around among his Springfield acquaintances, he saw a possible biographer in every bucolic face, we shall never know. We only know that the spirits of mortals, however great and clothed with worldly honor, when subjected, like Mr. Lamon's hero, to the fond and exclusive recollections of neighbors, schoolfellows, and relatives, have, indeed, very little to be proud of. The profound analysis of one's character by one's corner-grocer, the exhaustive criticism of one's talent by one's mother-in-law's second cousin, and the rare and always valuable information vouchsafed by one's schoolfellows, when gravely collated and put before an expectant world, must, indeed, make even the most philosophic shade tremble. And this is what Mr. Lamon has done for Mr. Lincoln. In fact, there is little doubt but that Mr. Lincoln's dejection was caused-not, as Mr. Lamon puts it, by grief for the untimely death of one of his early loves-but by the equally untimely and persistent existence of some of his early friends.

"While every admirer of Abraham Lincoln will feel keenly the degrading influence of such a biography, it is unfortunate that but few will be able to separate their hero from his biographer, and refer their mortification to its proper source, Mr. Lamon. There is nothing essentially unheroic in the details of Lincoln's youth except in the telling of it, and that is not Mr. Lincoln's fault. The world is not concerned with the facts that he was foolishly in love with two or three women at the same time, that his youth was awkward and gawky, that he wrote bad verse and indulged in very coarse satire, and that he was generally like the average of his backwoods friends and acquaintances, unless so far as these facts give some clue to his after-career. But it is the remarkable quality of this sort of biography that they never do. The general tone of the biographer is either of astonishment at the consequent fame of his subject, or of absurd and far-fetched deduction of cause and effect. In fact, data of this kind are absolutely wanting in what should be their essential quality and their only apologytruth. It is one of the consolations of mediocrity to believe that success is purely accidental, and there seems to have been a prevailing impression in Springfield, and among Mr. Lincoln's early associates, that, understanding him much better than other people, and being fully cognizant of his faults, they were naturally much better fitted to assume that responsibility laid upon his drooping shoulders than he was himself."

At the close of his book, having brought the life of Mr. Lincoln down to his inauguration, Col. Lamon promises that, "in another volume we shall endeavor to trace his [Lincoln's] career as the nation's chief magistrate during the ensuing four years." We could almost hope that the criticism on the present volume would convince him that his time could be spent in a more promising occupation; but, doubtless, in the next volume,

There is no other American poet whose books are looked for with such satisfaction and read with such pleasure as Longfellow's, and "Three Books of Song" will doubtless prove no exception to the rule. In fact it is certain to be far more popular than either of his last volumes, the New-Englana Tragedies or the Divine Tragedy. Its romantic, objective narratives and simple ballads seem more in harmony with Longfellow's genius than the graver themes to which he has lately invited his muse, and reading them is like going back to the sweet singer who won our ears and touched our hearts a score of years ago.

The volume opens with a new series of the charming "Tales of a Wayside Inn," where the second day finds,

"A cold, uninterrupted rain,

That washed each southern window-pane,
And made a river of the road;
A sea of mist that overflowed
The house, the barns, the gilded vane,
And drowned the upland and the plain,
Through which the oak-trees, broad and high,
Like phantom ships went drifting by ;
And, hidden behind a watery screen,
The sun unseen, or only seen
As a faint pallor in the sky;
Thus cold and colorless and gray,
The morn of that autumnal day,
As if reluctant to begin,

Dawned on the silent Sudbury Inn,
And all the guests that in it lay."

The "guests" to whom we are introduced again are the Poet, the Theologian, the Student, the Musician, the Sicilian, and the Spanish Jew, and as they can not go forth from the Inn on such a day, they while the hours in telling tales to each other. The Sicilian tells the story of "The Bell of Atri" "famous for all time;" the "Spanish Jew" tells of the city of "Kambalu;" the Student does more than his share and tells two tales about "The Cobbler of Hagenau," and "The Baron of St. Custine;" the musician sings "The Ballad of Carmilhan;" the Poet tells of "Lady Wentworth;" and the Theologian gives a new version of "The Legend Beautiful." All these tales are in Longfellow's best manner, and the reader will feel nothing but regret when,

"A sudden wind from out the west

Blew all its trumpets loud and shrill;
The windows rattled with the blast,
The oak-trees shouted as it passed,
And straight, as if by fear possessed,
The cloud encampment on the hill
Broke up, and fluttering flag and tent
Vanished into the firmament,
And down the valley fled amain
The rear of the retreating rain."
Then,

"Like prisoners from their dungeon gloom,
Like birds escaping from a snare,
Like school-boys at the hour of play,
All left at once the pent-up room,
And rushed into the open air;

And no more tales were told that day."

The "second book" of the volume consists of "Judas Maccabæus," a tragedy founded on a terrible episode in the history of the Jews. It is interesting, and contains some fine verses, but it proves over again that the poet's genius is lyrical and not dramatic, and that in such an effort he fails to do justice to his powers.

The "third book" is a "Handfull of Translations" from European and Oriental sources, all of which are admirable and some of which are exquisite. Every reader, of course, will study the volume for himself, so we will close our notice by quoting a charming bit from Goethe entitled "A Wanderer's Night-Songs:"

I.

Thou that from the heavens art, Every pain and sorrow stillest, And the doubly wretched heart Doubly with refreshment fillest, I am weary with contending! Why this rapture and unrest? Peace descending

Come, ah, come into my breast!

II.

O'er all the hill-tops

Is quiet now,

In all the tree-tops

Hearest thou

Hardly a breath;

The birds are asleep in the trees: Wait; soon like these

Thou too shalt rest.

NOTES ON ENGLAND. By H. Taine. Translated, with an Introductory Chapter, by W. F. Rae. New-York. Holt & Williams. 1872.

"Notes on England" is much the most desultory and unmethodical of M. Taine's works, consist ing simply of a series of papers which he contributed last summer to a Paris journal, Le Temps. As a general thing books made up in this way are barely tolerable, or perhaps it would be truer to say are not tolerable at all; but these "Notes" are about as suggestive as a book can well be, and furnish most interesting and instructive reading to Frenchman and Englishman alike. To the Frenchman, for instance, it presents a truthful and remarkably vivid impression of England in its social and industrial as well as in its external aspects; and it enables the English reader to escape from himself and the routine which has blunted his perceptions, and to see England as it is seen by a trained and acute observer, whose sympathy is that of a spectator and not of one whose view is biased by identity of race, and similarity of custom and tradition. For this reason perhaps the "Notes" are even more valuable than Hawthorne's Our Old Home, or the English Traits of Emerson. Mis

takes have been pointed out here and there-false deductions from imperfectly observed facts-but as a whole the sketches are acknowledged to be singularly truthful and acute, while they abound in those brilliant generalizations and felicitous descriptions which distinguish Taine's more famous works.

About as interesting as any other part of the book is the "introductory chapter" in which Mr. Rae, the translator, gives a satisfactory sketch of M. Taine's life, a remarkably lucid and subtle analysis of his method of criticism, and some critical remarks on Taine's works in general which have hardly been surpassed elsewhere.

A portrait of Taine prefixed to the volume makes him look very like an American gentleman of forty, possessed of means and culture.

COOPER'S NOVELS. New-York. D. Appleton & Co.

In the small portion of American literature which has become classical, the novels of J. Fenimore Cooper must be assigned a high place. They have been rather neglected of late, owing perhaps to the exceptional popularity of one or two more modern writers in the same field; but, notwithstanding their quaintness and the straightforward, old-fashioned narrative of which they largely consist, the reader who goes to them now will find himself amply entertained, and in the company of one of the best and most national of our writers.

The copyright of Cooper's Novels having passed into their hands, Messrs. Appleton & Co. are now publishing a popular edition at a low price. Two volumes of this edition, "The Last of the Mohicans" and "The Deer-slayer," have just been issued, and a third is announced. The style is all that could be desired, neat and attractive; and each volume is copiously illustrated with exceptionally good wood-cuts by F. O. C. Darley. Readers can try this edition, or if they prefer they can wait for the "Library Edition," which is to be commenced immediately.

THE DESERT OF THE EXODUS. By E. H. Palmer, M.A. New-York. Harper & Bros.

This volume gives a highly interesting and valuable record of journeys on foot in the wilderness of the forty years' wanderings, and attempts to furnish "an exhaustive account of the scenes of Israel's Wanderings." The author accompa nied the Ordnance Survey Expedition to the Peninsula of Sinai in 1868 and 1869, and subsequently visited Moab and surrounding regions, on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund. He had exceptional advantages for studying the topography and customs of the country, and his book is the most complete and authentic description of that portion of Palestine that has yet been given to the public.

The book is handsomely illustrated with pictures from photographs and drawings taken on

MR. H. T. WILLIAMS, the well-known horticultural publisher, sends us a couple of books which are very fascinating merely to look into, and which ought to be highly useful to the ladies. "Window Gardening" is a finely-printed and illustrated volume, "devoted especially to the culture of flowers and ornamental plants for indoor use and parlor decoration." "Every Woman her own Flower Gardener," is a neat little manual, by Mrs. S. O. Johnson, and tells all about the culture of flowers.

SCIENCE.

SPECTRAL ILLUSIONS EXPLAINED. - An old widow woman, living in a retired village, came one day to the parson of the parish in a state of great despondency. She said she had had a “signal warning," and she was sure she would soon be in her grave, for she was continually haunted by a "skeleton." The parson having in vain tried to convince her that she was under a delusion, set about a systematic examination of her eyes. He first made her shut her left eye, and then asked her if she still saw "the skeleton." "Yes, there it was still." He then made her close her right eye and open her left, when to her astonishment the apparition had vanished. After several repetitions of this experiment the old woman became convinced that the dreaded skeleton was due to some defect in her right eye. She returned home much consoled, and all the better for her "signal warning" and its lessons. She no longer dreaded the " bogy," for whenever she wanted to get rid of it she had nothing to do but to wink at it. A very singular story is related by Sir W. Scott, but with a more tragical termination. A gentleman, a lawyer of good standing in his profession, and possessed of high intelligence and good sense, was observed by his friends to be suffering from a profound despondency, the cause of which he refused to explain. Being at length prevailed upon to confide to his physician the secret of his depression, he declared himself haunted by persecuting visions, so painful and so abhorrent, that, to use his own words, "his reason was totally inadequate to combat the effects of his morbid imagination, and he was sensible that he was dying, a wasted victim to an imaginary disease." The visions, it appeared, had first begun to haunt him some two or three years before, when he found himself embarrassed from time to time by the presence of a large cat, which within the course of a few months was succeeded by a gentleman usher in full court dress, with bag and sword, tamboured waistcoat, and chapeau bras. After some time this visitant was followed by one far more horrible to the sight and distressing to the imagination-a grisly skeleton, the image of death itself.

"Alone or in company," said the poor in

quits me. I in vain tell myself a hundred times over that it is no reality, but merely an image summoned up by the morbid acuteness of my own excited imagination and deranged organs of sight: science, philosophy, even religion, has no cure for such a disorder, and I feel too surely that I shall die the victim to so melancholy a disease, although I have no belief whatever in the reality of the phantom which it places before me." "In what part of the chamber," inquired the physician, "do you now conceive the apparition to appear?" "Immediately at the foot of my bed," answered the invalid. "When the curtains are left a little open, the skeleton appears to fill the vacant space." "You say you are sensible of the delusion," said his friend; "have you firmness to convince yourself of the truth of this? Can you take courage enough to rise and place yourself in the spot so seeming to be occupied, and convince yourself of the illusion?" The patient heaved a sigh and shook his head. "Well," continued the physician, "we will try the experiment otherwise." Accordingly he arose from his chair by the bedside, and placing himself between the two halfdrawn curtains at the foot of the bed indicated as the position of the phantom, inquired whether the apparition were still visible. "Not entirely so," replied the patient, "because your person is betwixt him and me, but I observe his skull peering above your shoulder!" The doctor, despite his philosophy, made an involuntary start on receiv ing this eircumstantial information of the proximity of the spectre to his own person. He resorted to other remedies, but without success. sufferer sank deeper every day into dejection, and not long afterwards he died in the same distress of mind in which he had lingered on through the closing years of his melancholy life. In both these stories the apparition was definite and constant in form, so far at least as the description of the patients themselves is to be relied upon; and it seems at first sight difficult to understand how an accidental opacity within the eye could give rise to a clearly defined object such as a "cat," or a "skeleton," or a "gentleman usher." But on further consideration the difficulty will appear less formidable. In the first place, it may be taken for granted that in each instance the sight was more or less impaired, and that all external objects were seen with a dim and hazy outline; every thing, in fact, was seen through a mist or fog. But it is well known that objects are much altered in shape and appearance when seen through a misty atmosphere or in the dusk of the evening; and it is almost always under such circumstances that ghosts have been seen.

The

OUR ATMOSPHERE.-How deep are we buried in air? The question has long been one of the vexed. Thirty miles, says Biot, is the minimum depth. At that distance from the earth's surface, the atmosphere ought to be as rare as the vacu

um in our air-pumps, which we know is only an approach to a vacuum. Observation shows that there must be some sort of atmosphere considerably higher, and the last new notion is that, on the top of the terrestrial atmosphere in which we live, there floats, like cream on milk, another much higher and etherized atmosphere. In this region occur the phenomena-shooting stars, aurora boreales, and the freaks of reflected and refracted light—which are still such puzzles, as seen from our lowly place of observation.

The upper atmosphere should be stable; the lower one unstable and ceaselessly agitated. Its movements, caused by winds and tempests, would vary in height according to the seasons. In our own neighborhood the troubled portion overlying the earth would be eight or ten miles high in winter, and about twice as high in summer. The upper atmosphere would experience only a very slight and scarcely sensible disturbance, arising from the heaving of the denser aërial surface on which it rests. Into this calm stratum floating overhead neither living creatures nor even clouds obtain access.

We can readily conceive that, above our atmosphere of oxygen, azote, and watery vapor, there exists another excessively light atmosphere, perhaps a couple of hundred miles thick, composed of the very lightest gases, especially of hydrogen. This is rendered more probable by the composition of air, which differs essentially from that of water. Water consists of two gases chemically combined, and when once combined, extremely difficult to separate, whereas air is only a mixture of gases no more combined than oil, water, and quicksilver stirred together in a pot. Happily for us, winds and tempests keep stirring these elements; but where they can find a place of rest they are perfectly at liberty to part company.

Where is the bottom of the atmosphere? Not the earth's surface, for air penetrates earth's porous substance, as well as every thing upon it. We ourselves, it has been stated, are full of air. We are all of us proud frogs puffed up with wind, which helps us to resist the pressure of wind without. Air insinuates itself among the molecules of liquids, as well as through the interstices of rocks. Not merely plants and all organized creatures, but water itself admits the ingress of air. In some important cases, the ingredients of air thus infiltrated are slightly altered in quantity. Was it, for instance, by creative design, or by mere chance, that in air absorbed by the teeming ocean, the proportion of oxygen is greater than in ordinary air, thus enabling the sea to sustain its increased myriads of living beings.

The ocean is probably considerably older, as well as much more unchanging in its composition, than the atmosphere. We must seek for the latter's origin in the period when the globe, still molten and liquid, began to be covered with a thin solid crust, giving off from its surface inconceivable quantities of gases and vapors, which

fought, or shook hands together, after their kind. In the midst of this gigantic laboratory oxygen and hydrogen combined, and there was water. Air, at present principally a mixture of oxygen and azote, must have undergone considerable changes before arriving at its actual condition. We may fairly surmise that it once contained both more carbonic acid and more oxygen, the former being solidified as coal, timber, and vegetable 'tis. sue, the latter combined with metallic bases, as we now see it producing rust in iron.-All the Year Round.

AMERICAN EXPLORATION OF PALESTINE.— The Holy Land is rich in remains of the highest historical value, memorial of the most ancient labors of mankind, and of the first efforts in architectural art, and in alphabetic writing. Most of them have, also, a very important bearing on the study of the Bible.

Although many ruins have been despoiled by the modern inhabitants for the erection of their own dwellings, while they have long repelled foreign explorers, still a rich mass of material remains to stimulate the hopes and desires of scholars; and, in these later years, the natives are, happily, becoming more tolerant of inquisitive travelers. Only there is no time to be lost in rescuing from oblivion treasures of the value of which these people have no idea.

The Palestine Exploration Society of this coun try is vigorously preparing for an expedition which may represent the interest that America takes in the great enterprises of literature. Other nations have had their parties in the field, and now, under a special call from England, this Society has been organized here. It is made up of men who are of the highest standing in the public regard and confidence.

These now appeal to their countrymen to sustain them by generous contributions, that the work may be promptly done, and in a manner worthy of a great people. Individual Americans have hitherto done much in contributing to the world's knowledge of Palestine. It is now proposed to send a party thoroughly equipped for making researches in all departments of science, under the best leadership, and thus maintain our good name before the nations.

In order to insure success, all who are familiar with the subject, through foreign travel or otherwise, should enlist themselves as active friends and patrons. Bible students will of course feel the importance of the work. Israelites can not be indifferent to researches in their fatherland, and a number of them are already interested. Masons will rejoice in efforts which may cast light on their ancient traditions.

An enterprise so noble should not be allowed to lag in a country as well able as this is to do large things, and abundantly intelligent to understand the claims of science.

Further information may be obtained from the

General Agent, Rev. James H. Dwight, 26 Exchange Place, Room, 14 New-York. Contributions may be sent to James Stokes, Jr., Esq., 104 John street, or to the Banking House of Vermilye & Co., Nassau street.

REMARKABLE USE FOR STRYCHNINE.-About a year ago, Professor Nagel of Tübingen published reports of cases in which he had, by the use of strychnia, restored sight to patients suffering from decay of vision or from blindness. Strychnia, as is well known, is a deadly poison, but it has a wonderful effect in stimulating the nerves; and Professor Nagel found that in diseases of the optic nerve, whether functional or organic, its operation is alike speedy and efficacious. The quantity used was of course exceedingly small, one-fortieth of a grain, mixed with water, and this solution is not to be swallowed, but is injected under the skin of one of the arms, which seems to render the result the more remarkable. This remedy has been tried by oculists elsewhere with marked success; and among recent instances occurs a naval captain, aged fifty-two, whose sight was so much impaired that he required to be led about. Within a few minutes after the first injection, as above described, the fog which darkened his eyes became less dense, and an impression of light was perceptible. After three day's use of the remedy, (an injection night and morning,) he could make out the furniture of the ward with sufficient clearness to guide himself about without feeling; "and on the fourth day of treatment, without help, he succeeded at mid-day in walking alone through the thoroughfares of the city to the home of his family, a mile from the infirmary." May we not hope from this experience that henceforth the number of cases of blindness will be largely diminished.

TRANSIT OF VENUS.-We have from time to time mentioned the preparations which are in progress for observing the transit of Venus in 1874. It now appears that Russia will take part in the great work. The astronomer at Pulkowa, near St. Petersburg, states that the number of Russian observing stations will be twenty-four, extending from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Siberia, and to Persia. Competent observers and efficient instruments will be provided for each station; and as photography will be made use of, some of the party have been exercising themselves in that art, and with such good results, that they can now take instantaneous photographs of the sun with dry plates. This looks promising; and as other observers are practicing with the spectroscope, we may be pretty sure that the coming transit will be observed as transit was never observed before. The Russians have already set on foot meteorological observations at their stations, with a view to select places which usually have clear weather in December. Other countries are expected to co-operate; and we hear that the astronomers of Germany will, ere long, publish their plan of operations.-Chambers's Journal.

THE LAND OF MOAB.-News has been received from the Rev. Canon Tristram, who, by fresh travels, has again widened our knowledge of Scripture geography and topography; in this instance by an explanation of parts of the Land of Moab heretofore unvisited by Europeans. No important inscriptions were found: the Arabs being "children of nature," have learned that if they bury inscribed stones and choice sculptures, a scarcity is effected, which raises the price when accordingly, some months later, they make "discoveries" of hidden treasures. The topographical work accomplished by the party is described as satisfactory; they zigzagged through the whole of many ruined cities, some of which contain remains the highland plateau of Moab, and discovered of temples and of Christian churches; and the sites of these places were carefully laid down on maps which, we may hope, will one day be published. One part of the country is traversed by the Callirhoe, a tremendous gorge, which is deits botany; and the plains of Moab, between the scribed as highly interesting in its geology and hills and the Dead Sea, are found to contain much fertile land with hot and cold springs. More than one attempt has been made to establish an agricultural colony in the Holy Land; will the existtion, occasion yet another? ence of good land in Moab, with means of irriga

ART.

PRESENT CONDITION OF ART IN ROME.We spoke in a former paper, says the Art Journal, of the manner in which Rome was being affected by its becoming the capital of united Italy. We would now add that this great event in history should finally promote rather than obstruct Art. It will do so if the Italians are only patient, not desirous of fresh political upheavals, and not carried away by variety and meretricious display. The Eternal City has always been a passive rather than an active inspirer and teacher of the Fine Arts. It is the stately ruins, the Art-treasures, the beauty of position and climate, rather than its elementary schools or professors, which make it of inestimable value to the artist. Let a young man come here, well-trained in England or elsewhere, and then make use of his own eyes rather than of oral instruction, and he will never regret the labor nor the expense; otherwise, unless he possess rare ability, the direct loss will be great. It might be different were there at this time any prominent painter or sculptor to give a decided tone to Art; but since the death of Canova, Thorwalsden, and Gibson, there has been no one of sufficient merit to act as leader, though we have had, and still have, many artists of great merit. Each coterie has its favorite sculptor or painter, around whom it considers that the Art-life of Rome will centre, but these do not affect the world at large. Again, the standard of Art is