THE WEST SHORE. 101 THE TEMPLE OP BAALBEC. IjlHE ruins of the ancient City of Baalbec, situated on -L the plain, forty-three miles corthwest of Damascus, are the wonder of modern architects. The massive walls of the temple are thus described by Dr. H. M. Field in a letter to the Evangelist: Everything is colossal. The area is larger than that of the temple at Jerusalem. We may begin with the walls, which are half a mile around, and of such height and depth as are rarely attained in the most tremendous fortress. When from within I climbed to the top it made me giddy to lxk over the perilous edge to the depth below, and when from without the walls I looked up at them they rose high in air. Some of the stones seem as if they must have been reared in place, not by Titans, but by the gods. There are nine stones thirty feet long and ten feet thick, which is largor than the foundation stones of the temple at Jerusalem, dating from the time of Solomon, or any blocks in the great pyramid. But even these are pigmies compared with the three giants of the western wall sixty-two, sixty-three and a half and sixty-four feet long! Those are said to be the largest stones ever usod in any con struction. They weigh hundreds of tons, and instead of being merely hewn out of a quarry which might have been on the site, and left to lie where they were before, they have been lifted nineteen feet from the ground and there imbedded in the wall! Never was there such cyclopean architecture. How 'such enormous masses co'uld be moved is a problem with modern engineers. Sir Charles Wilson, whom I met in Jerusalem, is at this moment in Baalbec. Standing in the grounds of the temple, he tells me that in the British Museum there is an ancient tablet which reveals the way in which such stones were moved. The mechanics were very simple. Rollers were put under them, and they wore drawn up inclined planes by sheer human muscle the united strength of great numbers of men. In the rude design on the tablet the whole scene is pictured to the eye. There are the battalions of men, hundreds to a single roller, with the taskmasters standing over them, lash in hand, which was freely applied to make them pull to gether, and the king sitting on high to give the signal for this putting forth of human strength en mime, as if an army were moving to battle. A battle it was in the waste of human life which it caused. These temples of Baalbec must have been a whole generation in building, and have consumed the population of a provinoe and the wealth of an empire. m i i m CANE AND PARASOL RACK. rnHESE pretty, convenient racks are intondl for either JL the dressing room or hall, and should be hung upon the wall as a receptacle for canes and sun umbrellas or parasols. The foundation is made of thin board, which ran be cut by a carpenter. It is to be shaed with throe large scallops at the top, gradually tapering the sides toward the bottom, where it is finished with three smaller scallops. The piece of board should thou be covered smoothly with black leather and fastened with small tacks all mnnd th vljw of th wvl. It rill h r.rprs. sary to slightly slash the edges of the leather, to make it fit smoothly over the wood. Two pockets of the same black leather aro then tacked on, the edges finished with a very narrow gimp, held in place with small sized tacks. Before fastening tho ixckots to the back, tlio Mtom pieces should bo Bowed in, first binding tho edges of these Bomi-eirolos and the lowor edges of tho jMH-kotH. Then overhand the odgos of the ixx-kets ami semi-circles together and tack to tho back, as directed. Finish with gimp round tho outside edges, also through tho division in tho jHwkots. The tops of tho pockets should also bo bound with gimp. At tho top of tho rack, in what may be termed the comers of tho scallops at each side, two small Bcrow rings should bo securely fastened, by which to hang it against tho wall Tho rack is now ready for its decorations. Golden rod and purplo asters form n pretty design, which can bo easily painted, and contrast well with the dark leather. m WATER FROM EUCALYPTUS ROOTS. IN many parts of Australia, where water is scarco, tho na'tivos formerly procured it from tho root of tho eucalyptus and a few other trees. Tho troo most pro forred throws out numerous lateral roots, which lie at a depth of from Ax to twelve inches below tho surface. The native, having ascertained by moans of prodding with a pointed stick or spear tho position of some of the roots, removes the suporincumbent soil witli his wooden shovel for twenty or thirty feet, and cutting the root off at each end lifts it out of tho trench and cuts it up into lengths of alxiut eighteen inches or two feet, knocks off the bark, and stands the several jxirtions on end in soma rocoptaclo to contain tho water. As soon as thuso pieces aro placed on end the water commences to drip, and when the whole of tho root or roots aro cut up and placed on end, the native, beginning at tho first placed, puts tho end in his mouth, and by a vigorous pulT oxMila tho re maining water. Tho water is beautifully clear, cool and free from any unpleasant taste or smell. COUNTRY AND CITY LITE. IF the boys who aro brought up in tho country under stood their advantages surely they would not throng to the city. Tho chances for wealth are as great, prac tically, in the country as in the city, and tho exposes of living and the risks of disaster much less. The compel! tions of city life and the struggles to get hold of business and salaried work are fearful. No man should come to the city unless ho knows what ho is going to do, or has money enough in his hands to bike care of himself until ho gets a living position or becomes satisfied that ho can not get oue. Even to-day, with ths evidences of renewed prosMrity all around us, there aro probably tn applirn. tions on file for every desirable place, and no iituii living here could help a friend to a placa unless ho could create ono. Ami as far as social advantages aro iu,eriied, what M Micro in tho city that can eoiujiMisatn for tlui pur pleasures of country scenery and country life?