Various Affairs. ' 343 



it, which is wholly unprecedented in the history of such 

 transactions, and, moreover, gives the clue to the present 

 wretched situation. The President has not a friend in 

 either party. He was swindled into his place, and every- 

 body knows it — a fact which strips him of all real weight 

 and influence. The consequence has been a sort of de- 

 moralization of parties which has made it possible for the 

 wealthy mining interests of the West to enter the field and 

 carry all before them. Had Tilden been inaugurated there 

 would not have been the shadow of a chance of the present 

 scandalous result. He would have wielded his party with 

 its strong majority in the House, so that the question of 

 paying our bonds in depreciated currency would not even 

 have been opened. But with the imbecility of the Admin- 

 istration and the chaotic condition of parties that has come 

 from it the measure was rushed through with as much favour 

 on one side as on the other. 



As for myself, I am just now pretty well, but have not 

 been worth much for some time back. 1 am fortunate in 

 one thing: my brother is very efficient; and as he acquires 

 experience and confidence, he gives me great relief. He 

 takes the brunt of the Monthly, and is helping vigorously 

 on the Cyclopaedia, which goes slowly, but is still moving. 



I have recently taken up my violin f for the first time 

 in a systematic way. I got a teacher — a young German- 

 American — a trained and skilful, player, who knows the 

 thing through and through, and is as stupid as a brute in 

 all that pertains to teaching. So I have the double absorp- 

 tion of mechanical practice and picking explanations out 



f Mr. Spencer, in his anxiety for his friend's health some time previous 

 to this, had sought out and presented to Mr. Youmans an excellent old 

 English fiddle, believed to be the work of the famous maker the elder 

 Foster. It did, indeed, afford him some diversion, and revived pleasant 

 early associations. The instrument is greatly prized by a favourite nephew, 

 to whom it was bequeathed, and who has made considerable progress in 

 music, in accordance with his uncle's wish. 



