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A MEMORY.
Dreaming ever of a Bummer,
Of a Biimmer long »go,
When life’s roses wer8 in blossom,
Ere the drifting of the snow,
Ere tlie cruel, frosty fingers
Cut their foliage from the stem.
Left their branches bare and lonely—
Left my heart as one of them.
Dreaming ever of a summer,
Of a summer set in bloom,
When tlie air was heavy laden
With the flowers’ sweet perfume.
When the loved my heart had cnosen
Of my .ife had grown a part—
When the roses 1 would gather
Left no thorn v itliin my hi art.
Dreaming ever of a summer
When eacu fair and sunny morn
Threw a i ew robe on the flowers,
Hung the tassel- 1 on the coin,
But the frost fell on the blossoms,
And the corn it ripened fast,
And the loved my heart had chosen
Was a memory of the past.
War Correspondents in the
Time of the Pharaohs.
The ancient Egyptians were most
industrious with the pen. In many
of the hieroglyphics the scribe is rep
resented at work making notes of tlie
proceeding--, In wars he is seen tak
ing down the number of prisoners and
other details. Tkoth, the god of let
ters, is the Celestial scribe, and is
often figured as writing the names and
ac ( ior s of those in tlie next world.
Among the many documents which
have been preserved of this literary
race is one containing a history of a
war carried on by Rameses II., and
which is supposed by archaeologists to
have been written at the time.
The royal scribe was named “Pen
taur,” and the war was one against
the “Khita,” or Cheta, the Hittites,
whose alphabet and language has been
a subject of so much interest among
archeeologists lately The field of ac
tion was at Kadesh on the Orontes.
Rameses had led his army from Egypt
and the “vile chief of Cheta with
many allies accompanying him lay
ambushed to northwest.”. The HJt-
tites must have formed a large army,
for they had drawn troops from the
whole country, as far east as Naharina
or Mesopotamia. The Egyptian army
was in brigades, and the names of
them are stated. There was the bri
gade of Ammon, the brigades of Ptah
and Set—all names of gods in the
Egyptian Pantheon. The brigade of
Ra-Harmacbis was iuthe centre, “and
feared not to fight,” so they marched
right into the ambush on the north
west, which the Chetas had planned.
The brigade was beaten bars by the
enemy—“foot and horse of King Ra
ineses gave way before them.” Rame
ses was equal to the occasion. Mount
ed on his “great horse,” called “Vic
tory in Thebes,” he rushed to the
front, “he pierced the line of the foe,
the vile Cheta ; he was all alone, no
other with him. When he advanced
to survey behind him he found there
encircled him 25C0 chariots. Stopping
his way ol, everv champion or the
vile Cheta.” There were three men
in each chariot, and Rameses had no
chief, no marshal, no captain of the
archers; fled were his troops and
horse; he was left alone to fight the
foe. He had no fear; he put confi
dence in his god Ammon, wh -m he
reminds of all the temples and obelisks
he had erected to him—of all tlie sac
rifices he had offered—and fixing his
trust in this deity, with his strong
swerdof Ra,” he went in for the vile
Khita, and there follows a*spiendid
deseri ption of his deeds, which leaves
the most fertile of our coiners of
words among specials of the day far
behind. Pentaur writes with an un
hesitating pen, or else the stuff officer
appointed by Rameses to supervise the
telegrams must have seen io it. King
Rameses prevailed, of course, over the
vast host opposed to him, Not one
escaped. The absence of any one ex
cept his squire Menna, to assist Ra
meses, is repeatedly insisted on. He
did it all himself; he faced the 2500
with his sword of might, and the exact
number of killed is stated as 100 000
by this veracious correspondent. The
Khita were subdued and their chief
made his homage, and tlie story winds
up with some big words about the
greatness and glory of Rjmeses.
This campaign took place, recording
to Lepsius, some time between 1388
and 1322 B. C., aud the whole account,
as written by Pentaur, will be found
In the “Records of the Past,” vol. ii,
page 75.
It need scarcely be pointed out that
a story like this throws a doubt about
all events which are related in ancient
documents connected with tlie history
of Egypt, to which it may be hinted
that it also leads to soeptioism to re
gard to most history. It may be said
such stuff could not have been written
in our time. Well, perhaps not; yet
Arabi has had his doing* recorded in
the present war, and, according to his
scribes, he has sunk our iron clads,
killed great numbers of our soldiers
and sailors, and lias our Admiral at
this moment safe as a prisoner in
Cairo. In writing history the modern
Egyptian hare bsars a very strong re
semblance to the ancient one.
Possible Improvements in
Killing.
Are no discoveries possible which
should radically alter all the condi
tions of fighting, and either render
war impossible or give certain victory
to those who dare face such destruc
tive machines ? It is most improba
ble. The human race has been study
ing the Art of War for four thousand
years, and has discovered very little,
except the fact that an explosive in a
confined space will drive a miesile a
long way. They have learned to
throw stones scientifically. Since
Agincourt, man has improved on the
discovery of gunpowder, but has in
vented nothing absolutely original.
For thirty years the most learned
chemists, the most inventive mecha
nicians, the most scientific soldiers,
have devoted their minds to this sub
ject, with a kind of fury of eagerness
prompted at once by the love of fame,
by patriotism, aud by hope of rewards
which, to some of them, like Mr.
Whitworth, Sir W. Armstrong and
Herr Krupp, have been granted with
a lavish hand, aud they have discov
ered nothing. They have made big
ger guns, and better shells, and more
explosive powder, and have devised
clever ways of keeping the shells cut,
but that is all. The way of killing
soldiers is to fire little, bullets through
a small barrel; the way of destroying
works is to fire big bullets through a
big barrel,—and that is all. New ex
plosives have been (Uncovered, but no
new T way of throwing them for the re
quired distance. If shins ever
touched, or nearly touched, as in Nel
son’s time, we suppose a catapult
might thro# a barrel of nitroglycer
ine which, exploding downward,
would annihilate the enemy’s vessel:
but the experiment has never been
tried. A ship which approached so
close could ram ; and such a barrel,
not being driven by an explosive,
could be kept off by a wire netting.
The only two directions in which
even dreamers can see a probability of
much change are the use of electricity
or the use of balloons, and of either
the prospect is very slight. We can
do a great deal with the lightning,
but we cannot throw it, nor is it easy
to conceive how it could be darted, ex
cept th-ough a conductor. Mr.
Urquhart's dream of the quiet savant
who fought the Capitalists’ army
without weapons was original, but
was only a dream. The Capitalists
had mastered the world, aud the Pro
letariat rose in revolt, resolved to die,
rather than be pillaged longer. They
had no weapons, the Capitalists own
ing all; but as the Capitalists’ army
approached, electricity shot from un
seen batteries, struck every particle of
metal used by the soldiers, aud the
army perished as suddenly aud si
lently as that of Bennacherib. That
is a mere dream. It is juBt conceiva
ble that some Mr. Edison might man
age so io establish a wire connection
with an ironclad that the whole struc
ture should be full of death-giving
tlectiiciu—be, in fact, a huge wire
charged by a dynamo. But it is only
conceivable, as is the similar dream—
which has greatly interested some
able mechauiciaus— of so arranging
mirrors as to concentrate intolerable
beat, heat that would pulverize a dia
mond. at a considerable distance. The
thing could be done, we believe, so
effectually that the very ribs of an
iron ship would dissolve into molten
metal, but not at ny distance. In bal
loons, there is a little, and a very little
more hope. It is always a possibility
that immense electric force may be
con ceutrated in such a small space,
that a machine supported in the air by
oalloons could be guided at will; and
if that were achieved, the conditions
of war would, of course, be finally
altered. No cities could be defended
against a machine showering dyna
mite shills, armies might oe destroyeh
in a few minutes, and all fortresses
must be subterranean structures. In
practice, battles would have to be
fought in the air and the survivors
would be accepted as irresistible mas
ters. But the more experienced a
man of science is, the more he doubts
the possibility of making an teriel ma
chine independent of the wind, or of
using balloons in war, except as he
would use steeples or other high points
of observation.
An Important Constitutional
Case.
The question whether the new pro
hibitory amendment to the State Con
stitution is lawful or not has already
arisen in Iowa. A store-keeper, who
has been sued for the price of beer by
the brewers who made it, defends the
action on the ground that at the time
the beverage was sold to him the
amended section of the Constitution
had taken effect, and he contends,that
no recovery can be had ou account of a
sale which the fundamental law for
bids. In making this defence he as
sumes that the amendment is directly
operative of itself, without the enact
ment of any laws under it by the Leg
islature. We quote its language :
“Hectiou 26. No person shall manu
facture for sale, or sell or keep for sale
as a beverage, any intoxicating liquors
whatever, including ale, wine and
beer. The General Assembly shall by
law make regulations for the enforce
ment of the prohibition herein con
tained, and shall thereby provide
penalties for violation of provisions
hereof.”
But the plain! ills say in reply that
the prohibitory amendment, although j
now apparently a part of the Consti
tution of I >wa, is not itself really con
stitutional ; that is to say, it has not
been adopted in the manner required
by law ; and if it has, it is neverthe
less invalid, because it violates tnat
clause of the Federal Constitution
which forbids a State from passing any
law impairing the obligation of con
tracts.
The allegations in regard to the
manner in which the amendment was
acted upon are that only one branch
of tho Assembly agreed to it, when
the assent of both branches was re
quired ; that the meaning of the lan
guage was materially changed by
altering the punctuation when the
section was enrolled, and that the in
terval prescribed by law was not
allowed to elapse between the last vote
of the Legislature on the measure and
its submission to the people.
These are questions of fact which
will have to be decided upon evidence.
The other objection—that the prohibi
tory amendment impairs the
obligation of contracts is found
ed upon the averment that the
business of brewing has long
been sanctioned by the law in Iowa,
and that in consequence of the favor
in which it has been regarded by the
law-making power large amounts of
capital have been put into the business,
and valuable rights have become vett
ed, which it is not within the power
of the State to take away.
The prohibitory amendment was
not th? work of a Constitutional Con
vention called to revise the organic
law ot the State of Iowa. It was passed
by two successive General Assemblies,
and then voted upon by the people at
large. Under the precedents it is
clear that where an attempt is made
to amend the Constitution in this way
the requirements of the Constitution
itself as to the mode in which it may
be amended must be strictly pursued.
“jVe entertain no doubt,” .-aid the Su
preme Court of Alabama in a leading
case on this subject, “that to change
the Constitution in any other mode
than by a Convention every requisi
tion which is demanded by the instru
ment itself must be observed, and the
omission of any one is latal to the
amendment. We scarcely deem any
Argument necessary to enforce this
proposition.” If, then, there has been
any departure from tlie prescribed
mode in the adoption of the prohibi
tory amendment, it must be declared
invalid.
A broader field for argument is pre
sented by the inquiry whether the
prohibitory amendment does not im
pair the obligation of contracts. This
much appears certain : The Prohibi-
I tionists cannot rest assured of victory
until the constitutionality of the
legislation they have procured has
been affirmed by the Supreme Court
of the United States.
“Edward, what do I hear—that you
have disobeyed your grandmother, who
told you just now not to jump down
those steps?” ‘ Grandmadldn’t tell us
not to, papa ; she only came to the door
and said : *1 wouldn’t jump down those
steps, boys,’ and I shouldn't think she
would—an old lady like her I”
Prussia haH seven agricultuia) col
leges, fifteen agricultural sohools
eighteen winter agricultural schools,
twenty-five farm-schools, 253 country
agricultural schools and about .forty
special sohools for gardening, eto.,
making about 358 agricultural sohools.
The Strength of the Nihilists, j
The great strength of Ihe Nihilist
faction is in the hold which they have
over the Tobinn, or official nobility of
Russia. The real titled noblesse, of
whom, by some strange irony of for
tune, but a tenth are of Russian blood,
the remainder being of Tartar, Geor- I
gmt , Finnish, Polish or German de
scent, would in many cases be coro-
neted lotus-eaters, were they but let
alone to spend their rental iu Nice,
Pari«, Trouville. There is discontent
enough, however, on public or private
grounds, among many of these highly
placed persons, and princesses and
countesses of the Russian aristocracy
plunge into political conspiracy as
feverishly as French gi’eat Jadies dal -
hie in the speculations of the Bourse.
The police of St. Petersburg and Mos
cow would not dare to put before the
Emperor’s eyes au approximative^
accurate list of the names of these mag
nates and great ladies who have given
more or less active countenance to the
ever brewing revolution. Even court
chamberlains, when they doff'thelr cer
emonial coats, marked in gold thread
with the glorified key that denotes
their functions, and cea-e to bow and
smiikonthe rare occasions of pomp
that now exist, are as ready as their
neighbors to indulge in a little mild
treason. Siberia is, of course, the
nominal doom of all who, on Musco
vite soil, speak evil of dignities. But
Russian jails would,, not hold, Russian
kibitkas could not carry, nor Cossacks
escort, tlie thousandth part of the cul
prits, were the law strictly aud in
Rhad manthine fashion observed.
That the real tnarquarters of the
Nihilists should be, at least ostensibly,
in Geneva, is not so paradoxical as it
at first sight appears. A small coun
try and a neutral republic afford the
very best base of operations to the con
spirator. So long as contraband of
war does not get smuggled across tlie
frontier, there is nothing to involve
Switzerland in awkward complica
tions, while it would be absurd to ap
ply to Berne the diplomatic pressure
which, with some friction, makes
Itself felt iu Paris or Vienna. As in
Holland of old, so now in the Helve
tian Confederacy, plotters find a home,
and are tolerated, if not sympathized
with, by a Cantonal Government that
desires nothing better than that for
eigners should live aud spend their
money on the shores of Lake Leman.
A Russian resident in Geneva of the
Nihilist persuasion is just as well
known by the native community as
Macaulay tells us was the case with
the English exiles in Amsterdam
when the Duke of Monmouth’s armed
Indiamen were riding at anchor in
the offlug, and the sehout, or high
bailiff of the city, professed himself
unable to identify the foreign visitors
who were about to start for the fatal
enterprise of Bridport and Sedge-
moor.
A Marvellous Palm.
The town of Nellore and its vicinity
are at present under great excitement
in consequence of an extraordinary
i lit-nomenon observed in a mild date
tree, Phoenix Bylvestris, of the nat
ural order Palmaoese, known in Tamil
by the name “Eenchoo,” and in Te
lupa “Eeta.” The Mahometans call
it “Beyndie,” in Hindustani. The
tree is situated in the village of Pedur.
within eight miles of the collector’s
headquarters. A fortnight ago the
children of Paraichery, who plucked
some fruits from the tree at about 5
o’clock iu the evening, found them—
unlike those of other dates—very de
licious even before ripening, and
flocked to it early next morning to
gather more. To their surprise, tlie
cropH, which in the previous evening
almost touched the ground, were far
above thftir heads. They ran to their
parents with the singular story that a
date tree which they saw the first day
lying on the ground was then stand
lug. This circumstance drew the at
tention of the pariahs to the tree, and
they observed that the tree had been
changing its position every morning
and evening. The news spread in all
directions like lightning, and people
from the neighborhood flocked to tlie
spot to witness the marvel with their
own eyes. The report gained strength
daily, and every observer corroborated
the statements of his predecessor.
Deification ioon followed, aud cere
monies of worship have already begun
in small degree. Although 1 was ex
ceedingly anxious to observe the phe
nomenon personally, I was still some
what skeptical, aud requested the
Huzur Berishtadar and the assistant
surgeon te depute an astute aud intel
ligent observer to the place to deter
mine the truth. A Brahmin of con
siderable experience, who has travelled
much, and who cannot be easily im
posed upon, was accordingly selected
aud sent,who returned and assured me
that thediurnal fall aud nocturnal rise
of the date were facts beyond doubt.
The above-nit ntioued gentlemen
and myself, together with the Brah
min first sent, went there on Saturday
afternoon, the 17th instant, and
reached the spot at exactly 5.30 p. m.
The place was crowded, aud I found
there the District Munsifl of Nellore,
the Head Master of the Nellore Hin
doo High School, and other ecueated
gentlemen who had gone early in the
morning for the same purpose us our
selves. The District Muneiff bad tied
a string io the top of the tree, where
the leaves begin to shoot or rather the
stems of the lower leaves begin to
spread out, and fastened it tight to
another tree, in order to ascertain
how loose the strings hangs at the
maximum rise of the tree. The tree
is eleven feet high, excluding the
leaves and stems, and has grown in a
curve from the middle with a twist
round east. At 5 30 the tree was al
most lying toward the west. The
leaves were not withered, but fresh
and green, touching the ground Tlie
f 'oot of the tree was at an angle of five
to seven degrees with the ground, and
we were given to understand chat It
had already commenced to rise from
four o’clock. A handkerchief whi.h
had been tied by the District Munsifl
to one of the leaves, so that its other
end might just touch the ground, hid
risen six inches, and the string ako
began to slacken. We took three
measurements from the ground to the
tree, one (a) about two feci from the
root, another (b) about four feet, and
the third (c) halfway between the
twisting point and the top. Besides
these three there were the string and
tne kerchief to denote the rise of the
top and the leaves At 8 p. m. the
kerchief was eighteen inches from the
ground, aud the string, when drawn
tight, left a fold hangin? four inches
double, or eight inches on the whole.
The rise at a was one-eighth of an
inch, at b one, and at o twelve. The
measurements at 3 a. m. were as fol
lows: Kerchief nine feet, string-fold
twenty inch* s, the rise at a two
inches, b four inches, and o eight* en
inchi s. The stem of the tree made
there an angle of fifteen to twenty de
grees with the ground. Our measure
ments ai 5 a. m. exactly coi responded
with thos9 at 3, and we were not sure
whether t be tree kept the same posi
tion all throughout from 3 to 5 a. m.,
or k« pt rising further till 4, and there
after began to fall. As, however, the
tree commenced rising at 4 p. m., it is
very probable that the downward
movement also began at 4 a. m., and
that the upward movement continued
from 3 to 4. We observed at 5 a. m.
the twist a little turned to the left and
the curve toward the top of the tree
straightened to some extent, so that
the rise is much greater near the top
pf the tree than near the foot. The
turning of the twist toward the left
was apparently evident, as the ker
chief which was west by north when
fastened at 4 p. in,, was north-west
at 5 a. m.
Emerson and Margaret Fuller.
Ralph Waldo Emerson had returned
from Europe, had recovered hia
health, had married a second time,
had settled at Concord, and he and I
had gotten over being shy with each
other; but he had not gotten on as well
with Margaret Fuller. Margaret wrote
poetry, aud people laughed about it,
aud said she wrote it iu fits of exalta
tion, which she called “intense times.”
This gave Mr. Emerson, who was very
simple aud natural, a prejudice against
her.
One day, when visitingat his house,
I expressed the wish that he could
know Margaret better.
Mrs. Emerson, who is the soul of
disinterested kindness, proposed at
once that Margaret be invited to oome
to their qouse.
“Ob, no,” cried Mr. Emeeson; “I
don’t want to know a lady who has
“intense times,” and writes poetry In
them.”
Then I went on and told how I had
had the same prejudice; how it all
melted away when I conversed with
her, and how, in talking with me, she
has made the whole universe look
larger. At this assurance Mr. Emer
son’s face suddenly lighted, and, turn-
ing to his wife, he exclaimed:
“Yes, Q,ueenle, you are right. In
vite her, by all meaus. Let us welcome
any you#g woman whose converse can
make the whole universe look larger
to us.”—JieminiHcenaea of Sabethliz
| Peabody.