The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-11-28


domestic or social purpose whatever. 1t is
AN APARTMENT in which the finest company
that could BE- gathered in London would feel
itself i'm an atmosphere of refinement and
taste. and it is place TO lose ones self in u
rood book; it is Il place where the mind can
Ieoually well find invitation to society or sol.
iitude. Perhaps it is the rich Persian carpet
that gives such grace. 1t is after pattern
two thousand years old, but which in all that
time has never repeated itself, each carpet
coming forth with its own tints and shades,
and in which every color is surrounded by Il
line which mediates between it and the next.
|. is not stretched up to the walls and nailed,
as If its business were to conceal something,
or if it were too tlimsy to lie still except by
force of iron. 1t is as large rug laid tor
comfort on the waXed parquet, which is ready
TO display more of its own beauty when the
proper season arrives.
The second article Of the series TO run
through half dozen numbers) on the First
Century of the Republic appears, and is de-
voted to the amazing mechanical progress oil
our country, of which few can have any con.
ception until they read review like this
Castelar's papers on the the B." Republican
Movement in Europe are continued. Eugene
Lawrence contributes an instructive paper on
Dr. Bacon's recent work, "The Genesis ofihe
New England Churches;' and there is an ex-
cellen. paper on the Transit of Venus,
the usual editorial departments, as compre-
hensive and attractive as ever.
Scribner's.
The Great South" series, which has lent
such deep interest to Scribner's for the last
year. closes with the December number, IN
some very readable Notes on Kentucky and
Tennessee" This series, which has occupied
some $50 pages Of the magazine and involved
the production Of 430 engravings, has prob
ably no equal in the way Of magazine enter
prise. Though described hundred times
before, the description of the mammoth cave
of Kentucky will be read with a new inter
into the "Star Chamber
Our guide had prepared genuine sur.
prise for US. Mysteriously commanding us
to be seated In Il dark corner, he suddenly
seized the lights, and saying that he would
return 10 find US on the morrow, withdrew.
We heard his sonor0us voice echoing along
the galleries as he hurried back over the
pathway, and while we were yet wondering
what was the object Of this sudden maDGu.
yer, we saw above us twinkling stars, and
seemed to catch a glimpse of the blue sky
from which we had thought ourselves shut
cut by the solid rock. Indeed, SO strange
was the illusion, that We fancied we could
fna1 ha -, fNrn
few moments, imagined that the guide had
US By some roundabout way to the
mouth of the cave, and then had hastily left |
US, that he might enjoy our surprise. But
presently we heard his voice, contessing the
cheat which he had prac,ced upon Us. The
derk ceiling of the Star Chamber is covered
with a myriad sparkling incrustations which
resemble the stars, and the artful guide, by a
careful display OF his lamps and the Use of
Bengal lights, had produced magical effect.
The ceiling, which was not more than forty
feet from our heads, had seemed remote as
the heavens. 1t was like the early dawn,
when the stars seem no longer to belong in
the sky, and when they are gradually fading
away The guide, in The distance, initiated
to perfection the growing of the morning
cock, and then burst into loud laughter as
the lamps, he took away with them
the deceit, and returned TO VS..
Other illustrated articles are: The Transit
of Venus; The Probabilities Of Rivers; The
Silver Age; and Rambes in Madeira. H.
terwovcn with the latter is an enchanting le-
gend, explaining how the Madeiras got their
name. In fiction, Jules Vernes' Mysterious
Land is continued, as are also SAKE Holmes
Nd IN
There is also Thanksgiving Story by Miss
Hopkins, with other stories, poems, etc. In
he Editorial Department, DR.. Holland dis
courses on various topics with his usual abil.
ty, and Frank r. Stockton IN his Etchings,
las something very readable to say about a
very unpopular character. For instance;
1t has always been considered necessary to
understand, as far as possible, the nature and
habits of the Evil One, for II is well known
hat no nation ever prospered that did not
possess avlgorous and potential devil. But
here have been great mistakes made in re.
gard to the personality of this being Indeed,
although it seems scarcely credible in This
age of discernment, there have been people
who thought the devil woman. One of the
worst devils of whom record has been made
S Doorga, the wife of the IIndoo silva, but
We can not but believe that her husband is
'eally responsible for her crimes.
And 1t is well that the ordinary devil is not
woman. How few, in such cases, would be
| match for the devil!' What feminine
levil would have been careless enough TO let
st. Dunstan seize her by the nose with pair
If hot tOBgs, or to allow Martin Luther to
Ind out that she was in The habit of stealing
nuts and cracking them against his bed-post!
81. Nicholas.
The first illustrated article in the December
st. Nicholas gives us peep into the Garden
oi the Gods, in Colorado. A very instructive
article is The Boy Astronomer,-a sketch of
jeremiah HORROR, the first European Astron-
Omer TO observe the transit OF Venus, and
who at the ime was but 20 years of age, and
who, though dying at % ranks with names