Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 30, 1876, Page 9

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNLE: ITERATUR The Geographical Distribu- tion of-Animals.\ A 8tudy of the Rclntions of ' Living and Extinct TFaunas, Art in Ormament and Dress-- Poemse--Tennyson’s “Iar- old ?---*Is That A1’ Qhildhood's Faith--~Wordeworth and Mackay --- Denecration of Nature---Balzac, {mprovement of . the River Clyde---North-Atlan- tic Physics. Food of the Siberian Mammothe=» Spurious Drawings of Fossils. LITERATURE. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF . ANIMALS, THE _GREOGRAPHICAL DISTRIDUTION OF ANIMALS, Witit A STuny or THE ILELATIONS OF LIVIKG AND EXTINGT FAUNAR, A% Kiuctpar- 1o THe Part CHANGES OF TUR EAnT's Sutte race, By Auvrnen Russet WaLLace, Author of **Thu Mnlay Archipelago,” cte. In Two Volumes, » with Maps and Ilustrations, 8vo,, DY. H0d—007. New York: Uarper & Iitos, Chicage: Janecn, McClurg & Co, Price, $10, Mr. Wallace has accomplished, in the produc- tlon of this work, onc of the mammoth enter- prises which stand like way-marks to denote the progress of intcllectual achiovement, It is less In magnitude, yet pertakes of the nature of tho laborious tasks performed by Darwin ju the accumulation and clussiflcation of facts bear- Ing upon the past history of the world, In truth, Wallace has been, In some sense, o colln- Vorator of Darwin In the flelds of scientific research, and enjoys the honor of having arrived simultancously with him at the original conclusions formulated in the theory of Natur- al 8clection. Before thie publication of his books elucidating thia novel hypothiesls, Darwit had pursued the studies leading up to it, in all parts of the world; and Wallace, likewlse, has spont. years In the Enstern and {n the Western Heml- spherer, exploring the faunas of thefr most pro- 1ifle reglons, in scarch of materials for the clu- cidatiou of the mystery euveloping the orlgin of organie Jife. The results of Wallace's {nvestigations have been Bitherto chlefly presented i his treatises #On Natural Selection " and uvn * Tho Malay Archipelago;® but now we have thelr latest product {n the two important volumes sumgpar- 1zing his studles regurding the geopraphical dis- tributfon of animals. The eurlous problems in- volved in the dispereal of irda and foscets had longz been prominent In bis mind; but, nboutsix years agzo, at the Instance of bis friends, Darwin aud Prof. Newton, be beguu the prosent system- atic attempt to throw lght wupon the whole vost subject. ‘The gnormous dificulties opposing the effort, arlsing from the seareity of data, and the confusion pervading the classificatlon of anlmalg, svon disheartened him: bat, these befng partlally overcome by the Lelp of recent publieations, he took couroge agaty, und, durlne the Just three years, has tolled dillzently upon the duty assitmed, lts coritpletion §s & cange for congratulation by all students ot Natural Hhtur{; for the work” has been ably and meruhflm vely Furn)rmud, and wiforde most valuable arsistance (b the prosecu- tion ol researches into thé anlmal kingdom, Mr. Wallaee divides his subleet into four purts, treatlug respectively of The l’rlnclpleu and teneral Fhenomena of Distribution; The Diatribution of tinet Animala; Zoologieal Ucography; aud Geographleal Zoology, In the first section are constdered the process of mul- u}:llcnuun nud dispersal of the varlons groups of anlmalg, the vature of the Larrfers that most effectunlly Iimit thelr runge, and the modes by which chatges in p‘u‘alcnl geography aud In ellmate allect ~ tho structure, distribution, and e existence, of anftnals, Tn dividing tho carti | zoologieal cm u};.\lr' reeions, Mr. Wallacs mlol)ls the Blater, the Bnglish zvologist, wileh was pro- posed in 1857, It nnnes the separate portlons us follows: 1. The Palwarctic Reglon: Including Turope, Temperuta Avin, ‘aud North Africa to the Atls alng. 2, ‘Yiue Ethfoplan Reglon: Africa south of the Atlax, Madagascar, and the Mascarine Ialunds, with Bouthern Arubju, 3. 'Fhe Indiy Region: including Indla sonth of I!'w Tlmaluyns, to Bouth Chiiny, nud at Borneo and Java, 4, T'he Australlan Reglon: Including Celebes and }.fll'.ubluch. eastward to Australia and the Paclfic slands, 5. T Nearczie Region: including sn et Amlca to Korthori e u.: Fenldads . ‘Thie Neotrophicul Heslont Americs and Sn\llrlemfllexlm.‘ Bauding Bely Part Third, uuder the liead of Zoolozieal (eography, reviows the ehief forms of animal Mre found” In these several reglons and sub- reglons, with tho fndicatlons “they afford of geographleal mutations. This fa the most novel und penerally fnteresting department of the work, and the varjoty und exteut of the fucts it contains are amnzing, It forms o vast moas zine, from which the naturalist may druw ende )usz curfous und fmportant items of Infurmution. The Second Part presents s summary of the dlse tribution of extinet andmals, and furnlshes the first conmeeted sketel that Jus been attewpted of the relution of extinet mammalln to the dls- tribution of Jivi mI)s. Part Fourth takus I successlon caen family of the land anlmalg With which the work deals, and endeavors to see cuunt for thelr actual distribution by sn cluel- datlon, us far as possible, of their past migra- tlone, ~ The bulk of this sectlon fs composed of ematle and tabulated statistics, which have n compiled with enormous labor, o this outline of tha plan of the work will bo & the cogeney of tho author's statenent that ©"The hook will serve as a kind of dictionu- vy of the geography and affinities of sulnals, By means of tho coplous fndex, the native coun- ry, the systemutle position, and the numerleal cstent of” every Important aud well-catablished genus of land-animal, may be at once discover- tdy—Information now seattered through hun- dreds of volumes.” A uumber of niavs and ‘wood-cuts accompany tho work, and a full fndex is attached to each volume, POEMS, THREE MEMORIAL POLEMS. By Jauss Rus- AELL LOwELl S«gmrn Lhwo., pp. 02, Boston; James 1, Osgood & Lo, EDELWEISS," AN Avemisk Rivae, By Many Lowe_DickinsoN, Squaro 1mo., pp. 101, Sold by Jansen, McClurg’' & Co., New York, Price, €1.50, PLACES, JHdited by Hesny W, LoNa. Chicago, POEMS OF SCOTLARD, DESHANK, JCELAND, Non- PELLUW, Yol, IlI. !Umn., Ph.. HUY, Baton " Shmta Ty Osgond's ¢ it James I, Ovzoo o A BOUK OF POEMS, Ty donx W, CHADWICK, A6mo., pp. 200, Doston: Lioberts Bros. Price, 81, BEAUTIFUL BNOW: AND OTHER POEMS. Iy J. W, Watsox, Author of **Tho Outca snil Ll 2m}\'uh llllnmu\lt‘nlx;‘ninmbyl l;“l\vna!) K, Peterson S hiron, *Frico, g2, e T There is poctry In tho very exterlor of theso volumes, fu which tastcful designs, plensing colors, and artistic workmaushlp are charming- ly ‘comblied,, An alr of superior elegauce marks them ally compelling o tribute to the re- flned senso of harmouy which Incloses o poet's vorses {n the dalntiest of receptucles, The threa * Memorlal Poems™ by Lowell compriss the Odercad at Concord, April 19, 1876; * Under the Old Elm,"" @ poem read st Cambridge on the Lundredth annlversary of Washington's taking commund of the American army, July 8, 1775; and an ¢ Ode for the Fourth of July, 1670."” Of cachi it may be sald, fu brief, that it does justice to the oxalted talept, the beral culture, and the Joyal principles of the author, The genlus ot Liberty has fuspired him tualng of thodeclsive events that procured a Nutfon's freedom In his most stately and regonant strelne, In the Ode read & Quocord there are rioging lues which commemorate the lerole deeds of thase first solidfers of the Hevolutlon, In tho same breath, and chant in bold refrain the glory of il unscifish encrifice, the charms of Hfe which might hold a man back upon battle even for his country’s salvation, he duclares: ¢ Tnese thin Buulry 1 the Uttle collectlon of phe Enumerating a few of are dear to every man that lves, And life pelxed more for what it lends thon glves, Yea, many a tie, by iterntion sweet, Etrove to detain tholr fatal frot: And yet the endueing half they chose, Whase chofee eclhles o man Nfe'n slnyo or King, The invisible (ings of God Leforo {lie seen and iriown ¢ Thereforo thelr Memary inepiration blows th echous yathering In from vone to zone; For manhood Is the one immortal thing Reneath Timo's changetnl sky, And, where It lightened oncy, from age 1o age Men conio to fearn, (n grateful pilgrimage, That length of days iz knowing when to dle, And agaln, In the poem “Under the Ol Elm,” lic falls with the satne noble style of re- citative: 'The longer on this carth swe live And welgh the varlous quaiities of men, Eeelng hotw most ara fugitive, Or fitfnl gifte, at best, of now and then, Wind-wavel llc»rpqmllt;hu-. danghtersof the fen, ‘Phe more we feel the high, steru-featured beauly Of plaln devotednoss 1 duty, Steadfant and still, nor paid with mortal pratse, Tt tindIng ampleat recompento For life's ingarinnded expense In wark dono sanarely and unwasted days. The Ode for the Fourth of July, which has re- eefved high praise for the Jofty " fevel kept in both thonght and word, contaius a stern rebuke of the Natlow's degencracy, Who shall sny it is undeserved! The poums ure printed on red- lined pages, where they set as in a frame, with L)reu inftinls and head-and-foot pleces for em- clilehment, . Carlyle defines poetry ns musleal thought, adding, **Jt is a man'a siucerity and depth of vislon that make him 4 Poct. See deep envugh, and you see musieally: the heart of uature being” everywhere music, If you can ouly reach it The detinition §s a fine one, for nothing Is truer than that **all deep things are somy, sceius guinehow the very central essence of us as {f all the reat were bt wrappings aud hulls.” Aceording to this interpretation, there Is true ces nsEem- led under the title of thut tnost poctieal of flowers, the “Tulelwelss.” The Initial song records o tonehinge incident of a ?'onu flower~ girl of the Alps, whose sweet uplifted face mada u niost “fale picture full of patient grace.” In secking among the perflous mountain elefts for clusters of the Edelweiss promised to o Jady- fourlst, the chilld misaed her footdig, and, when thie Judy came to the trysting-pluce to clulm the expected flowers, the littie one lay Inthe vilage- chureh with burning tapers gleamiug ot her head: Iier white liands clinglng still to blovsoms sweet, And Und's neace on her fuce. The poetn ¢ Dead,™ tou lung to quote, Is full of the ‘pathetic and passlonate melody wring from n licart that with high resolve sereens the grave of Its perished lopes, and, stilling its weeplog, stifiing its sllis, suswers *the asking of Iriendly cyes M with ehcerful “laughter and Jow replles.”” “Two and One,” ¢ Enduranve,” and * Thanks for Flowe: may be noted os possessing an_especigl charm of fuward pgrace revenled ftn the vutward expression, The ene tire colleetion bespeak in their nuthor a gentie, uflnlmumuc spirit, retined and purlfied by chastening, ‘The present number of the serfes of ** Pocms of Places," edited by Luncfellow, concludes the selections referring to Scotland, and adds those deseriptive of scenes in Demmnarlk, Ieeland, Nor- way, and Sweden, This compilation bears the evitlence of n most cultivated taste; and tho style in which It Is presented, unifortn with the Little Classic Edition, is of funltiess beauty, The *Baok of Poems™ by John W, Chad- wick contatus many chiolee sougs evoked by vu- vled experiences. “The author has a tender love for nature and a devout worshiy of the Creator; and the cmotions, ever subducd and ottewmper- ed, which are stirred at sight of the sea, or of n bird's nest, or at thougnta of God's loving voducee, find n_natursl vent fn smooth aud Huent verses. These often lave a power to kindle the reader’s soul, and make L sceni ca- rnble of responding fu accordant phrases; and hils wo consltider a 1nost sure test of the right of aterial production to eall iteelf poetry. pupulur poem ontitled ** Beautiiul Snuw 15 united with others by the same author, J. W, Watson, in o handeonie hollday volume. Mr. Watson lms conslderable drawnitie faculty, and 5 s, 08 “The Dying Soldler,” “The Patter of Little Feet,” nnd * Death's Carriage Stops the Way," are very effectlve. ESTHETICS OF DRY ART IN ORNAMENT AND DRESS. Trauelated from the French by Ciannex lase, Membee of the Institute, anil Formerly Director of Fine Arts. With Hlustrations, v, pp. 274 New Yark: Scribner, Welford & Arnmustrong. Price, Therela truth In the remark of M. Blane, that, “Ate.time when more interest than ever is felt In tho decorutive arts, at” n thme when every one geems cager to oceupy himself with them, ft Is somewhat strange that the object most worthy of ornamentation, the huwnan fig- ure, should be forgotten, und that we should not give vur attentlun to ornamenting persons before decoraiing objects,” There is undenlably uo lack of attentlon glven to the gquestion of personal decoration, but it needs to he enlight- ened, to be chastened and gulded by the same general lusws whith govern all arts of ornamen- tation, Aun understanding of the few leading prinelples which apply to the use fhany service uf eolor, of forms, and of materfals, would enable every man and womsu to dress with taste, nod with effect,—thut Is to say, with good BENse, Inall its applications, urt studies propricty, harmony, and comeliness; and these are to be attained in the vesture of the humaun tigure, as fn the decoration of Inanimate objects, by a enrcful consideration of atances, and of the ends fn view. Where these receive due welght, there §s 1itthe danger of vul- parity, ostentation, aud extravigance fu the ut- tire, For women, the supreme rule at all tines is “g0 to be dressed thut the attenton of tho speetator, attracted by the tollet, may be druwn tu the womun, und thus the costine only serve o fuercase the admiration fur the weaver, One often hears the remark, ¢ Wo saw some pretty dresses in our walk to-day.’ Well, it the clever workwomen had been w fittle moro skiliful, we should have heard, * We saw sote pretty women {n our wulk to-day,! " ‘Ihe Introduction vt M, Blane's work Is oceu. pled with u eketel of the general laws of orna- ment, From (s the work passes to an exain- fnation of the eathetic principles which should be consutted fnthe choleo und mode of arrange- went of every artlele of the outer attire of the person, The aressing of the hutr for both and women, Lhe varfuus forma of hats and head- geury thu style of the costume, its neeeksorics,— shoes, gloves, fans, luces, und jewels,—are tuples seporately discuesed, and with the intelll- genee and graco of o gifted and cultivated artlst and author, ‘The dellente fancies which embellish the proze of M, Blanc, after the ped munner he would see exhibited in ull decorative art, are repre- sented I these sentences oceurring fu his treats ment of tho uxrreniun of colurs: ¥ Without notleing the particulur and purely local signifl- catlons that different nations have attachied to them, colors have human _aflinitles, und har- monize With our {duns, but especially with our feclings aud our pussions, This is why woumen, who are led by sentiment,attach more inportatice to color thun mendo, o 4 o Red 18 s fuvorlte color with oll tho nations of the world. As distant from yellow sud white 8 it I8 from Mue and Llack, 1t occuples o cen- tral positlon among the primary colors, and In {t the morning and the evening meet and are unlted, . . » The expression of biue is onu of purlty o« It woy be suitable in its 1ight ghade for the dress of an (nuocent maidun, and {u fts durk for romantic aifections and evel ing thoughts, It sceins in this latter case Lo fu- divate a mind which Is beginning to withdrw itself from thu realities of life, and to inetine to sulitude, aystery, and silence. “7There {5 something slightly acld fn orangce- color, just as there §s I tuo fruit from which it derlves Itsname. , . . Grecn can only aw: keu amlable and gentle thoughts, remembrance hoso of spring sud other promise green gives reposo to the inlnd, os it daes to the sight, It fs only when coinblned with black that green beconies symbolieul of sadness,” Portraylng the varled effects which the natu- ral ornatiients of mustacho and_beard wlve to tho uasculins countenance, M, Blanc remarks: A particular fuce shows determmation merely by the turn of tha mustache; bug the mustache 1s robbed of all its expression unless it bo worn by iteell. . .« When It grows naturally, the niustache 18 always a sign of “a manly tempera- ment. It never, vr at suy rate keldoin, happens that 1t §s bristling, hirauta, in geutle awl thuughtful characters; and it Is rarely rounded, turned under, or softly curled, in men of rourh natures, boru for contradiction and contlict, To draw it to a flue point, as was done under the ‘Empire, whether from a spirit of mere fmitation or cuurtier-like fattery, Is to givo the face of the wearer a fasiidlous sud evanescent expres- ston, since the pofnts canuot be kept stiff with- out the use of avosinetle, casily detected und suon melted.” ‘That dreadful gbomiuatlon, a beaver hat, which tyrranous customn forces g the bead of gentleman fu (ull dress, recelves froni the writer u yigorous Lit: * Qur tubular haty,—wbich 298, means, of clreum- v nnirse have cast such withering seorn upon,—these hats without front or back, without ‘direction, without acul- minating point, and whose frightful, ndrical shope b altogetlicr at varfanee with the sphicrl- enl form of the hicad, are assuredly the Inst renie nant of barbarism; and swe must not be uston. dshed I thely uge spremds In one day over the whole world, since nothing has more chanee of Iasting success than ugliness and ahsurdity." The incaningz which should be attached to all artlcles of ornument Isverycleverly interpreted I?' M. Blane. Of feathers he says: *V\When they are atifl, like s»lumumts‘ and cocka® feathe cra, they have del crmined and fiullnnl expres- afon, Pliant and urunnlnf:, they have a sort of watlike grace, which reealls the crested plumes of nnuluutvlfl\'nlry,uml, for that very reason, form npretty contrast hetween the” woman's delleaey and the mllitary style of her costufie, A nlupgle feather s elegant and haughty, especially when It falls on the back of the head and whill Because, by Indicating the nction of theairln o contrary direction to that In whi the wearer of the feathier Is walking, it reveal an impulsive will and o life-llke movement. | In writing of jewels, how Inzenfous a renson: he finds for thelr use: * With or without jew- cls, cluu-mln;‘ri wornell whl never cease to charmn; but 1t would e ungrateful towards Nature, which has produced diamonds and precious stones,—towards Belence, which teaches us to Imitate them,—and towards those who so skil fully cut, poish, set, and mount them,—to re- gard with pillesuphicul disdain these freasures of coneentrated Hght and color with which - man beguty can adorn ftscl?,” 'Ihese exceerpts fil\'u a fulr representation of the quality of M, Blane's volume, which s a de- lightrul and valuable dissertation on the es- thetles of druss. R TENNYSON’S *¢ ITAROLD.” HAROLDL A DuAyA.- Iy ALPRED TZNNTRON, (Author's Editlon, from Advance Sheets.) 1Umo., pp. 170, Bostant Jumes R, Osgood & Ca, -Mr.-Tennyson scemns determined to exerelse hils facuities fn dramatic composition untll thelr powers are demonstrated {n this deportment of Delles-lettres beyond question, The faflure of HQueen Mary ¥ has not discournged him, but, witl o resolution which has the ndmirable qual- ity of grit In it, he repeats the effort. . Again he locates his sceno in o royal court and takes princely personages for s principal characters; but this time he goes back In the path of En- gitsh history to the refgn of Tdward the Con- fessor, and makes the succession of Harold to the Saxon throne the pivot on which the action of the drama turns, "The fucldents which are woven with the play couform, In the maln, to fact, and convey u vivid pleture of tlic era covered by the.plot. For the purposds of the stage, the work promises eyen Jess than Qid its predecessor; but, for closot reading, it excels the former. It {s want- ing In pussfon, In concentration, In exciting situ- ations, . Thu design, 08 a whole, s shadowy and thin, lacking the bold outline, the warm eolor, .the firm coherenve,—in short, the dramatic power,—requisite for scenfc effect. Yet, as n poem_ reproduciug the story of an eventful perfod, sud pafuting the portiaits of u group of strongz men, 1t hias u good denl of fascinatfon. Ti.ere {8 no weait amount of vigor Infused into the representations of the prominent char- acters. ‘Thiey are all liviog men and women, aetlng out thelr different natures with the forco and spivit of reality, Harold s very striking figare, and gly fn every attitude. Hels a raler by the i of God before lic recelves the acknowledziients of the people, for hie sways men by tne wmight of intetlectunal capne r§ and by the commanding Influence of Integrity: ‘Tho personality of Edih s faintly sketched, yet thero ds a strong suggestiveness in the few ietalls presented, whileh enables oue to conjure up a most sweet and attractive vislon in the mind, ‘There i3 a stroke of Nnture hn the meet. gz of Harold and Edith before the battle of Hustings, which atones sumewhat for the lursh surprise of the warrlage of Harold with the un- scrupulous intrfeser, Aldwyth, The scene the tent, where Stigand amd Edith watch the course of the flght on tue flcld of Stenlne, Is wrought up to a (e degree of excitement, In- decd, the entire thith act [s quite styong, and, as it should, brfngs the interest of the play to o culmingtion, Nevertheless, the grentest Iutensity attained in the drwea {s but wild, snd woull Tall to stiv the feelngs In a representation on the stage. Fhe style of the poem §s elevated, und, atthougl there are ho anmulurly fmpressive Hnes or pus- s:u,vlvs, we feel that it 18 the product of 4 superior artlet, S NO-NAMYE SERTES, 15 THAT ALL? 16mo., pp. 274, DBoston: Rob- erts Brow. Chicage: Junsen, McClurg & Co. Trlee, $1. 3 One of the brightest things about this Lrizht Douk 13 the title, mocklngly unticlpating, aud so tuking the ating out of, the possible eritlelsm of the public embodied in tho expressive query, 1 that a1 1t I3 enoegh, we make haste to auswer., If every look us antly answered fts purposc as this docs, the happy reader would never meet with dlrappointutents i his search for ngreeable lterature, The author makes no pretension to the accomplishment of w great affals u the construction of hls romance. It is upparent that he has struck off the work without any particular effort or serlous emntion. It 18 just the kind of thing an individuul with flret-rate talent under fine cvontrol can produce a5 u mere matter of wmuse- ment for Wmself and his frivads, The skill of the writer Is shown In the symmetry of t work. The literary style {3 excellent the char- acters ore all | Nfedike, without elther fecble- ness or exareration; und the plot, suthas It 14, maves aloty castly and nutarally,’ Whe ull 15 done, It is s mere” soclely-uovet, Pusaire copied from the drama_continuully wolnz on i the gay elreles of every Ameriean towa; but |t 1a rly exeeuted, and therefore pleasantly entertainlug. An Interesting comparison might be tnstituted between this and the fiest number of the & No- Nume Serfes,” Genins entered uto the o postion of My Philurick’s — Canl wherens skilled talent nlone has begn exerclst in the prouction of ¥ Is That ALY There (s muel unevenness fn the formation ot the first work. Partions of ft are weak aml disappolnting, sod again other portions uy fmposing with the strength und inshght of a true Insplration. The feevor of un fnpus- sloned nature was l'X{)l:th‘ll in the coneep- tion of the characterof Mercy Philbrick, It wis not go much an wvention, us n reproduction of the writer, It is too rare and too renl n portrait tobe nslmple creatlon of the huwrisatlon, 1nn great measure it eprung out of living experd- eiee. On the other hand, the wrlterof the hook befureus has given the results of merely shrewil observatlon, sad his own uerfeellnes have nethier been deeply touched nor atlowed to be- tray themselves in the performanco of s task, A Coul witness of the comedy of life around Iimy he has delineated o fragaent of {6 without l}n: Tuterterence of disturbing, unbaluncing emo- tlon. B AMERICAN WILD FLOWERS, TIE WILD FLOWERS OF AMBERICA, Tlase trations by Isaac Siauve, Vext by (ronar 1 tivonatt, M, D, Awndstant Professor of ctable l'hynwmg{. and histructor In Boty Harvagd Chlvendty, I, Laree g 16, New York: Hnrd & Noughton, Messra. Hurd & Houghton huve 1aid the plun for o putlication In serlul parts of 1 superb work fllustrating the more attractive wild flowers of Amerlea, The pletures are painted in water- colors by Mr, Isaae Bprugue, an artlst who, (n assocation with Awdubon and with Dr, Gray, has gafned n wide veputao for his exquisite water- cotor sketehes, IHls drawlugs are made from nature, and are noted for aceuracy of form and delleaey “of tiat. The part before us vontalns four pates printed in colors, falthfully copylng Mr, Spruguc's studies. They represent” tho WIki Columbine, Wild Crancsblll, Wavy-Leaved Aster, aml Gee rardly, Too imueh caunot be sald In pralee of their: beauty, The flowers nre as if treshly phicked from the stem und ldd wpon the pare with all thelr dewy eracs and fragrance still about them, ‘Ihe letterpress furnishes o popular account of the structuro und Liabits of cac plant, written by Prof, Goodale, thy botanical 1istructor of Harvard Uniyersity. Tho parts will be lssued quarterly, aud, on uceount of tho great expenss attendiug the work, the prico aixed 1s 36 per vart. INSEC HALF-S10URS WITIL INSL AND, Ji. g Authur of **A Tngects, ! & Lau 3. Ny A, 8, Packe ide to the Btudy of . Hoston: Hitew u, McClurg & Co, useful accesslon Lo his Wbrary, whilo the gencral reader cannot but be deeply entertained by Its pages. It treats In u populur manner of the nsects which are most common fu the forest, field, garden, and house,—describing the fn- portant phascs of thelr }ife-bistory, and giviog advico as to the best methods of destroving those which are the cuemics of munkind. T'rof. Fackard {a ope of the wblest of our writers on the sclenco of Entomology, wl he fs especially skillful fu inaking the subject clewr and fuvitiuge 10 all claxses. Thu book “iy handeomely pub- lished, and §s Hlustruted with one colored” plate BATURDAY, DECLEMBER 3, 1876—"1'WELVT PAGES. — e 1o 9 and with any exeellent engraviogs, It lacks the essential adjunct of an fndex, By Itanmsr Iimo., v, 508, New York; KT LLNESS OF BLESSING: on, Tne Ch CHnmT, A TRATED FROM THE 130s A,y Saran F, SsiLey. 19m0., pp. Juor Yories Ao D, ¥. Randeiph & Cu. ¥l IE SONS OF GODWIN. Wintia Tos, Lo delphint d Jdansen, McClnry & Co, 3 TilE HARDY SPEAKER: Cosrpmixa Fuesn HreeTioNs 15 PorTny AND Prosry, Coxnisina T CTIONS PURLIsHED IN THE [lEADING CLun, , 8, 4, Dy Gronare M, Bagie. 1Umo, Hoston: Lee & Shiepard, Price, 81, EXXAYS ON MIND, MATTER, FORCES, TR~ OLOGY, ETC. By Ciaunes B, Towssrsn, Lima. bp. 404, New York: Charles P, Som- erb; Stawe, i J. B, Ford & Ca. Price, 81 THE FUI 2 PEL OP A Tranpnv, Ty 188, Phila- Chicago: THIE LEGEND OF THE ROS APorx. RAV- LAN: A Dnasa, Iy S Jaxns Warso, }':mu,, U ¥, Torontw: Huuter, Hoso R IIUNDRED YEARS OF AMERICAN INDE- DENCE, Conclnding Parts, Hvo. New : A, 8. Barnes & Co, AND I(J'UT . Srnyoxs A oLLkar Cit D, By L. D)., Late I tege. 12mo., Y. 454, Tos- ton: Jtoherts Bros, Chileagu: Janeen, McClurg &Co. Price, §2 PERIODICALS RECEIVED. AMERICAN LIDRARY JOURNAL—Nos, 2.3 (F. Levpoldt, New York), LASHANYITANLE for Janunry (IL L. Hinton & Lo,y New York), —— ANEW AUTHORS' GAME, Miss C. L. Bonney, nn accomplished daughter of C. C. Bonney, Esq., of this city, has com- posed a new authors' game of cards 9f exeep- tlonal Interest. It haa been published by J, 8. Guodman, under the title of #Tyche: The Fire- slde Ovnete,” The game consists of questions and apswers, turning upon charscter and destiny, wade up of apt quotations from seventy-seven dilferent poets and philosophers, The selections, both of authars and quotations, Tuve been mmlc with admirable judgaient; and, both us o literary study and ‘n parlor-game, “Tyeho ! deserves to meet with wide favor, PAMILIAR TALK, CITILDIIOOD’S FAI'TIL The old agage, that * Truth 1s stranger than fetlon® recclved a strikingand patheticconfirma tun fu our clty, a few days ago. On the Friday before Christinas, there was delivered at the Post-Ofifee u letter addressed to Mr. Santa Claug, Chieago, [il. It was fnclored in a sofled yellow envelope, one end of which was torn open, while the triangular flap which should fold down upon the back was ultowother gone leaving the written sheet partlally disclosed and tn a very nseeure condition. The reeldence of Mr, 8anta Claus being unknown to any of the Chlcazo mnil-carriers, the letter was referred to the ofliclsl who decldes the fate of vagrant anissivea incompetent to deelare or to reach thelr destination, Curl- osity was excited by the singular appearance of the letter, aud, it belng quite open to inspee- tion, It wus removed from its scanty inclosure, and fotelilgence of its atn umid ersand sought fn its coutents, The eplstle read as follows: Mr fantn Claur, Mamn | waga that papa s been but of work wn long that you will forzet to come to our honse, but Willle & 1tuth wiil feel so Dad that 1 thout I'would write to tel] you to come if you eould L glad | learned to wriie at school fof If T iiad not £ would not kuow how to get word to you we live 5% Ambrose street, snd my name B Anna McRenaie. If vou hitve ony dolla Jft bring one to me and T will be #o glad ANNA - T forgot 1o tel] you that papa cant get any work and mama feels real bud becunse the mioney fs most il gone il babys shoes are worn ont, wialt 1 knuiy some of your little glrls wo 1 could see all the play things It ould bu wo nice 1 could not flnd any other eavelop Theto was o dewy mulsture obseuring the steht of the oficial us he coneluded the reading, and an fmpulsive movement of sympathy in the yeglon where a manly heart was throbbing. The sweet fuith and simplicity of the little child had pleaded foru hearing Iu ortless accenta that conld not be reststed.” The letter was submitted to the higher authoritfes In the Post-Ofilee, pro- duchig upon each the same tender impression, and then o couple of gentlemen drove to 5 Ambrose street to verity the identity of Anna McKepizle. The story toid in the Jetter proved everynrd trite, and’ little Anna was watting in the confidence of u sublime bellef for an answer She exinbited no surprise at the visit of the rentiemen, regarding thent s veritahle me 1) gers (dispatehied by tho benign Kriss-Kringle, ©8nhé hnd seen Satita Claus,’ 8he sntd, * clinb- Ing up the Jamp-post only the vight before, to ses il llm}' were good children and deserved sny presents,” T'he muther was taken completely by surprise, for Annu had kept In bier ownbredst the secret of her appenl to the Saint whose blessed mls- slon 15 to male the hearts of children happy ut the annfversary of the lnfant Christ's advent In alowly manger. Anna had found u stray bit of paper un which to write her messate, aud had picked up fn the street an envelope with a sritted address to the ** Herald and Prediyter, Sncinnath," ‘This shie had turned hnside out fi order to conceal the old superseription and find place for her own, but fu the procees hnd andl[y mntilated the ulveady worn covering. Dot it Deld together untll she had slipped ft in the box on the famp-post; and‘would ol Sants Claus, f his (mitable wisdom and gootdness, take vare of wll the rest! Nuthing s more touching than the buundiess trust of a child, The centlemen bore buck to the Post-Ofllee the information they had gained, und then the oflicinl who hind fifst read Anna’s letter went uboutamony the employes of the Inetitution, Dearing the milssive Tor” pernsal fuone hund, and holding the other In o cup-shape for the re- ceipt of the cofus which might be donated to- ward the Mttle lettet-writer's Chrlatmus-box. The eup-shapied palm was brimming over before the ofliclal ‘ml tinished his ronid, and, with gome clforts made outside, agenerous vislt trom Sant Claus was Insured to the G-year-old The caveted doll, one of the handsomust to otght I the eity, was un')uun:ll for hev, a tuy wate mnl chain for wee Willie, aud s pulr of shoes fur baby Ruth, Seventeen dollars In cash were coutribnted to the wasting plle of papa's woney, which was ¥ most all gone,” aml kings, ol ahoey, and other essentinl arti- furnisheid by varlous firms whose fn- been entiste ‘Lo stury hers closes; but does It not tnake n warn, lud place {1 every reader’s breast to know thnt Lhe messago sent out {n the dark by Laby-bands with u bady’s Irehzht of hope, with- out” guide-mark or protection, shouhl have resehud the very goal it was dispatehed Lo, and have oveumplished its errand with ten-fold more snevesy than was asked tor 2 The Incident 15 u rlch oue for betievers in a loving Providence. DELACROIX=GLOVES, An example of the poteficy of u riling pasajon even fu the hour of deatly Is given by M, Blune fi conneetion with the subject of the expres- glon of colors, 1 mber," he writes, *#that ane of the most learned coloviats, Eugene Dela- crolx, was visited, when ot the point of death, Dy o woman, an artlst, who was much attached o him, and who came to glve him o last clasp of tho hand. Just as she was entering the room, Delacrolx, by an Involuutary uud fustinctjve movement, selzed o red China scarf, and wound it hastily round his nek, s foll to the lvid, ahinost corpselike pullor of s fuce, the color of which, even In health, wna almost that of & Gypsy. Tho artlst Tad survived tho man” In another connoetion M, Blane refutes that ¥ Eweene Delacroix tehmined his mustache a la Moliere, and upon bls Imymssioned and worn countenance it reseme- Med the Hre-llke stroku of o peneil, which re- peated tho oxpression of his eyes, amall and contracted, plerving and black,” Delucrolx died 1n 1863, ut the uge of 4, Tu the same volume, * Art in Ornament and Dress,” from which the above uncedote 1a tuken, we i the followine ineldent used to illustrato the character pertaluing o gloves: *How muny things ean wo eco o o glove which s covered u man's hand, and which retalng the mpresston loft by his nervous novements and the trembling of his tingers when under thy sway of thought! 1 cun reeall, fu connces thon with this subject, one of those profound fmpresstons which the obseryation of su appar- ently tritfhuyg and lusteniticant detall sometines Yeaves, [n March, 1549, when 1 was Director of Fino'Arts to the Miulstry of the Interlor, I rep- resented to M, Dufuure, at that thne sfinlnen wliat & pity it waa to mnake use of the Louvre for gunual exhibitions, and %0 to hide perudi- cally ull the old masters behind & screen of modern canvises. As ft happened, the pulace of the Tullerles was ™ then un- ubabited, from the pavillon of Mar- san Lo that of Plora. M. Dufaure von- ferred with Gen. Changarnier, and all thet part of the paluce was placed at tho disposal of the Director of Fino Arts, who fur the st thue was nble to free the Louvre from its servitude, While fnspecting the rooms of tbis deserted puluce, Treached the door of o chamber which had remuined closed for seven years, and of which the Queen Marle-Amglio Lad kept the key. Jt was the room which the Duke of Or- lenus had Just lett the day when the he frace tured his skull on the paveineht, Nothing had teentouched: pagers, haoks, ¢ kepls, sword-belte, & guantily of things were there, in the dsorder i whieh 'he had left them. What strick me most wis Lo fre o a table, thrown hera nnd there, gloves of all colors and sortr, The Iife of this young man, divided between Iv)unmrc, Tunting, wl war, revealed ftseif In he appearance of these seattered glover,—eome tuinbled, others intact, some tied o, others AU i thelr box. Thera were chamols gloves for driving, beavor for riding, doeskin, white Ininbakin, and kid; and all theae varleties of the toflette haitthenasinzularand striking nieaning, But the leatlier of these eloves had long since shrunk; the latnhekin was stiff, the kid llke archment, and these lifeless oblects, which olil 80 ulnlnlv the story of the habits of the young mun of fashion who had worn them, told alrn of hie death, 80, whether we examine it as a whole or in detall, the costume of a man {s, or ought to be, un external indicatlon of lhernrt he hina to plny, of his conditfon and disposition: and, conse- ?uenlly it ougeht to vary according. to the ‘Yru- ersion he follows,—In ‘other words, according o he is eniaged ina life of contemplation, a ciyilian’s or a soldler's life."” BALZAC, A wolume of correspondence of Balzac has been recently added to the series of his com- plete works; and the Athensurm says; In re- viewing it, **Balzac's letters furm o sad and un- satlsfactory book, 8ad, beeause, to judge him, Ly them, debt would seem to have been the clifef thought of his carlfer, and sickness of his decliniug yeara” ; and unsatisfuctory, tualnly for n reagon found fn the sentence, ** No man ever wrote faster for publishers and editlons than did Balzac, and men who write sixteen hours a day Ior pay are seldotn good correspondents.’ 1lis letters to his dearcst fricnds, we are told, are chiefly filled with statistics as to the number of hotrs of work got througzh or atill te come, * A few seattered bits of fun,” writes the re- vlewer, * cannot relieve the dismal gloom of o thick volumne filled withtales of debt, and statls. ties of a labor ro frightfully toorreat as to pro- duce consumption, at the age of 44, in _one of the strongest men that ever lived, “Aa his writ- tiuzs increased In value, so did his debts in amount; und the happy day on which they were to be paid scemed always the came distance ofl. 11 1821 his hope was to'sel) & book u tonth tor U0 fruncs, In 1522 he had begun to receive 2,000 franes for a single book. In 1523 he was mnklnrg far more money, but his debt had riserf from small beginntigs to 120,000 francs. Upon these debts lic wlways looked as on o mysterfous calamity ralned down upon hin by thie anur{ gods, and with which his own aets and 1ife had hud nothing whatever to do. + Le mallieur _commence @ me fatiyier, he writes in 1831, In 1835 he had reachied 8,000 francs for nsingle work (* Le Lys?), and rceelved 25,000 frauca, fruits of his pen, in o single mouth. In 1837 ‘Cesar Biratteau' was bouwnt byunews- paper for 20,000 fruncs. All this thue Balza was writing from midnight (at whieh hour he rose) to & . 1 to eatisfy creditors, whose exist- enee he owed only to hiiself, and his debts had reached 250,000 france. As thouch this had not been envugly, e bought i 1817 » house near Varte, and procceded to Iy vut gardens on an expensive plan. T 18457 he still owed 160,000 francs, In epite of the enormous sums that he had made, and he still was buitd- fng und_buying furniture of the most costly kind. But'the debts, through the Incessant Inbor to which they foreed him, were killing hlm. ‘. Ah, pour guoiai je detles,’ he writes pit- cously In thatyear. In‘18i8. when his over- worked body had fallen under disease (which \vucuusmnrtlon, though he knew it not, for 1ifs doctors deceived him up to the last day), he wrate, * In 1810, I shall bave pald my debts.” 1n 1850 he was dead, with many of his debts un- pald til his death had aetunlly occurred; and, in luls Just jetter but one, ke [8 still describing the purchiase of o medieval dress for 30,000 franes, of pleturce, und of Middle-Age gold- smiths work., Ho died of debts of his own makings but It {s none the lese sad that so great nuul:iun should have perighed in 8o miserable a WAY. 'T'ee vanity of Balzac was unbounded, aud at the same time was child-like in_its simplicity and effuglveness. It 13 continuaily betrayed iy his letters, In one of which, dated 1834, he writes: “Four men will have had in this half- century an immense intluence,—Nanpoleon, Cuvier, 0'Connell; Iwould be the fourth, The first lived in the bluod of Lurope; the second wedded the globe; the thind was the [nearnn- tlon of a people: 1 shall have carrled fu my braln u whole eoclety,” A blography of Bulzae is ta be published by M. Levy In 1878, DESECRATION OF NATURE, No end of ridicule bas been heaped upon Rus- kin ou account of bis passionate protests ngalust. the Invasion and desecration, by the nolsy and vuleur spirit of commerce sl manufactures, A the lovely and seeluded scenes in Nature which geemn to the poetical mind to have been fashlon- ed by the hand of the Creator expressly to serve 08 temples where souls wearied and worried by contact with worldliness may ful rest and re generation. ‘Thie utlitarian motives which rule the present age have led to the appropriation of cvery tract of Jand and every body of water that offer advantages for the crection of a factory or the construction of a raflroad, regardless of the destruction of beautiful und hallowed landseapes that must ensue. It 18 againgt this costly and wholesalo sacritlee te the greed for money-get- ting, of all that 1s most refinfugz and elesating in the conditlons of external Nature and in the ¢lreuimatances of lunan life, that the great Apostle of Art hos lifted up a sorrowing and gofemn volee, to be heurd only with mockery and derisfott, But, at the last act of that vandalism which threatens to sweep from the face of England cvery sacred jane whero the worshipers of Nature v flud comfort, there are others beslde Ruskin whose souls are stirred to active indignntlon. There is ascheme on foot for carrylng railronds futo the Luke District; and, at the prospect of having the serene beauty of this_fminous reglon—endegred by its mative loveliness, and Dy its associntions with the (ls- tinguished men who have dwelt within 1ts pre- chnets=—Irremediabily marred aud profuned, an energetie appeal Das been made to save this work trom the presence of the spoller. A Trotest Apninst the Extension of Ruflways in the lLake Distriet” has been written by R. Sowmerrell, of Windermere, with o preface by Ruskin, and a eollection of articles from differ- ent zuthors. In commenting on this action, the Athencum remarks: *Witha *llne? ranuing by the slde of the Wye, tho lovellest reachies of the Thames haunted by steam-launches, and the subnrbs of Lomdon hardly habitable by those who want to worlk and rest In peace, there is. no need for wonder that a few lmldly step forward with protests such s this!! Itls devoutly to be hoped thot Grasmere will not b * turaed Inton pool of drafnage,” and its banks made **u Leach of broken gluger-beer bottles," as it too surcly must be it the (stewn-horse is allowed o wuy nlung its shores, with its trutn of living freight folluwing at its bac '\\'D“DS“'OR'I T AND MACKAY. Dr. Charles Mackay hns recently published his recallections of forty years' experience in titerature and publie affairs, They fill u couple of volumes, aud are spleed with aneedotesy und sltetehies of notable people whom he hus met. Among them all non is more uniusing than the following account of an futerview with the oau- thor of thie * Exeurvslon*: I proserted myself st n?-ual Mount about noon, and found the poet walklng In his garden, com- manding & beautiful vlew over Grasnere aud the Dille, of rather mountalng, that fnclosed und ahut in thut pleturesque listie lake, Mr. Wordsworthat thils thme lind turied e 70LL year, and swullied somewhat feebly with the ald of 'a stlck. 1o wel- comed o very conrteously, and saked mo to ex- cuse him for révelving me out of dours, as he pre- ferred the open alr, and for wulking yomewhat slowly, o4 a fuw days proviously ito bad stratned his foot by stumbling over o molehill, 1 reminded ubm that Wilkiam the Phird had died from un uecl- dent of a slmilar kind, and expressed my gratitea- tion tu svo that in th present’ cane (ho “renult had not been s serlons, Mo suddenly sald, —1 thought sumewhut ungra uun}(.—-'l son teld you wilta poetry, 1 ueverreadu line of s'uur poems, anid Yot intend, I.nrwsulluuue worprived ot tho nPg'amu rudeness of thiv, for hu went on to suy, VYo must not be offvuded with pio; the truth i, Afinln 1supjosu that 1y fucs ub what I certatnly felt, —u slight ut a dectaration which I thought avvery grutuitous, $4You nuzt not Lo sururiied, * hosdiled, **for ity IIQ[\'!III? thut mokes mo suy thiv. 1 am an ald wan, and |ttly time laleft nu In the wurld, uae (hat llitle an well av Lmuey (o revise ull mi yocms carefully, and make theéni us perfect o can before | take ay tinal departure.’ It was uite cvident, from the franknces of (his explana- tion, that the wld gentleman did not mean to wound 1y eclf-love whilo cx]vlamlnf sl vindie cating bis own; and I could but take In goud part theconildence his had seposed b mo, Dewirluy to wrn the conversation, 1 vtopped o moment in our walk to sdmire the outling of the plcturesque mountaln scross the lake, and pointing toit, saked Lim its name, ¢ Dearmo!™ Lo replled, **that’s NabScaur, Have you never resd my poemsi™ It Avas on the tip of my tongue to retort that | never read anybody’s pocine but my own: hut [ retlected hat Ly was O1d enough to by my grandfather, und not oply thut, but bow untrue thy statement would huve been. So I refratued, ond listened attestive. 1y while he spoke: **1have descrlbed Nab Ecaur more than once in my poems. Don't vou remem- Ber the following?* “(And here ho recited, In n deep baes volce, n passage of twenty or thicty Tinee, whleh swas entlrely new to me, though I did not like to tell him so,) SPARKS OF SCIENCE. THE RIVER CLYDE. A hundred.ycars ogo the River Clyde, on which the City of Glasgow Is eltunted, was a little, shallow mountain-stream, which could be forded by foot-passengers twelvo miles below Glasgow Bridge, To«lay vessels drawing twenty-three feet of water cap ride into the heart of the city, and the largest ocean-steamers can navigate the river at oll times of the tlde, This Immense change Iu the eapacity of the Clyde ias been effected by skillful achicvements in enginecring, an nccount of which is given Inn Tate work by Jamnes Deas, entitled * The Rlver Clyde: An Jistorical Description of the Rise and Progress of the Harbor of Glasgow.” Nature glves an abstract -of the work, from which we take the following particulars: In 1703, John Golborne, of Chester, was em- ployed to Improve the condition of the Clyde. He suggested that, the shores of the river “in moet places beine much softer than the bottom, the current has operated there, because it could not penctrate the bed of the river, and has by those means gained in breadth what {s wanting In depths" and he added, *I shall procced on these principles of nulsllnz Nature when she cannot do her own work, by removing thestones and low gravel from the” bottom of the river where it 18 shallow, anil by contracting the chan- uel where it {s worn too wide.” Active upon theso principles, Golhorne con- tracted the chanuel, and ncreased tho rapidivy of the current, giving it greater scouring power, by crocting o seriea of rubble-ettfes, and by o system of dredging fn the decper shallows, and hurm-plmrlnb' in thuse which were exposcd at low water, Un loosening the hard crust in the bed of the stream, the softer wnaterial below was subjected to the action of the current, and llmc-l(ly worn away. In less than elght years the depth of the water where the river used to }m {unlcd was increased from two to fourteen eet, 2 In 1799, Rennie, the succcessor of Golborne, sought to control the direction of the channel by siortening some of the jettics, lengthenlug others, erecting new ones, and uniting them with rublLle-walls su a8 to avoid the forination of shoals between them. Iu the execution of this_plan, upward of 200 {ettics were thrown out between Glasgow aud Bowling, 2 distance of eleven miles, T 1536, thechiannel ut Broomelow, Just below Glaszow Bridge, had n depth of elght feet ot low tide; and the engincer reported thut *The river, which by artificial sneans was to be rendered capable of taking crafy of thirty to forty tons to Glasgow, has, by what Golborne calted asalsting Nature, heen' rendered capable of floating veasels nearly ten tines the burthen.” “Since the date of that report, the Harbor of Ulasgow has been widened 240 feet, umi vessels of 3,000 tons burthen can fluat where then stood one of thelargest cotton-mills In the city, One constant aim of the enzincers bins been the colarzement of the volume of the tidul- wuve, and the prolonzation of its flow into the upper reaches of the river. As a result of thelr efforts, the level of low water in_the har- bor §s eizht feet ower than it was in 1758, and a foat luwer than it was fourteen years ago. A cm‘rcs‘vundlng rise has taken Phu-c in the level of bigh water at ordinary spring-tides. An in- ereasc fn the rapldity of the flow’ of the tldes Is as marked as fu the volume of water, It I neceszary to continue dredging the whole ‘car round, in order to keep the chaunel of the Ctyde fu onler; und this work has been go ably systematized that o large amount ean be exe. cuted in a given tine, at o small cost. The ex- pense of ol m\rmfi away one cuble yard of gravel {s ubout one shilling, und one cuble yard of sand i8 about, two aud u hulf pence, inclusive of re- palre. The largest steam-dredping flect in the world is employed hero; and four new steam hopper-barges are now building, which will brinz the number up to cighteen, For the re- moval of bowlders, diving-bells are used, some of which weigh above six tous. Last year onc of these bells rulsea 650 tons of bowlders fram the bed of the river, The _construction of water-highway has created a shipping trade for Glasgzow which may De Indieated by the statement that, at the pres- ent time, the registered exports and Imports of the vity amount to 2, tous, or faif the tonnage of Liverpool or London. ' The populs- tlon of Glasgow 18 Increasfug with thegrow ita commerce 1n 1801 it was nbout B4, 1831, 202,000 fu 1861, 805,000; and, at the pres- ent date, abont 535,000, ‘o secommodate the enlarging commerce of (Glusgow, docks uand quays have hul to be con- structed and extended. " Kingston Dock, opened 1n 1807, gave about five and a half acres of wa- ter-space; and doclis now bullding at Stobeross will “give. over thirty-three seres, and afford roum for, 1,000,000 tone of shipping, The lost- named works are of especial Interest, ns n new system of sub-gqueous foundation {s belng for the flrst time tried ln their construction. The quuy-walls are supported on groups of conercte ylinders, bullt up of rings formed in movable wooden molde, Each eylinder is twenty-seven fect six fuches high, couipused of eleven rings, and resting on ron shoes. The average rate of w these eylinders is one foot an four, but oceasjonally the rate has been sive feet per bour, The eylinders are first built up to their helght; after which, the sand and gravel belng exca- vated from within, they sink into the ground. Their descent i3 hastenied by the weizht of 300 tons of cast fron placed un the top, NORTH-ATLANTIC PITYSICS. Prot. Mahn has made au fmportant contribue tlon to the pysics of the North Atlantic in a report upon observatiuns collected by the Nor- weglan aud Scottish Meteorological Iustitutes from twenty-two stations along the cousts of Norwny, Scotland, Faroe, and Iceland, and from Norweglan ships. The results are represented en seven charts, showing the distribution of the temperature in this portion of tho Atlantle dur- ing each two months, and durlog the whole year, The most striking feature of the charts Is o warm thermal axis, tuking o northeasterty direction about 150 mlles to westward from Scotlnnd_and Norway, and extendiug even beyom! North Cape, ~ Along this line of warm waler, temperatures ure cousiderably higher than elsewhere, During July and August, the warin axis approaches much neaver to the const of Nurway, unil extends from off the Naze only to about . 64 deg. From June to 8eptember, the North Sea s coldest on the Bcottish coost, amnd warmest In Skuagerak; but, durlng the reumluln% maunths, this fs reversed. That s In the lottest wonths the iluencs of the heated laud s powerfully felt; but, during the rest of the year, the tempernature is deterimined by the strong southwesterly winds und currents of the Atlantie, This Influeuce of tho Atlantic on the lumremmro of Western Europe is finmense. In May und June, aud to aless degres in July and August, n'lxmly of eold water pours from the Arctle Sea, west of Jun Mayen, to the southenst us fur as Faroe, de- flecllni:.um isothermals in a remarkable man- ner, In May aud Junc the atmuspheric nressure reaches Its” anuual maximum, northerly and eunterly winds thelr greatest predominance, the weather becomes clearest aud brightest, and the ramfull slnks to its amnual minfnum, over the extreme northwest of Europe, 100D O 'PITLE SIBERTAN MAMMOTIL, From an examination of the fodder-remaing of rhinoceroses und wamnioths n Northern Slberia, it s concluded that these anlmuls lved fu the reglons where thelr Lodles have been found, und fed upon the plants stitl {ncluded in the Blberian floru. A mass of macerated vege- table substance, extructed from hollows n tho teeth of rhinoceros In the Irkutskl Muscum, placed under the microscope, proved to consist of leaf-remains with fragments of stems, ‘Theso wera nostly of grasses utid other endogenous lunts, though w fow Lelonged to the exogens. t fs scarcely possible to determine with ues curucy the species of plunts from fraginents ol- talued In tho state of thess remalng, yet it Is vonsidered unquestionable thut \he?' are ldent« leal with still-existing species. They are ree ferred to Geners of Plees, Ables, Lurix, Gueta- cew, Betulueewr, Salleinem, cte. SPURIOUS DRAWINGS, Herr L. Lindenschmlde hus published a paper Rlving s reusons for belloving thnt the draw- ings upon the fossil bones found In the Thay- ingen Cuve are spurfous, These’ drawings, rep- resenting a bear, w fox, and o stag, were fouud fu 1874, undd were prized by selontifle circles us thu finest L-:mln;rlut of the kind; and upon them was bused the theory of the high state of civill- zatlon reucned by the cave-dwellers, Herr Line densetunidt shows thut precisely tho sawe druw- {nzes wre coutained Iy o little work by Lente- i, published fn 1688, und widely efreulated. NEW GUINEA, .The Loudon Times publishes the notes of the Rev. Mr. Luwes, of u voyage frumn Port Moresby to China Btralts, New Gulnea, On the banks of u couslderable river cmiptying fnto Hood's Hay, o large village was found, regularly laid out In streets mrmauluunl- clean, snd huving gurdeus und carcfully-cult{vated fowers, The uatives owned lurgd ond well-mude cauocs, which wera hewn with etone hatchets, At a Ingzoon at Cape Rodney, n_regular iake-village was discovered, Near Table P 'oint, a large vanae, With a crew of twenty-one womien, cane alongside, a village of women near Amazon Bay, BRIEF NOTES. The next meeting of the French Assoctation "Tliere are riumors along the coast of for the Advancement of Sclenco will be held at Ilavte, late In August, 1877. The place of mecting fn 1878 will probably be Versallles or Paris. Tho Ostsee Zeitung accounts for the frequent want of aroma of foreign cigars by stating that wagon-loads of dricd chei exported from Buben for tobacco. " At a late meeting of the London Linnman So- clety, It was stated that the number of birds [n- cluded [n the fauna of the Philippine Islands Iy now 285, Of these, alxty aro -new species obe tained by Prof. Bteere. During o storm of wind Aualnlllg, Sen‘:. 10, velocity of 185 miles per hour, the rate of 112 miles per hour. ment was made by Rog llcmclbcxfihm recently been Large additions are hezx m School and Hospital, W%l[\:)l, with the heallog art {n sl fts departments, The Directors of the Bwedish Government rafiways liere have been considering the ques- among their engine- rsons cofn- {:rialnz the stafllthe Upsala Gelle Rallway, eigh- defect, and coneequently to be unfit for rallway-service. ‘This investization Indicates that color-blindness is more frequent than {s generaliy supposed. A Polar wave swept over Europe eatly fn No- vember, which is accounted an abnormal meteor- i phenomenon. Ileavy snow-storms oc- curred In North Germany, Austrla, Bervia, and Roumanta; aml . the temperature fell belew freezing fu these countries, a8 also In Western France, Italy as far south sa Roine, and in the whole of Turkey. Flerce gales raged In the Black Sen, the Adrlatic, and the Baitic; while, in the reglon of T-:uw(mrg Forest, the crop o vegetables, beet-root, ete., was destroyed by the tion of color-blindness drivers and oflicials, Out of 26 ecn were found to sufler from this oloyien! cold, is related to that of the Falkland: dlstant 4,500 miles. o Ticter near the line of snow. other data, it were ouce united. CHRISTMAS AMONG THE INSANE. &pecinl Correspandence of The Tribune. tients a “Merry Chrlsting lars have always been wmost ovecasfon,—those eonml(v‘ decorate the Christmas tree. On CI while In"the centre” stood making o scenc of festiye beaut; rounded and adorned future pleasure for them, riled nnd foces bflghlcncd in consclous tlcpation. in the traditfonal manner, an laughrer. Elg the enjoyment of the evening, Dr. Brooks from the male attendants, tertainment closed with the singiy, carol, and the patients dispersed, al witnessed. The hall tions made fu the same happy manuer, ———— SONNETS. 3 MYSTERY. 4+ Our Father, give s light, that we may see ‘The firtn and equal bases of Thy Thre Teyond o doubt, thut all may worshlp Theo In clondicss knowledge of Thy Majesty 1 sliono Tho lght It had, untll all light seemed gone, Aud from decyy darkness came’ a voice: aln Ta rest, \vh{:h stops the forward wheels ceuls, ForulllmnmEoud. the fullness of its light, Yet through QUESTIONING, tand whercof our faith doth slng Tsthat d land, of perfect reatfulnesa, A blamele pelngt 8a faln would Bense bolleve; yet, ever parleyin, rean To streuuous Alght it lite-long folded wing. Methinks there must be some Inbospltable ale To chill the spirit on that now-found shore, — Some liard necsaity, that calls for action thera As well a8 here, Do suuls schilove thelr power, nr, THY CURISTAAS TREE, Krowhtle, in melancholy native wilds, it sung A sabbing requiens to the Winter's gale, ia! Eacli other with In No-Man's Land. Now hune Child;liuast o rapture. o 18 favgred with & memory of its wontod wail, Here, tonius 1ts sensitive, sad music doth forego for nyes cealed! Cuicavo, Horen M, CaxPeELL EE el THE LITTLE GRAVES, December snow fulls soft and slow Upuu tho cliurchiyurd-mold, And, In your tender, dowuny arms, ‘Pwo littlo graves enfuld,— Twa Liny mounds, whers sidoby sids, In dreainless sleew, ure luid Tho bubes whoin oursteicken hearts “Whe brightest vuusbing wod And oh! yo warmly sheiter them Froue the Wisler's lcy breath, Aw b sobs sud »ighs through the leafiess trees, {1 the lowe 6f the Ivaper Death! o Andoh! vo wurwly cover the Iu thelr bittle, uarrow bede, LT ufi swln;vllnus-h-cml!: h-f: fragraut Sowers o s Over their heads, Y e v T Aoxs Auzux McGuina, With toys and dsnclug lights, it tempts tho young ‘eb our merry Christase But 'mongt the melancholy branches, low und higb, Glitter tho ordured lighty and sweots (or youngs lings' Joy, Like Il.nfl:u ill{n of 1im whose ahrowd words Slied Fhe world witt keavenly cchous, uud whose death ruvealud The father's kindly gifts *mid surrows balf-con y-leaves arc iweekly manufacture of ] occu” r&ing ot s_vdv{ey, n a st lasting one or two minutes, the wind irnvelfi at the n‘fxtraor‘:llnnrv During twelve minutes the wind paseed the Observatory at Tho meastre- Inson’s cupaneinoincter, The Medical Department in the University of reatly extended. M;: the Mmlllml when complef will render this “fostitution one nr; m‘cuflxte:li: cqulpped in Europe. Every provision has becn made for sclentific Inkuinuon In connection t A report on tho florn of Marion Island—an lmlnle(r apot 500 imiles from the Crozets, and over 1,000 from Kerguelen's Land—reveals the curious fact! that the vegetaton of this island 1 ‘ugea, There aro fow Ilchengon the tsland, and four apccies of ferns lave been guthered, Mosses grow on the hillsides and From the occurrence of Lringlea antlscorbutica in Marfon Island, Ker- guelen's Land, and the Crozets, und nlso from Is sugeested that” these telands Eraty, 11, Dec. 28.—The Christmas festivle ties at the Northern IHospital for the Insane, Llgin, were this year of an unusually pleasant and entertalning character, It has been custo- mary at this institution toissue circulars a short time before Christius to the friends of patients and others interested In the institution, asking for contributions to enable thew to give tho pas , and these clrcu- encrously re- spouded to, but never more freely than on this having friends” thero send- ing thein personally some token of remem- brance and sufliclent contributions being re- velved fram others to furnish presents for those not dircetly remembered, and to hand- hristuus night, the patients to- the num- ber of about 400, were lllhl.l?l’el] into the amusc- ment hall, which they found beautifully dee- orated with festoons, Wreaths, and banners, and the walls adorued with mottos and scutences, artistically designed by onc of the male patients, alarge tree whosc myriads of candles shed o soft and incilow light upon the brilllant and fauciful decorations, such ns was seldom witnessed by those for whose beneflt it was given, while the generous array of bundies nnd puckages of evere' description which sur- he tree, gave promise of and thelr eyes After o few appropriate opening remarks by the Buperintendent, a Christmas carol was sung, at the conclusion of which two life-like representations of S8anta Claus x:lmcnred nttired loaded down with presnnul and were reeeived with peals of With the asgsitance of the attend- ants they soon despoiled the tree of its richest fruit, giving each one some present, and many recelving several, and every one becoming the Impr)' [Luuuor of u large ‘bag of candy. The n City Band cceasfonally chimed in with some picasant aeleetfon, which added greatly to One feature of the oceaslon was the presenta- tlon to Dr. Kithourne of a handsome gold-head- edcane ns atoken of esteem and mark of np- preciation of his wwvarylng kindness by the male attendants, and afso a simflar present to Dr, Dewey from the femalo attendants, aud to The en- of another happy and rlflmcd with the result of what was -io many of Nem the first Chrlstings festival they had ever was then cleared, and a rlwunt hour was spent by the employes in erpsichorean enjoyment, ‘Tuesday evening the tree was reproduced {n minature, one ineach wing for the male and female patlents respec- tively who were unablo to attend the previous cvenlngs, the carols belng sung and presenta- Within tho unvelled Heaven: 'l’hylul?ur:nke kaown Thus prayed a falthful soul; yet din ‘and dimmer **ln cere Of work, that strengthens souls; so Heaven cone 'afth's windows, 1o ths toller's sight The beavealy beaws cume down, and duty, lo the gloon, Beea always through thestorm the lights of Homo1*® Where green pulms wave, and lavo-cyed flowars carcss Benlxgly-lllmdcu pathways fringed with deathless With dfih‘mc, vomo power enfolded fu the’ lll'v‘l uress, Tuog‘rlnml for selfsh faith, seems longing to ad- And througl this 1ife wuch unusual fuuctions bear, To lllnurul’l purpose with tho dust, and Jure no more! Tust aharyensd to n whistle, auch 8s ghosts might hlu feutive light, cach drooplny, Larp-like