Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 8, 1879, Page 16

, 16 LITERATURE. English Men of Letters=-= Black'’s Coldsmith and Huxley’s Hume. . Robert Dick Baker, Botanist and Geologist—--The Ne- paul Frontier. The Dramatic ‘List---The Manual of Vertebrates---Medical Chemistry, An International Episodes==Signor Monaldini's Nieces=sLife of Gen. Custer. Brief Notices—-Literary Notes-~Ozygen in the Sun-.-Science Notes, LITERATURE. WILLTAM BLACK'S GOLDSMITH. The blography of Goldsmith in the English Men of Letters series {a one of the best num- bers of the aeries, It has the advsutago nnt only of Mr. Black’s chorming style, but of o vivid and original treatment of the subject. Mr. Black views onc part of Goldsmith’s life in o Gifferent manner from any of his predecessors in the same fleld. He does not think thut Gold- omith was ill-treated by the public during his Nretiine, or that his lot was in any resocet a hard one, cxcept as he made it so himself. “He was his own enciny and everybody clse's Iriend.” 8u far as money went, be might have Yeen exceptionaily fortunate If he hadwchosen. “ In a country where thie vast majority of peo- ple are born to labor, he was never asked to do astroke of work towards the carning of his own Hying until hie had arrived at man's estate. e was maintained at colleo untll hs bhad taken his degree. Azain nnd again ho was fur- nished money for further study wid forelzn tiavel, and again und again he eambled Lis op- portunities away. I the midst of his debt amd distress as a bookseller’s drudge ho recelves £500 for three nlghts’ performance of *The Good-Natured Man '; ho fmmediately purchases chambers in Brick Court for £400, nud forth- With Leging to borrow us hefure. 1t Is true that he died owlng £2,000, aud was indebted to the forhearance of ereditors for a peaceful barialy but It aj rs that, during the last seven years ot his life, he had been earning an annual In- come equivalent to £800 of English currency.” Eyen on the showing of the wmoet ardent de- fenders of poor Uoldumitl, he was a spend- thrlit. Dr. Jobuson angered hitn mouy times by reproviug sl for extravagance, nnd on ong ocension gont away from the tabie at Gold- rmith's houscexpensive dishes which he thought were beyond the means of his host, Spite of his fauits, or perhaps n consequence of them, Goldemith has ulwaya been perronally o favorite with the English people, and part of this fuvor is over nud above that which {s owing to bis writings, This peculine (ndulgence Mr, ek refers to” thus: *If some forcigner were to usk how dt s that so thorough- Iv a commerclal people as the English are—strict In the acknowiedgment and paviment of debt—ahioufd bave always betrayed o sneak- fme fondness for the character of the good- hutaored seapegrace whose hund I8 in every- budv’s pocket, und who Llirows away other peo- ple's money with the most ebarailng manner i the world, Goldsmith infght be pointed to #s one of any hterary teachers whose own elr- cumstances were uot hkely to moke them se- yere censues of the Charles Suriaces or Jenfent. Judges of the Josepl Surlaves of the world. [e mierry while you may's let to-morrow take care 04 1tselli shire your Inst auines with ony one, even it the poor drones of society—ihe buteher, sl baker, nnd mitknian with hils scoro—have to sutlgr; do anyibiog you ke, »o loug as you Leep the heare” warm. Al this {s delighiful philosophy, It has {ts motnents of misery,—its Kurlndn of reaction,~but it Lias {ts moments of fzh dedipht.” Mr. Black hlmsell has this amluble weakness for Goldwnith’s claracter, without which, In- deed, we should consider llllv blogrupher ill- qualttied for his work. For the sympathy of suclety with the carcless speodtbritt who harms nobodv 0 raush as hitnself by his excesses (s not so diffleult to expial Mr. Black makes it out to be. There s o mystery about i1, So- clety acquits such an one, first of all, ot the supreme vice of sclfishuess, the absence of which I8 In ftaclf virtue; but the presenco of which {s coetimes mistaken for frugality, temperance, or prudence, ‘Yhe lne of separa- tiow between virtues and thelr camplemental vices 18 often 80 fuintly traced that it is impos- #blu to distingulsh them properiy, Goldamith, we know, was not measnly selfish [n his lnten- . tious, although i the indulgeuce of his own de- sires bio nay have done wrong to others, Mr. Hlack doea servico Lo literatore fn this yolume by scquitting Goldamith n part of the foolish churua of stupidity In_vonversution. This argument on behall of Goldanith was firal successfully made In Mr, Forster's tife, It 1s doubtiess true that Goldumith was difildent, und hesituted in conversution. But ho was ot 8 blockhead, He was uot the kind of mag for Boswell, or any of his stripe, to wake fun of. ths dry humor and witticisma at his own expeltro were often misunderstood by the dull Beotchmer about him, Mr, Black follows Forater l;uumz several of the reniurks in a more [avorable lint, showing that a miud oridi- naril rlulck to catch humor would have under- stood their meanlug, and that they were in fact uuderstood when they wers made by the per- sons to whon they were addressed, The famous retort of Goldsmith to Dr, Juhuson: “ Wuy, Dr. Johinaon, it you were to make tittle fishos 1alk, thev would talke like whales,” should be autlicient slone to vindieate the former from the chargze of stupldity in conversation Mr. Black bas heen inost successful, as might have been expected, fu the study of Goldainith's character, s literary criticlsis are thorough- 1y commonplace snd almost wortbless. fe docs uot do justice to the alinple Leauties of Gold- smith's utyle, to the purlty of Lls though to the fntsh and form of all his dellberste pusitions, The critlc s even more caroless in treatiog of Goldsmith's dramatic works. Mo chronleles their suceess, but does not remark why they succeeded, and doen not explain the rure sarvel of the true dramutic instinct belng possezsed fu such o degree by vue who bad no vrevious experfence of the atuge, und whose other writiugs were maloly descriptive. ‘The cr very successful dramatists in English who had no persoust acquaintance zo were Bbieridan aud Bulwer, and both showed 1n other dires he samo kind ul ability which made them succesaful here, But it would be ungratetul to condemn Mr. Dlack's work solely on necount of this defeet, siuce in all other respects it s sdmirably done, aml will satlsfy the wany adwlrers of one who, a1l things cunsidered, baa'a larger share of the atfection of Nls readers thuu any other Engllin writer, - Goldsmith." By Willlam Black.” New York: arper & Bros. Price, 75 ceute,) HNUXLEY'S IIUME, Prof, Huxley's bovk about Hume in the Eu- £lish Men of Letter Berics 1s n critical treatise, not a blography, A large part of the voluwe {s token up with an examiustion of "Hume's phi- losopby, a statement of the errors contained fn 4t 1 Prof. Huxley's opluion, und the susgestion of a better systein. We cannut regrst tlst the subject has beco trestedfu this manner. It wight be presumptuous fors smaller wan to point out the supposcd errors of Hume., But Uuxley is a8 learoed and abloa wan as the ono Lo fa reviewing. Posterity will probably sward bim & greater reputstion than that which Hume nuw ecjoys; und 1t lkely that thiy little book, if it shall lve at ali, witl be rewembered for its own sake rather thau for Its relation to the lfe of ITume, ‘The bivgrapbical part of the volume oceuples about fifty pages. It traces brictly the principat events fn Huwme's life, his varlous successes and disappointments, aud his political entangle. ments. 1is “ History of England,” though s &icab work, drawn by » mastey baud, bas, us Lord Macauluy pointed out, sll the lights ‘Yory and sll thg shades Whig. For this reason, or sowe other, FProf. Huxley cousiders St & work uf cowparatively little la- portance; and he dimisses it with potlcs thit would be acanty and foadequate 11 be were really writlug »_ blogruphy of Humwe, lustead of & llguufl-lbhh'll trestlde, The suine suay e said of the exammlustion of Hume's chur- THE CHICAGO ' RIBUNL: SATURDAY: FEBRUARY B, 1879-SIXTEEN PAGES. acter {n this volume. Prof, Tuxley does, fu- deed, uring out clearly the Insineerity” of Jiume and Diia inordinate vanity: bt he docs not o Justice to his Industry, will, s fndepemience, which tn great things was in steiking contrast to nhis affectatlon and pretense In small things. ft1s worth knowing that Lume had “agude conceit of himnell,” and that *“he had & craving after mere notoriety and vulgar suc- cess”: butitshould haye been shown nore clenrly that he had ** the courage of _ins convictions ™ at a time when sceptician fn England was much more of au offensc than at present, Even {n the hlographical part of the volume there Is a largo proportion of Huxles to the given amonnt of Hume. We aratold what Trof. Huxley considera to be the danger to monarchy in Britain, what he regards as the true reason for dondting the permaneney of Republics, and why, in his opinton, thera {s no reason thut any wenerie l;ru should dic cut. But it fa orly alter he has left ull this behind hin amd cutered fally upon an examination of Hume's Philosophy that Prof. Tluxley egives himself full swing. The second part of the book cxtends over more than 150 paes, or three-quarters of the whole, In it Prof, Hluxley states his theory of the contentn of the mind In onposltion to that ot Hume. Ie divides the “ geography of the mind into two territorles, called respectivelv Impressions and Idens, Under the head of Impressions he classes (1) the scneations, (EI pleasure und pain, and (3) relatlons; wid the Ideas hie calls simply coples or repromictions In memory of the foregolng. lle then discusscs in scoarate chanters *“‘The Classlfleation and Nomenclature of Mental Operations ¥ ; © Mental I'henomena of Antmals,' and the scarcely form- ulated sclence of Comparative l‘o{{cholw;: “Langnage~—Pronositlons Concernine Necessary Truths s ¢ Order of Nature—Miracles ! ; % ‘Thé- {sm—Evolutfon of Theology'; Valition—Lib- erty ond Necessitf™3and *“The Principle of Morals,” Al thiese toplesarawrittenof inaclear, conclse, und atiractive mauner. ‘There can never ho any dispute about Prof. IHuxlvy's neaning, and there caunot generally bo any doubt that ju cach case he has token up the stfongest position which bis side of the argument adinits of. His chapter on mirac'as will show perhaps butter thnn soy other how completely he has profited by the experlenc: - other ‘scientific men in polemics alnce Hluane's famons cssay was writ- ten, Huxley abende.. s at oncethie position that a wiraclo would be « suspension of natural Ia, and therefore could not be. A miracle, is only a wonder; and whatever happen o 8, whether wonderful or pot, must happen in accordance with natural laws. “Tlie renl ques- tion In the case of mirncles I8 not whether 1licy aro natural or not, but whether the won- derful things sald to_have happened really did happen. Thecanun here, which is Hume's ns well as fluxley’s, 1s: The more a statgment of facts conflivts with previous expericnes, the more cotinlete must be ¢ vidence which s to Justify us fn belleving . Tu the cnse of @ man Taised frow the dewd §t whl got be sutlliient werely to tako his testimony uid thut of his friends; Lut we must prove that he really was lead,~that bis temperature was below u certaln pofat, uml that the cadaverie stiffentng of s~ muscles was well established, Prof. Huxley, in an entertafulng sway, goes on to state (e nmount and kind of evidence that would be required to make bim tellevo that somebody hud sccn a zebra 'n Pieadilly or that a live centaur woa still in existence. But we have not apnce to follow this matier furthier, 1oy to restatu the mteresting discussion con- cerning the soul end fmmortatity, volition uml necessityy which is here carried on. The bent of Prol, Huxloy 18, of coursc, strongly In the direction ol matcriallsm, sathelsm (not uslne the word In sn offensive sense), nnud utilitarfanism, In morals, lowever, be stops far short of the advanced ?o‘ sition taken up by Bentham und his scheol. He Is nn intuitional moralist, nud {n this resoect strangely atrjkes hands with some of tie most extreme Calvinists, thouch only for a partial and temporary agreoment. *‘The moral law," he says, itk the laws of physical nature, rests in the Jong run upon fnstinctive intuitlons, and 13 nefther more nur less *innate’ und ‘necesra- ry' than they ure, Some people cannot by auy meaus be zot to understand the tlrst book of Euclid; but the truthis of mathematics are vo losa necessary wnd bloding on the great mass of mnankind, Some there are who caunot feel the differenca between the Sonata Avpasion- ata und Cherry Iipe, or between a gravestone- cutter’s cherub and the Apollo Belvedere; but the canons of art are uone the less acknowl- cized. While some there may be who, devold of sympathy, are lucapable of “a sense of dutv; but” nelther does thelr existence alfcet thy foundntions of morality. Buch pathulogical deviations [rom true manhood arc merely the halt, the lume, and the blind of the world of consciousness; and the snatoist of the mina leaves them aalde, as the anntoRulst of the body wuuld Izuure abnormal speclmens.’s Prof. Huxley's writing never wants vigor and discrimination’ und the present volume is more than usually remarkable fue these qualitios, It states the materlalistic philosophy wiafuly, briefly, und forcibly; and as an exposition of such views, casily accessible und made with au- thority, it will be sought no less for purposes of attack thay for reinforcenzent of old beliefs, “ David Hume,” By Prof, lluxley, English Men of Letters Series. New York:™ Harper & Bros. Price, 75 centas. ROBERT DICK, Bamuel Bmllos’ ** Lifo of Robert Dick, Baker, Geologlst, und GBotantst,” s o fascinatlvg voluwe, only slightly inferfor {n interest to bis “Life of a Bcotch Naturalist,” the great suce cess of which doubtiess suggested this new venture. The chann of the story of Robert Dick's lifo 18 two-fold, arlsing firat from his sclentifle work, uud secoudly from bls puro and nuble charscter. HIs success was duo to bis owu upaided efforts. ile made him- self, = student of Nuture, traversing the Couuty of Calthoess, Io which ho lived, from end to cud, und mony times, uatll he bad the most minute acquaintance with its topozraphy, He was aceustomed 1o 2o on theso walks after bis day's work bad been doue, aud he frequent- Iy walked twenty, thirty, ur forty miles fo the tweaty-four hours, besidea doing his regular *batch ™ at home, H6 was fivst o botaulsty sud be becatny so fumiliar with the flora of Caith- ness that he could tell at a glance not ovly Lhe structure und name of cvery plant presented to him for inapection, but generally also where it hod beeu plucked, ** A person who madeconsiderable pretensions to botauical knowledgo et bimn ona day, und asked him whether 8\8 wuulr{n produced ln‘y Statice armeria, *Ob," sald Dick, ‘It you wiil fiest call It Lea Guilylower, or, il you please, ‘Thrife, you whl hud it at any roadslde.’ Another gentlemun found o pretty Bower gruwiog oro- fusely ln & small stratli a few iniles out of Thurso, He touk it to Dick. ‘Do you know thut he asked, ¢Yes,' ho suld, 'Ion Rot it at the stde of the barn ot Olrig.’ * ‘How do you kuow tlatd’ ¢ Becuuso it erows ln two or threw more places in Cuftliness, but thess are too far for you tu have been Uiere to-day,’ Anotber called upon hin with a strango flower, *1 bave 2ot a new thiug for you to-day, Mr, Dick! *Oh uo,' suld Dick, *I kilow it qufte well. You got it near Shcbster,' indicatiug & sinail bhillockgor moor in the western part of the Parlsh of ‘Thurso. *Yes,' said the inguirer; * but how do you know thatl' ¢Simply because it grows nowhere clse in Caithnesa,' 1 Dick mnustered in this manner the wholo botany of Caituness. He rediscovercd the Nortliern Holy Cross, which had beén put in the British List ou the authority of Don, but had dropped out becauss 0o uno elso hod fouud it. ‘The Royul Botaoicsl Socluly gave him o yote of thuiks for this scrvice. Dick’s atiention was turned to geology by Hugn Miller's publicativns. He Jooked for fussils fu the sandstone of Calthuess, and found thetn there fn great ubundavce, though cwinent eologists bad sald thess rocks wers uou- fossihferous, [lu supplicd many wissing loks ‘i the testitmony of Mlller, und’ gave so much uew inforwativn to that geologist that he was oblleed tu revise his books. e sent specimens of fosall abies to Hugh Miller, und Licularly # giusatic Holoptychius, discovered fn tho lower red sundstone, whers it had deen sald no lurgoe tshies could Lo fouud. Anotier distluguished Iriend of Dick's was Ble Roderick Murchison, who visited hin st Calthness, and had the privilege of secing the luspired baker model the geulogical formutions of Uaitbuess in tour, A witness of tlis remarkuble tuteryiew wroty of it alterward fu the folluwing words: 1 felt it 8 great privilego wdeed Lo be present at the meeting of the Baronet wnd Dlck in ke bukebouse. 14 was a treat 1o mo o ses the Lills aud daloy, the rocks uud chiffs, made uj with tlour, aud a likences of Caltli wiolde fu retief by bts ntble tinge Hy seewed to be fuwiliar with every foot of country, cvery bl und dale, svery wovewent sod Hezure, evesy fracture and distocution, und the readiness wud vase with which e communleated the ioforma- tlon greatly pleased und surprised the renowned eeoloelst, und when be left tie place by ex- presaed bis delight uud agtovishment at the swount uf juformation be'had recewved from s wouderlul, thougt cowparatively uukuown, baker vt Thurso,” ‘The witueas whiose words we bave just quoted was Cuarles Peach, Ju wany respects a wore rewarkable mao than Dick. Ho was & member of the cosst-guard servive, aud fu that capavivy traveled uver & large part of the coust ol “Great Hidtain. His dlscoverics were of wore practivel woment than Dick's; aud Prot. Gelkiy sséerts Wit be did wore thay ull othier peulugiats tugether to cxvlain the ge- ology of Beotluud, Prof. Geikie fv ulzh autbor- fty, und i Is to he boped tuat the man whore work s tuus spproved will recelve w fulles blogeaphy than the two chapters which Mr, 8miles has here accorded him. Vrof. Gelkie, In arevlew of thiz ¢ Life of Dik,” published in London Nature, savs nlso ttiat Mr. Smiles has very meagre knowledge of geology, mnl anpar- entiy none at ull of the geofory of Calthuess,— atatements which we must a-vent on this testl- mony. No doubt thete has teen a naturni dis- position on the part of Mr. Smiles to exagaerate the importance of Dick’s contributions to geol- ogy 3 but, whether this be trac ornos, it is hnnllry possible to overestimTe the value of such a life 08 that of Dick. s pati®ht toliing in the face of poverty, ridicuts, and fatigue to act knowl- edee for its own sake fs ono of the noblest ex- Amples that history contains. In ne other coun- try than Scotland probably wonld a man, thus cansuined by a trie thirst for knowledee, tins industriousund self-denyine, be permitted to live withont practical encouragement and i, 'The eheapness of evervthing there—knowledee and human life included—has made the pursnit of I learning under ditilculties the commen fate of the swhole ponulation, ko that the pre-eminent -abilisy of & inan ke Hobert Dick s scarce preclated. But It seorns nt tinies almost worth the while that Dick should bave lived and died as hie did, in order that. his virtues should be the mare couspleaons umd the influence of his life upon posterity mare enduring. (**Robert Dick, Baker of Thiteso, Qeatogist nnd Botanisi,” By Samuel Smiles, LL.D. _ With a portratt aml yarious_fllustrations, Now York: Harper & Bros. Price, $1.50.) THE NEPAUL FRONTIFR. A book describing the wmodeof life of an Indigo plauter in fndin is * Sport und Work ou the Nepaul Frontier, or Twelve Years' Sporting Remintscences.”” The writer tells fn a fluent aml carcless style how the work of an Indigo plantation s carried on, following the plant from thesced tuthe dryine cakes; what the favorite sports of the planters are, and how they are carried onj what the nature of the local Government s, and its relations to the natives, The purts of the book referring to sporting ad- veutures are evidently written con amore. The author is & true sportsman, uiid has all the zeal and enthusiasm belonginz to the class. fo writes of flshtug, ple-sticking, jackal-hunting, tiger-huntiog, ete., with wuch dash and vivid- ness, ot times cven sacrifficing good literary form to what he cousiders tho necesaity of “graphic” writing, Nearly half the hook ts given up to descriptions of tiger-hunts, aid no sportsman can read of theso ndventures with- out Interest. The author goes Into the menstre- ments of tigers quite at lengib. The Inrgest tiger ho ever saw measurcd eloven feol five fuches from tpof uose totipof tall, It las been asserted thut tigers fousteen fect long have been ehot, but this 18 exteemely donbiful, The disnntes sbont tigzer-lengths fn English sporting journals are atinost endiess; winl uny uuthentic statements on tids point will be™ welcowed there, if not here. ‘The nuthor writes with much feellog of the absardlties of the Enelish legal aystem in Indla. Where 18 a vust amount of sinoldering dis- affection, of decp-rooted disliko to, und’ cun- temut of, the present cumbrous, costly inachin- ery of law and justice. “A codifleation of ex- isting Jaws, a swecping away ol onc-half the forms and technicalitiesthat at present bewllder the applicaut for justive, 1d, the writer thinks, be u good change, he nntive systen o muuch simpler and more sensible. ‘I'ho head man of the villago Is the fountain of {ustice. Ou a complaint tiolng mado to him he summons both parties and thelr witnesses, ‘The com- plaluant names two Juryinen, wikl the defendant two, each slde having™ the right of chatlenge, These four, with the head mun or chlef, form whut {3 called 8 punchaylet, or councll of live, "They examing witnvesca, knch party to the suit conducts his own case. Tho whole villure can attend and hear the proceedings {f they wish. The decision of n punchayiet 18 generally correct, and 18 very seldoin appealed agsinst. Bpire of this admirable legul systemn, the writer holda that the Hindoo is totally unilt for aclf-government; but (he cvidence of this op- pears to le rather In his Engilsh prejudices than i any facta he {s able to adduce. “I'ie hook Is generally written, howcever, with fairness and eplrit; und It glves & popular view of plunter- hfe InIndia that will be sgrcesble to many readors. (“Sport and Work on the Nopaul Frontler, or ‘Twelve Years' Remiulscences of an Indign Planter,'” By * Maorf, London amd New York: Macmllian & Co. Prico, $3.60.) TIHE DRAMATIC LIST. Only those who bave hwl experlence of dra- matic criticlan can understaud bow deficlent the biographieal dictionaries ang other books of reference are in noticts of prominent stage people. 8o long os actors und actresacs fitl a targe space fu the public vye aml vecupy an fin- portant place In public estimution, it ought to b pussible ensily to learn all the facts concern- Ing them that the general reador has the right to know. But asa matter of fuct thero Is no good blographical dlctfonary of American uctors lu exlstence, und until very receutly the Dritish stage has been cqually neglect- ed. The fatter want has been in part supplied by the publication of " The Dra- matle List, compited and edited by Clarles Evro Pascoe. This buok i Intended to cinbrace ouly sketches of living uctors and actresses of the British stage; but it has been diflienlt to keep it down to very prectso limita. All actors who have, durlog e lust generation, been promi- uent on the London stage, whatever their na- tvity ur present reaidence or oceupatfon, sro included, Among the acetors of Awmerican birth thus brought In are Miss Batemaw, J, 8, Clarke, Uermana Vezin, and Genevievo Ward. - Charles Fechter, who 18 a Fronchman by birth, and an_Awmerican by cholee Is writton of quite 8t length; and Bothern, Buarry Sulliyan, W, 11, Chippendale, Dion Boucicanli, 3iss Nellson, and Carlotws Leclera, who are almust na much Awmerican s Britlsh celebritles, are, of coursy, fuctuded, Ada Caveudish, uow filling an en- Ragemeut fo this city, has a place fu the volume, but the two Coghbluns are singularly omitted, ‘The book, it will be observed, has a large futer- est for Americans, The: author has given ex- tracts froin newspaper criticlsms, fnstesd of venturivg nremurks of his own, on the methods and performar of the sctors aml actresses mentioned; und, though the plan fa o superticial one, we are not sure that it has not been well carrled out in this instance, Few rcr— sons have the largo expericnce wwl judicious taste which cuabled Dr. Doran to judgs falrly on Lis own account o past ecncration of actors. (**'The Dramatic List: A Record of the Princ pal Lerformunces of Living Actors and Actresa of the Breitish Stace, With Critlclsms of Con- temporary Journuts.” Compiled snd Edited by Cliarles Eyre luscoe, Buston: Iloberts Bros, Price, $5.) P MANUAL OF VIERTEBRATES, Within the tust twenty years the study of zoology has rapldly advanced, until its varlous brauches lave ucarly atlaincd u scientitle ac- curacy. The works of ploncer zoologists sus- tain about the saine relation to the macniticent works of the present thue us the windwiil to thesteam engino. While the older works are {uvaluable to the working sclentist, they In no way take the place or represent the mare correct Idess of the luter-day publications. T'he system of identiflvation of specles by meaus of a key ™" has recently come futo geweral use, By means of these keys any one with ordlvary knowleage of naturo may casily detormiue names of wost anfmals und properly classify them. To cume biug these koys o ope voluwe, and place fu the bandé of the “student and practical worker the most receat und simple wethods, hus been the task of V'rof, Jordun. Hlis suc- cesals happlly achieved. To furnish u bouk that meets & want ol smateur und professional workers 18 a triumph for ony man. Prof. Jar- dan s vue of America's bard worklug sclentists, 1lig coutributlous tn our kuowledzo of flshes of the United Statcs buve & known vulu ju the commurcial us well as the scleutitle Interests ot thacountry, ln view of these facts, the * Man- ual of Vertcbrates" muy be commended to schools, scientitie fnvestizution, nud those iuter- ested i nature, 8¢ fuevery way trustwortby, Mauy persuus who would ke Lo study the anl- wate Hte arouud them are prevented from so doine by the bigh price of the works ou special brunches of zovlogy, While thess works should be ubtatued i possible, yet they mi y be hispeused with by the wse of Prof. Jordun's “Manual.” (*Mauual of Vertcbratesof the Northern United Brates, jucludlng the district east of the Missle- sippt River wnd vorth of North Carolina uid Tenuessee, exclusiye of uariue speeles.” By Duvid Starr Jordan, Ph, D., M. D, Professor of Nutural History tu_ Butler University, Second editio, revised und enlarged. Chlcago: Jansen, McClurg & Cu, 1578.) W. i 8. MEDICAL CHHEMISTRY, Prof. Whecier's uew book, just published by Jsvsen, McClure & Co., Is & conclse work va the outlines of orzanic und auimal chemistry, The wodern doctrines of isumerlstn, polysierism, and metamerism, and the principle thut synthe- sls, togethier with anulysis, Is ueceasary to de- teriwiuo physical proportics, enable the student of orgavle chewistry, forwerly often bewlldered by countleds formulas, 1o obtalu casily a clear koowledge of the subjett. ‘The secmlngly end- less and coufused combinstions of varbon, by- drogen, ozygen, sud witrogen of yeslorday's orguole chemistry are liere formulated Into four sple types or models. In each type are n ferics of combinatlons varled In arithmetieal progression; or, at least, always ecapably of belng expressed In _general formule. This simple though varled vlan exbibits the orgunie world and the world's orranisma in qnmlh. maturity, amd decay o their elements, t nsslsts, morcover, In tie making of com- partsons, and some of the reaults reached in this manner aro remarkable. ‘Thua glycerine fs an alcoliol {tristomic); gum-arabie, a snlt; soap, a salt. Veretable fequmen is identical with animal casein. Febrin fs an oxide of albuwmen, zulated blood is caused by the baking of {ts albumen from oxidatlon. Albumen of blood and whent are alike. 'The gluten of cereals has the composition and general provcrties of animal nlbumen, febrin, und_cascin, Cascin in an albumen wind an atkall. The reader will by much futcrested in the modern hehta thrown on animal chemistry; do the revelations of the chemical puthology of the blood, uml the actlons of some elmmlmfin on the system? and fu the theories of oxldation as relgting to animal heat, and ns to the much-mooted queation of jiro) dict. The author assines thut the reader lins an nequalntance with the general nomenclature il vrincipals of modern chemieal philosuphy, ** Medieal Chemlatry.” By Prof. Gllbert Wheeler. Chicago: Jansen, McClurg & Co. 12mo, Price, $3.) C. AN INTERNATIONAL FPISODE, ‘Tha last litile sketch by Henry James, Jr., catitled * An Interuational Episode,” is a com- panion-plece to * Dalsy Miller,* and has been vrinted like It, In the Malf-Hour Serles of the Messrs. Harpers,, It ralscs some of the social problems considered fn *Ireno Magillt- cuddy,” but with a fur more delicate touch than wag exhibited In that satire, which, to tell the truth, was In parls extremely coarse. In the Internatiunal Episode,’ the natire {s decently clothed, nud justice s dexlt out hnpartially on both sides the water, Two young Englishmen of birth, one of them the cldest son of a Duke, come to_this country, are hundsomely* entertained at Nowport, aud have more thati an fdea that a dead-sot is helog mado at the novleman by a charming young woman und her married sister. When, how- ever, the visit is returncd by the women, this idonis shuwn to be a delusion, nud the Atory abruptly ends, though in n sufliciently dramutie way, ‘The snubbing which American soclety teaple oecasionally get from their aristocratfc British fricnds te described {n an amustog way In this volume; und_putriotic pride s svothed fn an unexpeeted and gratifylng, mauner by the upshiot of the story, (**Au International” Epl- sode.” By Meury'James, Jr. New York: [ar- per & Brod, Price, 20 cents.) THE NBW “NONAME?” NOVEL. # Signor Monaldini’s Nicee,” the new navel fn the No Nunio Scries, compares favorably with any of the'previous numbers. ‘The scene §s Iald in Rome, and the author shows a famltariLy not only with the topogruphy of the Imperial City but with the old nnd exclusive Itollan soclety which indicates a long residence thers and sumo zociul experience. Monaldini, has a_hard and pitiful strnele for soclol position. Herstury 18 told with spirit und taste, und much no appreciation of the bumor of the situation, We coutd wish, how- ever, that the autbor had not thouznt It neces- sary to jutroduce the improbable il revolting seene at the eud. (Bvston: ‘Roberts Bros. Price, $1.) GEN. CUSTKR’S LIFE, “ A Popular Life of Uen. George A. Custer, Major-Geueral of Voluotecrs, Brevet Msjor- General U. 8, Army, nud Licutenant-Colonel Boventh U, 8. Cavalry, by Frederick Whittaker, Brevet-Captalo Sixth New York Veteran Cayv- airy,” bus becn published by Bheldon & Co., of New York, und can be obtalned of A, G. Net- tieton & Co., 89 Deurborn sirect, Chlengo, ‘The author of this blugravhy, it 4 known, was the rime mover fo the leno Investigation, now o held 1o this eity, lio behieves, und fo this book gives his reasons for belleving, that if Reno hiad fought us Custer fougnt, und if Beo- teen had obeyed Custer's orders, tho battie ol ihe Little B¢ Horn would have proved Custer's luat aud gresteat victory; and that, {1 Gen. Uraut, actunted by private revenge, hau not dis. placed Custer ~ from command of Furt Lincoln column, Custer bo alive wow awml tho Indian - war settted, This biography will undoubtedly at- fract special nttention in consequencé of its rolutfon to A tople of current discusaion, Whatever may ba thourht of the suthur’s capue- ity to judre falrly of the unfortunste Littlo Uiz 1orn affoir, there will be no dispute In re- gard to (he general acvoracy of his account of Gien, Custer’s previous carcer, which was, in B0we Fespeets, the most rommntle and stirrine In the receut history of the United Btales army. DBRIEF NOTICES. A new editlon of Charles and Sary Lamb's “Tales from Shukepenrs " has beon published by Messrs, Macmillan {o o small und atirsctive- lookng volume. < Prive, $1.85, “The Multitudinous Seas," a series of magn- zine-papurs by 8. G. W, Benjamin, a creat Lray- cler, especlally on tho Atlantie, has been added by the Messrs, Appleton to thelr Handy-Vol- sume Scries. Price, 25 centa, ** A Bhort Hlistory of Gerwan Literat ure,'” by James K, Hosmer, Professor of Knclish und German Literature, Washing ton University, St. Louls, has besn publishod by G. L J ones & Co., of Be. Louts. Price, $2.25, ** An Liye for an Eye,” by Anthonv Trollope ‘10 cents), und ** Man and Wile,” by Wilkls Col- ins (15 cents), huve been added to™the Franklin Byuare Librury of the Messrs, Harpers, * Tho Adventures of Ulynses,” by Charles Lawmb, has becn added to thé Half-ITour Berles of the same publishers, Frice, 2 cents, We have recelved “ English S8ynonymes Ex- thed in Alphabotieal “Order,” with Coplous lNustrations wud Examples Drawn frowm the Bost Writers, to which 13 nuw added on Iudex to the Words.” By Geofe Crabb, A M. New Editlon, with Additions und Correctlons. New York: [larper & Bros, $:2.50, “ The Pearl Fountain and Other Falry-Tales," by Bridget and Julia Kavanagh, with thirty Iustrations, Is the titlo of a volumo containing many old favorites,’ tuo much neglocted by chitdren of late daya, Detrolt: Cralg & Taylor, Cuicazo: Rose-Belford Publishing” Company, Pacitic Uotel Building, Lasallo street, The putlication of & new editlon of #Cham- bers' Cyclopedia of Euglish Literature,” fu clzht small volumes, hus been besan by tha Amerlcan Book Exchanee, No. 65 Beeiman street, New York, prive ol the enizht volumes iu paocr will be $2.25; in cloth, $3.25; I hall morweco, $4.75. This vditon {8 tuken from the third English edition, * Reading 0s a Fine Art,” by Erneat Lezouve, of the French Academy, transiated from the niuth cuition by Abby Lanedou Alger, s pub- lished Inathinvolumd by Mcasra, Roberts Bros., of Bostuw, It fs probably the best single essav ou the art of reading extant; winl Its great sue cess abroad und hero fu tue origlual hus been woll deserved. Prive, 50 centa. A Glossary of Blologleal, Anatomical, and Physlological ‘lerms,” by Thomas Dunwman, an Eugllsu scientist, 18 a valuable book of refer- ence, putting jo compaet shapo ail the seientific words, many of Wiew of recont coltage, that have come [nto common use. Readers of bio- logical selenes will lind tiis work o specisl Lelp. New York: D, Avpleton & Co. New books received und reserved for notlce are the followlnge: *Lifo of George David Cume ming, Nest Lishop of the Reforined Eptscovul Churel” (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.)i Frathlnghain's “Gernt Smith,"” new editlon New York: Putnam); * Demonoloey and Devil Lore,” by re Conway (New York: Hearey Noit & Co); * Poctical Works of 8wits," 1“:“{?“)““ cdition” (Bosion: Houghton, Osgood o). TATERARY NOTES, The * History of Co-operativn in England,” by Georee Jucob Holyoake, is mow completed, ‘The second volume v cxpected to appear very soun, ‘Ine yolume includes the story of the new Industriul wovenient from 1345 to the sud of 1878, It 13 dedicated to Mr, Jobu Bright, Mr. Fitzpatrivk s writing a blogeaphy of the Iate Charles Lever. It will contatu certaly cha p- tersof * Harry Lorrequer” which went astray in wasuseript, which bad to be re-written trom emory, und wbich were notrecovered tiil long after the appearsnce of the uovel.—diheusum. . Mr. Cutter, of the Boston Athenwum, while contrlbuting montbly to the Librerv Journal wauy pages of paiustuking nutes oo current biblography, 18 also, wo understand, at work on the bibliogravby of the Devil (thoush b 18 per- bavs the lust wan to whow 1§ could be a labor of love).—~Tha Librarian. The Saturday Keview refers to the horse-whip- plog scene In Geurge uald’y last novel tbus: * Mapy of- the absurditics and vven vul- guritles contsined io Mr. Macdonala's uovel offer themsclyes o8 fofr marks for ridicule; but 80 gruss aud defiunt au outrage as this uoon the comtion laws of ilterary decency must be driven, not lsugbed, outof court. ‘To serve this purpuss it is probably enough that wo buye Kived our readers & skeich of the sccoe, leaviog Cumill, the niece of Signor: unquoted some of its ‘resiiatic’ details. ‘The story of subsequent reconclliation ean hardly interest them.'”” This lauguage is not at ail too scvere. A new book by Mr. Charles Francls Adams, Jr. to he ealled ™ * Raflroad Aceldents,” s tn preparation ot (. P. Pataain’s Sons’. ‘They are also rrcpnrlnw awork by Dr. A, M. Bruke, of London, Ontarle, on *“Man's Moral Nature,” which will be published not _only in New York, but in Toronto, Canada, and London, England. The very lovely rorlrnu of Fanny Kemble which lldz{ven in +*Records of a dirllicod " was engraved vy I B. Hail & Bons, of New York City, especially for the American edition of her book, publlstied by Henry Iloit & Co. Those who have had a taste of fhe book from ihe parts published as contributions to the Abantie Monthty, wid the many new readers the ook will win, will heartily thank the American pub- lishera for the enterprise which gives them this elimnse of the raconteur hersell.—Publishers’, Weekly, Bheldon & Co. have just ready the first vol- ume of their promiscd series on **American Authors," under the editorslipof Prof. D, J. 11l of Lewisbure University, already known a8 the authior of successtul text-books of rhet- oric. The yolumes will be neat nnd tasteful 16mos. of about 300 pages each, giving a blo- graphical, literary, and critical sketch each of an author und his writings, with a stcel portrait, and will be fssued at €1 each. The volume now ready fs that of Washington Irving;: the blog- raphy of Willlam Cullen Bryant will follow In about & month. A correspondent of the New York Post sayass ¥ How many pereons of avernde cducation know that ‘refreshing? ia a comparatively new word? . I did not unt{l two or three days ngo. ‘Then 1 found in an old mugazine a fling at the Edinbury Review for using it, the critic styling the word * o plece of slanz.’ After this I dis- covered a rap on the kuuckles about the same thine which your readers will find In any (Mur- ray's edition) copy of Bvron, 1t fs in the ec- logue hecalla “Ulie Blues,' which [ suspect Is Ditle read In our thme, owd fmputes the obnox- fuus word to his enetny, Jelfrey. A currespondent of Noles and Queries writes: “Weuse the word ‘ Yankee! olten, but Low many of «us have ever thought whence it was derived? [ shoutd be glud to hear the opinion of your correspondents as to the following: The word * yanka' I3 always used in the cast of Lincolnshire to describe the coarse, untanned Jeather galters worn by the country folk, Thera was a larye exodus from this part of the country Ameriea, Might not, therefore, the word ‘ankea’ have Leen used to distingulsh tuose who wore these galtors or ¢ yanks)® the incoming strangers, from the origioal |u‘m‘.ulmm. who wore moceasina?” Anothor correspondent at- tributea the common use of the plirnse, * [t's me,'" to Georgo 111, whuse royal disregard of krammar furnished a precedest for the Court and suclety 1n general. A lecture was deljvered Friday evenin g, Jan, ), by Mr. Georze . Futnam, of No. 21 East T'yenty-fourth street, on the subject ot * Iuter- vatfoual Copyright,” before the Free-Trade League. The “point that Mr, Putnam urged was that there should bo a treaty between this Land foreign countrles by which tho rights of pu- thors belougine to Ameriea shonld be protected fu Europe and the rilght- of European aushors be protecied here. 1t Is au old, old story, but Alr. Putoum, In the course of his lecture, gave Jfe anl futerest to it ogain, Among bis hearers were Mr, Horace White, formerly of Tus Cri- cauo Trinuses Dr. Irenmus Prime, Charlton C. Lewls, Mr. Armnstong, and Mr, Carleton, vub- lishers, and Capt, John Codman, whe preafded as Chalrman.—New York Hera:d, PERIODICAL LITERATURE, The second number of the American Punch, published in Boston, has been recelved, It s o bold fmitation of the famous Lowmlen periodlieal of the same name, but does not have the samo clabn to favor because it Is neithor as witty nor a8 wlso na Its modol. W, H. U, Murray's Golden Rule newspaper will hercafter be {ssued ns n magazine. The number for January contalns contributions Ly Mr, Mureay, Rose Terry Cooke, Nora Perry, and others, Editor and publisher, W, H. 1L Mur- ray, Boston, Mass. 32.50 per annumn, Rarnes’ Educational Monthly for February contaius editorial articles on *Our Commion- School 8ysten,” © Education,” *The Spelling- Reform," * Educational Postulates,” and a ereat varloty of other intercating matter from contributors, New York and Chlcago: A. 8, Barnes & Co. $1.50 per annum. The P’ublishers’ Weekly, su long owned h{ . Loypoldt. now comus out. without o publisher's uaine. Mr., Leypoldt, however, retalus the po- sitlon ut Likliographic editor, and the name of Mr., R, R, Bowker appears as general editor, 1t {s undurstoud thut the latter gentleman, long con- nected with the Journal, is the purchaser, “The Clicago Medical Journa! and Eraminer for February advises a thorough reconstruction af the law relativg to the insane, It contains n I:nmt. variety of matter—~communicationns, clin. cal reports, cte.—of nterest to the profession, il particnlarly a lecture by Dr. Byford, * On Puerperal Vagfnitls nud Laceration us Causes of Veslco-Yaginal Fistula,” The American Nutura'ist for Febrnary has ar- ticles ns fullows: * A Sketeh of New Zealand, with Pen wd Pencll,” oy [, C. Ruseell; * Notes on the Manufucture of Tottery Among Bavawe Races,” by Ch, Fred. Hartt; *“Scodsof the Vio- Jet uud Oiher Plauts as Profectiles,” by Moses N. Elrod; * Instinct and lteason,” by F. C. Clark: ® The Disrovery of * Turtle-hack * Celta in the District of Columbiy, by W. J. Hoffman, und many uotes, roviews, cte. ‘The Salurday Mi-!/ruim, the new eclectlc weekly publlstied in Hostou, and edited by alr. F, B. Perklus, Is well warthy of patronage.” The sclectlons are made with taste amd discrimina. tlon. We shonld think the magazine would be yaluable to muny readers. Among the articics in the number for Feb, I which at- tract most attcntion s a phost story of the cir- ciustuntial and suthenticated sort,” with soma orluinul letters of Charles Dickeus, uow flrst printed, showing that he, Layard, Bulwer, and othiers, thought thu account’ very remarksble. ‘There is also the usaal rauge of bright aud read- able scloctions, ‘Lo such as desire to sce the Suturdwy Magazine, the publishers offer thisand the next three numbers as o triul suvseription, llj!'-‘-"lt'u!lll the four. No, Il Bloomfield street, juston. ART NOTE. A good deal of amusement lias been created by an account that.on 8 receut oecasion s plet- ure of Mr, Whistler's was publicly produced, and nefther Juldge nor jury could tell which was the top und which the bottom. Whether the lerend Is true or not weare i no position to suys but It is cortainly nd truo s the volnci- dence I8 curlous that at the Winter Exbibltion of the Soclery of Paluters fu Water Colors, 18704, a lovely und clavorate architectural arawlug by 3Mr. Kuskin was placed upside down, mot by a porter of & court of law, but by Eurloul employed by an ewlnent artlstic bod, Thus it " remaln wd for u time untll nu arp-sluhted ¥iitor discovered the faet, ‘Uhe work was (weo like to be ypurticular) No. 105, *Study of the Colars of Maorble fn_the A‘wu of the Duowo of Pisa,” und exhivited with *+Study ol the Colors of Murble lu 1he Base of the Cluech of 8t, An- astasfa, st Veronu,” No. 07, reds @ third story 1o a sfinllar effeet. When Jotn Martin bad fintshed his well-kuown * Zadok fn Seareh of the Waters of Ublivion,” which was mory than once engraved, ue seut for o framemaker's wen to frame it, und, baving oceasion to remaly u 8 rouns adjoining hle studio while they wero fu the Jatter room, he was edifled by a loud dis- pirte between the imen as o which was the top, which the bottom, of his pleture i~Athenun. SPARKS OF SCIENCE, OXYGEN IN THE SUN. New York Tanes, Annoyed by the wkeptivisn of which Mr, Lockyer I8 the centre, regardlng bis discovery of oxvgeu fo the sun, Prof. Icury Draper hay taken 8 now set of neiatives of tho solar apece trum on o scalo taxing the utmost resources of his fnstruments, uud probably smong the larg- uat, If not the very turgest, that have ever been takou, It is, however, o difficult thivg to (ur uish & completu reglster of u series uf spectro- scopic observations by means of photoeraphs, althuugh ut preseot thers b8 no other mothod except that of the connmou-place book, sud here the personal factor juvolved s a constant source of fngccuracy and distrust, When thy photograplis wro accompanied with a Juckd text descrintive of thy experument, {ts arraugenent of detall, cte, the persoual fuctor 1s veritied by the uucrring dmpersoual; and this is the mcthod that Prof. Draper bas adopted fo the wewmolr Lo I8 now prepare ingg for the Acudemy of Belences und the Comp- tes dtenddus, At the same, time tho experiments showfuz the repid sbifting of the spectrum when carbon is substituted, togethier with other verifying data, caunot be expressed on paper, and must be wittessed to be fairly welghed ‘The Profcssor expects to tinlsh bis “mewmoir jn the coursn of u few weeks, und, fu the wmeau- tliwe, denfes bimsell to all visitors exceot a few inthnate iriendg wlio ars fn the secret, 1t belug necessary, unfortunately, for the discoverer to bis laboratory us 8 wiser wuards bis board, in order to protect his work from plagtarism—s 8in more common perhapa In_nclence than it s in poetry, as many an overconfiding Professor fs palofully aware. “The whaolc expensa of an elab- orate experiment such as that which deterinined the presence of oxygen in the sun—not less than $10,000 in tint Instance—may thus, for the time belng at least, accrue to the reputation of a mere pretender who las caught the knack of imitating or the trick of putting his speculations into literary form, AERIAL TELEGRAPHY. Prof, Loomls, of \Washinzton, appears to be still enthuslasticallycarrying on his experiments 17 aerlal telegraphy In West Virginia. Aerial telegraphy fs based on the theory that at certaln clevations thera is & natural electric cnrrent, by taking advantage of which wircs may be wholly dispensed with, Tt s eald that he has tele- graphed as far as eleven miles by means of kites flown with copper wire, When the kites reached the same altitude, or got into the sama current, communieation by mcans of fn fnstrament simllar to the Morss instrument was easy and ricut, but censed as soon as oneof the kites was lowered. He had bullt towe:s on two hills about twenty milos apart, and from the tops of themn run up stecl rods Into the reglon of the clectric current. The Profeasor announces that he has recently discovercd that the telephone van ba used for this methoa of communleation as well ns telegraphie instrutnents, and that of iate he hasdone el bis talking with his assistant, twenty miles by telcphone, the connecs tion Leing acrinl only. Heclaims that he ean telegraph acl the sen without other wires than those necossary to reach the elevation of the current. 'Thers sccins no fmmedlate proha- bility, however, of our retting on without polcs, aud wire, and ocean cables, CREMATION. The sanitary aspect of cremation, so far as the object n vlew fa concerned, has lonz been ona as to which ail pactics are agreed. It i3 necessary to devise sneclal measures for the disposal of the dead, at Icast in large cities and vopulous districts. The expedient of burlal in suburban cemeteries (s only temporary. It may last our time, but 1he next generation witl by called upon to sulve ihe sanitary problem in a more bermanent way. 8o serfous s the ques- tion Involved that,"If cremation were the only process by which the need couldl be satisfled, it would be'incumbent upon us, in the supremo inturcsts of the publlic, to recommend thie waly- ing of all scatimental objections. We are, how- cver, by no means sure that the ‘comlderation is thus narrowed. Il method of burial fn quick. Hime, to which Mr. Donald Napler hos recently dirceted attentlon, Is one thut offers many ad- yantages, while, 5o far ns wo oro aware, it s eftective, We offer no opinion as to the manacr fo which the process is applied to thio bodies of criminale hanj and burnt withio the preeincts of tue gaol whercin they wero last confloed. ‘The manner In which the'same metliod bas been extensively pursued by the Jewlsh people. Is the more intoresting, The lime is placed in the shell, aud the process of destruction expedited by pourlog a fow buck- ets of water over tho vollls, nu leaden casing being employed ar access for the fluld belng al- lowed, It is contonded that the chemlcal chango sctup s, 1o fact, *‘cremation,” without any of the scnsatlonal or other disadvantages attond- Ing the uso of fire. ‘Ihe proposal to adopt this process generally 18 entltled to full considera- tlun. At clearly obviates the worst perils of tho carth systewn of dlsposal and depucation, ‘I'hese temporary dangers aside, {t must be admitted that what nay be designated the “carth to earth method of disposal Is, as we have sald, the most natural and the best. Itshould, of courso, be recognized thut cartbs differ, Soma tend to preserve organle reniains deposited lu ihem, and are therefore unsultablo for use as grat We question whother this matter has recelved tho attention it deserves, A REMARKABLE CRUSTACEAN. In the course of the aclentific expedition In the Amerlcan steamer Black to the north of Yucatan In 1977 there was brought up from 1,500 fathoms depth 1n the Atlantic a crusta- coan the pecnllar features of which have re- contly formed the subject of & note to the Fronch Academy by Prof. Alplionse Milne-Ea- wards, to whom the specimen was sent by Prof. Agassiz. M. Miluo-Edwards fiuds ita typaof a new lsopod family, and he eails it Hathynemus ylganteus, 'Mhe anlmal fu question’ measures twenty-threo centimetres in length and ten fn breadth. What one Is chiefly struck with fs the completely new arrangement of tho respira- tory apparatus. [t conslats of numerous series of branchim in the furm of tufts placed hetween the false ab- dominal claws, and cach blade of which, exam- ined in the microscope, s found to be'a tube covered with very flue halrs, This exuberance of resplratory npuaratus is, doubtless, necesst- tated by tha coudition of Jifu ot such a great depth, But It was bardly toba expected that in o n 80 durk this crustacean should have, os It has, very well-developed eyes. Each of them mmgrlcu 4,000 facets, nud 18 placed at the baso of the antennie, According to M. Mline-FEd- wards, the hathynome probably lives clingine to algws it {s carnivorous, and secma to feed chiefl; on cephalopodous molluses, It is thought the study of such animals should theow light on the history of fossil crustuceaus, and especlally ou that ol trilobites, SMALL BIRDS IN AGRICULTURE. Mr. E. J. Lowe, the astronomer, in a letter to the London Times, mentions n curious lustance of the valueof amall birdsin agriculture: *Thire ty-five years ago a countryman left here for Aus- trala, takiog with him all our popular hardy fruits and vegetables; but the produce was yearly destroyed, uatil the Engilsh sparrow was introduced, after which thers wus plenty of frult.” Watcrton calculated that a single pair of sparrows deatroyed us many grubs fu one day as would have eaten up hall " an acre of youn, corn ju 8 weck. ‘T'he swallows, flycateliers, aug other sumier birds como too lato to destray the grubs; 1t [s only the native birds, like tho spar- raw, which really do the nocessury work, Frost does not kiil theso grubs. Even in the severe frust of 1860-'01, when the thermometer stood ln soma ploces eight degrees below zero, the grubs were not injured. Itls the little birds which are the true under-gardencrs, thuuzh they do takea certaln portion of the produce by way of wagces for thelr work.—Spectator. SCIENCE NOTFES, At a recent meeting of the Fre Boctety of Hyelune, Dr, Landecr, in the course of some intercatini obrervations on the sublect of amall« porx, sald that be remarked that it wae iu houscs exposed to the north that swall-pox raged the least, and he suguested thut Inquiry shoula be miade whetlier certaln winds did wot exercise a particuler influenco on the development of the disease,~Sanitury Record. In thess days, when the electric light appears to absorb attentlon, 1t Is intoreating to find that an exbivition is to be opened at Lradford on the 17th of February of pas-burncrs, gus-stoves, cogtoes, und other appliances for the economie use of gas for domestic and msnufacturing pur- poses. The rate at which the use of eloctricit y as an Hlluminating power is advancing tie morn clearly showu than by the fact that Af, Curre, the earbon electrode maker, is manufoct- urlug H00 wetres of rod por day.—dthenaun, M. Pasteur has rccuntly ropeated his experie ments to show that vinuus ferment cannot be developed judependently of the presence of spe- citic organisine a4 & natural result of the matura. tion of the frult. By wrapplug up certain buuches of fruit in cotton-wool, sud inclosing others in hermetically-sealed g vases, ju the latter part of July, he mipzht untlcipate that such rotected bunches would yield & juice absoiute- y incapabio of spontaneousiy ontering on fer. mentation, ‘Theso suticipations were exactly fultilled. Itappears from the observatiol surgeon, nblumnnll{ veritied hgm tatistics, thut working o wince {s ruther Jaborious than un- bealthy; it is certaluly not to be compared with those uent operutions o which powder contaiufuy lead or mercury is breathed, chitle 8 uxlmufl{ cowun among the coal- miners, also vésicular emphysewa, thess affec tious being fl,'xrnvulcd by the coal-dust. On the other bund, pulinonary phthisis secing to by veryrare, In oix years Dr. Fubro did not mect with wore than two cascs of death from this causa amoog 1,500 miners. On New-Year's Doy the news arrived that My, Mavkay, of the Church Misslonary Society, b at Just reachod the southcastern shures of Vie- toris Nysnza. Alter belug repeatedly deluyed by the death of bis comrade, thy loes of cattle, und want of funds, be at loneth accomplisbed his purpose. Ou reachlug the lake he received 8 concillatory mesaage (rom Lukooge, Chiel of Ukerewe, sud bo at onco fearlessly sud un- arwed accepted bis fovitation, and came tace to {ace with the murderer of Capt. Smith and Mr, O'Nelll, Lukougo assured bl that be bud no quarrel with the wiillo men, and that the death of bl friends bad been the result of thelr mix- fog thewsclves up In the affairs of the Arab. This i3 hils vicw of the cuse, but not the correch oue. Br. Mackay returncd fn safety to Kagve, where to his delieht bie met the Rev, Mr, Wil sou, who bad crossed over from Ugande. Tue of & French . two retaraed togeiher tm\~ tobo hoped Uiat ey met (e 1S 4::: “;?f.;l “un lhév River ‘?‘i‘l-lt-h::; Ioly mzur::.‘ 'n 8 aro suxlously ey, » The China Tnland Mias " valuable handmnid to fltnz‘;‘: |"T°’“\}*tn 1 pe gne of Lhe inlssfonaric—Nr. \{ syt "I b (cxcept whera rivers belied) from Jyod b across Yunnan to Biamu fn [ Hhanghy found no opposition from the weople, lx'rm?' ang of the nmcmlné but & Bystematic pery e iy of 81 Chuen, Shensl, Shansi, o) m;‘“fllllllvm internal provinces lias been nccompiiag.o! the arragements mivle to cstablish misgjen ok s01 worthy mgn wear the Chiness dm','" 18 not carrléd about in chinlrs. e 200 are lcel:_l?"n fl?nvnr na ;mé«rhlu more hmnunll,‘yf,";ae o c pages of China's Afil; 1. of the Society, e Alitions, (o orgye ———— THE CRASIL 0F WORLDS, Moons Falling Into Planets, » T'h it nto Suns, ¢ ringed planet Baturn Ig o, posed by astronomners to prflenf “";:lll' - planctary existence In Its eariler yq o zes, A thoueh the plaet aiready hiag elzht mooyy | matter forming the rings constantly :m;' La shapo Itsell nto new satellites, Tie gy, force of tho great central mass ag o overcomes this tendency, and fe belfepoq :"v drawing the rings closer nnd closer, The nh slan astronomer Otto Struve has bredicteg ,u . inless than two centuries the tnner "m"dl reach the planet and bo unfted with g, Wi his views ara not accepted by ali ubservers, ) fact Is conceded that areat ehanges are gyt in the girdlo of Saturn, und there gre L0 :cuaflu to conclude m‘fi lhelmumer of '“i:u:].i s made up onca moved in a 1y ¥ m’rwhlmwl)"is‘] i FRer cirele thay s conciusion i the haats of tributed by Prof, Danlel Vaughay P;‘:W m:‘rln}mr of :hf Ty, u-‘m"( Science Honih, }" which somo Interesting if not sta 0 sltfons are sdvmced, IR orope ‘arfous opinions have been enterts) the conatruction of the Emumlnul:h.xcrlnm\flrl'D they can hardly be whally caseons o oot thero s difliculty i tegarding tew po: Boml ol rolid matter, since but fow s A uown which would endure the violent coppar slons that !m‘?nnnllr disturb the great einje It Is suggested o this vaper that fhe pripsey coustituent may be water, al a temperaygr nearthe freczing polnt. {n that case, the o stant tendeoey to freeze would slightly arer. come the destructive forces aud would Axonag for such changes of form as arc revesled by e telescope. Of course thess changes conl 0 o ot without heat from some rource, bug assumo that a suflicient quuotity iy avolva] mechanieally by the cammotions tiemselyes, ‘Thera sceins” to be no doudt, howeyer, [ the rings of 8aturn aro such stut us myonssry made of, but the question is whetlier this e rial is to form moons in the future or by . ready performed its fumctlon fo this respect by forming moons In the past] Prof, Vaughy adopts a view which {ndicates his beflef tht tie planet hias afready entered upon the Iater gage; of its Iifo. Ho thinks the two rings were for. merly two satellites revolving about Saturp fuy wider zone, A dlsmemberment und & coprer. slon Into a ring, he suys, must be e guen) fate of every plinetary body (and a moon 15 5 pianetary body) which, by a slow cuntraction of the path in which it moves, revolves at least toy closs to Ita primarv,—that s, too close tothe larger planet uround which it travels, jut what causes tho orbit of o satellite 19 contract 80 as to bring it thus dangerously year to the central mass it revolyes about! Ey. dently some obstacle to motion would bo suf. ficlent,—something which retanded velooss, very nflzhlly, It mieht be, but still somesbst, Aninflucuce of this nature muat be exerted by any substance, however tenuons or wmtherl, which pervades all soace, or that part of space, at all events, to which the stars and vlanets Le long. Like many otber men of sclence, Prof, Vaughau assunies the existence of a rare mell um of this sort disseminated throvrhout il le known stellar reglons; and to Its action of re. tardation ho attributes the teansformation of the lost tnoons of Saturn into the mizhiy riczs wghich now encircle that planet. Evldence tat 4 resisting medium really exists Jias been sup. Hed by the recent discovery of the satellires of Rhn’. und our author declares that nut may willlon years can clupss before e funer moos, Phobos, will have Its pathi so shoriened astate Lrought within the atmosphere of the plsnet, Then, hosays, its carcer us n small secondary world will closa with a metcaric exhibitinn. Aud why may not our uwn moon come W sa end tn the same wayl Tndeed,is notsuchare- sult extremely probublel Uhe sainc came must bu effective to clieck 1ta rate of motivn, ad the chicf difference betwoen the two ases would be In polut of thmo. 'The few wmillions of yeurs requisite for the absorption of the Puobos wyall have to be multipiied by several hundreds to make un the period which Wil elap:e before ke moon Is -hnll-lrlg; destroyed. The veeaston will be a grand one, however, fur we ore toid thatk will ‘b signaflzed by a far greater dlsplay of meteorle effulgence, Dilapidation will begta before the moon actually touches the eardl numerable fragments will be lurled off s teors into our atmosphere; aud the briliancy of the scene Wil rival the lulit of the sus Prof. Vaughan thinks that onlr a portion of tke nioon will bs approprinted by the carthiat the first near approach., The part that In leit wil haul off, as it were, into space, to give rirs 13 similar magnificent outburst some wilfiontof couturlen Juser, when it agoln comes too err, It {8 worthy of note thut nothing 8 haterer is sald a8 to the probable effect of tils gigail: convulslon of nature upon life on the et This omlssion may be dus to the fact tist mz kind can hardly bo suld to have a vital prescst fotereat fn the event, Just a8 a moon may fall futo s plauet, 4 plunct may fall futo o sun, ‘Thy chiet dilfer unce I8 {n the splendor of the spectade ‘Lwenty-three temporury stars have nppeanl 4 the heavens wllhfnm 1ho last U c.uf-lh{" of them within the present centuty. \\nn“.; caused them to kindlo {n thy sky with sul L‘l brilliancy, und then grow dim aid mumn,l aecling {n Wrightucss? An olivjous gnsne i suggested by the facts wo have nvnhx : cousidered. The mysterious uflulm.«nnl‘ i flashes across the universs na the traus "i," glory of a_ temporary stur s the !nlu‘rd' of a dying planet. But it may be askd, 4 have we not secn tho star beforel [t 18 straue that he planets uf other solar mlz“\?» which revolve around stars as their own n".;: should be favisible to us here on lllwemr_l v stnieo they do nat shine by their owa i e ought not the stars themselves to bem; i sluco wo supposo them to resomble vur o ] character und constitution| 't dIllI\-uuy"nN- preseuted seers vonsiderably, but it 1s tl' b ‘{ met, ‘Tliero aro supposed tu be vnl-l e bodies presiding over the novement of ul e planets, und you totally dark. Black .uuli',‘ et way well bo called. . ‘Thelr exlstence s r»l s to ug, aud we ouly know their placed i D¢ B0 verae, wheln llnevl seomg l;l.‘:lnl“fl:: ‘:II:‘I;::-'I“"" rysters, through the destricl u{ont of somo orb in thewr own plaeiss family. - .'l‘lwv twenty-thires tomporary atard, then I nd Plagyy, dicate thut tweuty-threo plaucts have bee Strojod 1o D000 years, Trof. Vaugan die inates the outire pumber of primary s i ary plancts In the universs 88 cqual Nl-‘x“::::‘x' population of the. globe, “Tuis wfiu‘ B fram (00,000,000 to TW00,0K. Fe B0 mortality of mankind Is belleve it death & ond, If we roard l;}“ pree ance of a temporary star as U -!mmw of the death of a planct, theso facts € Rt to compare the fength of human cxlnlm;«mw:' the duratlon of plui Hfog and 1t SO from such & cow thut 8 ‘Tm:l Win sl a part of the curecr of 8 ‘”"f'n.u veriad scconds ore ot thelifo of a mats 7 C%,y ombraclig the history of the bumall HO 1y equals two minutes of the vast I“ aginnat which the eargh will endure from ¢ ne' preore to the m'ini‘l: .;m‘l’ the :lmelrvggulz;:. l‘x’ul s post my lead Prof. Vaughan to ! hl: uzo of five l\ulla‘-llm.l billions of years 837 attained by & world. e ey mout probabla that when e oo falls futo the sun it will be fu the Ml':.nfl o ‘merable metoorie fragmouts rather ",muh\ Rigantic meteor, As the shower of "“,,-whm watter rushes through the solar ‘ll‘:! .‘:u tho sun will blaze out foto u!"lm‘mu astronomers have witneascd und wu:‘uw Aer] remote stars; uud the earth v:luI hfl‘ ool away, with uo more effect ou thu JULANIL, those distant orbs wheuca the ll,‘ FMMJ viewed thag shnllar spectacles bav o 3 03 P e contemplation of a auity Vke thls 05 ever far removed, naturdlly loals 4 Tsoires upon the fate of Lumanity wiich et Aud the thoughts thus fluduced 8re SR uull’:‘ctnry ‘unless oue cau say, with L3V a0 This aplris ehall return to Hio “‘hu:’m It boaveuly soarki g Yt e V| u ue! N ot e agatn, sud shine 1o bliss unknows beanis of talat By Lim recalled to bresth Vi iy, Whe AR Gt ey h et Bt from D! A Ni Iul'llh\'l ; Danbury New: cen ¥ While the reat ‘of the bation bst bty New sorbul {u resumption, the Lycesi ui__ ford bastaken Of fty cont und dEhi horse-trotting at falrs lojures ‘hm’mm ata 1 or 8t Jeast thut portion of it 80 to bet oo the wruug horse.