A REMINISCENCE 
Written for Moore’s Rural New-Forfcer. 
THREE MONTHS IN EUROPE FOR $500, 
Once, when I was a little boy, 
I sat me down to cry, 
Because my little brother had 
The biggest piece of pie. 
’Twas not but I had quite enough. 
But then I could not sec 
The reason why a partial nnrse 
Should give him more than me. 
They said 1 wan a naughty boy, 
But I have oft seen men 
Behave, themselves as foolishly 
As 1 behaved then. 
For we are often thankless for 
Rich blessings when we sigh 
To think some luckier neighbor has 
A “ bigger piece” of pie. 
SOMETHING FOR YOUNG MEN TO READ 
The Great Exposition at Paris, after over two 
months of preliminary settling down, is now in 
a condition to satisfy the exacting public. The 
contributions of its 50,000 exhibitors—five times 
the number that, challenged the wonder of the 
world at Hyde Park Exhibition of 1851—are now 
all in place ready for inspection. And the peo¬ 
ple arc proceeding to the inspection. Not tu¬ 
multuously, and in overpowering throngs, as 
Parisians fondly fancied they might; but leis¬ 
urely, comfortably, and yet, withal, in numbers 
which will aggregate, wheu the doors of the 
monster structure of the Champ <U Mavit shall 
have closed in November, more than any similar 
exhibition has yet called to its viewing. 
The papers just now are full of the visits of 
the crowned heads of Europe to the Temple of 
Industry. The progress of royalty, and theses 
incident to the royal journeyings, are being read 
of throughout the world. Few, perhaps, in this 
hemisphere have read, or reading have given a 
second thought to the reported journeyings 
from England of the uncrowned sovereigns—the 
lords of the forge, the lathe, the loom and the 
plow—who arc now reported to be going in 
thousands to the survey, aud, in greater propor¬ 
tion probably than would be found in any other 
class, to the critical inspection of the contribu¬ 
tions of their brother workmen of the world at 
the Exposition. 
A chance-met paragraph in an English journal 
announcing the departure of some scores of 
working men from a provincial town for a week 
at Paris has induced the writing of this. I write 
with the sole purpose of rousing young men of 
the middle class—those who have completed 
their collegiate course, those who have the sum¬ 
mer vacation to spend, the youug farmer and 
the young mechanic—to do as the youug men ol' 
England are doing. I am persuaded that if 
Americans once realized how readily accessible 
Europe Is to them the number who go abroad 
would be wonderfully Increased. But the idea 
is general that a trip to Europe is a very expen¬ 
sive affair, nud young men of modest means as 
well os those dependent upon their yearly salary 
or monthly wages, sigh as they devour a volume 
of travel or the letter of a foreign correspond¬ 
ent, that the pleasures and the benefits of a sum¬ 
mer In Europe are beyond their reach. 
One who has 
The lan - rel twine With fade less 
Let peace and joy Our hearts em- 
Aud flow - era bring : Youth’s joyful emblems they 
With love u- nite. To cel - e-bratethis day 
3. We shout and sing, 
4. From morn to night 
5. Our fathers brave, 
The land to save, 
Did Freedom’s cull obey; 
By young and old 
Their deeds be told: 
’Tis Independence Day! 
6 . Let banners wave 
For deeds so brave! 
The stripes mid stars display! 
Tiie eagle, bold, 
Our shield shall hold: 
’Tis Independence Day! 
7 . Huzza again! 
Another strain. 
And then for home away 1 
This day was won 
By Washiugtou! 
’Tis Independence Day! 
[From the Young Shawm 
'Tis In - de - peudenec Day! 
Tis Iu - de - pendence Day! 
In - de - pen-denee Day! 
In - de - pen-denee Day! 
In - de - pen-denee Day! 
In - de - pen-dence Day ! 
rest of the day. So you see, my son, that while 
the superior Generals aud their staffs were ban¬ 
queting on Mr. Riggs’ bull, the field officers 
were besieging their brains with Mr. Blair’s 
choice whisky. The city was perfectly safe 
while this state ol revelry existed. And I feel 
my son, that you will agree with me that Mr. 
Blair deserves well of Ills country for supplying 
his cellar with this remarkable weapon of de¬ 
fense. Let the. future historian bear in mind 
that the War Department can claim no credit for 
the safety of Washington. The credit belongs 
exclusively to Mr. Riggs’ bull aud Mr, Mont¬ 
gomery Blair’s barrel of whisky. — “ Adams' 
Siege of Washington." 
Wactoits topics 
being upon the main deck, aud opening directly 
into the saloon. By this arrangement a ventila¬ 
tion is secured to them that is impossible in 
rooms upon the lower deck. As to the table, 
the daily bill of fare on these, as on all other 
steamships of which we have auy knowledge, 
will be found satisfactory, even if the tastes of 
the traveler are a little exacting. By this line 
the traveler can secure his ticket to Liverpool 
and return (the return ticket being good for a 
year) for *150 In gold, which is just the price by 
the Cuuard (and $10 loss thau by the French) 
boats for a ticket One way. M.y own experience 
of the National line has been so favorable that 1 
think 1 should sail by it, were the price the 
same, preferably to using any other liue. Cer 
tainly, while its rates are from 25 to 50 per cent, 
below those of other lines giving no better ac¬ 
commodations, I should do so. 
Whatever liue the tourist may select, he 
should by all rneaus take a return ticket, as a 
saving of quite twenty per cent, is effected by 
so doing. This rule holds good after he has 
landed also, and should be. observed whenever 
consistent with the route proposed to be taken. 
And now let us see how the $500 is to be dis¬ 
tributed so as to cover the necessary expenses of 
the three months’ tour. 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 
TORTURING- WORDS, 
Here is a portrait of a man who, from a poor 
boy, by diligent work and good conduct grew to 
have great influence, and be much beloved and re- 
spectod. Benjamin Franklin was the fifteenth 
of seventeen children, and was horn in Boston 
in 17(H), With such a house full of little folks 
all must be busy, and he went to a brother’s 
office to be a printer. Having some trouble he 
went to New York In a sloop, but could get no 
work, for there were very few newspapers then. 
So he trudged away across New Jersey, a hun¬ 
dred miles ou foot to Philadelphia, aud had a 
bundle of clothes, one dollar, and a loaf of bread 
which he ate as he walked the streets. 
But lie had a brave heart, and soon got work, 
aud went to England a while. There he was 
rather wild, a short time, but gave it up and 
showed the English boys who drank liquor, that 
a Yankee, who only used water, was stouter and 
abler at work tlmn they were. Going back to 
Philadelphia he Was soon known as a writer aud 
editor; for, although he could go to school but 
little, he rend and wrote much. 
He was an active advocate of our National In¬ 
dependence, and was sent to England and 
France by the Government on public business, 
and was highly respected in Europe. He found 
time to think, and experiment on electricity, and 
his well-known experiment of drawing sparks 
from a kite-string wound with wire, as a thun¬ 
der cloud was passing over, led to the invention 
of lightning-rods. Tie invented a very useful 
stove also. In 1785, after almost fifty years of 
public life, he was allowed to come home and 
rest a little, yet he was an active man to the last. 
Wise and eminent, yet plain and without foolish 
pride, and very social and kindly Lu his manners, 
he retained his faculties until Ills death, April 
17th, 1790. His writings till three volumes. So 
much a man can do with good health, good 
habits, cheerful spirits and industry. 
, Boys and girls remember Franklin, and do 
well and diligently whatever is for you to do. 
Be cheerful aud useful. 
An article in the Galaxy for this mouth, under 
tliiF title, has several curiosities, rare and note¬ 
worthy, not only iu our oavu tongue, but in 
French aud Latin. Here, for instance, is a queer 
old rhyme which is quite contrary in sense, as 
you road it across, running the lines together: 
I always did Intend To take to me a wife 
Single my life to spend, Would grieve my very life. 
It much dollghtoh me To think upon a hrlde, 
To live from women free, I can’t be satisfied. 
A female to my mind The ,toy I can’t express 
I ne'er expect to llnd, So grant In singleness. 
A bachelor to live I never coaid agree 
My mind I freely give, A married man to be. 
Here is an old equivocal verse which trims 
toward Geokue or James as you read it; re¬ 
minding one of a modern, faciug-both-way poli¬ 
tician’s letter: 
1 love with all my heart The lory party here 
The Hanoverian part Most hateful do appear 
And, for the settlement I ever have dented 
My conscience give? nonsnntTo bo on James' side, 
Most righteous Is the cause To llirht for such a King 
To fight for George's lawn Will England'* ruin bring. 
It Is my mind and heart In this opinion l 
Tho’ none will take my part Resolve to live and die. 
Here is a pyramid in verse by one Benlowes, 
| to be read from top or bottom : 
There 
For aye 
To stay, 
Commanding, 
’T i s standing, 
With godlike air, 
Subli inely fairl 
Its fame declaring 
Its height admiring, 
Look on it from afar, 
Lo! every smiling star— 
To raise the pile to heaven, 
These beauteous stones are given. 
Each prayer for truth Inspiring light, 
Each manly struggle for the right, 
Each kindly word to cheer the lowly. 
Each aspiration for the holy, 
Each strong temptation nobly overcome, 
Each clamorous passion held in silence dumb, 
As slow it rises toward the upper Heaven, 
Stone after stone, until the mass is given; 
Its base upon the Earth, its apex in the skies, 
The good muu’s character a pyramid doth rise. 
8TRENGTH OF THE BEETLE, 
Now, this is a mistaken idea, 
five thousand dollars to spend on a three month’s 
run abroad It is safe to say will have no difficulty 
in getting lid of the money. But a young man 
whose desire is not to astouisli London and 
Paris, but to see the lands of which they are the 
capitals, to feast his eyes upon their treasures of 
art, to examine thuir busy manufactories, to 
6 tudv and compare their systems of agriculture, 
may safely start upou a purse holding but a tenth 
part of that sum. Upon this moderate expendi¬ 
ture, though, economy must be studied, every 
comfort can be secured. 
I repeat the statement. At the presnt price 
of gold, five hundred dollars in currency will 
defray the necessary expenses of a trip to Eu¬ 
rope and return, and of a two-months’ stay in 
England aud France. And I am quite sure that 
no young man, whether lie be Intended for a 
profession, for a mechanical avocation, or for 
the farm, can make ft better investment of five 
hundred dollars, even if it be the only five hun¬ 
dred of which he is possessed. He certainly 
cannot if, like most Americans, he travelB witli 
eyes and ears open, ready to profit by that Avhich 
he sees and hears. 
But to take the journey for this money he must 
Otherwise the modest sum I 
as that 1 have Just witnessed. When the bisect 
Avas brought to me, having uo box Immediately 
at hand, 1 w as at a loss where to put it till I could 
kill it; but a quart bottle full of milk being on 
the table, I placed the beetle for the present, 
under that, the hollow In the bottom allowing 
him room to stand upright. Presently, to my 
surprise, the. bottle began to move slowly and 
glide along the smooth table, propelled by tho 
muscular power of the imprisoned insect, and 
continued for some time to perambulate the 
surface, to the astonishment of all who witnessed 
it. The weight of the bottle and its contents 
could not have been less thau three pounds and 
a half, while that of the beetle avus about half 
an ounce, so that it really moved a weight 112 
times its own. A better notion than figures can 
convey will be obtained of this fact by supposing 
a lad of fifteen to be imprisoned under the great 
bell of St. Paul’s, which weighs 12,000 pounds, 
and to move it to and fro upon a smooth pave¬ 
ment by pushing within. 
At the present premi¬ 
um, the $500 will give the traveler $300 in gold. 
His steamship ticket out and hack will cost him 
$150. Arrived at Liverpool, ho will desire to 
visit the manufacturing towns of Lancashire aud 
agricultural districts of Yorkshire and Derby¬ 
shire— the latter, as I fancy, the most beautiful 
portion of England—and thence on to London. 
(I an ill mention here in passing, that when 
homeward bound, by taking another line of road 
from Loudon to Liverpool, Oxford, Warwick, 
Kenilworth, &c., can readily be visited.) Hav¬ 
ing seen London and its neighborhood, he will 
take ills return ticket, via. Dieppe for Paris. 
This will allow the journey to be broken at Di- 
Frorn these points, and by 
eppe and at liouen 
two or three short excursions in different direc¬ 
tions from Paris, a good idea of the rural por¬ 
tions of France may be gained. 
The cost of the railroad fare from Liverpool 
back to Liverpool again, by the route and witli 
the digressions given, second class, (and, as 
many very respectable people always ride second 
class in England as well aa on the Continent, 
the traveler may adopt the custom without com¬ 
promise,) will be about $80. If a first class scat 
is taken the cost will be increased ten or twelve 
dollars. The cost of living can be kept down to 
an average of two dollars a day without the sac¬ 
rifice of comfort. To do this the traveler must 
avoid the pretentious hotels of Paris, aud iu the 
English hotels take a room quite well up, aud 
he content to take his meals at the restaurants 
and coffee houses. If a stay of two weeks or 
more is made in London or Paris, it is better to 
take furnished lodgings, which can be had in 
respectable localities, in either city, at three or 
four dollars per Aveek, and e\ r cn less if the lodger 
is willing to mount a few more stairs. Assum¬ 
ing the stay abroad to be extended to two 
months, at a cost for living of two dollars a day, 
the total is $120. Sixty dollars then remain of 
the sum in hand at starting, which is ample for 
incidentals, such as the week’s ticket to the 
Exposition, the hire of an occasional carriage, 
gratuities to servants, a visit now and then to 
the theatre or opera, newspapers, and possibly 
the purchase of a few trifles as souvenirs. 
The reader is assured that the foregoing dem¬ 
onstration of the possibility of a three-months’ 
tour abroad at a cost of $500 is reliable. The 
Avriter has been over the ground aud knows of 
what he writes. He has no hesitation in say¬ 
ing the estimate above given the tourist is not 
expected to forego anything below luxuries—all 
comforts are provided for. 
Now, young man, the feasibility of the jour¬ 
ney being sbown, uiy advice to you is to pack a 
portmanteau—that is all you want to carry, if it, 
Avill hold a dozen each of shirts, Collars, hand¬ 
kerchiefs and socks, Avitli a change or two of 
flannels—being sure to take along'an overcoat, 
and a shawl or rug also, if you have it—draw 
your $500 from the bank, (it you haveu’t it to 
draw, persuade your father to advance it from 
the portion he designs for you in the future, if 
you have a futher and expectations,) and start. 
You will come back in the fall to thank me for 
having slipwu you how to use the money aud 
AMERICAN COTTON vs. INDIA, 
Great Britain iu I 860 was greater than tor 
any single previous year, except 1864, and was 
just double the value of the amount Imported in 
1861. Nearly half of the whole amount of 
British money paid for cotton last year was paid 
for American cotton, while British India re¬ 
ceived about one-third. The value of American 
cotton imported into great Britain lust year 
Avas nearly three times the value of t.be combined 
imports from this country for the years 1865 and 
1864, while the value of Iudlau cotton imported 
last year was a trifle iu advance ot the imports 
of 1865, and about 50 per cent, less than the im¬ 
ports of 1864. 
The probability is that the culture of cotton 
know how to do it 
have named will barely suffice to pay his steamship 
fare. Of course, If he is one of the fortunate class 
to whom “ money is no object," he will, for the 
name of it, and because it is the correct thing to 
do, “ take passage by the French or by the Cu- 
nard line. In tills case the five hundred dollars 
will just pay his passage from shore to shore 
and back—any trifling change that might be left 
being no more than the stewards would expect. 
But, passing by these “crack lines” as out of 
the question with the reader, Avhat shall lie do ? 
Just tliis: There ure an average of a dozen de¬ 
partures of steamers weekly from the New York 
terminus of the Great Atlautio Ferry. There 
are four or five lines to Liverpool, one to Lon¬ 
don, &c. The rules of fare by these lines, as 
well as the accommodations they offer, vary, 
but the latter not always Avith the price. Speed 
and name enter more largely into the price than 
do fare and accommodation. To get the most 
comfort, the best accommodations and the beet 
fare for bis money, the traveler must patronize 
a line which makes no pretentions to extraordi¬ 
narily quick passages. To one who has no 
pressiug business demanding bis presence, a 
voyage of twelve days U just as satisfactory as 
oncof ten days, aud infinitely more comfortable, 
for a slow ship is always a dry ship, and those 
who have been kept below decks under penalty 
of a wetting if they ventured out, ou a quick 
voyage, will agree with me that the privilege of 
lounging upon the deck at almost all times is 
cheaply purchased by the addition of two or 
three days to the length of a summer voyage. 
A thorough examination of the vessels of the 
various lines plying between New York and Li\ r - 
everpool has satisfied the writer that there are 
none more worthy of patronage, none where the 
comfort of the traveler is better assured, than 
those of the National Steam Navigation Co. 
The steamships of this line are all iron vessels 
of the first class, unsurpassed in sca-going qual¬ 
ities, and officered by as thorough seamen os cau 
be found. In point of accommodations for pas- 
: sengers they are especially to be commended, as 
HOW JTJBAL EARLY FAILED TO TAKE 
WASHINGTON. 
Such was the feeble condition of the defenses 
when General Early and his army came in sight 
of the dome of the Capitol. We all looked con¬ 
fidently for an attack in force on Tuesday morn¬ 
ing. Had it been made by a column of ten 
thousand men, led by a bold, determined com¬ 
mander, capable of infusing bis own impulse 
into their movements, they might, feebly garri¬ 
soned as the fort* were at that moment, (with 
no support between or behind them,) have 
treated our defenses with contempt and marched 
into the city. But General Jubal A. Early was 
not the man for such an enterprise. There were 
two great events in this remarkable siege, and I 
must tell you what they were: 
The Generals (rebel) had not tasted fresh beef 
for several days, and bad a sharp appetite which 
their commissaries were inclined to gratify. 
Now, there was ou the plantation of Mr. George 
Riggs, near where these Generals had their head¬ 
quarters, a celebrated Alderney bull, much val¬ 
ued by Its owner. Here was a temptation not 
to be resisted by these commissaries, who had 
the animal led to the slaughter and served up to 
their masters. 
Now to the great event. A number of General 
LITTLE THINGS (AND LITTLE PEOPLE 
It Is of small things that a great life is made 
up; aud he who will acknowledge no life as great 
gave that which is built up of great things, will 
find little in Bible characters to admire or copy. 
Little things and little people have often 
brought great things to pass. The large world 
in which we exist is made up of little particles 
as small as the sand on the sea shore. The vast 
sea U composed of small drops of water. The 
little busy bees, how much honey they gather? 
Do not be discouraged because you are little. JS 
little star shines brightly in the sky on a dark 
night, and may be the means of saving muny a 
poor sailor from shipwreck; and a little Christian 
may do a great deal of good if he or she wil^try. 
There is nothing like tryiug.— Dr. Chalnu**: 
