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LITERATURE. X>«rotl»T WovdowortU, imrt Ettcy Tour Tt&rontfli aootlnmi with JUor. Brother amt CcJnridjrc. RECOLLECTIONS OP A TOUR MADE IN SCOT LAND, A. D, 1803, By Doiintny Wounnwoutu, Edited by J. 0. Bimini, LL. B„ Principal of tho United College of 81. Salvator and St.' Leonard, Bt, Andrew's. Elmo.,pp. Dl 7. Now York; G. V, Put nam'o Sons. When William Wordsworth wan 8, nnd Ida only sister,. Dorothy, 0, yonra old, .they and their three brothers wore loft motherless. Five yonra nfior, thoir father died, their homo .at Cockormoutli woo broken up, and tho orphans wero ocatlorod, William, and bis older broth er woro put to eohool, and Porolhy was placed with a cousin lu Halifax. For five yoaro thereafter, William and Dorothy did not moot; but, in his flrot college-vacation, in iho auinmor of 1783, . tho brother and sister were for a llmo reunited, and tho happluosa they enjoyed in each other's eocioty liaa boon com memorated in well-known Unco in tbo u Pre lude.” Seven yearn longer, however, tho brother and sister lived separate, whllo Wordsworth was concluding his collegiate term and traveling on tho Oontiuout. Then it was time for tho young man, now past 2i, to choooo some calling which should settle what Colorldgo style# ,tho. broad-and-buttcr question. Ho bad already published a volume of poems, containing “ Descriptive Sketches, and an Even ing Walk but,tho world was not yot prepared to acknowledge him as a poet. At this critical juncture, when fate Boomed ready to docldo that ho should roeort to London and tako up tho trade of journalist, hip (lying friend, Baialcy Calvert, divining what was in him and how ho best could bo helped, bequeathed him ft legacy of £'JOO., Wordsworth put aside all thought of work while ho nursed this loving friend at Pen rith, ond, when death'released him from tho sad duty, early iu 1705, ho was loft with what to his, simple tastes was. a competence sufllcionfc to enable him. to pursue tho vocation of dreamer and poet, which Qod had undeniably marked out for him. In tbo autumn of 1705, tho brother and sister mode a humble homo together, and for seven years lived in quiet and content on the income of £IOO whlchhis legacy, together with £IOO brought by tho 44 Lyrical Ballads," yielded him. Dorothy was a woman of talent and refinement, and had boon gently bred. In tho family of her uncle, Dr. Cookcon, who ,was a Canon of Windsor and a favorite at Court, bUo had spent much time, during which she mingled with, people of culture and high station. But, when nor brother offered her the sanctuary of his humble homo and tbo de light a of his companionship, she shrank from no sacrifice tho situation involved, and became at onco his porvout, helpmeet, and friend. She Eorfbnncd tho domestic work of this little house old unassisted, wrote all his poems at his dicta tion;—for Wordsworth hated tho trouble of put ting bis versos on paper,—road to him when that occupation was agreeable, ac companied him in his long daily rambles, and. morp than all, snggcstcdto him many topics for bis poetry, an well as images .with which to adorn it. For Dorothy herself had the eye and the " imagination of a poet, although, with tho true instinct of a woman,she chose to devote both to tbo service of one whom she loved better than coif, whoso fame was dearer to her tliau her own earthly immortality could ho. Thus tho brother and slater shared life togoth*. er until 1802, whoa Wordsworth married Doro-* thy’s Jong-timo friend, Mary Hutchinson. Tho only change which this event mtdo in Dorothy's condition won, that sho took up tho burden of serving two instead of one. As children gath ered about iho hearth, sho became to them what she had . boon to Iheir father and mother. Tbo fondest ties united her with tho family, and the love and labor sho gave without stint woro returned to her In tho form. of love and gratitude. But, in 1329, Dorothy gave way under tho strain of her self-imposed tasks, and, at the ago of 58, sho was laid apon a sick bod, ' from which sho rose shattered in body ami mind. Bho lived until siio had completed her 63d year, eurviviug Wordsworth five years; but it was merely os tho wreck of horformorsolf,—an imago to sadden tho hearts of friends. It was said that Wordsworth could never speak of horwithout hia voico dropping to a low, mournful touo; and certain days of tlio year, peculiarly associated with their past, were kept by him os solemn an niversaries. Do Quincoy has drawn a portrait of Dorothy as nho appeared to him on their first acquaintance, in 1607, which wo boro copy. After sketching Mrs. Wordsworth, be writes: Immediately behind her moved a lady, shorter, Blighter, and perhaps, in all' other respects, as differ ent from her In personal characteristics as could have been wished for; tho most effective contrast. “Her face woo of Epyptnln brown ; ” rarely, In a woman of English birth, had I seen a moro determinate Gypsy torn). Her eyes were not soft, os Mrs. Wordsworth’s, nor were they fierce or hold; hut they woro mild and ©tattling, end harried in their motion. Her manner waawnrm, and oven ardent; her sensibility roomed constitutionally deep: and eomo subtle flro of im passioned Intellect apparently burned within her, which—'being, alternately pushed forward Into n con ppjcious expression by tho Irresistible' instincts of : her tempermont, and then immediately checked in obedience to tho decorum of her sex, and aoe, and maidenly condition—gave to her whole demeanor, and to her conversation, an air of embarrassment, and even solf-confllct, that, was almost distressing to wit ness.' Even her very utterance and enunciation often suffered, la point of clearness and steadiness, from (ho agitation of her excessive organic sensibility. At times tho Bclf-cmmlcraclion and sclf-bnffllng of her feellngß caused her oven to stammer. But the greatest deductions frqjn Miss Wordsworth's attractions, and from (ho exceeding interest which surrounded her, in right of her character, her history, and of (ho relation which eho fulfilled towards her b: other, were tho glancing quickness of'her motions, and other circum stances In hor deportment (such as her stooping atti tude when walking), which gave an ungraceful charac ter to her appearance when out of doors. In 1603, shortly after tho birth of Words worth’s eldest son,— Coleridge, himself, and Dorothy, mado a tour through Scotland. They traveled In thoir own conveyance,— 44 an out landish Irish car,” drawn by a single horse, which was an ill-willed Rosinante, or else tho poets did not know how to manage him. Tho gentlemen attempted to hold tho reins between them, but generally one or tho other was load ing the stood by tho head, mid often both wore engaged dragging him out of some ditch into which ho had upset tho entire establishment. The travelers themselves woro attired for a rough jaunt, in coarse clothes suited to hard ser vice. Heavy shoos, adopted to tramping through bogs and ovor monntahis, shod the whole party; while garments that would endure rain, and stain, and harsh contact with rocks end bushes, enveloped tho three. Tho tout-ousemhlo of the equipage and its passengers it would ho impossible to parallel in this country, certainly among touristy of re spectability. • Miss Wordsworth has written on amusing de scription of thoir appearance while on tho road, and of the effect it produced upon spectators: ■ Binod [she cays], and left Glasgow at about 3 o’clock Jo a heavy min. Wo were obliged to ride through th, streets to kfcep our feet dry, ami, in spite of the mine ©very person as wo went along stayed Ida, ©tops to look at ub ; indeed, wo bud tho pleaanro of spreading smiles from ouo cud of Glasgow to the other,—for wo traveled tho whole length of the town. A sot of schoolboys,—perhaps (hero might bo eight,—with satchels ovor (heir shoul ders, and, except one or two, without shoos aud stock ings, yol very well dressed in jackets and trousers, like gentlemen's children, followed us iu groat delight, admiring tho car and longing to jump up. At last, though wo woro seated, they mado several attempts to get ou boUlnd; and they looked so pretty and wild, and at tho saino time so modest, that wo wished to give thorn ft rido, ami, thcro being a little hill near Urn end of tho (own, wo got off, nnd four of them who still re mained—tho rest having dropped into thtlr homes by 'tho way—took our places; and indeed I would havo .walked two miles willingly to havo had tho pleasure of ccclngthom so happy. When thoy woro to rldono lunger, thov scampered away, laughing and rejoicing, i Imagine a couplo of, the foremost poets of America, with a lady-companion, going through a econo lilto this, ami, with childlike simplicity, heartily relishing IU It wan this tour, conducted under tho oh-cum etiinccs wo have mentioned, that Miss Words worth describes in her journal, which fa now for the first tlmo published. Tho journey, begun flunday, Aug. 11, and ended Sunday, Sent. 23, haled juut uix wocka, Thoco wore no railroads, aud scarcely a stage-coach, in all Scotland, at that day, while tho highways woro sparse,' nnd generally In a wretched condition. Our tourists scorn tokavo directed thoir routo according to tho pointing o! circumstances, and traveled at tbo rate of 15 or 20 miles a day, or upwnrdof 100 miles a week. No weather delayed them, or was permitted to Interfere with any project. Tho journey wuo In good part pedestrian, an many scenes tho travelers wished to visit.lny off tho carriago-road, and they mado nothing of a walk of 0. 0. mid oven JO mlio:), on a stretch, through driving talus aud over tho roughest pathways. Coleridge, who hod boon ailing from Urn be ginning, woo compelled to leave tho Worths orths at Loon Lomond, in tho second week, and turn back homeward, ou account of his health. As Mies Wordsworth notes with simple pathos: 44 Left Arrochor at about •! o'clock iu tho after noon. Coleridgo accompanied, us a little way. Wo portioned out tho contents of our pmeu before parting | and, after wo hod lost sight of Wm. drove heavily »\Io«h.” The Journal of Miss Wordsworth was written, tia mtcb works usually are, without auy attempt atolcganco or ornament: but the account of each oay’ii experience 1h fully Jotted down, mid all that was striking in Beanery ns well as in cident ia faithfully übrlravod. The journal is puvltoularly intoroatlug Cor tho Insight It nlvoa ua Into the simple hablta of tbo Wordsworths mid into the nido life of the Scotch peasantry hi Iho early part of the present century. Although wo have already copied ao freely, wo must give iilnco to a single picture of a cottage in the hlghlanda, on Loch Kettoriuo t Coloridgochosp to wilk. Wo look tho samcnhloof tho lakona before, nml had much delight la vlsliinn thebayanrer again; but iho evening began lo darken, and It rained bo heavily bofoco wo had gone 2 mile# that wo were completely wot. It wm dark when wo landed, and, on entering Iho house, I was aide with' •Tho good woman had provided, according to her promlßo. a belter Uro than wo had found in tho morn ing; and Indeed, When I nat down iu tho chimney corner of her nmoky biggin’, I thought I had never been more comfortable fn all my life. ! Colorldgo had neon there long enough to hare a pan of coffee boiling for no, and, having put our clothwi in tho way of dry ing, wo nil oat down, thankful for a nlicltcr. Wo couldnot prevail upon the man of thohoueo to draw near tho fire, though ho ay, is cold and wot, or to Buffer t. . him dry clothon (111 ebo had aerved no, which she did, though , moat willingly, not very oxito }*jtlouflly. ♦, , Ho did not, however, refuso lo let wife bring out tho wbUky-bottto nt our request. Sho keeps a dram,” ao tho phrano la ; lndco<t, I bo- Bovo there 1« acnrccly n lonely houeo by tho wayaldo in Scotland Avhcro travelcra may not'ho accommodated with a dram. Wo nnkod for sugar, butter, bnrlcy broau, and milk; nnd, with a amlio and n stare, more of kindness than wonder, sho replied, ll Yo’ll got that,” •—hrluglug each article separately. Wo caroused over cups of coffoo, laughing like chlUron at'tho strango ntmosphoro in which wo wero. Tho smoko camo in gnats, and spread along the walls nnd above our heads in tho chimney, where tlio hens wero roosting, HUo tight clouds in tho sky. Wo laughed and longhod again. In 1 spite of tho smart ing of our eyes; yet had a quiet pleasure in observing tho beauty of tho beams and rafters gloaming between tho clouds of smoko. They had beuu crusted over and varnished by many winters, till, when tho ftrollght fell ujion them, they woro as glossy as block rocks on a sunny day incased Jn tco. When wo had colon our supper, wo But nbout half an hour, and I think I had uover foil so deeply tho blessing of a hospitable welcome and n warm Arc. Tho wails of tho whole house woro of atono unpinn tered. It consisted of three apartments,—tho • cow house at ono cud, tlio kitchen or house in tbo middle, and tho sncnco at tho other end. ThoTooms wore di vided, not up to tho rigging, hut only to tho beginning of tho roof, so there wua a free passage for light and air from ono end of tho house to tho other. Coleridgo and Wordsworth slept in the barn on tho hay, and Miss Wordsworthon abed of chaff in one end of tho sponco, while tho man, hia ■\vifo and child, occupied tboir bod at tbo other oml. In tho rural districts, of Scotland, inns wore scarce, and poor, ami squalid; and many wore tho discomforts to which onr tourists woro sub jected. Often they could find no entertainment in tho public houeo, and were obliged to ask hos pitality of tho cottagers, who never refused it. At tbo end of thoir journey, which was full of rough experiences as well as puro pleasures. Wordsworth ami hio sister reached thoir homo, Sunday, Sopt. 25, "between 8 and 0 o’clock, whore wo found Mary in perfect health, Joanna Hutchinson with her, and little John asleep In tho olothcs-boskot by tho fire.” BpocliH of Jiiiiitory. THE ERA OF THE PROTESTANT REVOLUTION: By Fuedruio Bkedohm, Author of “Tho Oxford Roformoru—Colot, Erasmus, and More.” Iflmo., pp. 242. Now York: Scribner, Armstrong k Co. Price $1.23. THE CRUSADES. By OKOBOtt W. Cox, M. A., Author of “History of Greece,” etc. ICmo., pp. 224. Now York: Scribner, Armstrong k Co. Price $1.25. ‘ ' Those volumoß are tho initial numbers of a historical series entitled “Epochs of History,” and edited by Edward E. Morris, M. A., of Lin coln College, Oxford. They are intended to moot tho wants of that largo class, of readers who, in this busy ago, have but limited leisure to dovoto to literary studios. Ihoy will, therefore, whito endeavoring to bring out into tho clearest light the salient features and incidents of each epoch, compress them within tho smallest possible compass. A main object will also, ho to exhibit in every period tho lifo of tho people, thoir literature, manners, and state of knowledge, os well as tho policy of thoir rulers. In a word, it is tho intent of tho editor to do for history what popular writers aro doing for science : make it readily accessible and perfectly .intelligible, to tho gen eral public. Judging from tho first hook in tho list, tho editors aim will ho splendidly carried out. Tho work is simply a model of its kind. No history extant has succeeded in placing tbo ora of tho Protestant revolution so vividly and cou prohousivoly before tho reader. - It is as If Iho whole'of Christendom, during tho period of tho Bonaissanco and tho. Reformation, woro spread out beneath bis vision, and bo saw with tho actual bye Nations and individuals in their trao relations to each other and to their timo. It would seem that tho writer must have, iu addi tion to a thorough knowledge, of his subject, long training in iho art of imparting it, so lumin ous does ho render every incident, and so perfect tho chain that binds thorn all together. A child could comprehend tho whole of his story, and yet the mature mind will find grateful instruc tion in it. An abundance of ingenious maps il lustrate tho toxt, while eido-noUs, full indexes of tho chapters, and a final iudox, add every convenient adjunct. The Study of Composition. ELEMENTS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Xu INTRODUCTION TO T«U STUDY OK GIUMMAU AUD Composition, Fur Common School**. By Beunard Biosur, Uni. Oxou., Superintendent Public Schools. Port Huron, etc., etc. liimo., pp. 155. Boston; Olun Brothers. Wo are glad to see tho multiplication of text books xrhoao purpose is to teach tho art of com position, or of putting words together properly which in tho clearest manner convoy tho cou tcmplatcd idea. The art has boon, up to a late period, so badly taught, when not altogether neg lected, that the thing which a pupil could do least well was to express hia thought plainly and correctly in writtou language. Aud yet tho art should ho easy of acquisition. 1 It should ho as simple aud natural an act for a child to talk fluently and grammatically with tho pen as with tho tongue. The trouble is, that heretofore the affair, by wrong methods of practice, has boon made a bugbear, and, puzzled and discour aged by a multitude of unintelligible rules,’tbo pupil has made a difficult and disagreeable task of what should bo a pleasant end successful one. The first step to bo taken iu teaching compo sition is to convince a child, by a few easy exor cises, that it is no harder, though a little slower, to write well than It is to talk well,' Lot htmeay tho simplest things ou paper, Just as ho would speak them. Thou show him that, whatovorfaults ho has commuted in tho construction of sentences, are no worse in writing than they would bo iu talking, aud that, iu either cane, thoy are to bo avoided, aud tbo exorcise will soon ho diyested of the false dread that generally makes it tho scholars horror. There is no reason why a chiju should not write with tho same readiness that it talks, aud, in tho continued practice of tho art, grow up without ovor discovering that moro effort or talent is required iu the one ac complishment than in the other. Tho book which baa elicited those remarks wo commend to tho examination of teachers It i» written by an experienced educator, and la commanded by others whoso long yearn iu the school-room havo fitted them to judge of its merits. RcolcU fiotigiu SCOTTISH SONG: A Selection ok tub Choicest Lvniorf or bcorLAun. CorupUea aud Arranged, with Brief Notes, by MahyOaih,ylr iVixia.s. lOum nn 003. Now xork: MacmlUau ft Co, * P * Nearly 200 sortga are comprised hi this collec tion, , representing seventy different writers Thoy are arranged In four parts, tho firut of whioli includes songs of tho affections; tho second social'and drinking-songs; tho third, lovo-songs) admitting a jovial olomont; and tho fourth, Jac obite and war songs. Tho writer lias carefully eliminated from tho older songs all traces of tho indelicacy which marked thoir ago, and in every respect has striven to present a compilation which, while it excludes no sougu that aro dear to tho hearts of the Scottish people, includes no liuou whoso rudouonu at this day would no offensive. Tho volume is supplied with a glossary, ami indexes of writers, titles, acd first lines. Bontca Ktcoolvoit. THE COLUMBIAN ’ SPEAKER; CoMmoTlMi or CuotcK auu Animated IT ecus rou I)b<u.amatu>m and ItcAumo. Sdootud and Adapted by Loomis ■I. oami'oeeL and Oiien Boor, Jit., lOmo., pp. 2io. Bofllou ; J.eo ft Shepard. ' PATTERSON'S OOMMON-HCIIOOL SPELLER: Oon- TAINIMUA (JjUUOKHCEEOXIONOL' WOUDS KOll I’llAOn- CAL ExcnOLlEJ is Skcllino, Bekinino, Puo.suhoi atjo.n, Dictation, and BisriNouDmimi Bvnont&ia, Arranged to Fadlltutu Written Exi ivlhos In Spell ing,«ud Aceonipttiiioil by an Kxorclmj-Bouk. Kimo., pp. iro. Now York: Sheldon ft Co. THE HIDDEN SIN: A Sequel to » Tm; Pi> Htamuni, 14 By Eliza A. Duitjv, Author of Tbo OJj ay's ViVnmig,'* tie,, tin. IJino,, pp, ;i.)7, ! T, B. i'otoriinn ft Brothtirii. TUN HEADING CLUIJ AND HANDY SPEAKER; jiruuo In I’umm ahd Toktiiv, Seuioco i Aii.'ctio, rAxmorio, .iNuDiuiuuo, irua IluAPir.ua a.vu lUatTAXionii, Edited by Gaonon THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 36, 1874. M. UARim, No. 1, lOrao., pp. 03. Boston : 800 It Sliflimrd. A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF TUB EAXITK. Translated from tlio French of Jm.ns Viuinr, An-' thorof " From Iho Earth to flm Moon,” do., oto. 13m0., pp. 413. Now York: Scribner, Annotrcug ti 00. HOW TO CONDUCT A DEBATE: A SicntEfl op COMrUtTK DOATKfI, OUTLINBft OP' 3JKIUTEB, AND Qurstiono rou DiKOOPmoN. With References to tho Boot Bonrcon of InfortnAlion on each I’arllmilor Topic. By FneoKmoit Bowtok. American Edition, Bovlned by W. Tailon. 10mo„ pp. 103, Now York: Dick k FRagcrald. BOEMO OF TWENTY YEAIIB. By Lauiu WlNrmior Johnson. 12m0., pp. 143, Now Y'ork: Do Witt 0. Ixmt* TUB CONFESSIONS OF A MINISTER: Bsino liKATKfI pnosi TUB DIAUT OP THR KIIV. JOBBI’IIUS Luonhakut, D. D. 12mu„ pp., 133. Philadelphia: 11, Peterson ft Co, LEISURE-HOUR SERIES. T«R NotAnt’s Nosr. By E. Anonr, 10mo., pp, 240. Now Yorks Jlcnry Holt A 00. SPUING FLOODS ; AND ‘A LEAH OP THE STEPPE. By Ivan TonorfUEPP. lomo., pp. £l9. Now York : ilcnry Holt !c Co. ATIIHItHTONE PiUOUY. By L. N. Oqntn, Author of “ Slice, a Talc,” Itfmo., pp, 317, Boston: Edco ft I/iurlat. NOT IN TJIEIII SET: on. In DrFFEnnNT Cingt.ns or Hooinv. From tuo Oonnnn of Maiur Lbnzcn, 12mo„ pp. 373. Boston: Lou to Shepard. WOMAN AND TUB DIVINE BEPUBLIO. By Lno Mn.t.i:n. 12m0., pp. 213. jluffalo j Hiun ft NausrL' THE BIBLE ItEOAINED, AND THE QOD OF THE BIBLE aims; on, Tins BvsTKit op Rnuoioun Truth in Outlinb. By Samuel Lkb. 10mo,, pp, 235. Bouton: Leo & Shepard, LIVES OF THE CTHEF-JUSTICES OP ENGLAND. By Lord OASirnuLL, Author or “The Lives of Iho Lord-Olioncollors or England,” In four volumes. Vul. HI. Bvo,, pp. 493. Boston: listen k Lauriat, A*orloilicals ftccolvcct. Atlantia Monthly f6r October (11. 0. Houghton <k Co., Ddston). Tito contents embrace: Fiction —Mr. Howells’ now novel, “ A Foregone Con clusion,” X.-XH.; IT. Jamoa Jr.’a “ Eunouo I'lckoriugMiss Wadsworth’s “ Marty’s Various Morelos.” Personal Skotchoa —” Somo Groat Contemporary MusiciansGoorgo Cary Eggles ton's "A* llobol’a llocolloctiona —this thno of Gen. J, E. B. Stuart. Philosophy—Tho llov. .lamesFrooman Clarko’a u Have Animals Sonia ?” Poetry—Bret ‘ Harlo’a “ llamon Mr. Trow bridgo’o “I’routing;” Mrs. Thaxter’a **Favc wollMr. llayuo’a '• Tito Woodlajid,” ami other poems, Crlliciam—Miss Preston’s' “Thoodoro Aubanol, a Modem Provencal PootMr. Porry’a “Bcrthold Auerbach.” Old and New for October (Roberts Brothers, Boston). Principal articles : “Tho'Lost Pal ace,” by E. E. Jlalo; “Our Sketching Club,” X., by iho Ilov. 31. St. John Tynvhitt; “The Way Wo Live Now.” XLI.—XLV., by Anthony Trollope; “King-Making in tbo Sandwich Isl ande,” by J. Bishop Putnam; "Tho Relations of the National and State Governments to Ad vanced 'Education;” “Pilchards," by Mary J. Ponwyn. Catholic World for October (Catholic Puhlica , tion House, Now York)- Contents:" “Matter.” ■HI.; “Tho Veil Withdrawn,” XVI.—XXI.; “ Tho Present State of Anglicanism;” “ Alitor and Zara,” VI., by Aubrey do Vero; “ Assunta Howard,” III.; “ A Discussion with nn Infidel,” XL—XIII.; “A Legend of Alsaco;” “Fac similes of Irish National Manuscripts;” “ Con gress©! tho Catholic Germans l at Mayonco:” “Switzerland in 1873,”—etc., etc. LippincoH's 'Magazine for October (J. B. Liu pincott A Co., Philadelphia). “ThoNowUvpo riqn t ”by£dwardStrahan : “Three Feathers, by William 'Black; and “Malcolm,” by George Macdonald, aro continued. “A Visit to tho Dolomites” is concluded. Other noticeable acts are: “Tho British) Peerage,” by Rogi -1 Wynford; 44 Grouse-Shooting iu Galloway,” by Robert Somers, Jr.; and “Miss Filch,”by Lucy Ellen Guernsey. T’Hua Munson Goan, MaJcom Maccnon, Maty 13. Dodgo, and F. A. Hillard, aro tbo pools of tho number. Scribner's Monthly for October (Scribner & Co., Now York). u Tho Groat South," by Ed ward King, and “Tho Mysterious' Island,” by Jules Verno, nro continued; *• KatborlnoEarlo,” by Adeline Trafton, and “Ordronnnux,” by Harriot Prescott Spoffonl, aro concluded. Other articles; 44 ’Tito Poulotto/' by George W, Cable; “Tho Literary and tho Ethical Quality of Qoorgo Eliot’s Novels,” by W. C. Wilkinson: “Two Visits to Oxford," by E. S. Nndal,—etc., otc. Poetry by H. H. f Charlotte F. Bales, Ben jamin F. Taylor, R. T., and Colia Tliaxtor. Warper's Maqazim for October (Harper & Brothers, Now York). I’rincipal papers : “Dec orative Art and Agriculture in England," 1., by Moncato D. Conway; “An Old Town by tho Soa,” by J. B. Aldrich ; “ Huntsmen of the Sea,” by William 11. Ridllng ; “ The Isles ot Shoals, by John W, Chadwick ; “llapoof tho Gamp,” V.-YI1I.; ** Soma Talks of nn Astrono mer.” 1., by Prof. Simon Newcomb : “ The Re publican Movement In Europe,” XII., by Emilio Caslolar. There are three short stories ; and poems aro furnished by J, T. Trowbridge, It. H. Stoddard, Margaret E. Sangstbr, and John G. Saxo. • Tlio Galaxy for October (Sheldon it Co.. No* York). “Linloy' Rockford,” by Justin JlcC’ar tby, ia continued. “Lifo on tho Plains,” by Gen. Custer, and “Marshal Mac.Mahon,” by E. Rectus. aro concluded. Rose Tony baa a story, “Caught by Kuhloborn,” and J. T. McKay an other, “ Moutoroy.” Other articles are; “Sours of Society,” by.’F. Braudor Matthews,* “Fig- Leaves and French Dresses.” by Lucy 11. Hooper j “Tho Loadstone of Love,” by Junius 11. Browne*, “ Communism and tho Commune," by Joao do Armaa Ccapedeoj and “Popular Pie,” by Richard Grant White, Poetry by Con stance Fenimoro Woolaou, F. W. D., Joel Ben ton, and Nora Perry. Blackwood's Magazine for September (tho Leonard Scott PnbUßhing Company, Now York) baa continuations of “ Alice Lorraine,” “ Tho Story of Valentino and Ilia Brother,” and “Inter national Vanities.” It also has* tv “ Review of tho Session," “Tho Greek Fool,” “Pilchards and Pilchard-Catchers,” W. W. Story’a poem ou Charles Sumner, and “Tho Ancient Classics." Penn Monthly for October (Philadelphia), haa articles on tho “ Economic Wronga of Ireland,” “Our Public Schools,” “Romance of Artiat- Xjifo.” “Duohrlug’o National Economy,” aud “ Alice and Phtubo Cary.” St. Nicholas for October (Scribner & Co., Now York). Beautifully illustrated. Sanitarian for October (A. N. 8011, Now York). Dritlan's Quarterly Journal to r July (Stand ard Spiritual Library Association, Now York). Day of West for September (Alexander Strahan, London: WUmcr & ' Bogota Nows Company, Now York), Saturday Journal for September (Alexander Strahan, London; WUmcr A Rogers Nows Com pany, New York). American Dec Journal for September (Ameri can Publishing Company, Chicago, ill., aud Ce dar Rapids, la,). Phrenological Journal for October (Samuel 3L Wells, Now York), African Depository tor September (American Colonization Society. Washington). American Naturalist for September (Peabody Academy of Science. Salem. Maas.). Medical Investigator for September (Chicago), DemoresVs Monthly for October (Now York). Current numbers of Littcll'a Living Ago (Llt toll & Gay, Boston) ; Decry Saturday (11. O. Houghton it Co., Boston); and Applctons* Jour nal (D. Appleton & Co., Now York). Literary llciiw. Stuart Mill’s posthumous work on religion will be issued from tiio press next month. Among tho hooks to bo looked for soon is Mr. Macronuy’a autobiography, edited by Sir Fred erick Pollock. Miss Alcott iu at work on a juvenile of some length, after tho utylo of 44 Littlo Women," It will run through St, Nicholas boloro appearing in hook form. Mr. Swinburne Is reported engaged on a critical essay on tho Lifo and Works of Ooorgo Chapman, to bo prefixed to tho second volume of the complete edition of his works. Tho following now works are in coureo of pub lication by D. Appleton & Co., Now York s Iho Science of Law,” by Prof, Sheldon Amos, of I, . Un * Ver,{t r» “Animal Mechanism, ■* by 1 rof. 0, J. Marey, Collegeof l^ranco; “History of tho ,ct i| olwcc u Religion aul Science," by J)r. John \VlUiam Draper, author of “ The lutollectiml Duvolop mePT.,°»urotHs; ' 1 “The Chemical Effects of Light and I holography. In Their Application to Art, Science, and Industry," by Dr. Hormaun Vogel, Polytechnic Academy of Jkrlln 5 “Tho Theory of Descent—Dar winism," by I‘rof. Oscar Bohmldt, Unlvorolly of Stras bourg; Ol'ticii,’' by Prof. Lomucl, University of LrJnuscn, A llrlef lllnlory of Culture," by John S'Ji Ut wJA « f0 Columbus," by A. Goodrich; “The Native JUcoßof tho Paciflo Slates of North America, 1 by 11. 11. Bancroft. Vol. 1., \SM Tribes; Hie Principles of Sociology," by Jlurbort Hpcuccr, to bobisuoa In niimhora until completed; «Descriptive Boclolouj, lurt 111,, by Herbert Speucor; “Chapters bj Political Economy," by Albert S. Holies: “My Story.” by Mrs, Macqnold, author of “Patty “Tho Theology of tho Lnglljih Poets," W the Huv. fclonford A. Hrooko; “ B.imncl Lover t LtConud Unpublished ttorks, 1 by Boyle ilertjnrd; “Jlerodllv: a Psychologi st Sltbly 011 Ilil Phenomena. Its Lawn. Its Cutinpe, and °l!5 CQ iJ l f C 1 by n ,, V l ”* wl » '* Thß Natural life tory of Man,' by 1 rof, Quatrofageo, translated by Miss \onmans; “A School-History of Gcr- W’/ 1 ky Hojmd laylor; “Youmana* Ohcm wiry, now edition, entirely tawi*li[iiti • Il f II R IOI n H foiu tUQ Middle AgS ami 0r.. 1 . 110 i orlo<l of i*‘“ ) " by Paul Lucrolx ; “Iho Amazon and Madeira Jtlvcra; Sketches ami Peacrlptlons from the Noto-Hook of on lUplor«r," by i-ranh holler: “Whispers from ValryLimd" 6y jf. L lumtcUhul -UimcHfleu j “ Knuitd Orlact's l-'nnuy riilnroliimltK, Hold only by subscription ; “Thu Llfo of Samuel iMJ. (>y s. Irotilw i. D. 5 “J'crHiiiwJ Horn uh-ocueea, Anccdotcm and Lot tors of Gen. ItolKi th, Wby ih« Utv. J. WUllum Jouos, 11, D. | “ Iholurißijua Europe,” uniform with “ricluriwquo America; ” Tho Amerlam Cydonuidla " eighth volume Just Luucd, puhllthed at tho rate of one volume every two mouths. SPARKS OF SCIENCE. AOntCDLTCUAIi AKTO. Such mnrvoloun stories aro told 9/ the eagacl ly of ants that ono 1b prepared to bear alxnoat ouythiug concerning their Intellectual achieve ments | but, when wo aro told that thoro Is a epcoios living down In Texas, that actually sows, reaps, and hives grain for its winter use, the statement is almost; too much for human credu lity. However, wo have it on tho authority of Dr. Gideon Llncccmn, a student of science whoso observations ore accepted by the savants os careful and trustworthy.' In a recent paper communicated by him to tho Smithsonian In stitute, and published, by permission of I’rnf. Henry, in tbo Naturalist, thoro aro many in teresting particulars of this singular ant, which, from Uo devotion to husbandry, is termed the Agricultural ant. Its feciontifio name is il/yr mica molefacicns. This ant lives in populous communities, builds paved cities, constructs roads, mid sustains largo military forces 1 For tho first year and a half after n colony is fouuded. its operations aro con ducted underground., Tho ants then begin to appear above tho surface, and begin to build their public works and cultivate their estates. All grass, herbage, and other obstructions aro cleared nwny to thodistauco of 3 or-i feet around tho outrauco to their city; and a circular pave ment, consistiug of a pretty hard crust,about half an Inch thick, is constructed of coarse sand and grit. This pavement is sometimes 15 feet in di ameter. To avoid tho inundation which would bo likely to overflow this pavement in the rainy sea son, “ at least six mouths previous to tho coming of tho rain ” they commence tho erection of a mouudor pyramid, which rises a foot or more from the centre of tho pavement. ■ Tbo mouud Is occupied with noatly-constmct od colls, in which tho “oggu, young ones, mid tholr stores of grain, aro carried in tlmo of rainy seasons.” Tho pavement in kept clear of every growing herb, except a grain-hearing grass, tho Arlsiida stricla.' when rlpo, this grain is bar vested, tho chaff removed, and thou it is stored In tho dry cells. ■ Tho “ grain from several other species of graus, ns well as seeds from' vorious kinds of herbaceous plants,” is also gathered and garnered. Hr. Liucecutn declares tuat tho ants oven bow tho grain of the Ariatlda stricla, which ho calls ant-rico, Despite tholr precau tions. hoaayoßomolimos, duringraloyseasons, tho ground about tholr city becomes saturated, and tho water penetrates Into their granaries and sots tholr seeds to sprouting. Then there is a turmoil in tbo colony. All the damaged grain is brought out tho first lino day, and exposed to tho sun. When night icomoa, every seed that has not actually sprouted is taken In again. Dr. Lincocum states that ono day ho saw those nuts *• have out on d flat rock as much as a gallon of wheat, sunning.’' 110 watched tho operation of Us return to the colls again, which the - nuts ac complished at nightfall in'just five minutes. Wlioa Dr. lilucccuni' first wont, in 1818. to Long Point, Tex..—tho place where ho has studied these auto, —thoro was hut ono of their cities within' a mile of the town. This was situated on tho summit of a nearly barren knoll, where thoro was but scanty vegetation to interfere with the peculiar industry of tho littlo agriculturists. Their plantations of ant-rioo wove flourishing in a regular circlo inside tho pavement, and thoro wore “patches of the same grass scattered around 4n a littlo glade, which had doubtless been planted thoro by some ex perienced ant, for it had neatly been cleared of nil other vegetables.” Tho country surrounding Long Point was everywhere, but in this single spot, covered with a rich black soil, which boro a heavy turf of grass, through which tho ants could not travel, and they wore therefore con fined to their single city. But when, in tho course of a couple of years, a path passing near their pavement had got woll trodden, they wero able to run over U, And erect now cities 011 its borders. Throe years dftor, their cities wore scon rising ot Intervals of 80 yards, for tho dis tance of a mile along this path. As wo have said, for tho first eighteen months after a city is begun, its builders keep them selves hid from their enemies. At tho cud of that time they have gained sufiiclont strength to sustain themselves in the struggle for existence with other tribes of their race, and dare an nounce tholr intentions in tho world above. When tho ants wish to send off a now colony, thoy asuomblo in swarms from tho surrounding cities, and celebrate a grand marriage-festival, which continues for throe or four hours. Tho Queen of tho colony thcif spreads her wings, ■ and flies with tho wind until oho is tired, or is thrown to the ground by a counter-current. • She now runs about in oagor hasto to se lect a proper location whore to lay tho foundations of tho city. This she docs by dig ging a Biriall hole, from which, after it has readi ed a certain depth, aho withdraws, and delib erately bites off herwiugs with her sharp mondi blcs. She thou renews her digging until she has made an excavation C or 7 inches deep, with a small coll at tho bottom, in which she onscoucoo herself, cloaca tho aperture, ami deposits twenty or thirty eggs. Tho inmates of those eggs aro all workers, aud, wbou they Imvo reached matu rity, they sot about tbo labors of tholr lives. The Queen keeps them constantly employed, while she adds to their numbers. When her colony is numerous enough, they commence their outer fortifications and tho cultivation of tholr fields of grain. Dr. Lincocum dosoribea ono of tho marriage fcßtlvala of the Agricultural auta which lie wit nessed in 1853. A space of ground, 107 yards in length and 10 yards m width, was covered with tho tiny creatures. Those carousals aro so dis solute and exhausting as to prove fatal to tho mule outs, aud thoy ore always loft dead on tho field. Ou visiting tho place tho morning alter tho debauch in question, Dr. Lincocum found that tho wind had driven tho dead bodies of tho revelers into tho littlo gulling iu.tho road, and altogether “ thoro could not have boon lees than a bushel of them.” Not a female, dead or living, was to bo seen ou tho ground. Thoy had made their escape, and countlcea littlo black plica of earth iu the vicinity showed how busy thoy had boon during tho night, making excavations for their accommodation. Did tho Queens all sur vive, tho earth would soon bo overrun with their progeny. And Nature takes caro to prevent this. Many of them die in their colls, from hav ing packed tbo dirt over them too tightly ; many fall a pvoy to nuts ot other spocioa, which hunt thorn out and assassinate them ; while mauy are devoured by birds, to whom thoy prove a de licious morsel. man living. Tho highest apot on tlio globo inhabited by human beings is tho Buddhist olqistor of Ilanlo, in Thibet, whoro twcnty-ono priests live at on altitude of IG,OOO feet. Tho monks of Bt. Ber nard, whoso monnotcry Is 8,117 foot high, aro oliged to descend frequently to tho valleys bo low in order to obtain relief from tho asthma induced by tho rarity of tho atmosphere about their mounlaln-oytio. At tho end of ton years’ servico in tho monastery, they oro compelled to change their exalted abode for a permanent resi dence at tho ordinary level. When tho brothers Bchlagiuawoll explored the glaciers of tho Ibl- Oamiu, in Thibot, they onco oiicampcd at 21,QU0 foot,—tho highest altitude at which a Kuropoau over paused tho night. At tho top of Alt. Blanc, 15,781 feet above tho level of tho sea, Prof. Tyn dall spent a night, and with loss discomfort than his guide, who found it very unpleasant. lu July. 1872, Air. Glmahor unci Air. Coxwoll ascended in a balloon to tho enormous height of 88.000 foot. Before starting, Mr. Olniuhor’s pulse boat 70 stroked nor minute, and Air. Cas well's 74. At 17,000 foot, Air. Qlaishor’s pulse had increased to 8-1, and Air. Coxvroll’fl to 100, At 10,000 foot, tho hands and lips of the aero nauts turned quite blue. At 20,000 feet, Air. Glaiuhor could hear his heart beat, and his breathing became oppressed. At 20,000 foot, he bccamo senseless; notwithstanding which ho asuondod still another 8,000 foot, when his hands wore paralyzed, and ho had to open tho vulvo with his teeth. In tho Alps, at tho height of 18.000 foot, climbers suitor from thoratUy of tho air; yet, in the Andes, persons can dwell, as at Polos), at u height of from 18,000 to 15,000 foot, without inconvenience. * amis. M, Gllcon has recently concluded a fournoy round tho world, which ho made for (ho purpose of ascertaining tho condition of tho trade in goroo, In an article In tho Bt. Petersburg UazcLlc ho states tho results of his investiga tions. Diamonds ho found nt u lower rate than they havo reached in ten years past. Pearls and emeralds are, on tho other baud, at a pre mium. An opal tho elzo of an average olivo would bring hi Now Vork, nt tho present tiino, about SIBO ; a sapphire of the same size would bring $>1,850 } an emerald, £7,500 } a diamond, 613,500 ; and a ruby, £37,500. In liurono Uioao gom\» would rank somowlmt uif forontly, opals and sapphires rating hlglior and emeralds lower. Pearls are now brought from Central America, California, and tho Persian Gulf, but none of thorn rival those of iho Hast Indies. About $5,'d50,()00 worth of diamonds two annually imported from Month America into Duvopo, amt tho sumo into America. Many of those uro uf good size, and moat havo a yollow lah tinge. Iu conaoqucnco of this heavy im portation, diamonds uf tho samo hue have fallen Yo per cent In tho market. They would havo fallen etUI lower wore it not Hint tho enormous fortunes realized in America through petroleum ami military contractu havo cioalod'an excessive demand. But thin effect upon llio value of the otonoß may bo considered moroly temporary. A Hlmllnr depreciation in their price occurred at the discovery of tho diamond-mines in Brazil, — Oolconda having previously supplied tho mar hot,—but they coon regained their value. BKNUJ)i;?a A COU.STT.y OF ITS TJUiCfI. Tho Khauato of Bokhara affords a signal Illus tration of tbo damage done by denuding a coun try of Us forests. Thirty-years ago, tho Khanate woo ono of tho most fertile provinces of Central Asia, and, woll woodod and watered, woa regard ed aa an earthly paradise. Five years thereafter, a mania for forest-clearing broke out among tho inhabitants, and continued to rage as long as there remained timber on which to vout itself. Whot trees woro spared by rulers and people woro afterwards utterly consumed during a civil war. Tho consequence of this ruthless destruc tion of tbo forost-growlh is now painfully manifest in immense dry and arid wastes. Tho wator-couruos havo become empty channels, and tho system of canals -constructed for artificial irrigation, ond supplied from tho living ntreamo, has boon rendered useless, Tho moving sands of tbo dosort, no longer restrained by forest-barriers, nro gradually advancing arid drifting over the land. Thoy will continue tholr noiseless invasion until tho whole Khanate will become a dreary desert, as barren os tho wilder ness separating it from Khiva, ft is not sup posed that tho Khan baa suClciout energy or the means at his command to arrest tho desolation that threatens to spread over his territories. Tho oxamplo is ono to stimulate enlightened govern ments to avoid a similar catastrophe, by pre serving a duo proportion of forost-lamlu in tholr domains, and by restoring thoso which have boon Improvldoutly laid bare. " UVOnAULIO JIINIKQ. In tho system of, hydraulic mining which pre vails extensively in California, thoro woro em ployed, iu 1807, 6,000 miles of artificial water courses. Prof, llaymoud states, in ono of his reports on mines west of tho Bricky Mountains, that tbo flumes' of thoso canals aro pftou of shoot-iron, and in soma places aro carried con siderable distances at a height of 250 foot abovo tho ground. Largo volumes of .water aro con ducted in this way, and directed against hills and masses.of earth under a hydrostatic pressure that will, if needed, cut away solid rook almost as readily as the compact soil. Groat damage is done to extensive tracts of country by thus di recting streams from their natural channels, and spreading earth, sand, gravel, and pebbles, that havo boon washed down by their currents, over fertile aud cultivated lands. Ono orchard val ued at 660,000, aud another at $200,000, havo boon so destroyed. 1 A report from the Agnsul tural Bureau at Washington estimates the’an nual damage done by this mode of mining at $12,000,000. oxuxrpEß, lloccnt noto has been made of tho arrival at tho Garden of Acclimation, in Paris, of elx gi raffes, the oldest of which is 3 yearn of ago. Tho giraffe is a native of Africa, and'mod to inhabit tbo country from Nubia to tbo Capo of Good Hope, but it lo said now to bo restricted to a small canton of Abyssinia. All attempts at domesticating tho ariimul have failed In Africa, yet it is easily lamed in Europe. In Us native haunts it roams iu herds of from five to ftftv, browaiug on the leaves aud small branches of trees. It is inoffensive, and nooks to osoapo danger by flight 5 yot, if bard pressed, will fight stoutly, discharging a storm of kicks with its hind lego that will oven heat off tho lion. Its running pace is swifter than that of a fleet horse, and it moves over uneven ground with great advantage. Tho llcah of tho giraffe is called palatable, and its morrow is a favorite Af rican delicacy. JIOUTALITV AS AITEOTED JUT WKATSIEII. An interesting paper ou the relations between human mortality ami tho seasons of tho year, which was road before tho Scottish Meteorologi cal Society by Dr, Arthur Mitchell and Mr. Alexander Buchan, gives, in brief, (he informa tion that the death-rate from bronchitis, pneu monia, asthma, and kindred diseases, is highest in cold, weather from hraiu-diseaso, convul sions, ami whooping-cough, it is highest in cold arid dry weather ; from suicides ana oraall-pox, in worm and,dry weather; from diarrhea, dysen tery, and cholera, in warm and moist weather; and from rheumatism, beart-disenso, diphtheria, scarlatina, measles, and croup, iu cold and moist weather. nyroDEiuno injection or chlouai.. The hypodermic injection of chloral has lately boon accomplished with favorable results. A report of tho experiment slates that an csthc cia was produced by injecting’ twenty-two grammes of a solution of chloral,-Kino part in tiiroo of water,—by a capillary puncture, into ono of tho' radia veins. At tho end of, ten minutes, an eathc'sla was complete.—tho patient falling into a profound sloop, which continued for twenty minutes, during which a painful ope ration was successfully performed; Tho patient was roused by tbo passage of a rapidly-intermit ting current of electricity between tho left aide of the nock dud tho epigastrium. “ CORN ,iS KING OF THE WEST.” 800 I loft ami right of us, Fivr out of Bight of us, His mighty battalions Aro marshaled to-day J Standing up, one by ono, IHfeh In tho gleaming aim, Sco tho Hues stretching Away and away I No gnus or canuonado Marshaled on dress-pamdo,— Only tho gloatnlng-blado: Mars you that gleaming bhdo Artisan never made,— Emerald uniform, Tassels of gold, Banners of silken sheen; Deop their bright folds between A cornucopia. Each soldier's hands hold. Lons since tboir mnroh begun; Ne’er will their march bo done *TU,:*noath the netting mm, How their beads, one i>y one,- < How iu tbe sunshine, Tho Ocean to greet: Know'nclthcr pause nor rest, Never till gleams their creat O'er all thomighty West, And the waves of Ocean IloU at tbelr Joel. • Prairies grow green with them I Kce you tho sheen of them,—' Ijlho upon Hue of them •Stretching away? Jlauks upon ranks of them, J’mcrrdd banka of them, Who will outnumber These legloha to-day ? Kinga upon ancient thrones, UulUlcil on human hones; ’Neath whoso foundation-stones Hear we » nation's groans, Merit your armies K'cu Fame’s transient breath? Out on’tlie'wholo of them I, Utot out the roll of them I What lo (heir merit. Save bloodshed mid death 7 And hall to our glorious Armies victorious 1 Hear yo tho cheers for them? Where are tho peers of them, Conquering poverty, Blessing the earth. And bidding defiance To ogres uud giants Ttuj,t haunt tho Old World,— Uauut Famine and Heath 7 These aro *• owr cotmlry’n prldo,” Beaching out far and wide, Fur to the sotting sun Gleaming their crest: All through Its vast regions Long may tho fair Jcgloua Of Plenty ami I'eaco Htamt guard o’er the Weal, —Lottie if, Jioee in (he Prairie Partner, Vanquished l>y a On*. .r t Frmn the Kiwiton (Can.) irAto. Mr. btobblnu Poor, tho funambulist or rope walker, who has a cablo stretched across tho Niagara llivcr, just below tho now suspension bmlKO, ami gives exhibitions of his skill In rouo walUirig, cftiuo near mooting with an ucoidont tho.othor day, which, but for his agility, would undoubtedly, havo ondod bis oaroor ns a rono walkor. JIo conceived tho brilliant idea of tak ing a cat on tho ropo, and starting it on ahead of him, in order to havo two Boueatloua at the somo tlnio, when about DO foot from tho shore ho sot the cat on tho ropo, expecting, of course, that tho foliuo would show how tho thing was douo wi well as ho could do it himself. Hut tho cat was not at nil anxious for ■ funambulism, end, instead of making a boo-. Una. across, turned ,upon Pqor, climbed upon him, and fastened his tooth In his shoulder. In his efforts to disengage the oat ho missed his footing, ami hud to drop his balance-pole, which foil on tho rocks bolow, and was broken. I'cor himself scrambled along tho ropo back to tho shoro tho best way bo could, 110 succeeded in reaching terra lltina, but tho exhibition of tho day was brought to a close, nu a funambulist withqut u balance-polo is of littlo account. Tho polo won subsequently recovered aud spliced. I'cor will walk again, but will not bo likely to take any cats along. FAMILIAR TALK. OliD KNQTiIHII M.AVS. Tlio legitimate English drama was divided at Itii birth into tho two groat deportments of Tragedy mid Comody. Tho earliest apoclmoa now oxlant of the latter species of composition waa wrltlou In 1051, by Nicholas Udall, who gavo it tho title of M Ralph Royster Doystor.” Ita author was a celebrated master of Eton College, and was in tlio habit of composing playa, chlolly In Latin, for the ainuscmcut of his ccholars, "who porfonnod them on festival occasions, and especially during tho Christmas holidays. Tho scone of this firat comody, which has become famous purely from tho accident of Ua dale, is laid In London, and Ua dramatis porsonro include thirteen characters. Tho borolno of the play Is a rich young widow, whoso lover has deserted her and nmiortakon a long Journey in a momentary plqno. During bis absence, bis mistress is besieged with suit ors, chief among whom Is Ralph Royster Doc tor. This silly youth baa just Inherited n largo fortune, and is surrounded with intriguers and eycophonts, who lead him Into all sorts of ridic ulous and humiliating adventures. The pioco ia brought to a happy ftnalo by tho return of tho favored lover. Tho play prosonta o lively pic ture of tbo maimers of tho middle class of tho period. It ia written in loose and irregular rhyme, tho plot is Ingeniously contrived, nmi the dialogue is animated. About fourteen years after tbo production of “Ralph Royster Doystor,” John Still, who was Duccesslvoly Master of Bt. John’s and Trinity Colleges. Cambridge, ‘Vice-Chancellor of tho University there, and Bishop of Bath and Wells, wrote “ Oalnmor Gorton's Noodle,”—Uio second oldest comedy that has como down to ns. Tho charactora iu this drama aro all taken from low life, and aro rough and coarso beyond descrip tion. The action turns upon tho loss of Gam mer Gurton’o only needle, which eho last used in mending her man Uodgo’s inexpressibles. Not only her own household, but tho wholo neighborhood, is cot in commotion by tho dis consolate dame, whoso grief over her calamity is Ucrco and uncontrollable. Search is institut ed everywhere, and everybody within roach ja called upon for sympathy, or accused of stealing tho missing implement. Divers oorioua quarrels, and ono sovoro hami-to-hnud light, between Gammer and .a follow-gossip, grow out of tho affair, while tbo vilest epithets accessible fly from ono to another with a freedom and fluency that are startling. In the end, whilo parson, and apothecary, and justice, aro endeavoring to settle tho difficulty between tho two bellicose crones, Hodge dis covers—by a savage prick it gives him—tho lost uocdlo in tho patch which Gammer Gurton had set in his pantaloons. The loss of a noodlo seems a most insignificant incident on which to base tho onllro intrigue of a play, and wo can only Infer, from tho circumstauco’bolng elevated to such importance, that, iu tho middle of tho sixteenth century, a noedio was a rare and costly article, and. among tho poorer classes, to bo guarded au a precious treasure. Tho play ia crowded with gross iudocouclou in language and situation, which All ono with surprise tnat it could have boon written by an educated ecclesi astic, and oven relished by respectable English audiences. It wna probably first acted at Christ’s College, Cambridge. Tho second act of tho comedy opens with a drinking song, which Wnrton pronounces tho first convivial ballad of any merit that appeared m tbo English language. It reels off in an easy, rollicking stylo, aptly expressive of tho spirit that moves ft. As a sample of tho literature of a rude ago, wo copy it entire: , I cannot oat but liltlo moat, My Btomach is not pood; But sure I think that I cun drink With him that wears a hood. Though I go hare, take yo no care. I nothing urn a-cohlo; 1 elude my akin bo full wilhlu, Of Joly goods ale and aide. JJaeke and tide po bare, Jloothfoot ami hand po cohle; tint, belli /, God teiul thee pood ale inoughe. Whether ti be new or olde l I love no rost, hut a uut-browuo losto, And a crab laid in tho flro; A little bread RhnU do me stead, Mocho broad I uoght desire. No frost, no snow, no winde, I trowe, Can hurt mo if I woldo, 1 ani no wrapt, and throwly lapt, Of Joly pood nlo and olde. Uachc ami tide, etc , And Tib, my wife, (hat rs her life Lorctb well good alo to neeko, Pull oft drlultes shco till yo may wo The (cares run downo hor chcoko. Then doth oho trowlo to mo tho howla Kven mi 0 mault-worm aholdo * Ami Pidlli, “ Sweet heart, I tuoko my part Of this joly good nlo and olde. h’asfcc and sub, etc* Now lei them drlnko till they nod jmd whiUe, liven ns good follows should do; They ahnll not mtHse to havo the bllast Good do doth briupo turn to. And all good Bonlcs that have fleoured howlc-*. Or have them lustoly treble, God nave tho lives of them ami tholr wives, Whetherthoyboyoug oroide, liacke and side, etc. To Thomas Backvillo, afterwards Bari of Dor set, tbo most accomplished nobleman at tho Court of Queen Elizabeth, and his associate, Thomas Morton, belongs tbo honor of bavins written tbo first woll-dofinod tragedy in tbo English language. It was composed when oacUvillo was a youth, and a member of one of tbo Inns of Court, and was first exhibited in tho great Hall of tbo Inuor Temple, by tbo stu dents of that society, during a C'btintmaa entertainment. It was afterwards played before Queen Elizabeth., at Whitehall, Jan. 13, ISGI. The llrst exact edi tion. printed in 1871, iu black letter, is entitled “Tbo TIUGJDIE OB FEIUtEX AND FORREX, sot forth without addition or altera tion, but altogether as tbo samo was showed on siago before tbo quoonca Majoatio about nine ycaro past, viz. Tho xviij day of Jannnrio, 15G1, By tho gentlemen of tho Inner Tomplo, otc.” Tho play is divided into five acts, ami each act is closed by a “chorus From Ancient and Sago men of Britain,” who. iu an ode of loug-liued stanzas, review tho post of tho story that has just transpired, and call attention to tbo moral that it contains. Each act is also pre faced, ao was tho custom in old plays, with a spectacle called tho Dumb Show, in widen the, matter immediately following was shadowed forth. Tbo directions for the manage ment of this piece of machinery winch preceded,the fourth act aro as, follows; “First, tho music of howoboios began to plalo. Duringo wliicho, tboro camo forth from under tbo stage, as tbongbo out of boll, throo Furies, ALECTJ3. ILEGIRA, and iCTESIPJIONE, clad in blaclt garments sprinkled with blond and llamcß, their bodies girt with shakos, their hods spread with serpents instead of hours, tho ono hearing in her haudo a snake, tbo other a whip, and tho thlrdo a burning firobrando; echo dimyngo be fore them a kyugo and a quoono, which inoued by Furies unnaturally bad slaino their owno children. Tho names of tho hinges and ancones woro those, TANTALUS. MEDeX, ATIIAAIAS, INO, CAMBISEB, ALTHEA. After that tho Furies, and those, had passed abouto tbo stage thrico, they departed, and then tbo musiuko ceased.. Hereby was signified tbo unnatural! murders to followothat In to saio, Forres slaino by hls.owpo mother, And of king Gordolmo and queouo Yiden killed by tboir owno subjects.” The subject of this play vraa taken from tbo old, half-mythological Chronicles of Britain, and repeats the story of King Gordobuo, who, 000 years before Christ, divided bis Kingdom, during bis llfo-timo, between his two sons, Forrox and Forrox. Within Jlvo years tbo Princes woro in volved in a civil war, in which the younger slow tho older. Tho mother, Yidon, avenged tho death of her favorite son by murdering his brother in his sloop. Tho citizens thou revolted, and killed both Yidon audQordobuo; tbo nubil ity in turn massacred tho citizens; and tho slaughter continued on all sides until tbo whole Kingdom was reduced to a miserable desolation. Hero aro bloody deeds enough to color a tragedy, in tho deepest dyes of gloom. But, singularly enough, not ono Is perpetrated on tho stage. The account of them is simply related by tho players, and the spectator has no opportunity to feast his oven on tho horrors of murder and tho agonies of death. Tbo tragedy is written in blank verso,—Sack viilo being tbo third English author who cm ployed this mode of versification. Tho .stylo is highly commended for its purity and perspicaci ty ; and Bir Philip Sydney, in bio “ Dofonco of rotate.” applauds tho play for Us notable momt il»o. Bull the ploco was not popular in Us day for tho speeches aro tediously long and prosy, amltboro iw a total abaonoo of patbotio or excit ing incident, aud of dramatic effect. The student of tho present ago will bo led to road it simply from motives of curiosity,. tub immsii arusEuar. Tloturus from tho Drltlsh Museum for 18711 nnuounco that 103,1)71 readers and 1,315 students in tho Manuscripts Department have visited that Institution within tho year. Tho visitors to tho groat circular reading-room numbered 1,000 less thou during 1H72. Tho doily nveiago through 1873 has boon 350, and the. number of volumes daily consulted by oach reader, 13. Tho additions to the . precious stores of tho Museum havo been vast ami costly iu tho timo in’-Inn'’;, ,l°, I,lo VoVMlmmtotVrimo,! Booia, 10j,r>U7 articles, comprlulng volumes, parts of volumes, pamphlets, newspapers, suoeta of mualo, etc., havo boon received. 000 of tho moat valuable acquisitions noted la “ a copy, bo ilovca to bo unique, of tho original edition of t Exposition of tho fyreto opistlo of Hoynt Jhon,’printed abroad and Ib sued In September, 1531, white Tyndalo wan at Antwerp. Ihiti work was alriotly prohibited In England, and In the following year was do- Vrti't ~co? I*7 Sir Thomas Kora In thoao terras i ‘ Ihon bavo wo fro Tvndnlo tho fyiuto pyntlo of wajnto John In suclio wyso oxpownod, that I daro say that blessed apostle rather limn Ids holy wordcß woro In euchoa sense hylovod of all cryoton people, Jiaddo lovor Ida pystlo never bnn put in wrytingo. 1 Tho reprint of tho work by tho Parker Hocloty was made from a Intor edi tion.” Tho number of volumoa bound for tho Mu seum library In tho conrso of the year amount od to 11.128; tbo number of pamphlota bound was 531), and tho volumoa repaired, 4C2,i In tho Department of Maps, tho most interesting accession of tho year is “aphotographic fac slm- Ho, the exact size of tho original, of the Buperb Mappomonde mado at Vooiao in 1187-’C9, at tho instance of Prlnco Honry tho Navigator, and . at tho expense of bis undo. King Alfonso V., by Fra Moure, of tho Camalaaloso Convent of San Michele dl Mnrauo, on account of which a medal was struck iu bin honor by tho Republic, describ ing him as Cosmographns iucomparftbills. M io tbo Department of Manuscripts baa been added “avery rlchly-llluniinalcd .book of tho * of tho Virgin, 1 written In Franco •at tho beginning or tho fifteenth conlury. The borders aro of arabesque work, with birds, and insects, ami grotesque figures. The Calendar is illus trated ; and thcro aro fourteen largo miniatures, painted apparently by an Italian artist, or by ono showing strong Italian influence, who ban also added to tho ornamentation throughout tho volume. 1 Tho Oriental collection. has boon iu croaacd by 03 manuscript volumes. Chief among thoBOwro: “A Poetical, Account of tho CUincso Conquest of Nopawl In 1790 A. D., written by the Emperor of Chino,—a folio vot time, inclosed in curiously-carved woodon covora from tho Summer Palaco, near Poking; tho on* tiro text Is embroidered in rod silk onblno gronnd.it is said by tho ladies of tho Imperial family; and “A History of tho Mikados in Japanese.—thirteen volumes, inclosed iu a box of lacquered wood. This work, it la sold, wna written for private uso, and has novorbooa punted,” „, 1 l¥ ] '?;f llr , 0 J', l ; 3 . |,ro30nl ‘ :<llolho,il)r;lr y ll >o'ooor«i of M. W. Balto'a openw, in bis “nutomjph " Cm forty volumes); end Mrs. Qroto baa given tho note-book and collections of her lato hus band, connected with hla “History of Greece ” together with “ Political and Other Easaya," in twenty volumoa. a ncatAmcADLE book. A. remarkable book from the library of tho lato Sir B. Frederick, Bart., was recently aold at auc tion. It was a copy of tho “ ScalaPcrfocdonis ” of WaUor Hylton. printed by Wynpyn do Words in 1401, with Caxton's amall device. Tho book was quite perfect, and had an tnocription at the end of tbo “Capitnla prime partis” ia tho fol lowing words: This Boko belonged! to Dame Jhouo Sowell Lyotor in Lyon, Pfossod tho ycre off onro Saluation a thousand and ayxo (fyvo?) hundrotb; ” also, her autograph, and sundry prayora in her handwriting. It appears to bavo belonged subsequently to Shore Chartct House. It was sdld for .£IOO. THE OU{LOOK. To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune-. Sin: At tho close of tho lato 'War, Qod. Grant was a representative man. Ho had been successful in putting down ono of tho moat formidable rebellions that modern times havo over witnessed* and, had ho been contented wilfc his career os General and retired to private life, bis namo would havo pone down to posterity orownod with honors, ana ho would always havo retained his place % tho hero-worshiping senti ment of tho people. But with this ho was not satisfied. Tho country at largo, in its worship of him and its gratitude toward him, was not willing to stop short of conferring upon him tho highest oilico in tho Republic, and ho, not yot satiated with ambition, was willing to accopt it. 110 has boon President for six years 5 and, look ing over tho state of affairs to-day, what is tho record of his statcsmaunbip ? It is not only In Louisiana that a disaf fected feeling prevails, but a general complaint against tho Government has extended from Maino to California, and from Minnesota to Mexico. Our Legislatures and onr Municipal Governments aro tho hotbeds of corruption, which aro sending their poisonous influences through every portion of tho body politic, until our nation is becoming bo contaminated with disease that it must bo spoodily cured, or disso lution will bo tho result. Tbo Government must bo uphold; but sup poao jfc is not worth upholding. Then it must bo made worth}* of support. Hut tbo question Is, lie w can this bo accomplished ? To which tbo answer naturally comoo, By selecting wise and good mou as officers. It is a very easy matter to say how it can bo done; it is something liko tho la bor question.—an oasy thing to talk ami writo about; but, whoa it comoa to tho practical solu tion of tho problem, who is equal to tho task? The lifo of a farmer is comparatively monot onous, peaceful, and quiet, aud exposed to few temptations. jV. tiller of tuo soil may bo a good man, possessed of all tho virtues infioront in human uaturo, and ho may oxort a largo amount of iuUuouco among his brothor-farmora, and iu tho community In which ho resides; and, for bit excellent qualities, iio may bo selected to repre sent bis district in tbo legislative balls,—bis con stituents having full faith in him to bcliovo he will conscientiously perform bis duty. But, re* moved from his quiet avocation, and placed among shrewd politicians, greedy for place aud power, somo faculties iu tbo man which lay dormant within him while he was an agriculturist, aro now call* od into play. lio succumbs to temptation, and becomes tho wiliest politician of thorn all. Tho same may bo said of all tho different avoca tions of lifo. It is impossible to toll what course a man will tako iu a certain position, until bo baa boon placed tboro and had a fair trial. “ Ro-oloct everybody,” io tho watchword of tho party in power. Why ro-eloot everybody? Xu it to cover up some corruption which is too glaring to bo submitted to tbo public ? Or is it to per petuate tbo present party, who aro eager fox more spoils ? If ihopooplo aro wise, they, will ro-olcct only, tboao who havo proved themselves to bo Incor ruptible and truo to tho interests of their coim-- try, while they will elect now men. and give them a trial, am! then ro-olcct them if they havo manhood sufficient to withstand tbo strain that will bo brought to boar upon thorn to induce them to soil themselves for gold. Aloro men will attend the polls at tho next election than havo done so for years before ; they are waking up to tho responsibility of vot ing, with tho duties it involves, and tho neces sity of guarding tho ballot-box ; and those who havo not voted for a long time will. do so now, and, at tbo same lime, watch closely to sco that no surreptitious votes are deposited. Tbo people are rousing to a souse of danger. Tbo .troubles of Louisiana may spread to other States. Fi nancial difficulties, stagnation of trado, lack of employment for tbo poor, and tho general em barrassment of tho affairs of tbo rich, make tin outlook a gloomy ono. Tbo preliminary mootings ought to bo hold at somo other placo beside a saloon. It can- hnrdh bo expected tho nominee of drinking mou will he well calculated to administer tho affairs of the nation with honesty and dignity. If men will do tboir duty, first at tbo caucus, thou at tbo polls, and not bo hoodwinked by political douia. goguos, brighter days may await no. Mas. M. D. Wvskoor. TUB OLD, OLD STORY. On blooming valo »nd upland swell The hazy light of evening foil, Ami on tho dim woods’ autumn-crown, With silent lapse, a flood camo down Of sunset-light. Two lovers watched (ho day’s slow flight, Aud tho swift coming of tho night : But, hand In hand,'they lingered still To boo tho moon riso o’er the hill, Dispelling gloom. And. ’ncalb that pale orb's witching spell, That mon aud maidens know so well, 1 In whispered accents there was told That story, bony, and yet so old, . Of Love’s owcot dream. 0, If. i?. Farming* under DlfflcnlUesi Prom the Golden (Col.) Trameriat, The formers in tlio vicinity are having a picas nut time notv. At daylight they got np and ex amine tho lioloa around tho corn-hllla for cut worms} thou smash coddling moth larva) with a lioo-hamllo until breakfast. Tho forenoon Ui devoted to watering tho potato-bugo with a so lullon of Taris green, end, oftor dinner, all hands tun) out to chase with flail and broom tho festive grasshopper. In tho evening a favorite occupation is silting on tho fence figuring hmv much they would havo made hud it not boon for tho bugs { and, after a brief season of devotion at the uhrluo of tho idnlft-fiylng cloopioia.nl) tho folks roliro ami sloop soumlly till Aurora xuddoim tho oast and tho grasshoppers Holds against tho window-panes, mid summon thorn tc tho labors of another day. 9