Fate. In the last grim analysis, as we think back beyond the furthest verge of thought into the silent counsels of eternity, one cannot help feeling, at times at least, that the small things as well as the great of this world are all ordered, and have been ordered from eternity; that the time is fixed for a man to be born and likewise for him to die, and that whatever precautions he takes, whatever course he pursues, death will find him out at the appointed time.

"For God hath seen

From when eternity began

Down to the latest era's span,
All things to come, and with serene
And holy purpose, purposed e'en
The lowliest circumstance of man."

This, of course, is fatalism. But that is just the point I am urging, that all of us sometimes cannot help feeling that, some way or other, how little soever we may understand, how bitterly soever we, in our ignorance, may cry out against it, there is, after all, a great truth in this foreor ination and predestination of man's life and circumstances, his success or failure, and the day of his doom. To be sure, we, at other times, are quite as strongly impressed with the converse of this doctrine, or its antinomy, as the great German philosopher termed it; and in the proud consciousness of our power to do and to make we shrill forth the words Shakspere puts in the mouth of Cassius:

"Men at sometimes are masters of their fates;
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves that we are underlings."

And yet, for all that, "the man born to be king," however much the monarch of the land strove to thwart the will of the gods, and though he himself seemed to do nothing to further himself, at length won the princess, and was crowned king of all the land.

The Moslems have a belief that the Destinies are riding forth forever upon their fleet steeds, and when the supreme moment comes, it matters not whether you are in the thickest of the dreadful fray or lying peacefully dreaming upon your couch of silk, they will find you out.

"The Destinies ride on by night

Their horses fleet, and tho' we sleep On downy beds while languors creep Soft o'er our limbs, or battle's white And lurid flames flash forth their light Amid the war-clouds dark and deep

Which hover o'er, and death groans smite
Our ears, commingled with the shout
Of victors following up the rout;
It matters not. In gloom, in light,
Where'er we are, howe'er bedight,

Death's angel still will find us out!"

I know of no more felicitous expression of this helplessness of man in the presence of his fate, of the idleness of all precautions on his part at such a time, than the little poem, by Bret Harte, entitled "Fate," with which I will conclude these rambling reflections:

"The sky is clouded, the rocks are bare;

The spray of the tempest is white in air;
The winds are out with the waves at play,
And I shall not tempt the sea to-day.

The trail is narrow, the woods are dim,
The panther clings to the arching limb,
And the lion's whelps are abroad at play,
And I shall not join in the chase to-day."
But the ship sailed safely over the sea,
And the hunters came from the chase in glee;
And the town that was builded upon a rock
Was swallowed up in the earthquake shock."
RICHARD Benedict.

Long Life. The subject of longevity is always one of great interest to everybody. "Live forever" is a favorite salutation in some countries. In the old times people found great delight in imagining their heroes gifted with continual life and unfading bloom of youth. With what breathless interest one follows Ponce de Leon as he plunges into the wild forests of Florida in the fruitless search for the fabled fountain. With the advance of civilization and the scientific study of disease and medicine and the better understanding of sanitary conditions and laws, there has been a steady increase in the average life of the individual. Governments are studying how best to promote length of life. Those who lead sober, peaceful lives, free from all great troubles and strong excitements, are surest of the coveted length of days.

Some time ago the French Government sent a circular letter to all the districts of that country to collect information as to those conditions of life which seemed to favor longevity. The replies were very interesting, but on the whole rather monotonous; the general result was that longevity is promoted by great sobriety, regular labor, especially in the open air, absence of excessive fatigue, easy hours, freedom from galling poverty, a philosophical mind in meeting troubles, not too much intellect, and a domestic life. The value of marriage was universally admitted, and long-lived parents were also found an important factor. A healthy climate and good water were mentioned. All this agrees with common sense, unless the idea that the intellect is a hindrance to longevity be considered unreasonable, and we know that some of the most intellectual men have lived to

great age.

Interesting researches concerning the comparative longevity of men and women in Europe have recently been made by the Director of the Bureau of Statistics at Vienna. From these it appears that about a third more women than men reach advanced age. This seems corroborative of what was said above. Women oftener than men lead quiet, regular lives. They have fewer bad habits; are less exposed to strong passions and excitements.

A machine for making artificial snow has lately been perfected in England. The question may possibly be asked, Of what use can such a contrivance be, when the supply of the natural commodity is nowadays so far above what we care about? We are apt to forget that in many countries snow is a luxury. In the bazaars of Cabul, for instance, it is sold as such; and mixed with sherbet, it forms a favorite drink. The machine in question is intended for Palermo, where frost is rarely experienced.

A man should never undertake to control a horse till he has learned to control himself.

Mr. S. R. Winans, of Princeton, whose excellent edition of the "Memorabilia" (published last year by John Allyn, Boston) has been received with such favor by classical instructors, has again put the lovers of sound Greek learning under obligations to himself by editing Xenophon's Symposium (publisher as above). This is the first time this little classic has been edited in America-the first time, indeed, if we mistake not, with English notes. The same excellent qualities which characterized Mr. Winans's first venture into the fields of classic editing are everywhere prominent in this new and slighter work. He seems even

to move with surer tread and greater freedom. As in the "Memorabilia," he has introduced into the text brief suggestive summaries at the beginning of every new paragraph, or when there is a change of subject, thus affording the student some clue to what he is about to read. The notes are brief, but directly to the point. Everything of real difficulty is fully explained. There is no padding with sentence after sentence of the original put into stilted English paraphrase; but on the other hand idiomatic expressions are constantly put into idiomatic English phrases, so that the student, by numerous examples, is incited to avoid the excessive literalness of translation which so effectually perverts the spirit and misrepresents the grace of the original. Without making his notes the receptacle for everything relevant and irrelevant which could be raked together from the four quarters of the world, he has introduced from other classic writers many passages which actually do illustrate the matter in hand; and grammatica and philological principles he often elucidates with great felicity by the use of apposite English examples. He remembers always that he is making a book primarily for students.

The Symposium gives a delightful picture of a Greek festal banquet, with the amusements and the conversation which caused the hours of the night to slip rapidly and pleasantly away. Socrates is the central figure of the company-the life of the party-the controlling spirit of the discussions. The social side of the great teacher is charmingly delineated. The Symposium would naturally follow the "Memorabilia" in a course of Greek reading or instruction. Its colloquial style, the view it gives of Greek manners, its intrinsic interest and brevity, make it an excellent work for class-room study. We wonder that it has not found greater favor with American teachers. Probably it has been because it has not heretofore been suitably edited and judiciously expurgated of the few passages which are offensive to modern taste, but which happily are not necessary to the unity and completeness of the piece. Doubtless Mr. Winans's work will be received with hearty welcome. As a single criticism-almost too trivial to mention-we are sorry to observe that Mr. Winans does not conform to the better usage in the formation of the possessive of proper names ending in s, but uses the apostrophe only.

We are greatly mistaken or we shall have much and excellent work in the interest of Greek from Mr. Winans. The sound scholarship, the keen critical insight, the judicious common sense, the sympathetic appreciation of the Greek spirit and life, and the intelligent understanding of the needs of the American class-room, which characterize his present work, lead us to expect many valuable contributions from his pen. It should be a cause of congratulation to Princeton that a scholar of such promise is numbered among its faculty.

"On the Threshold," by Theodore T. Munger, is the title of a volume recently published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. (Boston). It is a book written specifically and particularly for young men, but, as is the case with all good special treatises, it will be found full of valuable suggestions for many others than the particular class for which it was specially intended. The author has no brand new theory of the way to make life successful and worth living; he preaches no new doctrine, but he presents old views and common beliefs in a vital, vivid, quickening way. The zeal and earnestness with which he insists upon practical common sense and sturdy independence in all the actions and relations of life are especially refreshing in these days of growing effeminacy and listless aimlessness on the part of large numbers of young men. The subjects of the various papers of which the book is made up are "Purpose, Friends and Companions, Manners, Thrift, Self-reliance and Courage, Health, Reading, Amusements, and Faith," and the thoughts and discussions and practical suggestions presented upon each of these important topics are clear, straightforward, and manly. We were especially struck with the eminent common sense of the papers upon Health and Reading. One may not agree with all the statements and suggestions of the author upon this latter topic, but the general effect of the essay is good, and only good. We greatly doubt the advisability of giving a dogmatic list of the best writers of any class of literature, such as is presented upon page 169 of the "best novelists." And it does seem strange, too, that in a list of the "best novelists" in which Cooper and Lever, not to mention others, figure, such names as Fielding, Balzac, George Sand, Manzoni, and Turgenieff and many others are conspicuous by their absence. The style is for the most part simple, direct, and pleasing, but it at times gives evidence of carelessness and haste. We have noticed more than one instance of doubtful syntax, and sometimes figures are curiously jumbled, as when on page 160 he speaks about the way that the knowledge of evil gets into the mind by reading. He says: "It entrenches itself in the imagination, where it stays and multiplies itself, breeding through the fancy, turning these noblest faculties into ministers of perdition." Immediately one tries to analyze this remarkable sentence, its absurdities

appear. But instances of such loose writing are very few. The book as a whole is admirable in purpose, spirit, and

execution.

The firm last mentioned has recently published also a little book upon The Servant Girl Question," by Harriett Prescott Spofford. The trials and perplexities of housekeepers in dealing with their servants are very clearly presented. But just as clearly the author succeeds in looking at the entire question from the girl's standpoint. She makes it perfectly plain that the difficulties and the causes of complaint are not all upon one side, but shows conclusively that many extenuating circumstances may be urged for the shortcomings and stupidities of the much-suffering and muchmaligned Bridget. It strikes us, by the way, that she narrows the treatment of this absorbing topic of interest to housewives by virtually ignoring all but Irish servants, while, if we mistake not, there is now a large and growing proportion of German servant girls who bring quite a new set of experiences to the much-worried mistress. The author has many clever things to say about the unreasonable interferences of the master with household arrangements and his annoying exactions. Whatever one may think of special arguments or positions championed by the author, she at least makes it absolutely clear that improvement in our domestic service can only be brought about by a fuller understanding on the part of all concerned of the peculiar ities and difficulties of the problem and a willingness on the part of all to take a sensible view of the situation, and make reasonable concessions. Relief is also hoped for in the establishment of training-schools for servants, in the inducing of girls of American parentage to enter domestic service, and as a last resort in the unlimited importation of the deft and cleanly sons of the Flowery Kingdom. The book deserves the careful consideration of all who are wearied and worried with this vexing question.

Over fifty per cent. of the deaths are of children under five years of age, and the greater part of these of infants under twelve months. It is no unusual thing to hear of families who have lost three or four healthy-born babies. These facts are leading physicians and parents to a more thorough study of the conditions of infant health. It is absurd to suppose that nature brings so many little bits of humanity into existence only to doom them to death. Dr. C. E. Page has recently devoted special attention and study to this important problem, and as the result of his study and experiment upon his own baby, has written a little book, entitled "How we Fed the Baby" (Fowler & Wells, New York). The most serious cause for infant disorders he finds in excessive and too frequent feeding. If babies are properly fed, and at regular intervals, not more than three times a day, the author believes that the lives of most infants would be happy and free from disease and pain. Parents will find the little book full of useful information and sensible suggestions.

From D. Lothrop & Co. (Boston) we have received a story intended for young people, entitled " For Mack's Sake," issued in their usual handsome and attractive style of bind

Novel Designs.-The curious arabesques produced on window-panes by frost have suggested to a French inventor a system of obtaining designs for printed stuffs by crystalliza tion. He has made experiments with solutions of the sulphates of zinc, copper, iron, alumina, and magnesia, with which plates of glass were covered, and then allowed to dry slowly, at different temperatures. The crystals thus deposited form a great variety of fanciful figures, flowers, feathers, stars, etc. These may be fixed by the addition of albumen or gelatine. If copper plates are used, the designs thus obtained may also be made permanent by electrotyping. The great difficulty is to obtain continuous patterns to be reproduced on the cylinders used for printing; but that may be overcome by using cylindrical plates of copper, and turning them on their axes while the evaporation is going The crystallization is, however, frequently irregular, and leaves blank spaces, which spoil the harmony of the design; but that defect will probably be overcome by experience. It is not certain that the method has yet been practically employed; but the idea is ingenious, and will no doubt be eventually turned to account.

on.

"The Woman in Black," a story of a handsome and ambitious woman, and a novel of English society in high and low life, said to be a companion to "The Woman in White," has just been published by the Petersons. The author's name is not given, and we are at a loss to account for the fact, other than that he was fully conscious of a lack of merit in his work. It is anything but striking in interest or incidents.

Notes. Mr. Edmund W. Gosse, in a recent number of the "Cornhill Magazine," makes a valuable contribution to the literary history of the period of the restoration. Sir George Etheredge has heretofore been one of the shadowiest figures of that time. By the recent discovery of valuable manuscript information regarding him and the collecting of all contemporary references, Mr. Gosse is enabled to give us a very vivid picture of the gay and indolent life of the poet and diplomat. He shows, furthermore, that he is a person of considerable importance in the history of English comedy. He was the first to employ rhymed heroics in the ordinary dialogue of comedy. This was in 1664. Dryden had previously recommended their use, but Etheredge, in "The Rival Ladies," set the fashion which lasted then with more or less vigor till the end of the century. To Etheredge is due also the breaking away from the old models in comedy. By his introduction of "gay, realistic scenes" and characters unmistakably true in their appearance and in their follies and vices to the times, he " virtually founded English comedy, as it was successively understood by Congreve, | Goldsmith, and Sheridan.”—E. P. Coby & Co. (New York) have published in pamphlet shape a somewhat fuller form of Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr.'s, article in the April Harper," under the title "Life Insurance Does Assure." It will be found valuable for the statistics it contains, as also for embodying the results of a policy-holder's unprejudiced study of the system.-A Baltimorean sends the Nation the following edifying paragraph from a recent German history of civilization (Karl Faulmann's "Illustrirte CulturGeschichte"), which curiously illustrates the average European ignorance about America, and the European incapacity to distinguish between the normal and the exceptional in American life and language. The column headed Amerikanisch is soberly given as a specimen of the English spoken in America, while opposite is placed what the author sup poses to be the correct English equivalent. The italics, it is needless to add, are ours:

Amerikanisch.

I haf von funny leedle poy

Vot gomes schust to my knee, Der queerest schap, der createst rogue,

As eter you dit see: He runs and schumps and schmasches dings

In all barts off der house-
But vot off dot? he vas my son,
Mine leedle Yawcob Strauss.

Englisch.

I have one funny little boy
What games just to my knee,
The queerest shape, the greatest

rogue,

As ever you did see;

He runs and jumps and smashes things

In all parts of the houseBut what of that? he was my son, My little Jacob Strauss. At the recent sale of Mr. George Brinley's collection of books, the most notable book sold was a Gutenberg Bible, which was bought by a young New York lawyer for $8000. The copy is not dated, but is believed to have been printed between 1450 and 1455. We copy from the Scientific American the following description of the precious volume. For four centuries the book lay buried in the obscure library of the Predigerkirche, at Erfurt, where it was discovered some fifteen years ago. It was purchased by Mr. Brinley in 1873. This Bible belongs to the extraordinarily rare first edition, and may properly claim to be the first book ever printed with types. The text is the vulgate of St. Jerome. The type is Gothic, and not only the hundreds of illuminated capitals, brilliantly colored and decorated, but the paucity of typographical errors and the nice execution of detail, evince

its title to precedence of many other copies in point of origin, and its production as an exemplar. The capitals are many of them emblazoned with ornamentation in gold, and the two volumes are in the original binding-thick oak boards sheathed in calf, beautifully stamped, protected at the corners with ornamented shields of brass, and decorated at the centre with designs in the same metal and bosses. The edges of many of the leaves are uncut and show traces of the cues of the rubricator. They are very broad, measuring 15% by 111⁄2 inches on the leaf. The book is without titlepages; there is no pagination. The 641 leaves are printed in double columns, of forty-two lines each, and the initials and rubrics are in manuscript. The large folio volumes are of nearly equal thickness, the first, of 324 leaves, ending with the Psalms, and the second, of 317, completing the text. One leaf of the first volume is in fac-simile, and sixteen of the second. The copy is in an excellent state of preservation, unstained by time or mildew, and has evidently never been washed. The decoration is arabesque, and Dr. Trumbull infers from its general sumptuousness that it was originally intended for the library of some prince or noblemanpossibly some kindly patron of the struggling inventor.— There were sold, besides, three copies of the famous Eliot Indian Bible. The competition was sharp, and they brought respectively $900 (first edition), $590, and $550 (second edition). More remarkable, if anything, was the price ($525) paid for twelve leaflets printed in Gothic letter, in the city of Mexico, in 1544, being directions for the conduct of religious processions. These are of interest and value only as a specimen of early American printing. Other notable sales were a volume of genealogical tracts and pamphlets, $332; Romans's "History of East and West Florida" (New York, 1775), $265; Laudonnière and Gourgues's "Histoire Notable de la Floride" (Paris, 1586), $250; Nodal's "Relacion del Viaje" (Madrid, 1621), $240. Four other rare tomes brought prices above a hundred dollars.-A little bit of genuine Byronic misanthropy and bravado has recently been brought to light in the National French Library, in the shape of a letter from the poet to the Count D'Orsay. The letter is in French, and concludes in this characteristic manner: "It makes me sad to think, on your account, who commenced life so brilliantly, what your feeling will be when the hour comes in which you will find the illusion broken. Never mind. On with the dance. Enjoy every hour while you can. The innumerable advantages of youth, talent, and presence you possess. Such is the wish of an Englishman, for such I suppose I am, though my mother was Scotch and my name and family are Norman. As for me, I belong to no country; and as for my works, of which you are good enough to speak, let them go to the devil, from whence they came, if I am to believe a great many people."- -The smallest book in the world, so far as known, is a book recently discovered in Florence, Italy. It is an Office de la Vierge, printed at Venice, by Juntas, in 1549. It consists of 256 minute pages, printed on a single sheet of ordinary book size, red and black letters, and bound in red morocco, with gilt edges, raised bands or fillets, the chargings and clasps in silver. The size of this little typographical chef-d'œuvre is two inches in length by an inch and a quarter in breadth.