasure to be. His scholarship does not fighten us; he Is never o pedant, ond tho se- foustoneof hismindand thoseverenaturoof his aquirements are agrecably concenled fn sovfal tours under a cover of merry playfulness. . Acomprehensive Liography of the author of vAn Essay Coucerning the Human Under- pandiog® hos never before been attempted, od the readers of the present generation may wogratulate themselves on the work baving Nenleft for a contemporary writer to accom- lah, It has the attractivencss of n fresh pouctlon, and {s permeated with the splrit of tse eurrent age. ‘The light of intelligence und rason that hos been areumulatine darlng the put two centuricis §8 centered upon ity and by fa Dlumination the Interdependence of thu mn Jubu Locke, and of the cpoch fawhich he Mved, are plalniy sppreliended. Mr, Bourne has tajken o broad view of his duty ubloprapher, and not only given o vivid por- triit of the principal chwracter to he delineated, tutbos surrounded him with his companions, wfiled [n the pleture with o sketch of the dief features of hls thoe, By this means he kaput Lefore the reader a historical view of thecentury In which Locke dwelt, and afforded adear widerstanding of the part which was bv:rfi:y the phllosopner 1n the action of the #.'olm Locke was born in the little yillage of Peastond, nene Bristol, on the 20th of Aupust @ A father was' o country-attornes, an Iy uberitanes the owoer of 4 small estate, Eismother was ten yourd the senior of her hus- tasd; but, beyond this fuct, and the son’s nem- ot her ns 4 pious nnd affectlonate wonvwut, tuslittic s now known of her. The boy was eare- faly tralned at home, and was put to the study dLnglish and Lutin at o tenderage. He became sWestminster boy whem 14 yeurs old,while the Izavus Br, Richard Busby wus Head-Muster ot Uefustitution, ‘The disciplive_of the school yuat (lls tiing very rigid, and the learning gt fu [t was conlined for themost part to Lin and Greek, “The boys rtwe, dressed tiemselves, and atten prayers before O 9k in the mornkir, when the school-work bean, Two hours were srum. in Gree Lstla gratumnar repetitions, {n extempore Latin }mrhnuen, and expositions by the elder wbolurs of passuzes thut they hod learnt over- slgtt, under the direction and Instruction of the Masters, Aulour was then , allowed them in which to prepare other exerclses, and between 9 111 they were exanined fu prose and verse wuposition, il of course 1 Greek and Latin, ¥ere called upon to translate, vivs-roce, passages from English suthors fnto Latin or Greck, ue- B\]rdlng to their capacities, aud Hstened to thelr Suters' exposftion_of classfeal authors on wukh they were to be examined Inthe after- ton. Two hours were devoted to dioe br oand such pastime as the reading o Latin manuscripts, in order that they izl te famillar witn ‘medioval bamlwritivg, He- treen L and 8 they were sxamined in the pas- 2e3 previously expounded to them, and exer- d 0 construing and other granuuutical ways, ]mmmmx; all the “rhetorleat thgures, and travs- itlag out of prose into verse, out ot Greek futo Latl, orout of Latin into Greek, Botween 8 w4 they were ullowed to walkk nbout in the fateatiop-ground; nmd after that, till supper- Uae, they were chiely employed in' translating Ureek or” Latin prose futo Bnglish prose, or Greek or Lutln verse into English verse, and in lieparing their exerelges for “the morrow, 8o e dagi of the week were filled. Fridays were :;d mait for repetitions, and Saturdiys for ek and Latln declamations, In tho'upper s, part of the time was devoted to tho study cbrew and Arabie, {nstead of the classleal “aguaves: and duriog the suminer, after sup- berafittle elementary weography was taught,” or slx years young " Locke went througl this Mem daily dritl] at the end of which time he was {romoted from Westtnlnstor to Chrlst Churcl, =tle richest, most influentiad, and b nrd-working :gll the colieges connected with the Universit Oxford, “Just prier to the date of his Ratnculation, fn 1052, the Purltans had estab- Lled u complete reforimation In the manage- ot of tols wchuol, and Its colleges wore, lor st time i e’cnrn. fulely devoted 1o tho tmoses for which they exlsted. What was th consldered scholarshlp wus cultivated tously, and good behavior and studlous lll marked tho entire University, Greek i atin were still accounted tho most dinpor- . lln:}ulnhmun, and tho students were comn- “:nde to usy oue of these lmguutcu in all Loclfi funlllar dlscourse. By unusunt diligence BI\\‘M able to go throwgeh the currlenlum of ht‘v h-;iu Ju six years, reeeiving his degree of Nuterol Arta ih 1653, During this thine his hlw‘"k camprised, fn the st year, morning s on rhetorle twlee a week, aud on gram- Wga e, In thy secoud year, he heard the ¢ utinber of lectures on lugle and moral o Ul and, in the fourth year, lectures on i‘lry and Greek in addition, Locke's tastes o lhu nwn{ from muthematies Lo the m“(“' of phyateal sclence, and ho had g ondess © for (he peduntic knowledge Snunmar end of the clpssics, which composed H:h:.m““c learning of bis time. In after '“m;. Was frequently hesrd to lament tho e Study expended durfug his school-yesrs m“mh 8 "that were burren of futercst aid of Q{g‘nmlnlnz the degrec of Master of Arts, ‘Mthl".' appoiuted to o Senlor Studentsbip, longh) It Chirist Cliurch wus equivalent to s Fel- ot dp at another college, Durlng the re- oy, :lr of his restdence at Oxfurd, Locko T agreater king for the soclsty of culti- 'anmm' for correspondlng by letters, and U ol rowances, than for tho dry disputa- mmoniloxlu and pmluwuhé that were then the by B iu the Univeralty, Btill he followed the ey Ofl)ed course of metaphysics, ‘ez ppicital luniruages with due iolity. o utber died of consumption, ot tho age prys .I?Ll Lis only brother waw soon after takien lhe:uy," © kaue malady, at the aze of 20, B pere, cuts Locke cutng Into the faherltunco ol Nn‘m{fl{r!fllug an fucoms worth $1,000 at the e {n 1660 Iy Greck B 0 was asslgoed to the post of ek ‘L:fl'dcr or Lecturer o) Chirist Chu}“ch; in g U8 evpointed Lecturer on Ruictorics I g, H Censor of Boral Philosopby. In gy ¥rBK cholee Letween the lertea e die eal professions wus decided b favor of 1.,.\4,&_:*-~hu declston belug Influenced by hils tan, 1 Tor tho studiva adapted to that voea- e wm"m,dlhe previous yoar aceompanicd ol Banser Vaus onun’ Ewbassy to the Blector m‘m topue atvd Lnd wo syrrecably lted th ceretary that, aedlately on Waru 10 Londo, Le'Liad ok avied a-uuwlr‘v. u y to the Court of In thie publle tlom, bt Lo almilar place In the Emby Bpaln. "Ihis openfng for a 1 was not without tempt declded not to enter npon i, 1hat they sty every one has owes i hisdifo to ko hiinself, ] catmot. tell, nover trouble inyuself Lov the loss of that widch T never had.”! Locks hind Just begun tho practice of medi- ¢ine, when he mot, at Oxford, fu the summer of 1668, Lord Ashley, ufterwords the celehrated Earl of Shaftesbury, ‘The nobleman was In )1} bealth, and, holug pleased with the knowledge and alto with tho socloty of the young physi- clan, he prevailed upon Locke to Lecome a member of bis fatnily ond establish a residence in his house. Lucke was now 84 years old and, according to his blographer, “aliways mfstrust- ing hls own powers, and, oven when heused those powers, npparently unconscions that he was duoing, or wus able to du, anything great, hie had choaen still to he n student, a lninble searcher after wisdom, a caveful and untiring leaner of all the knowledge e eould acquire, ioping that sonie day he mixht be able to apply that knowledge in_Lieneliting other people, but Tecling, perhaps, that it would be nimost erini- nal folly in hitn to attempt to henflt others without firat, not unl{ sectnz whetlier he waa competent Lo benefit himself, but glso achieving something in that direction.” His office in the. houschold of Lord Ashloy was that of family physiclan, tator, and private friend, e was lrcqucul‘y In residence at Oxford, or visiting other places; yet his_home was for the ensuln{ elght yenra ot Eseter House, in London, )¢ was ndmitted to the Irfendship, not only of Juis noble patron, but of the men of rank and foshion who freguented the residenco of Lord Ashley, His gentle wan- qers, his flve culture, and the vein of pleasantry raaning through his conversation, made him a favorite in soulety. As an Hlustration of hig humor, it s related that onc day, a company of cclebrit{es bejng assembled at Tord Ashley’s, cards wero ealled for, and the geutlenen ull fell to playing. Locke ent by sume time In sllence, and then suddenly began” to write with grent earnestness, . Belug uaked what “he was com- pusln{:, horoplied, * My Lords, fam fmproving myaelf the hest 1 can’ in your companys for, having impatiently awaited this honor of l)elng present at such & imecting of the wisest men und greatest wits of tho nge, I thought I could not do betier than write your vonyversation; and here I have jt in subitance,~all that hins passed in an hour or two,” His witty reproof was taken In the merriest spirit, and the cerds were immedintely exchanged for enlivening con- versation, At the time when Locke went to Loudon, the selence of. medicine was In o most crude con- ‘dittorr. The teaching provided at Oxford con- elsted wholly fn expositions of the doctrines of Hippocrates and Galen, attendanve gt the dis- section of asinglo lwnan body, the Iiearing of four lecturcs delivered upon it, und three ad- ditional lectures on the humsn skeleton, From this meagre preparation which the University demanded, an fdea_inay be gained of the fgno- rance that proyailed mibong medical practition- ers. London had new a population of 500,000, nnd {te sunua) death-rate was three to every hundred. In 1607 nearl ‘y 16,000 persons died i the city, while the bhitis fmwly amounted to 11,0007 ¢ Out of every 100 deatie, nearly twen- ty were dug to consumption, nearly thirteen to cflulum(c symptoms, jnore thau twelve to chil- dren’s convulalous and teething, nearly cight to smu)l-pox, more thau seven to dropsy, nearly six fo 1ever, and only about aix to old age.' But tha fault did not liv entirely with the physictans, The apothocarics kuew very little of “selence, and the drugs thoy compounded were ns apt to Induco ns to remedy disease. I'he ‘notlon still prevalled thnt o mnl-.\df' Wi 8 possession of the Devil, amd the potions nd- sninistered tvere 08 ofton futended to cxorelse the evil demon a8 to usslst Naturo In the restor- atfon uf health. Tho value of sanitary regula- tlons was also utterly unkvnown; and oad deen- mre gud venulation, aud wonut of cieanliness, were powerful auxillories in the fnevense of mortallty. Among the few men who futelll- gently labored to reform this condition of things were Dr. Cox and Dr. 8ydenbam, The serv- ices of Locke were maluly rcrlulml in Lord Ashiley’s famlly, yet he frequently secompanivd Byndeuliam in'vislts to severe cases, und was hinbltually in consultution with his friend on the treatment of disense, To the litecature of wedicine Liocke contributed several short treatises, 1In ouc, upon the subject of anatomy, the urgument fs dirceted agalust tho use of that study os & help In finding the cuuses or the remcdies of discase. But anatotay, like every wther selence, was In its fntaney 1w Locke's day. Tn 1603 he was clected a Fellow of the Royal Soclety, which lad been incorporated five years hefore; and shortly after his election he was up- pointed nmember of the Council. Yet he at- wended very few nectings, ond his nawe is dom montioned in the records of the Boclety. He has the honor, howeyer, of belug set downus one of the.few “ good paymasters™ fu its early catalogue of members. In his Own chamber at Exeter ITouse, Locke wns fund of entertaining a little clrcle of his Irlends, who resolved them- eelves into a sovt of debating soclety. It was to answer the puzzling queries started by this club that he commenced upon bis ¢ Essay Concern- ing the Humun Understauding.” “This was probably fo the winter of 16715 and when ut lust it was jriven to the world, in 1600, we are in- formed that the author nd been sixteen yeurs W elaborutlng sud perfectlug it It ls Worth Vwling that he recelved for the copyright £30, Locxke's fortunos were | closely. ‘wnited with thwso of his noble patrou; and whem Lord AsMey was, [n 1672, raiscd to the Peerngre us Ear.\ of Shaftesbury, aud to the place of Lord Chan'eellor, Louke was urpulnlm Suerctury of Prese vtations. e lost his Secretaryshio with the do wafall of the Lord Chancellor In the fol- lowing year, and, a few monthe later, o shnilar ositioti be had several _years occupled in the ouncil ¥ Trade and_Pluntations, “In 1074 he was trrunt v 8 medieal degree at Oxford, and in 168 was 1 wducted nto the Professorship of Physic at (resham College. Notwithstanding these prefers vents In his profession, and his do- elded prodiles tlore for the calling, Wa medical practice cont.ued to bo desultory, and, in the main, limited ‘o s Immediate trlends, flis own health was Seeble, and, for tho lnst twenty vears of his life, 10 50 fered gricvously frotn the inalndy of which s father hud dled, There 13 no evidency that Locke wasa con- fldunt or sbcttor o’ the treasotmble schemes of Shuftesbury but suisplefon sctiled upon Wi after the deathe of thut nwbleman, and fn 1653 he fed to Holland, For fiv ¢ years wud o hnlf he wns fnexilo from Dis nanve Jand, returning shortly after the acetaalon ol Willtum I1L tothe English Throne. 1o was iTered an Ambasen- dorahlp by the Khug, haviog yho choiee of sey- eral realdences; but his health had now becomo too foflvm for setive seevice. (hie or two places under Government, requiring Wiht attentlon, woro afterwards fllled by b buy invalid habits henceforth fnterfered with the performance of protracted or serfous dutics. In 1090 ho took up his liome with Lord and Lady Mushum, at Ghis tu Fssex, und continued with these belov- ¢d friends until his desth in 1704, Although Mr, Locke wus o man of tender and offcctionnto disposition, and enjoyed tho warn frlendship of poble wowan, ke never marrfed; nor is there any Indication in the racords of his 1fu of bis evor having ylelded to the graud pus- slon, 1o was pure {ncharacter, Hbent i lind, loyal todaty, sud gentle In manuers, A mun to be honored and to bu loved during uls life- thne, and to leavo i name frasrant with sweet lvl[ruu)s to tho genorutions that follow alter him, S FINANCE. AN ALPHARET IN FINANCE. A SinpLE STATE- MENT OF PERMANKNT PLINCIPLES, AND THEIR APULICATION Tu QUESTIONS oF THe Dav. Ly Unanast McApan.” Wilh Jutraduction by R. It BowgkxH, 8vo,, pp. 210, New York: . P Put- unm’s Sene, MONEY OF ALL NATIONS EQUALIZED, AND CURRENCY-RATES = OF BTERLING _EX-. CILANGE, By D. W, Dwaas, 48 Kait Four- teenth dtreet, New York, 1%mo., pp. 70, Price 50 cynt, i A Beotchiman issald to have defined meta- physics as twa people talking, when one dinna lien what he says, and the otlier diuna ken what Le meaus. Much the same {s the popular opine jon concernhig discuesions on finauce, Mr, M- Adam, however, has, in his littlo work, donc soincthing tomake clear this necdlessly-abatruse zubject, The principlos of flnance, ke those of any other sclence, ove simple,—the difficulty belng the discovery of those principies,and tholr application when modifled and combiued in the dolly complex affalrs of civilization. Mr. McAdwn's treatise 1s elementary 1n ita character, but it is quito a clear exposition of most brauches of tho subject of which it treats, aud thoe style fa stnple and forcibla. ‘The suthor has been greatly indobted to the works of Adun Bwitn, Bonamy Price, aud W. 8, Jevons; and W is berdly fulr “that he should not have ‘mudo sultablu ackuowledguicuts, Whole sentences, in fact, have been takon from Trof. I’rice’s * Principles of Currency,” In {lio way of definitions especiallys and, even though the present buok 13 o compilation, due credit should ho given ta pluncer workers In the sue department. “Lhere ure, however, elght or ten chapters, treating of tho 3.03-por-cent bond achermo ud- vocated by Peter Cooper, of speclo-busls, bal- wneo of trade, the sliver scheae, the demonet!- ravlon of sllver, resumaption, wnd foreign ex- chunge, which are more orlgiual in their char acter. Kecplflgbtm&lll{ in mind the vital principle that woney {3 both s wedlum of exchangs wnd u measure of valiie, tho author procseds to whow thut grecnbacks and other paper currency vited to Al @ | are ot mouey, ‘Thu Mtler ars ouly prowbics 10 e Whether Thave | for them, Lot elipy” hie wrote nweck later, “the minate | This Tam sures T | A il cxelinn; pay money, and hat moy flm 0 lanyg ax re without diifeul T ct o, there 'y s eavuin 00 dunby nitinaterugversiondnto gotd. de il 3+ doflucd a2 Dasls jestiog un Tutd o rpecies measive of vahue. Conye per money, bowaver, can be [s- sued wlmuul dangrer et o lungas every dollar in paper represents udotiar in gold or other val- uabla commodity, In_concluafon, it ls urged that resumption should be bcfiun ot once, and that the United Blates, In faillug to redeem its promises to pay, i8 gullity of a ioral wrong, from which it can no more escape than could any private Individual Though resumptlon cannot bo achleved with. out cost, and eerious changes in values, yot it must he done. Resumption meauns eons teactlon, und contraction mehna finauclal erlale. ‘the methods advocated hy the author aron gradual reductlon of the volurae of” paper cur- reniey, thua birfuzini it nearer par, and allowing '.Xll: #z01d to flowback as demanded, This reduce fon, however, should ve at_stated times, so ns to glve certalnty and confidence, and prevent sudden fluctuations. 'The mode of diminution should be by funding the wotes fnto interest- bearlng bonds, The Little hook, “ Money of All Natlons," {nrcuuu aserles of tables, glvlniz tho compara- fve yalurs of the unit of valuefn all nations which have colued money. It will he founi quite nseful, especlally to bankers, brokers, and travelers, S'TORIES, MARIE: A Brony or Russiax Lovs, From the Russian of ALpxasnan Pesris, By Mawe I DE Zigtaxsiea, Small 4to., pp. 200, Chizago: Jnnson, McClnrg & Co. Price, 82, THE JERICHO ROAD: A Stonr or WestrRan Jare, Small 410,, np. 222, Chlcago: Jansen, McClurg & Co. Price, 81, The wealth of the literature of Rusaln ls ascarcely suspected by the Western World, In truth, the old notiou still prevatis that the vast Empire in Eastern Europe which {s governed by the Czara Is yet lingering n the darkness of barbarfsm. Itls ltard to comprehend, even fn this day of rapld progress, bow swiftly Russin is accomplishiug her ambitious purpose of, standing nbresst of modern npations fu all enterprises and achievements of the human intellcet. "In Art, and Sclence, and letters, ahe is conquering the respeet of critieal ob- servers by the talent and skill she discloses, ‘To nntive genfua she adds Industry, uspl- ratlon, and aflluence; and these quallfications, fnexhaustible In thelr measure, cnable her to overcome every lmpediment, and with unparal- leled celerity exchange ignorance and fnexperl- cenee for enlightenment nnd understanding. Her advance Is so bewlldering, even to themselves, that it has become o natter for jest amoug lier inbabitaats, who laughingly declare that, were ane to ascend {n n balloon nnd bLe absent for three or four days, on his return to the point of departure he would be unable to recognize the spot, but, lke Rip Van Winkle, wonld gaze upon the transformations it had undergonys a8 out of the stupor of a twenty years’ sleep. Most of the lterature of Ritssla Is yet sealed up in the natjonal tongue, and few forelgners have thought It worth while to galu the key by which it inay be reached, Yet the statement that Gerbel’s * Chirestomathy,” published in 1874, contalned blographics und examples of above 120 Russian pacts, shows how rich it s fu_productions in onllyuelnulu departinent of bolles-lettres, In o}l the long Nst of her poetlenl writers, the "pgreatust by far is Alexander Pushkin, He bas been enlied the Byron of Russia;nand tothegeniusof the Enzlish bard he owes much of his earlier lusplration, Many of his works are regarded as innsterpieces, and among these are proso as well as poetfea, compusitions, “ Murje"~—the little novel now first offered to Amerlean readers In their own lanzusge—was written by Pushliin shartly ufter his marriage, n 1831, It has a twofold fiterest: as a specinen of Its author's craft, and ns ~_truthfnl bit of Russian history. Itsscenc fslaid fn a garrison- toswwn on the fruntier, and its inciidents pivo o nfthiul representation of the life of the steppes in the latter part of the scventeenth century. From the hints it atforde, one may judge some- thing of the chanre which has taken place fu the nution witbin a bundred years, The book ia ublisbed fu s duluty style, uniform with the *Qraziella " and * Memorica®? of lnst year. “The Road to Jericho {s a patheticatory, having forits mutive an txposure of the odlous- ness of rellgious cant and hi;nncmiy. Tt is cleverly written, yet its subject {s not altozether relishable, One does not altogether enjoy con- templating acenes of nMsery which are produced by man's selfishuess, and which one is helpless to nlleviate. . JUVENILE - CHRISTMAS-BOOKS, THE PEARL FOUNTAIN; Axp OTiER Fainr- ‘farxs, By Dunoxtand Jruia Kavaxaaun, With Tlluatrutiona by J. Moyn Suirs, Sgunre p, 2146, New York: Henry Holt & Co, SENOLD OF CHILDREN, By Mrs. 1. P, Haxyoun, Author of ** Pusey Tip-Tac's Famlly, ete, Square 12wmo., py. 210, Now Yérks E. P Dutton & Co, Price, $2.20, = JOHNNYKIN AND THE GOBLINS, By Ciannrs Lriasy. Musieuted by the Author, 12mo,) p. 412 New York: Macmilian & Co. Price, $1,60. As the night for the visit of Kriss-Kringlo draws near, the books meant to form a part of hls jolly pack grow more and more alluring in the beauty of their gay covers, and cunning pletures, and lively etorles. The first two books headlng this paragraph are sumptuous fu their lavish aud costly decorations, ‘The fairy- tales by the Kavanogh sisters are illustrated with exquisite engraviugs, printed In red-lines, gilt-edged pages, aud Inclosed fn on clegant binding, With equally cholce nccomoaniments Is the story shout * A Houschold of Children ' pregented.” Eitherls o gift fit for any Uitle Amnerican Princess, There is o world of fun fn the account of “Johnnykln and the Goblins, It s all about a turfous dream that Johnuykin had; and the pletures thrown in o make it plaln are full of grotesque humor. Connolsreurs of art will veward them a8 Interesting studles. EPI'TAPIS, CIHURCHYARD LITERATURE. A Cuaicr Cote LECTION OF ANENICAN EPITAVPHAT WITH RUNAIKS 0N MONUNENTAL INACIIUTIONS. AXD TUE OnsE- QUIRN 0F Vanriots Natioxs, Iy Joux R. Kive Pax, Member of tie Archwologlcal Soclely. Svo., pp 218, Chicuge: 8. C. Grlggs & Co, Tha suthor remarks that his book I a work on o grave subject; and the pun {s so bad that we perpetuate it for its very atrovity. Ile has made quite an extensive collection of epitaphs, divided into grave, andmonltory, devotlonal, adulatory, laudatory snd bombastie, profession- al, ludicrous, punning, and satirical,—all of which are preceded by a rather sophotork cal {utroduction, Awaro of the uviversal tendency of human nature to find merriment in the most solemn sublects, the suthor hus culled o guodly varlety of ludicrous epitaphs, sume of which inay bo falrly consldered &s rivaling the poetital productions of thu Philadelphlu Ledger, 'The bames of the places where the varlous a?lmphs are to befound are given in every fustance, In louking vver the motley col- Iection, ono may while away an {die hour. RELIGIOUS CIIRISTMAS-BOOKS, TIE STORY' GF RUTIL, Fuon rux Houy With Tlinstrations and Drawlugs by M, Half-foflo, pp. G8, Bostou: Rloberts Drothers, Price, SHOLD THE FOIL" By P, P, Buies. With Tiustrations by Miss L. 10 Hexreiuzy snd Rou- Zur Laww, Engraved by Joun Axmikw & Sox and B, B, CoNANT. Square 12mo, Hoston: Willlam P, Gill & Co. Price, $2. Messrs. Roberts Brothers have brought out a book for tho holidays which will Invite utteutlon from its unlque character. It consista of the story of * Ruth " aa related tn the Biblieal nav- rative, with fllustrations after drawings by M. Liida, the well-known French artist, who has given nany years to the study of acenery and Tife in the Holy Land, Tho work is o superb specimen of the publisher's art, aud dpes credit to the housc that fssues it . The rellglous song, * 1lold the Tort,” found- ‘ed upon a herole fucident in the lats War of the Rebolifon, has been crabellished with lustrue tious and handsumely presented i bouk-form by Mesars, Willlam ¥, (1l & Co, BOOKS FOR CHILDRIEN, LITTLE PEOPLE OF GOD, AND WRAT POETS HAVE BAID OF THREM, Edited by Mra. Gzonax %.]A\i:‘m&.’ slhlhutrl;lul L, “""":.- pp. 170, ot1; Leo & el CYy B0 ¥ ash SVe e Woul ornen nova, y Buizasere A, Davie, Ilustrated 16mo., pin 174, Hoston: Lew & Blspard. Prico, §1.25, THE YOUNG. TRATL-HUNTERS; V' iumus or THE Praixs, Uy wonTit Cozexss, Author of Country." Illustrpted. 1Ume fon: Loe & Hhepard. Price, 3 VINE AND OLIVE; o, Younu AxEnica IN Sraty anp Pouruuat. Brauy or TiiAL ANL Anvextene, By Witktax T, Avaus (Ollver Optic). !dmn.‘&n‘ 412, Hoatou: Leo &Shop- ard, Price, §1.50. The choleo collection of pocms of lufancy and chitdhood guthered under the titlo of Little TPeoplo of (iul,” has met with declded fuvor during the twoor threu years sfuce it wus first fssued. It I3 pgatu brovght forward as en ever- spproprizte offerlng for the Clrlatmss nuvr_ah. Bos- of bright o o, The story of “8nip and WhipY~two clever bt nlsebievonur s fioolhoys—~Ia told in n gpright- 1y style, that with without donbt amuse s rewd- ers., 1t vivaclty, however, would not have been Jessened had the author avelded collogufallanis in the descriptive passages. These will do In famillar converaation, but the child should be taught by oxample that they are clsewhere vut of place and vulgar. In the ¥ Ynun;i, Trail-Hunters,” Mr, Cozzons has given a truc history of the adventnres of a enuple of his young “hoy friends who crossed with bim the great plufns” to tho ronthwest, a few yeara ago, With thu narrative there is bleniled an account of the trafts and customs of ‘the Indian * tribes inhabiting the interfor and 'westeri portions of the continent. « . Every Ameriean boy and girl knows from long aequatinanee what gitta + Oliver Optic? hns for centertalning them. flis juveniles have been ‘hefore the publle for many years, anid have en- Joyed o great yopularity, “The preaent volumu Uctaiis thio'events of a journey u scyeral States of Europe, which have not aa yet been over- troubleds ‘ REVOLUTIONARY BATTLER, THE BOYS OF '70. A Histony or Tne Barties or guE Rrvotutiox, Hy CHAnnrs CanLezox Corpix, Author of +*My Daya and Nights on the Batticfield,* ete.. cic. Thustrated. Syoi , 308, New York: llarper & Brothers, Price, $3. . The graphie writer who gaincd a national reputation as a newspaper correspondent during the War, has devoted his powers to the portrayal of an fmportant ern in our history, for the bene- fit of young people. He hias shaped his material fn the form of & ktory, ko as to have opportunity for the use of anabundance of eplrited colloquy, This gives his nurrative on Immense advantage in the Infusfon of e and ectlon, and renders 1t palutable td children, who have mnaturally no taste for the sober detalla of history, The Yook is onc of tho most valuable of the scason, s it succesefully combines entertanment with {n- structlon, "It Is copiously Uluatrated with excel~ lent engravings, ' TITIAN. THE TITIAX GALLERY. A Scmigs or TwErTT- Foun or tup Most RRExownEn Wonss or Ti- Tiax, {terpovvceEd 15 HzLorrrE, Wit A SRETCH oF THE Lizn AXD WORK« oF TRE AnT: :rd Follo, pp. 77. Boston: James R. Osgood Jo. Messrs, Osgood & Co, add to their alreadv- extensive collection of coples of the old masters, a series of the Anest examples of Titian. The works are séproduced In hellotype, and com- pose an interesting and valuable gallery. The letter-presa of the volume presents n sketeh of the great painter, based upon the life written by Vasarl, and upon the neeounts of the School of Venlce by Rldolfl, and of Titlan's mode of enloring, by Boschirl. ‘The book is published in a rich ond tasteful style. BOOKS RECEIVED. EPOCHR =~ OF ANCIENT = HINTORY, | THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE, By Gronee W. Cox, » dJoint-Editor of the scries, With Five 2 10mo., pp. New Yark: teribner, Armstrone & Co, Vrice, 81, THE READIRG-CLUB AND ITANDY SPEAKER; Brixe SLLECTIONS, IN PProsi axXD PouTiiy, Fon <p ItectTaTions, Edited by Gronur 102.7 Boston: £r. No. 4, 1 Lee & Shepard. Price, BIX YEARS A TR " A _DECADE A PR STANT. By Prof, I, W. Woow, A, M., Ph, D, With Ilustrations, 19mo., pp. 254, Cleveland, ¢ cker's Publishing House, A YOUNG AN WITIT HIS BIBLLE, By the Rev. D, W, I Author of Plétchor Irlze Lseny, The_Cliristian In the "l World*'" 12mo,, g‘l’ 108, New York: Shel- don & Co. Price, 3 3 WUY FOUR (GOSP] on Tng GosrEl ron ALL Tim Wonnw, A MANUAL DEs) 70 At CINSTIANS IN THE STUDY 0 TIE SCurprenssy, AND 70 A HRTTER UNDENSTANDING OF THE Gos- reLe. By D. B, Gueaony, I, 1), Vrofessor of the Mental Bcioicos wnd Luglish Literature i the Unlyes Wooster; Authur of ** Christian Etble mo., .r'hu. New York: shel- don & Co, ~ Frice, . POEMS OF VLACES. Edited by Hesny W. LONGFELLOW. SCOTLAND—VOL TI. 1lma., p. 204, Boston: James . Osguod & Co. Price, 8150, COMINNE: A Srony or IraLy. Dy Mww, Di STAEL, Tl\'un({ Ruoke cum#lute in Une, 8vo,, 0 70 Viifadelphint TP, Petenion & irothees, Price, $1, THE MARTYRDOM OF AN, By Wixwoop Itesvz. Second Mditon. 13mo., pp. O Now York. Churles P. Souerby, TOEMS. EauLy axv Late, By Honavto Nersox Powens, Author of **Through the Yeur,' 1tmo,, pp. 136 Chicago: Jamsen, McClarg & Co, _Price, £1. GRAYBEARD'S LAY-BERMONS: Driye A Syt~ MART oF TIE UREAT DocTaixes or HoLy Scu- TURE ARINTERPRETED AND JLLUSTRATED BT THE .ScroTynes TArstelves, By FRANKLIN Jons Gnare ("(lmfibcnrd"). 1%wa., pp, 505, Phil- hl: J. B. Lippincott & Co, 9 OB IUMSELF; on, Giiacur Grey- N lL)I‘v ll‘lmu\'rm ALorn, Jn., Au- i, ™ " o 10mo., pp. 850, Price, MAID. K. By Ronenr S1psEY WATLASD. 12mo., pp. 02 Philadel- 1. Lippincott & Co, N phia: J, 13, PHILIP NOLAN'S FRIEND! O 1axal oF WesTERS EMvie, Dy 10aLE, Author of **A Man Without a Country, " ete. 12mo., pp. 305, New York: & Co. N AE OF PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE. ULES PO) COXDUCTING BUBINFSS SN DELIBEIA- TIvE AssEdntize, Hy P 11.WeL, D.D. LL. Prafeszor of Ethice and Hatnph{lwu nud Lectur er on Parllamentary Law in the Univerelty of Georgla. A New and Thoroughly-Revired Bdi- {lon. 16mo., pp. Pl New York: Sheldon & o — PERIODICALS RECEIVED. Fi LITERARY WORLD for December (S, . Crocke er, Hoston), SANITARIAY for December (Campbell & Co., New Yorl AMERICAN NATURALIST for December (H. O, Houghton & Co., Boston). TTELL'S LIVING AGE—Current numbers (Llttell & Gay, Boston). FAMILIAR TALK. TIE SALT-MINES OF WILLICZKA. About ten miles southeast of Cracow, the formuer Capital of Toland, are situated the famous sult-mines of Wiellezka, in Gallelo. The areu of this wonderful mineral deposit, as ut present dofined, ncasures two and one-half mules fn length by u little more than one-half in breadth, and its solld depth i3 about 600 feet, It fs futercalated In stratn of tho terllary for- matlon, conelsting of compact, fossillfcrous clays, und rests at the base on a foundation of sandatone, The principul minerals assoclated with it are gypsum, bitumen, uuhydrite, aud the shiphates of baryta, strontiy, and sulphur. The quality of the salt varies greatly,—one por- tion of It, named **green salt," containing from 5tod per centof clay; another, culled spiza, belug mixed with sand; and a thind, kuown as azylik, snd occurring chietly at the lower levels, Leing perfeetly pure, and deposited fu Jarge erystalling mnsses. The mines are entered by cleven separato shafts, whicl open, at tive different levels, into gallerics that branch futo a perfect labyrinth of passages and chambers. It 13 snld that the gal- Jerfes which have alrendy been excavated have an ageregate length of wuihlurnbl{ more than 400 Milles, Tho salt lles about 200 feet beneath the surfuce, and thence extends down to depth of ubout 1,020 feet, The direction of the bed is east and west, following thy trend of tho Carputhlsn Mountams, and appearing in_small deposits at intervals untit it euters Transylvania, wliere extensive mines exist, The annual product of the Wieliczka mines Is 1,500,000 ewt. 3 and at this ate it §s caleulated hat the yleld will not bo exhinusted for ot least W0 years, It {s not known when the deposit, was diicovered, but was being quarried by Potand at the beginalng of the twelith century, il bad Decome a souree of great profit undey Caslmir the Ureat, In the fourteenth century, In 1858 the yeariy net (ncomu of the mine was #1,000,000, " According to tho trealy oxecuted ou the antnlnn of Poland, Austria L3 compellid o furnlsb to Russia 800,000 ewt, of the unnual product of salt, und 300,000 to Prussis, leaving 400,000 cwt, to hicrsolf. Bome of the old chambers in the mine are 150 fect in helzht, but tho more receut ones are much snaller, The most sncient of the halls is culled the Chapel of 8t. Anthony, and Iy adorned with columny, statues of the smnts, an ultur, a cruclilx, ete.,—all eut out of solld sult, ‘Thls 18 In the u\nm story of the mine, which s penotrated by lumid afr from without coming own the sliafts; and the malt Agurea in the chapel are uuusc?mmu{ undergolug o slow praocess of diasolution. Anotherlargy chamber, Ueslgnated as Fraucis Josoph's Hall, 1s fitted up s o ball-roow, with large chandeliers, aud stat- ues of Vulean and Neptune, wroughe out of the universal mineral,© On tho occusion of the visit vf auy of the Royal fumlly to tho mines, and als0 at the oceurrence uf feativaly, the chambers and passages are brilllantly iHluninate works und gruns are shot olf, und tho sceno f8 altogether like s chapter from a falry tale, or Mkow passuge from thu account of the Pluto- ulun regtous (n the mythologies of the auclents. Inoue part of the'mino thero s a lake, 650 fret lung und forty fect deep, which s formed b{ the aceuwulation of the water trickliug through the strata, Visltors uro paddicd ucross fnu Lout,—thareby cujoylng an excursion, it may bo ety Lhe book 1y hound In scarlet nnd | | Cave milar in it oo travelers exper| ol lake fn Mammoth ¢ roye of the Wicliezka e of gallerica.grand A el vl e loser all o of distauee or dircetior. anl ddrifee along Llindde fn the wake of Wis condies tor. Evergthilug was rolld sult, except where great pievs of Liewn dogs had Leen bulll up to support some onfne roof; or vust chusmns, Teft in yuarrying, had been bridged across, As we descended 1o lnwer regions, the nir hecame tnore Wry and _agreeable, and the saline walls more prire and britilant. © One hall, 103 feet in height. reeembled o Greelan theatre,—the traces ol blocks taken out In regular layers rc?emnunz {he reata Tor the speclatora, ut of Lhis xingle hatl 1,000,000 cwit. of satt had been taken, or enouh to wupply the 40,000,000 {nhabitauts of Avstria for one year." OF the tnethod of mining the salt, Mr. Toylor writes: “Tlhe process §5 quite primitf rearcely differing Trom that of the L} tiany in quarevine granite, The bl marked ont on the surfaze by weerles of grooves, One side {8 then dr,-tr-med 1o the required thick. 59, and, wedgesbelng inserted under the block, son BpHE AT, It £5 then split trausverse- 5 of ‘une eiwt, entdyy In'\vlm;-h form it sended qulito atluns to that the triy the e Bavard arc rounded acquire the shape of lar .venlence of tranenortation into the Interior of the comntry, The sumber of workmen cmploy- el in the inines Is 1,509, 2l of whom be'one to the Supper crust,'—that [s, they live on the out- site of the world, They ure dlvided Into gangs, and relleve eath othier every six hour« ' Tho mitiera ase, 8s 3 rule, us Lealthy ss the men who lahor aliovt ground, and no part] ujar form of discase 14 gezerated by thelr extate in an atmosphere of ralt. One milzht fanes that at least thelr flestly tissues wonld hie pre- served against al) porsibie decay by their thor- ough saturation with ealt. It fs” noted that the wood ased i the mines never chaniea, exoept as it f8 worn by abraston, o should the winers last, sutfering” merely a graduel transieration into plekled mummlier. THE ORANGE FREE STATI. A prime object of an Juternational Exhibltion 1s to strengehen the bonds of fellowship hetween the various countiies of the earth, by extending their acqualntance with each other’s resources, aims, enterprise, and progress. Thelate Centen- nfal Exposition did much toward furthiering this object, especfally among Americats, many of whom for the first time gained a definlte notion of the history of one und unother remote State, by an examination of the objects representing them fn our great World's Fair. Doubtless Lo not a few, the smatl collection of articles dis- played in a portion of the Main Bullding by the Government of the Orange Free State the menns of fntrodueing to thefr notice, and awak- cning thelr interest, in this young and diminutive Republle situated in o southeastern corner of the African Continent. The plucky little Htate is only twenty-two years old, yet, with commendable courage and eclf-respect, It presented ftsetf In the grand Congress of Natlons, offering, as credentlals for the zeeurity of 8 recogaition, sumules of the products of Its soll, of the handleraft of its na- tive population, aud of the industry of the race to whont the Jand now helonzs, The llst of its exhibits was not loug, butit hinted intellfzentty of the past and preseut coudition of the country, There were rough dismonds from its precious gem-bearing elds; copper, iron, coal, und ka- olhy, from {ts minera) deposits; ostrich-featherr, bird-plumage, stuifed birds, huttertlics, eking and hides ol the blesbuck, the gemabuck, the hartebeeste, the jackal, and the Koodoo cow wool of the Anzara goat, and tusks of ivory, to testify of its unfinal Hicy specimens nt woods, ond grains, and frults, to shoswe Its native and cultivated vegetothon g and pipes, baskets, whips, harucsees, girdles, und thougs, Indicating the state of it3 manufactures, The Republicis still in its {ofancy; that s Blnmly read from (he churacter of Its exhibits; ut it hus ambition,—that most promising trait in States as well ag individuals; and, placiing It- gelf fn thé great school of the world, woere emulation and competition stimulate every faculty, there {s but one vourse to he predicted for it,—that of stvady sdvance omward, The past history of the Orenee Freo 8tate is briefly this: When Natal was declared & British colony, in 1813, the Duteh boers who had {in- migrited tothat reglon reticed to the wild lands on the northenst border of Cape Colony, and west of Natal aud Caflraris, The country was at that time, with the exception of o strip on the frontler, u wilderness, oceupled by wandering lordes of Bushmen and small tribes of abo- vigines . Wild anfmals fn great variety and um- Ler roamed over {ts plnins, sud Lirds of many specles peopled the uir, Among its beasts of nobler size were the lou, the clephunt, the rhi- uoceros, the hippopotamus, the girafle, and the antelope; and among {ts wingea denlzens wore the ostrich, ecagle, vulture, pelican, hawk, and crane. ‘This country, which the boers appropriated, 1les between tivo great branchies of the Orange River, and s divided from the coast reglon by o chuln_of mountalns, It comprises an area roughly estimated at 70,000 square wmiles, and elevited from 3,000 to 5,000 feet ubove the leves of the sen, It conslsts of a vast platean of un- dulating plains. The water-courses are thinly fringed With trees, but beyond thisthere i3 little wooll In the reglon. The land s sdapted to grazing; and, nuw that the +wild beasts and wild men have been driveu from {8, the greater part is covered with herds of domestle anlals. “The climate is gencrally salubitous; the winter Is eold aud dry, sad the suunnes wari and molst. Busides dlunoude, rubles and other precious stones are found in various parts ot the coun- try; and excellent coal exista in paviog quantl- tles s several distelets, The preseit population fsesthnated st about 35,000 white and 25,009 colored ur native. The State is divided luto flve districts, The chlef town §s Bloentontein, situated on o tribu- tury of the Modder River, aud distant about 300 slfes from Cape Town, About 6,000 or 7,000 farms ave umder cultivation, and the valus of lund I8 steadlly appreciating, The staple ex- ports are wool, skiug, dinmonds and other g=ins. A Pruspvruun internal trade 13 carried on In griafn and other apvicultural prduce; Com- wuufeation by good youdways 13 established throughout the country, Althongh the ecttlers of the Orange Free States chudmed 10 be Independent of the En- il Crown after their emieration from Nuta), they were not declared free until 1854 They wero then sllowed o form u Govermnent fur themselves, which they placed i tho hands of & sident und Leziedative Body. ‘The Repre- sentatives ure fifty-two In nuinber, and ure elected for u term of four years, teation has been neglected untll very recently, but an effort is now belng wmade to estublish an en- Hghtened system inall the districte, A fund ne- cumnlating for [ts suppert will place at (e dls- &lfi;ulnnhuflu\'crmnoul,ln 150, thesum of § . For yeors past the State lus pllowed &k0 to vach district town, on condition that it added to the amount nt least hutf as much more. The Digtrict Schoul Commlttees have also teiven to movide the btate with zood . but in muny places withott su The Govermment for the salarles hns nvle n ge i of tegehers in Colleges und the Angllean Chufel has sided In tho prowotion of education. The Duteh Roforn relicion I8 profeased by the Duteh boers, and the lunzuase spoken by them 13 o Dutch diatect corrupted by an admixiure of Hottentot and English wonds. ‘The revenue of the State for the year 1874475 was $854,700: and the cxpenditure for the same tine, §401,210, e SPARKS OF SCIENCE. THE LONDON al’ll‘l)fi!c.\.L ASSOCIA- The thinl annual sesslon of tho London #Musleal Associution," which was held early in the month of Novemnber, hay given an oppor- tune occaslon for u sketeh of the Soclety In the colwnns of Nature. The voluing of the Re- porta and Proceedings of the Musfeal Associa- tion for 1874-"6 und 1873-'d contalus a Hist of 170 members, nmong whom are muny names emi- nent in Musie or Sclence, “The Counddl for the current year numbers, amony others, Messrs, Hullah, Osborne, Guldschmidt, Dr. Stalner, Trof, Tyndall, Mr. Spottiswoode, Dr, Pole, Mr, W. Chappell, and Mr. (eorge Grove. The financfal vondition of the Suckety 15 sutlsfuctory, while the papers which have been communicated &t the sunual meetings have been of a high erder, The original title of the organization was, & Roclety for the Tuvesthnution and Discussion of Subjocts Connected with the Art and Belence of Musie 3 nud its objoct, as stated fn the be- inniug, was similar In {ts moln features to ex- ting learned societics. Its perlodical meethigs 1 be devotod partly to thy reading of papera tpou tho history, tho principles, and the erittelsm of muste; partly to tho Nlustration of such papers by actund performance; uid pactly to the exbibition und diseussion of experituents relating to theory und construction of musical nstruments, or to the rnnululu und cowmblna- tlon of muslenl sounde.” - The titles of the pupers which have thus fur been produced ludicato that th Inteutlon of the Boclety has been striethy carvled out, Wo note the ToMlowlng In the catitogue: 'Two papess by GES. e —————— e 9 &ir F. Ouscly “0n the History of Ecclesiaatical Music in Westers, Eurapes" two by Prof. W. G. Adams 4 On Wheatstone’s Muisfeal Inven- fione:’ two “Om Nutation,” by Dr. Pole and PPeof. Monk: two mutlicmatical” and physiolog- toal, by Lovd Raylelgh *On Our Perception of the Direction of r Source of SBuund,” and Me. Lenuox Browne “On the Management of the Volee:" aud two cxhaustive Jupors by Mr, Baeanquet ¢ On Temperament.,! ** Musle,” remarks _Nafure, *of all_esthetical pubijocts, {5 that whicl fs mont deeply marked by ita bistetion into Art and Belence.” Much of the Art, littls of the 8clence, {r ancient; for Euclid, Pythaporas, and even Galileo, enrry us only n short dfstance Into the laws of harmony. But It {s peentlar to Music that Instruments ace cientally invented, slowly fmproved, fabricated slnply for nerformance, and Intendeil solely to churni the car, have at u later period furnished 5hcvm)ln anid apparatus of, scientific analysls, he viollne of Gaspar di Solo and Stradivarius have for centurics fllustented the Iawa of hare nionfe sounds, uid, even as carly as the time of Tartinl, futnished the Terso Suono, which figures #o bolily I jnodern acoustles,t One of the purpores of the Musical Assocla- tiun I8 to bring tuto barmonious co-operntion mnalenl artists and musical theorista,—t o whotn belone to the ciuss of handierafl who are governed by rules nstead of laws; the second to the world of Scfence, where the ruleaul Art are expanded into laws. % The nuniber of pofote," coutinnes Nature, **in which sl s conterminous with hure S taee Js considerable, amnd 13 datly increas! Musle, morcover, 83 among the most pow criul means we have for cultivating that dell- caey of the senses on whid all a:curate obicrva- ton steperndz, It lins, as yet, been too apt to fall into the hauds of u sety or clique, whose dis- pusition Ia naturuily exclusive, and whuse ob- Jects huve often been the reverse of eclevated. But, with the great advanee which Tas of Jate years tal place in greneral musteal knotwledere througl Entlaud, amd by the fostering care of eacteties like the present, ihere §3 ground for autivipation that the Sclense of Muske may riee tothe esteem and constderation as an cdueator atel humatbzer which it once beld o the writ fugs of Vluto, and the palmiest days of uid Greek thouglit.”” —— THE ATUSTRIAN ANCTIC EXPEDI- TION, Early fn the summer of 1872, the Tegetthofl, n serew steamer Lullt for the purpore, and equlpped for u voyage of two and o half years, left Bremerhavenonanespedition intothe Arctle Scas, In the region of Novayn Zemblo. The shilp was manned by 2 company of twenty-four oflicers and seamen, sud the cxpense of the nn- dertuking was chlefly borne by the Austrlan Couvt Wilezeh, In the summer of 1871, the rea between Spltzbergen and Novayn Zem- bla wae almost entircly clear; but cgetthofl encountered o in 2. N. Lut., and, two degrees farther on, waa 0 closely besct that she uever afterwards could be extricated. The vessel slowly drifted {n n northieasterly direction througl the winter of 18270, until beyond 79 deis,, when her course was suddenly changed to the westward, She continued helplessly -imprisoned auring the summer months, but fo August took a turn to the north, und ou the H0th cune in sight of new Iand. 1070 deg. 43 min, N. und 59 deg. 88 min. E., the mountaing and glaclers of what has been since named Kulser Franz-Josel’s Land appear- cd In vlew. The party remained on shiphoard during the winter of 157-"4, but early {n the spring began a series of eledee-journeys, n the lungest of which they traveled 160 sniles directly north- ward. Franz-Josel's Loand was founil to be utterly barren, with mountalns of 2,000 to 3,000 feet hleh, nud glaciers of a elze that hinted a cousiderable breadth of country. It nsuuaml to he an archipelago broken by deep flords, with muny {slands fu the niain " channels, - Bears, eculs, and o great variety of Aretie birds were met with fn ahundance, and traces of foxes and hares were occuslonally scen. The most northe crly point reached was Cape Flingely, in 82 deg. 5 min.; and, from there, land stretching onwards to 83 deg., and a coast-line to the far west, could be dlstingulshed, QOu the 20th of May, 1874, the party sbandoned the Tegetibofl, which waa hopelesely locked in the lve, and undertook thedr wearlsome way homesward by means of sl s and rowboats, Thelr prozress was so slo at o two months thiey liad ot Lut nine miles away from the ship, Open water was found in shout 78 deg. N.; and then without great difliculty the explorers ac- complished tlhe distunce to Novuya Zetubla. Here they were rescued, Aug. 24, by s Ruseian flshjuz vessel. The only member of the purty lost during the expedition was the cogineer, who dled of cumum&mou and was burled, Sept. 8, at Wilezeh Island. The men suffered con- alderably from scurvy, although abundautly sup- led with fresh meidt and all Known prevent- ves und remedles. 'The speclmens In Notural History coltected by vere most of them left on the Tegeti- the contributions mude to Scdeuce by the expedition ure coneldered valuable. These remaln, in great part, to be hereafter published. A narrative of thecxploration has heen receutly given to the public by Lieut, Puyer, one of the offlcers [u cominand, und i #aid’to be of thrill- g interest, . MURDER OF SCIENTISTS, Late uews from New Guinca conveys the In- tedlfzence that two persons engaged fo making sclentific collections ou that fsland were lately murdered by the natives, The oue was a Dr. James, of the Uniled Stutes; the other, a Swede, his companlon, who had been some time with bim cxploring Gule Island. *“The two had gone in their lurge boat to the east shic of Hull Sound, to shoot birds of Paradise, when they were attacked by three canoes, aml both white men were kllled. The uative erew mau- aged to et away fu the boat, und carried the newsof the sad calamity to Cape York.” Only o fortuight before the notice of his death reachied England, Dr. Jumes' Hrst collectiuns arrived there; aud the excelient way in which they were preserved, together with the careful potes ac- companyiur them, betoken that Science has lost a promiging wuxlilury through his uutimely de- veuse. CONVERTING SALL WATER INTO FRESI, An apparatus for converting the salt water of the wvean fute fresh water fit for driuk- fng has been devised by Capt. Edwmands, of Eugland. It can be produced ut the rate of o putand a hslf per bour, by the followlng method: *An ol famp, sceurely suspended, keeps o small boller filled with sea-wuter con- tiovally boiling; the steun from 128908 futa o cond utber, and thence, I the furm of 1 ¢ry to o tank, whence it Is drawn oft a3 required, To wssist thy condensing” procegs o continual stream of cold seaswater 12 admitted by o bead-pips through the stern of the boat, and, pussing round the coudensing chambers, 18 got rid of agaln through wuste-pipes on either haud,” The machine Is s0 compuaet that it can be litted into the bow ol auy sbip's boat, where it will take but litle room. GIIT AND VEGETATION. Tu observing the influence upou vegetation of the loug uration of light durlug the swmmer mouths In bigh totitudes, Dr, Muller fouud that at 70 degz. N. Lat, peas grow at the rate af three nnda halt inehes fn twenty-four hours for many duys during the season, aud that certain cereals Rrow ut the rate of two und & balt (nches fn the same specificd time. He also noted that the ronstant presence of Jlzht jncreased those seere- tlons (n plants which ure due to the (nfluence ot actinde forco onthe leaves, The coluring mat. ter sud plfimentwlls were in tmuch greater uinount, und the tintsof the colored parts were cousequently deeper, ‘Thy satue effect wes bros duced upou the secretious which give flavor and odor; so that the fraits of Northem Norway, thougl less aweet, aro wore ¥avory thun those grown fn the south. FISIIES IN RUSSIAN SEAS, The fishes of the veglon of the Aral, C aud Black Seas huve been for many y study of Prof, Keszler, who now reports the ex- fatenvo of 950 described epeclws. Of these, elglity are mariue, 160 fresh water, and forty Lrucklsh-water species. One hundred und slxty specles belong exclusively to the reglon; aud of theso forty-tive were found in the Black Sen, fifsy-four i the Casplun, and twenty-six in the Aral; sixwero contion tothe basing of the three aeay, four to the Cusplan und Aral basius, uud twenty-five to thoso of the Dlack Bea and the Casplan, O the 120 remaining apecles, tweaty- five huve a wido renzo ot distribution, about elghty have migrated from the Mediterraveanto the Hinck Beu, and about Giteen freah-water (ishes bave como from the north, NEMARKABLE LONGEVITY, At the Glasgow meetiug of the British Asso- clation, » paper was read giving an account of a Heoteh woman who diea durlug the present year ot the age of 113 years. She was born fu the Island of Lewls, und was origiually a sery- uut, henllug cattlc on the moors, vollecting peat, digging the soll, mitkiug tows, aud dolug work about the house. She was uever married, und of late years hud depened upon public Joined 1o our loy* charity, being reduced to this conditfon by blinddess and the infinnities of old age, He food consteted of saup or broth, outmeal or bar ley mcal ;mrfldg;e. fish, and potatoes, 8he too), @0 stimuinnts, bt latterly was fond of tea Blio was cleanly and tidy, and, until blindnes: afitfcted Ler, was vorsnetfva. [ler name wa small, but strong and bony: aud her Loalth was good up to the last gcnr of her life, 8he lived in a cottage buiit of stone and turf, witl A thatched roof, and a fire-place in the centre of the floor, from which the smoke weot through n hole In the roof, there belng no chim nev, The fzet of her remarkable lougerity saems to be well proved by her own recollec tons, and by the statements of thoso who knen her, 1tis aup;oml that sha was born fn 1701 before the Duke of Wellington, Napoleon, o Walter Scott. 8he could nelther read nor write. but was_very Intellizent, Her name was Cath vor. 0 BRIEF NOTESY. ‘The bridges built In the United Btates durim the lntmt,eon yoars are ostlmated to have cost ,000, ‘The Zoologieal Museum at Waraaw is cxceed- fngly rich in the deoartment of higher antinale, Its collections include filt specles of mammals, 'lkilal., of birds, and 400 of reptiles wnd amphly- The forty-saventh annual_session o the Lon. don Royal Geographiesl Soclety tovk place In November, The Sovlety uow numbers 8,103 menibersi and the efileient work which it hus nu’um}ma e since its foundation was the suoe 4ect of the Presidentlal adiress, dellvered by Bir Rutherford Alcock. It 18 sald that the gif-weed Sargasium bae- elferum, common in trupleal seas, f3 potant for the reduction af obesity. The same virtuals alio aseribed to the various soeclos of Mucus, or ses- weed, found on the New England eoast, A tild extract of the weed fs scul by drugzistas but an {ufuston, or “*tea.’ made frota the plant, 13 preferable, S A free Spanlsh Univeraity has been opcned fn Mudrid, under the name of Free Institution of Education. It has uver elghty students, eight or nine ot whom are ladics.” The Institution ls reared on & simall foundation, only 1,000 galneas having yet been subserthed, Many of tho shure- holders are Enzlishinen, among them being Prof. Tyudall, The Profussurs are men of hign standing, und {t 18 loped thiat thy school wiit cujoy au abundant prasperity., Since the appearance of the phyiloxera in France, In the year 1365, it has destroyed nearly one-thind of the viue-lands, ravaging an area of 00,000 hectares (two aud onc-hulfl ncres each), and cutting off the harvest of wine to the amount of 12,261,000 hectolltres of twenty-two gallous each. The dumaze done this year Is estimated ot $27,500,000. A reward of $60,000 is offered for the discovers of a sure means of destroying the pest, B THE SILVER QUESTION. To the Litor of The Tribune. Cnicaco, Dec. 8.—A few things {n connece tlon with this question mdy bLe assutned as axloms too plain for argument. One s that if specle poyment Is resumed on the basls of gold only, then the amount of paper currencs, whether ereenbacks or Natfonal Bauk bis, and through these all values, must sustaln a certain ratlo too, or he mecazured by the antount of gold avallable for this purpoee. This measure must of nccessity Le much smaller than it would be if gold and sflver Loth were used as o basts of our irculation. It follows as a nevessary consequence that re- sunption on a gold basis only must cauee a atill further shrinkage Iu values:” margios and eq ui- tles must be stfl] further narrowed or extin- zuished: fallures must sthl continue; the values of se:uritics muet be stlll further depre.lated, and the distress produced by hard tines wusy Le still further Increased. On the cantrary, it s equally evident that buth the Governuient and the banks could 2t onee resume specie payment In sflver and ulti- mately fu gold aud ellver without any further contraction, with 1o financial derangement, and almost or quite without expense, as silver In now on o por with greenbacks amnd bunk bills, and If free cofnngze und the legal-tender :huully of silyer were restored the owners and producera of silver would furnish oll the coin required, Weshould then bave o currency based upon silver com, which has always beei the etandaid of the cunnu-lr untit within a few yea: teney in which the veople have unbo fidetice amd such great delight that tempted to hoard even the small changy thay the Government grudgiugly supphes. Then, the fear of contraction belng rumoved, orodus- tion, consuminption, agriculture, manufaciuiees, and commerce would at onve revive. Low I8 it uow! The dread und ultmate reali- ty of contruction puralyze industry and cuter- rrlna. ‘The laborer Is vext door tu the pour- house for want of emnployment. The uwner vt incumbered property {3 pressed to the wall by interest and taxes, wiich he cutinot pealze from tho property elthier by venting or selliing, Those whosc means were fn money Lave loaned it u many enses upon secuelty from which, owivg to the depreclation, they cun now resllze nelther prineipal nor intereat; amd those who still have motiey to toan find it exceedingly ditfieult to lu- vest {t safely, on account of the ghaky condition of borrowers aud the downward tendency of property, ‘Fhia condition of thiugs 15 coutin- ued, and dally. growing worse, mainly In consequence of the dread and apprehension that are felt in view of the coutraction and still further depreciation thut must be the result of resumption fo gold only. What i3 the remedy § Remonetization and frec colnage of silver would give us n sound. enrrener, convertible into coin without contraction, and start us ou thc rond to prosperity at once, Even the bondholders would not suffer, The focreased demand for sliver and the decreased demund for gold would graduglly enhsnce the value of the one and sle- treqse the value of the other untll the vid ratlo of 1847 to 1 would be fully restored. Have we not sulfered enought I o, let the people as one man fmportunc Congress to lny aside thelr Presidentinl wrangling lung enmizh to pive ue o sound currency based on coln with- out coutruction or financlal revalefon. J4. H. Kepzix. r—i— = NIGHT-WATCHES. How dreail the silent watcites of the night, Where Wc:r{ tflesh ahldes the coming day, Encompassed by the tnuny {lls that blight "Tho rising hopes nf poor humanity. The homes of penury! The Infinite alone Can know the vorraws of the sull'ring poor: The beds of unguish where they lay them dowa, Tn honies whence hope has ited forevermote. Even {n homes whero weaith and tender care Anticlpate the paticnt’s lizhtest want, Denth glooms a trizhtful spectre; even there Obrrudes bls horrid forta and virage yuunt, 11 Slow-paced the hours thut mark the middle nifhl, Whero friends lu vorrow waich the dying bed, While surely fades the soul from nioreal sight; T'hie night weara on, but 1if is with the dead. Or when the azed or rorcly-wounded heard | Rejoices that the wilgrinmage iy past, Nor bids the hand of Death trom hint' depart, Content to lay life's burdeu dowa, at last. O Man! how vain the state of mortal clay! Dust to dust sbail molder ‘ueath the urnt Thue human hearts ana hopes, passtug awey, Ulve place to uther pligrinuge 1 tern. 1. The day at last 13 heralded from fae; On Utlent skies the roseuto dawu oppears, - Companlon of the blazinz Mozrning-Star: New hopes atiee, In place of gloomy fears. Open iite casement ;. let the glowing lght Comtost Lhe patient's heart, fllamoe Lils room, Dispote Lo healthfulnees, and plight A weivome rerpite from the vpenlug tomb, Aud us thie sun cowes forth to glorlous d: 50 mmay Ilummul{ arlve t* fnunorind ¥ Wihen 10 aud death are banfsh-ed awuy, And hutan Lenrts aud hoines ai Novkuurs, 187, ¢ free from tears, O B, CauTEn, o - MY MOTHER. {My belaved mother dicd whlle I was far at ses, and my chiefest lflirfl at wy cholce of 8 sallur's 1ife lus been, that I was nut near bor o ber last hours, to receive tho ywect bleasing which she e Jolund 1wy slaters (o give me. Ng Mothier dear! and art (Lou gone furever? ihall § uo rore thy kindly smile behold?y Bhall 1 reviait the homesscenes, yetnover Hear thy sweut voice, av In the dayas of old? Ab, yes! thou'st gunes yet, from wy inmost hearty Thy sucred wemory uever cau deparl. T little thuught, while toss'd npon the billow, 'hat thou wert I¥in) that lonz, lzat sleeps ‘That the cold earth wus then thy d{nu{‘pl low, Whalo | was burusa nucousclous o'er tho duep} Tut the lust sumons, dreaded not by thee, Came while thy only sou was far at sca. St in the Learts of many who are mourning, “'hy piemory Jives, thy parity and worih; Blessiinge are breathed, tny lwlfl towb adorning With holy radlsne ciichter than of carth, Thy chifdren loeg thy virtues shull revere, And told thee in thelr bearts, wy Mother dear? Years roll away; yet on the acean-blllow, For thee, dedr Mother, tears are falllog fast: My heart s with you ‘neaththeoid church-willews Uht let thy lufuence Ifludu me (o the last, Till o'er the river, ou that pesceful abore, vites, We ebiall part 00 more. Calcacyy Deswmber, 15746, Carz. ol