I I
APRIL TO MAY.
HI mm snetiilln ' i ; surny ;
HI - & > • ' "y fa" " duiijrhter .Ma > .
1 The earth will soon lie In your keeping.
§ You'll ilnd fvervtliin ' iicu'
Anil in wry good form ,
H In the air stores of duiv ,
9 And the winds softly warm '
Tocojx up tin crocuses , p ' jeplu : ; .
9 You will find the hills trrecu ,
9 , Aud In valleys between
IVild violets tellmfr the story
Of how I caressed them *
B With sun waves aud shower ,
And fed them and dressed them ,
B Yes , every small ( lower
TJiat smiles in Its blue-purple glory.
9 Aud my dearest child May ,
H If you find things delay
H Like buds , which oft linger brown-coated
H Do not worry or fret , "
H liut wait gently awhile ;
H That a frown never yet
H , Did the work of a smile
Is something I often have noted.
; -June 1 'ttiii Joy , in St. Jv ? < 7 < ou. .
I My Pre-Existence.
H BY IIENJIY o'XEILL.
M It was nn afternoon of fog and slush
H ind bitter cold. My bus ' ness led me
M lirough Leicester square. I passed
H iio Alliambra Tlicalcr. aud entered tlio
H | ill op of : i dealer in foreign stamps ,
B : oins , and other curiosities. On oon-
H dialing my business with him , I was
H | tbout to depart , when a man came in
m it the front door aud passed me , as if
J diout to enter by the door at the back
m if the shop leading to the private part
M f the house. A lodger , I concluded.
B is 1 turned up the collar of my coat
H * irevious to sallying forth into the fog.
> • * o o
J Before I had crossed the threshold a
K land was laid upon my arm , and a
9 ow , rich , aud eloquent voice said :
9 "Pardon me , young sir , but wc must
9 uive met before. You are Cnto. "
9 I confess 1 felt not only astonishment ,
9 nit alarm at this address , and turned
9 ruddeniy to see what manner of a man
H tad spoken to me. There was no ap-
K leranee of insanity in that well-formed ,
Bj utellectual face , with the most le-
H uarkablc pair of eyes I had ever seen.
B Thev seemed to look me through and
B lirough , aud to hold mi' , in spite of
B uysclf , as tlie ej'es of the Ancient
B llariuer held the wedding guest.
B "You are mistaken , sir , " I replied ;
B "I am not Crito. My name is Henry
B J'Ncill. at your serv.ee , " and I took
B nit my card-case.
B He waved away the card I offered
B im a 1 tile impatiently , I thought , as
B te said :
M ° "Alas ! ala3 ! that the bonds of the
B losh so bind down the major it. - of nian-
B cmd ; but for these we should indeed bo
B is gods. jVIy goot ! sir , I knew you in-
B iniatcly let me seees , in Athens ,
B hrec hundred and thirty-live years bc-
m ere the birth of Christ"
B That I had met a madman I had now
B to doubt. I turned to the shopman ,
H vho might have heard the con versa- j
M Tliere was nothing to alarm mc in
M lis face. He merelysm 'led screnclv , '
m is if the meeting w.tli a stranger who '
H : iaimed to know one over two thous-
B md 3 ears ago was a matter of '
B every dry occurrence. ;
B The stranger , too , smiled when I
B tgii n looked at him , not as a madman '
H vould smile , but pityingly. J fancied. j
H "We cannot converse here , my dear
m riend , for 1 must so call you. Will
B 'ou ilo me the favor to step up stairs
H nto my sitting.ioom , where I can ex- 1
H ) laiu how I know you and give you a [
9 jl'inpse of your former life , which J
9 uiglit above all tilings to interest you. " l
b Without waiting for a renlv , he open-
m : d the door at tlie back of tiie shop ,
9 ' , ' md began to ascend a flight of stairs r
m * vhich a gasliglit in the passage reveal-
9 : d. I turned to the shopman and spoke
H n a low agitated voice , for I was great- c
H y agitated by curiosity and doubt.
H "Is he a little deranged ? " I asked. J ,
H "Xo , sir , " he replied , with a stare of j *
H ' . " knows l
au'prise. "Why , every body
H he is of a
urn ; professor languages in
H I knew him well by reputation , a j !
H ronderful linguist , a Grecian among .
H Srecians , an old Roman , an Assyrian , "
H in Egyptian , a decipherer of ancient c ,
H lierogh'phic inscriptions. I shall not _
H jive his real name at present , for it r
B vould be a breach of coniidence , and . c
B brand clever b
uany persons might a
B nan a madman , as I did on tlie first im- -j'
B mlgo. I followed him to his sitting-
B 'oom on the first floor. It was comfora
B able , if not luxuriously , furnished. A c
B J ire leaped and flamed in the low , wide s' '
B < jrate , and the curtains Avere drawn ?
B jlosely over the pair of windows. n
With a motion he invited me to be p
leated. I obeyed , and waited for my p
rompanion to speak. He had fixed his n
.yes on the fire , and seemed to forget ° ,
uy presence. I studied his features
'
dosely the straight nose , the well-
ihaped , firm moutu , the flowing , silvery S
> eard , aud the hair parted in the mid-
lie of his head and falling on his coat
Millar. As I gazed a wonderful sensa- ? . '
ion came over me. I felt as if I had n
mown that face always , : is if it was a
inked in my memory w tli my father '
; nd mother , sister and boother ; as if , in J
.hort , I had grown tip with it before w
md around me through all my short "
ife , for 1 am scarcely twenty-two. He '
ooked up suddenly , and I blushed. * * '
"Your old trick , Crito blushing like
> school girl. " j'
"Sir , " I stammered , "you confuse i :
md bewilder me. Many would believe
• ou were mad. but I I seem to have w
: augbt the infection , if it be madness , 3 *
or 1 faucied just now that I had known J
' . -ou all my life. " ' t (
"Yes , yes ; it could not be otherwise , sl
Sritn , " he said eagerly , "Yon know a ,
; , vhat Lord Tennyson says of this feeling :
s is when with downcast eyes we muse and brood a
1 And ebb into a formerlife , or seem a
i To lapse far back into a confused dream tl
• SO 6tates of mvstical similitude ; j ,
, j one but speaks , or hems , or stirs in his chair ,
t Even the wonder waxeth more and more , r
( ? • So that we sav , 'All this hath been before , t1
j ? ! m this hath been. I know not when or where. ' ii
y' S.r "Walter Scott was also a believer p
& n the fact of pre-existence. All men n
f > f great soul men who have little of c
r- ihe ' animal nature believe in it , betl
% jause thev feel it. The individual soul o >
fe- lasses through many prison-houses , u
W klan's soul dies , alas ! when he is born , s <
f. vnd is emancipated when the body d.es , | d
I , ' ' ' ' > e * mmmmm ' r' ' " " ' * ' * '
*
Maj a i i i aa ai an
hut to be imprisoned again and again.
Think not , young man , that this fact
overturns Christianity. It is rather a
key to the many mysteries of Provi
dence which wo cannot comprehend.
What does Plato tell us ? thatall
knowledge is recollection. ' Pythagoras
believed in thu doctrine ; and Sonthey ,
Lord Lyltou , and Milton also subscrib
ed to it. Hut pardon me ; it is not to
convert 3-011 that I invited you here ,
but to try an experiment. "
"Excuse mo interrupting you , " I
said ; "but how is it thatyou recognize
• in me ono you know in a state of pre-
existence two thousand years ago ? "
"The question is a natural one , and
very easy to answer. You are at pres
ent a journalist that is how you make
your living. But there is something
you love something to which you de
vote every spare moment of your
time. "
"That is quite true , sir , " I stammer
ed ; "but it is a secret. No one knows
of my fancy. "
"And that fancy , as you call it , is a
love for : istronomy. Am 1 not right ? "
"Quite right , " I replied in amaze
ment. "I am passionately fond of as
tronomy. "
"Just so. You were the same when
I called .you Crito. when you lived at
Athens. The expression on your face ,
in your eyes , is the same as it was then.
Your present body resembles tho one
3011 wore as Crito more in expression
than in form. That is how I recogniz
ed you. And now I want to repeat all
I remember concerning you. It is a
repetition of how they used to bring up
children in Athens , and ma3 * serveou
to turn an honest peuny in an art.cfe. "
He smiled , and again I found my
self blushing , for that idea had natur
ally enough entered my mind. He
continued :
"For the first five years of your life
3'ou were allowed to grow without an } *
attempt at educating you , except a
slight punishment for faults might be
so-called , nor were 3-011 perm tted to
keep the company of the slaves and
servants. Before the age of seven your
father secured to ' you the privile eof a
citizen , enrolling you bthe name of
Crito in the public register , called in
Athens 'the archives of the curia. ' 1
dwelt near the Temple of Theseus. I
had been a pupil of Plato , and to m\T
school were 3011 sent. The laws of
Athens ordered schools to be opened at
sunrise and closed at sunset. I taught
3'ou the form and value of letters ; I
taught you to trace those I formed on
tablets with j'our stylus. I gave due
attention to 3-0111' punctuation. Wc
read the 'Fables of JEsop' together : you
learnpd to enumerate the troops wiio |
went to the siege of Troy , and thus be- ,
came familiar with the names of the ]
most ancient families in Greece. 1 was ,
careful to instil pure pronunciation ; to \
cultivate that melod } ' and cadence in <
3"our voice which gave such sweetness j
and charm to Athenian orators. Yuu ,
were not onlv taught to s.n < ; with ex- .
pression , but to accompany 30111voice j
on the lyre. You were taught arithme
tic , not for the purpose of commerce , ;
but to the of '
enlarge powers 30111' mind 1 [
and prepare it for the reception of ge- |
onietry and astronomGeometn * . it j
was supposed , would aid 3'ou when you j
led an army to battle ; in plac.ng your ,
troop ? , and conducting sieves scientific-
alhAstronomy was taught'ou simply .
to prevent yon being alarmed at the c ;
natural phenomena of the heavens.
v
riiis fccienco altogether absorbed vou. ( ;
however.
"Your father believed that it was bet
ter for you to remain ijrnorant of the ,
many tilings rather than have 3-011 ac- , .
tiire so much as to form a confused |
jumble in your mind , and he insisted i
Jiat you should be taught only that . ,
which would prove eventually useiul. j ,
You were taught to dance , to sw m , to
a
ride.
f
"One d.iy you put a question to me
vhich proved that your mind was t
ipening rapidly. "
" 'Master , b3 * what criterion should I -
t ]
udge the merit of a book ? ' you asked.
Vristotle happened to be present in t ]
he school , and he replied , 'When the >
lutlior has said everything he ought ,
lothing superfluous , and says what he
loes say as he ought , 3011 will surely 3
ind merit in his book. ' I encouraged "
n 3-011 the propensity of virtue by ac- °
iustomingyou to virtuous actions , so
hat any other course would bring 3011 a
eal m sery. I taught y ou that beaut3- a
if person and inherited riches might
lelong to you , but were not part of c :
ou. Your soul , possessing the divine
ight of wisdon , was entirely 3'ours ; °
md this light , fanned into a llame b3 * "
iultivation , would lead } rou to tho D
ource * of all truth and light. I taught P
ou thatyou should aim at distingui h-
ng 3ourself not for the empty ap- ' , '
dause of the multitude , but for the ap- S
iroval of that tribunal feared by all . .
nen before which we all shall stand
me day to render account for the deeds e !
lone in our lives. I did ray dut3 * to
'ou honestly ; the result I left to the
jods. P .
"On reaching 30111 eighteenth year „
ou were enrolled in the militia , and
olemnly swore in the temple to sacri- Cl
ice your life rather than quit any post ,
ssigned 3011 , and to aim at the good of 3'
'our country before 3-our own. For a °
ear you underwent the usual dicipliu "
pith the other youths , and regularly
nounted guard. At the end of the
irst year of trial you presented your- °
elf with your companions in the thea-
er , where you were publicly praised
or 3 our conduct , and received your ! '
uncc and shield.
"On tho death of your fathor 3-011 *
rere appointed to the magistracy , but \
ou refused the appointment , and being j , (
our own master now , you determined
o devote your life to your favorite '
duly of astronomy. I advised 3-011 | j
.jja nst it , but you were persistent. c ,
' 011 made the acquaintance of Euclid ,
v
nd became his disciple. He gave 3011
.11 the knowledge he had gained from
he Egyptians and tho Chaldeans , ad-
ng the fruits of his own observations ,
ie taught you to divide the day intc ° (
welve parts , varying in length accord-
ng to the different seasons. These ? '
Kirts were marked on dials for each t
nonth , with the length of the shadow = '
lorresponding to each. The shade cl '
he gnomon corresponded to the hands |
f our clocks and watches , as it was
isual to ask , 'What shade is it ? ' or to
end our slaves to consul the public *
lial. Euclid taught you the use of the
. . . .
'Hil'illllilKl ' * OMB WIQ IIH > * iillMM 'l ' ' V 'Hi ihimmuk. * r- > -
celestial plait'sphcrc , on which you
learned to know the principal stars ,
tlie motions of the uun and moon ami
thu live planets. IJut after long
wanderings in the skvaud after you
had learned all your master could teach
3011 , your craving for more light grew
insatiable. You would fathom infinity.
You sought for truth , and strove to din-
cover it bv * means of abstract ideas
taken from the wretched heap of errors
and contradictions misnamed philoso
phy and wanting in that power of trtio
philosophy , which , discerning the point
where mystery begins and where rea
son must yield to faith , reveres the
mvsteiy. Unsatisfied and craving , you
sought the oracles. At your request , I
accompanied 3011 to the cave of
Trophonius , one of the most celebrated
of the oracles.
"It conies before mv mind now as if
only yesterday we had made the jour-
• ne3 * . We crossed the hill of Helicon ,
where the plants were so health-giving
that in eating of them the very ser
pents were said to lose their venom.
We slept ono night at the Hamlet of
Asera , the country of Hes oI ; , and on
the following morning we passed
through the grove sacred to the Musos ,
where the statues , carved hi pure
marble , were to be seen. Tripods of
bronze , ' upon which perfumes were
burnt , were also plentiful , dedicated
by those who had bseu victors in music
to their inspiring muse. We reached
the mouth of the cavern , which appear
ed like a sort of vestibule surrounded
with balustrades of white marble ,
with here and there brass oblisks upon
them. From this vestibule we entered
a grotto hewn out of the solid rock.
eight cubits high and four wide. Hero
I was not permitted to accompany you
farther , for here the entrance to the
niysterious cave of Trophonius once
stood.
"You bade mc farewell for the time ,
and descended b } * a ladder ; at its foot ,
you passed through a narrow aperture ,
feet foremost , and then vou were hur- ]
ried 011 with the speed of lightning to
the bottom of the cavern , where were ,
two famous fountains one named '
Lethe , wh eh effaces tlie mcnioiv of all
your former 1 te , and the other -
Mnemosyne , which for ever fixes on .
the mind whatever is to be scju or
heard in the dread cavern. You refused -
to drink of Letlnbut took of Mnmo-
33'iie , so 3'ou told me on your return ;
but what 3'ou saw 3-011 would not reveal , |
even to me. <
"A settled niclanchol } ' seemed to have '
fallen | upon 3011 ; 3011 avoided soc et } ' , -
and \ , after vainly endeavoring to restore
you to your former self. 1 saw 3-011 , *
with ; regret , ilee from tlie world and
take up your abode in a cavern , cut out
of a rock , a short distance from Athens ,
tlere 3Tou lived and stu lied , attended
t ;
only by a faithful slave , who had wait- '
ed upon you from your youth up.
Your friends supposed you would soon ,
tire of this manner of life , but thev
were mistaken. For live years you per- .
sisted in it , and became every 3 ear
more fond of solitude.
r
"One morning how well I recollect .
it ! ' slave entered the
30111' city ; beating - •
lis breast and throwing dust upon his 1
head. I felt that .some calamity had
happened , and rushing from my house.
[ questioned him of his master. With
some difficulty I extracted tlie facts
'rom him. It seem * d thatyou had fre- j.
jueiit conversat.ons in an unknown
ongue with some mvstorious stranger , J
ivho would appear when you matlo ccr- } >
ain cabalistic signs , an 1 who would e
vanish without using tiie door of the
Nivern as a means of exit. The slave \ -
vas , too docile and ob li 'iit to quest.on jj
" ue will of his masU-r. although he .
ived in mortal fear of tiie slrang.j visi- .
ant. Late on the night previously .
• ou summoned thi. ; familiar spirit , and
ie staved so long the slave fell asleep
md slept till dawn On awakmg he .
bund all that rema ned of hs : master , . !
a pair of sandals , a uo'd-einbroidered
unic and a heap of ashes.
"There was a strong smell of burn- *
ng in the cave when I entered , an P >
lour later , and the slave insisted that
here had been no lire , but siniph' the ,
il lamp , which still burned freel3 % .
"The Athenian magistrates caused a j ,
trict investigation to be made , for you a
vere a wealthv man , and highly con- f (
lected. I aided the unfortunate slave
v
o escape , for I feared that suspicion j ,
night ult mately fall upon him and in t ]
ny soul I believed his story itnplicity. " f ,
He thereupon paused , ev.dently over-
ome and exhausted. } ,
" 1 hank you for 30111' information as to } }
alife so many 3'ears ago , " I said. "But * [
veu although it seems to me the echo
: i
if one vivid dream , what good cau it S !
toss bly do me to know it ? " fc
"That is not the true Crito who , , (
peaks , he replied. "In 30111soul you j (
re eager to swallow 1113 * worlds ; they n
ill 3'our m.nd with a thousand fancies ; n
hrough these niy hop • - may be real z- n
d , for he is a wise man who can de- sj
ide what is fact and what is fancv. 'j
fou ma3' be able to recall what look
ilace in the cave of Trophonius what
hat famihar sp'rit revealed to you.
'erchance 3-011 may again be able to
ommand him to your aid. " e ;
"Ah , if that were only possible , " I at
aid with a si h. "and bvso doing I did „ ,
tot peril my immortal soul , willingly ,
rould I summon a spirit to aid me in
infoldingniystcries and bewilderments. * °
? he more I know of astronomv , tho pi
ore I feel my ignorance , 1U3 littleet t
icss. " bi
"Come to me a ain , if you wish , " to i
aid this old acquaintance , ris ng to his iv
eet. "Th.nk over what I have told sc
ou , dream of it. and should an } ' light re
lenetrate 3our min • , any iuciuorv * of fo
our former self return upon 3-0111' soul , .sj
omii to me. I w.ll aid you , not for a oi
lurelv unselfish motive , but for me to tl
nit the fact of pre-existence bevond a es
loubt in the e3cs of those disposed to bi
av 1 , for in the mouth of two or three in
vitnesses is a truth established. " is i
I again thanked him for h s commai
lication , and bowed im.self out in
As I ploddi'd through the slush , 1113 * * h
(3'es smarting with the den.-e. smoky tl :
o < r , 1 asked in self if I had fallen l' '
sleep somehow on my feet and dreamt w
all , or if 1 had just pas.-ed through a si
ober realitv. Evidently I had spent a ol
uucli longer pcr < od than 1 thought i
inssible in listening to the craze of an hi
indo'.hti'dly clever man ; for I had not u <
ead that "genius s to madness close tl
Lll.ed ? " tl
I missed my train and had a weary CJ
_ . _ _ „ _ . _ _ . „ ,
wait at the station. At length Ivx
off. and reached inv home in the sub
urbs. After partaking of a light sup
per I retired for the night. It is not at
all unnatural or surprising that 1
should repeat the whohi storv told nu
of myself in a dream ; but I think i
rather envious that in my dream lactcc
and spoke as an Athenian child , and 1
knew my master as Isoerates. But or
awaking. 1 felt convinced that ho hat
not mentioned his name in the course
of tho story.
An Egyptian Funeral
A funeral in Egypt is , indeed , a
strange sight , and the first one tho vis-
itor sees astonishes very much. At the
head of the procession march a corpor
ate body of the blind and a certain
number of men , who proceed at quid
step , singing a most jubilant air , whih
swinging themselves from right to left.
Behind them comes the funeral car , or
rather a sort of bier , bearing a great
red shawl , in which the body is de-
pos 'ted. At the extremity of the bier ,
on a perch , is placed the turban or the
tarbouchc of the defunct. Two mei :
cany this bier. The } ' follow with such
high spir.ts the movements of the head
of the cortege that the corpse , rocked
in every direction , seems to jump under
thu shawl that shrouds it The womer.
bring up the rear , some on asses , sonic
on foot. The first row is formed 01
!
weepers or rather screamers , who sent !
.
forth toward heaven at each step the
\
shrillest notes. Tho weepers hold it :
J
their hand a handkerchief , with which
lhc3' are not solicitous of wiping their
eyes perfectly drv , but which they pull
b3 * the two ends behind the r head with
a gesture that would be desperate if it
were not droll. On arrival at the cem
etery . they take the corpse from the biei
to cast it , such as it is , into the grave.
The grand funerals , however , take
place with much more solemnity. An 1
important , personage is hardby dead in
Eg\pt before his friends and acquaint
'
ances huny to the house ; dur.ng one
or two days the } ' eat and drink at the |
expense of the dead , or rather his heirs , .
indulging in the noisest demonstra
tions. When the hour of interment ar
rives , a scene of the wildest character
is produced. The slaves and women
af the household throw themselves on
the corpse and fe < n a determination to ,
liinder it from passing the threshold.
Phis lugubrious tragedy is pla\ed con
scientiously ; they snatch 'nwiy the cof-
lin ; they behiy each other with blows.
md the most violent and frightful
damor is heard. At last the proees-
> ion leaves tlie house and rep-i rs to the
jemeteiy , preceded oy camels loaded
ivith victuals , which are distributed to
hc poor hurrving in crowds along the , ]
road. All along tiie road the mourn- ]
jrs and friends of tiie family fight for ;
Jie honor of bearing the bier for an in
stant , and thus parses , or rather .
lounds , from hand to hand amid the 1
nost frightful disorder. The .liter- ]
uent ended , even * one returns to the ,
louse of the dead to recommence the j
festivities , dancing and the mortuary
lemonstralions. Brooklyn Miujaziuc. :
Wads Hampton's Belief in Prayer. 1
The love and admiration in which he * '
s held by the people of South Carolina }
tre illustrated in an incident relate. ! t
3r Gen. Hampton when he was reeovj j
ring from his sickness. 1
"I am certain , " ho said , "that m * . c
fe was saved by the fervent pravers of
he people of South Carolina. I was a'c
he point of death and had lost all in- t
crest in life when I received a lettei s
rom an old Methodist m ui tcr , i ]
riend. telling me of the deep and de- (
out petitions put up for my resloratior t
0 health by the MethodfsL conference t
hen in session at Newbjny. Tne let
ter closed In be ging me to exercisi
113 * will to Lve in ivsponse to tho sup t
1.cations of the people of the whok .
tate. who were praving for mo. night t
md dav in every household. V "hcn I j
leard the letter read I promised 111 \ -
ister that I would heed the kind , lov
ng words of the man of God , am r
rouse my will to live. That night 1 ' e
ell into a deep sleep and dreamed mosl
iviilly that I was in a spacious room ,
11 wh ch I was moved to all parts o- j
he state , so that I met 1113' assemblec e
riends everywhere. 1 remember mosi f
istinetlv of all old Beaufort , where J
c :
ad last been. 1 saw immense assemj
lagcs , and as I looked down upon
hem a grave personagcapproached | nu ' c
nd touched the shoulder
me on anc 1
aid to me : 'These people are pravin
ar 30U. L've ! Live ! ! Live ! ! ! J 1
ever realized anything like it before ,
t seemed a vision. I woke the next
c :
lorning feebng the life-blood creeping e
lirough my veins , and I told my fam lv
liat the crisis was passed and that I
houlu get better. " Z. L. While , ii- c
Via American Magazine. ±
° a
The Appetite of Birds. t
Of all animals birds possess the quick- | ;
st motions , the most energetic respir- : '
Lion , and the warmest blood , and thev
T
Diisequenth * undergo tlie most rap d v
Liange of substance and need the most t
iod. Although few creatures arc so P
leasing to the ajithetic tastes of a po
cal-inclined person as birds , th <
reeder knows that most of them are
be looked upon as hearty or excess B
e eaters. Ajuouc who closely ob °
irves birds and th.ero induct will soor
jinark that all the r tuoughts and ef- a
irts , aside from the few da3-s the\ .
pend in wooing and their short * pcrioi. V
f renting , ared rected to gutting some- . , >
ling to eat. With what restless earn- ] l
stuc-ss do titmice plungh through th
ushes and trees ! Not a leaf is left un- : i
lvestigated. every ch nk in the hart
examined for "whatever eatable ii °
iabe hid ng , and a sharp look is casi
jto everv joint of a branch. How in- T
tistriously does the ousel turn anc
1 rash the leaves on the ground o a
ie woods all dai long , sp ing its garni v
nth a glance of its sharp eve , and a
napping it up on the instant ! Aftei )
bserving a few such incidents we car 1 * *
asilv * beileve the stories that are ru-
itcd of the ? )
fish-eating powers of tin
ormorant and the fruit eating bird. >
,
lial are able to consume three time : |
lieir we ght evety ihiy. Popular iSci * :
nee M011.hit/ . a
c
.liiiM wlllUi' i mi iimni.n nu 1
AERIAL riAVIGATION.
An Intrlcato l'robloni That u San
l'rnnclsco Man ClalitiM to JInvo
S-olvctl.
The Aerial Steam Navigation compa
ny , of San Frauc ' sco , is a corporation
organized in accordance to the statutes
of California , and it ? object is to startle
the world .f tho dreams of the projec
tors are ever to be realized. It is no
less than thu coustructou and operation
of an air-sh p. The hour of trial is said
to be near at hand. Tho great "vessel
of the air" is approaching completion ,
and a trial trip will be made within a
few months. The everlasting fortune
of the company will then bo made or it
will utterly collapse.
The moving spirit in the enterprise
is "Prof. " William Patterson , who is
not unknow to fame on the coast The
company had its inception in July of
last 3oar , Mr. Patterson being sponsor.
Ho was modest and fixed the capital
stock at only $100,000. or fifty thousand
shares at 82 each. Upon these articles
of incorporation the following officers
were chosen. President , J. G. Sever
ance ; secretaiy. Charles E. Travers ;
treasurer , Howard L.vingston ; man
ager , Will am Patterson ; engineer , ' * J.
A. Haste ; directors , J. G , Severance ,
S. S. Tillon. Howard Livingston , C. M.
Seele3' , M. D , , and William Patterson.
The practical aeronaut of the con
cern is Mr. Patterson. The airship in
course of construction is designed by
him and approved bv " the engineer , in
the latter case no regard being had to
the old saw , the more haste the less
speed. " Mr. Patterson is exceedingly
enthusiastic and confident He has the
theoiy of aerial navigation down pat ,
and is confident that ho will solve the
interesting problem. The grave ob
stacles that others have encountered
count not with him. He has an appar
ently abiding faith in its ultimate suc
cess. The faith of Darius Green in his
lh'ing machine was not greater. In
conversation with a Chronicle reporter
yesterdnv' , he said :
"O yes , there have been obstacles to
overcome. Capitalists have been slow
to take hold , but , mark ni3 * words * '
pointing his index linger straight at
the j scribe's south 030 and raising his
voice to a concert pitch "mark mv
words : we'll get there just the same. "
Having forever settled that particu
lar ] point , the Professor took a drawing
of , the proposed airship from his inner
coat 1 pocket and proceeded with a mi-
oute , description of the same.
The drawing shows the vessel to
be ] cigar-shaped , the upper portion
be ng the balloon proper , the lower
half the deck upon winch tho freight
aud passengers are to be carried.
"You will observe , " continued the
aerial navigator , "that the deck of the
vessel is closely connected w th the
baloon itself , the two forming one
Cylindrical whole. In this my ship dif
fers from anv which has ever been con
structed. The propulsive force , being
at the point where the baloon and car
are joined , I am able to obtan a much
better control of the vessel than other
aeronauts have who have had the pro
pulsive force placed in a car suspended
at a distance below the balloon. In
such case- head wind could not be ;
prevented from driving the balloon
backward while the aeronaut endeavor-
2d to j > ropel it ahead. " J
"There are other essential differ
ences between 1113ship and all others.i
said the balloon .it "For example , I !
Io not propose to be encumbered w th j
sandbags or aii3' other kind of ballast
In lieu thereof i intend carrving ma- '
-jhineiy which will enable me to create '
the force necessary both to propel and !
.0 ra se and lower the ship. " :
"What niacli nery will you carry ? "
"Three twtdve-horse eng ' nes , one set
to operate the two auxil arv'propellers , [
lit equal distances from each other at '
the bottom of the car , and one operat- 1
ing the driving propeller at the stern ,
wh ch latter also acts as the rudder. 1
'The sole office of thejiropcllers first ;
Mentioned is to aid in raising and low-
jriiijr the ship without the loss of gas. " ]
"What of fuel ' "
sort will3'ou use ?
"A coal-oil and steam sprav , fed to
he furnaces by an injector. The boil- '
r , which has already been negotiated '
or , will be a fortj'horse power Hers- ?
hoff , and will be furnished by Cole '
brothers , of Lockport , N. Y. Pure
lj'drogen gas will be used , and will be
generated in the usual wa3 % by iron '
urnings and steam. :
"Where is the work being prosecu- '
.ed ? " 1
' Sonic parts right here in San Frani
isco , where the vessel will be launch-
al. "
"When will it be launched ? "
"Well , not later than the 1st of the
soming August. The balloon part of j
heslnp will be built In Philadelphia ,
is there are in San Francisco no facili-
ies for its manufacture. The mater al *
s to consist of an external and internal t
ayer of some kind of tough silk , in- \
erlaid with a th n sheet of rubber , the j
vhole covered b3 * a tape netting , .
vhich being freo from knot ? , will give '
he ver3 * smallest amount of friction l
lossible. " c
"What rate of speed will you be able -
o attain , do 3011 imagine ? " I
"Under ordinarv circumstances , a v
nile a minute. With even thing favr
irable , a much greater speed. " v
"How will3011 avoid head winds and t
idverse currents ? " ' r.
" * above descend-
"Simph by rising or -
ng to a level below them. This w 11
e easily done by operating the auxt
liar3 * propellers in opposite directions , n
Hiese , you must understand , are simia 1
ar in shape to a ship's screw , one moa 1
ion causing the vessel to rise ami the
ipposite motion drawing her down. "
"Suppose the balloon should break 0
vhen at a high altitude ? " e
"That will be absolutely impossible , m
s it will be prov.ded with safely valves , v
vhich will not allow of a pressure
ibove a given degree. Aside from this v
irecaution , a rent in anv part of the o
lalloon need not result disastrously , as , s ;
ty means of a parachute formed b3" the c :
verbanging sides of the decks , it will u
e an e < sy matter to lower the ship to j tl
he earth as gbntl3 * as a mother would J h
i3' down her bribe. I have taken even n
.nother precaution against accidental p
ollapses. The balloon is itself divided c.
I
\
him mini 111 a Maw <
into Ihreo com pari men ts , son.irntoc
from each other by a partition of tin
same material of wh.ch it is construc
ted , and each cut rely independent ol j
the other ; so that if any of them shoulc
collapse the others will remain intact ,
thus preventing anything line a disas
ter. "
"Whore will your San Franciscc
works be located ? "
"Upon that we have not as yet dcfi-p - /
nitci3r decided. Wo have several offer *
of vacant lots upon which to cany on
the work of putting the various parti
together as 11103arrive from tho east
It is quite likely wo will decido upon a
vacant lot on Haight street , at tho tor- f"
minus of the cable-car line. " San
Fancisco Chronicle.
m 1
CHARMING HOMES.
"Work > f X.ovInr IliuidH In Mnkln I
tho IIoiiMo JJeautlful. I
Women the world over have , during 1
tho last few years , become profoundly I
interested in the art of making home I
beautiful , and their efforts in that timo I
show them to be possessed of no mean 1
talent for decoration. A few years age I
( not so very many ) all this sort of thing I
was left to the professional decorator I
and furnisher ; those who were not able I
to pa3' for such luxuries were content , I
as a rule , to forego anything that I
smacked of aithcticism or high art in I
their surroundings. Of course there I
were exceptions , but the3' were so rare I
as to become noticeable , and were , it is I
safe to say. inspired b3 * latent genius of I
an extraordinary kind. But the worn- I
en of the world have been growing very I
rapidly of late years in artistic knowl-
edge. The facilities for getting about I
have increased. The shops have be- 9
come magazines of art. There are- I
glorous opportiiuit.es for serf-culture H
that our grandmothers dreamed not of. I
aud women have been quick to avail H
themselves of these privileges. Owing , fl
perhaps , to the Yankee element in
their composition American women are H
particularly shrewd imitators , aud. even H
where thev lack the power of originali- H
ty , appear to make up such lack by H
their genius for adapting to their own r H
uses the designs of others. It is this H
happ3'quality that has transformed the H
homes of the people from their former H
state of ugliness into a pleasing , even H
where it is not a genuinely artistic , con- H
dition. S
Especially in the way of coloring has M
the taste of tlie people been improved. M
Tiie middle-aged among us cau re- |
member ho ' religiously the color line 1
used to be drawn. The blues aud | H
greens were rigidly separated ; so were |
the reds and p uks. It was a daring M
cxiicriment to combine blue aud pink , M
and for many years only the more M
audacious of womankind ac- | H
ceptcd it And there was a sterling M
honesty about colors in those days , the M
remembrance of which makes one M
shudder even now. The distinct and M
dreadtul blues and greens , aud tineom- M
promising reds ! Magenta and sol- M
ferino strike terror to tlie soul , even M
at this distance of time. Happ.lv , we M
have outgrown these things and have ! |
no more of them. Greenand blue- , M
have become united and harmonious j J
until thev * half puz/.Ie 3-011 as to which < | 'fl
predominates. Beds are toned down , , | H
although thev are not all less bright , |
and ; the pinks canv w.tii them a fasci- M
nailng ' tint of vellow. Of course tho < |
colors d d not. change without a reason. M
The fact is that taste had grown until H
such change was demanded. It did | H
not conic in advance , and had no part r ' _ |
in working a revolution. The people 1 J 1
had sinqilv grown until they could 110 S |
longer tolerate such atrocities of col- j H
oriug. Thev had learned soni'tliiii" H
of the laws of harnionv aud contrast , | H
aud began to have muds of their own. M
And io ! how great a change has been M
wrought. The humblest cottagj now 9
disports itself in artistic array ; jcthet - flj
icism marks the costume of the sim- K
plcst village maiden. ] H
To keep pace with these changes in ] H
popular sentiment the wit of mauufac- S
lurcrs and dyers is often severely taxed. H
Women have come to know wiiat they H
want and to insist upon having it. H
The3 * think more , too. of the effect of H
the juxtaposition of various articles C
than ever before. The wise house- fl
wife with a few hundred dollars to - fl
spend in thi furnishing of the modest fl
little nest doubtless bestows more fl
thought upon fitness and liarmony than B
was given to the furnishing of the cost- , fl
liest mansion a few v'ears ago. This is
as it should be , for with a veiy limitec fl
outhi } * the unpretent ous domicile fl
ma3 * be. transformeil into a veritabh fl
Mecca to all lovers of the beautiful. fl
Philadelphia Record. fl
Storm Effects on Mentality. H
It has been argued , with more 01 9
less warmth , that one ' s disposition h 9
largely affected bv the kind of weather S
ivhich prevails when one is born. Whih ' 9
this is possible , it is also fanciful , ant 9
but fow put anfaith in it. There is 9
liowever , another weather phenomenoi 9
in which I believe : I am couvinccc 9
Lhat thought is influenced , in a ver ; 9
considerable degree , by the weather 9
My notice was first drawn toward this 9
by a line in one of Voliaire ' s letters , ii ! 9
ivhich he said : "Mvwork has Deer -9
murkv to-dav , because the weather 9
ivas murky. " From this lime on , . 9
.00k clo-.u and careful account of mv 9
nental cond tion during various kind. 9
if weather. * * * 9
Once , as an exper ment , I plannec 9
wo novelto he worked on simulta- 9
leoush" . The one plot vvas shaped dur- 9
stormv per.od. and the other dur.nc 3
br.ef season of sunshine and sununei 9
dory which immed'atelv followed.v. . 9
rVheneV'T it was stormy , I worked up- < 9
m the storm-planned novel ; and when- 1 9
sver the weather was bright I workec 9
ipon the other. In each instance , . ' * 9
vholh * surrendered imself to th * 9
noods which the weather st rred ui 9
v th nme , and made no effort tohaki 9
iff the good cheer of tiie one or the d. : 9
poutiencv * with which the otner ca- 9
ompas--ed me. As a result , the nove 9
ipon wh ch was settled no shadow o 9
-torm-taint was cheerful and good 9
iiiniored ; but the other was so bitter 9
nournful and vindictive tnat I neve : 9
ir nted it George band , in Korti 9
imertcan Review. 9
