Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 15, 1877, Page 9

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNL: . and Household-Fur- niture. «pho Iermit of Walden*---Dr. Schliemann’s Rescarches and Discoverics. Juveniles and Holiday-Books---Dr. Cunningham Qeikie's Lifo of Christ. Sexnal Relations of Flowers—~The Slory of Palissy—Literary and Art Gossip, A South-American Survey-~The Earth- worm-—A Beetle---8ciontific Notes. LITERATURE. ART. POTTERY AND PORCELIAN OF ALL TIMESAND NATIONS, Witit TAnLES oF FacTony Ann ARTIATA' MARKS ron itz Use or CoLLECTOR fiv. WiLtiax C. Prowe, LL.D. “New York: Hnrper & Hros, Chicago: Janeen, McClurg & Co. . Bra., pp. 631, Trice, 87, TOTTERY AND PORCELIAN, FROM TIMES DOWN TO THE PIILADELPHIA E: HIBITION OF 1870, By Ciantes Writis E 1077, With 106 Ninstrations and_the Most Im. ortant Marks and Monograme, New York: ), Ripleton & Co. . Chicago: ladley Dros. & Co. bp, 168, Price, S THE BUUSE BEAUTIF ErnATs ox Bens AND Tantes, STOOLE AXD CANDLEATICRE, By Crangxcr Coox, New York: Scribner, Arine ong &Co, Chicago: Junsen, McClurg & Co. and Hudlcy Diros, Co. 8q. 8vo., pp. $U, Price, 87.00. Tho magnitude snd urgoney of tho new im- pulse toward a higher art education which has Invaded every intcltizent houschold, which is stirring every mind with an netive curlosity, which is felt throbbing in tho very atmosphere, muy be deduced from the simultancous appear- ance of these threa large and costly volumes having for their object an extension of the art- morement. Never before In the history of our civilization would Amecrican publishors have venturcd to produce fo many and such luxurl- ous trentises on art-questions 0s have been Dbrought out this ecason, We might almost say that more capital hos been tnvested o works of the kind {n 1877 than fu all previvus years put togothier. Mr. Primo begins his preface with the state- ment that Ten years ago there were probalily not ten collectors of pottery and porcelain in the United States. To-aay there are perhaps ten thousand.” \Where thereare coilectors of art- works there will bo readers of art-literature, and {n much the greater proportion, for many wlil seek to acquire through booksan futelligent undorstanding of a subject exeiting general at- tentlon, who do not care, or who ara uuable, to pursue it n practical directions, 1If there are ten thousand fndividusls 1n our country intent upon becoming the ownors of ceramic collec- tlons, and u goud tany thousands more infeeted with o desire to Indulge In tho refincments of houschold-art decoratlon, how many must thero bo eager to recoive the instruction and advico contatned in theso admirable hanilbooks? A most wholosome and gratifyiug foaturo of the three works beforo us is thelr inculcation of au honest and aturdy |ndependence in matters of tasto as well as of Tocling, The professors and teachers of the fine and industrial arts have £0 many of thetn nssumed o lofty anddletatorlal tono in expounding the principles sud laws of esthietles, that to differ from them appeared to bo tantamount to o confesslon of culpable ignovauce, lowering one to the level of an netual eriminal, It 1s comforting to be assurcd by the present writers, in no uncertain tonea, that one may stlll preserve his self-ro- epect though he liave not yet learned to appre- wate fully the artistic merig of dados,and wali. papors, and bare fluors, und chalrs and tables with rigidly-stralzht legs and innumerablo right angles, und china plates, originally made to eat upon, hung around the walla iu place of patut- fups and eugravings, Thero {s o Joyous frecdom from thetyranny of absolute opinious In Mr. Prime’s candid advico to * Exerclse your own tusto; and your taste, it not already good, will tmprove. A roons will grow {nto'order and beauty by a natural process, . . o though possibly not quite agreently to the notlons of thuse who sre bound by conventional rules of housc-decoration, Pleass yourself, and scout urbitrary which produce constant repetitions fow couscntional {deas, and make cvery room look like ever other. Listen o suggestious; acce| advleoy cultivate 5 tcachable disposition; study cfeets of color and arrangsinont; uever be con- fident thot your tastes will remaln any more steadfast thai have the tastes of educated peo- Plu in any country; but dohot yiold the de- ight of “your cy8 because of motluns of other weuplo abiout harmony of colors or orderly ar- sangemonta, Harinony for you ls In your owan cye, car, and miud; and no” other mind can nigke that harmaonious to you, in the decorativn of your roowm, which 18 not plessing to your owi taste. Porhaps you may be luughed aty but the chances are” that you will sct a good cxumule to your fricuds by followlng your own freo fancles. « o o Minile your beautiful ob- ects ln whatever confusiun you please, Chunfu thetn when you like. Your notiuns of tiio beautiful witl changu from time Lo time, with conversution and the reveption of new idea But, i you attempt to follow arbltrury rul « » . thochauces are, that you will uever ad: vanco a step boyond till conventionaliams, aud your rooms Wwill malntain lurever o cast-lroun Tigidity of color-decorution, This ls sound sentinent extremely well put, And the same doctrines are enunciuted by Mr, Elliott and Mr. Cook, who both enforce the fin- purtunce of individual uplnlona in the collection of art-ubjects and i house-decorntion, With tholiberty totrustons's owu judgment, therewill bo o hiealthy growth fu art-cultuie wherover the miud Las been onve opesied to the importauce ol ihe subject. A tastu for the beauttul wiil badeveluped, instead of assumed ; wud a genuing enjoyment will result trom the posseasion of the relined uh{u’ll that stowly accumnlate and become select in accordance with the capacity to appreciate thom. ir. Prime’s book upon “Pottery and Porco- M comprises & thorough, metiodical, com- Brthemlvu history of the dictile art from pre- lstoric times to the present day. The author traces the progress mado in theinanufacture of pottery b{ different pations In successive eras,—notlng its carliest wentlon in the nnnals ol Mesopotamia; fts Yrumbla introduction rules of from this -country futo Egypt, where @ process of enameling potlery was discovercd; and describing the ~ suce ceaslvo stages to which it advanved through the fovenulty of mankiud o ancieut and in modern 8ges. Mr. Pritne Is cacellently flu‘llllcd for & teatment of the theme fu haod, belug a col- ector of ceramic wares of long experience,—hi¢ cabinet, known 88 the Trumbull-Frime collec- tlun, fucluding about 4.000 specinieus,—ind also & cloar, furcible, sud practical writer, Hls fond- nesa for crockery sud china has ot run away with his judguient; sud, aithough ho places & Uixher value upon objecis of thy sort tbau the multitude can conslder them worth, he taiks mllomlly, and therefore ncc:uluhiy, about e, In common with Mr. Elliott, he advocates the cultivation of suwme favuille pursult or object which may oceupy the loisurs mowents of hife, fillug them with protitable pleasure and pre- serviug them from cunul. *‘Every man sud woman sbould bave a hubby," ho asseris, with catire trutb. Of course, thu taste for china s Fegurded from hls pulut of view as rather the must elevativg aud [ustructlye that can be cher- Lilied; yet, fu uny case, & Lobby {8 to bs chosed, sud diflgeditly ridden, Every oue wiio bas devoted 8 partizular study to avy depert- nent of sclence or art, aud curried itso fur ms to wake collections for the sake of illustrution koows the ever‘increasing fascination it bas, s tho ahsorbing happluess G grows out ol it. Uune can forget most of the griefs, and car aud sonoyances that wear upon the feclin 4ud the uerves, as soun ssthe thoughts tuzued to tngooe beloved pursuit, be it &atberiug of dowers fur s Lerbarku rom tho rocks, of juscets, blrd's eges, old books, colns, laces, vriuts, chius, brie-u-brac,— {6 uatters Jittle what. It s surprising how quickly one passcs {uto s new lte aud o fresh atmosplere, where all that 14 commonplace, snd EARLY sordiil, and worldly {8 forever nnknown, when the moments come that may be given to the favorits enterprise which engages the best powers in their freest and most joyous aetion. Yea, let every man and woman choose a_hobby, the ont: must adanted ta bis or her predilections and clrecumstan.es; and then wisely, lnnocent- 1y, falthfully fulluw it until it is inade an object of Impurtatice, of satiafaction, and of education, Thera I smail danger of regret over arisiog from an enlightened devotion to it Tiie esruy on ** Pattery nnd Porcelsin by Mr. Elliott wid originally’ publishod fn the Ar(- Journal, and Is distinguished for ita discrimi- nating criticisms upon the ceramic art, and for it coplous and exquisite Hlustrations. Mr. Ellott {4 recognizedas an authority upon house- holi-art decoration, and his writings liave done much to promote an interest and to mald the toate In such matters. His book has been cle- gantly produced by the publishers, and its con- Lents possess varled ana substantial value, The papers by Mr. Clarence Cook, gathered from Scribner’s Monthly into a Leautiful vol- wine, are replete witi useful and much-needed hinta rolativo to the IurnlllllnE and adornmnent of eur homes. How ta inake our dwelling. places attractiveand refining, through the stlent yet powerful influence of thelr varied u‘x oint- ments, 18 & question that shou he pargmount with ~ the founders of ev- cry household. It I deserving of profound consderation, and the expenditure of as mitch thne and means as can ba {Illlh'luml employed. Whoever secka countel of Mr. Coo upon the matter will be r‘ulle vertain to obtaln advice and suggestions which will wmake the in- terviow with hiin to be gratefully remembered. e has a knowledge of the ways and means by which tho nakedners and ugliness disclosed In tho aspect of tov many of our modern houses may bo clothed and adorned with tastefuiness amd beauty and, for the beoefit of his instruc- tion, many—wa hope o larze number—will glad- Iy pay the cost of **The House Beautiful.” THOREAU. THOREAU: His Lire axn Aiss, A Study by 11 ‘A, 'aor, Author of **Life of Thomas De (fuin- cey,” etc. loston: James R, Osgond & Co, Chicago: Hadley Ca. Llittle-Classic Style, pp. 234. Prico, $1. 1t is from the bands of an Englishman that the countrymen of Thoreau receive this tribute to the noblilty and purity of hls character and purposes. Perhaps no man has arisen among us whosa conduct subjocted him to greater mis- understanding and mlsrepresentation than did that of “the Hermit of Walden.” It was in- nocent ofyharm to others; it was clevated in its alms, and straightforward, open-hearted, scru- pulous, and stainices in its action: but it was sinzular,—and this the world can Jeast of all compreliend or tolerate. An individuality so Qistinct and independent as to be unable or un- willing to comport {tsell according to the atand- ards nnd customs of conventional soclety, Is a perpetual puzzle to the mass of mankind, sug- gesting cvery sort of cxplanation but the pimple and right one. 1t belng the unlversal creed that it is tho chief duty of each member of a community to livo as exactly as possible alter the pattern of the rest, the belavior of ono who believes himeelt under a sacred obllga- tion to lead the 1ife dictated by the laws of his own higher nature, is a nover-ending surprise, an fuexplicable mystery, & continual frritant of the public curiosity, 8 source of uucasy gossip and'suspicion. ‘Thoreau was o strongly-marked character fun village-cirele remarkablo for the number of its steiking personalitics. Tne defiance of oll un- just and frratlonal restrictions, which was born with hiin, was fostered by education, by nssoci- ation with minds as sclf-sutlicing and self-poised as his own, and, above all, by constant and closo Intimacy with Nature, Who teaches, on overy leat and in every letter of her inspired volume, frordom from artlficial restraints, ana the de- lights, the bicasedness, the sanctideation, of o life o shmplicity, of h‘"lil“" {nthe mental and material economy, and ot purity. Yet, when all is sald, tho lifo of Thorean was not so_differont from that of many other mon 0a to justify oxtraordivary comment. He pover marrled. In thls he was not slogular. s blographers are silent upon the subject, but friends of his family have stated that, in his outl, ho loved as tho majority of men do, but Xopnlcnly; and it must be allowed that ho was singular In remainiog falthiul to his early and only dream of marital happincss. He was in- tenscly fond of Nature, and of solitary com- munings with her. This was a healthy sontl- ment, common to not = few generous, warm- hearted, and unvitlated organizations, Lo bully alut on the banks of Waldon Pond, within easy wnlklu% distance of Concord, and played ot belng a bermit for a yearor more. But it was little morothana play,” He visited his moth- er's housa every day, gettingnodoubtonoortwo substant{nl meals i human fellowshipi he reg- ularly called at the post-office nnd other places where tho current news Is proverblally dis- ranmi', and he probably saw much moro of his riends in his rude cabin fn the woods than he would have douc had he dwell in the ordinary way among them. In truth, there are hundreds of mon who have not drawn upon thomaelves any particular attontion from the fuct, wha are, in the forests and on tho pralrics of our fron- tiera, followlng from chojce far more genuinel tho 1ifo of & hermit thun did this mon of poctic and philosophic tastes, who remained close to the borders of bis nutive village, and kept up iis intimactes withi it, while indulking In an en- thusiasm tor the socloty of the beeches and tho iues, tho wild creatures In feathors and fur Lot find shelter in retired places, and the finny tribes that Inhablt the clear waters of stream ond lake, Indocd, fn the crowded ity there Is not seldom found one wlio fs moro truly o rectuse, mora sllent and secluded {n habit, than was Thorcau when hoe and his friends lnm:lcd he was coacting 0 unigquo a part in tho Iittle heemitaze consectod by & well-worn path with the busy world lyiog just outsldo its buundary. ‘Thoreau camo Lo open {ssue with the authorl- tles, and chose to spend & night o ail rather than pay a tax which the law imposed; he was the first to espousc openly tho cause of John Brown; he was & hater of 8lavery, #a of all other forms of ap[uunlun; but thors ias & numerous, and sinincat company of reformers who shared with him these sentiinents and exporicnces,— bis only distinction belng that ho had less tact and worldly prudence than the msjority of them, Lastly, Thoreau had inany good parts and aignal virtues, a falr education, a likiug for pleasurca of au intellcctual character, a koen power of observation, aud & sturdy, direct, hon. ot wn{ of recording his knowledie and opln- fons, that created interest and exclted trust, It was the lotation of this casily-paralleled character in o centroof fumous and original men, and also its own stroug self-aascriion, that have mainly causcd it to be 6o much more remarked than from a rational polnt of viow it scems to have descrved, Mr. Page relates u»}n. until within n_few years, he hus regarded ‘Thoreau as & morbid and stofcal ogotist, An egotist Thorvau wus, and, Lad he been lessof one, bio hadbeen Jess known, Bat, n studying the writings of ‘Thoreau and the teatimonyof his friends, Mr, Pago has found under the cgotlsn much true, fervent, and lovely feeling; and, wishing to reveal o other Euellshren what he has lesrued of one gener- ally misjudeed, lic ha: 1ife and work, 1t ps and, to_thoss scquainted with tho books ai blographles of Thuresu, no new views of hin It fe, bowever, what it cisims to be,—a Btudy, in whl:.-h‘ from Thorcau's own witnéss of him- self and from the muthor's intcrpretation, his {mage sy be quite clearly determined. SCHLIEMANN'S DISCOVERIES, MYCENALI A NARRATIYE or HEsRAICHIES AND DiscovBRike AT M YCEXX AXD TYhiNe, By D Haxny a’cuuu?u. Citizen of the United Ju of Amerie ‘,Aul ot of *~Troy and Its ltemal, efc. The Prefaco by the ltight Moo, W, Gravstoxs, M. P. "Maps, Pians, and Othi Tilustrations, leprosenting More than 700 Typea of the Objects Found in the ltoyal Sepuictres of Mycenm and Elsownere 1n tho Kxcavations. New York: Scribner, Armelrong & Co. Chicaga: Jansvn, McClurg & Co. 8 vo., pp. 384, ‘The excitiog sccount of Dr. Behliemann's ex- cavations on the sito of the ancient City of Mycenw, aud of bis rerarkable discoveries of tomnbs supposed to be those uf Agamemnon and the party who were slaughtered with him by Zisthus and Clyteinnestrs, reuders thislarge, fofr volume oue of jmmeunse luterest, Dr. Schilemann began the work of exploration fn the Acropolls of Mycenm {o August, 1570, and coutfuued It for several months,— constantly employing & force varyiug from sizty-tureo to 150 laborers. He undertook the enterprise fu tho full faith that the traditions of Agamemuon bad a broad foundstion in fact, and that tho sepuichres wherc the body of the King, and those of Csssandrs, Eurymedon, aud thelr companlons, were juclused, could bs brougbt to tho light of day, Ilis faith and his entbustasm were rewarded by the disclosure, at dopth of from tweaty-five to twenty-nins feet below ths surface, of fiva distinct tombs, con- talulog the remalns of sixtecn or seventeen bumsn bodies which had undergone crematlon, together with a wultitude of preclous abjects in gold, silver, copper, terracotts, ete. The situation of these tombs snd the character of thelr contonts confirmed {n & wonderful mannor tho justice of Dr, Schliemann's anticipations, and fu wany etriking clrcumstauces aceim Lo cur- tho list. gifts, and her writlngs attract old as well os and of tha springs of the humnai heart. of the most captlvati a Chrlstmas stocking. All by Jaune Andre 1K DIFFERENT FORMS OF FLOWERS O TI'LAN'I"B OF TuE SAME 8P N roborate the narrative of Homer, Pansaniss, und other clasaleal writera ‘The Acropolis of Mycenm 18 about six miles northeast of Argos.” Tradition sscribes to Peeactia the foundation of the nncient clty, the Cavital of Argolts, sud de-lares it to have heen i the daya of Againemnon the most wealthy and powerlul ey of Grevee, W) Agaien- nun departed to the Trojan war, hie left his Kingdom, wnid Clytemuneasea, his wife, ta the care of bis kinaman Agiathus, who proved un- rosthy of the trie, lshue the'poner with which be hid been endowed for ha personal ageran: dizement, and prosecuting an adulterous inter- courag with Clytemmestra. Un t rewnen of Azamemnon from Troy, with the captive Prin- cean Cussundra, and the two chilileen she bad borne htin, he was treacherously slain, with all his sttendants, at the Instfration of st and Clytemnestra. Alter the deat? brated ruler, itally dechnes 433 years hefo Chrlatiatt rra, was cantured by the Argives am leveled to the ground, The destruction was must complets, vet the Cyelo- pean walls surroutntng the Actopolls ettl re- maln inan wnbroken crcuit, They are from thirteen to thirty-fve feet bigh, and on an aver- ugo sixteen feer thick, aud aro bullt of 4 beanti- ful brecela taken from Lhe neighboring monntaius, In the northwestern cotner of the wall Is the great Lion's Uate, afTordiing an entrauce ten feet eleht inches hizh, and from nino to ten fect wide, Above the kate iy o trlangular stab of Lreeeiaten feet bich, Lwelve feet tonie at the hase, und two feet thick, npon the face of wiilch wre cut In retiel two | tacing each other fn an upright posture, w thelr furepaws resting on an altar, It was near this cate that the five tomnbs were unearthed by De, Belitlemanny am, 1f his conjectures be trig rewarding them, they yield up to the mvestign- tiona of the present day proofs of the history of Agamemnon which have (aln buried with him for A.AKK) veara, “The description of Dr. Schliemann's excava- tuns nt Mycene is prefaced with an acvonnt of his brief rescarches among the ruins of Tyring, atid 1 fljustrated with representations af he tvpicul objects found by him, From the live royal sepulchres lie recovered treasires in gold welghing about 100 pounds Troy, or an amount er,unl to the weight of 5,000 Enitlish suverclgis. ‘The whole of thia collection was presented to the King of Greece, to be preserved in the Mu- seum of Athens. 1u the Preface with which Mr. Uladstono in- troduces Dr, Sctiliemann's volume, the learned classical scholur states that he was st fiest skeptical with regard to the subject of the dls- voveries nt Mycene, but, after examining tho links in the chain of ovidence connecting the tombs with the Homerle pocms, he was con- strained to acknowledye that the splendid re- sulta of Dr. Schilicmann's explorations seen to point to the conclusion that the memorials and remutns of Apametnon and his companions have really been reeovered, Mr. Gladstono is, however, very vautious in declaring the state o! his opinjons, and In a cureful manner reviews the teatlniony given by the chief clrcumstances Hdentifyinz the discoverics with the story of Agamemnon. "Ylie nuve, plans, and engravings with which this intereatinge work s profusely supplied aro finely exceuted, und convey Lo the reader o very satisfactory {dea of the ‘marvelous collection which Dr. Bchiiemann has procured for the ex- pusition of the prelistorie agu of Greece. ADOUT OLD STORY-TELLENS: Or How_axp WAEN Turr Liven, axp Wilat, Stontes Tiky ToLn, Jiy DoxaLp (. MiTcneil, Autbor of *tJteverics of s Hachiclor,” oic. New York: Seribner, Armstrong & Co. Chlcago: Jansen, MeClurg & cu. Tanio,, bp, 217, L'rice, $2, JOLLY GOOD TIMES AT SUHOOL: Atso. Son Tiwge Nor QUITE 80 JOLLY, I Tionne. Author of **Joily Qood Timea, erts Diros. Chicago: Jansen, McClurg & Co. 10mo., g‘p. 281, Price, $1.20, A_GREAT EMERGENCY: Axn Otuzn TaLzs. Ty Jutiana ouazia Ewixa, Author of “'dan of tho Windmill.* Hoston: Roborts Bros. Chi- cago: Jansen, McClurg &Co, 1dimo.. pp. 284, Price, 31,25 THE Q EEN OF PICTURE-BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GINLS. New Yf&:" The Wostern News R By WiLnian M. ¥, Rouxn, Auth “oto, Illuatrated. Tioton’ Leo & Stiopard. 10rio., pp. 138, Prica; 812 i3 OWN MASTER. Dy J, T, Trownuar, Au- thor of ** Newghbor Jackwood,” etc. Ilustrat ¢ & Slepard. ' 16mo., pp. W3, Price, $1. EACII AND ALL: on, llow rie Bevex Littim HIaTEns PHOVE THEIR BIsTERIGOD. A compan. fon to **Tho Seven Little Slsters Who Live In the Round Dall That Floala in the Alr."' Ry Jaxg Axpnewe, Toston: Lee & 8hepard, 10mo,, pp. 100, Prico, $1,23 The talk “About Old Etory-Tellers,” which 44k Marvel” as wo profer to call him holds with the young folks, Is both entertalning aud Instructive. in 1t be gives 8 sketch of the first printees and thelr homes, snd tells what littie 1s known of tho suthorship of *The Arablan Nights,” and the leading facts in the lives of Dean 8wift, Goldsmith, Miss Edge- worth, Beott, Defoc, and other writers whose books have been tho dclicht of successive od, Uoaton: gencratlons of children. It fs o valuable service which he performs f{n calllng the grateful at- tantion of young and uaturally thoughtless readers to the authors who have in times past labored to amuse und inform them. Those who have made the scquaintance of Mra, Ewing through her beautiful story of “gan {o the Windmill?! will understand with- out telling how much cisrm les fu this col- lectlon of shiort tales, which takes its nameof WA Great Emergency ! from the one hesding The author I8 woman of unusun! young readers, by thelr mastery of litorary arts “Jolly Guod Times at Bchool,”" such as all of us romember pensivoly, are velated by Mr. Thornu in a story as breczy and merry 0s oo might expect from the subject. It forme one Juvenlles among the host that have trouped from the press this sea- Bon. “The Queen of Picture-Buoks' 1s a reprint of an Euglish publication, and {s intended for beginners in the study of literature. Each page has u largo and striking picture, with a few lnes of letterpress under it and llxe wholo are put together with oruate scarlet covers. he Jttle history of the doings of “Child Marian Abroad " may bo recommended o those auxio ly looking over the coutentaof the book- seller's counters for somethiug cholce to put in : i iodl 1t IAl \vrm:n"ln [ wln; nine style, and gives mauy pleasan tnpsce O B retarta lfo tn tha Ol World, v ‘the story by J. 1. Trowbridge, entitled s His Own Master,” which bas been running in the 8t. Yicholas durlng the past year, (s now offered in book-form to the audiencs of young readers whom thls poct-novelist is i the” habit of drawing about him, with the charm of a skitlod nareator, Lessons frow tho pages of Natural History, repeated in s uncotnmonly enguglug manuer, grive solid worth to thie book named * Each ad SEXUAL RELATIONS OF FLOWERS, ECIES, iy Coaniis Danwix, M, A, ¥, 1L B, With 1ua- {eations. Now York: I, l:rnluluub Co, Chl- cauot Janeen, McClurg & Co, 1%mo., pp, 352, Price, $1.00, . i Linnzus divided flowers, according to thelr sexunl relations, fnto Your closscs, The first, n which platils and stamens arc present in the same flower, wero called hermaphrodite: thosec. ond, in which the piati d stamous are in scp- arate fowers on the same plant, were called monaxious; the third, ju which the flowers having pistils and those baving stamens aro borne on sepsrate plants, wero called die- clous jand tha fourth, o which the flowers are sometimes hermaphrodite, sometines mone- clous, and sometimesagaln diceclous, were called polygumous. This classification is artifivial, yet 1s atill in among Lotanists forlack of & morae exact and satislsctory one, In the hermaphrodite class, thero arc two speclally-tutercating -groups of plants, which 6 uamed, ~respectively, Deturo- styled snd clelstogamic. In the frst group, the flowers «ditfer in the relative leogin of the pistils and stameus,~in some iu- stances the plstils belng mnuch longer than the stamens, In others the case bLelug totally versed, and in atili others tho platils and sta- mens betug of equal length. In the second group, the plauts "bear two kluds of towers,— oue of which is perfect and Iul}( expanded, and tho other never passiug beyond a rudhinentary state, being dwarfed iu ‘slzc, and remaining closed, Hko 8 bud, vet still geuerally produclug ssed. ‘The violet ia o notable cxemple of this group,—the pesfect dowers very seldom beanug seed, and tue clelstogumic Sowers, whose ex- Isteueo only the botanist would detect, sccom- plisbing the work of perpetuating the speciee. Tho wrrsugement ol llmllllnllu and stamens tho essentlal organs of a dower, 13 3 matier ol deep interest, as it sffects the important ques- tlon of fertillzation. This question bas evgagoed the atlention of Dsrwin for many years, uud, as with all others upon which be bestows ‘inqulry, ho has studied it with swsziog patience aid care, usiug overy test suggcsted by his cxperi- ence and fngewnulty tu deterwing bis conclu- sloes, Jlo bas herctofore published wmany ro- sults of his experiments fu the iuvestication of Qlilureat poluts of the subject, sud uow dlis a goodiy-alsed duodeciuio with s sccount of tho coutinued proyress of his reseurches, His record of obsorvatlons oo the group of BA 'URDAY. DEC WELVE' PAGES, heterostyind plants occupy more than two- thirus of the voluine, the apecics belng much mure numerous tun in the cleistozamie group. As fur ax now known, they are facluded o thir- ty-clzht genera, beloneing Lo fourteen familics, 1t s Impnsaible at this tme to follow the au- thor's various and curfous Inquirfca, but the conclusions to which they bave Jed him are Driefty us Jollows: The stecture of cletatogamie flowers bas been modified and degraded prob. ably tor the apeclal purpose of producing secd with hittle expenditure of the vital forces of the plant. 1In the mowecions, diccdous, snd polyzainous classes, the separation of the kexes s been effected i orger that the powers of the plant In changing con- ditbons of hfe ahould not he tazed to produce both pollen and sced. With tnany epectes In these classes, it has been proved that tiee yield of sced bs mucls greater than it would haveé been hiad they tematned hermaphroditess lience their chanees in the striegle for exist- encenre Inereaseid, Plants live breomne heteru- d I order to secure the bebelits of crosa Ization, As tany besuppused, Mr. Darwin s that il variations in the stoicture of Nowers have been brougit about, i the process xl;l thine, by the muable o ive mstantes n the eenity of adapting orins Lo the conditions in which they are bl His work s of dircet Interest to pituniats aud students of selence, yet bas wuch Inviting lustruction for the general reader, EDUCATION. OUR NATIONAL SYSTEM OF EDUCATION, AxEaear. T done €, “ftranemos, i New York: Dudd, Mead & Co. Jtno., pp. This Uttle work, though showing strong traces of an Incxjerlenced authior, contains o considerable amount of interesting and useful stutlstivs b reference Lo schools and cducation fu this, und ubso In foreign countries. The uuthor has gleaned from divers works the ophition of the framers of vur Coustitution on the fmportance of ‘the education of the masscs; und he uses it to urge the passage of u bilk through Congress devoting the money re- colved from ibe sale of public lunds to of plant, and the the cause ot universal cdueation. Such w bl was drawn in 1872 by the Hon. Qeorge F. Hour, but wus defeated by a vote uf 107 to 103, The same hill will probuiily be presented again at the prescut scssion, ‘I a thinking man the subject nceds only a mentlon to hiave its jinportauce felt; yet, In the contest over the currency queation, wl i the policy to be pursued o relutfon Lo the Houth, there Is dunger thut everything else will be forgotien or pussed over, The foundations already Jald are only a substructure on which to buftd the maln edifiec; aml, with our increasing tlenseiy-lenorant foreign populution, 1L seems as though cuimpulory educition wus the only way to dilfuge knowledge. 1t fs no more an (nfninge- uent of & wun'a rlubits to compel hfn to educate bis children thun to compel bim tolive In nceordunve with the samtury ordi- nances of the city In which he resides. ‘This und vther sitmlar iucstions are discussed by Mr, Henderson; und he “concludes with an earnest uppenl to the peopte of Lhls country to sce Lo it that the freescliool system {8 established throughout ull the United States. SCRIBNEIR'S, BCRIBNER'S MONTIILY, AN ILLUstRATED Maa. Conuncted J. G JloLLasn. bery 1877, Two V. w &Co, Chieagu: ladley Brow. & Co. per Volume, 8y, pp. K84—80H, These two voluties contaiu a large fund of cholee reading in all the departments of litera- ture. In tuming them over, the attention is riveted by successlve articles dealing with one and auother tople of moment in sclence, ethics, art, history, palitics, andcivil and social ceonomys by storiee, novels, sketehes of travel, pocms, and pletures; and all coutributed by skilled und rupnlar authors und artlsts, who have given the hest products of their lubor to enrich and eu- Mven 2 high-toned and enterorisng perfodical, There - Is a prevailing uotion that an old magazine, like = mn old mews- paper, has outllved its usclulness; ut it is a mistake, Many of our most valunble buoka—thoss which bave 8 permancnt place iu our literatura—first sce the light In the paces of a mugazine. Mr. Couk's cssays on house- lotd-fusniture, which have been reproduced in tlie luxurious volume entitled “The House Veautlfuly Mrs, Burnett’s very successiul novel, *“That Lass o' Lowrig's;" with o nuinber of other very finportant works since published separately, are tnelosed in these volumes of Seribner’s, and offered at a very low price, con- sidoring the smonut of varlous and profftabie mutter zasocinted with them. Ile who takes a setection of those volunies for bis own librar or as u gift to another, will muke a wiso fnvi ment of the mouey thoy cost. MARINER.” ANCIENT MARINES lus. NorL Patux, . 8, A, HBuston: J. ufond’s Sons. Chicagu: danaen, McClurg &'Co, laif-width Folio. Price, $7.50. Sir Josoph Nocl Paton, the Scotch patnter and otchor, whose {llustrations of Shakspeare, Bhelley, sud othor poets, have attracted the otfce of the publly, and whose able plctures in fresco and ou canvas bave won hit a natonal repute, has taken the welrd poen of WThe Anclent Mariner " a8 a theme for a scries ol engrav By so dolng Lo inevitubly in- cites u comparison between his interpretution of Coleridge’s uncarthly fancles aud those of Dore, which wers published lust scason. In s the two artlsts have exhibited their conceptions of the same acenes in the poem, but, for the greater part, they have chosen dilferont incidents for (lustration. Thero is u wood deal vl power in. the work of Bir Paton, and for vigorous conceptivn and thorough treatment it Lauliko to becommended, The flgures are strongly aud correctly drawn, and, fu thelr laces, attitudes, snd pantomfine, are allve with expression. The acceseorics which help to tell thelr story ard kept subordl- nute, and {mreuhc due attention. In ever, detall of the pletures there is evidence of hur thought and honest work, which make thuie valuo more and more feit lum studyof tha scries. Awong the finest of the numbors are 11 first three, showlog the mariner, thic wed- fllumYuun. and the bride; tho twellth, portray- ing the bleased julluence of sleept the sevens teenth aud tho eighteenth, Dut wo enumerate uutil the list should be exhausted, and there would be in overy oue some bold ac- tlon, or graceful Invention, or falthful rendering of tho text, calliog for recognition. LIVE OF CIIRIST, THE LIPE AND WORKY OF CIRIST, Ty Cuxxinanan Gxixis, D, D, Vole, L—IL Now York: D, Appleton & Co. Chicago: Madley Tios. & Co. Bvu., pp. 688—U70, Frico, §8. The Divine character of Christ, which has been the themo of funwmerable multitudes of speakers aud writers, and bas juspired » vast purtion of the litcratury of the last cighteen centurics, has fgund still another interpreter, who, fiiled with revereut luve and admiration, attempts the cntiving task of lling out the sketel of the life and works of the *lowly Nazarone given fn the Guapel-narratives. Dr. Geikie cites, in justiication of his esssy vn the oft-treated subject, the remark of Carlyle, that 1t f8 ** of quite perrounial, infiuite character, and its llfilnllcnuue witl over demand to be anew inguired iito, and anow made imaulfest,” 1 the accomplistment of his endeavor, Dr. Geikle gives & history of the age and the coun- try In which Jesus lived; of the people by whom He was surrounded, aud of their religious and suclul custoins; and also of the polity of the rreat nation—then ruling ahnost the whule nown world—by which the Jewlsh ruce bad been subjocted. The authior has allowed biw- solf the utmust latitude of space {u tho ex- emplitication of his subjuct, and gives i full the sayings and discourses of Christ with elab- orate commcats and expositions. Iis work fills two large volumes, which are fasued fu a superior style by the American publishers. A number of full-yhac engraviugs of acencs intbe Muly Land embellsh the volumes, ——— HOLIDAY-HOORS, ASOP'8 FABLES. [llustrsted by ERNzsy GRIAET, La Foxraiwx, aud L'Evrranus. Itevised aud Rewrliten by luwoeie. DBoston: Lev& Shepard. by T, bR 440, Price, 81,50, BALUADS OF BRAVEKY, Edited by Growas A, Haxen. With Porty Fall-Page lllustrations Puluun: Lee & Shepatd. 5q. 1% mo., pp. 17¢ rlce, + §3.50. ABIDE 'WlTll ME. ByHzway Fraxcis Lyrs. Desljne by, Mise L. L. Huxpuxsy, Eugrsved wly ANDUEW sDd So Boston; Leo & shepard, Hy. 12mo. The collection of spologues which for more than 2,300 years bas been attributed to Esop, tho Grectan father of fublos, wjll probably cou- tinue to form s pars of the living Hierature of the worldso long as thao sball endure. He- ceiving many sdditions and undergoiug tany With 'rt‘xlfucfl Chledy uponCroxat, B0 clanges, the work sl ipaintalus s vitality, sod amuscs the readers of todsy with fts curlously-enforced Euupu\lha sawe as ¢ did 1u the ceuturies clore Cuelstlanity scob its plercing ruve of liglt futo the beart of wankind. Thoe present edltion s urrayed iu s lestive drces swited to the vearing holidays. A compilation of poems celebd deeds of cculiar berolsm hfirmnud by r. Georgu M. jaker, uuder the tillo of “ Ballads of Bravery.” « The hook 1s adomed with gay covers, gilt edger, lmstrations, and other accessorles desigued to render it attractive. The favorite poem, ** Abide With Me” by Henry Francia Lyte, one of the prominent hymnists of the firat half of this century, Is in- closed with sopropriate lustrations in a taste- ful binding. MATERNAL LOVE. LITTLE POEMS IN A MOTIER'S LIFR. By Mna, Sraan T praey. Titnsteaied, Chicago: Musce Warren, Bq. 18 mo,, pp. 125, ‘The author of this pretty-faced yolume has aptlydefined [ts contents in the title. It Is made up of sinple, unpretending songs, porteaying the Infinite rance of nioods and feelings which stir,a fond mother's heart with Joy and palo. ‘There Is no atrong passion thritling through the verses: but there s a depth of tenderness, and of sweet, pure sentiment, which appeals to those whu uan realize the supreme devotion, ecstusy, and aoliciuude of maternal lTove. The thuights amd emotions thut have fuund otierance in the p;-:.um are Ingenjously noted In the futiovuctory stanzas: & ‘I'he tnather's life 1a fall ot Iprfl»w. }';mlu early dawn tH] daylight's close; uft, amid her honsehol, res, Some Httle form, uuawar In written down within her heart, Anu uf her life beconice s part, 8nme Javing words a child may ray, A golden eurl long pul away, A hlf-worn shue upun the floor, ‘An vutgronn dress U baby wore, A broken toy, or faded fuwer, May touch the heartetrings for an hour. ‘Then come thoughts nono elxe tay know, 3 unneen tears in silence flow, Teuching, atuid the totl and strife, The hilglier poetey of 1ife, Wihich 1fts (he aoul, so earthward-honnd, Where grouter strenpth and faitb are found. COLUMNIUS. CHRISTOPRER COLUSBUY "AND THE DIS. COVERY OF THE NEW WORLD, By the ule nE BELLOY, ted by R. S 0l Mai T With Ntz Etch.ngs and ¥ Woul, Designed and Enyraved Ly Gebblo & L Co X Barrie, nd ladley Fraxexo, Phifadeiphi Chicago: Jannen, McClu Bros. Quarta, pp. 21 The story of Christopher Cotumbus and the dlscovery of tho New World fs narrated by the Marquis de Belloy in alight but entertaining mannier. It s indebted for itschief Importance 10 the Hlustratfons accomnpanying 1t, whi by the famous French etcher, Flameng. These present to us portrnits of Columbus, Isabella, unt Bartholumew Columbus, with a inultitude of scencs In the diversifled career of the great nuvigutor. The book ts Fubluhml In o luxuri- ous style, and betongs with the glitteriug bust eapeciully provided fur the holiduys. TITE CIHISOLM MASSACRE. THE CIISOLM MASSACRF: A Pictene or S llouE-lteLe ' 1% Miseissires, By Janes M. WetLa, Chicago: Ageucy Chisolm Monumiental Fund, 1¢mo., pp. 201, ‘The history of the murder of Judge Chisolm, with his sots and daughter, at DeKatb, Mirs,, in Aprtl, 1877, is given In this voluwe with minute detall by one whowas & personal witness of muny of its most distressine incldents. The volume has been prepared for the purpose of ralsing by Its sale futds with which 1o remove the remulns of the dead to Northern ground, and pluce ubove them a suitable monument, It s written with warm fecling, and prescnts a lurld picture of the horrors of @ Howme-Rule " as it prevalls in Kemper County, the suene ot the Cuisolm massacre. — BOOKS RECEIVED. GREEN PASTURES AND PICCADILLY., A Nover, Jy WiLtiax BLack. Author of ** A Princesstol Thule.** “etc.: n Conjunction with nn Americun Writer, Now York: liarper & Iirow. Chicugs ansen, McClurg & Co, 12uo,, pp. 82, Pric llk\’ll‘mt 1. -HOUMR. BERIEY. WARREN HASTINGS, By Lord MACAULAT. l‘& 170, THE LIFK AND Wl(lTl.\'lQlS OF ADDIsUN, (l)l A Lord MacAuLAY. Pp. . A PRINER MEDIEVAL LITERATURE. B Eva ** 1lstorical Studh LAwRENCE, Autlhof of ete. 125, New York: Harper & liron, Chicas Jansen, McClurg & Co. Prico, 26 cents each. JUNT LIS LPCK. Boston: Lee & Bhepard, 10 mo. pr.n . _Price, 81.60. Tl FOREST GLEN SERIES. FOREST GLEN; on, Tise Mouawk's Fuexn. Uy ELan Ket- Lona, Authorof ** Elm. ".na Stories, "' ete, 14 on, Tnes Brook AXD liven, By S8Anan Dovnosey. New York: 11, Petter & Galpin, Chicago: Iladiey Dros, &C B:& Rvo., pp. 102, D'rice, £1.00. THE BUDGET: A Pictrns axn Stolx Hoox ron Hovs Axp Ginis, Edited by UNcLr Hensr Editor of **The Prattler,"” ‘etc. Philadelvhi L I3, Lippincott & Co. Chicago: Hadley Hrun £co, Tima, bp. ik, = BOSTUN MUNDAY _LECTURES, TRANSCEN- DENTALISM, WITH PRELUDES ON CUI RENT EVENTS. Iy Joser) Tostor James It. Osgood & Ca, Chic; iadley Hros, &Co. 12mo,, pp. 308, Price, 31.50, TIHE BIRTI OF JESUS, By the Rev. Ilenry A. Mires, D, D., Author of **Origin and Trans- ission ol the Guspels,” etc. Bostun: Locl fironks & Co. Chicago: fladley Dros. & Co. 12mo., nr; $11, Price, $1, A _YOUX(: WIFVE'S STORY, A Novu By TexwxrTa Bowss, Paver, T'rice, 25 centa. A_MODERN MINISTER. With Tilustrationa, In Two Volumes, Vol. 1. Paper. Price, i cents. New York: Ilsrpcr & Drus. Chicage Jansen, McClurg & Co. HARPRI'S TIALF-IOUR SERIES, LORD CLIVE. By Lord Mavauvar. Urice, 20 cents, Now York: llarper & Bros, Chicagu: Jansen, McClurg & Co, PERIODICALS RECEIVED, ATLANTIC MONTHLY for (110, ilongh- ton & Cu,, luston). Cor **The enult in South Carolin by *+Soue Hambling Notes of an ldle Eacureion, 1V., by Mark Twaln; **Crade snd Curione In venilons st the Ceutennial Exbibition, ™ 1X., by Kuighti **The I."x of Roushan Longfeijows **An_Eplsode in by William F. Apthory ater, "' by Clarenco Gordans *Thy Charles Dudloy by Henry Jawes, tom, * 1L, by W. IL. Hishopy **The Seeking of the Watorfall," by Jobn Greenluaf Whiltier; **Upen Letivra from Now York," by R Westbrouk ; v Edward Olbson,'* by W, D, 1l M oighbor, * by ArthurSearle; ** My Aviry, iver Wendell Holmen; ** The Contrioutors® ** Jtacent Litoratu: BENTL] ~BUY for December « % W. Itoblusen, Philadelphis), LITERARY WORLD for Decemoer (E. It Hames & Co., Hoston), LITTELL'S LIVING AQE—Current numbers (Littell & Gay, Voston), FAMILIAR TALK, PALISSY, Mr. Prime’s ook on * Pottery and Porce- Jaln " abounds In sage and plthy vassages, but there Is none more viguious and impresaive than that fu which bie detlvers his opluiun upon the carcer of Palissy as a may and au artist. Every- body knows the story of Pallssy’s stubborn de- termination to fiud out the seeret of producing white enamel for the decoration of pottery, and how for iiteen long years hie kept to the resolu- tion, sacritleing bts time, his work, his duty to provide for his wife aud fumily,—cverything that man ordinarlly holds dear and precious,— onthoallar of an obstinateand sclfish smbl- tion, 1asaw his wile's tcars and Leard her re- proaches; ho Mstened to tho cries of his littly children from cold and Luunger, and followed them to graves dug by gaunt, pitiless nlscry and destitution; ho burned the last artivles of furniture lelt Iu his desolste howe to teed the fre for pertecting bls cndless experiments fn clay, aud was unshaken fn his our poss until he saw it succrssfully mccum- plished. Then honors, and fame, and fortune wero showered upon bl but the long, bitter wmisory of his family, and tho deaths of bis neglected little ones, could never be atoued for by any after sucvess or schlerenent. ‘Tho expericnce of Pallusy has been olten re- pusted before sod after bis twe. 1t ts not scl- dom that we bear of uien and women foresking the work that Jes at thelr baud, the dutles to those nearest thein of the uiost sacred nature, to accowplish sume purposy that louks mure exalted aud koportant becauss fts iutiucics wisy Lo widesprend and afect u Jurgo dlrclo ol bu- manity, Manyan spostly of the noblest re- forins, even of the pure religlon of Jesus, may take 10 heart the Jesson that Mr. Prime draws from the example of Pallssy. 1t applics equal- 1y well to the woan who frequents tho miect- Ings of Muody, thu Conventlous ol the Buffrag- Lots, the loctures on tewpersnce, tho routs sud ssscablies of fasblion, while her busband gocs cowpanionless and “her children we un- kept aud uncared fory 1o the colperteur sud svaugellst who spouds bis lite preachlug sud preyiug for the world’s salvation, winle bls 'Honmi family suffer for thy luck of common neceasities; to all who are reaching out for something to do thbat ls couspleuous sod ex- tended in ita operstion, while bumbler work, for which theLnu respousible to thewsclves and to otbers, s loft uuperfosued. Bays Mr. Prime, in words that riog with & strung, trus swpbasls: **With the highest re- 'I!iur artistls pursuits, ana all the adwire- tlou of our own time fur artistic results, we nevertheless owe -fsr more sywpathy to the wite sud fawily of Pallssy than is comuonly 9 expended on him during this perfod. o de- rerved thoroughly whateser of misery he per- zonally endured. No reasonable binme can he attached to a wife who regards hersell 23 ill-uscd by a husband who leaves her and her chiliren to starve while he omitsy to provide for them, neglecting his trade and prooer means of livelihowd to pursue a fauey, The auccess of the pursuit hias no bearing on the propriety of it. The a~hievements of fiue art are glorious, tmt the misery of a wife and chilidren 18 In i way compensated by the glory. Very mnch of sentiment bas been “wasted on this portion of the earcer of Palisay, In books deslgned tg teach morality, which fad better have been'lelt unwritten, The manygraves of Nis little children in this time—six at leaat of whom his wife mourned, §f he did not—are moreeloquent than the labors of their father, ‘who neelected them for the pursuitol his favor ite art-project, In all frankness, no sensible woman, at least, can study the lite of Palisav, by the tew 1ights tie himself throws on t, with- oitt belleving that the ordinary glamonr of *ar- tistle perseverance,’ ‘noble determination,! ‘lixed Yur;msu tu succeed,! whith biographers have thrown around it, s a false glitter. Let us mot nagnify. art sbuve humanity. Itis higher civilization to care for the perfec- tlon of domes| Inppiness than to build triumphant atckies. Mal { shifticss man, call- Ing himsell an inventor fn with starving wlie und vt flus Wimaell by 1 nple of Palissy, lauded #o lighly by his hers, when he ought to Iue earning bresd by duing what lubor he already knows how to do. ~ Art demuands sacriflces, but veither art nor common aense demands or per- mits that any man shall sacrifice anything that in not his viwn to glve. Let us draw trae, and not deceptive, lessons from the history of urt and the stroggles of artlste. The result of Iullesy's labors was tnagnilicent sucess, In the sejquence they were of pecunlary benefit to France nud to Europe. In one day the repro- duettons of his works, which huve bad wide sal ol late vears, haye given employment to thou- sauds of laburers, andt have introduced his art- fdeas futo fnnwineruble humes. But God farbld that all this shoudd be in any maniicr a justifica. tion of the cost at which he achleved success— the cost of an_injured wile, u broken faily, a row of Hitle gruves.” LITERARY NOTES, ‘The winter-attendunce st the -University of Dorpat is 8§53, only nfty-threw of whum are non- Russians, 2 Harper & Bros, have nearly ready Mrs, Spof- ford's hook on * Art-Decoration Applled to Furniture,” aud nlso Di Ceanola’s ** Rescarches sod Discoveries on the island of Cyprus.” Au outline of the liver of * Raphacl ana Michael Angelo,” by Charles C. Perkine, will svun be published by James R. Osgood & Co., inan octavo volume, Hlustrated with cogravings and helfotypes. The wife of J. Comyns Carr, an English Journalist of rising reputation, and the English caitor of the French art-Journal L'Art, will re- Italian Folk," which were originally published in the Eraminer, and much praised at the time, Caldscott furnishea the illustrations for the work. in a pooular mouner. oue, us there is much to be saldon the atructure talning it in the best order, which the unlearned suited to catch their attention. 1aud is the most popplar ot Amcrican novellsts, being rivated only by Dr.. Edward Eggleston and the Hev. E. I Roel statement by remurking that claas which all must respeet.” “The Life of Edward Willlam Lane’ has been recently published in nephiew, Btauley Lane Poole, Mr. Luane's touk onthe *Modern Egvpliaus® has had an fn. mense and deserved success. 1t was traustuted futo German soou ufter. fts appearancy In 16, 1t was reprinted in the Umited States, and 50,000 coples have been sold in Lowdon, Mr, Lane's version of the Nights," and his** Arabic-Enulish Lexicon,” ars works of a high order of ment. topliny’ repl beatificution cannot be conceded, becaiise tio ex- troordinary deed Is demonstrated evidenviig herole Christfan virtue, Apart from his great work, the discovery of Aumerica, his public nnd rivale lile was much criticised. ' T the chron- canonization, The fume that I leit at hia death {s not that ot sinfnent aud uotable Cathiolte, In fine, he bas neyer been consideren nor {nvoked asaSatnt. This decsloi communicated to those whom 1t ihay concern, yearn” ART-GOSSIP, ‘Thesecoud portion of the collectionof modern prims brought together by M. Pllippe Burty will probatly be sold during the coming seasou, It compriees many etehioga by M. Alphonse Legros, Mr. Beymour ladey, snd M. Brucyue- mond. Classes ln porcelain-paluting are belng formed, under the susplees of the Chicago Soclety of Devorative Art. Thuse wishipg to loin will please send thelr addreases to the rovms of the Boclety, Nus, 31 aud 32 Dore Block, northwest coruer of Btate and Madlison strects, An exhibltiou of the cugraved work of tlans Scbald Beham, one of the Genuan Little Mas- ters, is to hup«ncu at the Burlington Fine- Arts Club, Loudon. It is oxpected that the collection of the artist's sninll Hne-engravings and wondcuts will he tolerably complete. A monument has lately been erected . Mu- nich to Aloys Benefelder, who discovered the art of lithogruphy in 1708, The monument iresenits weolusaal” bust of Senelelder, und four as-reliefs ropresenting the madn incidvuts in the progruss of bis fuvention, Dr. Lubke has published at_Nurnbery 8 book entitled % Peter Vischer's Werke.! was @ celebrated worker n bronze, living ut Nurubergg in the lust half of the fifteenth umt the first of the sixteenth centurics. Dr. Lubke not enty furolshics o blugraphy of Vischer, but a history of the vondition of art at Nuraberg dure ing thie ern in which he flourished, M. Louls Conrajod gives, In a lato number of the (usetle des Beaux-Arts, yeasons for believing that he has found in the Royal Collection ot Prints at Munich an exact drawing of the cele- brated statue of Francesco Blorzu by Leonardo da Vinel. The drawing represents b warrior on horsebock, pare-beaded, with 4 haton of commsnd_ in his right haud. e sits finmly, while his flery horse ‘spriugs fmpatleutly over u soldlor who has fallen ou the ground.” The tiqure of the warrlur {s covhdently a portrait, sud thu features resomble thoso ot Blorea as fven on & wedal It i not clulined that the 5nwlnl wus wade by Do Vinci, but that It re. rmfluwa the origiual wonument in s flual o, SPARES OF SCIENCE. A SOUTII AMERICAN S8URVEY, M. Wethennan, au vuglueer fu the servico of Peru, bas published a report of his survey of the Itivers Perena and Tambe, undertaken for the purpose of ascertainiug whetlier navigablo cominunication is possiblo from the Fercuo to the Amazon at Iqultos. Tue valleys ot these riverslle fu the slope of tho Andcs opposite Lims, and a knowledge of thein was lmportant to tho project of extending a route from the Pacific to the Atlautic scross the cuntinent. ‘The rallway to Lina bas been coutinued to Oroys, gud” tho report of Al Wetkerman de- clares that, by carrying it ou through Palea and Tara to Peucartaubo, 1t would there atrike the Lighest navlyable polut of the River Pervav, whenee a waterway ieads through tho Ucsyail and Marunon to lquitos, the bead of nu\'{gn' tion on the Awazou. By this routa the dis- from Lima could be traversed in twelye but, if the rullroad wore extended to the Eie, tho thuy of trusdt frow the Pacifle coast to the wain Amazou could be reduced to elglit aays. TIE EARTIHAVORM. Contributions to our knuwiedge of the habits of the ecartLworm continue to be made by cor- respondents to Nuture, It 13 suggested in the last nuwber that dead leaves wuy be drawn fn- to thelr holes in order to keep them from belug flooded, as well a4 to sorve fur food. Atteu- tion (s also called to the little mounds of swmall gravel-stones which the worms heap around tie :‘;nbr:um li.: n}o!r bun;uw‘nd' 'l'.h;‘:.u :xe muugh& part! or protection ust water, au partly lar'vms worm to rub its sliuy Lody againat, after the manner of fislies remarkahle,” says the writer, “the extent to which loose gravel-stoncs (some as large as s hazel-nut, and even larger) are removed from 8 gravel-walk from distances qnite beyond a foot, leaving the walk pitted ajl over. scen a worm in tne act of moving thess stones, and it s dificult to imaging how It Is dones but, es it gencrally Lales place in wet weather, it mas probably be by an adhesion of the stone to the sliiny body of the wormn.' i“"' hut the price of the beetle ranged fran pruduce in book-forin her sketches of *Nurth- Charles Reace, the Enalish. navelist, 18 nbout to write & hook on a subject which wiltalluw of s discussing the physiviozy of the human body The Idea is an excellent of the human frame, aml on the meuns of main. public ueed to hear often repeated, und In ways George Parsons Lathrop states, in o letter published in the Academy, that Ur. J. G. 1lol- He aterward, in the same lctter, tempers the first {mruun of this D, Hollaud, though not greatly in favor with the hicrary writes with the force of pgood purpose, London by hix *Thousand-umt-Oue, ‘The proposition for the canonization of Chris- Columbus bua tnel with the followling {!mm the Church which clalms tho power of elevating the dead tothe rank of Suint; *The cles of the time nothiug s fuund worthy of o be sud the question cunnot be revived fur three Vischer “It s very I have never A BEETLE, The Amblychila cytindreformis has been an- il recently the rarest and costlicst of Amerlean Coleoptera, The flest specimen of the beetlo was found by Thomsas Bay, the noted ento- mologlat, at the foot of the Rocky Mountalns, in the year 1523, Twenty-nine years later, & second specimen was found, alto aead, by a United States Burveying Expedition. An occa- slonal specimen was secured during succeeding 15 to §20 among eaer coliectors. Only eighs months ago it was rated at 812 per specimen, Hut during the past two scasons several htin- drad Individusls have been found, and the beotla will probably never mors command lts old high price, BRIEF NOTES, A catalogue of the phxnogamous plants fn- cluded in the flurn of New Jersey, published by Oliver R. Willls, enumerates 1,083 species. ‘The French Government proposes sending an expedition to San Francisco to observe tha l.)rn‘ml; of Mercury, which will take place May 6, 1578, Mr. Lyman, Genlogist to the Japsvess Gov- cenment, estimates, In his report of the survey of the Isianid of Yesso, that {ts deposits of coal witl yleld 150,000,000,000 of tons. The Roval Soclety of London has bestowed the Copley Medul upon Prof. James Dwizht Dana, for his important investizutions In Lioto. &y, geology, and wmineralogy, conducted through halt a contury. ‘Twoncw apecles hiave been'added to the list of Insect-feeding plants by o Spanish hotaniat. They arc the Ononts natrix and the Silenus viscosa, awd their habits were observed inau excursivn to thu Province of Condosa. Dr; Edwin Von Barry, the well-known geolo- glst and Afrlean explorer. who has beea en- eaced sfnee August, 1803, in an expeditinn fute the tnterfor of Baliwra, died at Chat, Out, 8, of excessive sxposure and privation. The Westminster Aguaris at Loodon has on exhitition four Laplanders, with thelr rein- leer, tent, aledzes, and domestic pataphernaifa. ‘They were brought from Kautokeiwo, N, L. ) deg. 1 min., and parsae their habitug ways and customs in thelr new locality without apparent disquictuda. rangn, the famous gorilla, whose death the Berlin Aquarium Isdeploting, seemed unusually well on fus return to Berlln Sept. 21, after the visit to England. A month iater symptoms of indisposition were mantfest. yot not ol a uature toalarm the physician. A fow days after, the rorlila suddenly dicd, cuustng u gricvous loss to the Aquarium, which had Just refused au olfer of £2,600 for the antmal. ¢ A number of gewns of extraordinary size and beauty have tound their way from Russla to Eugland slnce the present war begau, Among them s.an aquumarine welehing over six und a- half ounces, of adeep seagrecn tint, and of faultless beauty. No gem b the kind equaling it 1ina before been seen fn Eneland. Anatber remarkable gem Is u topaz nviling ti chused tor the Grand Mogul at Goa for The Zoolosical Gardens at London h celved, frum 1851 to 197, examples of species of vertebeated animale, Of these 679 were mammals, 1,228 bleds, 87 trachians, and 83 flshes, the prosperous state of the Loadon sardens, thuse of New York and Phifadciptia take i p showiugg, The gardens at the Litter city deed, cularzing thelr collections ut anenrsour furr rate; but, from reduetion of tuc apops atlons saade by the City Government, the 2 dena at New York have'suffered a cousaderasls “uulnu!luu In the number of unlinnls on exhlo.- jun. e —— e DESTINY. O'er galilen blenk, Aml Fonts wrown gens Wth time, aind starn, ang sluw devs, amuke-capped aud grin ohl chitimera reae These mottled croste; while awaflows near And farthelr enlless cliclings nirk, Bruke only by'n pause, und jo! With fanliless uim, down o the dark, Dawp cafnneye, ohe by one fhey gu. ce early mnorn, the chllling rn Deol against my window-pane? L o A wirond, i et nud awell, and roar, 1t comes ualons, Like same old knight of howored stecl, * Atwarted nor by wo or wealt Then, witha sold gatd yclion tone, Tha Tk dewps e utie by une Anidy like young kitivin at theit play, Chiase each thy 0 e avhln; Jurk the RO, Rua gaily In the uth trwbu, “Thus have 1 «at here oft before, And from my whwlow, open wide, Throngh which the moonveams uenily creen, e Tustied o by Whilo proud) Au nundred shivs in beauty e, A decade now hna paserd awa; Sinve o'er your duorway first Viroa, Anu then, with bendod Kuee o pray, Praged, **Tane mv, tov, o They, U Gud1™ Old am I now: I tuen was yourig, nd pever matlu-sang was suny With lightor heurt orsterner niizhit Than sun;; L ere that fatal night, A nobla ship, with gallant crew An e'ce rude aver Ocean's hlie, With canvas streichedand peilunots bigh, Satled 06l & port uf Gurniany, “L'was early wiorn, and on the ae Tho ladened blossoniy! eduts Fare Wery waftest fur put v'er the bay, To a1l on board the Tuscuny. Slowly the landscape, datter o'er With cot, and catle. snd murky moor, Failea from the sight, s ls forgot iy all save und—u mAlden—not OF low degres or Diean vetaty, Dut 0t L shiine a Prince's mate, Alone, with thoughtfal atr, slia stands, Cantiug one lonz, Hast ook at lands Yesterday her huma-lu-u{ ivon o'er Furone who, o1 the distaul sburs, Mun labored jong, 1l brooked delay ‘Yo sev the dawning of this day. ‘The honra sped by, ontll the day Un which the stsunch old Tuscany, With gallant crow aud peauants bigh, Should speak our shores from tiermany, **It comes!’ Lhe cry fau throuch the crowdy Aud up from bearts {bo answer loud ‘And louder ¢ n anewerlug shouts, m-palllnmn woving duubs Hut, ere the onter coast wus pas 1t stopped; and, quirering every maat, Blowly it eank, with all it boro— Foundered within a lesgue of shore, Honr after hour, with cesseleas tread Among the rescued, silent dead, 1 wandered, ‘Prending 0fL 0'er ground oft trod before— awn 10 none, nono knowing—thinking not, vo only this: 1o Iind the spot. uld be the lifeless form, Ixlitlcas vye, the golden hal ©'cn now tho falrest of the falr, With almleas stop, and hears sunk fow Within we, m{' from the halle uf sllent desd, My Y5 Jone T Kept, 1 beat my we 2015 his sput, [one: tenuay Y M w here, 't oo aud stars appear, Tp through their shining ports I'fi:ndlyv Bea n{‘.m of hope—my destiny, Jurtaw Pryaus. A Fortuuste Frossutiment, Soriugeld ( Mase,) Republisah. To March Tasi while. the [l fated United States steamer Huron ‘was lylog In the barbor of Fort Royul, 8. €., Licut. Antbur 1L, Fletcler, her o ecutive ofllcer, left tha vessel on & twenty-four hours' leavu of abeence, und, failing (o refuro st tbe expiration of thut ‘me, the ship salled for another poct witkuat biw. A fow days after e, toyal, reported to Com- oulur naval oficer prei bim that for soma timo pst he utiment taat, if he went L0 sea In the Muton lur the purpoes uf nishing the ceuise (two yeuru, o would b weck "Fula tealing Look complete posscssiun of his mind, and be used ovory mvans toget detached, but tho Nuvy Department rofusad to urder [t without & better reason. Whea hu found that sil bis edoris bad failed, be loft the Huron ln 1o manuer stated, with tav lutention not tozetutn, ¥or this ho was placed uuder arrust and tried 'by court-martial st Washington N Y I defenso he wad rd 10 August lask, t, §n subatance se abo dore "Cilta, Hluron, aud other otice b 1, Icaving the ship, be told ‘thew of the dread—ln fact hortor—be Bad of Bolshing the eralso i tho vusacl, Thls ins matter of record, vn Gle in the Navy Departweut, sul, thoush such s Hue of des wuso wax laugbed b when iuade, the futs of the furon will causd taaby superetibious peuple to think that Mr. Fletcler's prewmonition was fuliy proven L0 bu acuo”vaw by e weeck ‘of KIS W . C.