Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 13, 1877, Page 9

1 v 1 b s 1 s I ] 1 ] i LITERATURE. An Englishwoman's Sketcl{es of German Life. Songs of the Troubadours.. . Another Life of Marie Antoinette, English Thonght in the Eight- eenth Century---Greck and Noman Legends. The Fifth Volume of the New En- oyclopedia Britannica, Gerome, the Painter--The Question of Dress —Bahylonian Relies--Nichubr, "Educated " Fleas=-A Remarkable Woman--The Wood=Tick. LITERATURE. GERMAN LKFE; Fow Fid N %, 12mo., pp. 312 New York: O meton. &-Co.- Chica: danem, StcCare &Co. Price, $1.50. ‘The essays embraced in this volume were published a year or 80 ago In Fraser's Magasine, where they attracted a good deal of commnent from their very sprightly tone, thelr superior cleverness, and thelr surprising disclosure of the phases of life hidden in German Intcrlors, They were written by a Jady who had dwelt for years among the people described, who was In- tlinately conneeted with them by ties of rela- tlonship, and who had assoclaled familiarly with tho saclety of widely-scparated districts. There was an alr of perfect honesty tempering ber frankness, of kindliness softeulng her severcst critlelsms, and of soind sense pervaaing her re- flections, which gave welzht to her words, and coustrulned assent to thelr trustworthinese, The papers have been reprinted in buok-forin, and a second cdltton was soon called fur, which 18 now given to the Amerean public. The bouk Is Impressive for more reasons than one. It is the work of a bright-rainded, keeas cyed observer; nnd it opens to the daglight the private history of an Interesting rave. In sep- arato chapters it treals of Germun Servants, Furniture, Food, - Manners sand Custons, Language, Dress, Amusements, Wonien, Men, Marrlage aund Chililren, Reliclon und the Cauarch. Under these heads, the traits and habits of the people belanging in a rank par- allel with that of the middlc classes In England are freely discussed. The lmpresslon left on the mind Is bleak and dreary. And yot it must e understood that the life delineated 18 limited to military and official soclety. Tlere Is no sc- zount uf commercial and unlversity civcles, the author expressly stating that sh= has depleted only those clrcumstances of which she had per- 3onal knowledge, and that the privilege of fn- tercourso with the cultured society having Its nucleus in the (lerman universities was not en- joyed by her. In justice to the natlou, snother book {s nceded as candid as this, portraying the brighter sido of domestic Germany, and gath- erlug Into it all the sunshine and swectness that can be legitimately distiiled from the habitual aspeets of the experience related. 1n the chapter on Furniture, the writer gives aminute picture of the homes of * ordinary Germans, such as you will find In tifty towns, or inten thes 6ifty, If you have visited thein; .« » « of the housetivlds of military men,— Generals, Colonels, Majora; of those of tho petite noblesse; of the higher civil employes,— Judges, Coundlors, Aancslnra ete, ;' and the following 18 the vlew prescuted of the drawlng- room:; Ar a rule, this will not be carpeted, but the floor will be stained a datk color, and thers will ba small plecea uf carpet, seldom of the saine patiern, epeead in different corners of the room. . . . Ui ke mige or mqares of carnet, af which men- tlun has been niude, there will be 8 table; and, be- hind the table, invariably a sofa. This is the piace of bonor, and, should, no pereon of higher rank than yonr own be {»mtm. you will be invited to take ‘your place fhereom . . . On tho table Thera will be a gay-colored cloth, and, perhaps, a damank napkin pisced dianiond-wise in. anticipa- tion of the comlny cuffee; but there will be no ~bouks or wark ujwn It,~~0 photozraphe, of maga- utch-books abaut {he rovm; and, a8 you glance furtively arvund, you will be able to draw na Infereuces or conclusfons a8 to the characteristics of ia fair occupante, 1t will Bave no distinctive physlognomy of its owa, « » . Neartho window there will probably bo a writing-table, surrounded by a screen of Crellis work, ot covered with an arch, over which tvy has Leen frained, —ivy v dark and su dismal, eo loudly telling of want of sun and air, that it will rather bave a depressing than an enlivening cflect on the entcaible of the rooni,—and thera will be un Indis-rubbor plant‘or two, snd s fow bits of &MH’IL‘I’] in pots; but for fflol’l!fl\ll geranioms, right ‘calcealariss, sweet verbenas, brilliant petunias, you must not look. ‘The dinlng-room Is stilt more barren of cheer- fulness; for here— you will seldom gnd water-color skatches or oll- palntings adorning the walls, . . . It will he room bare uf all oraament and dentliute of all st- teactlon: |t will do 1 feed in, as the chaire will do 10 siton, and that Is all. A common table with. out any cloth, a Hoor without auy carpet, windows withaut even the fvy and Indla-rubber pia produce s fri ur of sapcet tbat verges on the 3 the nafee of footstops coming and going ou tha hare boards whil sirike a knell of reniorss loto your bosom, e you think uf all the Tarkey carpets aver which you Lave passed with {ndiiervnce dur- ing earller portions of your piigriousge. After taking you with Ler, {n this fashion, thmll%l thie enflre suite of apurtments compus- fog a German **flat," the authior inakes these :mlunntli’-aenllbln remarks upon the trus in- terpretation of the language of furmiture: Without deliichting 1o tablcs or chaies, or_in an: way subscribing 1o the furniture-fetish, 1 think we must all sdmit the value and Interest of peo- urroundings, in 80 {ar ae they are expresnive of indiniduality. " Furuiture lise 1ia own physiog: nomy it tells the turn of Virginia's temper and the bent of Paul's wind, It le not splendor or oute lay that we mis In ateraye Gorinsn roums; wa wfes the individnsl wmind, the finor shades of character which our frlends’ surroundings ought to convey, ~the book that betrays, thy aketch which sugp the Huwer which * recalls, =~ All speak to'us | ia the phrase expression of tn: ftself felt; we feel pitality were cheal 1o the material; we zinea, or newspapers, or al s, Wil stove.—but yet we uro chilled, and hunzry, and thiraty: the wpiritual fe deulcd fo ud; uil thg ordl. nary occupations of lifo, xll the fuves, and the 4, aud the enthisiasmy, and the follles, 876 pUL away; wo gaze sround sceking what man- mer of 1man o woman thism , and we fall back dispirited on the bare bourds and the bead-work, o v+ ILianot the jutellect that s starved, itis e heart that hungers. Wadunot care su inuch whatour friends (hink as what they feels littio toncbes of tendarpe: Presauto of ‘tho band, & bispered word, 8 glance that but swept you with Y| bese are the things that'you will teinember, which will keep your beart warm, long siter your tanliue runttatum 04 bave groaned ou he with et nian that ovee lived, The lovable g or s woman'e cmuem fa uot revealed ln n drawlug-room. It Is nof overty fot- 1ide, bat that jarslmany denlee, o+ POYErtY for Over these Germau homes which are thus shown ujp, the writer declares that— tbe hushaud s the king, the wife merely the prime. minivter. 1l site Iu bis arm-chair, smoking per- eunial pipes, and auditing, with all'tho scverity of 8 Lycurgue, ‘the tittle womun's_abject 'ac- 1lo knows all about 11 L rscesses in ve as 1o fuel, tyranul red-hernuge, snd ferrible on egge and bacon. A Woman s no morc mistresy of ber own houes 10 Gormany than you or I (despita tho Laureate) At masters of our fatc. Ehc i simply an Spper -m-nl,—luz, of mauy & zently-born’ and !tnlly-\nnd lsdy {4 may bo sald that the dull radgery of Ler Jifa is such ga no upper, setvant would endure, such as would be scarcely tolerable $a**the mald'that docs the mesncst charn.™ . . . The lady inblack shik ¢ ANJI upper servant'') ¥bo consents to superlutend Brown's gorgeous eae t3blishmeny for the wioderate comslderation of & year (everylhing found and 0o, fcate” Inquivica ‘as to perquisitcs) would scorn to eamploy herself {n the menisl Tudnercommon Lo, msay moblo ladles fo Ger- aceustomed to think of the Germans that domeatlc people. The truth ls, that of o 4 the, f"‘ ud tospare: but of {omestic life,us wo undersi nd It 1316 of Rotbing. Ueyoud eatiny, rinking, and pleaplng under one 201, Lha seaes have lttle In common, Thg woman of the ring: for the wife, the baking snd {or the husband, the cakes and alo: for ing “nd spinaing; for bim, the hetr 10r Ler, Lo phieop-walk of precedent king of virtue; for him, the paradings 2 ) #nd prancings: for ber, the nipplogs and screw- Inga; for him, the rlrlug- and dancings; for her, the dripping-jar and the meal.tob: for him, stark ::g“fi‘rlun, nd general gallooning, glitter, and e What wonder that women condemned to a dull, drudging, dwarfing Iife Iike this, should be unable to share {n the intellectual pieuurel of their hushands; should take no Interest in pul N affalrs,—fn the larger outside questios over which the male members of the house- hold are nctively cxercising thelr mental lmlreru What wonder that they should give helr few lelsure hours to petty talk about petty things! ‘Ihelr years are coustimed in a round of sinall, haraxsing cares, that do more than de- oress, Lhat actually extinguish, the apirits, Yet, like womankind'all over the world, should you venture to let your pity become voeal," the German woman “will ly uf your throat, « . . bug her chalns the tizhter, and eall upon you Toudly to witness the mnturc of those hugzings. A hetter wtate of thinzs can only be brought about by German men, German wemen can and will'ilo notling for themselves," American women have lan been ¢l the cars ot the world as the fechicst r. hman familys but, ace to the testimony of terman physdans adduced by this suthor, thelr counteywomen have so eniervated them- selves by unwholesome habits, porsisted In from generation to generation, that thely health is In u woree condition than thut of thelr Amerlcan sistera: * Look at aur pretticst glrle,” cried an eminent [hysician to wmes ++they are Iike those fowers that bloom their hrief hour, fade, and fall, to make room for freeh b me, who, In tuen, will bloom, fade, and fall al They arc all bleichsuchllq; they cannot falill the hinctions that Natore In- tended cvery mather to fulAll,—not onc here or there, but al hey have no constitution, no stant. ina, 1o n o whysique, no race.” Tho type I indintinet nnd blurred, —ninrsed by certain con- stitutional defecta that'you point out to them in vain: there 14 & want of Tine-deposit [n the bong- ayetem, —bience the terriblc teeth that mark a Ger- man woniun's natlonality nine times out of ten. How can they have ‘‘plack' and nerve, and sound, finn ficeh, atrong muscle. and healthy bone, if they have no fresh alr, no reguiar exer- cire, no_proper nourishmont, and, above all, no dlexlre to chunge, alter, or amend the order of thelr unhealthy Jivesr Marrinize {8 hedged about with many restrin. tions; und the lotest statistics assert that whereas i Englandit Iy reckoned at 0 per centy and_in lrcland at 30 per ecnt, in Germany it reaches only 19 per cont, This, taken with "the high rute of emigration, serlously threatens the couutry with o decrease of population, The inipediments {n the wuy of marriage do not ex- ist’ in the matter of divorce, lere, neaiin, we find a state of things equal to or surpassing that which has brought great reproach upon Ameries, To lllustrato the common practice of men and women _shifting thelr life-partuers at will, and the slight attention that it excites, the author relates that lier owa great-uncle ' aat down_every evenlng of his live to play a rubber of whist with his” three divorced wives; they “eut for partners, shutled, aud talked of tricks and honors® with ull the gay philosophy of fulks for whom words hud no” meaning and fucts no moral. No one bore animosity to anybody else. The three Bwdles had wll tried ~their Jund atit; but they bad held bad cards, the luck was ngafnst them, and Uiey each succes- syely threw up tho game, and awoke to the (uxl\'{clluu that thele terrible old Genernl gln wua a Waterloo inan) was much more practicable as a partuer at the card-table than as a com- panion for 1ife,” ‘The pernjelous system of Intermarrlage, which prevulls so extensively In Gennany, Is dwelt upu at leogth, and the terrible evils 1t entalls ugon pusterity are plalnly demanetrated. The absenice of facts and ficures to support. the nu- thor's concluaions on this subject hua been com- plained of by sume crities; hut she answersthat I.n, bovk {8 not amedical treatlse, in which slone such statistics can be demanded, and that the facts ving her position have been so uften given jermany that their suthority is there universally acknoswledged. Passages of Iiterest mizht be quoted almoxt without end from this lively and yet robering volume, but our space 1s fllled. The chapters ul‘mn which we have not touchell are as reolete with matter for reticction as those from which wa have borrowed, and the whole we give over to the perusal of our readers. THE TROUBADOURS. TROUDADOURS ~ AND NEW AND 0L, hop S A Nineteentl 80, Noston: MeClurg & Alisa Preaton has done much for the exten- Wplon of belles-lettres by her very scholarly studies of the Provencal pocts of the early and the later achoals. The service which she per- formed In her artlatic transtation of Mistral's herole poem, *Mirelo,” s still fresh {n the mind of the cultivated public; and it now is followed by s kindred work, treating of the poetry of the singers In tho lengue d’oc of the past and the present time. In the essays com- prised {n the volume before us she has given an abetract of Mistral's later eplc numed “Calendhu "5 a sketeh, with specimens, of the poul.;x!.)( Theodore Aubancl, and of Jncqueh JMniin; flistrations of the sonzs of the Troubadours; and a review of the sources of thg storles pomurised In the “ Arthurlod." To the hrodictlun of thesc casays Mliss Preston lins bronght nt culture, n fine poctle sense, and a sustalned enthuslasin, without which there Is no wood work ever doiie in the world ‘Tho sviopsis presented of Mistral's » Calen- dauy" written nine years after Lhe publicatton of “Mlrelo,* creates’ lunzing to have the whole work translated by the sanie skillful hand which has furnlshied entfeing extracts from it here. The scheme of the poem fa full of varied und ¥lgorous inclident, and in versiileation fs singu- larly rich and molodlous. Misa Preston outlines the entlre action of -1he epic, and, hy passaies culted all the way slong, atfords u ively (dexof its excceding beanty. We muke no atiempt at’ a condeusation of the atory, but copy # snigle I)ln-ulru of the two lovers fu whose destiny the nterest {s concentrated, as a just exaple of the clisructer ot the poem: She sprang upon her feet. nsplred, erect, Oh, beantcous was her head | and well-bedecked Ry 'its denne caranal of shining halr, Whereof the twin colls wero ua brooin-bouchs fair With yelluw Hower; and from bier cyo siucere Btorms mizht have fled, and left tho heavens clear, White were hier teeth, And ahy, at times, the were Of the proud arbs, whose wondrous hue recalled ‘Ihe steadfant splendora of the emerald, Aund desurt yunvhine faint roitecte Jothe warm tint ber peach-like chey Bo towered the lithe, {all shape, divinely molded 1y the white iinen robe her nmhnlmll i I While ut her kaeen her rapt love, Aa i the blue be heard an an Leaned on his elbows with ujr And he~ b too—w. el £ cyes. wade 10 spleudid w With sopple limbs, yet stronge ae aatl-yards b (A ! years, ur barely mure, had e, And eycu, xad with love und black us night; ‘The down upon his lip was solt and light As on vine-Lranches, *Tie salt from the salt. i ne AL s et e Intreating the sonza of tho Troubadours, Migs Preston exhibits o spechmen of the aubadv, —u love-sang whivh furms a moruling counter- patt to the serenade, Ia authorship is une nuwn, but 1t 5 umduubtedly the spontaucous fament ot n tond, impassloned woman, Mlss Preston s fnchined to regard it as the most per- feut lower of Provencul {nu:lr)'. amd, with this high fndorsement, wo venture to copy it: Under the hawthorns of an archard lawn, Blte lutd ber luail hoe lover's brvast upon, Silent, until the guard should cry tue dawn, AL, Gud! at, GOd! Why coniea (ho day 36 soont 1 waald the night imlzht never have presed byt 8o would st thou nothave left nie, at the cry OF youder #entry 10 the whitenlig sky, Ab, Godl a, God! Why comes the day &0 soon? One kiss more, sweetheart, ete the melodl F eatly birds Trow all ho Belds arive; Ouce wore, without a tho tof Jealous cyes! Ab, Godlah, Goal Wby cowea tis dsy so 400! And yet one morc under the garden-wall; For o ihe lirde besin thelr 1 Tfl‘.""' And the day wakens al the ry’s call. Ab, Uod! dh, ted! Why comes the duy 20 soon? “Tisotert lic'sgone. Ol mine in llfe anddeathi} But the sweet brecze that backward wandereth, Tauatt by au it weee my darhing's lireatls, Ali, God? ali, Giod! Why comes the day a0 soon? alr was the lady, und her bt JESTRElAS fuf her uas fuy lca e heart ont of w! 13 th s A, God ! uis, Goa? WhY commes the day v acimes i “Here, st least,” remarss Miss Preston, thero Is ubsolute artlessness,—a kiud of divine abundonment. Theao e e was while, favor sighed; YL, Inres w lbl their au- he Provencal poctry,— nade up as they are of discrimi mlz;nndyup- dreclative eriticlsu, and of delicateiy-turned trauslutions, showing, almost with the forco of the origiuals, the seutinient und the song of the ‘Troubwlours aud the Trouveres of Frunice. " M«\?HIIA’.'“?N TOINETTE, THE LIFE OF M, E ANTOIN . QU OF FRANCE, ByCu o Dy FosoEEN 1us Professor of Mo one T 8vo., pp. ' Cbleago: Jausen. McClurg & Co. The story of the hapless Mario Antoiaeste, Queen of Frauce, bus beca repeatedly told by HE CHICAGO ''RIBUNE attendants abont her who wero witnesses of her 1ife and her sufferings, and by others who stood at adistance elther of thinc or of circumstance, and studied the political and socfal cvents which slowly and surely led the doomed couple, to whom a disordered Kingdom hsd been be- queathed by a dissolute monarch, from & seat on the throne to a bed on the scaffald. The tale Is one of the cruelest fn all history, for the inde- scribable sorrows which the youthful pair were called to undergo were the Lcrlluge left by A succession of fnlquitons ancestors, rather than the scquence of thefr own misdceds, Maric Antofnette was a child of little more than 14 years when ahie left her Austrian home to be- come the wife of the Dauphin, only a few months older than heraell, 8he waa gilted with extraordinary personal charms, with engaging traits of choracter, and with Lieh moral quall- ties; and she had recefved from her illuetrious mother the tralning befitting a Princess and & futitre Queen, But she was still a child at the death of Louls XV, and if, during her early life 23 Dauphiness and as the wile of King, sho hetrayed a foudness for pmusencnt, o tendency to gayety, to mlrth, to levity even, it was but the natural consequence of the thoughtlessncas ani the volatility of her years. To offset her youthful crrors and indlscre- tlons, there iwas a tender, generous heart, a purity of purpose, a love of the right, and a de- sire to fullill the duties belonging Lo licr exalted which Incling the balunes of justice over rjugly In her favor. Conald- eringe the ditllenities of hier position, the un- scrupulous asanults of her cnemlcs, tlie corru tlon and treachery with whichahic waz surround- ed, and the weik nsture of Louls XVL, it §s marvelous that she wasable to pass through these accumulated trials with lier wonanly urity unimpeached, with her Toyal affection to rler bustand, hier family, and her subjects, un- diminished, and with a character conatantly de- weloping aml refiniug through the terrible dis- cipllne of eudless polznant eilefs. The patlence, and courage, and dignity with which she bore to the end the evila and “aflictions heaped upon lier proved that her mind was cast fu a herole mold, and that she was the worthy daughiter of an auzust Queen. No persunage who has in any capacity traversed the scene of this world's stage bettor deserves our sympathy, ourcharity, and, {n many respects, our admiration. The fresh narrative of the lfe of this beauti- ful and wuufortunate. woman, prepared by Mr. Youge, I8 decolv Intercsting, ‘The feelhigs of the writer are warmly enlisted In the cause of his subject? yet he s able, by the ovidences cited, to persuado his readers that in most cascs his partiality s well founded. He has draswn conslderably fromn the testimony atforded in the letters of Maric Antoinctte to her niotherand to the Austrian Ambassudor at Farls, le Comte Merey d'Ar;-‘cmelll, which are preserved In the orchives of Vicuna, aml were published by M. Arneth, at Paris, in 1575, and by M. Feulllct de Conchies ut Intervals between 18H and S 'Tho~e lutters give A inlnute account of the fi dents transpiring st the Frene Court until the death of Maria Thercea In 1780, and throw a strong light on the actluns of Marle Antoinette up to the time of hier mprisonment in 1782, ‘The anthor has micreiully abstained from a detalled recital of the liorrors of the last months of the Queen's lif, and has dwelt as lightly sa possible upon the atrocious cruelty with which sho wus persceuted by hier captors until the moment of her release by the guillotine. Through the whole of the blography, indecd, he has conducted his couras with mincl tact and good taste, coufining himsell atrictly to his theme, and treating it in a straghtforward and uw»rctendlnz styie. He sometimes betravs his British prejudices, as whers ne deals with the Aupport which France gave the United States in their strugele for (ndependence; yet this is eaally uverlooked fn vlew of the zenersl ability withwhich he has accomplished hisuzdertalking. ‘Ihe volumie (s accompanled with a portralt of Murle Antoinctte, taken in her youth, . ENGLISIT THOUGIHT IN TIE LAST CENTURY. BISTORY OF ENGLISH THOUGHT IN TIE RIGNTEENTH CENTURY. 1y Les STRTHEN. Two Volumes, 8vo. New York: G. P\ Put- nam's Sons, ‘The author of the ahove work states in his preface that the plan of his hook was snggested by an essay on the, “Tendencles of Relicious Thought in England from 1888 to 17503 and thint his object has been to give n more detatled nccount of that movement. Ta this extent the title fitc the buvk. Itis an claborate and very comiplete essay on the rellizlous controversics of the Intter quarter of the seventeenth and the whole of the elghtecnth conturles, With a stronz Rationallstic Lias, and un undiggulsed adudration for Iume, Mr. Stcphen has entered with pleasure Into & discussfon of the mnumerous religlous controvorsies of the lust century, and has shown the tendency of the present centurs toward Ma- terfullsm. Threc-fourths of his two bulky oc- tavos are ocepled with the developaient of re- liglous thought. [His summary of the literary productions of the various writers {s generally exact, und his judginent of thy worth, power, and elfect of cach author satisfactory, Never- theless, he fails tograsp then as a whole, and to comprehend what the whole beariug of their clfurts has been. The result s a very confused {mpression of the tendency or effect of the res eious thought of the Just century, us compared with that of the present age, A frequent un- necessary depreclation of the power of cesays in_favor of Christianity also detracts from the value of the work as a candid philosopbleasl sud professedly-tmpartlal treatise. ‘The porilon of the work devoted to the politl- cal, literary (i Jts uaual sctee), and poctical de- velopmeut of the past century s glngularly in- adequate and superficlal. As the author hime Felf confesses, It was wrltten mercly as an ajters thought, and to explain the renrinnu tenden- y vies of the perfod, und more fully trace thelr origin, The rise of the classic or critical school of literature, and of the modern novel, and the decting of the drana,—all rich topies, which de- mal recognition b work such as this)—ure comprehended in wbout ffty pages, Tahen as*a whale, the work does not fully satlsfy the wasts or ueeds of w reader of the present da heen what its title-pago promix an {impartial mauucr, and with u clesrer exposi- tion of the results of the hong and bitter liter- ary-contests of the elznteentl contury, it wonll luve beenn valable work Indeed. Each pgeneras tlun 4 the s o all the preceding, sl only by Astudy of the past can we Know why we are what we are. GREEK AND ROMAN LEGENDS, OLD TALES RETOLD FRUM GRECIAN MY- TUOLOGY IN TALKS AROUND TIE FIRE. By Avevsta Lansen, Author of **liome-Sto- rle nd *Talke with Giris,” Fifteen Tllus 12mo., pp. 408, New York: Nelon QIENDS: A Covtecrios or ToE Fae »LER axn FoukeLoy Ttong, By 1L 11, sy, Author of 1 tie Far Kast, " ete. 0., pp. 431 tes & Laartet, ‘The alm of Mles Larncd, In repeating the sto- ries of Greclan mythology for the enligl ment of children, 18 a commendable one. Young people are noturlously fond of falry-tales; and where can more fascinating examples of the surt be found than amang the tables of those superbuman befugs with which the Greeks peo- pled the heavens, sl the earth, and the res Klous under the earth! Whlle the fancy {s be- fug delighted with the adventures of these Pa- ®an deluies, varled, and fantustle, and pletur- esque enough to satisfy the most craviug love of the wonderful, the mind s being enriched sritha stock of useful knowledge, and the rea- son strengthened hy the esercise of tracing tho myths to thelr source, snd dls- covering their origin in the I and customs of a primitive people. Miss Larned las expeaded a good deal of study upon her subject, and of pan.taking effort to render it compreliensive and exact, She has endeavored alsu to expound it rbllumphlnlly. and polnt out the meanlng of the legends relatod, and the hints they conyey of the mental growth of au Ingenfous and cultivated race. Ju order the better to exceite aud retaln the In- terest of youthful readers, tho author has adupted the conyersational furin In her narra- S gratp of Intulllgeit Loys and girls so- licitlu the infoninution given [rom an older rel- ative, and commenting upon it In thelr custom- ary free faehilon. "Flecotloguy ls lable tu the eriticinm of belug old und crave beyond the habit of ordinary chililhood, yct the book helps tostop a tap inour litcrature that has loug needed filting. Since the Messra. Grimm, fu the tirst half of this century, demonstrated tue importance of a scfentific -tudnuuhe oral traditions and tales preserved by different peoples, there bave ap- ]»cnml varlous collections embracing the folk- ure of separate natiuns. The Germans have coutributed most to this receut branchiof knowl- edge, yet the English arc not far behiud ju” thelr development and application of - its resourcca. The volumne R. H. Bush-presents acompllation of thelegends taken from tho lps of unlettered women o and about Rome. These were secured not without wuch troyble aud Muesse, for in this age even the illiterats aro ashawed of appearing to give &0 much countcusnce to superstition as is in- dicated by the retention in the memory of fables Lcard in'chil -The Romau folk-lorp is arranged by the com- SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 187/-TWELVE PAGES, iler nnder the heads of Fatale (Falry Tales): sempj _I_Lt ends); Ghost-Storics and focal and Famnily Traditions; and Crarpe (Uv\\nip{. The author of the volume fs well remd fn foik-lore, and is able, at the clote of each stury, to show it analogies with the tales popular among other peoples. 8he notes in the praface the complete absence in the collection of tales of heroism aml ehivalry, and of gloomy horror, Tt in likewise remarked that less of superstitinas bellel is swrapped up in these etions than §a to ba found In the popular inyths of other coune trles BOOKS RECEIVED. By Mre, Evua P 718, Phila- & lirnt, TRANGE SEA. Trurrrascs Tave, Mee, JULTA Me: T, Anthor of ** Jug. or-Not," ete,, . 10m pp. 427, New Nntional Temperance Sueety and Pube Jication Jomne, TIE HISTORY OF LIBERTY. A Paren Rean Tirrons it NEw Yonk Jistomicat, Socirrv, Frn, Joux F. Atirx. With Pp. 163, New Yor A FRENCIL VI HE GRAND INTERNA TIONAL EXPOSITION OF 1830, Ky Monsieur L. Spuoxiy, Authorof **1s Monde At ete. Translated from the % Mandea by Sanvee, B, Negng, Faper, deiphia: Claxton, ftemsen & Haffelfnger. I'rice, ) conts, .!li?lllUA.HAflflAfln'F DAUGHTER. A Nover. ll}r Ming M. E. Buappox, asthor of "‘I‘\urpu 0y 1dmn, L ete., ete. Paper. Iilustrated. New York: Tinrper & liros. Price, 55 e BHADOWS DF TI1I SNOW, Iy 1, narox, Author of **Ilade. New York: lh\t‘!‘lrr& liros. Priee cenls. T TO T TLANTIC! MONTIILY—VOL- v (1857187480 1, INnex oy EUAL AnTiCLER, (D) 1T, Index of Awih i H. 0. llonghtun ‘o, I'rice, : dansen, RON'S HOUSEHOLD 3 roved Edition, Pr 1y M L SIANRLAT, Weymonthi Place, Dubuigue, ‘Ta., snd Ser W, Hezurusatoy, Dubuque, Is, Square 10mo., Pp. A DISUOURSE ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO RELIGION. By Throvone Panien. Fourth Edition. With an Introduction by Octavics Iiraoxs FroTmsaias, and & Giozraphical Bketch hy IIAN¥ANL E. Stevessox, 10imo., pp. 460, New York: G. F. Pulnam's Sone, ENDEAVORS AFTER TIIE CHRISTIAS LIFE, Discornurs BY dawes Mantiveav. licpeinted from the Sixth Engllsl Edition, 12mo., pp. 440, Boston: Amcrican Unitarlan Aseoclition. PERIODICALS 1 ART JOURNAL. Stecl plates: L **Cleopatia and Crs m a painting by J. L. Gerom Simuletons, from a~ painting hy 8. ien. T, 1. (*Stoneisall ) Jackson. i, A Article it aix filues *Lraditions of warid L. ('ntte, 18, he Smpletons 'y W elehteen 1. IVED. Iusteationa: ** Pletiiresgue Euarape, " with two i1+ Tustzatfons; **The Astar Reredow, * swith twol. Tustrations: **The S nland, ™ writh two {llostrat wall* dackon' Gerome, " by Lucy I, {looper; on'': ¢ Hlecent Art-Publications NORTI AMEIICAN KEVIEW K. Osgood & C . Tontente:s** Potnte in > by dtich V.—january t American o]l ord 11, ‘Dana, Jr. **Nanlel Deronda.™ by Edwin_ i *+Richard Wuaner's Theories of Munle, Qurzanoweki; "+ Bret Harte," by E. he Trinmph of Darwinie: The Eastern Question, ™ by ++ Contemuorery Literatire. ™ The Ve dean wili herenfter appear bi-monthly Instead of quarterly. < MONTILY WESTERN JURIST for January OVilllam Wi & itigominzton, 111.). NATIONAL TEACHERS NONTIA for Japu- ary (A, 8. Darues & Co., New York and Chl- cago), THE ENCYCLOPJEDIA BRRITANNICA, The fth volume of the new Eneyelopedin DBritanulca hus just been fseusd. The Amesiean blfsliers are Messrs. Little, Brown & Co,, Boston; but the work s all done fn England, and ju the most substantlal and clegant style of the bookmaking of that country, It 14 cx- plained that the publieation of this volume by been retarded hy the unexpected delay of one of the principal articles. Its coutonts fnclude subjects between Canon and Cleves, and the wrincipal artictes, with uuthors, are as follows: Cunon, 8. Davideon, D. D2 Canon Law, W. TNemter; Canova, W. M. Iusettis Cauterbury, T. Gi. G. Fuussett; Cunticles, Prof. Robertsun Bmith: Cauton, Prof. Douslas; Cape Colony, KeithJolinson; Captllary Action, Prof, Muxwel Caravan, W. Glfford Palgrave; Carbon, Prof. Annstrong: Carlds, Heury Joves; Carnival, T, A. Trollopes Carpety Ac Whytock and J, Paton; Carteslanism, Prof. E. Caird; Cartlinze, O Browning; Carthus: ing, J. Pattison; Casplan Sca, Dr. W, B, Coste, W. C. Smith; Casulstry, T. M Catacombs, Canon Venables; Categor) Adamran; Cothedral, Canon Venables; Cato, Doun Merival “uttley J. Gibzon: Catullus, Prof. Scllar; Caue 11, Banbury: Cavalry, Maj. I1. 8. Russel y Prof, Boyd Dawk| Cavour, Thomua Rirkup; Celtic] Fullivan; Cemetery, A, 11 Al Dr, Fare awl Gen, Walker; sony _ Chalmer: V. nmf. W. L. Al RI-hard Gar Chatterton, Miuto; Cl 4 Bt . Danlet Wilsen; Chancer, W, fstey, Prof, A Meldo- la, and F. 11, Butler: Chess, W, N, Potter; Chester, W. W, Foullks; Chicago, James B, Runnlon; Chill, C. B, Black wnd Fred Walters; China, Prof. Douglus: Ciwlers, 1 Christlanity, Prof, T, Lind: Trof, Rubcrtson Smith; Chr Cotes; Chureh, J. G, Cozenoy: Tifstory, Prof. &K Wallace: Clier g Cincinnatl, E. 8. Drone; Dulibury; Crcumdisiou, t Clarendon, 11. Ree: g W. Lucas Collins, I views, and Is undoubtediy compored by the Ju d best authorities on the techoleal subjects discuesed. LITERARY NOTESs. The January number of the Ame teview 13 fully up to Its excellent stan y contalns several futeresting articles, The first, esany, by C. W, Storey, oo the Clvil Servlee of the United States calls renewed atiention to the vital necessity of a change (b the manner of ap- pomting subordinate Government-otticials, and shows that thix country, which, from the nature of ita Governnmient, ouzht to give the most cureful attentton to the purity and efidency of its Clyvil Service, Is far behind all other nations in this reapect. Even much-desplsed Turkey requires that her subordinate officlals ahall submit to an examination before appolut- ment, Dwight Foster reviews, or rather sup- plements, the recent declsion of the Supreme Court of the United States declaring that con- tracts of lifednsurance between Northern companfes ood Sauthern polley-holders be- cane ahsolutely vold ut the breaking-out of the Rebellion, but that the lusured hud # right to recelve back the equitablo value of the policy at the time. The langusize of the Court is not ably clear as to what the Sequitable value'” {a, or how it oy be ascer- tumed: aond Mr, Foster unfortunately throws no additional light ou the yoint. He ulso care« lessly omits to state the princlple of the decle sion he {s roviewing, amd thus renders the read- fng ot the declsion necessary, One chief ub- ject of the review—ta_save the reader time—ls lhrn‘hi‘ defiated. The late Molly-Maguire trials in Pennsylvaols form the subjectof a Teugthy article Ly John T, Morse, Jr., Who gives a histary of the ‘organization, sums up the evl- dence introduced at the trials, and, {n fact, re- porta the cases, It 13 difiicult to see why the article clafms a place in a law review; Interesting reading, furnishes o rather atartling contrl- Butlon, entitied, umblguously evough, * Same Rules * of Evidence, In which he advo- cates the abolitfou of the rule forbid- diug a purty from discrediting or seck- fng to impeach his own witness. The vrejudice of every lawyer will rise at once aguinst the suggestivii; but the author briugs very strong dreameuts in support of his poal- tivn. [l shows, for lnstauce, how wunie than foolish it 1s that a Pmmmlni-.\uurmy in a case for murder, compelled to rely on the tes- timooy of such wltnesses us bis cun get who ara cognlzaut of the uct, should be Jurevented from Impeaching a wittess who s attemptiug by per- jury to conceal the crime {n which Le perhiaps was & partiipant, The same reason, thouglh with lcsa foree, applies in clvil cases. A lawyer is forced 1o call such wilnesses a5 know ike facts ne wished to prove,—not such a3 sre of the most Irreproachuble reputation. He does mot warraut their charucter, ho capuot wshow that ons of them 1s attewnpting to commit perjury, he is unduly prejudiced, and the result 15 a failure of jus- tice. The object of a trial is to urrive at the whole truth,” aud every means that csu be r:nmub.!s employed for that pur] should boallowed. The present agoe bas lesrned that not all legal wisdon and equity are bound\l% in ibe year-books or Coke sod “Littletou. ~The Legitlature of Illinols s well known forite Jconoclasm: 1t would be well that still another rule, more in consonance with w o juris- vrudence, shoald be added (o tho statutes, fa vordance with the suggeations of Alr, May, The usual digest of recent reports, hook-notios, and suinmary of events, complete the number. G, I' Putnawn’s Sons will publish Imme- dlately: ** The Plaing of the Great West and Thelr In- h"’L“"A" i = eecription of the Western Plaina Jantinent, including accounta of cs on emigration, andan exhaust- of the Indiany, theie cnxtome In fzhi- marnnge, ideath, religions beiteln %t some przzeations for thetreats an queetion, —by Licat.-Col, It 1. Ernst Gslret. tlez, “—being Volume I, of Esseyists," edited by Joln “*#pinat Paralyel Sub-Acate, and Chronic,* by Dr. They have als —Acute, Feguln, in press, for early publicallon: S The Qi ion_of fest for Women,™ by Dr, Mary Patanm Jacnht “VAcoustics. Light, and ifeat,"—s new volame in *'The Advanced ‘Science Keries," by William eem., *:Denamics,** in **The Elementary Serles,” by 3. T, Bottomiey. A Claen-1look n Geolozy," by Prof. J. S. Newliers, of the Hchuol of Mines, Columbia Col- epze. new editlan of Bastiat's *‘Political Econo- lxy W r"ivl!ed and with anintrodnction by David Twelle, **The Jewks,"—a tudy of crime, panperiam, and disepse. by . L, Dugiale. *The Childhood of the English People," by S, Armiltage. -~ New Trrtament and the Meselah," by O, B. Frothingiam, They also_annatnce, from the pen of & new author, o theological study entitled *The Beriptaire-Chih of Valley Keat,” Ihavand Taylor's poptilar volutne, *“The Boys of Othier Coitntries," s heeu publivhed, by ar- rangement, in England and Germany. With the January number the literary journal entitled the Librury- Table ('.h.'n?' L. ilinton & Co., New York) upens fta recond volumne. The g:pcr Incluaes on its editorial staff u farze num- F of prominent writers, whose names are rec- alarly appended to thele several contributlons, ‘The aistimzuishing features of the Library-Table are its cntlclsing of new hooks; i3 record of the lutest hoos, American and furefgn; snd its Index to perfodical litersture,—n department which affords & gulle to topics of every sort that are discuesed from month to month fn the leading serinly at howe nud abroad, The alm of this puhlicatlon (s elevated, and its plan 2o com- rehiensive as to furnish help to 1ot gleaners n the fleld of current literature. The inventlon of Mr. Vick, In devising new features to render his anuual catalogues of Q]:u\t. ¢ Vick'e Floral Gulde fur 1877,""—James Ik, Rochuster, New York—paper—s cents a year) Eercnnln‘ly freah and attractive, 1s Inex- haustible. One always examines the latest edition with a curfous scarch for {ntercsting novelties, which fs never dissppointed. Mr. Vick s by far too bright, too orizinal, to repeat hlmeelf:"and the lover of flowers [n the honse and the garden, and the cultivator of a plat for vepetahles, will ever find useful advice and suge gestion withiu the covers of his annusl Guldes, The January number of the Literary World, published fn Boston hy Mr. 8. K. Crocker, I8 of cspecial interest. Its book-reviews fnctude well- wntten notlees of the most recent publications; and it hus, besides, 4 larze astorttnent of news and gorsip pertalning to Nterary matters,— among utlier thinge, the firxt notice of the Hfth volume of the Encyclovadia Britunnles, The Literary World 1s u publfcat!on that all book. lovers should reeeive regularly. The Scholastic Almanac, compiled by Prof, J. A, Lyone, and_published st the University of Notre Dume, Indfans, is one of the most enter- tafmne and useful annals of the time. Besldes the usuul features of the ahmanae, it contalus 8 con) culendar of the Cathiolic festivals and saint- , and mauy artieles of huntorous and general literary interest, contributed by Profs, Stace, Howard, snd uthers, FAMILIAR TALK. GEROME, THE IPAINTER. Jean Leon Gerome, one of the most celebrat- cd pafuters fn the present school of Frensh art, was born at Veroul, M 11, 1834, His father was a Jeweler {n comfortable circumstances, and the boy mads good use of the advantages of- forded him for education. It §s eald that among the earlv rewands for dlligent study pre- sented him by the elder Gerome was a box of palnts, and this trifiing gift proved the turning- polut of his destiny. The drawings which he was stimulated to execute by having the colors at his command exbitited such striking merit that the youth was strougly urged to make palnting lis life-work. Thus encouraged, he went 1o Parls when but 17, aud becume u pupll of Paul Delaroche. It s related by Lucy H. Hooper, tn the Art-Journal, that Gerome was pruvided with the sum of 150 franes to de- Iray the expenses of his tirst vear fu the Freach Cupltal,—an smount zmple enough to supply all reasonable needs of a young art-student st that epoch. Through his nsslduity and docility, Gerome become u favorlte pupll of Delaroche, and when, ot the end of three years' falthful labor, the master clased his studio aad went to Rume, QGerame was perinitied to accompany bim. For a year thereafter the young palnter pursued his studies with Indefatfgable persiatence fu the Eternal City. An auecdote (lustrating the rigid discipline by which he ever sought to keep Ids powers under control [s thus told by Mrs. Hooper: “It is on record here that, having paluted o view of the Campazna ina few houra of mpld and enthusiastle work, he replied 10 the culogies of his camrades by taking up his palette-kulfe and effacing every line of the plet- ure. ‘That which Is so quickly done (4 sure to 1re 111 doue,’ wus his comment on his owu per- formance.” On returning to Pars, Gerome worked for a short time in the studiv of Gleyre, amd then re- sumed practice with his heloved master, Delus rochie, I3 nttempt at this time to win the Prix de Rome n fafiure; but, undiscouraged, he f:nediately hegan the composition of a plcture which was destined richly to atoue for afl pust disappointments, The painting renresented a youny Greek setting cocks to lght, while his be- trothed stands near by watehing the acene, The fligures were bath nude and Tife-size; and * the sithje rays Sarah Tytler, in her * Modern Palnter wux, thus early in hls history, char- acterlstic of Gerome, who has showu 3 decided preference for incidents elther In themselves orrible or morally repulsive.’ “The Cock-Fight ' was exhibited fo the Salon of 1847, and excited much attention. Theoplille Gautler rn:l:n'l-d his_ eritivisns upon 1t i L'resse with the following theatrical sentencea: ¥ Let us wurk with white this lueky vear, for unto us & painter {8 borm. He ls called rome. I “telt you hls vame to- al wid to-morrow it will be celevrated.” The painting uow hangs fu the Luxembourg, and i» sall “todisplsy certaln masterly quall- taes that Gerowmg has never strpassed {in any of hig later works,” Gerome was but 23 when this paluting was executed, nd, from i3 generous promnise, a brillfant future for the youny artist mizht safely he predivted, A thindicluss medal was awurded him by the Judizes of the Exhibi- llull. wnd the public hafled Bim as o rlshigz eulus. ¥ During he nest cizht years Gerome plied his busy penclly yet nois ot ts productions reprated the yuceess of the irst. which found u place fn the Baton of 1% A journey into Turkey in 1554, aud & longer tour through Egypt [ 15 furulshed the palnter with rlch materlalg for his urt, and, on his return, e proved how grapdly hecould use them. His plcture named *The Age of Augustus and the Birth of Christ," ex- hiblted fn 1857, was bought by the Freuch Gove ernment, and procured bim the decoration of the Cross of the Leglon of Honor, Paintlaze still more famous have siove comy from his cas among which, perbaps, the best Known fa the S Duel After the Masquerade.” Other noted ‘llrlur(n of & later date are his * Phryue,” “ Death of Caesar,” * Cleopatra Before d # Jerusalem,” and ** The Execution of ) Dramatic power and skill in drawing are the chief excellencivs observed in Gicrome's works, An unrivaled draughtsian,' 2ays Mra. Ilosp- er, “ho 18 nu less noted for his «kill fn groupe fug, aud for his remarkable talent in reproduc- {ug salient natloval characterbstics, wheeher of personages or of sqeaery, ud exemplified fn bl Orlental plctures. Morcover (aud Lo this last too-often-disreparded quality he owes much of hits widespread ':uyultu ty) be ls posscssed of & stngularly-furcible powér of concelviug and lacing upon canves & striking and dramnatic ncident. * Thus the general public are as much attracted by the story told by bls pletures as the art-critic by the marselous perfection of thele execution.” . . o defects are a certaln dryncss and bardneas of flulsh, sud & metallic tone fu coloring which somnclimes s disagrce- ably prowinent In his ficsb-tints. . . . ateacher, he ts well-nlgh {ucomparable,—the ac- curacy of bis drawing rendering bim the keenest- eved aud most pitiless of wusters in delectivg the fuults of others." “The personal a; ince of Gerome,"” con- tinues the saiue writer, ' is very peculiar. His hiead, with its decp-sct, largs eyos, wild masses of gray bhalr, and polnted gray mustache, is emineotly pleturcsque. e is a3 thin asa shadow, and s distingulshed for extreme indus- try, excessive Irrilability, and great dislike to vialtors,—the last two qualities being probably nocessary corollaries of the Srst.” . Mumerton describes Gerome aspleasant lu mauuver, though lndomitable jn will. " The work which ls now engaging the ariiet’s enargies ix a Inrge painting of **Christian Martyrs fn a Koman Clrcus."” TITE QUESTION OIf DRESS. ‘The author of the spicy buok on " German Home-Life" occastonally interpolates fn her chapters diminutive homilies on the subject {n hand,whicharebrim fall of common sense. Here isoncupon tha question of dress, which Is de- Mvered during the discusaion of the generally- tasteless attire of Gierman women: Drees means samething more than clothes, and thesc than coverlng. The fiz-iesves of ovur Grat parents ere but syminols, wiiereof the meaning ia vastly more important than a mer euperficial glance mizht engiest, Drest should, ne far as pos- #ible, tranelate {0 ne the charaster of the wearer; itshnubi baar abont ft some fndividnality, somo Itk uf apecinl Blentty, sn that we feel the husk oz hull Iein harmens ofth the keonel, . ., o ress, 1o nse u howmaly almile, thould, like a Jilet de hxuf, be neftker averdore ror underdone; it should hit the lispny medium, The dreas of German ladles crrs In both particalors: that of the morning Joaves much to e desited: that of tha Afternuon offers much that might be diepeneed with. Withont plenty of money we connot have rich dress, but we mar. none tha less, have all that 1s e«xenthal to comelines« and comfort. We are bounid. 10 e & commercial plirase, *‘to mal our appearance ax gaod as wre ean for the mone: With well-arrenged bale, tidy shoer, mended gloves, and clcan linen at her'throat and wrists, no woman can look HL A poor lady In a plain black gown, with no other than sich slinple adormnents, hnt with that arnse of freahnesa and care wboat her that should always sccumuany & waman'a presence, mag fook an nnble as—aye, and ¢ than—z1l the pubpets of the **fasbion- or their more sinhitinua sisterhood, decked -Raphaelite millinery of modemn dilet- Lara meann may be denled her, but nd care are alwaya within her reach; been soinewhnt hastily aseerte di be the ladex of her mind, hooves Ter il the more to see that it e well ordered, serupulous, and not devaid of dignity. In many 8 room wicre the furnfture would not ‘thear daylight" from an ort, or even frum an suctioneer's, point of view, a happy fancy, 8 pot of flowers, n cosy eorner, A bloominz window- ledge, & book, a aketo! of colnr, an stuorphere definkble that telle of & ‘woman's prescnce und o Woman's cafe, may cover sl the nultitudiuous sins of the offending tables and chairs, and waoke us forzel, or cven, belter #till, forzive, the general shortcomings of the apartment. We Jike to believe of bearty that It would he ng beautifnl in the denert, for tie nan, and the sand, and the sky, a1 it in'in the ball-room, where, hy oge consent, it rowned **belle.™ BABYLONIAN RELICS, The last collection of Babylonian amtiquities purchased by the late George 8mith, and re- celved at the British Museum a few montbsago, reveals upon Investigation some valuable treas- urcs smong its contents, The greater part of the collection consists of tablets, about 2,000 In number, which were stored In & series of carth- enware jars discovered fn one of the mounda neer Iillah, by the carth about them being washed nway by the raios of thelast wet season. The tablets contain the memoranda of 2 baok- Ing firm, and record the sale of Iands, slaves, and other property, and the loan of money, the forms of tivrigarcs, aud so on. Each bears a date of the duy, mont, and regnal year of tho ruling King, fo_which the transiction toul pluce; and thus the serics affords an important additlon to the chronological history of Babylan, The tablets extend over the relgus of Danus, Cyrus, and Cabyses. Beaidee the commuercial records which the tablets reveal, there are several valuable in- seriptlons, unt: of which prescuts & complete calendar of the Babylonlan year, aud Is pre- sumed to be the atlice-ulmanac of the firm. It s accompanied by an expusition of the days which are furtunate or unfortunate for the per- formance of certalv cvents, as meking journcys by land and water, bulldivg, feasting, *lamnent- Ing, exe.uting private and public dutice, ete. ‘Two othier valuable relics embraced o the col- lectloncunsist of broure stotucs representing deitfes, They are bending on ove knee, snd Lolding long vones with the pulnt downward, and are dressed in loniz robes *cunfined at the wulst with & mirdle, and 8 comlcal horned head- cear similar to that scen on the bulis, With the exceptlon of the bronze statuc of Anat, now in the fouvre, these are the only examples of early Babylouluu bronzes that have been dis- covérud. NIEBUIR. In commemoration of the hundredin anniver- sary of the birth of Barthold George Nicbuhr, which eccurred Aug. 27, 1970, a small memorial eketeh of the great bistoriun has been published by Job Clussen, whe was from 1527 to 1631 the tutor of Nlebuhr's son. The work is regarded with the more {utercst as no adequnte blography lias yet been published of this remarkable man. From the testimony of Ilerr Classen it would scem that Nlebuhr inherited the unlon of the poctical and sclentific mind from his fatber, Carsten Nicbuhr, the distinguished traveler snd geoprupher, The son displayed an extraord] - ?- power for acquiring knowledee fn u;"lly chifdhiood, and was regurded as 4 Juvenile prod- firy. Befcre he was 80 he had mastered twenty lanrusies, and his mind was the repository of an umuh:fi mnss of fucts relatiug to varied and eru- dite subjects, Heenteredinto political life fmne- diately U Jeavine the University of Gete Hueen, ming the Private Secretary of the Daulsh Minlster Schitnmelniann, Four years luter, nfter a consideruble residence in England, he was liqm]nlul 1o the Admjulstration of Finance, 1n 1500 he transferred his services to the Prussfan Government. Iu 1910, at the open- ing of the University of Berlin, he gave a course of Jectures upon Roman history, which gained him u reputation us one of the most orlginal und nble of Hving historiana, In 1518 he aceepted the position of Prussian Ainbassadcr st the Papal Court, where he remalned seven years. Onlus return to Germany he took up bis resl- dence at Bunn, und thenccforth devored himsel! to lterarp pursults uutil his death tn 1831, I'REE-COFFINS, An ancient burial-place was discovered {n Rcl- by, Eng,, In 18575 aud, at a depthof six or seven fect, acveral cofilng, formod of the trunks of trees, split {ntwo and hollowed out, were ex- humed. Oue of these, now preserved In the Mureum st York, cuntajued the skeleton of a wowman; and near the neck were lying seven beads, of graduated slzes and oval shape, In the centre of the skull 8 small round hole was detected, resembling the perforation Io the akull of a Roman lady recentty discovered (o an cld cemetery at York, lu the gunmer of 1878, on the rebiillding of 8 house fi Selby, some iteen ortwenty other treecolline were disinterred. They were closely packed togethier at a depth of from five to elght feer; und, st the head of several, an upright oaken post, three fect high, wua stauding. In four out of seven coftins ex- amined, hazel-rods or twigs were found in the sight bund of the corpse. There §s a record of rimilar rods having been found fu & cemnctery at Obertlact, Suabla. DEATH OF AN ART-CRITIC, The Engllsh parers anuounce the death, on New-Year's Day, of Mr. G. Beuvington Atklnson, the author of *An Art-Tour In the Nurthero Capituls fn Europe,” and ol 4 loug serics of art- writings vontributed to various British period- feals, Mr. Atkinson was a resident of Bristol, andumember of the Soclety of Friends. In varly life he devoted hlmaelf to artistic studles, thegeby acqulring o practheal knowledge of the subject to which later on he guve a zood desl of uttention fn the way of a critle. 104 wrltings were churacterizea by u cultivated judgment very coustderable learnlng, aud an untsual mderation of expresslon and hence were cale culated to nfurm, und not to blas, popalar opin- fon. Ris book whose title bas been already mentioned presents 2 valuable und entertalning weeount of the conditlon of art In Denwark, Norway, Sweden, and Jtussa. 1t was the frait of extended sojourn lu the Northern Capitals, and of curerul study of their art-collections. SPARKS OF SCI “ EDUCATED?® FLEAS, Mr. W. 11, Dull, the nutursllst whose nanie is promiuently ussociated with Alsskan explora- tious, has lately been vislting w compauy of reducated ' fieas on exhibition fn New York, and has written un wccount of the entertainment in the dwmerlcan Naturalist, It is the opiuion of this observer, after acautious exainination ot tho avallulle testimony, that the fleas under in- vestigution were nut oducated; aud, mureover, that nelther they nor suy other Individuals of the genus aro capable of recelving mental tralu- ing. Mo belleves the varfous performances of the captive beasties, which appeur to the unsuas- pecting multitude the result of a disclplined fu- lclugeuu'. uro fu reality Instigated by excced- ingly Ingenlous mechanical contrivances, aud wholly involuutary ou the part of the miulsture actors. It is declared by the author of the cxhibition that female deasalone are employed in bis serv- ive, a8 the males are ‘excessivcly wullsh, and sltogethier dislucliosd to_work.” Another aod 1nore important reason Mr. Dall inds fn the fact that tho wnalo Is much smaller and weaker than the female; aud slso that it 1s sald to bear confoement ly, dylog withio a few d&lyl: when closely imprisoned. “I'be first step lu tl rocess of Liwivg the feals to place it Lu asmall gox. baving » glass top, aud s foor that revolves onsn axislike; loue'%wh thusfe 48018 of treadmill. The n::lhnam fteeltin this peily prison, proceedsto sct ontiis natore by E:rpe rating s series of the mad hops and jumps ) which [t{s addicted ina state of freedom.' : Finding, sfter numberlesa ufemnen that a8 each bound It merely bruises iself nst tha ‘walls of {ts prison, it finally gives overthe effort, and setties down to the qulet exercise of Walk- ing. B glr‘ Dall believes that the entire education of the flea Is completed when it has learned ta walk Instesd of to jump; yet ho was not cone vinced of the truth of the Rtatement that the tralning o the treadmill—the literal * broaking on the wheel "—~was all the drill necessary ta accomplish this object, for he saw an untamed. flea with a mininture chain and ball attached to . ¢ one of ita [eet,and the snimal was dancing sboud In,lx_!lmr[cnil. Trenzy, gl £ he performances of the fleas are of twa . kinds, E: the first of which they are attached tad movable, and in the sccond to lnmova- bie, objects. The former portion of the ex- hibitlon” {s very interesting, 2s the Insect here displays its extraordinary strength In pushing, pulling, and bearing bundens. The horso-cars, vessels, coaches, wheelbarrows, etc., which they {u‘nml In various ways, are cxqulsite models of heir kind; and the Acas are fastened tothem by means of » minute wire connecting with a fine * sllk Dand encircling thelr body, and_tled in n knot on their back. It fs siated that the weight of a ficais 0.050f a , or, when well fed, 0.1 grain; yet the street-car dragred about by one of these tiny creatures weigha 120 grains, of about 1,200 times the welght ni its little pro- peller. Ficas of unueual vigor sometimes occur Which will pull a considerably larger weight. 1t Ia worthy ot note that the fleas whlcglnfut dogs arc less strong than the human parssite,. and require more frequent feeding. 8 fnsect witl commouly sustaln a four days’ abstinence from food without injury, and will survive weeks of starvation, although with diminishing size. Thelr term of life is included in about twelve monthe, and thelr period of activity une der training lasts about elght months.” Mr. Dall was informed by the exhibitor that he once had a flea which lived to the age of twenty-three months, but, during the last two montha of its cxistence, it waa {n & condition of extreme weakness, - Mr, Dall thinks that, in all the performances of the educated fleas, their moveinents are sole- Iy animated by an endeavor to escape from thelr ' bonds; but, by cunuloglv4levised machinery, these movemeiits are mude Lo wear an appear- ance of being gukled Ly docile Intelligence. In dragging burdens the ficas are placed upon a sheet of blotting-paper, which lscld!l rood hald for the hooklets appended to thelr feet; and, as each flea fnishes its role, it is turned over on it slde, 8o that it shall not exhaust it~ rell in fruiticss efforts to regain its lberty. When the flea Is altached to sn fmmovable n‘- Ject, It is fixed in & erpendiculac position b means of s wire fas ngrl: to its befi' " Ulu! ally,"” eays Mr, Dall, ¥ 1t will remain quiets but, {f disturbed by the vibration of its wire, as produced hy knocking on the table, it will work Itslirbs sbout, seeking something to take liold of, 1f, then, segmeuts of fineat wire, faus of tissuc-paper, or other represcntations of objecta in minlature are attached to its fore * fect,” we shall have it apparently brandishing a stick or sword, fanning, performing on & mt- ateal instrument, etc.,—all of which {s much more clearly aceu withthe aid of a lively ima;z- ination. Twn fleas, furnished with se; of finest wire on their fore ‘feet.’ and placed with their ventral sides 50 near that the mimic swards can touch, but not the fnsecta’ feet, give & representation of & duclnot much worse than that usual in most theatres. In their struggles to reach the adjacent object, it would be strange 1t the Jittle wires did not clash occasionally,” ‘The most smusing part of the flea-entertain- ment is that executed by the dancers, of which we are given the following description: “The orchestra are placed ahove a little music-hor, whose vibrations cause them to gesticulate violently fora few moments, fastencd ss they are to their posts, Below them, scveral pairs of ficas (fastencd by a Httle bar to each other fn pulrs, those of each couple just so far apart that they cannot touch cach other) are appar- ently waltzing, An inspection shows that the two compostuy each palr are pointed in oppo- slte ways: eacli tries to run away, the pnnlfis‘a- gram of forces {8 produced,—the forward jnten- tion converted to s rotary motion, ludicrously Imitating the labits of certala higher verte- rates. Mr. Dall's explanationof the principles b which the flea simulates the lnlpelhgtl’;t umy- neuvres of animals far Ligher in the scale of in- tellectunl endowment, is much more reasonably than the propoaition that so minute and natur- ally-unintercsting an fnsect can by sany sart of dlscipline be trained to the volantary peform- auce of the feats it executes under the man- sizement of a clever showman. It s now some - forty years since the srvpdetar of the exhibition which 2Mr, Dall attended orizinated the {des of employiog a swarm of fleas as {nstruments for coazing coins from the pockets of the public into his own'private treasury, He has published & pamphlet contatning the records of his experi- etice with the Flea family, and from fts curfoun repository Mr. Dall has copied the ensulng odd stutement: “Tuke & well-fed — [Cimez] anid a atarved fles, and place them under u glass together, and you will be afforded an amusing nlmulm:lm ‘The flea, as soon as he percelves the pursy conditiun of the bug, will hop upon Ita back, and, o spite of the latter's struggles to throw him off, will succeed in_extractiog the bluod from the bug's body, leaving it jn quite a lean condition, while the fiea becomes rognd, vlump, aud happy, after its beneficial ride.” onta MRS, GRAY. In the necrological lists of 1576 occurs the nune of Mra, Gray, widow of Dr. Gray, of the British Museum, who died in Deceraber at tha advanced age of 90 years, The example of this woman Is ene which may be beld up for the ap- plause and imitation of ber sex. Her personal graces and her domestic virtues wero auc! to render nier hotue an attractive centrs for vatlve und foreign scientitic and literary men who gathe eredtogetbierin the City of London. But, whila dlspensing the bospitalities of her husband's liouse with charming tact, she gave him yalus- hle sasistance Iu bis distinctive pursuits, aod uls0 carried un independent studies of her own. Her most meworable work was a monograph on wolluscous anlmals, published I five volumes (frum 1857 to 1874), and containing several thou- sand elchings dooe by uer own band. She was un ardent collector of mariue algw, and, in her desire to enwurug‘n s taste for the study, she made and arrauged numerous collections, and presented them t ools throughout England, ler own cxtensive set of algm (s presanted to the Muscuw of Cambridge, Asa labor of love, she arranged and mounted, during her hours of lelsure, the greater part of the Cuming collece tiun of shells preserved in the British Museum. Mrs. Gray was the daughter of Lieut. Henry Smith, R N., and was born st Greenwich Hose ital in 1787, At the age of 23 she married Mr, Francls Edward Gray, and four years after wag left the widowed mother of two dsughtern. Twelve years later she married a second cousix of ber tiret husband, whose death preceded her* own by leas than u twelvemion TIE WOOD-TICK. A contribution to the life-history of that miserable pest of man and beast, the wood- tlck (Jzodes), bas been mada by M, Megnin tna late number of Comples Jindus. The writer fortunately discovered sn adult female just ready to depoalt ber ezgs, and was enabled to watch the growth of the mite through ita sover- nl st ‘The egps, amounting to 1,200 in all, were lulld at ntervals between May 23 and Juno &l BetweenJuly 25 and Aug. U these wero latehed s and, throughout the process, the de- velopment of tho ewmbryo was carefully noted, ‘T'he life of the lurve lasted for three months, {n which perind they took no food of any kind. After thelr transfornation into the perfect ite, the mnales took no sustemance whatever, The females, alter fecundation, attach them. selves to aniuals, and atsorb’ an enorinous amount of biood,—enough, indeed, to sustain themselves and their femals pm;en{ until the adult state i reached, and their malo offsprigg through life, BRIEF NOTES, ‘Thie nuinber of species of known Hving birds Is, acconding to the late catalogus of Al Boue card, 11,030, These are grouped together in 2450 gencru; but, In the author’s opinionm, “ y of these gencra and species must ba ectually abolished.” Dr, Karl is makiog & tour of exploration in Southern Alrsicu, on bebalf of the Herlln Acads etuy. The maln oblect of his journey s to study the natural history of the electrlc dshies; and, ¢ lust sccouuts, e had reachied Caracas ou his,wuy to the Liauos of Venezuela. ‘The eciz of the kiwl, 8 wingless bird of tha enus Apterir, which is found in New Zealand, f! sbout five inches in length, and weighs over thirteen ounces, or one-quarter ss much as doea the parent-bird. A nnul]’-‘reflwt €gg of the exthict moa was discovered some ycars u‘:. which weasured about ten inches in” length by seven [n breadth. . The port of Hol-kow, cmlu Island of Hal- pau, which bas recentl 0 opened to the Eaacmne b Shit ST LI ts, and a ifvely, flo trado fn wild soimals 1 curiously large, 8d (o ilml" u:gxporuhnl ;ee{ of scveral mmmn- oys, tigers, the civet, mongoase, 30t Catck, a0 Chtnesa whale. * Azsng ro the boa-onatrictor is an important o commerce, ita akin belng sold to form druom .