among the Syrian mountains, or the pagan Greek in the islands of the Ægean Sea. In the Indian code of Menu, said to be at least three thousand years old-as old as Homer-we find that the husband and all the male relations are strictly enjoined to honour the women: 'where women are dishonoured, all religious acts become fruitless. Where a husband is contented with his wife and she with her husband, in that house will fortune assuredly be permanent.' A hundred generations of mankind have not changed this.

The first Chaldean who observed that the planets seem to journey among the other stars, and not merely to rise and set with them, that Jupiter and Sirius follow different laws, knew a truth which is now the foundation of astronomy in London and Paris no less than of old in Babylon. The first Egyptian who, meditating on curved figures, discerned that there is one in which all the lines from one point to the circumference are equal, gained the idea of a circle, such as it has presented itself to every later mind of man from Thales and Euclid down to Laplace and Herschel. Nay, in truth, those who most exalt the acquirements of our age compared with the past-and they can hardly be too much exaltedmust admit that all progress implies continuity-that we can take a step forward only by having firm footing for the step behind it.

According to a well-known story, some Sidonian mariners, probably at least a thousand years before our era, were carrying a cargo of natron or native carbonate of soda, extensively used for its cleansing properties, as wood-ashes are now. They were sailing along the coast of Syria, and landed to cook their food at the mouth of a stream flowing down from the Mount Carmel of Scripture. They took some lumps of the natron from their boat, and used them as stones to set their cauldron The fire which they kindled beneath melted the soda and the flint sand of the shore, and to the astonishment of these Sidonians, formed a shining liquid, which cooled and hardened, and was found to be transparent. This was the first invention of glass. It was soon manufactured by the Egyptians, and is found abundantly

on.

in their tombs.

There is a story in the history of England, told, I think, originally by Bede, so justly called the Venerable, which is as striking and affecting in its way as any of those deeds of heroic patriotism that enrich the annals

of Greece and Rome.

More than twelve hundred years ago, when the northeastern part of England was occupied by the pagan Angles, or people of Jutland and Holstein, who had conquered it from the old Celtic population, a Christian missionary from Rome endeavoured to introduce his better faith among these rude and bloody men. The council of the chiefs was assembled round their king. Paulinus spoke; and at last one of the warriors said: The soul of man is like a sparrow, which in a winter night, when the king with his men is sitting by the warm fire, enters for a moment from the storm and darkness, flits through the lighted hall, and then passes again into the black night. Thus,' he said, 'our life shoots across the world; but whence it comes and whither it goes we cannot tell. If, then, the new doctrine can give us any certainty, O king, let us receive it with joy.' In this simple and earnest fashion does the unappeasable longing of man for knowledge speak itself out of the dim barbarian soul.

EDWARD WILLIAM LANE, ETC. This able oriental scholar (1801-1876) was a native of Hereford, son of a prebendary in the cathedral there. He made three visits to Egypt, one result of which was his work, The Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians, 1836, which was highly successful. He next gave the public a translation, 'drawn chiefly from the most copious

Eastern sources,' of The Arabian Nights Entertainments. But his greatest work was the construction of a complete Arabic-English Lexicon, one volume of which was published in 1863, and four others at intervals of three or four years. Though incomplete at the time of his death, Mr Lane had left materials for three more volumes, which will complete this great work, which all scholars at home and abroad consider as an honour to England.

FRANK TREVELYAN BUCKLAND (born in 1826), son of Dr Buckland the eminent geologist, studied at Christ Church, Oxford. Mr Buckland is an Inspector of Salmon Fisheries for England and Wales. He has written Curiosities of Natural History, and other works, and edited White's Selborne, enriching it with copious additions. As a naturalist and pleasing writer, Mr Buckland has done much to encourage the study of nature and increase our knowledge of the habits of animals. CHARLES KNIGHT (1790-1872), a native of Windsor, both as publisher and author, did good service to the cause of cheap popular literature. His Etonian, and Knight's Quarterly Magazine, drew forth many accomplished young scholars as contributors-including Macaulay-and his Pictorial England, the Pictorial Bible, shilling volumes, and other serial works, supplied a fund of excellent reading and information. As editor of Shakspeare, Mr Knight took higher ground, and acquitted himself with distinction, though resting the text too exclusively on the folio of 1623. A collection of essays was published by Mr Knight under the title of Once upon a Time, 1833, and another is named The Old Printer and the Modern Press. His Passages of a Working Life during Half a Century, 1863-65, is an interesting autobiography, illustrating the literary life of the period. His playful epitaph by Douglas Jerrold, Good Knight,' describes his character.

ABRAHAM HAYWARD, Queen's Counsel, published The Biographical and Critical Essays of MR in 1858-1865, are lively, interesting papers, originally communicated to the Edinburgh Review. Mr Hayward has also translated Goethe's Faust, and is author of a number of professional treatises.

ALBANY FONBLANQUE (1793-1872), a distinguished journalist, for many years editor of the Examiner, published in 1837 three volumes of political papers under the title of England under Seven Administrations. He was a witty sparkling writer, careful and fastidious. In his early days he frequently wrote an article ten times over before he had it to his mind. In 1873, a further selection from his editorial writings, with a sketch of his life, was published by his nephew, E. B. Fonblanque.

DR DORAN.

In the department of light parlour-books or Ana, the works of DR JOHN DORAN have been successful. His Table Traits, and Something on Them, 1854, is chiefly on the art of dining, and evinces a great extent of curious reading and observation. His next work, Habits and Men, with Remnants of Record touching the Makers of Both (also 1854), is full of anecdotes, illustrative of eminent persons, customs, manners, dress, &c. Next year the author produced Lives of the Queens of

England of the House of Hanover, two volumes. This work is also chiefly anecdotical, and presents interior pictures of the courts of the three Georges -the last happily forming a strong contrast to the coarseness and licentiousness of George I. and George II. Knights and their Days, 1856, is a chronicle of knighthood from Falstaff downwards, with anecdotes, quaint stories, whimsical comments, and episodes of all kinds. Monarchs Retired from Business, two volumes, 1857, is a work of the same complexion, relating to kings and rulers who voluntarily or involuntarily-LouisPhilippe being among the latter-abandoned the cares and state of government. The History of Court Fools, 1858, embraces a good deal of historical anecdote and illustration; and a few months afterwards the indefatigable doctor was ready with New Pictures and Old Panels, another collection of Ana, relating to authors, actors, actresses, preachers, and vanities of all sorts. Dr Doran's next appearance was as an editor: Journal of the Reign of King George III., from the Year 1771 to 1783, by Horace Walpole; being a Supplement to his Memoirs, now first published from the Original Manuscripts; edited with Notes; two volumes, 1859. As an historian, Horace Walpole was not to be trusted; he was rather a brilliant gossip with strong prejudices; but he could not have had a better editor than Dr Doran, who could trace him into all his recesses and books, and was familiar with the characters and events of which he treated. The editor's notes, indeed, are very much like the author's text, and he had applied himself assiduously to his task. In 1860, Dr Doran produced Lives of the Princes of Wales; in 1861, The Bentley Ballads; in 1863, a History of the English Stage; and in 1868, Saints and Sinners.

The Style Royal and Critical-the Plural' We' With respect to the style and title of kings, it may be here stated that the royal 'We' represents, or was supposed originally to represent, the source of the national power, glory, and intellect in the august person of the sovereign. Le Roi le veut '-the King will have it so-sounded as arrogantly as it was meant to sound in the royal Norman mouth. It is a mere form, now that royalty in England has been relieved of responsibility. In haughtiness of expression it was matched by the old French formula at the end of a decree: For such is our good pleasure.' The royal subscription in Spain, 'Yo, el Re-I, the King-has a thundering sort of echo about it too. The only gallant expression to be found in royal addresses was made by the kings of France-that is, by the married kings. Thus, when the French monarch summoned a council to meet upon affairs of importance, and desired to have around him the princes of the blood and the wiser nobility of the realm, his majesty invariably commenced his address with the words, Having previously consulted on this matter with the queen,' &c. It is very probable, almost certain, that the king had done nothing of the sort; but the assurance that he had, seemed to give a certain sort of dignity to the consort in the eyes of the grandees and the people at large. Old Michel de Marolles was proud of this display of gallantry on the part of the kings of France. According to my thinking,' says the garrulous old abbé of Villeloin, 'this is a matter highly worthy of notice, although few persons have condescended to make remarks thereon down to this present time.' It may here be added, with respect to English kings, that the first king's speech' ever delivered was by Henry I. in 1107. Exactly a century

later, King John first assumed the royal We:' it had never before been employed in England. The same monarch has the credit of having been the first English king who claimed for England the sovereignty of the seas. 'Grace,' and 'My Liege,' were the ordinary titles by which our Henry IV. was addressed. Excellent Grace' the other; Edward IV. was 'Most High and Mighty was given to Henry VI., who was not the one, nor yet had Prince; Henry VII. was the first English' Highness;' Henry VIII. was the first complimented by the title of Majesty;' and James I. prefixed to the last title Sacred and Most Excellent.'

.

Visit of George III. and Queen Charlotte to the City of London.

The queen was introduced to the citizens of London on Lord-Mayor's Day; on which occasion they may be said emphatically, to have made a day of it.' They accompanied by all the royal family, escorted by guards, left St James's Palace at noon, and in great state, and cheered by the people, whose particular holiday was thus shared in common. There was the usual ceremony at Temple Bar of opening the gates to royalty, and giving it welcome; and there was the once usual address made at the east end of St Paul's Churchyard, by the senior scholar of Christ's Hospital school. Having survived the cumbrous formalities of the first, and smiled at the flowery figures of the second, the royal party proceeded on their way, not to Guildhall, but to the house of Mr Barclay, the patent medicinevendor, an honest Quaker whom the king respected, and ancestor to the head of the firm whose name is not unmusical to Volscian ears-Barclay, Perkins, & Co. Robert Barclay, the only surviving son of the author of the same name, who wrote the celebrated Apology for the Quakers, and who was now the king's entertainer, was an octogenarian, who had entertained in the same house two Georges before he had given welcome to the third George and his Queen Charlotte. The hearty old man, without abandoning Quaker simplicity, went a little beyond it, in order to do honour to the young queen; and he hung his balcony and rooms with a brilliant crimson damask, that must have scattered blushes on all who stood near-particularly on the cheeks of the crowds of 'Friends' who had assembled within the house to do honour to their sovereigns. ...

Queen Charlotte and George III. were the last of our sovereigns who thus honoured a Lord-Mayor's show. And as it was the last occasion, and that the young Queen Charlotte was the heroine of the day, the opportunity may be profited by to shew how that royal lady looked and bore herself in the estimation of one of the Miss Barclays, whose letter, descriptive of the scene, appeared forty-seven years subsequently, in 1808. The following extracts are very much to our purpose: 'About one o'clock papa and mamma, with sister Western to attend them, took their stand at the street-door, where my two brothers had long been to receive the nobility, more than a hundred of whom were then waiting in the warehouse. As the royal family came, they were conducted into one of the counting-houses, which was transformed into a very pretty parlour. At half-past two their majesties came, which was two hours later than they intended. On the second pair of stairs was placed our own company, about forty in number, the chief of whom were of the Puritan order, and all in their orthodox habits. Next to the drawing-room doors were placed our own selves, I mean papa's children, none else, to the great mortification of visitors, being allowed to enter; for as kissing the king's hand without kneeling was an unexampled honour, the king confined that privilege to our own family, as a return for the trouble we had been at. After the royal pair had shewn themselves at the balcony, we were all introduced, and you may believe, at that juncture, we felt no small palpitations. The king met us at the door-a condescension I did

not expect at which place he saluted us with great politeness. Advancing to the upper end of the room, we kissed the queen's hand, at the sight of whom we were all in raptures, not only from the brilliancy of her appearance, which was pleasing beyond description, but being throughout her whole person possessed of that inexpressible something that is beyond a set of features, and equally claims our attention. To be sure, she has not a fine face, but a most agreeable countenance, and is vastly genteel, with an air, notwithstanding her being a little woman, truly majestic ; and I really think, by her manner is expressed that complacency of disposition which is truly amiable: and though I could never perceive that she deviated from that dignity which belongs to a crowned head, yet on the most trifling occasions she displayed all that easy behaviour that negligence can bestow. Her hair, which is of a light colour, hung in what is called coronation-ringlets, encircled in a band of diamonds, so beautiful in themselves, and so prettily disposed, as will admit of no description. Her clothes, which were as rich as gold, silver, and silk could make them, was a suit from which fell a train supported by a little page in scarlet and silver. The lustre of her stomacher was inconceivable. The king I think a very personable man. All the princes followed the king's example in complimenting each of us with a kiss. The queen was up-stairs three times, and my little darling, with Patty Barclay, and Priscilla Ball, were introduced to her. I was present, and not a little anxious on account of my girl, who kissed the queen's hand with so much grace that I thought the princess-dowager would have smothered her with kisses. Such a report was made of her to the king, that Miss was sent for, and afforded him great amusement by saying, 'that she loved the king, though she must not love fine things, and her grandpapa would not allow her to make a courtesy.' Her sweet face made such an impression on the Duke of York, that I rejoiced she was only five instead of fifteen. When he first met her, he tried to persuade Miss to let him introduce her to the queen; but she would by no means consent till I informed her he was a prince, upon which her little female heart relented, and she gave him her hand-a true copy of the sex. The king never sat down, nor did he taste anything during the whole time. Her majesty drank tea, which was brought her on a silver waiter by brother John, who delivered it to the lady-in-waiting, and she presented it kneeling. The leave they took of us was such as we might expect from our equals; full of apologies for our trouble for their entertainmentwhich they were so anxious to have explained, that the queen came up to us, as we stood on one side of the door, and had every word interpreted. My brothers had the honour of assisting the queen into her coach. Some of us sat up to see them return, and the king and queen took especial notice of us as they passed. The king ordered twenty-four of his guard to be placed opposite our door all night, lest any of the canopy should be pulled down by the mob, in which [the canopy, it is to be presumed] there were one hundred yards of silk

damask.'

In Allibone's Dictionary of British and American Authors, 1859, we find the following biographical particulars relative to the above author: John Doran, LL.D., born 1807 in London-family originally of Drogheda, in Ireland. He was educated chiefly by his father. His literary bent was manifested at the age of fifteen, when he produced the melodrama of the Wandering Jew, which was first played at the Surrey Theatre in 1822 for Tom Blanchard's benefit. His early years were spent in France. He was successively tutor in four of the noblest families in Great Britain.' Dr Doran has contributed largely to the literary journals.

WILLIAM JOHN THOMS.

In 1849 was commenced a weekly journal, Notes and Queries, a medium of inter-communication for literary men, artists, antiquaries, genealogists, &c. excellent little periodical was MR WILLIAM JOHN The projector and editor of this THOMS, born in Westminster in 1803, and librarian in the House of Lords. Mr Thoms has published a Collection of Early Prose Romances, 1828; Lays and Legends of Various Nations, 1834; Notelets on Shakspeare, and several historical treatises. Having retired from the editorship of Notes and Queries, a complimentary dinner was given to Mr Thoms on the 1st November 1872, Earl Stanhope chairman, at which about one hundred and twenty friends and admirers of the retiring editor were present. Mr Thoms has been succeeded in the editorial chair by Dr Doran.

SIR ARTHUR HELPS.

Several works of a thoughtful and earnest character, written in what Mr Ruskin has termed beautiful and quiet English,' have been published (most of them anonymously) by ARTHUR HELPS, afterwards Sir Arthur, this popular author having been honoured in 1872 by the title of K.C.B. Sir Arthur was born in 1814, educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1838, and having been successively private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Lord Monteagle) and to the Chief Secretary for Ireland (Lord Morpeth), he was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council in the year 1859. His works are— Thoughts in the Cloister and the Crowd, 1835; Essays written in the Intervals of Business, 1841; King Henry II., a historical drama, and Catherine Douglas, a tragedy, 1843; The Claims of Labour, 1844; Friends in Council, a Series of Readings and Discourses, 1847; Companions of my Solitude, 1851; Conquerors of the New World, and their Bondsmen, two volumes, 1848-52; History of the Spanish Conquest of America, 1855; a second series of Friends in Council, 1859; The Life of Pizarro, 1869; Casimir Maremma, and Brevia, or Short Essays, in 1870; Conversations on War and General Culture, The Life of Hernando Cortes and The Conquest of Mexico, and Thoughts upon Government, in 1871; in 1872, the Life of Mr Brassey the Engineer. The essays and dialogues of this author evince a fine moral feeling and discriminating taste. They have all gone through numerous editions, and their purity of expression, as well as justness of thought, must have had a beneficial effect on many minds. Sir Arthur died March 7, 1875.

Advantages of Foreign Travel.

This, then, is one of the advantages of travel, that we come upon new ground, which we tread lightly, which is free from associations that claim too deep and constant an interest from us; and not resting long in any desirable lightness of mind; we are spectators, having one place, but travelling onwards, we maintain that for the time no duties, no ties, no associations, no responsibilities; nothing to do but to look on, and look fairly. Another of the great advantages of travel lies in what you learn from your companions; not merely from those you set out with, or so much from them as

from those whom you are thrown together with on the journey. I reckon this advantage to be so great, that I should be inclined to say, that you often get more from your companions in travel than from all you come to see. People imagine they are not known, and that they shall never meet again with the same company-which is very likely so they are free for the time from the trammels of their business, profession, or calling; the marks of the harness begin to wear out; and altogether they talk more like men than slaves with their several functions hanging like collars round their necks. An ordinary man on travel will sometimes talk like a great imaginative man at home, for such are never utterly enslaved by their functions. Then the diversities of character you meet with instruct and delight you. The variety in language, dress, behaviour, religious ceremonies, mode of life, amusements, arts, climate, governments, lays hold of your attention and takes you out of the wheel-tracks of your everyday cares. He must, indeed, be either an angel of constancy and perseverance, or a wonderfully obtuse Caliban of a man, who, amidst all this change, can maintain his private griefs or vexations exactly in the same place they held in his heart while he was packing for his journey. The change of language is alone a great delight. You pass along, living only with gentlemen and scholars, for you rarely detect what is vulgar or inept in the talk around you. Children's talk in another language is not childish to you, and indeed everything is literature, from the announcement at a railway-station to the advertisements in a newspaper. Read the Bible in another tongue, and you will perhaps find a beauty in it you have not thoroughly appreciated for years before.

The Course of History.

The course of history is like that of a great river wandering through various countries; now, in the infancy of its current, collecting its waters from obscure small springs in splashy meadows, and from unconsidered rivulets which the neighbouring rustics do not know the name of; now, in its boisterous youth, forcing its way straight through mountains; now, in middle life, going with equable current busily by great towns, its waters sullied yet enriched with commerce; and now, in its burdened old age, making its slow and difficult way with great broad surface, over which the declining sun looms grandly to the sea. The uninstructed or careless traveller generally finds but one form of beauty or of meaning in the river: the romantic gorge or wild cascade is, perhaps, the only kind of scenery which delights him. And so it has often been in our estimate of history. Well-fought battles, or the doings of gay courts, or bloody revolutions, have been the chief sources of attraction; while less dressed events, but not of less real interest or import, have often escaped all notice.

Discovery of the Pacific Ocean by Vasco Nuñez. Early in September 1513 he set out on his renowned expedition for finding 'the other sea,' accompanied by a hundred and ninety men well armed, and by dogs, which were of more avail than men, and by Indian slaves to carry the burdens. He went by sea to the territory of his father-in-law, King Careta, by whom he was well received, and, accompanied by whose Indians, he moved on into Poncha's territory. This cacique took flight, as he had done before, seeking refuge amongst his mountains; but Vasco Nuñez, whose first thought in his present undertaking was discovery and not conquest, sent messengers to Poncha, promising not to hurt him. The Indian chief listened to these overtures, and came to Vasco Nuñez with gold in his hands. It was the policy of the Spanish commander on this occasion to keep his word: we have seen how treacherous he could be when it was not his policy; but he now did no harm

to Poncha, and, on the contrary, he secured his friendship by presenting him with looking-glasses, hatchets, and hawk-bells, in return for which he obtained guides and porters from among this cacique's people, which enabled him to prosecute his journey. Following Poncha's guides, Vasco Nuñez and his men commenced the ascent of the mountains, until he entered the country of an Indian chief called Quarequa, whom they found fully prepared to resist them. The brave Indian advanced at the head of his troops, meaning to make a vigorous attack; but they could not withstand the discharge of the firearms; indeed they believed the Spaniards to have thunder and lightning in their hands not an unreasonable fancy-and, flying in the utmost terror from the place of battle, a total rout ensued. The rout was a bloody one, and is described by an author, who gained his information from those who were present at it, as a scene to remind one of the shambles. The king and his principal men were slain, to the number of six hundred. In speaking of these people, Peter Martyr makes mention of the sweetness of their language, and how all the words might be written in Latin letters, as was also to be remarked in that of the inhabitants of Hispaniola. This writer also mentions, and there is reason for thinking that he was rightly informed, that there was a region not two days' journey from Quarequa's territory, in which Vasco Nuñez found a race of black men, who were conjectured to have come from Africa, and to have been shipwrecked on this coast. Leaving several of his men, who were ill, or over-weary, in Quarequa's chief town, and taking with him guides from this country, the Spanish commander pursued his way up the most lofty sierras there, until, on the 25th of September 1513, he came near to the top of a mountain from whence the South Sea was visible. The distance from Poncha's chief town to this point was forty leagues, reckoned then six days' journey, but Vasco Nuñez and his men took twenty-five days to do it in, suffering much from the roughness of the ways and from the want of provisions. A little before Vasco Nuñez reached the height, Quarequa's Indians informed him of his near approach to it. It was a sight which any man would wish to be alone to see. bade his men sit down while he alone ascended and looked down upon the vast Pacific, the first man of the Old World, so far as we know, who had done so. Falling on his knees, he gave thanks to God for the favour shewn to him in his being the first man to discover and behold this sea; then with his hand he beckoned to his men to come up. When they had come, both he and they knelt down and poured forth their thanks to God. He then addressed them in these words: 'You see here, gentlemen and children mine, how our desires are being accomplished, and the end of our labours. Of that we ought to be certain, for as it has turned out true what King Comogre's son told of this sea to us, who never thought to see it, so I hold for certain that what he told us of there being incomparable treasures in it will be fulfilled. God and his blessed mother who have assisted us, so that we should arrive here and behold this sea, will favour us that we may enjoy all that there is in it. Every great and original action has a prospective greatness, not alone from the thoughts of the man who achieves it, but from the various aspects and high thoughts which the same action will continue to present and call up in the minds of others to the end, it may be, of all time. And so a remarkable event may go on acquiring more and more significance. In this case, our knowledge that the Pacific, which Vasco Nuñez then beheld, occupies more than one-half of the earth's surface, is an element of thought which in our minds lightens up and gives an awe to this first gaze of his upon those mighty waters. To him the scene might not at that moment have suggested much more than it would have done to a mere conqueror; indeed, Peter Martyr likens Vasco Nuñez to Hannibal shewing Italy to his soldiers.

Vasco Nuñez

Great Questions of the Present Age.

From Companions of my Solitude.

What patient labour and what intellectual power is often bestowed in coming to a decision on any cause which involves much worldly property. Might there not be some great hearing of any of the intellectual and spiritual difficulties which beset the paths of all thoughtful men in the present age? Church questions, for example, seem to require a vast investigation. As it is, a book or pamphlet is put forward on one side, and somehow the opposing facts and arguments seldom come into each other's presence. And thus truth sustains great loss.

My own opinion is, if I can venture to say that I have an opinion, that what we ought to seek for is a church of the utmost width of doctrine, and with the most beautiful expression that can be devised for that doctrine-the most beautiful expression, I mean, in words, in deeds, in sculpture, and in sacred song; which should have a simple easy grandeur in its proceedings that should please the elevated and poetical mind, charm the poor, and yet not lie open to just cavilling on the part of those somewhat hard, intellectual worshippers who must have a reason for everything; which should have vitality and growth in it; and which should attract and not repel those who love truth better than any creature.

Pondering these things in the silence of the downs, I at last neared home; and found that the result of all my thoughts was that any would-be teacher must be contented and humble, or try to be so, in his efforts of any kind; and that if the great questions can hardly be determined by man (divided, too, as he is from his brother in all ways), he must still try and do what he can on lower levels, hoping ever for more insight, and looking forward to the knowledge which may be gained by death.

Advice to Men in Small Authority.

It is a great privilege to have an opportunity many times in a day, in the course of your business, to do a real kindness which is not to be paid for. Graciousness of demeanour is a large part of the duty of any official person who comes in contact with the world. Where a man's business is, there is the ground for his religion to manifest itself.

SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS (MARK TWAIN').

This humorous writer and lecturer is a native of Florida, Monroe County, Missouri, where he was born in 1835. He has been successively a printer, a steamboat pilot, a miner, and a newspaper editor -the last in San Francisco. In 1867 he published a story of the Californian gold mines, entitled The Jumping Frog, which instantly became popular. In the same year he went on a pleasure trip to Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, &c., and the result was two volumes of amusing incidents and description-the first, entitled Innocents Abroad, giving the details of the journey from New York to Naples; and the second, under the title of the New Pilgrim's Progress, describing the Holy Land and the Grecian and Syrian shores. Mr Clemens is author of various other works -Burlesque Autobiography, Eye-openers, Good Things, Screamers, A Gathering of Scraps, Roughing It, &c.

The Noblest Delight.

What is it that confers the noblest delight? What is that which swells a man's breast with pride above that which any other experience can bring to him? Discovery! To know that you are walking where none

others have walked; that you are beholding what human eye has not seen before; that you are breathing a virgin atmosphere. To give birth to an idea-to discover a great thought-an intellectual nugget, right under the dust of a field that many a brain-plough had gone over before. To find a new planet, to invent a new hinge, to find the way to make the lightnings carry your messages. To be the first-that is the idea. To do something, say something, see something, before anybody else these are the things that confer a pleasure compared with which other pleasures are tame and commonplace, other ecstasies cheap and trivial. Morse, with his first message, brought by his servant, the lightning; Fulton, in that long-drawn century of suspense, when he placed his hand upon the throttle-valve, and lo, the steamboat moved; Jenner, when his patient with the cow's virus in his blood walked through the small-pox hospitals unscathed; Howe, when the idea shot through his brain that for a hundred and twenty generations the eye had been bored through the wrong end of the needle; the nameless lord of art who laid down his chisel in some old age that is forgotten now, and gloated upon the finished Laocoon; Daguerre, when he commanded the sun, riding in the zenith, to print the landscape upon his insignificant silvered plate, and he obeyed; Columbus, in the Pinta's shrouds, when he swung his hat above a fabled sea and gazed abroad upon an unknown world! These are the men who have really lived-who have actually comprehended what pleasure is-who have crowded long lifetimes of ecstasy into a single moment.

Puzzling an Italian Guide.

an

The guides in Genoa are delighted to secure American party, because Americans so much wonder, and deal so much in sentiment and emotion before any relic of Columbus. Our guide there fidgeted about as if he had swallowed a spring mattress. He was full of animation-full of impatience. He said: 'Come wis me, genteelmen! come! I shew you ze letter writing by Christopher Colombo. Write it himself!-write it wis his own hand!-come!'

He took us to the municipal palace. After much impressive fumbling of keys and opening of locks, the stained and aged document was spread before us. The guide's eyes sparkled. He danced about us and tapped the parchment with his finger.

handwriting Christopher Colombo!-write it himself!' 'What I tell you, genteelmen! Is it not so? See!

We looked indifferent- - unconcerned. The doctor examined the document very deliberately, during a painful pause. Then he said, without any show of interest: Ah, Ferguson, what-what did you say was the name of the party who wrote this?"

6

'Christopher Colombo! ze great Christopher Colombo!' Another deliberate examination. Ah-did he write it himself, or-or how?'

'He write it himself!-Christopher Colombo! he's own handwriting, write by himself!'

Then the doctor laid the document down, and said: Why, I have seen boys in America only fourteen years old that could write better than that.' 'But zis is ze great Christo'

'I don't care who it is! It's the worst writing I ever saw. Now you mustn't think you can impose on us because we are strangers. We are not fools, by a good deal. If you have got any specimens of penmanship of real merit, trot them out! and if you haven't, drive on !'

We drove on. The guide was considerably shaken up, but he made one more venture. He had something which he thought would overcome us. He said: 'Ah, genteelmen, you come wis me! I shew you beautiful, oh, magnificent bust Christopher Colombo!-splendid, grand, magnificent!'

He brought us before the beautiful bust-for it was beautiful-and sprang back and struck an attitude.