The National tribune., 1890-09-11


thoughts as we'll rs good moral. Under this head
comes the class of novels which IL very popular
among the young readers OF to-day. The two
leading characters meet MS though il were decTced
10y fate. A tender feeling which suppose Ia
akin TO love springs up between them then fol-
| lows time of courtship intermingicd with a few
doubts, iealousics, etc. and then, as Sam Weller
would say, they become victims o connubialtty."
Here the novelist generally leaves them, and we
suppose their lives are afterward ones of
nuhial bliss.
Some populnr authors, however, do not leave
their chnractcrs PLEASANTLY situated. but seem TO
delight in leading them always beside the deeper
nbysses OF tragedy About the time think
they should have ~ rest from the trials and per
plCNities that have hcset their whole lives, and tho
iHir chArmer that has caused nll the trouble be al
lowed them u life companion, the nuthOr has
one of them To shuttle of the mortal coil " by
drowning or In some 'rngteal way. These books
nro often Interesting aud even thrilling 10 tho last
degree, and we may possibly pc, some good from
thcm. But it Is like grinding mp mountains OF
quartz TO get grain of gold. However, things
dearly bought ought To be appreciated the more.
A CONNIE Adable class OF novels are those founded
on history such as Jane Portcrs Scottish Chiefs !"
and "fhnddcus of Warsaw" and Bulwer's Inst
Days of Pompcii." Lovers of history and romance
will find interesting and beneficial reading in these
books. No country furnishes "a finer history than
scotland, and no ono has put 1t before tho reading
world in n more interesting and charming style
than has Jane Porter In her Scottish Chiefs" The
same can be said of Thsddcus of Warsaw " in
connection with Poland
Another class of novels presents itself: Those
founded on Bible characters and places, such ns
W
Come Forth" This class ofiitcraturo s severely
criticized by some who claim that IL Is sacrcge 10
put bible characters into n romance. Tho same
tender feeling that stirs tho hearts of 60 day
was iet in Bible times, and why should not Inzarus
love LahRra with ali tho devotion aud tenderness
oi his day and time ms Mrs. Phelps has represented
trnying these characters can cause to- further
RcquRint ourselves with the people and places Of
the Bible. certainly there is good in them.
When an author can make his heroes and hero
ines live their preccpts and Lives beautifully thnt
an inspiration TO be better men and women grows
out of "a desire 10 be like them, who will dare say
we are not benefited ny such book.
A. long paste will stick and printers Ink leave
iiT impression on pnper, so long viii books be put
before the reading world. Some will be good.
some bad IL is ours 10 choose between the Two.
In this age Of books and papers no need
hunger Tor reading matter. \ person that reads
cannot be nltoEcthCT ignorant. Read something.
Let us echo the words of Carlyle when hc said,
: May blessings be upon the head Of Csdmus tho
PhGneoian or Whoever y was that invented
books."-Emmett Scnrey. Wartraco, Tenn.
GLASS, ANCIENT AND MODERN.
DEAR c. c. FRIENDS: In reply 10 n question by
Josie a. Brunr IL stated la the Curious Corner
oi n recent TRIBUNE that glass was invented in
England IN GGt, by Bcnauit. monk"
Surely that ~ a mistake, as the history of glass
dates much farther back into aBtiquity-sO far, in
fact that the name Of the inventor or diacovcrcr
well M The time Ia which hc lived nre unknown.
Glass Is mentioned several times in the Bible:
and Piiuy, who lived in the first century attributed
its discovery to some Phuuiuans who were driven
lighting fire with kali. u marine plant, which
grew there Rhundanty, they noticed thnt the sand,
when mingled with the ashes Of this plant, melted
into vitrcOus substance. Whether this account is
true or not IL is certain that the snnd on that par
ticuiar shore suitable for the manufacture OF
glass, which was al.ersard carried on In that vi
clnity.
Tyre and Sidon were tho ciiies first noted for tho
manufacture of glass; but OF tho ancient
tombs u the Egypiians contain paintings of glass
blowers Ht work, and glass beads aud gems of the
same material arc among the relics found In them.
De Pauw is authority for the statement that the
nrt was carried to tho highest perfection by tho
Egyptians, and that tho g,Rssw oTkB at DtOsfolis,
Capital of the Ihobaid, formed the nrst regular
mandatory OF this substance According to the
same author, The Egyptians performed the most
difficult operations Ia EiHss-culting, and ninnufac
lired cups OF glass Of great purity, Of which kind
were those cai led Riassoucs supposed 10 10 orah-
mcuted with figures in chRuReablo Colors,"
The oldest specimen of pure glass which may be
said To have date Is little nodded lions head,
IN the Sladc Collection Ht the British Museum. IL
bears the name OF Egyptian king of tho lith
dynasty. snd is supposed to represent the skin
which hsd been attained In the art at period
about 600 Is. C.
The most celebrated specimen Of antique glass
is what Is known the Portland Vase, which was
found in the tomb Of Alexander Seycfus. who died
In the year 235- Tho ts Of deep blue glass,
with cXquisitcy cut figures OF opaque white Ia
bAs relief.
wiuekeman states lhat tho Aneien,s in general
made much greater use OF glass than people Of
modern times.
Glass utensils have been found in great numbers
In the ruins Of HercuHucum. also remarkably
beautiful mosaics and blocks of glass Of the thick
ness ot an ordinary brick, which were used fof
paving rooms.
Ia later times Alexandria was for a long time
the source from which Rome was supplied with
uFinkins-veAsoi- aud burial urns; II sccscded
by Venice which ported mirrors and glass vessels
10 all parts ~ the civilized world.
Il curious superstition faT long time attached 10
Ncultiap glass drinking -vcasela. ]. was common
belief that they would break II poison puI into
them.
Eu a 10. T.. a.
early tito hfth sixth century ia some OF the
churches OF Italy. but tI was not Till Tho iIlh
century that they were introduced into England.
not coming INFO common Use Tor several centuries
longer; the wooden shutter aud The strained linen
cloth, or paper soaked IN oil beiug used by the
common peOple.-Esa T.. Crate OcraTIside, Cal.
The Curious Corner.
Answers 10 questions ~ ~ not br published ytL-
In two or three weeks alter questions appear. 30
ali Will have q chance To send replies Alld receive
honorable mention with tao number answercd.l
The most elevated lake Ia the world Is sifIkoi
the source of the hnoor River, Is go feet above
the level Of the sea.
Corn Cracker " State IL a nick name for Ken
tucky.
Two French priests Marquette and Joliet. entat,
iishcd tho FIRST missions In Michigan aud Wiscon-
sin.
David FAFTRgut while lnshei 20 the mast Of hts
nagshiD, lhe Hartford, wen ths battle of Mobile
]. What kind Of wood will hiuk when thrown
into waier?-Lou NJ Stirring.
:. What Is the name Of the FIRST American or
plorer whose statue Is in Boston T-Iieiisn Morris.
3. Whore were he witches hung IN tho New
England persecution MAY ID. Hastings.
BIBLE BRIGADE
The longest word la the Bible Is Mahcrshalal-
hrshabcz. lisa. ID
The names OF the three sons of Hsrod Anti
pms. P!tip aud Archciaus. who succeeded him
The tlymc-wOod spoken Of ia Rev. ~: ~. is OF
the Ilgnun!-yiioc tree, allied to cypress tree
]. Nhat b"cnmo of the temple as fOrelold by our
Lord "A. /. Byron Curtis.
VINO was the grandfather Of MosSz and Aaroni
when did lac die Hnd OF what age ?-AIlanis Al
Quifnby.
3. Where is the Cliff Of Ziz and by what people
Ia u still trAvsIed7-Helen l.. q. Norton
4. Who were called tho sons Of Thunder T--Edns
Wilson.
4 I N A II r..