Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, April 27, 1878, Page 9

THE CIHICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY: APRIL 27, 1878—TWELVE PAGES. LITERATURE. The Fort Berthold Indians.-- The Nature of Intel- lcctual Property. I})lernntinnnl Polities---Aslatic and Enropean Armies--- : Walks in London. }Smries from Homer---Animals in South Africa--"* Horse-Siok- | ness” and " Lung- Digeass,” Literary and Art Gossip—Flora Round About Chicago ¢ Tho Dirchworts ~Molecular Motion. Nomenclature of the Meéric Syse tem===Further Development of the Steam=Engine, LITERATURE. TNE TORT BERTIIOLD INDIANS. ETHSOGRAFHY AND PHILOLOGY OF THE TUDATSA INDIANS. By Wammixatox Mat News, Awisiant Surgeon United States Army, Fihington: Govarnment Printing-Office. ” 6vo., , 20, v&m of the latest of the series of {mportant works which aro presenting the results of the Uolted States Geological and Geograplieal Bur- veyof the Territories, under the chiree of Prof. .V, Havden, Is the above-named treatlse on tbe Ethnography and Philology of tho Hidatea Jndians, The author of the monograph was for some years stationed at o mbiitary post in tho viclnity of this tribe, and during that perlod de- yoted himscl! to obscryations upon their dis- tinctiye tralts and manners, ood to a study of their language. The materisls thus collccted were, several years ogo, embodled fn an essay on the gram- matleal structurc of the Iidatsa langunge, and s Hidotsa-English and Engtish-Hidatea yoesbulary. This work has been now cntircly remodeled and greatly enlarged, while a prefix s been pidded, Including the cthnography and philology ot the race. Inits present form It Is pegarded as onc of the most valuable memoirs of our sboriginal Indians that have ever bLeen produced. The Hidatsa, Minnetaree, or Grosventro In- fans Inhabit, together with the Arickarecs and Mandans, o permanent villaze at Fort Berthold, in Dakota Territory. Tho site of the viilage s sa arid prairio-terrace on the left bank of the Musourt River, aud lu tho northeast corner of 1 larze reservation streteeing along tho Missour! and Yellowstone Rivers, In Dakotn and Mon- taos, which was assigned to these tribes five ears or 80 azo, The village comnprises about {TModuu and log houses, sct without any re- ard to regularity, and with thelr doors faclng rnmrv possible dircetion. The fodees ore bullt fn the usual fashion of the Miseouri-River 1ndinns, and consist of a wooden framo covercd with willows, liay, and earth, ** A hale in the top, which lcta in the Hght and lets out the smoke, and s doorway on cne side, aro the only apertures n the bullding, The door s made of rawhide stretched ona {rame, or of puncheons, and it {s protected by a natrow shed or entry from six to ten feet long. Orer the smole-loles of many of thie lodges are placed frames of wickerwork, on which skins arespread to the windward in stormy weather, tokeep the lm!‘m from getting amoky.” Tho floarof the hulldinz i often sunk a foot below the surface of the ground. Inthecentrs of this adireuler cavity fa excavated a foot or moro in depth, and cdged with flat etones, to answer the purposo of a fireplace. ‘The lodizes have a diamoter of from thirty to forty fcet, & hight at the centro of from teu to flteen feut, and at the eaves of from five to seven fect, and nre, a8 may be Inferred, quite eonumodlous dwellings. Tho labor of bullding them devolves chiclly upon the women,—the men lending asslstance merely in placing the beavier timbers. Tho Indges are furnished with mate, hurdles, hair plllows and buflalo-robes for seate, and with curtaincd bedateads dis- posed around the clrcumference of tho apart- ment; while on the posts supporting the roof o hung arme, implements, bouschold-uten- ol ete, A wooden mortar is sot_in the floor, andthe boots and other articles belonging to the family are stored in a resorved place near thewalls, Log cavins similar to those of our Western ploncera have been fntroduced futo :n: ;:.“‘n' and aro gradually incressing in umbers. The place of burlal, on the prafrie bebind the Yillage, §s Indicated by the presence of scaf- foldyand graves, The former provalent cus- fom of exposing the bodics of thodead upon the scaflold in iving woy to tha European mody ofbural In the eround; yet, when the Hidatsa e off ou thelr hunts or In distant encunp- menty, they dispose of thelr dead by laying ttem on the branclics of the trees, Tho tribe have no permanent house fn the Village for the pertormanco of the ceremonles of Atelr worshifp, but crect for the purposo & tem« 'y structure, or make usc of & private 1 0r of open spaces out of doors, A nota- blefeature of the village Is the caches, o pits in ¥hich the Indiaus atore thelr crops, or conceal o Melr property” when departing for tho chase, Theso it aro circular excavations, resembling Acistern, and arc finfshed with an opening bare: Irlargs enough to admit the entrance of a sin- tleperson. The treasures deposited here aro torered with earth so skilifully as to obliterato mr{ trace of the exzavation, l!“ enflrst known to the white map, tho dataa practiced a rude kiud of agriculture,— nling corn, squashes, beans, tobacco, and the Yafower for the sako of ts sceds. OFf Into Jursthey haye mada considerable improvo- :e}nlnt olr methoda of farining; and, In ad- mmn 10 the usual irregular littlo patches near ¢ldges, cultivato a larwe fleld apart from king from it potatocs, turulps, & ables, Tu former times, tho u:llry of the iidates consisted ~chiefly of Jneat of the buffalo, rousted, boiled, or truled, when froal, aud, when dricd, catcn raw, E'mohd In_cither of tho waya inentfoned, 13ce the bufTalo has bocome searce, the elk Ntdwnuy iy tho ercater part of tha weat Iy “n;umed. ‘at poreupine, and beaverars wibly etecmed, and turties and a0 are much o oe food. " [lirds of proy, foxes, and wolyes Hetaten iu times of acarclty; but horsoflesh 1s rted to only under peessings necessity, u!r. Matthews relutes that, tn tho past, when alsa were out on thelr hunts and war- R‘fl“—mr often Jived wholly upon meat. saysTo Were nomadic tribes around them," ha ol{:'n who scldom tasted vegotable matter, y Uiving for seven or cight months in the mt:: exclusively on meat, I havo seen whits fl"hu Lad lived for years among tho Indlans, trgouing such residence, for alx months o "k«' Jear, livlng on nothing bug meat (and T ot ‘:ylu‘nlc hufllllnlnr ight,' ulhluy ex- i i who, in the summers only, oc- or ually Vricd thelr dfet with a meea of Toots i et —not secking such vevetabie food Why a0y partleular longing or avidity, . . . !lulh" Sulsiating for’ the most Dart on t ' obeat, these Indiaus bud-the sound- v l’\ln'xl:’ “malud tecth; sud uo flesh, o thelre, Lats bealed moro rapidly uere | Lately, bowever, siuce the in- T i the consumption uf bacon sud flour umlhthem ond the destruction of their game, ave U lusny cuses of scurvy amoog e discase whichi was purticularly fatal to b m:: this winter of 1505-'69; and @ teudency ‘l.l!:l. to suppurative terminatious of B u““u' & slugyish condltion of wounds, Lora y, o thegg I, 1 to be the Drludgnl vegetsble dlet Ao Wisus, but flour s now faking fis Lhey aro 4 fribariug sunflowcr-sceds for food, e hl-' b rled, parchied, and powdered, and the Lt gy ol borled or mad into cakes. Thess Py :‘ (uurn taken on war-parties, and are said tlg mr’ufi;}nmmr agalost fatigus better The Hidataa hay, | avu some knowledge of othe: s Bealdes agriculturo and architeciurs, They Rk e Dottery, bulld boats of buffalo-hide, (“Al:‘ sud baskets of various descriptions, Vioong ang 118 that lsst for generatlons, and n l{l;dladlclol the horus of the buffulo brush, ’v-Munnlnn sheep. They have halr- “'lluuu'n | urmed of purcuvhne-qu(lh, or wmore St fu Y vl the long, tough awus of the grass w wug:? They also mavufacture rude boads ring. on OF ¥1828, toys for thelr children, + fuiplements, aud utcasils of different Jon28 Sopulatianof Leurutely kn the village at Fort Berthold own, but is probadly uob nve 20600, Of theee. 100 or (00 Hidntsn, il tho vemainder Arlckarces and Mandans. Although there three tribes have dwelt tovether In one communily since 1562, ani have been, ar we may rav, next-door nelghhors for more than a hundred years, lving on terms of {ntimacy and Intermarrying freely, they sneak totally distinct languages, The Mandun and Hlidatsa tongues are suntewhat similar, and probably have a common origing but they bear no resemblance to the Arickaree. Nearly cvery Inhabitant of the sillaze under:tands the three languages perfectly, yet uses his own must Hu- ently: and it fs vommon thing to have a dislogue conducted 11y two different Janzuages, cacl interlocutor preferring tu speak In his na- tive tongzue. Many of the villagers underatard the DaKota Janguage, amd all can use the sign- langunge na a menns of Intereninmunization, The Herthold Indians have rezutarly eareled on a svstem of trade and barter with the pomadle tribes around them, althouzh of late years this Is diminlshing, * Wlhen the Dakotns gaw a certain flower (Liatris punclata) blooming on the prairics,” says Dr. Matthews, *they knew that the corn was ripe, nl went to the villages of the farming Indians to trade, From the time they came fn sfzht of the village to the time lhcynlun‘]\uud. thers was a truce, When they had parsed beyond the blufle, they might steal au unguarded pony or Jitt o scalp, and were in turn lable to be atiacked.! Ivis eup- posed that the Hidatsa once trafiicked indirect- 1y with the tribes of the Pacific Coast, as they had shells of various species obtalned only on the western borders of the continent. ‘The Hidatea and other agricultural trives of Indians received viaits from the whites a cen- tury or more ago, and have ever rince been n communication with represcntatives of the ely- ilized race; yet it is only within the last tweive or thirteen years that thelr customs and jdeas Liave exhiblicd any material moditication. Itis within efght years that they have learned ths use of money, and anything of the English lan- guage he,vomin few oaths and vulgar expres- sfone, No sustained cfforc has been made to Christianize them, and very little to advance thelr eivilization. DBoth the Hidatsa and Man- dans havo malntained a strlet peaco with tho Americans, and have served in our armies,— performing the duties of soldlers with great fidelity and herotsin. ‘They claim nover to have shed the blood of a white mau; but the Arick- arees tyere, for a short perfod In their history, at war with the United States, The former homes of the Hidatsa were on the Knife River, where they occupled, with ono ortwo hroken tribes, threa eeparate villnges. Tho small-pox in 1837 swept away n great part of them, and in 1845 the remnant of the bands established themaclves In thelr present locality, About the same time the Mandans set up their lodges in the samo village; and in 1502 the Anikarees foined them. The three tribes have 80 much in common that they areoften de- scribed collectively as the Fort Berthold In- dlans, They arc’ peaceable and amtable jn character, and, os Dr. Mathews cxpresses it, “are to-day, for Indlans, examples in industry, general morality, forethought, and thrift," In porsoual mppearance, the Hidatsn and Mandaus surpnss mnost aboriginal tribes. The men are tall and well-formed, museular nod vigorous, nnd take grest pride in thelr handsome and plcturesque costume. Many of tho women have pretty faces, but In fizure ihey arc apt to be shorter and stouter than the other sex. The complexion of these tribes {s remark- ably fair, and many of them have lght hair and cyce. 1t has been” supposed from ihis circum- stanee that there Is an odmixture of Euro- pean blood In thelr veins, and much has been written to prove that the Mandans arc descend- ontsof the mythical Welsh colony scttled in the West under Prince Modoc, Dr. Mathews wholly discredits this thcow. stating that pure- blooded Indians of the Missourl Hiver tribes are often whiter than some representatives of tLe Aryan race, The "Berthiold Indians worship the Bupremo Belng, and regard all things in Nature os pos- scssed of o spirit. ‘They belleve In a future etate. in which the soul enjoys the same decree of regard it has carned whilo on earthi. ‘The; liave many supcratitious notlons, and cherish nmulets, and revercnco tho oracles of tho “ medicine-men,” They practico polygamy, but with some restrictions; and divoree, thongh cantly effected, fs rare among the better claasea. 1t le not possible, with the ll)flCB at command, to do more than allude tothe characteristics and manners of these farming tribes; but thero aro few of the nboriginal races of North America whoso history presenta 8o much matier of curfous intercst ns docs that of ths Fort Berthold Indlan ASIATIC AND EUROPEAN ARMIES, THE ARMIES OF ASIA AND EUROPE: Ru- BuACING OFPiciAL REPORTS ON TiE AnMizs or JaraN, CuiNa, INnta, P'rusia, IvaLy, Ruasia, Avatiia, GERNANY, FRANCE, AND EXGLAND, ACcoMPANIED BY LETTERs DERCIIPTIVE OF A JOUNNEY FROX JATAN TO THE Cavcasts, Dy Ewory Urtox, Brevet Major-General United Btates Army, New York: "D, Appleton & Co. fl‘l“nufl:l dJansen, McClurg & Co, 8vo., pp, rice, In August, 1875, Gen, Upton, accompanted by Gon, Forsyth and Ma}. Sanger, sct out, under the fnstructions of the War Department of tho United Btates, upon o military tour of the world. The departure was from 8an Frauclaco, and tho route by way of Japan, China, India, TPersla, to Russia, Austrls, aud other States in Europe. The timo of absence was limited to o yeagond & half, In this period tho travelers wero desired, o visit the chief mill- tary stations of each of tho countries named, and to examnine and report up- on tho forganization, tactics, disclpline, and maneuvres of thelr reancctivo armics. Esneclal study was to bo given to the aystemsof military ‘mwmmem employod by Englund and Russin a controlling and developing thelr provinces fn Asin, and also to the schools maintained in Germany for the instruction of officers In tho higher duties of war. "To (en, Forsyth was nssigned {nvestigations in refercnce to ca . and to Ma), Banger the same fu reference to ‘ardllery. Tho remmning watters embraced in the Commission recoiveld the attention of Gen. Upton, Tha first pub. lished roport of the resulta of the expedition is now presented by the Iatter, It testitles to the uniform courtesy with which the Cammission was received by the Governments of the coun- tries visited, and also to the fidelity with which 1he purposcs of the cuterprise were carried out, In a supplement to the oflicial report, Gen. Upton gives a briof aulling of the journcy through Japan, Cniua, Indis, and across Asla, to the Cauc: The sevarato reports of (ivn, Forsyth aod ) Bangoer are still to be pre- sented. — INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, ™ . QAN WYorkt G, at McClurg & Co. op. ‘The object of thls new scries of works, which tha one before us forms the firat volume, 13 s0 well ehown by the title that any further oxplanation is unncceasary. The chief labor In editing the books will be in the smatter of sclec- tion, for the articles aro all reprints from the leading English reviows, The following aro the titles of the papersin the prescat collcction; *The Russians, the Turks, and the Bulgari. ans,” by Archibald Forbes; *“Turkor,"” by Vis- count Btratford ds Redcllffo; ¥ Montencgro,” b(y W. E. Gladstone: *'The_Political Drs. A uy of Cauada,” by Prof. Goldwin Smith; #Frussin {n tho Ninctecuth Century," by Prof, J. 8. Blackle; ' The Futurelol Egynt,” by Ed. ward Dicey; *The Blave-Owner and the Turk," by Prof. Goldwin Smith: #'ilu Btabliity of tho Hritlsh Empire in lodia,” by Prof. Bllllle’ J, and “The Relatlun of the Enzliah Pea- h War," by Edward A, are with™ wisdom chosen as to einbrace discusions on both sides of the question under consideration, und they treat o toplc of gencral Interest. Most versons, in readicg a magazing, huve adesire to sclect tho best articles, and throw the rest of the num- ber away; and this |s just whut the prescut work sccomplishes. Moreover, it culls the best essnys on juternational politics trum all the best mnudklh. With care on thu part of the editor <hooso such articles as bave permanent fm- tance, the serles will prove quite valuable. 'he next volums (s to cwbrace eisays on 4 Questlons of Belict.”” —— INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, THOUGHTS ON THE NATURE OF INTEL. LEOTUAL PROPERTY, AND IT8 INPORT- ANCE TO THE STATE, By N. 8, Boston: _James 1. Osgood Chicago: Jansen, NeClurg &iCo. "8vo., pp. 74 ¥iice, 15 The author of the present little brochure not only makes au carucst plea for the rights of Hterary men to the products of thelr brain, but ot inventora also,—* mon of orzanized busioess ot every kind."” Hesbows thu fallacyof du- priviog this class of producers of rights and privileges which are awarded to possessors of myterial wealth, and argues that intecllectual property is, in fact, the ouly absoluts posscssion 1o the world. The rights of oo suthor or an n- veotor to the results of his toil and study secm 50 pateal that It sppears to bo uscless to discuss the polut; yet It s o fact that thers are mot B few who, endowed with a miulmun smouut of fa- tellectuul ability themselves, would wmoasure el others by their owu Liliputiaa rule, und delraud meu of genfua of their just galus. Tuoy forget that toey aro ludirectly taking cowlort, esso, even money, frow themselves, (o thels jealousy or mors nldict- Aa the author of athers wore gifted by patur b Lo havd, red-denying aptly saga, * Whatever §: n tu intelllzenca $a ot a dola srom 1ie public store: 1t 18 but n tthe of its own Bberal giving, world must pay for its genfus, as it pays for Its other prod- ucts, with a high price. "It cannot have dia. monds for tho price of grain} it cannot have tha ablest serefees of the Lest of fts people for the price of faz-work.” LONDON, WALRS IN LONDON. Ty Avausrta 1. C. Hare, Anthorof **Walke In Kome," **Memaritinaf a Qniet Life," ote. Two Volumes in One. XNn York: Georze Routledge & Fons, Chl inn McClurg&Co. 12mo.; pp. b11. Pri ‘This book belongs to that larze class of works describing the poluts of special Interest fn the vast city of London. It might well answer the purpose of a gulde-book, yeb it is planned with a vlew of seeuring greater freedom of method, and mora Jiterary and historical interest, than Is nxpected in o tourlsts! manual. Thoe suthor takes Charing Cross a8 a centre, aud thence makes cxcursions in every direction,—pausing before each place deserving of attentlon, and relating fn words of bis nwn, und §n extracts from other writers, thu cvents and sesoclations tliat have elven It Jmportance. [n this way the stranger In the bewlildening Metranolls learns what objeets fuviting examination may ba visit- ed with the greatest convenlence and economy of+time, In a series of waiks throuch the streets and aquarcs. The first part of the volume ex- hausts the oblects of Interest in the city proper. and the remaining. vortion iskes those to be found In the Weat End snd Westminster, The book 1s valnable as a work of reference,—~its rich atores of information illuminating the his- tory of London aud of its worthics, for tnauy centurics back, HOMER. BTORIES FROM NOMER. Dythe Rev. ALraxn 4. Cuuner, M, A., lcad-Master of King Ed- ward'a School, Retford. With Twenty-tour 1l- Instzations front Flaxman's Deslgne, Newy York: Harper & Bros, Chicago: Jansen, Mce Clurg & Co. 10mo., pp, 275, Price, $1.25. ‘Tho most Interesting passages In the * 1lad and tho *Odyssey™ have been rendered by Mr. Church into stmuple yet atalely prose. The verslon liolds closcly to the original, yet omitsa multitude of wmes and minor detalls which make Homer somowhat tiresome to not a few reuders, ol as well as voung, _The afm of the author hns bern to commend tho old Greek poct (o thase who do not know him, or, haviug made acqualntance with him, have fafled to ap- praciate his beautics, Iu this pralseworthy e fort Mr. Church inust win completo succe Flaxinan's clegant desizng, colored in bufl aud black, hiuve been uscd Lo illustrats the book, BRITISIT POETS. THE, PORTICAL, WORKS OF WILLIAM COW- *PER. Wimit A Masom. _Three Volumen In Two, 12mo., pp. 405640, Price, §3.50. THE PO. ETICAL WORKS OF JAMES TIHOMPSON, Two Volomes In One. 1%mo.. pp. 302 Price, §1.%5. Ttoston: Houghton, Osgood & Ca. Chl- cago: Jansen, McClurg & Co. The heautitul Riverslde Edition of tho Britlsh Pocts has recefved as the latest addition tho poems of Cowper and Thompson in these vol- umes, The manner In which the works of tho standard Britlsh poets arc offered in this editfon 18 especially pleastniz, They are earefully edit. ed, are accompanied by a memolt and portralt of each author, and are very tastefully prescnted by the publfnhura. e PLACE-POEMS. POEMS OF PLACES, Edlted IJ{ Texny W, Loxurrstow. Rtuvesia, Hoston: lloughton, Oa- good & Co. Chicago: Jansen, McClurg & Co, 1Kmo., pp. 246, Price, 81, Mr. Longfellow’s compilation of poems of places already fills twenty volumes, and thrco rRore are announced as in press. Tho present number embraces the pocma associated with Tueslan history and geography, A lung list of distineuished ‘uthors is found In the tablo of contents, and many attractive pleces arc ranged in the ling of titles, 'Tho three succeeding vol- umes will contaln poems relating to Asia, Africn, and Aweriea, HOOKS RECEIVED. THE _ELEMENTS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, By Faaxcis Wavrang, D, D., Lato President of Drown University, Tocast by AamoN L. Cita- riNy President of Tleloit Callege. Now York: Sheldon & Co. Chicage: Jansen, McClurg & Co, 12mo., ;)n. 403. “Price, 21.50. TUE IMAGE OF A[RR; AN Otugn Porss, Ty Araruxox BYpxey Loaax, Anthor of *‘Tho Mirror of a Mind." l'hllfl‘nlphh: J. B Lip- incott & Co, Chicago: Jansen, McClorg & 20, 1?mo, DQ. 45, Price, 70 cents, OHOFFUT'S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST AND PACIFIC-COAST GUIDE. By Ozonor A, Cuovrur, Authorof **Great Trans.Continental lintlroad Guide," etc. Vol 1.—1878-'0. Chi- cago: The Overland Fublishing Company, 1zmo.. op. 322, brice, 81, PATENTS AND Tiikt USE¥UL ARTS. 1L How- son. d8mo.. pp. 140, Dit. MORTIMEN'S PATIENT: A Noven. Dy Now York: G, W, Carleion Misa FARNY DEAN, & Co. Chitago: Jansen, McClurg & Co. 1%mo., pp. 428, PERIODICALS RECEIVED. RCRIANER'S MOSTHI'\'—MAY {Scribner & Co,, Now York), Contents: *'Merry Dagn with Bow and Quiver"! dlinstrated), by M. soni *‘Hoxy* VIL. dilusteated), by eston; “Liney,, by Margored I, Kk he Astronomer,” by Charles T. Darey: Camps and Tramps about Ktandn® (Nlustrate o), by Arbar Iex: ¢¢ Bird Architectare,” Firel Tapor” (lllustrated), hy Thomas M., Brewer; s¥lho Yirst Butterly," by Henry Tonduraoni ‘¢ Liitle Jtose and the Ifousa of tha Snowy Ttange," by II. H.: **The Now York Post- omea® (llusiiated) by Fdward ‘Eggleston; tjils Inheritanco, (llustrated), by Adeling Traftuni **Our Pots and Protectom™ ({lluse trated). by Willlam M, Tileaton; ** Camping-Out at Ituddor Grange, ' b nk K. Atockton ++Concerning the Use of u L., W. liacon; **Boliem mret B. Wrigh *May, " by Jol Jmposaible *tory,'” by B Dove, ™ by Sidney' Lanfer: sum, ™ by Charles do Kn, 'l]tmel"' ** Communicatio) clet 'homp- Edward oreon *Tho Oid Cab- inet Cultury and P'rogress;” ** Bric.aIirec ™ (Mustrated). CATIHOLIC \WORLD—May (Catholle Boclety, Now York), Cunni:ll.: e n a *+Conrad & Walburger" ** Kol ** Prohibitory Logisiation—lts C fects rench Proverblal Sayluge; o Tloms 3 cctarian Diplo- matic Scrvica;™ 44 Tho Archlepiscopal Palacu at Heneventutn” ** Juxta Crut *The Lite ernry £xtravagance of tho Day;" ‘*The Diue. Bird's «Note;" ** German (ilows: Tomilloe, and Comimnentaries:” ** Danto's Purgatorio ™ *% Hospectablo Poverty In K ++'The Coro- nation of Vupe Les XHL; Now Publica- onn, ST, NICIIOLAB~May (Scribnor & Co., New York), Among the contributors to this number are Mary Hallock Foote, Lucretia P, Iale, Lucy Larcol Lousa M. Alcott, lrwin Iis live Colla Thaster, David I*lul1 horn: and Mrs, K, W, La {llustra- mer. There{s the usual profusion of tions. AMERIOAN NATURALIST-May (McCalls & Stavely, Philadoiphia). AMERICAN LAW REUISTER-April (D. B, Can- Held & Co., Philadelphin), DBUSIN MAN'S MAGAZINE-~Asy (Jamea P, Beult, Chicavo), AMERICAN JUUKNAL OF MICROSCOPY—April l’l‘ly.‘" Yor! A RMACIST—April (Chicago Colloge of Phae- macy) FAMILIAR TALK. ANIMALS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Capt. (lllinore’s observations upon the pat- ural history of *“The Great Thirst-Land "'—as he names the Interlor of Southern Africa—are not of asufficlently preciae and extended char- acter to be of much value from a strictly sclen- titlc polnt of view; you his hasty notes oa the fauns and flora of the country through which ha passed on his route to end from the vast cen- tral plaios where the llon aodthe elephant abouud, are entertalning to the general reader. In many cases ‘they are too veguo and incom- pleto to allow of {dentifylng the objects alluded to; nevertheless, they mildly suggest the won- derful aud the beautitul forms of aoimal and vegetable life that are conspicuous iu Tropicat Africa. On the western slope of the Drackenburg Mountains, whichdivide Natal from the Orange Frco Btate, Capt. Gilmore first met the species ot African Finch which s distinguished by a remarkable prolongation of the tail-feathers. ‘The plumnge of this bird is a rch oringe and a glossy bluck. Its body 1s no larger than that of # canary, yet the plumcs In the tall measure in some fustances two feet in length. The two central feathers aro longest, and all sro a brilliant black, and so pllant *that they flutter and rustle {n the wind lik picces of black silk.” These feathers are developed In the male bird ouly, and in tho mating scuson. ‘“When It 13 blowjng pretty strong,' writes Capt, Gillmore, “ihelr tails seem to carry then away down wind; but I think in this action the bird fs cither nmusing himself, or tryjug to deceive the obaerver; fur, on scveral occasions, when I have thougbt 'themn struggling against the breezo unsuccessfully, 1 bave tried to approach them by wettiog below to the polut whither they were apparently drifting; but, when my motive was percelyed, they would alter their course, and pursug & new one with a tolerably flizht.” ‘The writer adds that ** t (s most rmusing to tce two of the male birds fight: from the tons of the neighboring reeds they desb at each other, and ascend twenty or thirty yards, atruggling with beak and claws,—the two tails feumw 80 mized that you might expect, after lie mancavre i over, the one ty 08X the rther which tall Is which. The hen,on the hand, fs o demura littls brown thing, searcely 0% large ns our hen-sparrow. and quite as hum- ble fn plumage. Their nest 1s hullt In reeds, and, aithough larizer, has much resemblance to a sedge-warhler's’” The popular name of this Finch (Vidua Paradisen) 1s Whidsh-bird or Widow-bird, and it {5 = nacive of Scuth Afrlca and Renegal, Of the Ostrich, Cant, Glilmore testifies that despite 1ts intenacly” stupid Tonk, it 14 ot w0 much of 8 fool as it fs usually accounted. Although excessively timid in a atate of nature, when in captivity of domesticated thess birds #rabold aml dangerous,—the males especiaily fo. Thev will attack horse or rider indiscrim- inately, *walking up to the object of their in- dignation with a qulct, measured stelde,~never esincing for a moment the slightest evidence of hostility,—In fact, looking such fouls that no one would Imaging them capobis of Infnical fdeas; when, with a quick movement, done with fren #trength and velocity, they ralsc their oot amd striks torward, the edges of the toes being an sharp that they will cut your clothes the whole length of the stroke. Astheyarc too valuahle to he knocked on the head, nerhaps you turn to run from them, but their speed 14 #uch that an attempt thus to elude them is use- less. The only plan-then to be pursued is to throw yoursell down, and lie st on your face or back. They cannot kick you In these poste tions, but they will jump on you and trample all over you, ~While this orv.-rnunn 1s goluw on, you may uive vent to your feelings and satisfy your aclf-csteem by bestowing upon them a few remninders that tio can play the rame <ame.” ‘There 18 o genus of African birds (Indicator), ranked in the Cuckoo famlily, which nave ac. quircd the name of lloncy-buldr, or lloney- bird, from tha exhibition of a remarkabla In- stinct. ‘They have n habit of fluttering abonut a traveler, and nttering at the same timo a cry sounding liko the syilable sherr. It attentlon be patd to this strange behaviur, it is sald the birds will invariably lead the “i to o deposit of honey, On Lhe banks of the Limpopo, Capt. Gilimora was challenged by one of theso singu- lar birds, and, following ita guldance for half an hour, was Lrought ton very large mimosa- tree, which, being azcended by an attendant, was found to contain a small amount of beauti- ful honey Ina comb s white as snow. This bird's ** perfect confidence In man,” the Onptain remarka, ' is tnosc extraoidinary¢ it will hover In your face; somotimes you may aimost Im- agine that It is golng to iight upon your shoul- der; after which it wiit fly forward a few paces, and, by its actions and voice, do all tn its power to keep attracting your attention. 1t 8 cus- tomary, after robbing the bues™nest, to leave mlne"uf thaspollsas o reward to tho discoy- erer, 8nakes are very sbundant in the tlelnity of the Limpopo, and affordea Capt. Gillmore an opportunity of witnessing the destruction of one of thelr number by the Seerctaty-bird or Ecr&;en!—!:nlcr (Serpentarius Scerctarius), This bird is cherithed on account of the watfare {t rerpulunlly wages ngalnst reptiles, which form its subsistence. It {n cousequently verv tame, evincing no fear at the near approach of man. 1t is about three foet In length, with slate-col- ored plumage, **a formidable eagle-shaped by and a very large, harsh-expressioned black It moves with such long, regular stride to suggest that It s assuming o theatrical mode of progression for the sake of attracting atten- tlon. Capt. Gillmore was anc day within a short distance of a flovk of Sceretary-hirds, when he witnessed a combat between one of themn and prey. ‘“The bird rushed forward to selzo it victim; but, the latter being on the alert, this was not accomullshed. ‘The attackiug party then strutted round, holdlug out the terinfng- tion of its wing to be struck at by the snake. ‘This oceurred wany times, til the assalied made a falte blow, and 'In a monment the bird had it o fts powerful beal ond flew up with it aloft, quitc 200 yards, then dmflped the rentile, descendims after It with' tho velodity " of w hawk. Amin and ngatn this was repeated, till, I suppose, the snake belng dead, it was carried off to & quiet retreat to bo made ameal of.”! The Sccretary-bird derives its name from fts crest of feathers, which can be raleca or de- prossed at will, and which distantly rescmblo n cluster of quills behind the carof a clork, It 1s easily domesticated, and has been Introduced into many countriea infested with snakes, that {t inight “wage n war of extermination acamust these pests, & During bis roturn journey from the clevated tablo-lands of South” Africa, Capt. Gillmore re- Intes that, an ong oceaston, a very curious sight cauacd Lifm to balt for some minitcs, It was 1o less than n migratioi of those extraonlinary rermu valled by the French midlle pieds. The rain lad catsed birds and beasts fn the most miraculous manner to avpear, and, I suppose, hod a similar effoct on the reptiles. They were crosslng the road elght or ten “decp; the advance-zusrd of this regiment | could not sce, and the rear-guard appearea cqually distant, Many of them wero near- |1y a foot long, and ns ‘thick asa child's wrist, heirskins I had constantly found on the velt previously, bleached as white as snow, and cone sequently looking at a distance more like n shin-bone of some large maminal than snything eise; yet never for amoment bad I believed that they oxisted fu such countless numbcrs, ‘These ore not to bg confounded with centi- I;eu:s. for between the two there 18 no rescm- lance, except that they Loth scem to have more legs than they know what to do with,” Bomo spectes of Tropleal centipedes attan the sizo of the warm described above, which was probably a member of this croupof Anuclids, The fucidont narrated sbove, touching upon the lower tribes of the animal kingdom, leads uite naturally to a circumstance rolated by opt, Glllmore, {n which erplllars boar n rominent part. Whils fn the land of the {agsars, he was accompanied by a number of Dushmen with thelr wives ond children, who were glad to serve hlm as attendunts inreturn for their food and a few trivial articles of uso and ornament. One of the party was a oung girl with n beautiful dgure and prett ace, who had ll(elfi beon taken as thethird wife of an old Massara. Bho wasintelligent aud grace- {ful, and attracted the especlal attcntion of ghe traveler. In describing her savaze accomplfbh- wents, among which wers wonderful fleetness and endurance as o ruoner, Capt. Uillnure writes: *‘8he 1 n mischlevous young lady, too. ‘the large caterpilinta—~finmense things, longer than your middle finger, and beantifully markod with purple and green spots atong the side— sredecimed by the Massara great delicacle they eat them aw naturel or parched, the latter beig the favorite method. Having found o quantity of them, sho brought e rome alive, and, when she discovered that 1 had even re- pugnance to taking them 1n my hand, she com- menced eating them one by one fn front of mo. 1 shouk my head, and showed by my ures that I disllked excecdinuly to sce tho bello of tho party guflty of such unladylike conduct; so, ever after, when she chianced to #ind any cater- etrong willare, she would comu close to mo, hold the welgzllog thivg sloft Letween her finger and thuinb, and then placo it 1 her mouth, ™ —— ¢ IIORSE-SICKNESS» AND “LUNG- DISEASE.» A very serlous obstacle In the way of the traveler and the scttler i Central and Bouthern Africa §s tound In the extromo Hability of horscs and cattle to fatal attacks from disease and from bloodthirety {nsccts. The ravagea of the terrible Tsctsc-fly among the most valuable of the domestle animals have been describoa by many African explarers. No preventive or remedy has been, or probably can be, provided against tho assoults of this {nsect; and, in con- sequence, tho territorles which it fufcats are ab- solutely uninhabitable by the borse and the ox. In certaln districts In South Africa whero tho ‘Tsetse does not oceur, the lifo of these animals 1s rendered cxcudlnuly precarious through the revalence of the deadly maladies which are uown us *'horso-sickucss and “ lung-discase,"” But littls s understaod of the nature uf these cuinplaiuts, and still tess of their prover treat. ment; bence many victius sonually fall befure their sudden and Insidious onsets, Capt. Varker Gillmore states that ! horse- sickuess /! chv-ll- toa frightful extent in the vicinity and to the north of the Limpopo River. ‘1 have kuown,' he says, **100 horses frum the Freo Stata driven to Bamanwater, with the hope that five or six would * sault,’ but all died, ‘Tho consequence of this is, that a horse worth £0n the Fres Btate wlill fetch £100 to £120 among the Hechuaus, and 2150 i the Matabelo country. ‘Tho scason when this epldemic rages is from Deccmber to June; but, strange to say, 1 an animal once geta the dlscaze and recover 3 it never has it agalu. A borse isthen called *saulted,’—tho expreasion belog of Buer orlizin. 1 also lcarned frow Mr, Mackenzle, the missfon. ary at Soshong, that the progeny of a saulted allion and & saulted maro sutfered less, or were leas likely to dlo from the dlsease, than svimals finported from other rezious. Agaln, 1 tho foal should have two guner- stlous of saulted auccslurs, it will have tue: complafot fu a very miticated form. Instances ¢ occasioually known of horses not having tho ckness the first year, but thut gives no assur- noce they will not bave it the sccond; 1o fact, the life of uo horeu that docs uot sault is safy during tbe months alresdy mentioued.” Tu thirty-six hours after au aufwal wmanifests symptowns ot the discase, the question of its 0 or death 18 declded. IL 4t survive this Uwit of thne. there {s a hope that it will sault; but, fur many months thereafter, it is unfit for work, aud rust be carefully dieted, and housed or bianketed at night, Capt. Gillmore states that horees which ara sanlted are readily recognized, * for thelr coats stare in Jarge flea-bite marks, cspzclm{‘nhnut the neck and withers, and on the flanks. Between the jaw-hones, close up to tha windoloe, there s a larze perrentible swelllng, the eve Joses fta lustre, and the creature evinces A distnclination to violent exercise. A eaunited horxe ia thus alwavs shugeish and _ecareless, and must he ridden on a sharn bit and with severe rpare. 1t has been asserted that saulted horses are se-ure from injury by the Taeite, hut Capt. Gllimore deviates this to Iic an creoneous state- ment. Tie oplnlon {8 held by many persons that the disenss i3 owing to some vesetable substance procurable only betwween the months of December and July; yet nothing definite has been ascertained regarding fts origin, The aymptoms of tho sckness are thus deacrined h( this author: A dull, Tusireless eye, with @real puiliness over the pupil; a atariog coats extrema restlessness,—iying down ane mnoment and retting up the nexti o markad desize to bo in tha society of Its master,—at all events. clnea 1o the wagons; eripluy, coughing, 4 ultl- matcly death; acd, in the la: truggle, —~tle very last, I may eay,—an fmmense quantityof a white frothy subetance comes from cither vostril, covering the ground In front of the mouth for the distanc: of one and rometimes two feet. The pain the poor creatures sufler while {H with this upldewie fa fearful, and their groans can he beard for several bundred yardd, if the atmosphere be still. I do wbot profess Lo a knowledze of anatomy, but, In all carcasses that I have opencd, the entire liver, Juncs, nnd heart denoted acute Inflammatiou, whlle the last organ was soft and flabby." The lung-sicknuss prevalls fn the ‘elevated table-lands of Africa, and, conflning its attacks tocattie, 12 as nuch to bo dreaded as the horse- sickness, Ite cause {8 unknown, and oo anti- dote has bitherto Leen dscovered. In purchas- ing castie up the country, the buyer menerally reqitires a puaranteo that the horses have been saulted and the oxen have had the Jung-sick. ness. Wit this guarantee, if un animal s lost from cither diseaes within s Sear of the pur- ;:huc. the sum pald for it can be recovered at awr. 3 R ART-GOSSIP, The English ortists have contributed about 156 water-colors to the French Exposltion. Mr. Holman Hunt 18 now {n England, and is alding the engraver 8tackpoole in the final work upon the reproduction of “The Shadow of Death.” Mr. Hamo Thorneycroft, a young Engliah sculptor, has placed on exbibition at the Roysl Academy a figure, of lerolc size, of * Lot's Wile."! The critlcs speak very fuvorably of the statue, The students of Strasburg Unfversity have dechiled to erect astatue to Goethe fn the equare in front of the main school-buildne. It win represent the poet as he appeared when o student at Btrasburg. All painters and sculptors sending works to the Parls Exposition wilt be permitied to attach to thelr pletures or natbles the names of any other of their works which have becn executed on or in public monuments. ‘The paintiog called “ La Vogue,” by Cour- het, which was exhiblted at the Balon of 157v, hian been purchased for the Luxembourg for 20,000 fr. It is one of the most powerful works of the nuthor, und procurent him the offer of the cross of the Leglon d'llonneur, which, how- ever, he bluntly refused. ‘The exhibition which Russla will make In the Art Departinent at the coming World's Fuir is *reported to be hizlily creditable. 'flc paintings which are to he sent to Farls bave becen dis- played ot St Petersbure, Most of them are new, ulthourh a few have been aeen before, and amou them are some remarkable works, We learn from the deademy that the Princess Ciwrluttc of Prussfa received, among her wed. diny ¢ifts, an oak cheat prescated Ly the pupiis of the wood-carving cstablishment of the painter Maugnussen, In Schicawlg. It Is a richly- ornnmented work, rivaliuz “the maenificent marrlage-coflers presented to brides of old." A cast of the brass font In the Church of 8t. Bartholomew at Licee, suppused to have been wrought by the Flemish scuiptor, Lambert Patras, fn 1112, has been lately added to the Muroum at Bouth Kensington, The babtisms of Christ und of the Apostles arg represented In bold alte relievo around thoe bash, while helow them iso series of twelve bulls, remarkably well Individualized In expression and action. The paintinga of modern French artlsts which have been purchascd by the Governtment and hung fn the Luxembourr DPalace, will be re- moved thenee for exhibition In the Gallery of Flne Artaat the World's Falr. The works of French sculptors which adorn vublic squares, bmildings, anid churchee, will be removed 1o the Exposltion, by permission of the French Min- ister of Public Instruction, on condition that plaster casts are put in their vacant places to remain until the originals are returned. FEtching has become so puilular among artists as 1o supersedo alniost eutirely the art of lithiog- raphy, tn the beglnuing ol this century, en- graving on stone was practiced by muny of the mastess of the burin and the pencil; but. now very few continue to employ this method of re- producing thelr pletures. With a view to reviv- inge the urty the French Governnient has given a number of comnmissionsto the few French litliogz. raphers that still remain, Thus certain pajnt- {nze of Delacroix, Decamnps, Fleury, Fromentin, aud others, are to ba executed on stone by Sironz, Gllbert, Francois, Laurent, Cuanvel, ete. Mr, Robert Barrett Browning, the only son of the flustrious poets, Rovert Browning and Ellzgbeth Barrett Browning, has deyoted blm- sclf to palnting, and s studylng his art at Auntwerp, Tho first work which he lina pluced on gnm ie exhibltion In Londou is thus deseribed by Mr. W, M, Romsotti: *Tho subject is one those cunning Antwerplan crafismen who work inbrass; he is em.'uicd fu chuking & dish, —an elderly una personable gray-bearded man, MNic-size. The primary interest of this work derives no doubt frony 1ts nuthorship; but, be- sldes this, it has conspicuous promiae of its own, and fndeed in no small incasure positive attaly- went, ‘The handiwork generally is noticeably bold and solid, some of the object-painting ol ns the speclmens of brasswork) highly iclent and effective, and thoe whole treatment fu cood kue‘nuz.-lhu sccessorics belog what thiey should he and where they should be."* The Hl;t‘u‘rn will be buug in the Koyal Acadomy Ex- hibition. 4 LITERARY ITEMS, The BSocicty of Men o Letters have inaugu- rated messures to secure an Intcrnational Literary Congress to bo held at Parls during the coming sutmer, A volume of Anecdotes, Reminlscences, and Conversations of ond with the Lato Qeorze Btephenson, by Thomas Bummerside, is among tho announcementsof forthicoming publications. Mr. James Fergusson, F. R. 8., the author of numerous works on architecture, Is about to publish & new and elsborately-fllustrated book on “The Temples of the Jeiws, and Other Bulidings o the Haram Ares at Jerusalem.” Harper & Bros. are about to publish a now and choles edition of Macaulsy's Iistory, It will be complete in Hye small octavo volumes, Mbrary style. They will also fssue a sintlar edition, from _new plates, of lHume!' and Gibbon's Rome. Mr. W, Smalley says, in 'a London letter: M, Tennyson Is making his usual vislt_to Loudon, and going more or less into the world. e has been gratilying his friends by recitivg, in wmany differcut comuanies, bis ballad of *8ir Richard Urenville,! This he does very finely, when {n good volee; hisdeep tones and lkllllu‘ elocution adding 8 new imusie, and, perhaps, a better-modulated shythm, to the w(lllull(- rough measubes of that stirring Iyrie. I don't kuowwlhiether tho poet has ever heard the mut- tered criticlsmy of soclety on bis last ballad, *There's only ono fault ‘with it,’ remarked, rim! reat authority,—*the same as iu all i later verse, the poetry fe Jeft out!’ A judg- ment from which, I presume, you disseat beart- ity. ‘That hls popularity with the public {s uu- abated may be julerred from the extraordioary salo of the buwber of the Nineteenth Century i which *8ir Richard Grenville! lpg:nmd. Tweaty thousand bave atready been priuted. The nuc- ber s whole, to bu sure, was an extraordoary ono. England SPARKS OF SCIENCE. FLORA ROUND ABOUT CHICAGO. Tus BIRCUWORTS.~Tho order Botulacem comorlses wmerely the Blrches and Alders, num- bering together sbout sixty-five species. Three or four of theso aro found fn our own flora. At Ulencor, Pine Btation, snd other points on tho Lake-shora the Whito Birch, Betula alba, var. popullfolia, occurs. It is a slender, wracetul tree, from Oftecn to twenty-tive feet high, with taper, poluted leaves, which quiver sud trewble oa their long petloles, like the leaves of the Aspen. The bark of the trunk s white, and separablo foto thin sbects. The catkins or tessels, banglog from slender petioles, expand thelr golden flowers In eatly ruring. e Low Birch, B. pumila, fs common in the sloughs at Miller's. This {8 a shrub with hrown bark, rounded leaves of a thick, coriaceous texiure, and catkins that stand nearly ercct. ‘The :Speekled or Hoary Alder, Alnus tneans, 1s occasfonally met with routh of Michizan City. It 18 a shrub or small tree, attaining a hight o from eight to twenty feet, and Inhabits the borders of streams, where 1t forms clumps or thickets, Its ovaland scrrate follage is whit- ened or downy nnderneath. and !« preceded in the earlicat mpring by the flowering of the clustered catkins, ‘The Birchwarta ars denizens of the forests of Europe, Northern Asia, the Himalayas, and North and 8outh Amerfea. Home of the species are very hardy, and dwell in Alptne heizhts sna Arctle regions, very near the line of rerpetual snow, There are small forests of hirch In the northern part of thedreary {sland of Ieeland, and o dwarf specles occurs fn Terra del Fuegn. Tho Betuta alba s a very beautiful roresttree, aboundiog In Europe snd Asfa. Its uppermost ranches often reach a hight of sixty or reventy feet. In a varietvealled the Weeping Birch, the slender, flexible houghs roop in long, pend- ulous masses of epray, with much the zame effect - as_the Wecning Willow, The bark of the B. alba is in rome countries made {oto ehoes, hats, drinking.cups, cte. Boats sre msde of ft on the Volga, and slates and shingles In parts of Northern Eurone, Tar snd oll are cxtracted from itin Russia; and in Norway it §s dried, ground, and mixed with the food of swine. Ta the Hligh- lands the sap is uscd as & Leverage when fresh, snd is canverted by fermentation into a kind of wine. A large tree will often yleld from four to six quarts of sa2 In & day. ‘The bark ol the Paper-lirch, B. papyvracew, of our own countrv, may be divided foto very thin sheets, and thesa have been nuch used ns a substitute for paper. The Indians are fn- debted to this tree for their bark canoes, aml often for the material for baskets, boxes, and many other utensils and articles for ornament. Tho wood of thls saccles, as of the B. alba, Is valuable for building purposes. The delicate sheets of the bark of an Fast-Indian birch tenaively employerd for hoopling barrels, The wood o the Black Alder, A. glutinosa, makes prime charcoal for gunpowder, and, hay- Ing remarkable properties for enduring finmer- slon In water without decay, is In great demand for pumps, water-pipes, piles for bridges, etc. The bark fs emploved for tanning and dseing, and sections of the youne stems afford capital material for boya’ whistles. FURTHER IMPROVEME STEAM«ENGINE. ‘The problem emboxdics two distinct and equalty important inquirles: Tho first, What are the sclentific principles involved in the problem: as stated! The sccond, How sloll wwe construct a niachine that shall must efliclently embody and accord with not only known eelentitle principles, but alsn with all well-settled princlpies of cn- einecriog practice? The une question {s addressed to the man of ecience; the other to the enzinecr. They can ouly be satisfactorily answered, even so far as our knowledge at present permits,{after study- fog with care the scientific prineiples {nvolved in the theory of the steam-engine, under the best Hght that Science can afford us, aud, by-a careful study of the varivus steps of improve- ment that have already takeu place, and of ac- companying variations of structure, analyzing the effect of each chango and tracing the rea- suns therefor, The theoryof the steam-eneine 18 too Linportant anid too extensive a subject to be treated in eveu the apave avallsble for s com- plete vourse of coliege-lectures; and we can only here attempt an exceedingly conclee state- ment of the principtes polnted vut by Sclence s those applicable fn the endeavor to tnerease the econumie efliciency of the atcam-cniine. ‘The teachings of Science Indicate that, in the modern steatn-enrine, success in - economically derfving mechanical power from the encrgy of beat-motlon will be the greater as we work Le- tween more widely-separated limits of temper- ature, and as we more perfectly provide nzainst losscy by cissipation of heat fn directions in which it is unavailable for the production of wer. Scientiflc research hae proved that, in all va- rieties of heat-euzines, a very great loss of effect Is unavofdable from tue fact that we cannot re- duca the lower limit of tempernture, In work. ing, below a point that is far abore the absolute zery of temperature: the polnt corrcsponding to the mean temperature of the surface of the eartls in our latitudo {s now practically our iow- crmean 1init of temperature. The hicher the temperature of the steam, huwever, when it en- ters tho enzine, and tho lower the temperature at which’ §t leaves the eylinder, and the more thoroughly we provide azalnst wasto of heat by conduction and’ radiation, and of power by fric. tion, the wreater wiil Lo vur suceess. Now, looking back over tho history of the steam-englne, we may rapldly noto the promi- nent polots of improvement and the moat striks ing changes of forni; and we may thus obrain some Jdea of the general direction In which wo wre tolook for further advance.—I'rof, Thurs ton in Popular-Science Mouthty for May. . OF THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE METRIC SYSTEM. Let s with this bezin o lesson derfved from the gctual observation of human habits. The case of Lhe French has heen already cited ; they adopted the new units, but rejccted tile new vames, This {s very suzgestive, In the United Btates a sfuillar fnstance oceurs In the names of colne. We stlit bhave, fn many parts of the country, shillogs, sevenpences, thrips, cte. Iu New Orleans we zet bits in_change. Inthe great commerclal city of New York prices are still glven, and goods inarked, in shillings, vz, : six -hlll}(‘_:: a yard, not 75 cents; ten shitlings, is tho lesson from all this! Plainly, that icw words are larder than new things. How much casier, too, were tho names of thy new cofns than the Jong und learncd names of the niatric numenclature! * None of your Latiu for mel” bLegs tho Frenchman, unfamiliar with that tongue, * Egpeclatly, none of your Greek! It Isenough i 1 accept your unit e me from your ‘names.” And French Goveru. ment, which attonds to everything, has had il success in this. The Eunglishman finds in Freach forms and accents additlonal lmpedi- ments, Unless corrected, he would, to begln with, mispronounce fully half the words; know- ing barometer and thermometer, he would be sure to eay “ki-lom-e-tre ' also, seriously, it were easier for the learned to acquire a nomenclature founded on Hottentot and Banskrit, dressed off fn Kamichiatkan fortns, than for the unlearned to sequiro vne in Latin® and Greck with French furms; the leurned havo some familiarity In dealing with new languages tostart with. The tnetric words ure fera nature to all people, aud will uot doimesticate, To the commnn people they are simpl K outlandish, and “nefther have the accent of Christiane, nor the galt of Christian, pagan, nor man." Broadly, a system of welghts and measurcs na case for learned nomenclature, tem {8 {nteoded tor wholly untechinical uscs and people, while the words are adapted only to tho learned, aud even for thom are too atilT for dally use. It {8 clearly a case for easy and famthiar numes, More resultshinge on the nomenclature than on any other feature of the system; yet it has received little real discussion,—it has been slm- v taken for grauted ou its looks and outside. nideed, fL has been the bonst and pet of the ‘whole metric system, ui ected as really the chief clog upon its (m Hrought to the tribunal of “fair critfclam, ¢ {s thoroughly un- Phlloauplflul, and nceds to be remodeled fo the ight of modern nvestigations into the firat principles of moguaze, all uf which principles it violates.—Samuel Barnatt (n Hopular-Sclence Monthly for May. MOLECULAR MOTIONS, In both liquids and solids tho molecutlar mo- tlons ure undoubtedly as active as fn a gas, but they must be ereatly influenced by the mutual attractions which hold the particles together, and heace tho conditions are far more compli- cated, aud preseut o problem which wo havo been able to solve only very Imperfectly, aud with whicb, fortunately, we bave not at prescut ta deal. Limiting, then, our study to the molecular condition of & gus, picture to yourselves what must be the condition of our atmosphere, with its molecules Oying sbout In sl directions. Concelye what & molecular storm must be ragiog about us, aud Low it must Leat pgaivst our budics and ?u-lmi every cxposed surface. ‘Fhe 1nolccules of vur atuiusphera move, un sn average, vearly four (48) times sluwer thau thuss of bydrogen under the same conditious; but then tgvv welgh, on an average, fourteco and s balf times more $bao bydrogen-wolecule: sod therefore strike with as great coergy, Ao do uot thisk that the effect of thess blows Is inslgnificaut because the wmolecutar projectiles are so swall; they wake up by thelr numoer for what they want ia slze. Consider, for exumplé, a cubic yard of alr, whicy, If weasured at the freezivg-po!nt,weighs conslderably over two pounds. That cuble yied of materlal coutains over two pounds of mole- cules, which are moviog with an uverage veloe- itv of 1.605 fect » stcouds sud thils wotion b equivalent, In every respect, to that of a can- nan-ball of equal welght rushing along ita path at tho same tremendous rate. Of courae, this Is truo of every cubfc yard of afr at the sama temperatare; and, §f the motlon of the mole- cules of the atmosphere around ua conld by any means be turned Into ona and the same dlrec- tion, the result would be a hurricane aweeping over the earth with this velocity,—that is, at the rate of 1,004 miles an hour,—whoss de- structive violence not even the Pyramids could withstand, Living ns we do in tha midat of a molecnlar tornado capablo of such effects, our safety lies wholly In the circumatance that the storm beats equally In all dircctions at the same time, and the foreo Is thus so cxactly balanced that we are wholly unconsclous of the tumult. Not even the aspen-leaf [ stirrml, nor the most delicate membrane broken; hut let us remova tho air from one of the surfaces of such a membrane, and then the power of the molecular storm bo- comes evident, as in the fomiilar experiments with wn aic-puap.—Lrof. Jo DI, Uooke, Jr, (n Lopular-Science Alonthly for May, . BRIEF NOTFS, A number of Arab Chiefs from Algeris will establish a complete camp nt the Parls Exposi - tion,~hasing with them a variety of Arah coursers as obfects of chlef intercst, A great gurden {8 maintained at Beelin for the pwpose of supplying the schools with botanscai srfecimens. The distributlon begins April 1, and 4,000,000 plants are thus disposed of during the season, Late advices from Iceland announce that Mt. Heela has Leen in o state of active eruption, Slight shocky of earthquake were felt on scveral oceasions, but no damage done. ‘The violence of the cruption was said to be diminishing to ward the close of March. A storm oceurred at Brishane, Australla, Dec. 23, 1677, In which quantities of hail fell of the #lze and shape of a tomatu. It took only threo of thuse halistones to weigh o pound. The storm lasted nhout three-quarters of en hour, and was very destructive. « Mr. Albert Heath, an English nataralist, has fet otit to explare the Interlor of Aurola and make natural-history collections. Iis firat stay will be at Ambriz, on the River Loge; after which he will proceed {nfand to Bembe,—n pro- fic ficld for the naturallst, according to tho representations of the lute Mr. Montelro. Lr. McQuillen has reported to the Amerfcan Philosophical Society the remarkable fact of a pigeon surviving the removal of nearly the entire brain, Almost the whole cerchrum of the hird was removed by Dr. McQullicn, and yet the subject ived twentv-four days sfter the operation.—gradually rezatnlug its u powers, Lliabits of Qight, and abllity to eat and drink. Tho careful and painstaking character of the Investigations of the Darwlus, boith father and sons, render thelr conclusions on any guestion of acienzc worthv of great respect, Hence, the result of Mr, Georre Darwin’s study of the ef- fects of consanguincous inarriages, thourh ft opposes presalent opinfon, has very decided weight. Hao expresees thoconviction that * The wilely-difTerent habits of lifeol men and women in civilized nattons, especlally among the upper claases, tend to counterbalance auy evil from mnrfl#};o between bealtby closely-related per- sons. s Trof. Leldy has noted some Interesting evi- Nences of sagacity inthe Mttle redane which often fntests dwellings. Having discovered, In one of tho second-story rooms of his delling, o bit of breal swarming with there insects, he took the lint, nwl Jeft u plece of sweet cako in cvers room of thehouss. At nuoneach plece was IToutid to be covered with ants,and was then picked up with a palr of foreeps, and the insects shaken ofl into n cup of turnentine. For three succes- sive days the vrocess was repeatid, but on the fourth” day no nnta were caught. It was eup- posed they hnd become exterininated, but a few were soon after discovered fensting on tiles, and Prof. Leldy iferred from this clreumstance that ther lind become suspicious of the sweet cake, He therclore put pleces of bacon In lte place, ainl thie ants awarmed over them as be- fore. After using the bacon several days, the ants ceased to be caught by . Dead grasshop- pers were then substitoted for the bacon, and the {nsccts were tranpel ancw,—tis time with the result of their total extermination. . ; A PEEP INTO DAKOTA. To the Editor of The Tribune. Nw Utas, Minn., April 10, —8idco_ writing you 1ast, 1 have becn to the cnid ‘of the Northwestern line, snd havo taken a peep Into Dakota Territory. The dietance from New Ulm to Gary (which Is Just actoss the Minnesota linc) 1a 120 mites. It is o pleasant day's ride. It fetrue, that tho road has been cuustructed to Lake Kampesks, 40 milce be- yond, and will oon be in working condition to that bolnt: but ot present Gary istle practical terminus of the line, Whatever Gary may bo in the future, It is now a modext town of soime three or four shantice, and perhops twenty inhiabitants, whose business scema maiuiy to cousiet in locatlnif clatims for the nuner. o scttlers who aro fast Ainding thelr way into that reglon. e Drincipal hotel of Gary can scarcoly bo sald In samo respects to be equal to the Paluier House, It has thy advautace, however, of being but ono etory In helght. a elovator 18 needed. But wo should not m: 11eht of small things, No onecan tell what may spring from a germ scemningly Insig- niteant. Nelther Minneapolis nor Mankato were sny larger than Gary when the writer fitat saw them, ond yet the formar hiss now 40,000 lahab- ftants and the latter 7,000, Tha country between New Ulm and the Btate 1ine conslets of a Mo rolling prairle, every acre of which is susceptiblo of easy tillage and eapocially adspted to the raeing of wheat. The amount of Iand now broken and already greon with the grow. inu crops surpriscd me, Thoso peats, the zru-hnr. bers, having decamped and the ‘seavon being fully n month earlier than usnal. there is an almost cer+ tain aasurance that the wheat crop this yoar will boan imumense vue, This means not only con- Hnu:;l Dr‘;fincrlt)‘ for Minnesota, but more busi- ness for Chicago, 1t the agricultural reglon {a rich and thriving the citles must proeper, for their greatness {a derived from that source alonu, Chicago Iv but an agency for the supply of conntry wants, snd those wanta to a large extent depeud upon the means of pur- chare. When the furmers have good crope they buy much, and_business s 3 when 10 deficicat, the deniand falls o, and the busiu the citics is poor. Kvery merchant In Chicago, therefore, hias & dircct Interust in the rapld devel. opment and prosperity of the section of country ovor which iy obscrvatlons bavo extended. The immigration into the country beyond New Ulia, and_even futo Dakota, continues to be of Lage proportione. ‘Ihess newcomers are of a clasa gencrally which cannot. fall to be of advantage to the ntate, They come Lo cultivate the soll, and to make o permanent settlement In the country. KEvery train that gocs west 18 crowded with passcngers, whils thosa that come esst are com- Phratively empty. Most of theso men are on thelr way to Marshall, small town torty miles this sida of the Stats line, whero the land-office of the Hail- road Company is located, Loth that aud the Gove ernmnent 1and-oitice at Now Ulm ara litersl sicged with applic Ouf that such a demand for 1 tate might set in in Chi- cago, as there s gomp reasan to bellove that tscon willl How jubllant would sowo be who are new despondent 10t th mpetus, the atrongth, must frst come from the country, ' 1t is hiore that the rocuperation , und it has begun, d cheerfainess bere universaliy provall, meel with ano ,loomy Individosi me _from Uhlcago), of to sev ono Tho mighty ceop of fast In _and the prospects of a much larger onu (his year, brightens every countenance, sud Alls every heart with Joy. 0l it e A sumptuoas lsnd,—a land of comfare sud of pleaty, aud & lund i ‘which i Ls 8 privilogo tolivel iniliasinstic as this may sound, It 1s but & mild expression of what the writer foels whon ho reflects l:p‘onv‘flfi lllhnm-lnu now is, and what o must fooyi 0COMmO., 3 4 J, Esatas Wanguw, RSt A FACE AT THE WINDOW, Once 8s T wandered down tha street, 1saw ats window a face #0 sweet— o c] **1 havo cumo lrum’fl Adown th atreet as 1 walkod again, 1 looked for the faco at the windaw-pane; Bt the blind was drawn, snd I heard it sald, As 1 passed along, that thechild was dead. O bappy babyl O cherub glrl, Borue up vut of the din sud whisl,— Oat o thu surrow and ened strife “That burden even the brightest Hie— Out of tho darkness snd out of the xloom, A bud in lE‘n Karde ndl God to hgwo?‘— Bafe frum danger, and care, and cold— Bheltered forever within the fuld. P, Ol 20 s00n to ll'lu:d arth’s sarrows and missod Earth's fears, nd & woman's tears, Tho bitter lees of & cup & Tho aching bead and D d wlck: ‘d"d "m'.“:ifl loss, angor. ahd vickucss, wud dea AR5 1ho plcasures that ara but drosa. Bweet. swoot face with the soul-full eyes, Luok from windows of God's falr skios— Look with those beauteous urbs of thine, And draw me uearer to thinge divine. Walkine along Life's troubled way, Let mo look up, as 1looked thaf Aud know that a fair and cherub Bules upon we thiough leagu Help wa Lo ki f10m Lhe suares ' d aboat wy 1 Watch when 1w Ule, that I may Cheered by tha higcht of thy smlliog e fiud.lwhcu ul,yl jvillau]hul "D':L{'l o Ay Tho 1y Tace, O duerud ong} EAs Ty Bors Wesnian,