The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-08-01
August Magazines.


The number opens with finely illustrated
article by julius Henry Browne, giving us Il
very lifelike picture of Newport the famous
Rhode Island summer resort; and +. G. Ma.
Their follows 1t with scarcely less attractive
description of the spurs of the Green noun
tains and lake Memphremagog. Lyman Alb
bolt tells us all about railroads, how they are
CONSTRUCTED and operated. Bishop Haven
concludes his entertaining series of papers
on Mexico. Gen Mcclellan contributes his
third and concluding paper on army organi-
cation; and Eugene Lawrence contributes a
brilliant historical sketch of Calico. The ar
tcle of course, would seem out of place in
Harpers unless il rchashed the story of the
persecution of the Paduan Philosopher by
the Catholic church, forgetting thai, in that
age, had Calico lived in Boston, his persecu-
ton by TIE puritans would have been quite
as inevitable. Aside from such blemlshes,
however, the article is very readable. The
invention OF the telescope was a scientific
event no less traught with important conse-
quences. than that OF The compass or magnet
ic telegraph. just how it occurred is thus
related:
In the year 1909, Calico relates, he first
heard from friend in Flanders that an in
s,rumcnt had been invented by which distant
objects were brought near and the powers OF
vision extended. He resolved at once to i'm
itate and surpass ii, BY his singular me.
chanical dexterity, his knowledge Of optics,
! mud bic hi ,i, l,, nIiShnt ula La
able to produce telescope before which the
Dutch instrument sank into neglect, and was
| forgotten. Ii was never more heard OF; but
thrill OF wonder passed over Italy and Eu-
rope when IT was known that the famous Pa
duan professor had prepared an optic glass
that enlarged the bounds of vision and EN-.
lowed mankind with new powers. The
charm of surprising novelty covered the
wonderful invention with an unprecedented
renown. The great and the learned contend
ed for the possession OF the new instrument
Gallco carried his telescope To Venice, and
from the tallest bell-towers senator's and no.
blcs saw through the magic glass great argo.
sizes sailing far out al sea, and the distant
shores brought near and made visible. All
the value of the new instrument broke at
once upon their minds; II must change the
principles OF military strategy, and diminish
the pcrils of navigation. Magistrates, sena
tors and citizens covered the fortunate inyen.
tor with applause. With discreet courtesy,
Calico presented his telescope To the doge at
4 friendly audience, and the Nenetians at
once raised his salary 20 a thousand forms.
Covered with honors and emoluments, he
returned 10 Padua, little conscious OF the ST.
lent heavens or of the pains and woes he
was destined 10 bear in his later years from
the heretical revelations OF his too truthful
and fatal telescope.
A paper by Geo. ToNle exhibits The pro
gress tina; has recently been made by English
agricultural labor and gives us an insight in.
TO the causes ofthe uneasiness in the agricul-
tural districts by contrasting the wealth of a
few British landholdcrs with the poverty of
the peasants.
De Miles story, the Living Link" winds
up handsomely, and is followed by another
serial story, entitled" Rape ofihe Camp"
There are poems two Of them handsomely