Brooklyn Daily Eagle Articles (1888)
Download: PDF — Brooklyn Daily Eagle Articles (1888)
/cover.jpg)
RECENT LITERATURE.
The Second Volume of Lea's History.
Another Installment of an Impartial Account of the Origin, Methods and Purposes of the Inquisition-Florian's Fables-Southern California-Notes.
"A History of the Inquisition in the Middle Ages," by Henry Charles Lea, Harper & Brothers. Mr. Lea has made an impression in the literary and critical world, by the production of his remarkable work on one of the most portentous developments in Christian civilization, which it does not often fall to a writer of any age or country to make. The second volume, just issued, extends the investigation begun in the first into the workings of the engineer by which the Catholic Church was forced, the author contends, to hold its ground against the revolt of intellect from its away. It was no doubt a case in which, however paradoxical it seems, "discipline must be maintained." Bad as the administration of the church was, worst was beyond in a state of ecclesiastical anarchy. For the power of the church was still the only one in Christendom that made for righteousness and the good of mankind, so long as the new power of knowledge was unequal to the battle with feudal brutality. Knowledge and thought indeed must fight its first battle with the church, then man's only protector, though a corrupt one, against otherwise irresponsible, unjust brute force. It is Mr. Lea's insight here which makes his book so philosophical and fair as a view of the times of which he writes. The present volume vividly details the fluctuating battle at first between church authority and assamplion, with its merciless methods, on the one hand, and awakening intelligence and reasoning virtue on the other in devoted Language. The most emphatic and the saddest sign as once of the church's and the Inquisition's final victory there was the conversion of Count Raymond, of Toulouse, from a champion of free
French Wit and Wisdom.
"The Fables of Florian," translated from the French by General J. W. Phelps, illustrated by J. J. Grandville, John B. Alden, New York. A delightful book for both young and old. Though a disciple, perhaps, rather than a master, the discipline of Esop, La Fontaine and the other great fable writers, Florian was such a true disciple, not only of these masters but of truth itself and of a purity of mind that goes only with the highest truth, that it is always a service to the reading world to bring him out afresh and with the excellent appreciation and rendering of this selection and metrical translation. For though the preface modestly claims "no special value" for it, and despite some inaccuracies due to the restraints of verse, it is a flowing and spirited rendering of the simple hearted author's gay and serious meanings. The loyalty to truth which characterized Florian was well shown in his resistance to the cynical influence in literature of his kinman and patron, Voltaire; in his idolatry, first to his military obligations, then to those of the profession of letters which he afterward chose, and finally to the order of nobility in which he was born and to the unfortunate royal family of the time, for which social and political loyalty he came near being beheaded in the French Revolution. Like a recent sumptuous edition of Dumas' "Monte Cristo," which came out with the original illustrations characteristic of the period, the present edition of these selected fables has the benefit of the old illustrations of Grandville, which are expressive of the character the author put into his various animal subjects and of the truths, ethical and practical, jocose and grave, which he designed to impart. Some of the more suggestive of the fables, provocative at once of mirth and of thought, are, "The Inquisitive Cat," "The Fox as a Presacher," "Hercules in Heaven," "The Two Bald Heads," "The Foxes Lawsuit," "The Viper and the Bloodnucker," "The Guilty Dog," "The Monkey with the Magic Lantern" and "Death's Choice of Prime Minister." The volume has fine thick paper and a handsome binding and is well printed, with wide margins.
Notes.
Mr. E. P. Roe is writing a war story, "Found; Yet Lost."
The Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society, Boatoz, offers liberal prizes for the two
and Forts," by L. C. A. De Tracy, with plans and diagrams for that sort of military engineering; Mrs. Leonowens "Fire Worshipers," and other illustrated and unillustrated matter.
Messrs. Harper have issued their handsomely bound volumes of Harper's Magazine, Harper's Weekly, Harper's Bazar and Harper's Young Folks for 1887, in which the accumulated treasures of weeks and months of stories, essays, records of events, and illustrations of the same, often in the best styles of the recently almost newly created art of engraving, will be found, for preservation and reference, in substantial and permanent form.
"The Hereafter," by twenty-three religious teachers, D. Lothrop & Co., Boston, is a little volume of answers to the Boston Herald's Christmas quory as to proof of a life to come. The answers are signed in facsimile by their several authors, among whom are James Freeman Clarke, Joseph Cook, Waylaud Hoyt, Father Hecker, C. A. Bartol, Rabbi Sohindler, Julian K Smytn, Emory J. Haynes, Bishop Whipple, A. A. Miher, Samuel E. Herrick and other representatives of different churches.
The prize principle seems to be acquiring popularity in literature. So respectable a house as that of D. Lothrop Co. employs it to elicit felicity in the expression of good thought in its publications. If that is purchasable it is all very well, and it is hard to tell what is not purchasable in this age, even in the way of genius. Let genius then, if it wishes to compete, get the terms of competition and await the decision of such judges as Edward Everett Hale, Maurice Thompson and President James B. Angell, of Michigan University, upon its work.
Hall's Journal of Health for February considers the kissing habit, which is said to be going out of fashion, and the tobacco habit, which is not. In answer to the question is Romanism overwhelming us its increase is declared to be falling off, notwithstanding that half our population has a Catholic ancestry. Some statistics give but 7,000,000 of Roman Catholics, instead of the 22,000,000 which there should have been, to hold their own. In thirty years the increase in their clergy was 5,100, while that of Presbyterians was 4,256, of Baptists 11,428, and of Methodists, 15,430, or 44,315 for all Protestant denominations.
"Queen Money," by the author of "Margaret Kent," Ticknor & Co., is a story of New York society, in which the reader will get, beside more firtation, more enough for the strongest annuity lu
The Game Imported From Scotallowing to settle it will be ready for use. Pour off the water without disturbing the lime. Fill up the bottle again, shake up as before and wait till it settles, and pour off again, and so continue until the lime disappears. That portion of the foregoing question which asks for a medical opinion we beg to refer to some medical authority who knows our correspondent.
A National Sport—Celebrated in Verse-How It is Played-Growing in Favor in Its Adopted Country-The Clubs.
The outdoor sports of Americans may now be said to include not only the universal Winter recreation of sailing, but the Scotch national game of curling and the Canadian sports of tobogganing and snow shooting, not forgetting the Yankee sport of "coasting" or "bob sliding." Skating is the most graceful exercise of all and it is available alike for both sexes. Tobogganing is but a new phase of "coasting," or sliding down hill on sleds, while snow shooting is merely a pedestrian exercise in which the only sporting feature is the racing. The only Winter game, however, of all of these sports is that of curling, which, beyond all doubt, is the most scientific Winter sport in existence. From time immemorial curling has been the leading game of the Scotch people, furnishing an exciting Winter recreation alike for the Lowland merchant as for the Highland chieftain. Of all the pastimes peculiar to our adopted citizens none so forebey reminds them of thor early days at home or bears with its memories such pleasant reminiscences of "Auld Lang Syne." Curling is a game worthy of the hardy inhabitants of the most northerly portion of Great Britain, played as it is on the ice amid the bleak winds of Winter, and requiring as it does muscular strength, vigor of frame and considerable power of endurance. The poets of Scotland have made the game a theme for verse. The old Scotch song of "Hurra for Auld Winter!" begins with a lively description of the sport as follows:
Oh, come on, my lada, and shouldter your stanes,
An hour on the ice will supple your hanes.
If sorrow hangs o'er you, just drive awa' cara
And besom in hand saint tue keen, frosty air.
Awa' in the glen, just outside the toon.
There's a bonny bit loch where often in June
The balrinais had paddled wi' their soony foo
And ladia wil their laireries were whoo want to meet
The next point to be considered is that of "chap and lie," and this is an incident of the opening point of "striking," as the object is to knock out the opposing stone and to leave your own stone lying in the circle. There is a good deal of calculation of force and direction necessary in "chap and lie," as your stone only requires just sufficient force to send the opposing stone out of the circle, and not so much as to cause it to glance off and go out of the circle itself.
Following this comes the point of "wick and curl in." This is simply a variation of the carom play shown in "wickling," the point being to carom from a stone lying outside and to the left of the circle to a position near the tee. To play this well is very nice measurement of force is required, as also considerable skill in giving your stone the right direction.
The next point in order is that of "raising," and this is another variation of "striking," the object being to drive a guarding stone out of its position and to place your stone near where the other stood and to the right of it, so as to leave an open "port" for the stone on the "tee" and thereby save your own stone for further service by a good draw to its face.
I now come to one of the finest points of the game and that is "chipping the winner," and to do this successfully the player needs to be a very skillful surfer. The point in question is to pass the guarding stone in front of the stone near the toe" which has the shot, and just caroming on it with sufficient force to send it out of the circle to leave your own stone remaining within the lines.
I now come to the last point, and it is that of "outwickling," the object of which is to send an outlying stone of your own side into the circle when all chance of drawing near to the "tee" for the shot is lost. It will be readily seen that quite a field for strategic play is afforded in these several points of the game. Of course keen ice is required to play the game up to its highest point of excellence, and when this is at command and a clear, cold Winter's day, without a blustering wind to mar the sport, it would be difficult to find a more enjoyable or healthy pastime. The familiar broom feature of the gaine, in which the curlers of a rink who have already played their stones are engaged in sweeping the ice in front of a gliding stone, affords active exercise during a contest, aside from that of sliding the heavy stones along the ice. The curling matches of the Metropolitan district are played on the Conservatory Lake, on Seventy-sixth street, Central Park; the large lake in front of the Wall House.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Correspondents should not feel disappointed when their questions are not answered immediately, as the information collected frequently requires considerable research, for which ample time should be allowed. The name and address of the writer should accompany every question.
Notes—"A Constant Reader." Your question in regard to the weather was covered in an answer in last Sunday's EAGLE.
"Flidget"—The illustration on old English pottery which you refer to is what is known as the "Willow Pattern." It has been described in the EAGLE several times.
"James L. Goodwin"—You can order such a map as you want of any bookseller in the city, or of the Brooklyn News Company.
"Native"—We find it impracticable to obtain the statistics you desire. The United States Sanitary Commission designed an elaborate work which might have included the nationalities of the Army, but the plan went to pieces for reasons unknown.
"Miss L."—We do not know of any Union or Mutual Benefit Association of Stenographers in this city.
"W. H."—If you will apply to Mr. Ira Moore at the Atheneum, in Atlantic avenue, you will obtain the information of which you are in quest
"Pills"—We could not ascertain; hence, cannot say.
"Van"—We do not think it is best for the EAGLE to express an opinion on the steamship subject.
"Lamar"—The weather question was covered in last Sunday's EAGLE.
"E. Y. R."—The language of postage stamps was printed in the EAGLE a few weeks ago. It is too early to repeat.
"Lottie Collins"—You can easily understand that if we wrote a letter for you to copy, that would not be your letter. When applying for employment, do so on your own merits. It is not fair to those who present themselves on their merits for you to do so on the ability of somebody else. If you are not able for the position do not apply
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
I would like to know how old a person must be to join the United States Revenue Service, and if a physical examination must be passed; and also, if a person must have any knowledge of seamanship to enlist?
Answer—It is necessary for a person desiring to enter the United States Revenue Service to pass a physical examination and to be an able or an ordinary seaman. We are not quite certain, but think it is necessary to be of voting age.
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
Will you aid in settling a dispute on the subject of strikes? The question is: "I have not the people involved as strikers, all over the country, been largely losers thereby, and also, do not strikes tend to drive away business from the country?" If you can help us we will again be under obligation to you. READER
Answer—We find that in 1857 there were 340,000 strikers in this country. The number of days lost by unsuccessful strikes was 5,081,315, and by successful ones 1,774,694. Bradstreet's observes that "In addition to the foregoing figures there were sixteen strikes which were not ended by December 31 last, and which account for 2,996,390 days lost, giving a grand total which is probably equal to fully 10,000,000 days lost by 350,000 men. This points to nearly one month's wages sacrificed per capita, as the average by strikers during 1887, or about 8% per cent of the annual wages lost by probably one-tenth of the total number of industrial workers, that being about the proportion who went on strike. If 1.50 per day be taken as a low estimate of the price, it average earnings of those who went on strike during 1887, the loss of wages reckoned in money would amount to about 13,500,000, for both successful and unsuccessful strikers, as well as for those whose strikes were not ended December 31 last. This indicates that the successful strikes during 1887 involved a loss of 2,400,000 wages, the unsuccessful, of 6,800,000 wages and the unsettled strikes, December 31, of $4,300,000." These facts, it seems to us, answer the question as to whether the strikers are losers by striking. As
though and independent action into a tool of unrelenting persecution. But the spirit of heresy, in all ages the spirit of freedom, was as undying as that of persecution, and Philip was appealed to at Paris. The appeal gave him now power as King of France, but that power proved, like Raymond's, unequal to more than a pretended reform ofquisition methods. Confiscation of goods was by this time added to the church's war on the person, and with this new weapon all France was attacked. The auto de fo advanced to Paris early in the Fourteenth Century, and even royal St. Louis delivered his subjects over to the cruelties which his bishops opposed. This seems to have been the culmination of inquisitorial power in this direction, however. The latitude was becoming too Northern for its growth. The French parliaments made head against it and an attempt to revive it, against the influence of the University of Paris, in the next century failed, and was avenged in fresh persecution of the devotional Waldenses of the more Southern provinces, until Louis XI. had become strong enough for even their protection to some extent. In the Spanish peninsula the course of things was equally varied. Aragon yielded to the power of Rome in harassing its population, while Castile kept the Inquisition out altogether under Alonzo the Wise, though many of the Waldensian sect of the Cathart found refuge there for the free enjoyment of their opinions. Persecution for heresy was unknown in Castile and but inefficiently practiced even in Portugal. In Italy too there was sufficient political activity to favor heresy for a while, and even after persecution was set up there the popular opposition to it, and indifference to the church which engineered it, constituted a reserve force which always stood ready to justify the State in at last getting control of the Inquisition, as in Venice, the Sicilies and finally Central Italy. To the east of the Adriatic its success was alike precarious. The Catharine followed up its bloody career in Hungary with steady opposition, until Catharanism became the State religion there and even reached a hand to Turkish invasion, in its desperate mood of fighting the devil of persecution with fire. Into Germany also did Waldensianism extend its operations, under the earlier tolerance of Conrad of Marburg, and with the favoring circumstance of his death after he had yielded to the urgency of Gregory XII for persecution. The bishops, too, were opposed to this urgency, as in France, and a reaction kept the Inquisition out of Germany. The author's account of the whole extensive fraternity of nonbest manuscripts for Sunday school books.
Viola Gilbert, New York, announces "Millennial Dawn, the Plan of the Ages," which is vouchered for by no less a journalistic authority than "Bill Arp."
"Chronicle of the Schonberg-Cotta Family," by Elizabeth Charles, John B. Aldon, New York, is a complete cheap republication of this long popular historical novel.
Homer Greene's "Blind Brother," T. Y. Crowell & Co., New York, which is said to have brought a prize of $1,500, has been published in England and also translated into German.
The Home Publishing Company, New York, announces a new edition of "Mr. Barnes, of New York," by Gunther; also his new novel "Mr. Potter of Texas," early in February.
"The School Album," by H. W. Fairbank, S. R. Winchell & Co., Chicago, is a collection of songs for day schools, primary, intermediate and advanced. The words are by Minnie B. Lowry.
D. Lothrop Co., Boston, announce "Patience Preston, M. D.," by Mrs. A. F. Raffensperger, a Pennsylvania story; "Ethel's Year at Ashton," by S. E. Dawes, and "Bynbury to Beacon Street," a practical and yet humorous story.
The Missionary Review of the World for February, Funk & Wagnalls, New York, has articles on the Evangelical Alliance, on missions in Japan, on the progress of Mohammedanism; "James Hannington, the Martyr of Usoga," and other missionary subjects.—The Puzzler, N. D. C. Hodges, New York, is the candid name of a magazine devoted openly to the work of mystifying the riddle loving part of the public. It being new there is no record of mental aberration as yet to be charged to its conundrums or puzzles.
The Agriculturist for February is very full of interest to those who live by or on the soil, from the frontsidepiece, "Caught in a Montana Blizzard," to the English draft horses whose huge proportions are represented in it. Late improvements relating to the farm are given in profusion.
The new magazine, the American Garden, New York, is devoted to that novelty in flowers, the iris; to orchids; to a description of the gardens of San Souci; tree planting and lawn making; and the first of a series of articles by Charles Barnard on
tation, love enough for the strongest apparten-
that way. There is the due mixture of the Knicker-
bocker element in it, and of the New York litera-
ry element. But, whether it is ancient Knicker-
bocker gentility or literary distinction or musica-
and mathetic enjoyment generally, all seems to depen-
d, as usual in our cultivated American life, on
stocks. Wall street is the real seat of government
in the social republic here sketched, and people
are millionaires or not as things turn down there.
"The Nun's Curse," by Mrs. J. H. Riddell, D. Appleton & Co. In this new Irish story the author of "Miss Gascoligne" has worked to very good advantage the apparently inexhaustible mille of romance which is furnished in the complications and vloisstudes of Ireland's social, political and ecclesiastical life. The curse indicated in the title seems outwardly to have been lifted at the close, in the apparent prosperity of the chief family concerned, but there is abundant material left for an sequel in the existence of a dissatisfied if not exactly disinherited elder son, who, having been intended for the priesthood, is quite competent to make the profession a source of continued trouble to his kindred.
"Memoirs of an Arabian Princess," by Emily Ruege, D. Appleton & Co., is an autobiography, translated from the German, in which it was originally written for the author's children, in the fear that she should not be spared to tell them the story of her life when they grew up. It gives a picture of the life of Arab princes and princesses like the author; their schooling, matchmaking, the position of woman in the East, the fasts and festivals, the Arab system of slavery, which the author is disposed to paint mildly, excepting the slave trade incident to it; the medical service of the country and other things of much interest. The author became by her marriage a German subject, but revisited her native country in recent years. Her story is a very entertaining one.
John B. Alden, New York, announces to appear early in the Spring "The Land of the Pueblos," by Miss Susan K Wallace, wife of the author of "Ben Hux." General Wallace was Governor of New Mexico when the materials for the book were gathered. These include much that is curious in American antiquities and history, as well as interesting bits of Western life and scenery. The announcement is also made of "The Fables of Florian," a "superbly" illustrated edition, translated into English verse by General J. N. Phelps, late member of the Vermont Historical Society. This phenomenon of French
Then rouse yo, keen curlers, and brace up each nerve.
Frae the auld Scottish game we never will swerve;
Whorever we roam, frae cast to; the west,
We'll never forget the game we lo'e best.
Curling is very similar in principle to quolting. In the latter game the object in view is to toss the quoit to a polist as near the "hub" as possible. In curling it is to slide the curling stone along the ice, on a pond or lake, as near as possible to the center of an arch called the "tee." The game of shuffle board—so familiar to Americans—is a fair illustration in tiniature of the principle of curling. Singularly enough the Scotch game has not obtained a popular footing in England; probably because it is not "English, you know," but in America it is rapidly becoming one of our popular Winter sports, American curlers, native and to the manor born, now being very numerous. In the North of Ireland, however, among the Scotch Irish of that section of the British Isles the game finds the same favor as "at home." The laws of the game are promulgated by the Royal Curling Club of Great Britain, and they are adopted by all the clubs on both sides of the Atlantic which are affiliated with the parent organization. The most attractive feature of the sport is the facility it offers for skillful, strategic play. It is full of scientific points from beginning to end, and a player who aims to excel as a "keen curler" must be capable of considerable headwork in handling the stones on the ice. The curling clubs of the United States are governed by the National Curling Association of this country, which, at its annual conventions, arranges the leading contests of the season.
We clip from the National Curling Annual of 1883 the following brief description of the game:
To play the game a field of strong, smooth and thick ice is required, about fifty yards in length and some ten yards wide. On this the lines of the rink are laid out. The length of a rink is forty-two yards and at each end two circles of a radius of seven feet are marked off at the distance of thirty-eight yards apart and the center of these circles is called the tee and the object of the players of each party is to slide the curling stone within this circle as near the tee as possible. There are four players on each side, eight players to each rink, and if all of the eight stones of one side are sent within the circle and none of those of the opposite party, then the former score eight shots for the end, the end in question being equivalent to an inning in cricket or base ball. Should one of the stones of the opposite party, however, be within the circle and also be the second stone nearest the tee, then the party having the stone nearest the tee count one only, even though all the eight stones of their side are in the
Prospect Park, and on Courtland Lake, in Westchester County, near Spuyten Duyvih.
It is a matter of surprise that with so many Scotchmen resident of Brooklyn as we have and with such facilities for curling as the Prospect Park lake affords we have not more clubs here. The Caledonian and Thistle clubs are the only curling organizations we have in this city, but there ought to be half a dozen clubs here at least. We should have a Brooklyn curling club, with plenty of young American players in it, the sons of resident Scotchmen, as they have in the American Curling Club in New York. H.C.
HIS ONE GRAT FAULT.
Nelson's Love For the Wife of Sir William Hamilton.
When Nelson returned from the glorious work of the Nils in 1798 he found Sir William Hamilton an old man, while Lady Hamilton was still in her prime, being in her 30th year. It may be presumed that most readers know the part Lady Hamilton took in the transfer of the King, Queen and court from Naples in the stormy events that followed and also of the close association into which she and Nelson were thrown as the result of these. When it was announced to their royalties of Naples that the fleet of Toulon was doubtless bent on the conquest of Naples and Sicily, Earl St. Vincout could also say that a "knight of superior prowess" (Nelson) was eager to protect their majesties, so that personal gratitude, in addition to admiration of heroic conduct shared by all the world, must have entored largely into the feelings with which Lady Hamilton now viewed Lord Nelson. One of the results of the close relationship into which Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton were now thrown is known to all the world as well as the open and acknowledged confession of it after the death of Sir William Hamilton, the Merton House being purchased expressly that Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson's daughter might together reside there. It would be supererogatory on our part, even had we space to go into detail of this period; we can only briefly advert to one or two points and set down a few reflections.
Of Nelson, himself—hero, indomitable fighter,intrepid and gallant sea dog though he was—it is not too much to say that the impression we derive from this book is not altogether such as sets him higher in our regards as a man. Mr. Jeaffreson
for it
"G. H. D." sends us the following:
In Sunday's EAGLE, January 22, it was stated, in answer to an inquiry, that you knew of no such place as New Brooklyn. Indeed anyone may look in vain for it on any map, or among the archives in the City ital, yet, nevertheless, New Brooklyn, so called, is very well known. Some thirty years ago a German church was erected on Fulton street, near where Ralph avenue now crosses that point. Many Germans from Williamsburgh then settled in that vicinity. At that time amid woods and farmlands it had all the characteristics of a hamlet or small village, and the appellation was proper enough. Near by, on Atlantic avenue, between Utica and Troy avenues, was a cluster of houses inhabited by colored people. The place was called Wookville. As it is getting built up all around there a distinctive name is not necessary and that name is not much used now. New Brooklyn, however, is still known by that name.
"A Fifteen Year Reader"—In order to send a box of cigars to Birmingham, England, put the package in the hands of the International Express Company, with a description of its contents and value, and take their receipt for all the costs, including duty, on the other side.
"School Girl"-The following are leading foreign commercial cities: London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, St. Petersburg.
"The Selkirk Grace"—A correspondent who desired to know the name of the author of this grace is informed that it was Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. Here is the grace;
Some hae meat and canna eat.
Aod some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can ent.
And sae the Lord be thankit.
The post was on a visit to the Earl of Selkirk, at St. Mary's Isle, Kirkcudbright and, being asked to say grace at dinner, gave the foregoing.
"Academy"—You should read the rule at the head of this column if an answer to your question is of any consequence to you.
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
Please state the papers which are members of the Associated Press. J. S. K. Answer-The papers which constitute the Associated Press are the Tribune, Times, Herald, Sun, Journal of Commerce, World and Mail and Express.
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
To decide a bet will you kindly state which, at the present gay is the larger city-Chicago or
to the other question, we cannot understand how, when business men are unable to fulfill their contracts, they can expect to retain the confidence of the market. If the country cannot meet the demands made upon it for goods it is very easy to understand that commerce will carry its demands elsewhere. There are certain and very obstinate laws of trade which never yield to strikes, and when they operate against a loss of 10,000,000 days productive labor, the 350,000 men who have lost the time and their dependents must suffer. If not, we would like to know why not?
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
We have had quite an interesting discussion on the height of waves in the ocean and the great power they exercise in various ways, and we have agreed to ask you to give us the best and latest information accessible on the subject. PUPILS.
Answer—A year or two ago the EAGLE answered a similar question. The encyclopedias furnish material on the subject which may be regarded as accurate as far as they go. The Edinburgh Scotman recently had an article which seems to have been carefully prepared and is doubtless the latest contribution on the subject. It contains a volume of information which "Pupils" will find of value in their discussion. Here it is:
It is a very common phrase to speak of the waves during a storm as running mountains high; but this really means nothing. Accurate measurements made by Scoresby proved that during storms, waves in the Atlantic rarely exceed 43 feet from hollow to crest, the distance between the crests being 560 feet and their speed 321⁄2 miles an hour. More recent observations in the Atlantic give from 44 feet to 48 feet as the highest measured waves; but such heights are rarely reached, and, indeed, waves exceeding 30 feet are very seldom encountered. The monsoon waves at Kurrachee breakwater works were found to dash over the wall to the depth of 18 feet or about 40 feet above mean sea level. The greatest heights of waves on the British coast were those observed in Wick Bay—so famous for the exceptionally heavy seas which roll into it—being 371⁄2 to 40 feet. Green seas to the depth of 25 feet poured over the parapet of the breakwater at intervals of from seven to ten minutes, each wave, it was estimated, being a mass of 40,000 tons of water and this continuously for three days and nights. During severe storms the waves used to rise high above the top of Smootahou's Eldystone tower, while at the Bell rock the seas with easterly storms envelop the tower from base to balcony—a height of 400 feet. North Unst Lighthouse, in Shetland, is erected on an outlying rock, rising to a height of 200 feet and surrounded with deep water; yet the waves due to the mighty twitch of the North Sea rush up the nearly perpendicular face of the rock and on one occasion burst open the door of the dwelling house, deluging the whole with water. Similar
conformists of this period, under their various names, is very full. The Black Death of the Fourteenth Century is also described, from which even Germany is estimated, to have lost one-fourth of its population. This seems to have decided Charles IV. on obeying the Pope and beginning persecution in Germany. But the prelates still protected some of the most troublesome of the recessants, and in the end the Inquisition found Germany no more suited to its permanent growth than other solls. When Luther rose it was powerless to harm him. Bohemia was always known for its independence in ecclesiastical matters and early gave entertainment to Waldalianism. The trial of Huss, as given by the author, affords a good illustration of the inquisitorial process, and the exasperating effect of his burning is noted. A series of bloody crusades against the Hussites, in which all Europe was laid upon for warriors, who were indiscriminately guaranteed salvation for aiding in the extermination of the heretics, ended, after ten years of flandish crusades on both sides, only in a sort of compact between the church and heresy; and when Rome afterward sent a grand inquisitor to try another crusade, in spite of the compact, he found more serious work in making head against the Turks, fresh from the capture of Constantinople. The compact was maintained, and Bohemia enjoyed more or less of her old independence of Rome. If the reader be disposed to ask why the church did not reform itself instead of fighting the fanatical reformers, he finds answer here that corruption had been so thorough in "mining all within" it that no power was left for self cure. Instead of fighting the sin of its priesthood it made war on Saracens in Asia and on the most cultivated and civilized of its European children, the Southern French, who, but for a century or two of massacre and condescension, would have anticipated Italy in that great revival of learning which was begun by the Italian Renaissance. In thus ruining thriving and intelligent communities and municipalities the church gave a power to kings and emperors which it could not again take away, and became the more diplomatic temporal sovereignty which it now is. And yet the church had the cunning to prosecute its temporal power, through all those dark and bloody times, even by such monstrous devices as making a political use of the very heresy it pretended to ligat with such holy zeal. It sided often with heretical princes against those who would have favored the Inquisition, if a temporary advantage was thus to be gained. Even inquisitional zealots sometimes h
The Home Lot," as a source of family income.
The Phrenological Journal for February, New York, has a sketch and portrait of Dinah Mulock Craik; a chapter on "Autographs;" sketches and portraits of President Carnot, Chief Justice Wait and Victorien Sardou; the servant girl question, treated in "A Guess at a Riddle of the Nineteenth Century," and matter relating to the American Institute of Phrenology.
Babyhood for February, New York, has a comprehensive article on what should be done in the emergencies of childhood. "Contaglon and Disinfection" is by Dr. Chaplin and "Children's Heads" by Dr. Yale. There are also articles on "The Hardening Process," "Babies and Papas," "A Chinese Method of Baby Feeding," "Nursery Helps, Novelties and Problema," etc.
The Book Buyer, Charles Scribner's Sons, for February has a sketch of W. Hamilton Gibson by Horace E. Scudder, with portrait and examples of the artist's style; an article on Japanese book illustration, by Heromich Shuglo, with some exceedingly graphic specimens, which put our artists rather in the background for expression, and "On the Track of Ulysses" by H. W. Mable.
"How to Suqueed as a Stoneographer or Typewriter," by Arthur M. Baker, Fowler & Wells Co., New York, sums up its direct lons in the pithy sentence: "Persevere or don't attempt." It also gives the percentage of failures and a sketch of the difficulties of the study. Having thus warned off the faint hearted, it gives advice as to choice of a system and what to do to the best advantage with proficiency when acquired.
The Writer Literary Bureau, Boston, asserts that very little of the manuscript intrusted to it for negotiation is not saleable somewhere. Perhaps the bureau will yet make loans on that species of property. The Writer for February has articles on "The Writer's Signature," "Shorand in Journalism," "Unity as a Vocation or an Avocation," "That Bugboar Plagiarism," "What Readers Want," "Editor and Contributor," etc. It also abounds in suggestions, answers to queries, etc.
The D. Lothrop Co., Boston, announces an historical series, "The Story of the States," illustrated by Bridgeman. "New York," "Ohio" and "Louisiana" will appear shortly, the latter by Maurice
wit and purity at once, this delighter of childhood and age, combining the fancy of Rousseau and St. Pierre with the morality of Fenelon, is promised in this edition an artistic and graphic rendering in text and illustration.
Outing for February is strong in the instantaneous photograph line, with its vigorous frontispiece by Remington, "The Frontier Scout," and its article on fencing, by Eugene Van Schaick, illustrated. "The Cruise of the Reble" is by Thomas Dean. "A Wallaby Drive in Australia," by Allen Irwin, tells of a kind of sport which is at least an improvement on the butchery of hares in England, in that there is some danger attending it, and that extermination is a necessary matter in Australia with some species of animals. "Some Few Facts and Fancies on Ice," by C. Bowyer Vaux, aims at that reduction to a science which skating must experience with everything else amusing in these days of literary treatment. The late General Marey's fifth paper on "Big Game Hunting in the West" is spiced with danger as well as adventure. Mr. Stevens continues to follow the circummundane revolutions of his bicycle, astonishing the Celestials this month. "Yellow Fever on Shipboard," by Captain Conn, is grimly picturesque. "Seining at Midnight" is by Charles E. Clay. Frank D. Sherman contributes "The Romance of a Dead Letter" and G. O. Shields tolls wonders of buffalo hunting in Texas.
"California of the South," by Walter Lindley, M. D., and J. P. Widney, A. M., M. D., D. Appleton & Co., is a very timely and interesting manual of a region rapidly becoming popular with health seekers of our own and other cities. Dr. Lindley will be remembered in Brooklyn in connection with its ambulance service. In the present volume he and his collaborator, Dr. Widney, give a good account of the physical geography, climate, resources, lines of travel and health resorts of Southern California, supplemented with maps and illustrations. The two Californias are described and the Pacific coast, is contrasted with the Atlantic in respect to seasons, rainsfall, fogs and general humidity; amount of sunshine, prevailing winds and general temperature; agriculture, commercial development, harbor facilities, health and disease, education, types of life in city and country and political prospecta. Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bornadino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties receive special attention in both their past and their present. Orange and other fruit culture is also particularly treated of. The book is handsomely produced by the publishlabor with no little spirit and ingenuity and we had almost said dogged determination, to rebut many of the assertions of Southey, but not a little of his energy and labor seems to us thrown away, since, after all, he comes to much the same broad results as Nelson's biographer in respect of character. His acts only go to show how keen were Southey's instincts on some radical points, though he went wrong on not a few minor details, not having before him the documents which Mr. Jeaffreson had been so fortunate to find and so effectively to set before the reading public. According to Mr. Jeaffreson's own showing Nelson seduced the wife of his friend while enjoying his full confidence and friendship. In the protection of that friend, the crewish adventures (who had seen such strange society had been thrown into such doubtful positions) had ever found a haven of respectability and even digified social influence, such as should have sheltered her from a relapse like this; and this in her middle age and when the hey day of passion had passed, when, even Mr. Jeaffreson admits, she had lost some of her earlier charms. Mr. Jeaffreson is fain to plead for Lord Nelson that he only fell under momentary passion and strong temptation; but it is, to say the least, unfortunate for him that Nelson's relations to Lady Hamilton were lifelong and that he died unreconciled to his wife in any way. If Mr. Jeaffreson had only been as successful in his vindication of Nelson's conduct toward Sir William Hamilton and Lady Nelson as he is in the matters of the Sicilian rebels and the execution of Prince Caracollo, we should have rejoiced. But, apart it is not so.
Supposing the rink to be in readiness for beginning a match, the players and their respective captains—called "skips"—chosen, and the order of each player appointed. Rink A+we will say, having won the tosa, begins the match by sending their first player to "cast the first stone." The "skip" having previously taken his position at the back of the opposite circle or the rink—the term "rink" applies allike to the course and its lines laid out on the ice and to the eight players—he at once directs the first player to "draw to the tee"—that is, to slide the stone as near to the center of the circle as he can. This done, the first player of Rink B, of the opposite side, takes his stand on the "crampet"—the iron plate placed firmly on the ice for the curlers to obtain a firm foothold—and his "skip" directs him to "strike" the previous player's stone out of the circle wherein it lies and to leave his own stone in its place. Falling to do this, player No. 2, of Rink A, takes his turn, and he is directed to "draw for a guard"—that is, to slide his stone so that it will lie in front of the stone in the circle and prevent its being knocked out. The object of the opposing player who follows the second player is to remove the "guard," and so the game proceeds until all of the eight players of the two rinks have had their turn, and then the side having the most stones nearest the "tee" scores as many points as it has stones lying in the circle. Before a match of this kind is engaged in for the prize of a club modal, however, a "point match" is played by the members of the club themselves, and it is in these point matches that efficiency in all the strategic points of the game is attained. I now proceed to describe how these several points of play are made:
The special points of play in curling, which every player must become familiar with before he can take part in a club contest, are "drawing," "striking," "guarding," "inwicking," "chap and lie," "wick and curl in," "raising," "chipping the winner" and "outwicking." When a "point" match is to be played the risk has to be specially marked out for the purpose, with small circles of the diameter of the curling stones drawn out on the ice on separate lines within and without the circle of which the "tee" is the center.
The first "point" played in a regular rink match is "drawing to the tee;" but in a "point" match the first point played is that of "striking." To learn to strike the stone lying in the center of the circle and knock it out of the circle, therotore, is the first lesson in the art of curling. While doing this you have
The lives of Nelson and Lady Hamilton in relation to Sir William were in the last years of his life nothing but a continuous lie. She bore a child to Nelson (loratio) and this child was openly acknowledged by Nelson and provided for in his last will and it became a necessity in their policy that duplicity and falsehood should be practiced—which, indeed, it was to such an extent and so successfully that Sir William Hamilton died under the belief that his wife was faithful and Nelson even more his brother than his friend. "Where ignorance is bliss, 'his folly to be wise.' Sir William Hamilton's ignorance was doubtless bliss to him; but it would require a fine casuistry indeed to justify such procedure as becoming an English gentleman and officer, or likely to lead to any elevation of character in the man not only consenting to it, but practicing it and persistently persevering in it. Far more excuse is surely to be found for Lady Hamilton, allowing Nelson to rest
Brooklyn, giving figures if possible? AMHERST.
Answer—The present estimated populations of Brooklyn and Chicago are 757,755 and 760,000 respectively.
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
Will you kindly state the relationship of Mrs. Agnes Booth, Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., and Edwin Booth? If the first two mentioned are mother and son? Also, what was the name of Edwin Booth's father?
INQUIREK
Answer—Agnes Booth, wife of Junius Brutus Booth, is now Mrs. Schoeffel; is mother of Junius Brutus Booth, Jr.; slater in saw of Edwin Booth, whose father was the eldest Junius Brutus Booth.
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
To settle an argument, will you please state which is the more direct route by horse cars from the corner of Nostrand and Gates avenues to the corner of Van Brunt and Wolcott streets?
DISPUTANTS.
Answer—The speediest method of travelling between the points named would be to take the Greene and Gates avenue car to the Court House, then the cross town car to corner of Richards and Wolcott streets, one block above Van Brunt.
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
A constant reader would like to know who the author is of the following poem:
Up and away like the dew of the morning,
Soarlog away to its home in the sun.
So let my living be so by my dying,
Only remembered by what I have done.
If not asking too much, will you please publish the poem in full?
SEVEN YEARS READER
Answer—"H. E." and "W. B. H." have our thanks for calling attention to the name of the author of the poem entitled "The Everlasting Memorial," by Horastius Bonar. The following is the correct version in the order given in the "Library of Religious Poetry:"
Up and away like the dew of the morning
That soars from the earth to its home in the sun,
So let me steal away gently and lovingly.
Only remembered by what I have done.
My name, and my place, and my tomball forgotten,
The brief race of time well and patiently run,
So let me pass away peacefully, silently,
Only remembered by what I have done.
Gladly away from this toll would I hasten,
Up to the crown that for me has been won,
Unthought of by man in rewards and in praises.
Oply remembered by what I have done.
Up and away like the odors of sunset
that sweeton the twilight an evening comes on;
heavy waves, rising to great heights, are not unfamiliar in the experience of keepers in the Scottish lighthouses. At Nosshead, in Caltness-shire, during a heavy torturestly gale, large bodies of water were thrown against the inertus at an elevation of 175 feet above the sea. When Duh Heartach Lighthouse was in course of erection, during a Summer gale, fourteen stones, none of them less than 2 tons in weight, after being fixed in their places at the level of 37 feet above high water, were torn out of their places and swept off into deep water like leaves out of a book—this height corresponding with the glass panes in Winstanley's Eddystone Lighthouse. The force exerted during storms by waves has been found to be 3 tons per square foot on the west coast of Scotland and 3½ tons on the east. At Alderney breakwater blocks of stone 9 tons in weight were lifted from the foreshore and hurled over the top of the wall, a height of 45 feet. The iron pile light house erected on the Bishop Rock was carried away by unbroken seas striking the dwelling, the floor of which was 85 feet above high water. A tower of granite was subsequently erected on the Bishop and in 1860 the waves carried away the fog bell, weighing 300 weight, at an elevation of 100 feet above the sea. In the Sheetland Islands blocks of stone have been quarried at the height of 70 to 75 feet above the mean sea level. But these instances of the action of the waves during storms sink into insignificance when it is mentioned that blocks of concrete, weighing 1,350 and 2,600 respectively, were carried away by the repeated assaults of the wild rollers of Wick Bay. The depth to which wave action extends has been differently estimated, but it varies from 70 feet to 160 feet, as shell fish which are known only to live at these depths are thrown upon the shore during heavy gales, and it has been appreciated that shingles is moved in a depth of 50 feet. For a practical purpose, however, so far as harbor works are concerned, it is found that there is little movement of materials under 13 feet to 20 feet below low water, the foundations of breakwaters hitherto constructed not having been disturbed below these levels.
THE CAGOTS.
A Race Who Live in the Pyrenees and the Old Aquitanian Regions.
Under the name of Cagots there live in the Pyrenees and the old Aquitanian regions both sides of them—in the Spanish Upper and the French Lower Navarre, in Bearn, Gassony, Gulenne and Lower Poitou—a peculiar race who have been much talked about and attracted the attention of the peoples about them from very ancient times. Formerly the Cagots (whose name linguists derive from canis Gothicus, Gothic dog) were confounded with Cretins. The association was a mistaken one for the Cagots, with their large, muscular form, shapey skull, prominent nose, strongly marked features, blue
came obnoxious by their fanaticism to the supreme authority, and tasted the horrors of the stake in their turn. Mr. Lea may seem to strain his admirable impartiality in not condemning the Council of Constance for violating the safe conduct granted to Blues in appearing before it. It was within ecclesiastical law at that time perhaps. A heretic had no rights, and any man sufficiently accused was a heretic. But if Mr. Lea absolves the council he does not spare the system under which it acted. It would gladly have saved Huse's life at the expense of his retraction of what he honestly held. It made him the martyr it feared he would be, and his followers for years made their country hot for the hordes of crusaders sent against them. But the decisions of councils did worse than this. They confused all moral principles and standards by their decrees, making consistency of belief or obedience an impossibility. As to the giving of the cup as well as the bread to the laity, for which the Bohemians stood, with the whole church for over a thousand years, the Inquisitor Capistrano owned that he would not argue it with them, because of their familiarity with the Scripture and church history arguments for the practice. He would only burn them. But no adequate idea of the excellence and absorbing interest of Mr. Lea's work can be given by description or even by extracts. It is rich in rare historical reading. In addition to its philosophical and candid spirit, its style is straightforward, clear, vigorous, graphic and yet graceful. The preparation gone through for writing it is shown to have been exhaustive. The authorities are fully given, and the most judicious use has been made of them. One is at a loss whether most to admire the vivid force of the narrative or the scientific soundness of the conclusions drawn from the events narrated. The publishers' work, too, it may justly be said, is worthy of the author's. Rarely does an American book delight the historian read with such fine,
Thompson. Other authors are Almon Gunnison, Marlon Harland, Alexander Black and Charles M. Skinner, who writes "Colorado." The latter four writers are Brooklynites. The aim of the series is to show graphically how the States have been built up.
"Lyrics of the Ideal and the Real," by Coates Kinney, Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati, is a somewhat costly investment of paper and ink for the recreation, apparently, of the author, whose name alone, with that of his book, occupies all that there is of a title page. The sentiment of the verses is rather real than ideal and more pessimistic than optimistic, but will find a response in a good many vaguely thinking minds. With so little purpose in the rhymes the wonder is what was the purpose in printing them.
Ticknor & Co. announce "A Moonlight Boy" and "Homoselle" in their paper series, by E.W. Howe and Mary F. Tiernan, respectively; the Mendelssohn-Moscheles letters, portions of which are appearing in Scribner's; John Boyle O'Reilly's papers ep boxing and other exercises, including Irish games, ancient as well as modern, under the title, "The Ethics of Boxing and Stanly Sport;" a novel by Mark Hopkins, son of the late president of Williams College, on life in Paris and Nice, with Russian and French elements in it, and "Harvard Rominiscences" by Dr.A.F.Peabody.
The Wide Awake for February, D. Lothrop Co., Boston, is a very attractive number, with its account of Rosa Bonheur and her family, by her friend Harry Bacon, illustrated from her pictures and herself; Sidney Luska's humorous dialect story; Olive Risley-Soward's "Great Wall of China;" Paul Hayne's stirring border ballad, and its spirited illustration by Sandham; the "Children of the White Hense," with the striking process printed portraits, and other interesting matters of the
era. Some of the engravings of scenery and ecclesiastical buildings are quite fine. With all the discount which every prudent prospector, looking for new worlds of health or material profit to conquer, is inclined to make, Southern California is a strong candidate for examulation in these respects, and the present book affords abundant suggestion and help therefor.
Latest Publications.
CUPPLES & HURD, Boston.—Life's Problems,
Hero and Heroeater. Autobiography.
MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, New York. Number for February.
JOEN B. ALDEN, New York.—The Fables of Florian.
Translated by J. W. Phelps.
FOWLER & WELLS Co., New York.—How to Succeed aa.a Steenographer, By Arthur M. Baker.
CASSELL & Co., New York.—The Cricket on the Hearth. By Charles Dickens.
L. H. WINCHELL & Co. -Chicago.-The School Album. By H. W. Fairbank.
D. LOTHROP Co., Boston.-Wide Awake for February.-The Art of Living. By Samuel Smiles, M.D.
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, New York.—The Book Buyer for February.
D. APPLETON & Co., New York.-Literary Bulletin for January.
FRANK E. HOUSH & Co., Brattleboro, Vt.-The Woman's Magazine for January.
FUNK & WAGNALLS, New York. -The Homiletic Review for February.
WRITER CO., Boston.—Number for February.
BROOKLYN MEDICAL JOURNAL—January Number.
BABYHOOD. New York.—Number for February.
HALL'S JOURNAL OF HEALTH, New York.—February Number.
JAMES A. O'CONNOR, New York.—Converted Catholics for February.
SAFETY VALVE, New York—January Number.
T. Y. CROGLEY, Co. New York—The Long Fell
N. D. C. HODGES, New York.-The Swiss Cross for February.
JENNESS MILLER, CO., New York.—Dress for February.
to strike out the inlaying stone in such a manner as to leave your own stone within the circle and as near the center as possible.
Learning to "strike" a stone out is the first letter of the curler's alphabet—that is, as far as learning to control the direction of the stone is concerned. It is also a question of muscular strength, but command of the stone in delivery is the primary thing. The next point played is that of "inwisking," and the object in view is to strike out two stones of the circle instead of one, as in "striking, and this is done somewhat similarly to making a carom on two balls in billiards; by this means your stone strikes out one stone lying nearest to you and to the right of the center of the circle and then it caroms on to the stone in the center, and knocking that out stands in its place.
Of course "lawicking" is a very skillful point to play and it requires not only thorough command of your stone in the right direction, but considerable practice in giving it the correct amount of force in impulsion. A fine inwick play will frequently change impending defeat into victory at the very last shot.
I now come to the very important point of "drawing," and in playing this point well lies much of the curler's skill, not only in the beginning of a match, but during its progress, especially when the player is called upon to guard a stone on the toe or to "draw" in to the circle through a narrow port. Drawing is the first point played in a club match, and it depends upon the skill of the players of the opposite rink whether you draw your stone half way between the "hogscore" and the outer line of the arch or closer in to the tee.
Next in order comes the point of "guarding," and considerable judgment is required to properly place the guarding stone, for if it lies too far in front the opposing stone, following the guard, may have a chance to curl in around it, while if it lies too close to the "too" stone an opportunity is given
COST OF STRIKES.
hence indeed that she had never given a plague of love," as he calls it, to another, than for Lord Nelson and his paramour to let Sir William pass away without any confession of the wrongs of which he had been the victim at their hands. For though it is clear that Sir William had not been a precision in point of morals and the transfer of Emma from Mr. Greville's hands to his was a disgrace to both, yet, from all we can learn, Sir William had been devoted and faithful and in his own way strove to atone by many means for the wrong then done to her. That Nelson so implicitly believed in Lady Hamilton's faithfulness to Sir William and was ignorant of some important facts in her life before her connection with Sir William, is all the worse for him, viewed from the very standpoint which Mr. Jeaffreson would fail hold. And it should never be forgotten that the tone of morals among English gentlemen was not then quite so high as it is, professedly at least, nowadays, though the code of honor was more strict and could, in certain respects, be more directly upheld. Wellington, Nelson's great compeer, who was as avverse as any man ever was from sentiment, in speaking of Nelson, once said that nothing was more contemptible and unmanly, or more likely to lower the character, than an acted lie of this very kind.—Gentleman's Magazine.
Colonal Wright reports that the total loss to American employees from strikes and lockouts during the last six years has been, in wages, nearly $800,000.00. The object of these strikes generally was the increase of wages. Success followed in 10,497 cases, failure in 8,910 cases. By lockouts 564 establishments, or 28 per cent. of the whole, succeeded in gaining their point. This statement reveals the great odds which the strikes and lockouts have against them, and the serious nature of the contest in which they are engaged.—Boston Herald.
…