OVR SHIPS AT SEA.
Tla mamW rff III hlVA a III til alt MA.
Freighted wlln wlenee noil bopet and fears
Uniior and welton the ehore for years,
Oatlnf afar tbrouijli the dWanoe dim
And Uglilng, will ever our eblpt ootne Inf
nr. .! ihnm in with laughter and long,
The deck were wnlte and tbe .alu were
new, . ,
The fragrant breewe bore them alone;,
n -I , anil I h aalAa Wfire Dllie.
inH tnon.hi as we watctied them call
Of the Jo Ihejr would bring ui wine futor
any.
lni have we welched benkle the iliore
Tocalcb Hie gleam of a coming all,
But we only bear the breaiera' roar,
II, Ilia awjmnlntf nUlll WlllllM dlllll Wall
Till our elite grow pale, and our eyes grow
mm, .
And we sadly klgli, will they ever comeT
Ohl poor end heart, with IU burden ef caret,
t..A It,, avrlhltaa life
That ban garnered only tbe thorn and tbe
Tbat la eem-ed and torn In tbe pitiful ilrife,
Afar on the Heavenly golden ebore
Tuy snipe are aucliored forever more,
Florence Orover,
THE PASHA OF DAMASCUS.
No country produces bo many exam
ples as Turkey of men rising from tho
loweflt station to the highest nnd great
est. Manners, customs and laws con
sidorably favor those sudden changes of
fortune. But oil of these examples in
tho Tnrkish history none surprises more
than tho promotion of tho Pasha Muha-
mod cl Admi to tho governorship of
'Damascus.
Muhamod and Mnrad woro tho sons of
a rich merchant in Constantinople, who
diod when his children had scarcely
passed their boyhood, leaving thorn in
nossession of considerable fortune
Mnrad continued tho business of his
futlior, and by prudence and industry
soon increased his hereditary portion.
while Muhamod, in company of idlers
and flatterers, spont his share in tho
most reckless nmiiner, by indulging in
all kinds of excesses. It was no wonder
that this extravagant life totully ruined
Muhamod in a fow years, and that when
his fortuno was gone his gay companions
likewiso departed. Even his own brother
closed his door against him, declaring
that ho, not having heeded lus vurn
ings, did not deservo compassion.
Although this is no uncommon fato of
spendthrift's, still tho conduct of his
former associates, and especially tho
liard-heartednoss of his brother, pro
duced a deep impression upon tho good
nuturod heart of this unlinppy youth.
Hut being gifted with inflexible power of
mind, he did not loso courage, but do
torminod to bear his well-merited futo
with manly firmness.
As at first no other means of subsist
ence offered itself, he was forced to live
on tho alms ho roceivod from tho Imliov
crs at tho mosiues.
It happened at this timo that tho Sul
tan visited ono of tho chief mosqnes. Ho
was surrounded by nil tho high dignita
ries of tlio State, dressed iu tho most
costly and magnificent garments. Near
him walked two courtiers having largo
sums of money, which ho, according to
custom, distributed among tho multi
tude. Every piece of money was wrap
ped up in paper; but mixed with these
packets wero others containing small
round nieces of class, on which tho Bui
tail had written somo useful morals or
proverbs composed by himself, llioso
linos gonorally praised poverty, and ridi
culed the foolish actions of tho overbear
ing rioli. You may well iniagino that
the mass of jxioplo following the monarch
woro more greedy of tho money than of
the proverb.
Muhamod was among tho mass. Ho
obscrvod attentively all tho movements
of the monarch; and when tho hitter took
out of the bags handfuls of gold and sil
ver and strewed it among tho multitude,
ho eagerly grusjiod at one of tho small
packets, and then pushing his way
thrsngh the crowd, hastened to a soli
tary spot and opened it, How great was
his disappointment when iusteud of tho
expected gold ho found round pieces of
glass. Ho was on tho point of throwing
it away, when his eyes caught tho fol
lowing words "Ability and oourago
have opened tho road to distinction to
many. Muhamod smiled, considered
tho words, and having taken a resolution,
careful! v placed both paper and glass in
his turban and hastened away, well
knowiug how to act.
There aro traders in Constantinople
who lend all kinds of drosses, from tho
mostuostly, studded with diamonds and
other precious stones, to tho simple gar
ment of the Dervish. Tho call for this
peculiar trade rests in tho fact that many
men, raised from abject poverty to high
oflleo, nrein immediate need of clothes
suitable to their uew station. From the
simie reason theso traders furnish Uicho
upstarts with homes, servants, and other
necessary requisites, which they lend
for stipulated weekly payments. To one
of these trailers Muhamod directed his
steps, nnd possessing a tlignilled tigure,
noble features and engaging manners, he
through a fictitious tile, persuaded tho
usurer to provide him with magnificent
clothes, fine horses and a richly-dressed
body guard. Within a few hours, the
poor lcggar was changed into an illus
trious pasha, who moved tho admiration
of the people
The new pallia had undertaken to pay
for this riM'iisive outfit in the course of
a week. He had no money, but ecrtuiuly
an inventive head, that through the
costly turban seemed to have received a
double, amount of sense ami wit. Fol
lowed by his bodyguard, he guUood to
the house of his brother, and remaining
in tho court, scut one of his servants
to him with tiio mcaange to him that Mu
hauiuj, hi brother, demanded to see
him. Wurud was ou the iHiint of return
ing some angry words, when just iu time
he caught sight of the splendid group i:
his court-yard. He haf-jud out of tho
house to meet his brcuit-r, and to givo
him a friendly welcome.
Muliamed, without dismounting, thus
addressed his brother:
"Mu rod, the Sultun, our niatcr, has
appointed me Pasha of Damascus, hut
to projierly equip myself for this new
dignity, I renin re a considerable amonut
of money. Lend it to me, and I will
thankfully rejsiy you as a brother and a
jia-sha.'
"May the Ird increase our most gra
cious masters glory!" replied Lis de
lighted brother. "In you. Providence
run-es onr family to a never-dreamed of j
irreatnefa. Wonderful are the ways of ,
Allnl immeasurable the fount.un of his
gructl Willi pleasure I Bow offer you,
Muhamed, my entire fortune - take
from it as much as you want. May Allan
always take you under his protection.
During the night Muhamod prepared
for his departure. He furnished himself
. m o-nnrd of fifty men. and en
gaged a few Tartar couriers. On the day
following he sent his treasurer to his
brother for twenty thousand ducats, paid
the trader for his outfit, crossed the Bos
phorous, and traveled straightway to Da
mascus. ,
Muliamed was no common impostor,
who only hunts after monetary results
i.t i,n calculated everything before
hand. His liberality, his commanding
.1 liia noblo bearing, in a coun
try where sudden promotion is of daily
occurrence, convinced every ono, and
particularly his followers, that he was
,oii nrinnintail Pasha of Damascas. At
first, he traveled quietly to avoid public
ity; but the further ho wont from Stum
boul, and tho nearer he approached the
boundaries of his province, the more
openly he showed himself in his now
dignity, the more liberally ho distribu
ted presents and alms in tho towns
through which ho passed. Everywhere
ho was received with due resiiect and
laden with presents. When ho arrived
within threo day's march of Damascus he
halted and camped. Ho then dictated
hitters to tho most eminent emirs in Dam
ascus, announcing to them that in conse-
quonco of treachery tlio uranu vizier
had fallen into disgrace nnd had boon
strangled, and that his son, tho Pasha of
Damascus, as an accomplice 01 uisiumer,
1.11,1 in await tho sanio punishment; and
that ho. Muhamod. appeared as newiy
annotated Governor, to execute the sen
tonco of tho Sultan, and ho commanded
tho emirs to imprison tho criminal, und
to wou-guaru jum mi m miim.
Before, however, Uispntching tneso in
sanctions ho sent a letter to tho Gov
ernor of Damascus, secretly informing
him that his father had been oxocutod,
nnd that tho samo fate awaited him when
tlio now Pasha arrived, lhe conso
ouence of this well-calculated communi
cation was tho immediate flight of the
poor Governor, who was by no menus a
favorite of tho people. His fear of
death wbs so great that he lefteverything
behind him, even his wivos ana treas
ures. After tho emirs had received tho dis
natehes. they called a council, nnd do
bated upon tho steps to bo taken for tho
execution or tlio reoeivou conimanus.
Whilo doing so thero appeared a socond
message with a letter of similar contents.
Pouring delay and resistance would only
endanger themselves, they quickly col
lected all their partisans, und ordered tho
inhabitants to tuko tho old Pasha pris
oner, and with duo respect reooivo tho
npproaching ono. homo, therefore,
hastened to tlio paiaco oi mo uisgruccu
Governor, beset all exits, and ns they
met with no resistance, searched tho en
tire place but in vain. Tho furious
populace loudly blamod tho carelessness
of tlio omirs, nnd no doubt would have
broken out into a rebellion that would
have led to tho pillaging of tho city, had
not ut tho verv moment from the oppo
site part of tlio city, cries of rejoicing
boon hoard which saluted tho entering
Pushn.
The now Governor, surrounded by a
splendid suite, proceeded without stop
ping to tho palace, strewing on his way
... .I.A ...w..l.. 9Tl..i .i..?i.U
were ready to receive him."
"Where is tlio guilty ono?" demanded
Mnhaniod, fixing his piercing eyes upon
tho assembly.
His severe commanding tone created a
general consternation. A long silenco
ensued. At lost ono of tho emirs took
courngo and said:
"Your Highness will graciously par
don us. Tho condemned probably ro
ceivod secret communications from Con
stantinople, in consequence ho has tied
from Damascus, for when we searched
the lmlaco ho was gone."
"Flodt" cried tho amazed Muhamed,
with thundering voice, ''Miserable
slaves! Know ye that my commands are
laws of tho Hultan, our most gracious
muster. Away from my preseiioel Hoon
you will receive the punishment that
falls upon those w ho liko you disregard
tho authority of His Highness."
This threat spread fear and consternn
among tho emirs. Tho new Pasha had,
through his liberality, already won the
common people, and resistance was,
therefore, out of question. Muhamed,
however, had the emirs called buck one
by one, received them most graciously
and presented them with a part of tho
treasures of his predecessor. Iu this
manner ho changed the common fear
iuto general joy. This energetic deport
ment of tho new Governor produced tlio
still more favorable result, that tho ter
rified emirs dared not inqniro for tho
firniuu of the Sultan, by which Muhamed
was appoitcd Pasha of Damascus; but
they wen) satisfied that the former Pasha
remained unpunished.
Iu tho meantime Muhamed, who pos
sessed quite as much intellect as energy,
commenced his olUco by lessening the
burdens of tho people, by abolishing
abuses which hail crept iu during tlio ad
ministration of his predecessors, by giv
ing excellent laws, uud taking under his
particular protection agriculture, com
merce and science. After having in this
manner won tho general confidence of
the better classess, ho insured himself
the affection of tho multitude by his
great liberality to the jnior. Toward tho
old Governor's relations and friends he
ucttsl in the most magnanimous spirit;
and to til oko of tho emirs who had held
olliee n mler that poor fellow, he pre
sented honors and riches.
At tho time when this hapcned the
communication between tho capital and
the provinces was very deficient, and
this was the causo w hy a considerable
time clupcd before the Sultau heard of
these extraordinary occurrences at Dam
ascus, and it was ouly through the ex
iled pasha lumsell who lis. I iIh1 from
Damascus through the lVscrt to lUgdad
that the affair came under his notice.
Arr'ved there well disguised the poor
pavha, unable to find anv other means of
subMhtcuce, was forced to beg at the
utoaques. Shortly after, however, he
found employ ment at a confectiouer's.
The Turk is accuittouirsl to such mot-t
unexpected change of fortune. The
sudden advam-euirnt. as well as the
abrupt downfall from the summit of
greatneas, he bears with calmm-as, 1
uiiKht juiy iudiflereuee; and onr unfor-
tunate t. jvt-r.ur was no exception to the
rule. He lived, quietly submitting to
Lis hard fato, in obscurity and jxiverty
for several months, without Laving even
the conrage to lisp the name of his father,
the Grand Vizier, or vo snow nimsoii iu
public places. At last it happened that
an official of the Porte, who had former
ly lived at Damascus, with great aston
ishment saw him In the shop of a confec
tioner, and addressed him as follows :
"Is it possiblo ! Your Highness I I
beliove 1 certainly think I speak to the
Pasha of Damascus. Is it not so ?
"You err, sir," replied the torrifled
man, with visible emburassment. "I am
a poor workingman, an assistant of the
confectioner."
"Are you? Well I really cannot
no, no, I cannot believe it. I know you
so well I Are yon not the son of the
Grand Vizier, my most gracious master?
What would your noblo father say if ho
saw von in this disguise?"
"In the name of Allah I whispered the
troubled pasha, "have you beon a friend
of my father's ? Then, I implore you by
his dear ashes, do not betray me."
"Ashes ! betray I What does your
Highness moan? Your fathor is alive
and as well as I am. Only this morning
I have received a letter from his own
hund."
A fow more words disclosed tho w holo
nfTiiir Tim son of t ho Grand Vizier.
highly rejoicing, went to tho house of tho
Olliciul to chango ins cioiues ior some
more becoming to his uignuy, aim men
lmi.li started without delay to Constanti
nople to pray tho Sultan for justice,
T int tirat. went to me Lrranu vizier, wiiu
could not beliove tho whole affair, thongl
l,n lmiml it from tho litis of his Own B0I1
nnd even tho Hnltan would not believe it
linn it came to his oars, htill. if it were
trim lm nolnmnlv vowed that the slmmo
less impostor should fool tho wholo
wniirht of his nncer. nnd he forthwith
,1iutmtitiPil fin oflleer with four hundrot
inniuHnrifw tn Damascus to take tho dur
jng fellow prisoner, nnd to transport him
to Constantinople
Tho eight months' government of
DnimimiciiH liv Muhamed had been ex
ceedingly beneficial to tho inhabitants of
that province, who iookcu upon mm us
a father, and it was to bo expected that
his removal would create considerable
ilistuLtisfantinn. When tho officer of the
Hultan appeared before Muhamed, and
handed him tho letter of his master, tho
former kissed it in all humility, pressod
it as a sign of his subjection on his fore
head, and reqnested only a fow hours'
delay to prepare for his journey. During
tlioHn intervals ho commended tho emirs
to his presence, iuformod thorn of his re
call, und took an aiioeuonaio icove oi
tlu.m. Scurcelv. however, had tho
soldiers left town when all tho omirs and
principal inhabitants of tho town met
together and rosolvod to humbly petition
tho Hultan to givo them no other pnsha
but Muhamod, to whom they nnd all tho
pooplo of tho province wero deeply in
debted. This petition was handed to a
mcssonirer. who was charcod to carry it
in five days to Constantinople. As this
letter appeared to many not urgent
enough, a seoond was immediately
ilrnwn mi. in which tho services of
Muhamed wero detailed, and in which
woro clearly cxpressod the determination
that tho nrovmee would not freely
submit to iiuy other pasha. As soon as
Muhamed arrived at Constantinople ho
was immediately led into tho presence of
the Hultan.
"Tn tho namo of Allah, speak man! '
ilmimmlnil tlm Grand Hiirnor.- "Who aro
you that you have so littlo foared tho
anger of your imM!
'( )n ,.f lm imuliiia nf von r Tmneriiil
1 1 W V IIIV iih.iiih'1 vm a a- -j-- - - -
Highness," replied tho undaunted Mu
hamcd, respectfully,
"liv t.lm lieiird of tho Protihet!" cried
the Hultan, with increasing anger, "who
has appointed you pasha, and who lias
signed tho firman of this promotion,
miserablo impostor?"
"Your Imperial Highness, tho sover
eign of tho bcliovers," quietly replied
Muliamed.
"This is too much!" said tho Sultan.
'Klmw tlm Hi-imin. or I will have VOll
strangled instantly, you arch roguo."
viloro it is, your Highness," replied
Muhamed, and no drew from his breust
niece of paper, in which was wrapped
tho pieco of glass, and which ho laid re
spectfully at tho feet of tho Hultan.
Impatiently tho Hultan picked it up,
and looked with searching eyo upon the
the writing, which ho easily recognized
as his own. Then he remained silent for
some time, lost in thought, while the
Grand Vizier, standing near him, ex-
cted a frosh burst of anger, and Mu
i.uned. hopinir for pardon, bent his
knees. At that moment tho letters ar-
ived from Damasacus, which, us extra
ordinarily important, wero without ueiay
hainled to tho sovereign.
After the Sultan had carefully read the
letters ho spoke us follows:
'Gi-uil Vizier. Allah is merciful!
Should 1 puuish this fellow I should
'.itiso discontent, and perh; ps iusurreo
tou in a province of my Empire. Thero
ote, 1 will rather give your sou the ad
ministration of another province, ion,
Mnliaiiicd, I will appoint Pasha of
Daui.tscus; yet remember that I only
piii-don you' and confirm your appoint
ment, bcea.iho you have shown a kind
heart toward tnv people! Go!"
"Praii-ed bo the mercy of our Lord and
Siilniii!" ei io.1 tlm hannV Muhumcd. and
amid the rejoicings of the multitude he
left tho palace.
Hrt afterward eoverued Damascus with
great success and wisdom for twenty-five
years.
l'.iil-K.iion ami SoLpmi. Among sev
eral unpublished anecdotes of tNo Em
peror Nicholas, related by a Knssian
contemporary is tho following; One day
tho Emieror, who wasj one of the
strictest and most inflexible of disci
plinarians, met, iu a street of St. Peters
burg, a drunken dragoon, who was
riding in a drosehky. Iu a great raj;e
the Czar stopped the droschky, and
angrily aked tho soldier what ho was
.loit.g. luo lmnuuenco oi in tewger
iiArtiallv sobered the latter. He ro-e iu
his carriage, drew his sword, and, taint
ing the Czar, said: "I'm taking a
drunkcu soldier to the guard-room, your
Majesty." Tho Emperor Nicholas
smiled, pave the soldier a five-roublo
piece, and told the coachman to drive
him not to the guard-room, but homo.
Suudsv school teacher, eismiaiug ou
Book of Kings: "Now. can any child j
tell me why Elijah onlore 1 water to bo
put on the bullock and alt ir?" Sum! 1
boy, kvh1 nine aud a half; "Pleve, sir, j
to "make the gravy with."
A Neath Carolina ru i ha an inter
esting family i f tweuty-eeven daughters, '
He hasn't had front gate is ton years.
English vs. American Ways.
The social monopolists of London are
a sharp class of ipgalherers. To say that an
intellectuality which is prodigal of its
riches in an easily discarded element in
the crome de la creme of what is known
as the upper life, would not be true. To
be loarned and to possess a recognized
specialty of one's own; is the ambition of
each member of the lofty solitaricty of
London. But to exhibit its attainment
or accomplishment during the evening
gathering is considered in as bod taste
as it would be to illustrate one's linen
shirt front with a title that it is honored
by a succession of inheritances that ev
erybody who is anybody, knows all about
and always has known it. An nltra fash
ionable London circle, if it bo strictly
devoted to conveniences, both in its eon
duct and conversations, almost invaria
bly resolves itself into a dense incarna
tion of the commonplace.
To look in upon one of thoso notable
London crushes during the season, is to
find that thoy aro largely mado up of
persons who confide in their acquaint
ances between "claret cups" that they ac
cepted this particular invitation against
their wishes, while, in fao't, to be seen in
these same crowds is tho keenest delight
of which ho is capublo. The crudo col
ors and tho gaudy and not too valuable
ornaments, remind ono oi wnnt a milli
ner's bewildered dreams of tho Elysian
fields ranst bo.
Tho ungraceful posing nnd henvy
movements of tho English matron who
has long been a habitual frequenter of
tho London ball and party, the reception
and dinner, aro only tolerable to artistic
eyes, because they are natural and un
conscious under the circumstances.
Ill-satisfied as the cultivated artistic
eye may be after an inspection of the av
erage English woman's full dress attire,
nobody can deny that the simpler dresses
which the same lady wears at home, are
usually far prettier than the morning and
every-uay costumo of tho American.
There is no impropriety in mentioning
that the pompous gurments of the fash
ionablo women of London aro imposing.
It is just tho adjective to select when
writing or speaking of her evening toi
lettes. Published descriptions of tho
English woman's fashionable array
(strongly suggests grandeur, lavishness
of expenditure, and tho inherited rich
ness in all tho accessories of her cloth
ing, that cannot fail to be astonishing to
the unfamiliar beholder; but when tho
American is privileged to look upon theso
almost sacred creatures and their attire,
ho is astonished and disappointed at tho
llimsinessof texture and whimsicalities
of stylo in tho gurments of the great. In
deed, ho is almost pained at tho absence
of an "eternal fitness of things." His
simple republican mind has linked and
wedded eiegnnco ana superior amsuc
pomps with lofty rank aud impressive
titles, simpleton that ho was I
In America to mention that a lady was
seen adorned with velvets, laces and dia
monds, conveys a clear and trustworthy
picture of brilliants that aro not only
1 . 4 1.- L II .'.I
genuine, out can ue sueu wiuioui uio uiu
of a magnifying glass. To tho intelli
gence of tho Londoner no such uncxag-
gorated fact would even be suspected.
Ho is not credulous to believe that the
laces were genuine, nor the velvet silk
clear through all its fibers. Ho is taught
by experience.
15ut, then pray lie observant oi an
other contrast between tlio London
house-furnisher and tho Now Yorker.
Tho latter too often produces enocts
without substantial back-grounds, but
the Londoner's drawing-room, and, in
deed all his receiving rooms, nro l oth
substantial and beautiful. Scoff or
smile, ns Americans may and do, at the
lack of the English lady's personal taste,
her household is charmingly artistic and
substantially comfortable. Mie knows
how to combine uso and beauty with a
far clearer senso than wo do. Of course
the veneering family is unconsidered in
this letter. They have, doubtless, gone
to tho continent und taken their furniture
along with them. During two seasons
spent in London, it is yet to bo the fate
or fortuno of tlio writer to seo a single
piece of now furniture in any gentle
inau's house. It has even como to be a
painful apprehension iu tho mind of the
writer every timo ho passes a cabinet-
shop window, lest its proprietor, in a
depressed state of mind, which one of his
unborn trvunilcliililren shall take his
place long after ho is dead, and recoive
compensation - for the products of his
skill. Who is there ever to purchase tho
new cabinets, dressing-tables and recep
tion chairs that one sometimes sees in
vans traveling along tho streets of Lon-
lon. now that the English public has
been educated in tho laws of beauty and
a belief in brass fenders, corner clip
boards nnd blno china."
Thero is a tone of mellowness which
one fuels, but which is difficult to do
scribe in almost nil those English apart
ments which visitors enter, lime has
embroidered certain subtle charms into
ninny things which nro beyond the reach
of purchase money, and thero is a cer
tain generosity extended towards smaller
articles of beauty than is less common on
this side of tho oeeun. Individual coin-
fort and convenience are secured by our
IK'ople at any cost, but the rich English
girl's bed-room, though in compliment
called a chamber, is often furnished with
an irou bedstead and unpolished floor,
with ono or two not too soft or too pretty
rugs upon it, also a dressing table, that
is not an adornment, while her luvpa w ill
purchase a bit of china for the cabinet
down stairs, nt a cost of fifty guineas,
aud a rare old print, or a list of Flemish
tapestry for the library at treble that
sum.
This plainness in one part of the estab
lishment and a richness in cur public
rooms is not intended as a deception, as
it would bo in America. It is simply a
matter of taste or choice. With us tho
china, the tapestry and the choice print
would not le purchased until all the.
house was provided with the utmost com
fort, and yet we aro called a jieople of
shams by many of our English cousin.
They aro fond of the result of their
riches in one way, as we are in another,
and neither should undertake to adjust
the habits of tho other. If they are fond
of grave and silent assemblages, and su
pevt themselves of enjoyiug such occa
sions, all that the writer desires to say
about thotu is simply to mention their
solemnities and their jewel, just as other
travelers allude to the Tower of London
and the crown diamonds, that is all.
The Fnsj'.ish are at generous in their
hospitalities as are tlu AmerU-ana; but
ill. mru lf AMP ladies, the English
QUllKO U4UDV V Ve ' iU nf
woman not only has an appetite, both at
home and at parties, but sho does not
make it a reason for blushing or secre
tiveness. The reason that English re
ceptions and parties appear to be stupid
to us is simply because it is unfashiona
ble for English people to carry their or
dinary vivacity, enthusiasm and humor,
or even an appreciation of hnmor, into
society. A capability of standing still
and being silent, or of dancing and not
conversing of anything that can be re
membered, and of having a good appe
tite always about ono, is all that is ex
pected of a guest. To be distinguished
in the world is gratifying to your hostess;
but fortunately you are not expected to
look, act or converse as if you were any
body in particular while yon are in com
pany, except when you are at dinner, as
was before intimated, and even then you
are not called upon to extend your lis
tening powers or your conversation be
yond the nearest person on your right
and left, and within this circle your con
versation must not bo so decidedly in
teresting and significant as to disturb the
digestive processes of the most delicate.
In America, because a person does not
know anything, it is no reason why he
should hold his tongue! In England it
IB.
the
Happy England. London Loir, oj
X. V. Home Journal. ,
Standing Armies of Europe.
There can be little question that tho
present prostrate condition of Continent
al trade is in a great measure due to the
enormous burdens laid on the people by
the military policy of their leaders.
How heavy these burdens are some de
tails taken from a report lately issued by
the Hungarian Minister will show. Ac
cording to this report (the object of
which is to exhibit the relative weakness
of the Austro-Hungarinn forces, and ad
vocate on addition to them) , the military
strength of Hnssia consists f 3,(Mli,8(K)
men, of whom (iUO.OOO belong to the re
serve and 2.4-lfi,8(X) to the standing ar
my. The regular army of France com
prises 1,(J81I,000 soldiers of all arms, the
territorial army, 1,208,000; total, 2,
28D,00O; to be, increased iu 18112 by the
addition of 300000 reserve men to 2,273,
000. The German power, of all classes,
is represented by 2,00-t,3(W men, of
whom 1,070,200 belong to tho standing
army, 307,200 to the lundwehr, nnd 620,
900 to the roserve. Italy has an army of
(i!)8,000, and o militia of 310,000. In
1882, when tho reserve will number 1,
010,200, her total strength will reach 2,
024,200. Austro-Hungary possesses a
standing army of 800.000, a landwehr of
21)11,318, and a reserve of 05,000 men; to
tal, 1,194,318. The grand total of all
theso forces nmouuts to 10,471,918, the
standing armies nlono numbering 7,925,
000. But it must not be understood that
all the latter nro now under arms; nt
least half of them aro on a furlough.
They form the first lino, and all would,
of course, bo lit onco called out in the
event of a general war. It is neverthe
less true that the great military powers
havo at their disposal 10,000,000 men
who have learned, or lire now loarning,
the soldior's art, and are (bound to re-en
ter the ranks when required. I he mind
refuses to erasp the full significance of
theso portentous figures, but it may safe
ly bo allirmed that bo long as these
bloated armaments are Buffered to exist
Europo can couut neither on lasting
commercial prosperity nor on a long con
tinuance of peace. Geneva Corr. Man
chester Examiner.
A Polyphonic Ear. There is some
thing to be said as to the difference in tho
way in which the highly-gifted musician
and the ordinary listener hear music It
is more or less a waste of energy to writo
music iu ninny parts, all of which uro
made melodious at some sacrifice of tho
harmonic effect, when not more than,
perhaps, one iu n hundred listeners is
capable of hearing more than ono mel
ody at a time. We think that it is not
the power of writing counterpoint that
has died out so much ns the will to write
it. There can bo no doubt that tlio un
popularity of counterpoint is maiulydue
to tho fact that tho ordinary listener is
unablo to hear in it what tho highly
gifted musician hears. The many simul
taneous melodies are quite, lost on the
ordinary listener. It is only in the caso
of tho greatest composers, whoso princi
pal melodies and harmonies do not sutler
by their attention to tho counterpoint,
that works of this ciass attain auy popu
larity. Until tho acquirement of the
power of Rearing many simultaneous
melodies is placed within tho roach of
tho ordinary listener by a suitable and
widespread education specially directed
to this purpose, it is useless to look for a
popular interest ia counterpoint which
shall oucourage the composer to produce
it. There is a question how far it is pos
sible for a person not naturally gifted
with tho polyphonic ear to acquire it in
perfection. But thero can bo no doubt
that systems of education are possiblo
which will do much toward advance in
this direction; nnd that tho direct culti
vation of polyphonic hearing and reading
is the shortest cut toward the formation
of tho true musician. Nature.
HnuiAND and Wire.-Tho Catholic
Columbian thinks that "a great de.d of
the misery and unhappiness that exists
in families might be averted, in whole or
in part, if the husband and w ife would
only try to understand each other and
suow a littlo more forbearance to each
other's faults. Incompatibility of tem
pcriueut is only another name for stub
uomess, and will ever exist when the
parties insist on misinterpreting each
other's deficiencies. Where this mutual
understanding uxistn, everything moves
along smoothly. If a mistake is made,
it is pussed over without comment, and
does not become the cause of bickerings
and d;ssention; if a hasty word is spoken
its eff.-cts are laughed away and forgot
ten ui soon as uttered. In thi way
much trouble is avoided that tho contra
rv course would inevitably bring about.
Home should ever be the "abode of pence
aud contentment, and there can never be
a necessity for a contrary state of things,
as there can be no justification therefor.
A mud turtle can neither fly, sing, gal
lop, cry or go blackbem ing and yet, if
they are let alone they will get alongjust
as well as the young man w ho tries to b
funny at a lawn party.
A yonng lady ate half a wedding cake
and then tried to d.iamef her futare
hu-dund. Now she a. y tLat she woald
rather die than marry the man she saw
in thai dream:.
A Billion Dissected.
It would be curious to know how many
readers have brought fully homo to their
inner consciousness, the real significance
of that little word "biUion" which we
have seen so glibly used. There are,
doubtless, many thousands who cannot
appreciate its true worth even when re
duced to fragments for more easy assimi
lation. Its arithmetical symbol is sim
ple and without much pretention; there
are no large figures just a modest 1 fol
lowed by a dozen cyphers, and that is all.
Let us briefly take a glance at it as a
measure of time, distance and weight.
As a measure of time, I would take one
second as the unit, and carry myself in
thought through the lapse of ages bock
to the first day of the year 1 of our era,
remembering that in all those years we
have 305 days, and in every day just 80,
000 seconds of time. Hence, in return
ing in thought bock ogain to this year of
grace, 1880, one might have supposed
that a billion of seconds had long since
elapsed; but this is not so; we have not
even passed one-sixteenth of that num
ber in all these long eventful years, for
it takes just 31,087 years, 17 days, 22
hours, 45 minutes nnd 5 seconds of time.
It is no easy matter to bring under the
cognizance of the human eye a billion
objects of any kind. Let us try in imag
ination to arrange this number for in
spection, and for tho purpose I would
select a sovereign as a familiar object.
Let us put ono on. tho ground and pile
upon it as many as will reach twenty feet
in height, then let us place numbers of
similar columns in close contact, form
ing a straight line, and making a sort of
wall twenty feet high, showing only the
thin edges of the coin. Imagine two
such walls running parallel to each other
and forming, os it were, a long street.
We must then keep on extending these
walls for miles nay, hundreds of miles,
und still we shall be far short of tho re
quired number. And it is not until wo
have extended our imaginary street to a
distance of 2380J4 miles that wo shall
havo presented for inspection our ono
billion of coins.
Or in lieu of this arrangement we may
place them flat upon tho ground, form
ing one continuous line liko a golden
chain, with every link in close contact.
But to do this we must pass over land
and sea, mountain and valley, desert and
plain, crossing the equator, and return
ing around the Southern hemisphere
through the trackless ocean, retrace our
way again across the equator, then still
on and on, until we again arrive at our
starting point, and when we have
thus passed a golden chain around
tho huge bulk of tho earth, wo
shall bo but at the begin
ning of our task. We must drag this
imaginary chain no less than 703 times
around the globe. If we can further iin-
ngine those rows of links laid closely
side by side, aud every one in contact
with its neighbor, we shall havo formed
a golden band around the globe just 52
feet 0 inches wide, nnd this will repre
sent our ono billion of coins. Such a
chain if laid in a straight line would ex
tend a fraction over 18,328,445 miles,
tho weight of which if estimated at ono
quarter of an ounce to each sovereign,
would be 6.975,447 tons, and would re
quire for their transportation no less than
2,335 ships, each with a full cargo of
3000 tons. Even then thero would bo a
residue of 447 tons, representing 04,081,
020 sovereigns.
For a measure of height let us take a
much smaller unit as our measuring rod.
The thin sheets of paper on which these
lines are printed, if laid out flat and
firmly pressed together, ns in a well
bound book, would represent a measure
of about tho 1-33: id of un inch in thick
ness. Let us seo how high a denso pile
formed by a billion of these thin paper
leaves would roach. We must, in im
igination, pile them-vertically upward,
by degrees reaching to the height of
oiir tallest spires; and passing those, the
pilo must grow higher and higher, top
ping the Alps and Andes, nnd tho
highest peaks of the Himalayas, and
shooting up from thence through the
fleecy clouds, pass beyond tho confines
of our ntenuated atmosphere," nnd
leap up into tho blue ether of which
the universe is filled, standing proudly
up far beyond tho reach of all tores
trial things; still pilo on your thous
ands nnd millions of thin leaves, for
we aro only beginning to rear the
mighty mass. Add millions on millions
of sheets, and thousands upon of miles
on these, and still tho number will
lack its duo amount. Let ns pause to
look at the neat ploughed edges of the
book before us. See how closely lie those
thin flakes of paper, how many there
nro in tho mere width of n spun, nnd
then turn our eyes in iraigination up
wards to onr mighty column of accu
mulated sheets. It now contains its
appointed number, and over ono bil
lion of sheets of the Times superim
posed upon each other, and pressed
into a compact mass, has reached an
altitude of 47,348 miles!
Thoso who have taken the trouble to
follow me thus far will, I think, agree
with me that a billion is a fearful
thing, and that a few can appreciate
its real value. As for quadrillions ond
trillions, they are simply words, mere
words, wholly incapable of adequately
impressing themselves on the human
intellect.
In a circus in Taris, 111., a suddenly
crazed young lady ran into the ring, em
braced tho clown, and declared that he
must become her husband. The audi
ence said that it was the first original
joke they had heard in a circus ring for
more than twenty years.
And now sixteen or seventeen new
stars and comets have been discovered.
If this thing isn't stopjied pretty soon,
the yonng couple who succeeded in find
ing that particular star by half past ten
won't be able to get home before mid
night. Give the children a rest.
A ten-year-old boy, boasting of his
father's accomplishments, put it thus:
"My father can do almost anything. He's
a Notary Public, and he's an apothecary,
and can pull teeth; he's horse doctor,
and can mend wagons and things, and
can play the fiddle; he's a jackass at all
trades.-'
"Is there an opening liere for an in
tellectual writer?" asked a seedy, red
nosed individual of an editor. "Yes, my
friend," replied the man of qnii;, "a
considerate carpenter, foreseeing yonr
visit, left an opening for you; turn the
ijjob to the right. "