Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, March 8, 1879, Page 9

" LITERATURE. Wollstonecraft's ** Let= to Imlay “===A Stormy Life. tivo E‘loweré and Ferns of the s United States”--River- side Poets. Mary ters » upygotionl Theology =" Devisive Tvents iu History "---Brief Noticos of New Books, foelited Stales Testing Board-.-Philos- aply of Poultices-Provalence of {ho Metric Syste LITERATURE. MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT, Whatever may bo the reader’s opinion on the Hectalth which the name of Mary Wollstoue- mnlnmoclntml, he must needs have littlc ;':u,,; who can, svjthout o measure .of sym- ‘n,, and gorrow, rend the story of her sad life, She was the targot for misfortune during lfe, 1l for misrepresentation after death. And 4 pathy 1 the moro Mkely o bovcliclted it tho 2:!" mokes the aequaintance of her lifo by mesns of the memolr with which Mr. Paul has reraced her letters to Oant. Imlay, and by these - kiters, ¥or he hos, we thinl, With & notalto- p\l\ulflj\\d(dnus sympathy, dwelt on the more eopging quallties 1 her character and the least deputable _polnts In hier opinions, ind lic Las: witened some of the nsperitics fn her words and down the disagreenble character of soma olber thicorles, The otlieraide of the pleture bas recelved duo attention. Optnlons which wera deemed revolutfonary fothe days Mary Wollstonecratt uttered them fsronow become commonplace, und are nccopt- wdbyoll, and others arg accopted by most edu- atedpersons, As regurda thoso opinfons, she yus prophetyand the world, with a conslst. ey which has distingulshed, it in all nges, stoned the prophict. For advacating fmprove- went [n the education and treatment of women sewlll receive only gratitude. But she also arocated opinfons which mot with ' o just nud itern reprobation,—opinions which aro aa fatally woog to-day as they were when their publica- ton ‘and practico drew dowp onm her'licad n storm of obloquy and misfortune. We bave no wib to enter the thorny junele of the wyomen's rights” question, Nny, wo will Ieep away from @ fleld so often frultful of scrimony rather than of ogrecment. Agifost fnstitutions which relizion, ' oxpe- dicey, and. philosoply Iudurso Mary Tollstoneerafe used hier ven with vigor and vinlence, and we, think with a Jarge wmeasure ofcbarscness. Blio madg tho error of generaliz- Ing from twvo to threo {ndividual cnses againsy 0 fostitutlon of ‘socfety which s the result of thegencralized oplniQn from countless cases of what |s best for soclety nnd which hasbeen sanc-+ toned by relfelon und law, Bho foolishly in- ferred, 100, that ali the world Ina given -caso would act a8 she' Q1d, as { all the world ‘would lave the obiding zenl of a fanatle,. And the must sorrow (ul passage fn hier life, that of which she made the most complalnt, arose from the prastico of her oplolons. Dofying custom, iznor- fng the teaching of all time, she wut her theory tothe test, and because it ended ns the sindple idom of au unlettercd poazant could have told ber §t would lkely end, sho suffered and was o} slient, She choso 1o consider civilization a age,andshedoshod herself sgainst the bars and loke'her wingre, “Mr. Paul corrects the general Iaprestion that she wns an Athelst. *Bhe Hved awldieda Christlan, though sho differed from thechurchies on tencts *on which they are gen- mliyaereed. . Mary Wollstonecraft was Lorn at .Hoxton In 130, “fler childhood nnd girjhood were un- bangy, 8he hud ltved {n three Louscholds be- fure she was 28, and cachof them was urhanpy. Atthat ngre sho became a governess in an Irish sobleman's family, which happencd to be o very urefined one, Diemissed beeause the children bad mors affectfon for lier than for their mother, s went to Londop, nnd_was uccupied s tader” to o puolisher. Till then she had ouly seen (e unattractive sldo of life. At this fime sl wrote ono or iwo books, smong them e famous Vindivation of tho Riglits of Women,n Curlously cnougn this book wos diolkllnd to “M, ‘Talleyrand-Perizood, lata ihop of Autun,” Talleyrand's mots wero Yultea on brass, bis Iberalism oo Sand. 8he then went to France to see the Revolutlon and 10 berfect her accent. There she met Capt. lbery Imlas, an American, who had oucs been tLandCommlssioner In Kentucky, but wos then aged fn commercial speculations, She be- fume his wife, “thoufih wo legal ceremony futedbetween them. Her view was thut o com- oo affection was marriage, aud that the finj.ln te aliould not bind after the death of e 8he became the vietim of her own ooy, Imlay deserted her und her child, 1t 8 during the carly part of their separation i the “letters fo - Iifflay? wera written, In:lmml husband described them as the * off- tho( 8 glowing jmasination, and & ‘heart X gl'r.a'led with the passlon she casays tode- “n +! Reading them, wo feel wo are agauding temared wnd forbidden ground. Grown des- :lle,uhu tried todrown himaelf in the Thames, wr¥as rescued by gome wutermen, She con- : end fielr JDumanity a cruel merey, but she i:gmnu. For sho then catneto know Will- Jatgdmin, the famous nuthor of 4 Political [y c:." nxxg‘!,u:lulr Iriendshig, a5 Le sald, melted v thn'my )Ifltll- ;xlnluu \vmdpvrru&: Iellcu].r:md Vrwof bt n‘l“mun ed off with o ahort [ Pbincss, ‘The Irule of thls unlon was o, win, tho gifted wife of Bhelloy. 8 book thera fs but ong touch of humor, hiltts very eharucterlstic of Godwin, When A a0 “auodyne wos adwinistored to i Uodedn, ‘and -4t had the tmmediate t relieving soute ogony, Bue turped m:lr‘h‘mhm»d, who held her )gund, with o sih iyl sald, 40 Godwin, Iam in Heay- "mdu;"' oven ot that moment Godwis de- Heper 20 entrapped fnto the admission Hliat v exlated, und hie calmly replicd, *You lm:v'rm’ deary Wt your physleal sensations nre fl\&nmfl‘ earler. e fnterest of this book is gy by the two exquiste stehinis it con- Intye g icy are from pictures by Ople. The tr P 't cOpy of a picture fn {lic possesaion of rey Floreneo "Shclley, the grandsun of Hay W 3y Vollstovecrart, wnd 1a in undoubted T!W or eol ber, Pl h v e other is more doubtful, Wiy :m’ of much beauty und strenth, und The o )rooda a wistful, pathetic melancholy, UeetHor of this book (s uleo ita London Em“c‘;. l:::dm‘\lggtmnl{ uu:uln:t for &ha rare | ) t3, ita- printing, ang 8 pa- ¥ (Boston: Roberts Brogy 3" W. 3L, RIVERSIDE 1'0: [ SIDE POETS. * ¢1eprint of the Riverside cdition of Britlsh AChy ‘;bcen'x furttier advanced by the works I m"- U1, Parnall, und Tiekell fn twovolutes, m‘;" of Butler in ono volume, Al of tha a gy Wl part of the second is dovoted Wiy UL Hia Wfe by W, Tuoke, ¥. R, 8., Yren ;h“ only suthientic ong In existence, is hm: ully uud the notes of the samo editor l:.m.“;‘"‘-' Churchill stunds more in need of vl 0 418N Niosl Docts, because bis works By g :“!_l historical und’ personal allusions, b gryjon 886 00w Obseure, The workk wa Tayeq ¢ 1OF 81l by~Tooke, who saya that f Ay g drior® than & hundred volumes to Ky g Ilfiml fur notes, und tins written copls ity ”‘"lnutu.’%uutca. Churchill was taltyy, :“5'"11-‘11 i bis own doy, lio wos g big f flmri ‘J‘llnlon and other eminent liternr 8 Dr ‘}Mgw. aud almost un avowed (mK Tue potucts but nls: poeme, unruuull‘\rly o) o l{l'-‘. had much - vigor dud try ups o a1 Of costruction, wid, though ."‘dl-tu,fl[""‘ merit, justly entitled” him to ety gp g ot OF betigs called ono of the fivst b wygey haelYe His unboappy Miv, the oxcuscs tlere g ;V!:‘uevcr been tully welghed, {s no- e of Parney ‘0 us in this_emotr, Tho tat gf Tickei} 2 by Oliver Goldsuith, wid taky g \pe€ll Ly Dr, Johuson. Tho lile und iy, .‘k‘tml\mucr oueupy n this kl:‘: Yoo 0s¢ of the luiter 301 pug 0t thag 4 Butler Is of courve wore Im- ‘Thourh known for he s known for thut wimorial pocts,—the author of 4 wuch & clagsto in English *Don Quixote §s In Bpanish, ‘Tle poems nre well bound, nind printed on thick, tinted paper, ‘The whola cdition numbers about ifty volumes, nnd wiil be when completed the niost perfeet ono of the kind for the ordinary tibragy of which wo_have any kowledre, (“ Churetnll, Parnoil, und Tieken? Two yoltimes, 83,560, * Butlor.” (&ug v;»lume. 81,75, Boaton: Houpghton, Osgood 0. NATIVE FLOWERY AND TERNS, It fs sald that the greatest poets are those who louk the decoest into flowers, To the maes of minds the flower {s something to pleass the seuses of slzht or smell, to adorn the man- tieor thé garden walk, an ornament or a gify representing an expreasion of sentinent only to | ho thrown awny and be trodden’ under foot on its dovay. ‘To the botanist amd poet, however, its mission is nobler nmd-moro sacred. The mathemnatical .precislon sith which it Is gever- ally constructed, its muitiform structure, the severe mental cxerlion often required for its Mdentiflcation, [the varloty and unlty of its Deauty cause scientists and poets to pause nid meditate, - Many men of lcttosa have declded tastes for Nntural llstory. Prof. Whitney, the Nnguist, {8 nlover of ornithology and delizhts Inhis stuffed’ birds, Bryant was interested fn botany, Cowley wwas thie author of o ' Treatise on Plants,”: Goldsmith of a *History of the ‘Earth’ ‘ahd °~ Animated Nature,” hoth of “avhich. .are atlll of a ‘clossleal standing in letters,” Thus in the realms of no- ture many o ifnn who has ‘achieved eminence, 1 not immortalized himself, has spent his hours of reercation “cultivating the Imapinatlon and enlarging the facultfes of the mind. It was Yrof, Tyndall .who sald (in.sutstance), ;un after bis* liours of exerciea in the Alps, where Dis conceptions of- the aubline seemed to have oyerpowered-him: * With all my knowledzo of mnature there {8 somcthing In the growth of the blade of grass that I eannot understand, which polnts to the existence of n creative being.” Like its cotemporary branches of sclance, botany.1s. belng studled nnd perfected by speclalista. Among theso Profs, Gray and Wood, Prof, Thomas Mcehan, the author of the work in (1“«5“0", Dr. Cliapman, Lenard Wilson, are well koown for theirhigh attain- ments and . valuable contributions” to our knowledoe of the subject. ‘Ehat the sclence is yet fay froin belng complete, und that a mass of ‘Amcrican species are yet unnamed, Is sulliclent to ive it an limpetus fur seyeral generations yet, Concernlug the plan of the work [u question, Prof. Mcchan says: *“‘I'lie want of a systematic flluatrated work on the flora of the United States hina long been felt. o . A glaoee ab the vast ex- tent of-the country, with itawidely differinge con- ditfons of soil, climate, and position, is sulllvient to convince even {he most superticinl obscrvers that the task of deseriblng nnd fllustrating fta flora is one Wwhich wight well eause even' the most couragrcous of botanists to hold aloof, To complete such a work fn the Iltetime of onc man would be lmpossible. . . Henceintreating the subject no altempt will be mnde to be sclentifically systoinatic from , the botanist's standpoint. nstead of a flora of the United States the work will cinbrace simply o selection of flowers uud ferus indigenous to our country. Lt will be an lulllln’uyr{ fo the truest scnse of ‘the word, and will not aim at any- thing further than to cull ‘the most beoutiful, Jmportant, and Interesting from among. the vast number of plauts which prow in differen} parts ‘of our country.” Notleing the tondency of sclentific thought toward ex- pression in ponular lanpuage, Prof, Meelian “did not deom it advisable to devote the text exclu- sively to sclentific deserivtlons, Lut, whil making it accurata in this respect, sought rather by n familiar treatment of the subject to Jift our native flowers out of the confined Ilimits of pure sefence, and thus to nake the work ser- viceable and accessible, not only to the botanist proper, but to the practieal cultivator, and to the great body of Intelllzent peoplo at larxe.” In this the sutbor has been-happily successful, By means of the {llustrations and’ lenzthy de- suriptions any ])erauu with urdlnnrf abllity may bo ablo to gratify tastes for the cultivation nl study of flowyrs. Butauy affords mara {llustra- tions for purd art than any other sclence, and only by a careful study of it can one lope to pecome eminent os un artist, It coters so largely Into ornamentation and RU that §8 beau- | tiful that {t oueht to be n study with not ohly the artist but all professional people where the imagination is to have full play, 'I'ie author continues to observe* *The selections made for thess two volumes covera a wide range of country, snd offers n number of rupmcmutlvcl of leading genera, chosen with rofcrence to thefr variows habits, and to differont. peographical cehtres. ‘Theso yolumes aro therclore: ubsolutely completa in themselves, and may be sald to give o goud general jdea of ‘the floral wealth ol our conn- try, ‘The illustrations or chrowmo-lithographie, colored plates which accompany euch speeies scem to be something superb, reat accuracy 18 observed, not only in the matter ol coloration . but in bringing out promioontly the plstila nnd stamens, those delleate orans of the flower so dificult often foreven thenaturallst toalscover. The veius of the leaves, the minute prickly pro- jections of the ekin, the roots uid rouvtlets, amd, in fact, cach individual orzan of the flower visi- blo to tho eye, {s faithlully portrayed In its proper color, ‘The artist, who painted the plants under Prof. Mechan's immedlate supervision, was My, -Alols Lunzer, who, 1€ lie has not slready, will undoubtealy figure conspicuously {n works of that kind herealter. Prof. Mtehan's work nbounds {n much senti- ment of the higacst oroer that will delight atl lovers of, beautiful thoughts, His test is un- usually .replete with Information, and, while contafning the descriptions necessary to make the volume selentifle, gives them i such lan- rusge as tu make them reudity understond by all.” The *followlng description of the smaller Ebony Bpleenwort Is one of remarkabla power and interést: ¢ We never look npon a fern without wondeting why it was that the carller polite wrlters nlmont entirely overlooied the grucefulnoss of thess plants, and somnctimes even spoke of them with contempt, .or coupled them with waproeable asvo- clationy, ' Shaksveare atluiles but once 1o the fern, in the recand uct of the Firet Partof Henry IV., whero he makes Gadekill suy, us ho is nlaning & robbery’ with u confederates **Wo ateal 98 dna castle, cock sure; \Wo have tho recelpt of fern- walk fnvisible'': to whichtho confedorate Nay by my faith, I'tlink you nro moro Dbeholden io ‘night than to fern-scod for your walking. -invisible," Wadehlli's romark alludes to the popular bellef that *‘forn-secd nios the power of making the person Invisible. and this superatition waa probubly baned on {hio mya- tertoud manner ln.\vhlcn ferne are propagated; for it was well knowa, oven in Shakspeasc's thme, that uim: are not fertihized lko ordinary flowering ants, i Modern poota haye made some nmends for this curious disregard on the part of the older writers; but attll fornd are neglectod to an extent which 1t | {s diticult 10 account for, Burna, @ poot who was keenly ulive to tlc beautles of is uative land, we flnd what is, perhaps,’ the armeat (ribute of admiration ever ‘xald (o the fern., Compnring his own country with forolgn 1snds, tho groat Scotch bardsays; Thelr grovea of sweet myrtlo lot forelen lands reckon, Wiicrs bricht leawning autuncrs exalt tis perfumoy Far dearcr (0 e yon lonoklen o green breciai, Wi’ the farn steuling under the taug yeliw broom, The **breckan " or fern mentianed In those lines s tho Feri wquiling, or comniun braxe, onc af the commonest wpeciud of the Britien Tales. It {2 tha ono of all others which the wtudent of ftnglish Niterature abould understand when he reads simply of the **fern' without furiher qualliication. Our awn pocty; 1ika thoeo of Europe, bava alse but Nt tle to sy of f¢ Dryant, usuully overflowing with a lovo of N anil with lunnuerable rofes- ences to hor Haral treasures, doea not eveu mention the fern fn that beaniiful poen **I'he- Fountain, to which one would firat firn with all the exvecta. tlon of Endiog 8 reference to it ludeed, we can vecall but one stanza inall tha warks of thie de- Mightful poct In which the fern iu named, This pianza is found In **'The Two (iraves, " and runsas follows: ‘Twa lone green hlllocks, twa small gray atoncs, Moee aver the placu thut leld thelr Dones 1t the grassy biliocks are loveled n.zatu. 1d the keenest eve miylit xearch i vuln, \“Mong brlers and furns sud pathyaf shosp; ‘For the spot where thy aged couplo alecp, l!{ the emblematic wrlters the forne bave been dedleatea to sincority; but ussociation of jdens 18 not :gmu cloar, althouzh it might, perhisps, be asld that the slmplo, quiot benuty of these plants, walch unfolds iteelf a3 once and without rescrve to all those who look upon them, is sucgesiive of tho quallty named, ‘This description contalns the literaturo and hlstory of the plant, which s valuablo in many ways,, It 18 fullowed by us much more mutser udwnensable to the sclentiat, giving the origin and wmeanlog of tho name of the plant, its use {n_medicine, its hablta and geographleal dis- tribution, and what uatural{sts bive suld about it Bugeesiions as to its cultivation and com- mercial valig are also addea, In the followluy description of the American Uranberry sotne luformation is given exhitating the fact, known tobut a very fow peoply, thut this plunt has a historicul as’ woll as u comnier- clat nlgnificancos Everybody knows the cranberry as a frait exposod for sale fn pruvislun stores, but provably very fow neople ara awars huw pretty und futoreating o thing it 18 me & wild fower, in cultivation the plant changes somuwhat, aud for this ronson wo Liave ey- pectuily avoided sclecting for yur iliusiration 4 blaut from the rich, cultivated grouuds, but huve taken one (rawa duggy wcudow, Whata it grows fn company with coarsc ngss nud yudees, ADa (0TS 4 fair park of wild nuwre. Phe llowering vraticos were gatbered oarly 1u Junce, snd thu fruiting branch i, Fobruary, after the flrat thaw had taken nwllv U wuow Luncalh which the berries had been saicly presorved duning the winters o . To thoss who think of thio cranberry in thy shape of ssuce and us i uccomusuiment 10 roost turkey, our plant will hardly seom capuble of stimulating auything elso Lesidvs tho appetito. Thoss maiters of-fact people, however, Are .mistaken: for not \ In one of the pocns of 1Hu UHICAGU only fa there n good dealnf history in the worthiy of attracting onr attention, but ) nerved nw n theme of - the poet. Loulsa Twoumley, h: neluylhlnzn hleak Alpine spot, thus sings of our plant: Tho eranherry hioasom develteth there, ‘Anild thieas nionutaing cold, . Beeming like & fairy gIfL Liefton tho dreary worlidl, "Tisauch & wee, falr dainty thing, Vourd think Aerienfinass wr Watild be it [toser dwalling plice, Kept close from wind and storm, ut on tha moors it dwelloth free, LiKke & fearieas mountain clild With # rosy elieeks, 8 lichitaome fook, And mapirit strong xnd wild, The capnelty fur endurance shown u{ he cran- berry 1 well exprossed i these lines, 1L urows in wel, swampy piaces nnd hlfm Northern reglone, st great altitides and an low levels, und oftan creepy aver dry sands in the blaze of scorching euns, where Dul fow otlier 1hings wonld grow st all, ‘Ilio very numo of cranliorey 19 mugestive if, an somo say, 1t was given (o the plant heenuee [t ie the favorlto faod of tne crana on 118 return (o the shorc of tolland inspeing, According tosome anthoritics, howover, the namao i derived trom the apbearanca of the flowers. widen, with the mender stalk and Almr‘flmmlnlud tulie furmed by anthers nround the pistil, has xome resembinnce o the heud and neck of a'crane, Tho cranberry In a gaod Hlusten tlon .af the axlom that the raco is not alwoys 1o tho mwife rior the victory to the strong, Perhaps on na flower has 80 much poctry been writien a8 the rose. Nor Is it probable that nny other flower has fleured 8o conspieuously in {llustrations ns it, In consequence af this, tha following extract Is peculinrly Interesting from wmany standpoints; It In fnpossible to tolt how long tho rose has been known and admired, We mect [t for the firat tima in tho upening tinea of the so-calted lomeric hymn 1n honar of Demeter (Ceres), in which I'Erlll!llll me (Prosceping) {e represunted am gatherns *!roses and beantlful violets, * besides other wild flowers: and thenceforward all the pocts have vied with cach other in extolilng the charins of {he acknowl- edsed l;lwl.'n of the floral world. Bume of the most delightiul of tho ancient lezenas connected with the roso relate to its arigin, which they acconnt for in a variety of ways, Thus, one of the iegends in- forms us that Flara, belng grieven at- tho loss of ter favorite nymphy, imnlored Juplter to chango the dead body of her furmer companion toa 1iv- ing Hower of wurpawsing bLeauty, and, her prayer hav] been granted, Apollo, HBacchus, Vertumnus, and Pomona gave to the new- born fluwer yarfous attributes of their own pere fection; while nnoihier nccount snya tho rose sprane from tne tears of Venus, as sho wandered about in search of her beloved Adoma, Al tho older na. tions have legends ascribluz a fanciful origtn to the rose, nnd oven the watier-of-fact Tarks declare that our flower was born from the drops of per- spiration which feli from the brow of Maliomet. So Impressed, indeed, were tho ancient poots with thio superiative beauty of the rose. that they were not consent with clving it almost o divine “arigin, but even considered it necessary to create Olywplan messengors to watcl aver and care for (Lt ‘The sporting ayiphs hat courae the alr Unseen on winge that twllight weaves, + Atound the opon{ni rose repatr, And breatho swect Incensa o'er ita Jeaves. The eeveral lezends alluded to {n the vreced- ing paragraph seem, however, to look upon the rose us white, und varlous other fanuies are therefore called in to account for the red rose. According to the Greek myth, it wos the red roso which sprang from the drops_of hlood that flowed from the wounded feet of Venus, as ghe rushed through thie woods in an agouy of despalr in search of the dead body of Adonls. Thomes Moore, fu bis:* Ballads," ives another version of the birth of the red rosc: ey tell us that Love In his fatry bawer T o b ruves of tireh dhsiney Jre sprinkled (ho one with a rainbow shower, But bathed theotlier with mantilni wie, Soon dId the buds -That drank of the floods Distitled by the rainbow decline and fades Witle those whiclithe lide Of ruby had dyed . Al blushed (nto besuty like thee, aweet matd! The different kinds of roses niso owe their orlgin to supernatural agency, if the vocts may bo trusted. Thus Roscoe telis us that— As Venus wanderod midat tho Idallan bower, And watched tho Loves and Gracea round her Iy, 8ho pllfi:l(gd o muek rose from its dew-bent spray, Y "And I.Ius.“ynhe cried, **shall be my favorite wers lower; . For o'or ita_crimson lenfleta I will shower Diesalving sweets to steal the soul away t* One othier quotation may be madc as fllus- trating how conspletously & tlower wmay fNgure in a natfon’s bistory ns a'bird (the Bald Eagie) Lina in our own Amerleat I'ho Jris s well known toall lovers of flowers. 1t occurs nbundaniy in » wild conoition, and Ian favorito in gardens;” 1t has frequently been teeated in poetry, painting, oud sculpture, and plays an {mportant part in history. In mythology it t8 sajd 1o come from Henven, “Irla wasa menaenyter em- ploged by Juno, and ehe s genorally vepresented a8 fitting bobind ber mistress, bor winga glittering Itke pearl snd radiant with all the colore of tho _rainbow, Her name, {ndeed, which literaliy nvans ‘eyo of heaven," i the Greek worl for raintow. ‘The Llistoriczl ymportance of the iris is duo to tho fact that it beeamo the natlonal flower of France. Aawuch it has acquired n world-wide reputation under tho namo of **flower de Juce,” or’ **flour-do-1is, " which fs nothing bnta cor: tlon of- ** fleur de Luuis, "~ But it had a political signlticance: long Lefore §t was oficially ndopted by the Kings of France, 1t was used ns an emblem by tbe liyxintine Hmperora, althongh in that rela- tion it dues not now abpear, and the carly Frunkish Kinga of France also. employed it, Therols n legend quoted by Prior thats shield niled with thess flowers ‘ was brought 10 King Clovis while engaged in battle, and Kiug Louls V1L, adopted fower, in June, 1197, 08 tho nutional emblem of OB ‘v to perpotunte the memory of ich ovenf. The type of the Frouch ** flenr- suppused ta be the white Ilorentine Irls, which produves the orris-root of commorce. Spenser, i wo may judge from the following Iines, was evidontly quite well aware of the ditfer- enve belween the four-de-1ls and the Ily: Btrow mo thc grounia with Daffadoun- Dilltes, And Cowalips Rud kingeups, and loycd Lillies g The protty o and ihe nco Shall watch With the fuyre iluute Dellce.’ On the other hand St must Lo ndmittea that Shakepuare, who frequently refors to the flower- de-Juce, evidently regardu 1t ns n trus lily, Thus he mukes Perditi uay in the ** Winter's 4ale " old oxlim and The crawn fmpertaly e of al) hinds, ‘L lowte-uo-luco belu onet Oh thes | Iack make you gariands ofs aud my'aweet fricnd, To strew Ll u'er and a'er. Such paseages as those quoted form tho mal part of “tho description of vach specfes, The worl conieain twenty-four parts, at S0conts each Four epcclea are “described In cach part, und accompunicd Ly u plate, tiwenty of which ure now out i the remmaining four to be published semi-mouthly, 1t (s publlshed only by subserip- tlon, Tho name of Messrs, Prang & Co., ns the leadlng Amerlean -art-publlshors, is a sufliciont guarantee of the worth of the work. o Notlve Finwers and Ferns of the Unttea Buukes,” By Prot, 'Thomas Mechan, Professorof Vegetablo Physiology to the Ponnsylvania State Hourd of Agriculture, editor of tile Gardeners! Monthly, ete., eie. lllustrated by chromo- llrhu;,rru[:hl. Bold by subscription only, In twenty-four partsy B0 cents each, Hostou: L. Prang & Co., 1878-'70,) Ww. I B, PRACIICAL THEOLOGY, A Manual for Theological Students, DBy Prof. J.J. Van Oosterzee, D, 1, author of ** Chrl tlan Dogmatica," **'Iheologry of the Now Testa- ment,™ ete. - Translated and adapted for the uso of English renders by Maurice J. Evaus, B, A., Jolut Translater of Van Qosterzee's #Cbristlan Dogmatles.” New York: Charles Scrlbver's Bous. 8vo, Prico, $8.50. Dr. Van Qosterzee Is the well-known Profussor of Theol- ogy In tho University of Utrecht, Holland, dis moro fmportant works have met a favorabis re- ception {n Great Brituin and the United Biutes, ‘whera they bave been for many years circulated In tronglations, -Ho is amou the st Biblical und theologleal studonts lu Europe. The titls of the.present work—" Practical 'I'heology '— would, Ly tself, scarcely convey to Amerlcan readers even a general iden of the subject to which ft is; devoted, It would be entitled »ilomllotics ** In this country, It, however, embruces not only the wholo subject of sermon- {zing, but the toples of * Liturgics,” * Catechiet- fea)! und “*Polmenics,” or pastoral duty, Under the head of - * Homllptics,” the author, fu lis first divisiop, dlscusses the minlsterlnl #Cull and Ordinatlon,” and, after consldering the dignity and Importance of the wminster's work, sud tho . necessity of tho nost careful preparation for it, be gives an extouded and very fustructive survey of the history aud litera- ture of the sublect, closing with a notice of the & Pregent Condition andt Requireinents ' of this depaitment. The sccond” dlvision ls oceupted with a fius anal and au sble preseutation of the principles, the material, und the form of Homilstls, 'This to Amer- fcou ministers und utudents will prove the most valuable portiou of tho work, -'The chapter on w Latunics," which discusses the princivles and the rules of tho Liturgitical service, Is ore espuciully adapted to the'guldance of minfsters JAn‘thu churelies of Holland, though contatuing ‘many poluts of more general {utcrest, Undor the lieud of * Cutechetics,”” De, . Von Oosterzeo conslduers the hoportunce aud lustory, the theory wind uractice, of the Catechotical séevice, 'This dopartnent, uiso, 4 llh)t'ulllf Interesting and vnf:ublu to the Tlolland -tnin stry, although it oueht to suzgest biebly practieal gueatlons to the elergy of oty own country, The sublect of + Pofincajes ™ Id divided into general unid fudi- vidual polnienics,—thy furmer cwbracing such tupica- ns pastoral aversucht, pastural wovern. utent, 1o und fidelity, and . the latter covermyg the ground of pastoral work in dts relation to the vutward snd inword conditions of parishion- cre. ‘Ihicclosing chiapter b unuppendix, taken up with the consideration of lazors boyond the spbers of obc's own ‘congregation,” ‘Vuls [s diylded luto “ Balloutjes,” or 1aieslonary work, and % Apolugetics, the defonse of Christlauity. No incre outline can rive any adequate {dea of tlhie coutents of this learned and truly valuable work, ‘Llie volunio {s an octavo of mors than 800 rmzeu, well printed und Wandsome] It ahould have a place uvzr{' pastor’s lllirory, and at lenst among the specinl raference-houks in all our thealogleal semninaries. R.W. DI, DECIAIVE EVENTS IN HISTORY, “Declsive Events in [flistory,” by Thomas Arclier; Is now in Ita sccond edition. Much chofee may be exercised in the selection of such events, il Mr. Archer’s judgment may of course caslly ba questloned, But it ts important to re- member that such books aro uaefnl, not heeause the events deseribed are the only deglsive ones, but beeauso they had a controllivg tnfluence on nations aml were turnlng-polots in history, It will not be questionud thut the vvents chosen by Mr, Archer wore important cnough for his purpuse. They are the Battle of Marathon, the Deteat of the Cnrthn{zcnlnnl atZawa, the Fall of deruealem, tha Dedieation of Constantinople, e Foundation ot Venice, tie Landine of St. Augusting {n Britatp, the Deleat of the Sara- ceng at Tours.. | the Norinan Conquest, the Emperor Henry AV, at Conossa, the First Crussde, the Slouing of Mawna harts, the Down of the Reforimation, the De- feal of the Bpanish Armadn. The Maintenance of the Petition of Right, the Burrender of Na- noleon Boneparie, the ‘Restoration of the Ger- man Emplre. Foault s to be found with Mr, Archer, not for what No has Included, but for what he ins omitted. ‘Ihe repulse of the Mo- hammedans from Constantinople in the ¢l century, the Discovery of Ameriea, the “Ex- pulsion_of the French from Indla, wnd the Fronch Revolution were such events, uni others Tike them imlzht easlly be mentioned, But this book is not exclusive, It tenches bistory In an attrnetive and bighly pictorial way, Mr, Archer?s style 1 terse, vivid, und clear, und well ndapted to the worlt, The book s filustrated, g.nntlurl, Parls, and New York: Casscll, Petter C Galpin. $1.75.) BRIEF NOTICES., # Cabinet Poems,” by Eugene I, Muuday, is the title of & volume of poetry, printed by J. B, Lippincott & Co. on thick paper, with wide mar- gins, Price, $8, 4 Cowper's 'Task" haa been added to the #An- notated Poems of Standard Enelish Authors," edited by the Rev. E. T, Stevens anud the Rev. D, Morris. Price, in stiff board covers, S5 cents. (J. B. Lipoincott & Co.) “Cicero De Natura Deorum Ad M, Brutum," “De 1) vinatione,” and * Do Fato” have licen added to the Greek and Latin texts of the Har- vers, Franklin Bquarc, New York, (Price in puper, 42 cents: {n cloth, 65 r:cnu.? The above three works are included 1o one volume. “Romeo and Juliet’? has been added to the cxcellent serfes of Bhakspeare’s plays edited I:() Willinm J. Rolfe, ‘Che text is carefully revised, nnd the notes foclude all of valus from other edltions, with inuch new explanatory matter by the editor. (New York: Harper & Bros. Price in cloth, 70 cents in paper, bU ceuta,) Harper & Dros. have added to their Half- Hour Serles: **Oliver Goldamith’s Plays » ()4 “Oliver Goldmith's Poems” (2ic): ' Mod Fruuce,” by George M. ‘Towle lbv?: * Our Vil- lnge,” by Miss Mitford (25c); ** Afihantstan,” by A. G, Coustable (15¢)§ **John; or, Qur Chineso Relatlons,” by Thomsgs V. Knox., ““Iow Wa_Saved the Old Farm ond It Be- came o New Farm,” “A Young Farmer,” Is the title of a pamnphlet which describes the atruggles of a boy of 10 in managing a fanin Jeft by his father, clearing ft of debt und supporting the famlly. (Boston: Lorivrm, publisher, coruer Bm{ul}cld and Washington streets. Lrice, 60 cents,, a The Htatesman’s Year Book for 1870, which was noticed editorially some duys stuce, {8 pub- lished by Macmillan & Cu,, of New York, Itls Tecornized now as the best manual of its kind In extstence, and is, for editors, voliticlans, pub- He speaicers, nnd all who have need to_consult the Jatest etatistics of population, flnances, armv and navy organization, ete., very valusble. Price, $3.50. “The Lady of the Aroostook,” by W. D, Howells, noticed in Tre TRIBUNE two weeks stuce, 18 published fn book form, but cannot be subplled fast onongh to meot the demand, One hundred caples were recelved by one Chicago bookseller Thuraday, and sotd out withln twen- ty-four hours. Its asla tu this eity alone mil probably reach tbousands, and many persons are petifog it Ly mall from Boston. ~ (Boston: Houghiton, Oszood & Co. Price, §2.) s “Volcea from Babyloni™or, The Records of Danlel thie Pronbet,” by Josevh A, Seiss, D, D., pastor of the Chiured of* the Holy Comimnuniun, Philadelphia, {3 a course of speelnl lectures, re- cently delivered, intended to be an introduction to the contents of the Book of Danfel, and to re- view and vindicate the views of the carly Chrls- tiuns with rezurd to it, It embodics the results of modern oxplorations and criticlsin, and fs ve- companied with o critieal rovised translation of the cotire Boak of Daniel. osl‘nlhdelnmm: Por- ter & Coates. 12mo., pp. 400. Price, $1.50.) “Frmous Btories, by Do Quincoy, Haw- thorne, Thackerary, Zschokke, Winthrop, Haod, Macniah, Lee, and others, fllustrated Ly Nast, Hlenneesy, Hopplu, Meadows, Perking, Edringer, Eytinge, Jr., Lumley, Davenport, and others, {3 an exeellent collection of short stories. Amongg the atories’ are De Quincey’s * Avenger,” Haw- shorne’s “VPeter Goliithwilte's Trensure,” Win- Lhrop's * Love und Skates,” and tlood's * De- faulter.” Somo of the storles aro classies, und they are all properly bronght together, gNuw Yorlk: R. Worthington, 750 Broadway. Price, $1.50.) Haurper & Bros. bave added to their Franklin- Square Library: * Within the Precincts,” by Mrs. Ollphant (15 vents); * Vixen,” by Miss M. E. Bradden (15 vents); * The Last of iler Lina (15_cents); w' by Katharine 8. Macquutd (16 cents); “Within Bound of the Sea ! (10 cents); Kelyerdale,” by the Rarl of Dusart (16 _cents); “A True Marrlame,? by Emilv 8pender (15 cents); *Man and Wife,” b Wiliie Collins (16 £); ‘“dane Eyr XS Churlotte Bronte (156 cents); “*The Last Duys of Puutu;\-n,” by Ldward Bulwer (Lord Lytton) (15 cents), * Canterbury Chimes: or, Chaucer Tales ite- told for Children,” by Fraucls 8torr und Hawes Turner, late Scholars of ‘Trinity Colleze, Cam- ridee, 1s a amnll volumy of about vages, ‘Ihe talea ore dowe Iu vrose, but the worda of Chaucer are retuined as far as possible. ‘I'he contenta arc: Iutroduction to the Canterbury ‘Tales: I'he Kulgne’s Tale, Palamon nud Areite; ‘The Man of Law's Tale, Coustance; Nun's Prieat’s Tole, The Cock amd the Foxi ‘Fhe Bquire's Tule, Canavc: The Franklin's Tale, Darlgen; Chaucer’s Tale, Gatnelyn, Fhis bouk Is prolusely Nlugirated, (London umd New York: U, Kegan Paul & Co, Price, $1.60.) “Wit und Humor," & *cholee ? collection by Marshall Brown, has been published by 8, C. Urlggs & Co.,0f Chicaro, This book Has the merle of bolny largely composed of fresh mattor, ‘The author evideutly hasnot goue toold eyclopm- dins for material, 'The proportion of lupal anee- dotes Islarge, und the book is dedlcated to the legzal profession, from whichwe infer that the au- thorlsalawyer, He hua not cortalnly done justios to the hanorous slde of polittes. Thy divislons and arrangement of the book are bad. “The departments should have been more clearly sepurated und the contents In euch classified by some fixed rules. ($L.50.) ‘I'he Addresses und Scrmons of Dean Stanley in Amertea hava Leen collected und printed in o volmine. It s well thut they shoulit’ by lkept fn soma permanent shape, for” tiey are the utter- auees of u thoughtiul und abla man, who, more than any other divine tn the Chureh of England, is In symputhy with all tha rellglous people of Amerl ‘This volumo cantalns addresses mndo to represcutatives of the Presbyterian, Conere- gatlonal, Baptist, Methodlst, uid Eplscopal de- nomingtions fn the Unlted Htates, and vermons dellvergd in Boston, P'hiladelphis, New Yorlk, Quubee, und Brockbridge, Mass, (New York: Macmitln & Co, Irice, $1.) ‘I'ie seveuth yolume of * Proffatt’s Amerlean Declsions™ bLas just uppeared, and §8 more coplously nuuotated than any of fte predecs. sors, ‘The decisions cuntaiued in it embrace tho erlud fron 115 to 1614, 'The publishers, A, « Boneroit & Co,, anuounts that the re- maining yolumus of thu series will appoar here- after nt the rato of about ten volunmies 8 vear, ‘fhey also provese to fasus ' A Table of Chses und” Qeneral Index” of the hrst ten volumes, nncd mail 1t ireo of postare and without chargs to each subscriber to the serles. This 18 son thing decidedly out of the way of publlshers iy it Is hoved, will reapa generally, and the 1l corresponding sucees The second part of the firat volume of “The Amgrican Cataloguo® has boen issued by e publisher, ¥\ Luypoldt, 87 Fark Raw, New York, 4t cavrics tho work furward from 1dwurds to Lonuox, The flrss volune, 1t will be remein- bered, I8 o catalogue by uuthors und tithes, and thoe second u subjeet-iidex. When the first has been gotten out of the way, {t will be compal tively an visy thing to riske up the sovond, Tut the whole untertaking is very laborlous atud expensive, ‘The cataloguo will bo au javalusble ald to librariaug, buoksellers, nud bookbuyers, aud ft should have their Learty support ow, whon It uost needs oucou ment, ‘Lhe sube scription price of the worl two volunes, fs 82535 80 to be puid ou entering the aubscrintion, $10 on the delivery of the first and lurger vol- ume, und 810 for the sccond, on {ts dotlvery, Bamole-pages will be sent on application to the pubtishers, 'Tho catalogue {s lutended to in. clude all Americdn bouks (ncluding reprints of TRIBUNE : SALULWDAY MARCH 8 1879~-TWELVE: PAGES. English works and imported cditlous) in print awil for sals July 1, 1875: and supplements will e fssuci to bripg the whole up to date &8 often a8 accasion may seen to require. "lsnyln;i the Catechism Seventy-flve Years Ago, nud the Historlenl Resulta) {8 the titlo of an nddress dolivered before the New England Ilstorie-Genealogleal Boclety bec. 4, 1878, by Dorus Clarke, D. D., of Bostun, and now print- ed tn pamphilet form by Teo & Shepard. The author attaches great {mportance to the eate- chism as a meaos of grace and growth in knowl- edee, und thinks the Sunday-school bas not en- tirely supplicd the place of the catechotical teachiny {n the instruction of the youth. Though the views avo extreme, they will be read with interest and favor by maty who have hind ox- ierience of the eatechism,” 1t s quite true, as r. Clarko suys, that a weekly catechisin lesson 18 part of the” regular course ut Willlams and Amlierst Colleges; aml in the former, at Jenst, it Is e of the nost valuable excrelses of the entlre course, (Boston: J.ee & Bhepard, Cloth, B0 cents. Paper, 15 conts,) A uew edition of Dr, Woolsey’s ' Interna- tional Law * {s au fmportant work, The suthor has lone been recognized as one of the highest suthorttirs on the subject in this country, and his book s incomparanly the best text-book ox- fant. It Is used 1n nearly all the colieges, and 1t s recelved the npproval of the best teachers. In a preface tothis fifth edition Dr. Wools: says that it s doubricss the lnat he whi live tu superintend, Wo hope this may not be so, but tlie authior is yow £o lar ndvanced In years that 1t would boddie (o deny the probabilley of such an event. In this editfon the whola work has buen caretully revised; much new natter his been added 3 the soctions relathig to private fn- ternational Javr, In_the strict scnse of the ters have been suppressed; und he notes aud dis- cuzsions i the third uppendlx of the third and fourth editions have been fuserted in the text, elther as parts of it or us aunotations. It will bo seen thiat the new edition fs really what it purjorts 1o be, und not a simple reproduction of old stereoty, New Yorie: Charles Surlbner's So LITERARY NOTES, Col. T. W. HUigrinson's * Young Folks' Is- tory of the Unlted Stutes " has been trauslated Into three forelgn lanpguages, and s vow print- Ing In ralsed letters for the blind, Mr. Frank Foxcroft, for many years the liter- ary editor of thie Boston Journal, nas collected und edited a volmneof poemsiclebrating Easter, which wiit ba publisbied this spring. Prof. Stunley Jevons has prepared & now and very thoroughly revised edition of bis * Theory ot Polltieal Ecouomy," which wiil shortly bo published by Messrs, Macmitlan & Co, It s hinted that Fanny Kemble has mors records i store. Certainly sho could make an Interesting book from the time aha married Pierce Mutler untll the present.—New York Herald. Georgra Macdonald, the Scattish poet-novelist, has been spending the winter at Porto Fino, Italy, with Lis family. Ilcsayainarecent let- 08 not been so well In thirty years The Manuscript Department of the British Museuny has sequived o large collection of po- pers relating to Johu Wilkes, Thicy comyrise many unpublished docmnents, among which the most futeresting are n frazment of autoblog- rapby aud a commouplace book, ‘Flie more fin- portant particulars In_ these papers will be ju- corporated {n a new work on Wilkes, which Me. W. Fraser Rac, the author of * \Vitkes, 8herl- dan, Fox: the Opposition Under Georeo IIL,™ is prepuring.—Atheneum, Mr. J. Brander Matthewa has written & paper on New York actors,—1. e, actors who haye pinyed in that city,—which” will appear in the April Sertner. The article will be Illustrated with portraits {n character of Jobn ‘Brougham, John Gilbert, Harry Beckett, Coghian, Clara Morrls, Eate Claxton, Mrs. Aznes Booth, Miss Jowett, Mrs. G, IL Gilbert, and others, made from orlginal sketches by Abbey and Reinharde. In the same number of this magazine will also nr]:cnrnmmuleie and suthorized account of the {nventious and personal lfe of Eriesson, written by bis friend, W. C. Church, late ceditor of the Galaxy, This will be the first of a sorivs on {nventors. An_csteemed correspondent who has been readliyr Fanule Kemble's * Records of u Girl- hood *” writes us followa: 1 lave been much confused by the adjectives in Fanme Kemblo's Loak, 8he uses them sa tberally, and yet with 50 ltrle discrimination, that Ler deseriptlons ure nlmost ridiculous. It has oceurred to me that perbaps her comntand of adjectives is the cause of her sell-deception as to her licrary skill, A speclmen of lier bod style {n this reapect, taken at random from the hook, Is subjolned: *Bhe was fall und thin, her flzuse wanted roundness and grace, but it was straight o u dart, und the iyorous, eastic, aclive movements of her limbs, and firm, Heet, springing step of her beautifully made feot and anklcs. gave to her whole person und deportinent s character lke thet of the fa- bled Atalants, or the huntress Diana herself, Iler forchead und oyes were beautiful, ‘Ihe broad, white, pure exvanse surrounded with thick, hort, cluatering curls of chestnut hair, und the c'ear, limpid, bright, tender gray oyes thnt always looked radiant with light, etc., (p..01.) This's only one apecitmen out of mauy which might be quoted if you had the space." Prof, Longfellow, after making Pegasus a clobe-trotter in harness all around the earth for two vears past, has now sct that winged steed to oulting n New York City car, The twenty- fourth volumne of his * Pocins ot Places "' now les before us, and thot ardent Jover of New York, {ts hizhways and its byways, Walt Whit- man himsetf, should he satfstled with the testl- mony its pages bear to the poetry discoverable amld chimuey-taps and omnibutes In squares whoso trees aro geray with * the dust of Jabor,'! and fo the cobblestones of “wa]yn that wind amid proud piles.”” Much of this Jittle book is devated to the Metropalis, ~ We flud in ft Mr, Vryaut—who was called pre-cminently the poet of nature—~sluging of *the wile sidewalks of Bronsway, ae (rorgzeous as a rivalet's bauks in June,” and Theodore Sedewick Fav rhapso- dizing® upon “Manhatta's belatllng eples, above her thousand roofs red with day's dying fires.”? We dlscover, too, that Nathaniel Parker Willis, when “tho shadown lny alung Broadway and neur the twilleht tide,” wrote perliaps the best lines he ever penned after his sacred lyrics. 1t would be fnteresting to make out nlist of the true poets who have found thelr best fnapirations within great citles; und this last little collection of Lungfellow gives same exeellent hims towards such u Hst. There {a ns much 1o be found by seciniz eye wnd un- deratunding heart in Emerson's * “clties of proud hotels” us I *Vales of loveliness soitly wirrored fu crystal gleams,” Novertlie- less, ‘We should not sdvise the Alderman who used o keep a poet, nor the Street-Clesning Burean which ouhgt to keep one,d to rush tuo heattlung lnto sonz upon the falth of Mr. Longr. fellow’s recent volume, Not thefrs will it be to flud the revelations of things grave and gay, ect or aad, which hide nmid the bricks mortur, aixl floay In the smoky air of thls huge hivo o men.—New York Worlds SPARKS OF SCIENCE, UNITED STATES TESTING BOARD. The testing-maching recontly completea for the use of the United States Testing Board: has Just heen tried and accepted. Tt wus designed ond constructed by A, . Emery, n mechanical enpineer possessing rure gifts. The shop-work hag neen done by the Ames Manufucturing Company of Chlcopee, Mass, Probably no greater trlumph of mechanieal art can ho found in the world to-day, 1t hag o pulllng or a push- fugg power of 1,000,000 pounde; sufticlent to Nfe fourteon thirty-six-ton locomotive englnes, or It acolumuof waterons foot square thres miles bigh. Aundyet it fsso delicato that it welhs the stress thut breaks o halr or crushes an eiwr. The tests of e tmachine fteell made by the Board prepuratory to its accoptance developed somo fntoresting facts. It was clearly ascertaln- ed that the ction in 2 hydraulle press some- thnes amounts tu 14 per cent of the vower of the plston oa fudicated by the pressuro iy the crlinder,—und that this frictlon varles by no fixed law with tho changes of that pressure, ‘Lhls discovery vitlates the results attained by uny testlng-machiae in which the powerls ob- tained by u hydraulle. press und measured by a gauge veglstering the fluld “pressure In the eylinder. ¥ f - A round har ot Boston Forge aochor fron five Inches In dismeter was broken by u tutal streas of 73,800 pounda, Which Is equal to but 36,500 pounda per square Inch, whercas It 1e clalmed that thisfron will stand 4 stress of 60,000 pouuds per squurs Inch. 1o fa well underatood thut fron bars of lurgo croaa-seet {ons are ot us sLrobk Per quare inch oa anlier bars; but this niaching cngbles us for the Jirst thne to determine the wmount of this decrcuso fu vory Inrge bard, 'Phile test nd otheps made by the Bosrd give results uniforuly luss for the strenuth of frou bars than those heretofore obtalued, il for the simplo reason |, that the stress is accurately defermined exclu. aive of thu friction In thy wress, which has alwuys been welghed In with the str pplicd to the bar tested, ‘Uhis is a atartling fact whcn cousidered fu iis relation to the frou bridges all ‘] Dutomatie wvver the land, proportlaned with referen: strength which thelr parts do not poasese. Theas and the many valuable discoveries mada by the Board since ita oniunluuon ore but the’ foretaste of what it -could: accomplish now that the machine, which hos taken threa years of extraordinarily patient effort to perfect, lsdone and ready for (16 use, ‘e Bosrd has planncd & most exhaustivo fnvestizatlon of the properties of Amercan fron and steel, aud this plan has been commended by the Lest engineers of this country aud .Europe, . ‘Tho Board ts ad- mirably constituted to do thie work praposcd most thoroughly, Tt consiats of the following members: - Col, 8, Laldioy, United States Ordnance, President: Gen. Quincy A, Glimore, United Btates Ingineers; Commander L. A. Beardalee, United States Navy; Chlef-Engincer David Swmith, United States Navy; A. L, Holly, civll and mechanieal engineery Prof. R, fl Thurston, of the 8tovens Institute; Gon. Will- fam Bouy Bmith, civil engincer, Prof. Thurston fa Becretary to the Board, a8 such recelves the paltry salary or 81,200 per annum. ‘The other civilians on the Board scrve without pav. Aund the Gaterament ofticers draw no extra pay for thelrservices on the Board. The moncy anuropriated by the Government for the ure of the Buard Las been expendend for the machine aiready referred to, for ssmples to be tested, in salary to a hired chemist who has made n great number of the most valuable an- alyses of iron aud steel, and for the actual ex- nenses fncurred by the members of the Board while In service s such, The results already obtained are worth to the Government asa large consumer of fron and Ateel, and to the country ot Jarge, ten times the amount of money expended, and the Bourd s Just st the thresliold of §ts useful labors. Lyery mechanlc in the land_ who Works fron or stecl, every citizenof the United States who rides over o bridge, and every engineer who vlans an fron or & steel structure, aud every maker of fron or steel {n our couatry,is fu- terested to have thu Guvernment furnlsh to the Testiny Board the money necssary to eable it to gro oo aud complete its work, * "The rallway companies have au especial interest In the prosecution of this fnvestization to completion, consuming as they do about one milllon dollars worth of rafle per day, and losing someétimes half o militun dollars (to say nothing of lives) by the failure of a singic bridze. The Gavern- ment a8 such consumed {n fifteen months {n the Department of Public Bulldinga nlone, presided over by the Supervistng Architeet, 8,000 tons of {ronand steel, nsuchof 1w shamefully it-propor- tioned forms 1uvo|vln&wnu|e in one direction and fearful risk fu the other. And yet the right of Government to appropriate *toney for the wurpose of this fuvestization Is questioned by somnu members of Congress, At the lust sesslon of Congress a clauge was 1ncor- porated* §n the SBundry Civil Approprintion bill provmlufi that the machine, when completed, should b turned over to the Secrotary of War, and that the Board should cease to exist when the money hieretofora appropriated is expended, ‘The money has been used as llfflfldf stated, and the Board must die just as ita nyaluablo jubors are beggun, unless Congress can be induced to repeal the hostile legislation contained In the last Bundry Civil LIlL, und appropriste ray 825,- 000 per aunum for the use of the Board curimg the next three or four years, or until its work 18 fully done. THE PHILOS0PHY OF POULTICES. Popular Sclence Monthly, The effect of poultices s probably different from that of blisters, althbough ultimately pro- ductive of simflar reliet; for, if we ngain take the simple Jnstanes of a finger inflamed in con- sequence of o thorn having run Into ft, we find that we can relieve the pain fn two ways, elther by putting tRehand [uto cold water or by plung- fug the finger foto a warm poultice. Both of these- measures, apparcutly so disstmilar, will produco a like rcsult fn rezard to the inflamed polut; that is, both will lvssen the pressure of blood fn the vessels where stasis hos alrcady taken place, The cold, applled to the whole of the hand, will causc the arteries leading to the finger to contract, aud will thus dimiulsh (he supply of blood to the inflamed part, and lessen the pressure in the blocked caoillarles. The warm poultice will also lessen the pressure, nat by diminishing the flow of blood to tho purt, but by dilating the vessels around the polut of stasls, and affordiug the blood a ready exitinto the veins. In thecase of Internal or- ans, the bllster applled to the skin probably nctslike the cold applied to the finger, while the warm pouitice pluoced upon the suriace of the throax or abdomen affects the deeper-lying or- gans In the sante way s it docs the superilelal ones, the wanmth penetrating through the thin thoracle or ubduminal partetes. On this account, when wo wish to relleve paitn in the chest or belly, we ought to make our-poultiees In n pa teular way. ‘The common praetiee of mixinz the linsced-meal with liot water, and apalying § directly to the skin, Is quite wrong, becanse if we do not wish to buru the patient we tnust walt unil R preat portion uf the heat has been lost. ‘The proper method 18 to take a flannel bar (the sizu of the poultics re- quired), to fil this with the lusced poultice as hot 28 it can possibly be made, und to pug Uetween this nnd the sxln a second plece of flanuel, 8o that there shall be at least two thicknesses of flanoel between the skiu and the poultive ltsell. Above the poultice should be placed more flanuel, or o muye of votton- wouol, to provent it from getting cold, By this method we are abls to upply the linseed-meut Loiling hov witbout burning the patient, sk the heat, gradually diffushng thoush the flan- nel, affords a gratetul scise of relief which cannal be obtalued by other mewns, here are few waya in which such marked rellef is given to sbdomninal pain as by the application of o poultice in this manner, ton and TRE METRIC SYSTEM. From a statlatical table yecently constructed by M. D. Malarce, and publlshed fn *Comptes Rendus,” It appears (1) that the decimal metrie system of welghts and measures {8 now estab- lished legally und oolizatory fu elghteen States, camprising a population of U6 tnilllons of In- habitants (these Btates are Frouce nnd tolones, Belgium, Holland nud colonies, Uermany, 8weden, - Norway, Austrla-Hungary, ltaly, 8paln, Portuzal, Roumanis, Greece, Brazl), Columbin, Ecuudor, Peru; Chill, und the Argentine Ropublic); (2) that 1t fs mude lezally optional (v three States, hayine a popula- ton of 75.0 mitlions, viz.: Eneland, Canula, nud the United States; (3) thut §u 18 admitted [nprin- clple, or partiully for cuatoms, It five Stutes, with 4136 milhon awhabitants Hritlsh Indu, Rusala, Turkey, Veneauetn, wnd Hungary)y («l} wnd that, altoretlier, the gystem is estibiished ubligutorlly, or ou!’mmllr, or [n orinciple. In twenty-siX Stutes, comprising 655 million nlub- itants; Four Btates have dilferent systems, decima) as to multiples and divisions, but hased on auother umt than the metre. They comriss 471 mitlion inhubltants, wnd dre Switzerland, Mexico, Jupnn, yud Ching. 'To these sy bo added some mediocre States, with various sys- tems, non-decimal und nonsmetrle, {t uppears, then, that in 1870 morethan half 1he ;mrumnun of elyilized States, comprising 1,180 mitlon fu- hubitunts, legally recognize the decimal metrs nystemn of welghts and messures. A lurgo part of Lhis projgress {3 ln these recent years. £ SCIENCE-NOTIS, 8ir John Lubbock has mate out thut ants do not recognize ants ol the ssme nest by any slgn or pass-word, *though hu thinks 1 Impussible that n 1he casa of neats contuinlng 100,000 eucly all the ants know each other individually, In a recont serles of demonstratfons al Lu Bulpetricre, Varls, Prof. Charcot hus shown, fnter alin, that it is possible to produce In one subject o stuto of catalepsy on onu side of the body and a simultuncous state of Juthargy on tha other., The patient {8 tlrst thrown fnio catalepsy by looking at tha electrie lizht ‘In this state the liinbs are supple, und will retaln any position one choosus Lo give them), ‘To produce the etate of lothargy or sumnambullsm on one alde, t {8 suflicleut to closo the correaponding vye, or shut off the Hiht with & screen; the two atates uro then couxistont on the two alaes of the bedy. Mr, Preeco und Mr, Btroh, who have been working for the past twelve months upon the avanstte properties of the phoenoeraph, have completed thelr labors as fur us the vawel souuds are concerned, and helr paper on the synthetle examinution of theso soundy will bo sead before the Roysl Boclety probubly on the 27l fnst. Beveral ‘new (ustruinents of ureat novely und ourvelous ingenuity will be ex- hitited, fucludlng a wew vhon-uutorapl, un phonveraph, a compound curve- tracer, 8 new syron, and new niuslcal justyu- mient,—Nuture, At o lato meoting of the Anthropological In- stitute Boclety In Londou a paper was read from Mr. 1D, Maculifster on the Australlan Aborigclucs, ‘Fhig autbsor concludes thut by lind vo doubt thut, had the Continent of Australin temuined undis- covered by Juropeans for o few thousaml years longer, thu clinatle und goneral physieal changos which would doubtless have ocearred, togethier with the contact ut jutervais with thelr moro vivitiged Polyseslua ncighbors, would have constituted sncuvironment udru favora. ble to progress than auy which has ever existod und would aleu have teaded to an imoroved conditiop of the prople. As [t was, the totul abisencs Jrom the contlocut of feroclous or pow- erlul nvimals, and the comparative ease with wulch the poorund licaited quantity of thelr food wns ohtalned, and their national . isolation ey have been a potent eauso lor the non-progressive character of the people. | . THE I;URCELL FAILURE. A Cathiolio Layman's Appeal -to Cardinal MaCloskey ta Joad & Movement for Ex- tingnishing Archbishop Purcell's Dobts. New Yonw, March 8,—Z7v the Editor of the - New York ttera’d: L vead with acute pain, but not without hope, the statements daily appear- Ing In the papers concerning the. indebtedness of Archbishop Purcell, 1 observe with some gratification that In many promioent journals, not by any means Catholle, the Herald smoni the mlmbgr, there are more words of pity than blame for“the unfortuhnte prelate. B8till some blame 18 Implled. Idonot purpuse to discuss the right or wronr of the system whichi has brought so lamentable a scandal upon the Cath- olfe Crch, impress Christlan comniunities of the Unlted Btates, and, (f not rectified, will leavo a lastiog stain upon the Catholic Church, "[hat staln must bo wived out, and thepe is no way todo it but to wipe out the debt. It was to’s Qistinguished prelate of iho Catholle Church that the Cathollios of Ohlo fntrusted thelr savings, and not merely to John Purcoll, All the Catholles of the United States arc con- ecrned In whatever misadventuro has resulted thereirom. When some years ago .a Cathollc hookaeller of Béston, to whom had been simi« larly Intrusted a considerable amonnt of the mvm{{u of the poor Catholics of New Epglund, falled in business, Archbishop Willlams so keenly felt the disgrace fhat might ensue on the clalma belng outlawed that hio took charge of s arrangement for the gradual .extinction of the debt, and already some 2 per ceot hus been pald to the poor ‘people, with a fale prospect of the entire sum being humded over. But there the indebtedneas amonnted to less than $80,000. Tn the case of Archblaiop Purcoll It amounts to millious, What was possible in Boston s not pussible ln Clacinuatl. . What should be douo In the premiscs Is elear. I therelore reapectfully submit to his Emf- nence Cardinal McCloskey that, ‘no less for the eredit of the Catholie Church than for what s far more important,—its spiritual dominion over many of fts discourazed and wavering children, ~le should head o movenent of the Cathollcs of Atoericy to obliterate that debt. From wo one elsecan the generons impulse come with the saing autharity. It the Archbishop of Boston felt hlingelf impelled to save his tlock from a similar disaster, brougiit about by the impru- dutice of & trusted Catholle layman, how much tnure strongly should the ease of the unfortu- nate Arehbishop appeal to the Cardinal, who stunds before sll. Awcrien as the highest ccclesis astic in the Amcricau Chureh. Will the Cardl- ual nuthorize und head n subscription ot the Cathotfes of the United States for this sworthy purposel All will respondl. Bome, 1t may be, ay we are the chureh of the poor s woll as the rieh, with dimes and quarters, but others with hundsome sums_from their surplus of the world's goods. ‘The Church bas hod to sustaln mauy tials; bat I ean recall no instance us the history of this Republic where it s threatened with such wholesale dlscredit, Therefore, I contidently, though respectfully, appeal to his Emtnence the Cardlval to biot it out. Lot there be au end to swhat the Herald has nP“’ teraed *eeelestastical aavings banks,” but let all Cath- olfca sec thut the end Is redecmed from ils thecatcued disgrace. A CATROLIC LAYMAN. THE TEAR. When Friendshtp ar Love Qur symusthice move, When truth In & glance shonld appear, The lips may vegutle - With a dimple or amile, But the teat of afTection ‘s a Tear. Toa oft ia & smile But the hypocrite's wile, To musk deteatation or feary titve mo the woft sigh, Whilst the soul-telling aye Is diinmed for a time wiiu aTesr. Mild charity’s glow, 'To ue nortals below, Slows the soul from barharity cloarg Compassion will molt \Wherethis viriue fa felt, % And its dew {s ditfused In o Tear. The man doom'd (o sail With the blast of thu gale, ‘hraagn billov-s Atlantic to steer, Axhe bends a'er tho wave ‘Which may soon bo his grave, B Tae green aparkles bright with o Tear, The soldler braves death ¥ora funciful wreath 1n Giory's romantic coreer; But e rulaes the foe Whum ju baitle Jatd Jow, + And bathes every wound with a Tear, 1f with high-bounding vride e return to Lis bride, Renouncing tho vore-crimson'd spear, All hiy'totls are ropald When, embracing the mald, From hur oyelid ko kisses the Tear, Bweet ecenie of my youth, Sent of Friendsip and Teatts, Where Love chased each fnst-fueting year, Loth to leave thee, 1 mourned, Fora lnat Jook 1 turn'd, But 1y spire was scarce sevn throogh a Test, Though my vows I can pour “T'o my Mary no mare, Wy Mary to Lave once so dear, 1t the shade of ber bower 1 remember the hour Blie rewarded those vows with a Tear, Ry another povses May stie 1ivo over blest! | Her pame etll] my hearl must fevers; Withavigh 1 reaym Whut | once thongbt was mine, Aud furgive her decelt with a Tear. Yo friends of my heart, Lre trom you 1 dopurt, This hope 10 fily breast {8 most nears 1t again wo shall meet In thia raral rotreat, & Muy we tect, us wa parly with a Tear, When my aoul wings her flight "T'u the regionn of nlght, And wy corde shall recline ou ita bler, A yo pasa by the Lomb . Where my ashes consume, 0h! motaten thetr dust with a Tear, May no marble bestow Tae wnlendor of wo | - Which the children of Vanity rear; Nu fletiun of Famo Suall biazon my namos Al Tovk st Lwidi—taa Tear, —yron.” : Y LOSS, How can we liva when oo wo love 1s dead? We histleas wit hesidde the emoty ebairg Qur tears, our unavsillng tears, uro shod— All usclend they to mitigato despmr, The busy round of 1ire wust utlll go on, Event upon event must crowd i taeni But we—what can we do when une 1» gone For whiom our aching souls mbat ever yesrm? Nay, telt mo not my darling i nt rest, Betura forover from all future harm~— 1 wunt o lgan 1y tead upun Yila brenst, “T'o lev] abont my neek iy cireling urui, M;‘ hears erics ot (o hear lis voles ouce more, T'o wee tho face hid in the prave away: Wiy il e thiat ils earihly cares aro v'or? Lwant ta nuve him wita ise, bere, to-day, You say It In thy reat Creator's will-- 1kuow, of course, without 1t had not been, But this muked not wy writhing heut be atili— 1t Hizhtens not the gedm despaie within, 'That uthor wnuls have hud such Josy o bear Btill spares e not opw agonizing throv; » For death ls deatly, und ull 1s durknevy there — Ko soul roturny—no iore than this we know. Yet Chrint returned—Ile, Love's tncarnato form— ‘To comfurt mortal grlet all nuansuaged ; He uymputhized in that heurtrending storn Oof {mmlu- wo that o'ur the laithful raged; Bk frum the pruve to know aud luve Hidawa, Bug typieal of uil thut yel whoold come. O blessod Lord | 'Thou knawest, Thou slone, Theds human noeds to ull vxpressiony duwb, ‘Then comfort me, O comfort e, my Gud! v Nur [oave e hn 1ho bltisrneas of wo; Thoy kuowest all, for Thou thoss ways hast trod, “Itiene shary and siony ways Lhat Drutso mu 801 Fonuve and pity in Phy geaclutaness, And ligit iy puth with sunio coleatial ray That, tnits pow's of bealing helpfutucus, Shall guide my saul (o raglunt redliny away, Lagesor, Osukonr, Wie, ), E, Hanvos, e —— TEMPORA MUTM;I’IUR. SET NOS MUTAMUR 1. - 19y Ten years ‘That da; “Ago, You sald lu teara Thut Mlfi' ' And wo, Ha tei Wo parted; . From your lifo; We wera, Yau kuow You kuow, Not what, * Agpuir Bur you Gl ro- 1l not M l(m-'hnmml. Soi nmuu“u e, weight co f Rican v Hnouid hide- Just elght Wellt Weill y Hlong ten— *Pwue pride Nut weighty! - Uz poasinn, Adya Potuowy Luow - lnl&ntf. Can't el W i “Pelohr Vol tead” The Fashioa} Ouv eighty! —drthur Hoatuye il Luck, What has happened will decply .