haps it rests in the hope that Literature must come there, for the reason given by the late nocturnal explorer for coming home-that all the other places are shut up. To New York talent gravitates, on account of its active and varied life and the chance of employment given by its press, its great publishing houses, and its periodicals. And yet, are not the conditions of modern life so changed that there can no longer be such a thing as a literary centre in the old meaning? A centre, and more than one, of publishing and distribution-yes. But the facilities of travel have distributed the workers. The literary producers do not all live in the great cities. They are scattered in a thousand little centres of intelligence. There are many stimulating local publics; there are great libraries in small cities and university towns. So the question remains. New York to be a literary centre? VI. Is A There is no monument that a man can raise to himself so durable as a poem, or a sound, simple, original piece of prose. His literature will survive, and he will live in it when his own personality becomes vague. Nothing else seems to last. reputation for doing something is very often shifted from the supposed actor to some one else, and time and the document-finding historians are always nibbling away reputations. Perhaps the New-Yorkers have been wise in their delay in contributing money for the Grant Monument, knowing that it is scarcely safe to raise one to anybody before the lapse of three centuries. Perhaps the friends of Thomas are justified in their expectation that the rolling years will assign to him his proper place in the civil war. Truth, considering its vitality, is often very slow in getting into line. These reflections will be likely to be made by the reader of John Fiske's fascinating The Discovery of America. For a long time scholars have been laboring to clear away the mists that obscure our origin, and to disentangle the contradictory evidence as to priority and honor of individuals. Professor Fiske has put this evidence in lucid order, and turned upon it the electric light of reading it by the knowledge that existed at the time of the various discoveries, and not by the knowledge we now have. The discovery of America was a gradual process, and the The apprehension of what had been discovered took a long time to enter the mind of the world. In these late investigations the calumny that for four hundred years has rested upon the name of the accomplished Italian scholar and astronomer Americus Vespucius is dispelled. At last he has the honor that is due him. And this honor does not detract from or disturb that of the great Genoese navigator from whom we get the poetic name of the new continent, and through whom we are able to sing "Hail Columbia!" America is a good name, and we have thriven under it, but we have always had a resentful feeling that it was imposed upon us by a tricky sailor who was jealous of Columbus, and appropriated to himself his predecessor's discoveries. This suspicion is absolutely groundless. Both Columbus and Americus died before the magnitude of their discoveries was known, and in the belief that the lands beyond the Atlantic to which Columbus led the way were lying off the coast of Asia. original source of the calumny against Americus was in the change in the Latin version of his letter in regard to his first voyage of the name Lariab to Parias. Now Lariab is in the Gulf of Mexico, near what is now Tampico, and Parias is on the north coast of South America, two thousand miles southeast. This verbal change, made by a translator who knew there was a place beyond the Atlantic called Parias, but had never heard of Lariab, led to a confounding of the first with the second voyage of Americus, and to the charge that he had antedated his discovery in order to rob Columbus of the credit of preceding him in finding the land that was afterwards called Brazil. The name of America, gradually covering the continent, got fixed upon the land known as Brazil (which was supposed to lie off the coast of Asia, and to be only a part of the dry land which the first voyage of Columbus had pointed out) by the map-makers in what may be called a series of accidents. With the naming, or any suggestion leading to it, Americus had nothing to do. If Columbus and Americus are now together, and in a position to look down upon this globe, which is now completely discovered and mapped, they must exchange interesting observations upon the mutations of reputation in this queer world, and upon the difficulty of satisfying its restless inhabitants. POLITICAL. UR Record is closed on the 13th of June. Oh Congress but little legislation of general importance was completed. The House, on the 6th of June, passed bills for the admission of Arizona and New Mexico into the Union. On the 3d of June James G. Blaine resigned his position as Secretary of State in the cabinet of the United States. The Governor of Virginia, on the 28th of May, appointed Eppa Hunton to represent that State in the United States Senate in place of John S. Barbour, deceased. The Republican National Convention met at Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 7th of June. In the platform, which was adopted on the 9th, the convention asserted the adhesion of the party to the doctrine of protection, and declared that the prosperous condition of the country was due to the revenue legislation of a Republican Congress; it approved the pol. icy of reciprocity with foreign nations; demanded the maintenance of the parity of values of gold and silver and paper currency; declared itself in favor of the enactment and enforcement of such laws as would secure to every citizen of the United States one free and unrestricted ballot in all public elections; denounced the outrages "perpetrated upon American citizens for political reasons in certain Southern States of the Union"; asserted itself in favor of the extension of foreign commerce, the restoration of the mercantile marine by home-built ships, and the creation of a navy for national protection; affirmed its approval of the Monroe doctrine; called for the enactment of more stringent laws for the prevention of criminal, pauper, and contract immigration; expressed its sympathy with the cause of home-rule in Ireland and with the persecuted Jews in Russia; declared its devotion to the cause of education and religious freedom, and its opposition to any union of church and state; called for further legislation for the effective restriction of trusts and other combinations of capital; commended the enforcement of the existing laws for the regulation of the civil service; asserted that the Nicaragua Ship-canal should be controlled by the United States; expressed itself in favor of the early admission of the remaining Territories and of the selection of Territorial officers from bona fide residents; recommended the cession of arid public lands to the States and Territories embracing them; called for reasonable governmental aid to the World's Columbian Exposition; expressed its sympathy with all legitimate efforts in favor of temperance and morality; and commended the administration of President Harrison as "able, patriotic, and thoroughly American." On the 10th the convention nominated Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, for President of the United States, and Whitelaw Reid, of New York, for Vice-President. A new Italian cabinet was organized May 15th, with Signor Giolitti as its President. Labor riots of a serious character occurred in Barcelona, Spain, on the 10th of June, and the police were obliged to call for the aid of troops to suppress the disturbance. On the 12th a state of siege was declared throughout the province. News from Cairo, Egypt, May 19th, reported that an epidemic of cholera was prevailing in Harrar, causing a hundred deaths daily. A battle occurred early in May between a British in West Africa and native Jebus, near Magbore, in which 400 of the latter were killed. The British loss was but slight. DISASTERS. May 16th.-The British bark Earl of Aberdeen was wrecked on the coast of the county of Pembroke, England, and sixteen of her crew drowned. were May 17th-News was received of the foundering of the Caspian Sea steamer Alexander Wolcow in a hurricane March 29th; 250 lives were reported lost. May 18th.-A great flood in the Floyd River, Sioux City, Iowa, caused the loss of more than twenty lives, destroyed property valued at $1,000,000, and made several thousand people homeless. May 19th.-News was received from Mauritius stating that on the 29th of April a hurricane passed over that island killing more than 600 people, and destroying a large part of the town of Port Louis. May 21st.-The Brazilian ship Solimoes was wrecked near the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, and 120 of her crew were drowned. May 26th.-The great floods which for several days prevailed throughout the Mississippi Valley reached their height. The losses were estimated as follows: Missouri-wheat and corn destroyed (500,000 acres), $10,000,000; homes ruined, $1,000,900; cattle drowned, $50,000; railroad property destroyed, $150,000: total, $11,200,000. Tennessee -cotton destroyed, $600,000; wheat destroyed, $1,200,000; homes and cattle, $100,000: total, $1,900,000. Arkansas-farms inundated, 9338; corn destroyed, $2,500,000; cotton destroyed, $5,000,000; other products, $2,500,000: total, $10,000,000. Mississippi's loss was $1,000,000. Louisiana's loss, $5,000,000. Kentucky's, $200,000. The total amount of damage caused by the high waters from Kansas City to New Orleans was estimated at $50,000,000. The loss of life was great, but not definitely ascertained. May 27th.-A tornado passed through the towns of Wellington and Harper, Kansas, killing more than twenty persons, and doing great damage to property. May 30th.-A fire at Srinagar, in the Vale of Cashmere, destroyed 2000 dwellings. In the same town, during the week just preceding, 1600 deaths had occurred from cholera. June 1st. In a fire which occurred in a silver mine near Przibram, Bohemia, more than 300 miners lost their lives. June 5th.-Fire and flood in Oil City and Titusville, Pennsylvania, caused the death of no fewer than 125 persons, and destroyed much property. June 13th.-Fourteen persons were killed in an explosion at Mare Island Navy-yard, California. OBITUARY. May 14th-In Washington, D. C., Hon. John S. Barbour, United States Senator from Virginia, aged seventy-two years. May 18th-In London, England, James Ripley Osgood, publisher, aged fifty-six years. June 10th.-In New York city, Sidney Dillon, ex-President of the Union Pacific Railroad, aged eighty years. Editor's Drawer. and a fine figure; one was clever, almost brilliant, and what some women call "intellectual"; the third was rich, good-looking, and "successful." None of them had any drawback; the first was clever enough; the second was very good-looking, and, like the first, was comfortably off; and the third was neither a fool nor unread. All three were considered good catches by mammas who had marriageable daughters, and were popular. The fourth gentleman was a silent man, who kept his own counsel, went his own gait, and was thought to be independent in his fortune as he was known to be in his views. After a season in which the young lady had been greatly and generally admired, each of the three friends, having observed the growing attachment of the other two, discovered that he was in love with her; each teased the others about her to sound them; each denied the charge, hated the others warmly for the time, and each decided to get ahead of his friends. All three made the fourth gentleman their confidant. The society beau was the first to declare himself. He had had the best opportunities; had danced with the lady all winter; had the finest figure; had been the best-dressed man in the set; had driven a good team; and had talked easily of Browning's poems NCE upon a and of Kipling's stories. The occasion which time there presented itself to him was auspicious. It was a lady was a spring afternoon in the grounds of a who was beautiful country place, where an entertainyoung, ment was being given by a mutual friend. beautiful, The spot was secluded; the air was balmy; accom- the flowers were dazzling; the birds sang. plished, He was arrayed faultlessly, and he and the and very lady were alone. He naturally began to talk rich. She love to her, and was about to reach the point was also very clever. But her most striking where his voice should grow deep and his characteristic was that she was every atom a look intense. He had told her of her beauty; woman. She had three lovers, who had been she had listened with a pleased smile and a college cronies. She always spoke of them as changing color. He felt that he almost had her "friends." There was a fourth gentleman her. They were at the end of a long flower whom she knew, but by no means so intimate- bed blue with pansies, which just matched ly, who was a friend of the other three. her eyes. He stooped and picked one. he rose she said, "A race to the other endyou that side, I this," and dashed off. She One of the three friends was tall, handsome, athletic, had languishing eyes, a long mustache, As ran like a doe. He had a record, and could easily have beaten her, but as they approached the other end, he saw that her path divided there. One fork ran off from him, the other turned into his. It flashed on him in a second: he would let her run into his arms. He waited to let her choose. She chose; and when they returned to the house he had her answer. He resolved to say nothing of it. entertainment. Just afterwards the second gentleman found his opportunity. It was after the intellectual He had easily outshone all others. She had applauded him warmly, and had afterwards congratulated him. He took her into the library. Old books were about them; beautiful pictures were on the walls; the light fell tempered to the softest glow. He recognized his opportunity. He felt his intellect strong within him. He approached her skilfully; he hinted at the delights of the union of two minds perfectly attuned; he illustrated aptly by a reference to the harmony just heard and to numerous instances in literature. He talked of the charm of culture; spoke confidently of his preferment; suggested, without appearing to do so, his fortunate advantages over others, and referred, with some contempt, to commonplace men like the fourth gentleman. He praised her intellect. Her eye kindled; her form trembled; he felt his influence over her. He repeated a poem he had written her. It was good enough to have been published in a magazine. Her face glowed. He glanced up, caught her eyes, and held his hand ready to receive her. She lifted her hand, looked into his eyes, and he had his answer. They strolled back, and he determined to keep it all a secret. Passing, they happened upon the third gentleman, who spoke to her; and No. 2 a moment later left her with him. He led the way into a little apartment just by. It seemed to have escaped the notice of the guests. It was sumptuously fitted up for a tête-à-tête. Wealth and taste had combined to make it perfect. She exclaimed with pleasure at its beauty. After handing her a chair as luxurious as art could make it, the gentleman began. He told of his home; of his enterprise; of his success; of his wealth. It had doubled year after year. It was hers. He laid before her his plans. They were large enough to be bewildering. She would be the richest woman in her acquaintance. She could be an angel with it. With mantling cheek and glowing face she bent towards him. is yours," he said; "all yours. You will be worth" He paused, then stated the sum. She leaned towards him with an earnest gesture, her voice trembling. He had his answer. As they passed out through the corridor they met the fourth gentleman. He did not speak. He stood aside to let them pass. He glanced at her lover, but if he looked at her, she did not see it. He was evidently leaving. "It "Are you going?" she said casually as she passed. "Yes. Good-by." The wedding-cards of the young lady were issued within a few weeks, and ten days later she was married. In the press accounts of the wedding the bride was spoken of as “beautiful, accomplished, clever, wise, and good." And the groom was described as handsome, stylish, intellectual, and wealthy." Some people said they always thought she would have married differently; some said they always knew she would marry just as she did. (These were mostly women.) She herself said that she made up her mind that evening.* THOMAS NELSON PAGE. * With acknowledgments to F. R. S. WHERE ARE THEY? That covered Will Shakespeare's back? What has become of the mutton bones That came with Sam Johnson's meat? What has become of the cobble-stones That must have bruised Milton's feet? Where are the slippers of Ferdinand? I do not search for the ships of Tyre- I'm tempted to give a store of gold A glass Earth's mysteries to unfold, NOT HIMSELF. MANY a Scot has laughed at the tale of that heavy-headed Scottish carrier who, falling asleep one night in the straw at the bottom of his cart, slumbered till the well-trained horse stopped at his own door, when his wife, seeing nothing of her husband, unhitched and led away the horse, leaving the cart in the road. Sandy awoke a few moments later, and sitting up, began to soliloquize: If it's me, I hae lost a horse;, and if it's no me, I hae found a cairt!" "Noo, is this me, or is it no me? But among the legends of the Russian peasantry occurs a similar tale, recording a confusion of identity even more hopeless than this. A Cossack villager, having gone to the nearest town to buy himself a pair of new boots, celebrated the acquisition with a hearty dinner, the result of which was that on his way home he lay down in the middle of the road and fell fast asleep; and while he slept, some enterprising "conveyancer of property' pulled off his new boots and ran away with them. Presently a teamster came jogging along the road where the sleeper was lying, and catching sight of him barely in time, pulled up and shouted: "Hey, brother! take your legs out of the way, or you'll be run over!" The prostrate man awoke, and seeing his bare feet glistening in the moonlight, replied, in a tone of perfect conviction, "Those are not my legs; mine had boots on!" DAVID KER. A FISH-STORY. MR. JAMES BABSON was a famous fisherman. He returned from every fishing excursion with a longer string of fish and a longer story of his exploits than any other man in Skowhegan; and if there were any doubts about his stories, there were the fish to prove his skill, if not his truthfulness. When the river froze over, James started off after frost-fish. He took an abundant lunch, the necessary lines, hooks, and bait; but upon arriving at his favorite fishing-ground he found he had forgotten the chisel with which to cut holes in the ice. "I declare to man," said Mr. Babson, as he told the story in the grocery store that evening, "I was put to it to know what I was goin' to do. It was too far from home to come back, an' I didn't lack nothin' but jest that pesky chisel. I eat my lunch an' went further up the stream; but 'twa'u't no use; I sorter drifted back to where I knew there was fish; and then, after I'd wasted most of the day, I jest happened to think about the holes I'd cut in that very spot last year. "I remembered jest where they were, an' so I went right round, an' I found every pesky one of 'em. Yes, sir, froze over, of course, but I jest hammered at 'em with my boot-heel, and 'twa'n't long 'fore I had 'em open jest as good as they were last winter. Kinder spoiled my day's fishin', though, foolin' round so long an' not thinkin' of it." A WELL-MANAGED HOTEL. A RETIRED humorist who runs a hotel in the northern part of New York has issued a circular announcing the advantages of his establishment, among which are found the following items: I. Meals every minute, if desired, and consequently no second table. English, French, and German dictionaries furnished each guest to make up such a bill of fare as he may desire, without regard to bill of fare afterwards at the office. II. Every boarder will have the best seat in the dining-room and the best waiter in the house. III. Any guest not getting his breakfast redhot, or experiencing a delay of sixteen seconds after giving his order for dinner, will please mention the fact at the manager's office, and the cooks and waiters will be blown from the mouth of the cannon in front of the hotel at once. IV. Children will be welcomed with delight, and are requested to bring hoop sticks to bang the carved rosewood furniture especially provided for that purpose, and peg-tops to spin on the velvet carpets. They will be allowed to bang on the piano at all hours, fall down stairs, carry away dessert enough for a small family in their pockets at dinner, and make themselves as disagreeable as the fondest mother can desire. V. The office clerk has been carefully selected to please everybody, and can match worsted in the village store, play billiards, is a good waltzer, can dance the German, make a fourth at euchre, amuse the children, is a good judge of horses, as a railroad or steamboat reference is far superior to any guide ever published, will flirt with any young lady and not mind being cut to death when "Pa comes down,” and can answer questions in Greek, Hebrew, Choctaw, Irish, or any other polite language at the same moment without turning a hair. VI. The landlord will always be happy to hear that some other hotel is the best house in the country. With this announcement of the Eden-like qualities of the house is given a sample bill of fare, which contains among other dainties the following toothsome delicacies: COLD DISHES: Broken Ice, Baked Ice, Raw Iceberg, eight years old. GAME: Dom Pedro, Old Sledge, Euchre, Casino, Old Maid, Whist, Pool, and Billiards. Surely a summer in a place like this must approximate the purest bliss. |