The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1875, Page 3

NEW YOKK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1875.-WITH SUPPLEMENT. THE RIO GRAN The Crossing of the Texas State Troops Into Mexico. AN INVASION BY THIRTY MEN Details of an Encounter with Three Hundred Mexicans. CONSULTATION UNDER A FLAG OF TRUCE. The Terms of the Invader Complied With Before Withdrawal. MEXICAN ADMIRATION OF HEROISM. Sketch of the Leader and Athlete Who Will Protect the Ranches. Browssvitin, Texas, Dec, 9, 1875. The following account of the fight at the Cucvas ranche, and what ensued, was given to me this morn- Ing by Captain McNelly, the commanding officer of the Texas State troops:—On the evening of November 16 Captain Randlett, of the Eighth cavalry, then stationed at Edinburg, Texas, seventy miles from Browns- ville and thirty-one miles from Cuevas ranche, received information that a large party of raiders had crossed from Mexico into Texas and were collecting cattle to drive into Mexico. Captain Randiett was Promptly in the saddle, and, with two companies of cavalry, on the 17th, in the evening, bad reached a point on the Rio Grande nearly opposite the Cuevas tanch, which is about eighteen miles below Camargo {on the Mexican side), just as the raiders had succeeded in crossing about 250 head of cattle, Tho troops fired apon them from this side of the river, the thieves re- surning their fire and decamping. One of the raiders, who was caught on this side of the river in a state of perfect nudity, was taken possession of by the ranch- eros and HANGED ON THE sPor. He is supposed to be the same man who murdered Alexander Morel during the present yoar. Captain Randlett encamped his two companies about three miles above the crossing point. Next morning Major Clendennin, of the Eighth cavalry, arrived with one tompany and aGatling gun. Captain McNelly was ab- sent from his camp, which was then at tho ranche of Rhatama, and heard of tho crossing on the morning of the 18th, when about thirty miles from camp. After sending a courier for the main body of his company Captain McNelly immediately proceeded to the cross» ing and arrived there at noon the same day, ridirg thirty miles in about two hours, His company joined him at nine o'clock that night, making the remarkable ride of sixty miles in seven hours. Captain McNelly immediately communicated with Major Clendennin and informed him that he had positive information that the thieves wero still encamped on the other bank of the river at the Cuevas ranche, and told Major Clendennin at the same timo that be (Captain McNelly) had re- ceived from General Ord the promise that the Texas Btate troops would have the co-operation of the federal troops to pursue the thieves into Mexico. Major Ulendennin declined send- \ng troops at that time, but promised Captain McNelly Vhat in case his position became dificult he would then tend troops to help him out. Major Clendennin had also informed Captain MeNelly that he had sent a com- munication to the .\lcaede of Cuevas rancho demanding the delivery of the stolen cattle, and that in case of non- compliance the federal troops would cross over into Mexico. Captain McNelly asserts that Captain Rand- lett had orders to that effect, and that ho saw the orders. Captain McNelly now expressed his determina- sion to pursue the thieves, that is, on promise of sup- port from the federal troops. CROSSING OF THE STATE TROOPS. ‘Tho crossing was accomplished by one o'clock on the morning of the 19th, bat owing to the boggy con- tition of the river they were unablo to land more than live horses, consequently leaving twenty-five of his thirty men on foot. At the break of day he threw out an advance guard and began to move. Arriving at the ranche, as he thought, he directed the advance guard to dash through the main street at a gallop, in order to draw the fire of the thieves and to return it and kill every one they found with arms in their hands. First Sergeant Hall, incharge of the guard, exécuted the movement, meeting on his way a picket ef Mexicans, killing four and fully developing THR POSITION OF THE ENEMY. It was MeNelly’s plan to occupy the two extreme bouses of the ranche and hold them until the United States cavalry came to his assistance, but when on the point of executing it he discovered that they had attacked the Cucharra ranche, in, itead of Cuevas, which is about half a mile turther on. MeNelly, rallying his. rangers, then moved upon the Cuevas, approaching it from the Camargo side, The sun was just rising. Tho raid trs were ready to receivo him, the firing at the Cucharra baving given them the alarm. The enemy had 300 men—200 on foot and 100 mounted, McNelly ordered one man out of every five out as skirmishers, and Tux FIGHT was commenced. The mounted Mexicans charged him and wero repulsed with @ loss of three killed and seven wounded. But the fight was such an unequal one, and the federal forces failing to appear, McNelly saw that he could not bold his ground. He knew also that the raiders were constantly receiving _rein- forcements. Moving by the left flank he withdrew his men under cover of the chapparal and made for the crossing, The enemy, as he was in+ formed by one of them afterward, bolicving that he was employing a ruse to draw them out of their strong position, and at every moment expecting another on- Slaught, did not follow him. After waiting for over an hour they finally sent out scouts to ascertain the situa- sion, who found that McNelly had returned to the river ude. The discovery produced an exhilarating effect imong the Mexicans, who, with shouts and yells, asked Wo bo led against the Americans, Shortly atterward they made their appearance, gbarging to within thirty rards of the crossing, ana A@@™ at the federal cavalry tcross the river, The latter returned tbe fire and brought A GATLING GUN Into requisition, At this juncture McNelly’s men charged the Mexicans in their turn. The enemy's vavalry wavered and broke, together with their in- fantry, and sought cover in the chapparal, leaving benind thom the dead body of their leader, Juan Flores Salivas, an aleaedo of Cuevas, and carrying olf several wounded, Jt was at this period ‘that Capt Randlott crossed the river with thirty dismount aien, The raiders, who were — still pover of the chapparal made frequent attempts during the afternoon to dislodge the Americans, but were as Irequently repulsed, and in fact driven some distance from the river, The Mexicans, whose numbers had now increased to about 600 men, did a great deal of reliing, but nothing more. Matters remained in statu quo until about sundown, when A WHITE FLAG eon approaching from the enemy's camp. It ex to be borne by two alcacdes, accompanied by Dr. [isndtoy, vamargo (an American by birth, but Mexican citizen by adoption) ax interpreter, ‘The al- tacdos bore a letter addressed to the officer of the Ameri- can forces invading Mexico, which was tendered to Uaptain MeNelly, who not only refused to receive it put stood aloof and remained @ passive spectator and listener, The letter was, however, received by Cap- tain Randlett, It bore the signature of the Ayuntam:. of Camargo, and its purport is explained by sub. entevents. ‘Captain Randlett agreed to withdraw bis forces from the Mexican side upon the promire that upon proper application from the government of the Uaited States to that of Mexico the authorities would consider whether they should return the catue, On the other hand, the Mexican Commissioners agreed at under What, upon proper proof being ~— made, the thieves would be duly punished, Captain MeNelly was now asked whethor the terms suited him, He replied emphatically that they did not. The people of fexas had been receiving these promises from the Mex: ‘cau authorities for the last ten years and not a single them had ever been kept; that he bad come for stolen eattle, which they were aiding the raiders to and defend, and he would not withdraw without o 8 that they could n that point until the next even ‘ng at nine o'clock, and asked for A SUSPENSION OF HOSTHATIRS antilthen, To this Capt MoNcily agreed on ene pondition, that the Mexicans would immediately revarg to him two horses, two saddles and a rifle w! now in their camp. The Commissioners acceded to the condition, saying that any deficiency would be met by uniary compensation. After the parley Captain diett and his men returned to the American side. THDRAWAL OV FEDERAL AID. this time that Major Alexander arrived (on the Texas side) with two more companies of cavalry and notified Captain McNelly that ho was instructed to allow no federal troops to cross the Rio Grande and to give no assistance whatever to Captain McNelly. He spoke of heavy bodies of Mexicans as being on the way from Monterey, and advised McNelly to recross, Captain McNolly replied, however, that he had come for the stolen cattle and he was going to get them if it w thin power of man todo so. In evidence of his determination he intrenched himself on the bank of the river, covering his front and flanks and cleared the timber and undergrowth before him. He felt doubt of maintaining bis position, and resolved to make the experiment at alihazards. | FURTUER NEGOTIATIONS. ‘The next morning Colonel Trinidad Alderete and Dr. Headley came in with another flag of truce, bringing the tw. rses and one of the saddles demanded, and saying thatthe gunand the other sadaie had been stolen during the night, but that they would be re- covered and returned. The Commissioners then crossed over into Texas aud met Major Alexander, to whom they acknowledged that at least eighty per cent of tho Mexican population on this, fronticr were thieves; that the raids into Texas could not be prevented until the Mexicans had learned s01 other way of earning their livelihood, and finaly 5: Fy ted that the United States ought’ to pay Mexico 100,000,000 to raise and equip an army to check the raiding. Captain McNolly, in answer, proposed to take the contract at once for $60,000,000 t0 pacify aud quiet all Mexico, Concerning the surrender of the stulon cattle the Commissioners now informed Captain MeNolly that they had reply to give him. The proposition, they said, had been forwarded to the Premdent of the Ayuntamionto of Camargo, and th were expecting his answer at every moment. requested a notice of two hours before the resumption of hostilities. McNelly consented to give them one hour and no more. At four o'clock that afternoon MeNelly, receiving no reply, notified the Mexican authorities that he would RESUME HOSTILITIES in one hour if his terms had not been complied with, Within three-quarters of an hour Culonel Alderete and Dr. Headley came in in bot haste, bringing with them the missing saddle and saying that the gun had beon taken to Camargo. They promised most solomnly that the thieves and cattle would be delivered to Captain MeNelly the next day at Rio Grande city. Captain McNelly, entertaining a high opinion of Colonel Alderete, assured him that in choosing bim as their Commissioner the people of Mexico had saved them- selves from much ealainity, and that upon his promise De Geckeun would recross the Rio Grande and march to Rio Grande city, Colonel Alderete gave the promise required and thanked the Captain for the compliment he had paid him. RETURN OF THE STATE TROOPS. That evening McNelly returned to the Texas side, and the news was received by the Mexicans with shouts of joy and triumph. At ten o’clock the next morning McNelly, with ten men, who had spent the night there, was at Rio Grande city, where he received @ note from the President of the Ayuntamiento of Camargo saying that a press of business prevented him from attending to the delivery of tho cattle on band in that city on that day, and designating the next morning at an early hour as the time of delivery. To this McNelly replied that the agreement was that the cattle should be delivered at ten o'clock that morning, and that he had withdrawn bis men on the faith of that promise. He intended that the Mexicans should comply with their part of the agreement and asked for an answer. The answer came in a short time, appointing three o’clock P. M. for the surrender of the cattle, on the American side of the river, as previously agreed upon. RETURN OF CATTLE PROFFERED. At three o’clock a Mexican officer arrived at the ferry with sixty-five hond of the stolen cattle, and was met by Captain McNelly on the Mexican shore. ‘The officer | pce delivery, which was declined by Captain ‘cNelly, who claimed that, according to the terms of the agreement, the cattle should be delivered on the side of the river whence they werestolen, and he refused to receive them elsewhere. The officer, having ex- plained that it would be a difficult task for him to cross them with only three men that he bad with him, Captain McNelly agreed to assist him with his ten mem, Suddenly there appeared on the spot a Mexican customs officer, who interiered and declared that he would not permit the cattle to go. The Mexi- ean officer in postulated with him, but to no purpose; indeed, the custems man, assuming a severe air, pulled his pistol to the front and emphatically ex- pressed his determination to prevent the return of the cattle, McNelly turned to his men and ordered, ‘Front into lime! Load carbines!’? which was instantly The customs official turned and stam- mered out ‘Take them, sir; take them,” and a num- ber uf Mexicans who had gathered about the spot put themselves beyond the range of the Rangers’ guns, In a few minutes afterward beet fy a head of stolen cattle were on the Texas shore of the Rio Grande, ANOTHER INTERVIEW. The next day Captain McNelly received a message from President of the Ayuntamiento ot Camargo ask- ing for an interview at Ringgold Barracks, and subse- quently met him, in company with Colonel Aldcreto and Dr, Headley, at the appointed place. The inter- view resulted mainly in assurances on the part of the Mexican Commissioners that they would recover and deliver to him the remainder of the stolen cattle, and the thieves, if within their power w do so. ‘They expressed great admiration and love for the whoie American ple and particu- larly for the people of Texas, McNelly told them that the return ofall the cattle stolen would do more toward convincing his people of the ete 3 and good faith of the Mexican authorities than anything which had been done in the last ten years. Before parting they tendered him the hospitalities of the city of Camargo, adding that they would send a deputation of their most prominent citizens to escort him there that.day or at sy other time that he might appoint, McNelly answered that he could not then ac- cept their civilities. He then declared that he wished them to distinctly understand that he would pursue Mexican raiders into Mexico on all occasions as surel; they crossed into Texas and committed depreda. tions, and, further, that he proposed to make his visits of such a nature that they would long be re- membered. During the interview the Commissioners took occa- sion to deny that they had failed to comply with their obligations or keep their promises, and were met by Judge Dougherty, who ing sea with recitals of several instances where the Mexican authorities had failed to do thoir duty according to the international treaty. They failed to refute his assertions. CURIOUS ACTION OF TRE AMBRICAN CONSUL. Tn this relation of the incidents of the fight Captain MeNelly setahed it tobe particulesty stated that while he was intrenched at Cuevas he received the informa- tion that the Mexican authorities had telegraphed to Camargo that Mr, Wilson, the American Consul at Matamoros, was preparing 'a telegram to his comm cial agent at the former piace, a Mr. Avery, to advise him, Captain MeNelly, to surrender to the Moxican au- thoritics, and that such a despatch was cventually sent by Mr. Wilson to Mr, Avery. The message, however, wer doliverca to Captain McNelly, who assumes that the messenger considered, Very properly, that to comply with the reqaest of the Consu! would have se- cured for him a cold bath in the Rie Grande, Finding that further efforts on his part to recover tho remainder of the cattle would be of no avail Cap- tain McNelly withdrew to his camp. Two days after he bad left, on the 24th of November, he received in- formation from Coloncl Jenkins and Mr, Dean, an in- spector of Customs, that they had seen the trail of a large flock of cattlo, which had been evidently crossed into Mexico, at a point known as Los Grulos, nine miles below Ringgold Barracks and nine miles above the Cue- yas ranch, An investigation of the raid proved that 807 head had been crossed at that point. To this he appends the following list of the known robberies of thrs kind which have occurred during the month of November, which, he adds, is a fair average month :— LIST OF ROBUERIES. November 8—125 head, nine miles above Edinburg. November 9—190 head, nine miles below the same ace. ay jovember 11-125 bead, near Roma, twenty miles above Kinggold Barracks. Seen by Mr, Dean himeeit, November 14-150 head, one mile below Ringgold Barracks, November 17— November 18 t head, opposite Cuevas, —600 head, below Brownsville. AN RRA OY PRACR. Since the Cuevas affair matters on the Rio Grande have been so peaceable that on my arrival here I ound little if anything to write about, ving expressed a desire to meet Captain McNelly, the commander of tho ‘Texas State troops and the lion ol the moment, [was in avery short time gratilied with his presence. To my agreeable disappointment I found in him a gentleman of courteous, polished manners, convei ¥ fuontly and evidencing more than an average education, whereas I had expected to tneet atypical Toxan, tall, large and bluff in demeanor. SKRTCH OF CAPTAIN M'NELLY. Captain Lee H. MeNelly is quite « young man, He was born on the 4th of March, 1846, in Brooke county, West Virginia, and is, consequently, little more than twenty-nine years old. He is a slim built maa, tive hes high, with brown hair, mustache and chin beau, of goatee; small, grayish blue eyes and dark complexion There are no proini- heat features in his ‘face to inuicate the determination which characterizes hun. The face is rather inchned to what is called the angular, the hose a mild Roman and the flesh, though close to he b ones, still sull enough not to be considered tough. Indeed, Captain MeNelty, walking down roadway, would attract attention only from his good looks and his erect form, straight as an arrow and possessing no lack of elegance, remarkable in his ap- pearance, and he weighs only 156 pounds, is that this frail looking man, with slanting shoulders, should be an athlete; for, from the accounts I have of him and his own statements, he can hift two bales ol cotton at & time, one with each hand; or, better, lilt 1,200 pounds with both. He ean throw or tic any man in his com- mand, some of whom appear very poweriul them: selves, His conversation ix of the pioasantest charac- ter, his vowwe soft and musical, He withoat hoisterousness; laughs heartily, but y; m= pulsive without bemg petulant or sentimental, aud he neither swears vor drinks, excepting now and then 4 glass of beer, infact, he 18 m every respect tit for the drawing room than chasing Mexican ral Captain MeNeily received a limited common schoe ucation at Laurencevilie, Va, and was a boy when he emigrated to Texas irom the farm in Brooke county where he was born, He had not been long in the State of hix adoption when the rebellion broke out Although a tuere Vate y ot fourtees the Filth Gree General + Within eighteen months of two years he returned to Texas, anu then went to Louisiana, where tia gallantry caused hin to be promoted and auached to the stall of Brigadier General Green, He participated in every fight of tho Louisiana campaign, and he is the samo ollicer who, at tho age of sixtcen, with cighteen men, by an extraor. dimary stoke of luck. as be cajls tt pimaelf oanavad to capture Lieutenant Colonel J. A. H. Dugann 865 men, 3,000 refugees and $1,000,000 worth of prop: erty at Bayou Boeul station, onthe Morgan, Lousiana Texas Railroad, obtaining from the commander an unconditional surrender through a piece of barefaced ruse. The occurrence is related by Colonel Dugan! himself in his “Camps and Prisonsot the South,” oniit- ting, however, the number of men under Captain MeNelly, AFTER THE WAR. When the war closed Captain McNelly returned once more to Texas, where he married at the age of nine- teen, and settled in Washington county, by far the wealthiest county in the State. His marriage has been Diessed with two children, of whom, as well as of his edgment, is worth $80,000. The position he occupies he attributes toadesiro toenhance the prosperity of his State and the protection of bis fellow men.” But, without questioning bis motives, I suspect him to have ® particular fondness for adventure, for he betrays his nature in the simple yet eloquent and frequently thrill- ing relations of his daring enterprises, and, besides, bis expressions of love for a military life are posit Although he has never been a politician nor occupied a political position, he has frequently interceded in b alfof peace and order in the local disturbance: Texas when Governor Davis was in the executive chair, iS FORCE. It was on the Ist of April last tl he accepted thi offer of Governor Coke, the present Governor of Texas, to take command of the Toxas Rangers, and at no time has he had more than forty or forty-five men under him, although he is authorized to enrol tifty. All his men are picked with care, are well uniformed and re- ceive $40 per month (or rather are to receive that sum), cach man furnishing his horse and weapons, To fay that he is held in perfect admiration by them and the people of the frontier is supertiuous, From all ac- counts Captain McNelly is a man of undoubted morality. The son of a Presbyterian father and a Catholic mother, he is attached to no church, and yet finds a preference for the Cathohe creed, which he con- siders the strongest in its faiths. In politics he is an imperialist (!), and freely and ably discusses the sub- ject, evidencing a great deal of reading in political economy. Ho is alsoa fatalist. He 1s convinced that he will not be killed, but will live until he is sixty-five and then he will dic in his bed. Ho has arrived at this conviction from the many deaths that ho hus escapes having thrice had the brigand’s halter aronnd bis nec! and as many times faced twenty-live rifles aimed at his breast and on the point of being fired.” His determination of purpose, which has probably never been surpassed, 18 entirely directed at this mo- ment against the Mexican thieves, whose extermination he has resolved upon, provided, however, he is aiforded @ reasonable opportunity to do so, This opportunity consists, in his estimation, of a body of from 250 to 300 picked men and the means to supply them with powder and shot, clothing and provisions. . At this moment he is in Brownsville waiting for an answer to his last communication to Governor Coke, in which he urges His Excellency’s prompt action in Providing him with the requisite number of men. An- other of : MIS EXCELLENT CHARACTERISTICS: is that ho is in no wise mysterious, but bold and frank in his expressions, readily giving the inquirer what- ever information may be asked. ‘That such aman should be so captivating is, there- fore, not at all surprising, and actual contact with him can alone give a conception of his character, which manifosts itself so positively and withal with so much unfeigned modesty. THE CUBANS ON GRANT'S MESSAGE, eh ere THE ADMINISTRATION DRAWN OVER THE COALS ABOUT CUBAN BELIIGERENCY—OUR OBLIGA- TIONS AS A GREAT REPUBLIC~HOW UNCLE SAM JILTED THE QUEEN OF THE ANTILLES. The Cuban organ in the United States, La Revolucion de Cuba, has in type an article which comments very forcibly on the late annual Message of President Grant to Congress. The article is from the pen of Mr. Embil, a gentleman of recognized ability, who has both written and spoken much on the cause of Cuba, He sa) We are not surprised at the tone or manner of Gene- ral Grant’s last Message. We believe that at heart the President sympathizes with the Cubans, but he is heavily pressed by Mr. Fish, That General Grant ld like to say something in the Cubuns’ behalf ts evident from a dubious sentence in the Message wherein he alludes to the probability of his sending a ‘“turther communication’ to Congress on the subject of Cuba; but he will do this only in the d¢vent of his “hopes of satisfactory adjustment,” &c., being ‘unhappily disappointed.” Perhaps the President at the last hour expects to play Cuba as a trump card inthe Presidentialgame. As a reason urged against conceding belligerent rights to tho Cubans, Grant allows Fish to put into his mouth Mr. Sumner’s argument about their having no detined ter- ritory or recognized capital; and adds, ‘‘a recognition under such circumstances would be inconsistent with the fact, and would compel the Power granting it soon to support by force the government to which it had really given its only claim to existence.” This is a ncw and unauthorized interpretation of international law; for according to this a recognition of bei sola bya nation obliges that nation to maintain by force of arms the pretensions of the people whom it recognizes, The President that the Cubans are neither weaker nor stronger than formerly; but he overlooks the fact that when the war began Spanish bank notes in Cuba were as good as gold, and now they are worth about twonty-five cents to the dollar. At the beginning of the war the debt of Cuba (Spanish) was but small, while now it perhaps exceeds $100,000,000, and not far from 100,000 Spanish soldiers have perished in the struggle, hundreds of wealthy estates have been de- the island, which was famed for its great , Is rapidly falling into hepeless bankruptcy. Speaking of tho seizure and sequestration by Span- jards of Americans’ property in Cuba the writer says that if Grant had only cared to ENFORCE THE RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS, had at once demanded asurrender of their confiscated goods and the peremptory payment of damages on the spot, the continuation of aggressions against American citizens would have beon prevented, 1s it not scan- dalous to keep a navy at ten times the cost of what the Spanish navy cots Cuba to be a passive spectator ot the greatest outrages under pretext that the United States Navy is incapable of offering successful resist- ance tothe Spanisb ¢ If Spain “‘is a friendly nation,” it was not a friendly act for her to recognize the South sixty days after Fort Sumter was fired upon; to open all her ports and ar- senals to the enemies of the United States government, who Were from those points organizing attacks against the national integrity, amd to acknowledge the fact of war in the South at the time she did. If, with the tacit aid of the United States, that allowed Spain to ft out here thirty gunvoats against an Amorican people, “all the efforts of Spain havo been abortive,’ it must be evident that had the United States been only strictly neutral, the Cubans would have triumphed soon after the struggle began, and tho United Statos, instead of suffering vexatious Wrongs at the hands of Spain, would now be enjoying all the advantages. of a specially fa- vored trade with free Cuba, If General Grant avows that ‘the so-called insurrection in Cuba has sbown a strength and endurance which make it at lei very doubtful whether it bo in the power of Spain to subdue it,” he must agree that self- rotection, in the absence of any other object, would ave justified America in recognizing Cuba as a Pow long ago. It wontd soem, then, that the admins tiop is alone responsible ‘for all the wrongs which are deplored by the Executive. If the United States had been consistent in adhering to THE PRINCIPLES OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE and to the principles established by them when lighting battles with a little more than 100 inen, as at Lexington and Bunker fill, where it was aunounced “that any nation that would not think it convenient to recognize them as belligerents would be responsible tor all di uges;" if America had been just toward Cuba as they wished other Powers to be to them under similar cir- cuastances, a responsible native government would Jong ere now have been established in the Great Au- tulle. In his note of the 13th of October, 1869, Mr Fish recognized a state of civil war in Cuba by the evidence of battle aiter battle which had been tought; and yet in the following December, he claimed that the gov ment had no official information of any ir there, Another remarkable declaration of Mr. Fish (this time touching Spanigh misrepreseniations) ts the lollowing relutive to the Spanish Ambassador, wherein he said :— “the undersigned h@g on goveral occasions caused proceedings to be Moped on imformation rece irom Mr. Lopez Roberts, which information proved to be totally uniounded.”” “Yes by representations of this nature $ THR CAUSE OF REPUBLICAN CURA is to be sneriliced! ‘Tho writer here takes the liberty of lecturing Amori- cans on their supposed inability to acqnire the ireedom of this country without the aid of France, which latter Power is given the credit of contributing no jess than $40,000,000 toward American independence, and adds that while Washington was crossing the Delaware, sued by the superior forces of Lord Howe, thor ¢ istuing, with twelve ships of the line, four fr and 4,000’ French troops, “decided the struggle created the new nation of the United States,” T lowing bit of history, which is aptly cited in favor of Cuba, speaks for itse On October 28, 17° A consequence © nother defeat at White Plains, Washington abandoned New Jersey tired west of ihe Delaware, ‘Then in the sternest hon army, whily 1 ard to obtain lower ciasses changed ssity, but wome of the I sto the royal stand ton. Not only the adve n: ow Jersey Con Mr. Galoway, who ax President of ‘the ) tion hud formed the State constitution, Mr. Atlen, Tuc and others declared nilverae to at wll ti independence.” (see H the whole of Washington's arm six ploces of artillery. Consequently, Hattie of Brandywine in September, 1 Lanenster, Pa., then to York, aud mnited population at that aimaro, the for Coban upon the loss ot the 777, our revolutionary Conyrens migrated fest to Ls finally to Agnapo.ts, towne whe day scarce equalled that of € pital, Mediation or intervention are tht do not want, unless they have the the Spanish volunteers, as the Hea 8 which Cabans 1872, proposed ; to re-cstablish order in Cuba and offer t the nsot the United States residing there that protection which their government has been unwilling to afford them. CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL. estival of the Wilson Mission will be The Christmas held at No, 125 St. Mark's placo on the day before Christmas, The exereizes will consist of singing by the children, the distribution of prizes, an address by the Rov. Dr. Ormiston and a collation for the children. The {riends of the mission are carnestly requested to baatow nesuniary favors, JUDGE DALY ON THE NILE AND STANLEY'S EXPLORATIONS. To Tae Epiror or Toe HeRaLp:— The discourse on the Nile, with the maps illustrating it, whieh Judge Daly, at the meeting of the Geographi- cal Society the other evening, gave to the large ana in- telligent audience, assembled to hear him, was a learned and exhaustive review of the varions theories and tra- ditions entertained among the ancient Greeks touching the sources, the drainage and the anpual inundation of the grand old river; but the review was incomplete in relation to the discoveries of modern travellers in the Nile basin and inaccurate in some of the most promi- nent opinions and conjectures advanced by the learned lecturer. First, according to the Heratp report, tho fullest given of the discourse under consideration, in réferenco to the drainage from the western slope of the great chain of mountains of East Equatorial Africa, of which the snow-crowned Kilhmandjaro and the Kenta are the loftiest peaks, Judge Daly said:—“‘As stated at our last meeting, it is my impression, in the present state of my knowledge, that the great mountain land I have*referred to, and its western and southwestern slopes, is the remote and chief source of the waters which create those great reservoirs of the Nile, the Victoria and tho Albert Niyanza.” Further on in this diecourse the Judge remarked, “If, as I apprehend, and as most geographers believe, the Albert Niyanza sball prove to be an independent lake, then Mr. Stanley will, in all probability, be the discoverer of the ultimate source of the Nile,” Hero are two conflicting opinions—first, if the Albert lake is one of the great reservoirs of the Nile i, cannot be an independont lako; second, if it isan independent Jake it cannot draw one single drop of water from the great mountain land referred to, The whole of the westorn drainage from the Kilimandjaro range flows into the Victoria lake and mto other lakes an« rivers which are discharged into the Nilo, and, except as the outlet of a portion of this drainage, the Albert cannot possibly get a drop of it except through the Victoria lake. Bat whence this impression of Judge Daly that the Albert Niyanza 18 an independent lake? There is at least one explorer of the Nile whose authority on this question is conclusivo; but his testimony was strangely overlooked by the Judge in his summing up of modern Nile explorations and discoveries. We refer to Sir Samuel W. Baker. In his book, entitlyd “Ismaiha: A Narrative of the Expedition to Central Africa for the Suppression of the Slave Trade, Organized by Ismail, Khedive of Egypt,” published by Harper & Brothers, 1875, the Judge will find the fact as fully established that the Victoria lake is discharged into the White Nile, through the Albert lake, as the fact that the Mo- hawk is a tributary of the Hudson River, At page 236 of this book we have a map of the Albert Niyanza. On this map are traced Sir Samuel, Baker's routes of 1863-65 and of 1871-73, The dotted line, marking the routes of his first expedition, carried us down the river, which is discharged frém the Victoria lake, from the proint where it was struck by Sir Sam- uel, to Murchison Falls, within twenty miles of Lake Albert, and thence down to Magungo, where this river 1s discharged into this lake. From this ‘meeting of the waters,’’ March, 1864, the lake southward was coasted by Sie Samuel in canoes for thirteen days, when_ he gave it up and returned northward, But (at page 278, same book) Baker says:—‘Tho grand White Nile lay like a broad streak of silver on our right, as it flowed in a calm deep stream direct from the Albert Ni- yanza—at this spot above all cataracts.” * * * “Here the entire volume flowed from the Albert Ni- yanza, distant hardly one degree, and here had I always: noes to bring my steamers, as the starting point for the opening of the heart of Africa to naviga- iom’—that is, through Lake Albert. Judge Daly, then, is altogether wrong in his impres- sion that the Albert may be an independent lake. Itis the great discharging reservoir, while the other Niyanza is the great receiving reservoir of the Nile. But if 20 connection existed between the two lakes there would still be no ground for the impression that the fresh- water Albert is an independent lake; bes if such it could have no outlet, and without an outlet would be salt water, like our Great Salt Lake and others too nu- merous to mention. Again, 1p his recent discourse, while speaking of the drainage of those Eastern Equatorial mountains, Judge Daly said “if this (the flooding) occurs on the Eastern slopes, why may 14 not occur on the Western slopes,”’ &c., “and be as those ancient geographers asserted, one of the causes of tho great annual overflow of water at the fountain-head of the Nile, and the cause of the phenomenon of its inundation in the summer along the whole Egyptian valley ¥”” Why uot? Forthe simple reason that the Judge is 1,000 miles, more or less, out of his reckoning. The annual overtiow of Egypt comes from the lofty moun- tains and tablelands of Abyssinia. Sir Samuel Baker, in his “Nile Tributaries of antiesat in a thrilling description of a flood in the Atbara River, completely solves this mystery of thousands of years.’ Baker was lying half asleep on the margin of the dry bed of the Atbara at about hall-past eight o'clock P. says, “I fancied that I heard a rumblin; thunder. I had not heard such a sound for months; but a low, uninterrupted roll appeared to increase in volume, although far distant.” Then he tells how the Arabs came rushing into his‘camp in the darkness, shouung, “El Babr! El Bahr!’ The river! the river! and omitting the scene of hurry, noise and con- fusion which then prevailed, we quote:—“The great event had occurred. The river bad arrived, ‘like a thief in the night.’ On the morning of the 24th of Juno I stood on the banks of the noble Atbara at the break of day, The wonder of the desert!’’ Then, alter de- scribing the amazing transformation in the general landscape around him, he says:—Dust and desolation yesterday. To-day a magnificent stream, some 500 yards in width and from fifteen to twenty feet in depth, flowed through the dreary desert.” This was the boginning of the annual inundation from the distant mountains of Abyssinia descending through the Atbara or the Blue Nile upon Egypt. The scene described was near 200 miles above the junction of the Atbara with tho Nile. ‘ In his preface of this book Sir Samuel thus ‘“un- ravels the entire mystery of the river:”—*The lake sources (equatorial) of Africa support the life of Egypt by supplying a stream through all scasons sufficient in volume to support the exhavstion from evaperation and absorption; but this Linky . unaided, could never = overfiow its banks.’ * “The inundation which, by its annual deposit of mud, has actually ‘created the delta of Lower ‘Egypt, upon the overflow of which the fertility of Egypt depends, has an origin separate from the lako sources of Central Africa, and the supply of water is derived exclusi from Abyssinia.” Again, as the Atbara, known as the Bahr cl Aswat, or Black River, “carries down a larger proportion of soil than any. other tributary of the Nile, therefore to the Atbara, above all other rivers, must the wealth and fertility of Egypt be attributed.’ This evidence is conclusive, both in regard to the un- failing stream and the ‘annual overflow of the lower Nile, and how so careful a geographer as Judge Daly failed to recount these actual uni most important dis- coveries, as we may call them, of Sir Samuel Baker, we are puzzled to conjecture. The learned lecturer was, however, very near the mark in relerring to ono of tose “magnificent guesses”? of the ancient Greck geographers, viz:—'That the Ephesian or cold northern winds which blow over Egypt im winter and spring are condensed when thoy come in contact with the lofty moun- tain ranges of Ethiopia (Abyssinia), and descend from the western stopes of those inountainy in great tor. and “that this caused tho annual swelling of Those ancient geographers, however, were » the vapor borne to Ethiopia on’ those is. Winds from tho heart of a tinent vely saporless, Winds surcharged with me from the sea, Tie winds bearing the nch copious floods over Al simia come from the Indian Uccan and supply the niall not only of Abyssinia bat of the orial rainy belt of Altica. 5 ¢ Daly, in this loarned discourse, gave his audience much interesting information touch: ing the inagniilcent gnosses,” traditions and opinions of the ancient Grecks; vat too little of actual modern discoveries hearing upon the sources, the drainage aod nundation ofthe Nile, — He failed to show that the ofthe supply of the y the causes of the aro how as well mistaken northern are und Egypt, ot ihe spring Iresbets and summer «droughts of the known a@ rers with his be an inde. Missouri River Valley. tle misled his h impression that the Albert Niyanza ma: pendent lake; and, while handsomely complimenting Mr, Stanley tor his heroisin, his activity and his im: | portant discoveries in the region of the Victoria lake, he did not, in the judgme ny 0 hearers, give the importance which sion called for to Stanley's recent letters, toreshadowing tho remaining objects of his present expedition, and that in accom: phishing them he will leave nothing more to be done im the deverimmation of the motes and bounds of the im: perial equatorial basin, reservoirs and rivers of the mighty Nile. ft fact, as it now appears that Lieutenant Cameron, in crossing the continent westward trom Lake Tanganyika, as discovered that that great lake and all tne Inkes rivers of Livingstone’s interior basin of the Lualaba are tributary to the Congo, all that ro. maine edone to fix the boundaries of the Nilo basin is the cireumnavigation of Lake Albert, in which Mr. Stanley, in his Henan yacht, the Lady Ali G. B > 1s tless how engaged, New Yorx, Dee. 18, 1875, WAR PENSIONS. A bill to extend the time for granting arrears of pen- Sions until Janagry 1, 1877, has been imicusted to Colo- nel Benjamin A, Willis, Representative of tho Kighth Jongressional diatrict, forthe purpose of being sub- mitted to Congress, It !s stated that the causes of the delays of many of the pensioners m making applica- tions for arrears are joss of of how ced, Hustal 4 the sifer and auch other things, —‘Thé proposed bill enable’ those who have tailed to send m their chums (rom any of the above or similar causes to se- cure their pensions. — Al! soldiers’ organizations have been requested to struct the Senators and Congress. men lor their several Statts to rote for the passage of such a bill, CLD POETS AND NEW. PRESTON, CRANCH AND WILL CARLETON. Some weeks since we noticed the new work of anum- ber of the old poets, and this week we have the pleasure of adding a few new names to the old. Our literature is Strong in young poets, men and women, whe sing out of the abundance of their hearts, and though they often lack the art to express their thought in the highest forms, they can pipe a plaintive melody so that we are touched oy it and feel that they really have tho true poctic re, Of the old singers there is none who appeals so en- tirely to the good that is in us like Whittier, We fect no false excitement from his verse; it is always pure and sweet, and reflects the character of the man and his surroundings. In “Mabel Martin’? we have the story of @ witch's daughter who was cast ous trom among her fellows owing to the stain on her mother’s name. A good man, Esek Harden, falls in love with her and taxes her for his wife, to the consternation of the narrow-minded villagers. The substance of this poem was published some years ago under the title of “The Witch's Daughte: since then it has been added to and is now presented as a holiday book by James R. Osgood & Co., uniform with “Tho Hanging of the Crane.”’ Aside trom the eharm of the poem itself the beauty of its \iustration is suflicient to make it eagerly sought after. Two of our best artists, Miss Hallock and Mr. T. Moran, have united forces fn making this book beautiful. Neither artist has ever done better book work. Miss Hallock has drawn the figure pieces, which are One enough to entitle her to stand at the head of her pro. fession. There is none in this country who could have bettor caught and reproduced the spirit of the poct. The frontispiece, representing Mabel at tho spinning wheel, is the embodiment of refinement, delicate sentiment, and withal {sas strong as the poem itself. Another beautiful picture illustrates the lines:— Young Mabel trom her mother’ Crept to her desolate hearthstone, It would make a capital painting, although Miss Hallock’s pictures lose nothing by not being in color.” One remarkable thing about this young artist’s pictures is the amount of expre: mn she puts into even the smallest faces, In some instances we can see where the graver has been at fault, buton the whole they aro much better cut than were the illustrations of “The Hanging of the Crane.” In the landscape pictures Mr. Moran is seen at his best. He has never put more feel- ing into a picture than in the illustration of O, dreary broke the winter days, on page forty, The cold, dull sky, the long sweep of frozen ground and tho warm light in the distant win. dow, need no explanatory text; they tell their ewn story. Mr. Wand bas not been so happy in his vig- nettes, which, contrasted with the ether illustrations, are cold and hard. In the following lines we have Whittier in his most characteristic landscapo touches :— On its brink Tho overleaning barcbelis swing, With roots halt bare the pine trees cling; And through tho shadow looking west, You see the wavering river flow Along a vale that far below Holds to the sun the sheltering hills, And glimmering water line betweon Broad fields of corn and meadows g mn, And frult-bent orchards grouped around The low brown roeis and painted eaves, And chimney tops hall hid in leaves. The gentlo poet gives his viewson the women’s rights question in mild, though unmistakable lana- guage:— In those neat homesteads woman holds With modest ease her equal place, And wears upon her tranquil face ‘The look of one who, merging not Her selfhood in another's will, Is love's and duty’s handmaid still. In the very simplicity of Whittier’s language lies his charm. He takes us out of the rude world’s din into the quiet of hillside pastures, green with grass and dotted with cattle, or into snowbound farinhouses, where the back log crackles on the hearth and the sturdy crane holds the noonday meal over the bright embors. The lite we read of up among the New Eng- land hills is restful and quieting, and we never lay down a volume of Whittier’s poems without feeling the better for its influence. Seer By Margaret J. Preston. Boston: Roberts ros. WHITTIER, In Margaret J. Preston wo have a writer of a true poetic temperament. She is, we thiak, the best latter- day poct the South has produced. In the present vol- ume is a series of poems drawn from the life of the old masters, from the life of the old legends and trem the life of to-day. The cartoons from the old masters show a cultivated taste and a strong love for the art of painting, and they give evidence of great care in their preparation, Her poems shew more than culture; they evince a nice poctic feeling, and, though there are occasional roughnesses of diction, as a whole they com- mand respect, as well as admiration. Mrs. Presven is evidently a close student of human nature, and some of her delicate touches go right to the heart of the reader, The profatory poem, “The Good of It,” ex- presses her doubts and fears about putting forth a book of poems. She asks herself tho question, What is the good of it? saying:— 4 Perform it, who will praise or blame, . ‘Though it be wrought with purest al Done of undone, ’tis all the same. And alter a course of reasoning answers her doubts with this: What then? Ifone weak song of mine Should yet prevail to bring the shine Back o’er some spirit's dull decline, And for one moment seem to fling A flash about its sunsetting, I think, Ged granting, I may sing. ‘In “Sebastiano at Supper" we find the poet in her most rollicking mood. 'Tis not often that she indulges in this way, but it is not unbecoming, and she gives an excollent idea of tho jolly painter. The ‘‘Maestro’s Con- fession”’ is among the strongest of these poems and the ‘‘Baron’s Daughter” one of the pretticst, This latter depicts the love of Albrecht DGrer for a noble young lady, which endod in adream. Ho was married after this affair, but his wile was of his father's choos- ing, and life was most unbappy with him. Albrecht's dream was dreamed; No other love prevailed his soul's pure shrine Through his halt century's years, and each wrapt face ‘That grew henceforth beneath his hand was only Augusta, with the halo round her hair, Thore is a deep religtous vein pervading all that Mra, Preston writes, and she particalarly loves to rhyme of saints as sorn in “Dorothea's Roses’? The cartoons from the life of to-day will undoubtedly gain the most faver, for in them the book treats of those things with which we are tho most familiar, She draws direct from the life, not (rom models. The opening ono of these poems, “The Hero of the Commuue,” appeared firstas a fugitive pteve during the late excitemont in France and was widely quoted. It is the story of a lad brought up to be shot and who asked permission to leave the line for a taoment. ‘The gendarme, thinking that he would not come back, was giad cnough to save his consetence the murder, and let him go But the hero returned on time and took his piace, The gen- darme could not kill him, however, and ordered him outof the ranks on account of Lis youth and bravery, This poem has a great deal of spirit and, though short, calis upa graphic picture of the scene There are several occasion poems in the book and one on the death of “J, RB. T.,’" whom, we fancy, is the late John R. Thompson, literary editor of the Avening Post, and & poet, a pure writer, of whom the South had every reason to be proud. He died im tho prime of life and lott & name which, though only known to a few, that fow embraced some of the most distinguished literary men and women on both continents, There is a sad- ness appropriate to the season of leaf falllug and bare trees, and dull, gray skies about most of these poems, which makes them very companionable at this time of yenr, Tho following poem, entitled “Letting Go of Hands,” will give to those unfamiliar with Mrs. Preston avery good idea of her sombre style, which we are induced to think her best, & crush of the fingers, . ach pressure more taint than the lastt ©, the slackening hold that still lingers, Though the wrench of the spirit be pratt What heart in its hopelessness breaking To feel them, can stifle the cry The human within us m making, “God help, or we dig” tt Wo wring with # passion of sorrow, To cover with Kisses of pain, The pulma that some fairer to-morrow, We'll fol in olt fondness again. We drop the pale Nnger# whose colding Impaasivencss startles our own, Forever (how oft) from our hoidiug And yet nots moan mn Breaks from us. Tho spirit is dendened To numbness because of the blow; su lecdened, ; "tis all that we kuow. , thus letting must), life within That grief does not slay. rgetting 1, Dees not slay! Ob, bow often in lonely Despairs would we bail it instead Of friends the most friendly if only ; It let us lie down by our dead ! But with gall and with wormwood of ang Through nées stronger than tears, It nerves us to bear, as we languish, Along the gray years. v. And kind ones in soothingost fashion (Not always ev'n love understands!) Speak low in their yearning compassion, ‘Of the beautiful folding of hands Vouchsafed to the weary—ot graspings For which the long parted so pine— What comfort to me the keen claspings When the clasp is not mine ! vL O hands that lie crossing so saintly The bosom on which I have leant! Could I press them, though ever so faintly, Just e—I would wait with content For the time that so loiters, so lingers, When with raptures undreamed of befora T catch to my Jips the dear fingers And loose them no more, There is a straightfowardness about Mrs. Preston’ poetry and a simplicity in her language that will make her pspular with the average as well as the cultivated reader, Tae Binp axp tHe Bev, with other topher Pearse Cranch. Boston: Co, ems. By Chris. ‘ames R, Osgood & Mr. Cranch has so many modes of expression that he really does not do himself quite justice in any one of them. He is poet, painter and musician, Just enough ofeach to make him a most delightful companion ag well as accomplished geutleman. A father once asked wise old man bow he could make a great man of his son, “By giving him parts and poverty,” was the re- ply. Mr. Cranch has the parts but wants the poverty as An incentive to hard work in cither of his arts, He writes gracefully but not always clearly and is clined to be Somewhat metaphysical. He has not always the @rtto concealart, The reader is conscious that he is writing more as « literary exercise than because his passion hasthe better of him. We would not for amoment deny the beauty in some of his verse, only we think that he lacks the real poetic fire. Men who are master of moro than one art are so few and far be- tween that Michacl Angelo stands almost alone, there- fore Mr. Cranch need not feclita reflection on his talents that he is not a master of three arts. Art ia too great a mistress to be conquered with a smile. A man must pull of his coat and plunge in, and even though he has genius he will have to work and toil if he wishes to win a name among the great. Tho man of genius will find the path much smoother than will the man without, but if the former is careless and the latter ambitious and hardworking the careless mao ‘will be left behind in the race. This is merely an aside and does not apply directly to Mr. Cranch’s case, for somo of his poetry gives evidence of almost too great labor. He is no common writer, aud one stanza of his that has become a houschold word would disapprove such assertion if we were inclined to make it, which we are not. This is the stanza:— Thought is deeper than all speech; Feeling deeper than all thought; Souls to souls can never teach What unto themselves was taught. The poet has given us an essay in a nutshell in that verse, Itexpresses all he could have said in twenty pages. In one of the poems in this book occurs the un- pardonably bad line and worse pun:— He would make Handel fly off the handle. On the other hand Jet us quote a poem, graceful and sweet with the fragrance of flowers :— . With rose and orange scents this place was laden; The summer air was quivering thick with biras. In these cool garden walks I met the maiden “Whose beauty robs her praisers’ tongues of words, A crimson rose was in her hand. She held it Close tomy iq dlp truth wer divine; But I looked in her eyes and scarcely smelled it, But took the flower and hand in both of mine. ‘These are the shades where, arm in arm, for hours We walked—brief hours of throbbing pain and blisa, Bere drank love's bitter-sweet, deep hid in flowers; Here gave and took our last despairing kiss. And where is she, the fair, light-footed comer? I pace these louely garden walks in vain. 0, long lost joy! 0, Roso of love and summer! ‘That day ye bloomed will never como again! One of the most genuinely poetic and delicately hue moreus of the poems in this volume is ‘‘Bird Lan- guage.” It is running over with the brightness of summer and is perfectly charming from the first note ofthe song to tho last. It is of itself sufficient to es- tablish Mr. Cranch’s reputation as a tuneful singer. Faxm Lucexps, By Will Carleton, author of ‘Farm Ballads.” [ilustrated. New York: Harper & Brothers, Wiil Carleton is a poet who writes from the abun- dance of his heart. He has no other expression for hig genius tham poetry, consequently he makes himself felt, He throws himself body and soul, might and main, intothe stories he puts into rhyme. His verse Dears the stamp of earnestness in every line, and though it is often rugged it is generally strong. The faults are evident at a glance, but we overlook them for tho sake of the intrinsic beauty of the poems, which catch the ear as well as the heart of the reader. Just so long as he confines himself to farm ballads and legends he is good; but tho moment he steps into what ho, perhaps, looks upon as higher art he descends to mediocrity. His *‘Betsy and I Are Out’ is the most popular of his poems, for the reason that it has been 80 often read in public, and, of course, owing to its simple power, which almost amounts to eloquence, Mr. Carleton is better in the pathetic than in the humorous, though he is not without a vein of wit in h position. The opening poem, “The Schook master’s Guests,” is quite funny and describes in feok ing terms tho visit of a school committee to a district schoolmaster, Such committees are proverbially ignorant, and this one was no exception tethe rule, ‘Thoy called on the master to find fault with the “new fangled notions’? he had been introducing :— “The first thing I’m bid for to mention is when the class gets up to read, You give 'em too tight of a reinin’ an’ touch ’em ug more than they need; Yeu're miccr than wise in the matter of holdin’ a book in one ban’, An’ you tarn a stray gin their doin’s an’ tack an’ od@ don their an’. There ain't no great good comes of speakin’ the words 80 polite as I 8 Providin'’ you know what the facts is, an’ tell ‘em off Jost as they be." * - ” * * * And the other four good district fathers gave quick the consent that was due, And nodded obliquely and muttered, ‘Them ere is my sentiments tew,’ * * » * * * * “My gals is as steady as clockwork, an’ never give cause for much fear, . But they come home from school t’other evenin’ a talk. in’ such stuff as this her in’ "thou lovest’ an’ *you love’ an’ ‘they’. An’ they answered my questions, twas all I could get 'em to say. | Now, if instead of doin’ your duty, you're carryin’ mat« ters'on 60 As to make the gals say that they love you, it’s just all that I want to know.” Quite an amusing scene ts called up by this picture, The next poem ts "Three Links of a Life,” which con- tains a number of stanzas supposed to bo spoken by a mother to her baby. to keep up the idea and the rhyme in this song the mother says just about as silly things as mothers do say to their babies, but which are haraly worth perpetuating in book form.’ ‘Rob, the Pauper, ’? ts one of the strongest poems in this collection, | T description of the poor lunatic running through t swampe and over the hills with the pursuing men and beasts at his heels ts well drawn. It mast be read inits entirety to bo appreciated, or we would quote from In his pretace Mr, Carleton, who, by the way, is quite young man, thanks tho friends who have stood by him in his efforts and who have “overlooked his literary fauits for the sake of the truths he was strug- gling Co tell, and who have believed—what ho knows— that he is honest." We share this belief with tha sathor, and that is one of the reasons why we follow his career with e@ much interest and aro so lanient te his literary shortcomin, ‘L lov ¢ loves’ and ‘ye love’ an* ‘It's grammar,’ LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. - ‘Three hundred pages of the book have never before seen the light of day or tho darkness of print, and among the sketches contained # this new matter are many far superior to anything over written by Mr, Lewia in the Free Press. Among the amusing sketches might be mentioncd the obituary verses of the woman who lost her little Ross’ and “with some lines onto him’ which she wished to have published. Then thone anxious to rear their hopefuls in the flow. ery paths of literature will fing’ amplo instruction te that end in “The Head Writer,” a sketen which ex- pining all the preliminary steps necessary to become so high a dignitary. ’ The “Eureka Rat Trap” is caleulated to cure melan. atfirat sight and excite a Iaugh from the mout The book abounds in good hits, and will, no doubt, have an immense sale, so famous bave old Bijah and the ‘Pica Man’ become. It is neatly bound and a becoming companion on the shelf to many more Pretentious and less amusing works, rr