DAWNING LIGHT 
cbtclucr 
The moorings of the night are sllppod, 
The dun dawn struggles in ; 
Again the waves of restless sleep 
Their murmurtngs begin. 
Why, why has metu'ry hands of steel ? 
Why is there fruit from sin ? 
Why from tholr graves coins burled atrns?- 
Tho night Is for sweet sleep. 
From out the limbers of the heart 
A throng of lost, hopes peep; 
Wliy do tlie strung roots of the soul 
Twlue down tho lone past deep '( 
NEW PUBLICATIONS, 
The Poetical Works op Charles G. Hat/pine 
(Miles O’Reilly). Consisting of Odes. Poems, 
Sonnets, Epics, and Lyrical Emvslons which have 
not heretofore been Collected Together. With a 
Biographicut Sketch and Explanatory Notes. Ed¬ 
ited by itoiffiuT B. Roosevelt. [12 mo.—pp. 352.] 
New York Harper A Brothers. 
Halpine, though not nn American, was a type 
of Americanism, - restless, crowding every hour 
to its fullest with active life, pushing constantly 
forward with all tho energy of body and brain. 
As a consequence he died while yet in his prime, 
—killed himself by over-work. A pleasant tri¬ 
bute to his memory is this handsome volume, 
containing the largest part of his etforts in verse. 
The good taste of the Harpers, and the typo¬ 
graphical excellence for which their house is 
famous, have united, as in a labor of love, to 
grace his genial thymes; and Mr. Roosevelt 
contributes u short biography, highly eulogistic. 
If II alpine had written less, be would, prob¬ 
ably, bo read more. As a mutter of course, much 
that emanated from his pen was of an indiffer¬ 
ent order of merit. Ho was continually rhym¬ 
ing,—oftener to point a political joke, than from 
the genuine inspiration of the muse, Therefore 
a great number of his effusions were for a day, 
and hardly deserved preservation in any collec¬ 
tion Yet. they illustrate his remarkuble versa¬ 
tility of thought aud versification,—in which he 
excelled all others. Some of the poems evince a 
lively fancy, rare delicacy of feeling, and pecu¬ 
liar felicity of expression; while nearly all are 
graceful in rhythm, and abounding in melody. 
This is the thought my mind hugs chiso 
Amid tho storm of dreams 
" Night Is the stem of lily Day”— 
That morn lias brightest gleams 
Which from a birth or cloud and storm 
Lives with unclouded beams. 
And yet dark-woven to the end 
Conies most or life to all; 
Of buds that promise bounteous yield 
How oft they early Cull! 
The snapt st rings of so many lyres. 
Or slaves to Circe's cull; 
Lives cowered down to smouldering tires 
Are parts of Folly's thrall. 
A truer fait h broods o'er my thoughts, 
Slow bringing all things bright,; 
“ Ye walk by trustfulness of Goo,” 
A voice suith, “ not by sight.” 
The food that gave the Israelites life, 
Was manna sent by night. 
Edward A. Horton 
toots for 
Travel a no Adventure in the Territory of 
Alaska, Formerly Russian America—Now Ceded 
to the United States— and In Various Other Parts 
of the North Pacific. By Frederick WltYMPKR. 
With Map and Illustrations. [12mu.—pp. 353.] New 
York: Harper & Brother. 
The author of this interesting narrative of 
travel and adventure is a young Englishman, 
who, in the capacity of artist, accompanied the 
exploring expedition sent into Russian America 
a few years since by tho Western Union Tele¬ 
graph Company, when the Overland Telegraph 
was a project in fair way of accomplishment. 
His experiences in what has now become United 
States territory extended through the greater 
part of throe years, and qualified him for the 
task he has since fulfilled,—that of presenting, 
vividly and accurately, a picture of Aluska and 
adjacent country as it really is. He soguib to 
draw tho picture l'uirly; sind wc can guilt from 
it a tolerable correct idea of our late real estate 
investment. We Infer that the land is not ex¬ 
actly a Paradise, yet fur from worthless; that 
the people Inhabiting It are not by nature strict¬ 
ly angelic, yet not wholly given over to diabol¬ 
ism: and that Alaska may In time develop 
considerable wealth, and be regarded with in¬ 
terest rather than ridicule. Mr. Whymfer 
sketches cleverly with both pen and pencil, aud 
is seldom dull. His work is reproduced by the 
Harpers in handsome style. 
PANIMI! 
\ TIIUE STOBY OF ISFAI, LIFE 
BY MARY A. E. WAGER. 
fConcluchul from page 112. lust number.] 
There was a storm at sea, and Alpiionsi 
grew dreadfully sick, and she was carried 
on board like tin infant. It was ten days be¬ 
fore she reached Savannah, tin: number ot 
days she was to be absent. Centro took 
her to a hotel and went out to seek Paniml 
So remarkable a person ns he would be easily 
found. But his search was in vain. The 
next morning Alpiionsi went out with him, 
and while passing along the fashionable 
street, a hand was laid on her shoulder. It 
was Panimi’s. lie now understood her 
silence, and, drawing her hand through his 
arm, returned with her and Centro to the 
hotel 
His one plea and prayer with Alpiionsi 
was — marriage. He had proved his love 
for her, his loyalty, and why would she 
longer delay or withhold his dearest wish? 
He would be more than friends, or money, 
or wealth. But Alpiionsi was of a proud 
name. Her marriage* with Pietro should be 
solemnized with all the eclat due to her 
rank, as well as his. Give her more time — 
until the next summer —her friends might 
relent, and he would prove to even the most 
incredulous that lie was more than a “ mere 
Italian adventurer." 
Panimi rebelled, and threatened to throw 
himself in the sea, but on seeing Alphonsi’s 
grief and realizing what she had done, simp¬ 
ly to prove her loyalty to him, he became 
reconciled. He bade her good-by, “ until 
July, Alpiionsi— the heart of the summer.” 
Alpiionsi’s absence was prolonged so far 
beyond the time given that fHcnds became 
alarmed, anti telegraphing for news of her, 
learned she had not been at Montford at all 
So when she returned, they taunted her will 
perfidy, heaped vile insinuations upon her 
and crowned their abuse by virtually dis¬ 
owning her. Her conduct was more than 
they could bear, aud she sought, a home 
with another family, hut of her own rank in 
society. The family consisted of the hus¬ 
band and wife and their son, a youth in his 
teens, but of a man’s stature. 
Throughout all Centro remained faithful; 
and through him letters passed from one to 
the other. Pietro wrote as he talked — 
his pages glowed with the fire and ardor of 
his devotion, and his refrain was ever, “ Re¬ 
member Alpiionsi, there is no man save 
Panimi. You must see no other; talk to 
none other. Mine wholly!” His jealousy 
was beyond the limits of all men; but Al¬ 
piionsi sang blithely; fashioned the tasteful 
things she would wear when she should be 
the wife of the noble Italian. 
Their marriage was to take place early in 
July. The evening of the Fourth of July 
came. There were to be fireworks in the 
square near by. The family were going 
farther down the Avenue to view them from 
the balcony of a Mend’s house, and urged 
Alpiionsi to accompany them, and she 
consented. 
It was a glorious moonlight, and they 
sauntered leisurely along the street, Al¬ 
piionsi walking with the son,when, “ish-h-h,” 
like the pent up wrath of steam escaping; it 
went through her. She knew it. It was 
Pietro’s voice. She turned her head only to 
see his face go by like a whirlwind. It was 
evident he had come on to watch her with 
his jealous eyes. Five days later a letter 
came: 
“False A LPnoNsr:— Bury your Pietro. Adl- 
ose! Panimi Is glad to see you so happy.” 
Centro wrote, explaining all, but only 
once did a reply come—a few words that 
sounded only like a knell. Alphonsi was 
literally dying. Her mind failed her. She 
was harmless, but too sad and abstracted for 
The Cuckoo, ornithologists tell us, Is a 
genus of bird having a bill of moderate size, 
short tarsi, and tail composed of ten feathers. 
Many specimens of this genus are found up¬ 
on the Eastern Hemisphere: In America 
there are no true cuckoos, the bird so called 
differing essentially from the genuine. The 
Eastern Black,—shown in our illustration,— 
is one of the most beautiful of all the species. 
Like most Oriental birds it is of brilliant 
plumage,—the black coat ot the male glis¬ 
tening with peculiar luster, the female re¬ 
splendent in greenish-brown above, spotted 
with while, white beneath, undulated trans¬ 
versely with greenish-brown, aud tail feath¬ 
ers banded with white. 
Cuckoos have a singular habit of laying 
their eggs in the nests of other aud gener¬ 
ally much smaller birds. Thus the female 
shirks all motherly responsibilities, leaving 
her offspring to be hatched and cared for by 
others. And the nestling, selfish as its par¬ 
ent, shortly after emerging from its frail 
prison-walls contrives to throw out of the 
nest the young or eggs justly there, thus 
securing to itself entire attention. In Eng¬ 
land the hedge-sparrow is generally selected 
to act as foster-parent, and is said to perform 
its duty well, attending faithfully to all the 
young bird’s wants until it is fully fledged, 
and capable of earing for itself. 
This singular habit of the cuckoo in regard 
to its young may not arise from selfishness. 
Tho bird first appears in England about the 
middle of April; its egg is not ready for in- 
cubalion before the middle of May; and it 
always leaves for some milder region, — pro¬ 
bably Africa,— in June. As hatching the 
egg requires two weeks, the young bird would 
not ho able to provide for itself before the 
parent’s season of flight, and would be neces¬ 
sarily abandoned. Instinct, therefore, may 
incite to a course that appears anomalous. 
Poets have often sung this bird. Words¬ 
worth, after wondering if it. be indeed more 
than “a wandering voice,” thus salutes it: 
“Thrice welcome, darling of the Spring 1 
Ev’n yel i lion art to tn<* 
No bird; but nil invisible thine;, 
A voice, a mystery." 
Its monotonous cry, so sadly sweet, is full 
of loneliness, and seems like, a broken chant 
oversome pleasant thing gone by. On bright 
May mornings it is often heard; and some 
believe it to forecast a storm. 
China and 'rnE Chinese: A Gunitrul Ticiwrtption 
of tint Country and its Inhabitants; Ilk Civilization 
ami Form of GovorniiH'nt; Its Religions and So¬ 
cial Institutions; tt* Intercourse with other Na¬ 
tions ; and Us Present Condition and Prospects. 
By the ltev. .loLIN L. NBV1US, Ten Years a Mis- 
si.m iry in China. With a Map ami Illustrations. 
[12 tuo. — pp. L>;.J New York : Harper & tlrotliurs. 
Ten years of familiar intercourse with the 
Chinese! certainly gave Mr. Nevius abundant op¬ 
portunity for learning’ their characteristics, 
tholr real condition, their accomplishments and 
their needs. Therefore ho writes understand 
ingly.* Ho resolutely attacks the long cherished 
notion that China is but a half-civilized country, 
and Its people dull and uninteresting’; and from 
his own experience and observation among 
thorn deduces proof to the contrary. I (o treats 
briefly of Confucius uud Confucianism, and of 
the school system: more fully of the peculiari¬ 
ties of the Chinese religion and the aooial life of 
the people; depicts missionary life in their 
midst very clearly,—gives, in short, os stated in 
the title of the book, “a general description of 
the country and its inhabitants," which will 
serve to eorreel many erroneous opinions, and 
stronghten the Interest of late awakened in the 
nation now our next neighbor on the West. 
250 B. 0., at, Alexandria, and was the author 
of several mathematical works, the most 
widely known of which are the “Elements.” 
lie lived at a time when art and learning 
were In tlielr infancy. That famous city 
of the elder past, founded by the ambition 
of Alexander the Great, was at that time 
tho commercial mart of the world, and tho 
center of ancient civilization, learning anti 
wealth. Here gathered scholars from all 
lands to study science, art and literature. 
Such was the zeal with which knowledge 
was pursued that the sovereigns, even, be¬ 
came disciples in the schools. It is stated 
that Ptolemy Lag us on one occasion asked 
Euclid to point out some easy method of 
learning the science of space and mensura¬ 
tion, when the scholar made the famous 
reply, “ There is no royal road to geometry.” 
To us at this day, with our present attain¬ 
ments in science, the visionary theories of 
the Alexandrian schools seem foolish and 
absurd. Yet we must remember that our 
knowledge in art and science is the slow 
growth of ages. Step by step, and after long 
and patient investigations by the votaries of 
truth, whether in the lonely cell of the monk 
or in tho laboratory of the philosopher, has 
science attained the perfection of to-day. 
The astronomers and mathematicians of the 
Nineteenth Century have budded upon the 
labor and solutions of Newton and Des¬ 
cartes; while they likewise were equally 
indebted to those who had preceded them. 
Pure geometry remains the same to-day 
as it was more than two thousand years ago. 
As Euclid taught it in his famous school in 
tho Bruction of Alexandria, so can it best 
be taught the young mathematicians of the 
present. No branch of study is better cal¬ 
culated to discipline the powers of tbe mind 
than the science of geometry; and no books 
on the subject, however much our modern 
educators may claim to have made improve¬ 
ments, are superior to the elegant and simple 
demonstrations of Euclid. Possibly the 
propositions of the original author on ge¬ 
ometry may have been independent of the 
adjuncts of diagrams. These we suppose to 
be the additions of later scholars. The pure 
science of geometry is unfettered by such 
paraphernalia. The language in which 
Euclid wrote his books was the Greek. 
Tho first Latin translation of his works was 
made by Adelaud, a monk of Bath, in the 
year A. I). 1150, in the time of Henry 1 
The Oxford press published all his works in 
170J. The editions of Simson and Playfair 
confined to the first six hooka and the 
eleventh and twelfth of tho elements, are 
so generally known as to need but to be 
mentioned. 
Poetic fiction has indeed assigned to the 
noble science a divine origin. 
“ To teaoli weak mortals property to scan, 
Down came geometry ami formed a plan.” 
But the Alexandrian scholar, starting with 
the simple straight line and circle, developed 
u beautiful system embodied in the “Ele¬ 
ments,” ami which at the present sire, and 
will be in all coming time, a more enduring 
monument than the Pyramids or pillars of 
brass and marble. The works of art that 
adorned the Imperial City, the gardens, the 
baths, the aqueducts, and the harbors have 
decayed,—the obelisks have crumbled into 
dust,—the marble palaces, the long colon¬ 
nades, the museum, the theatres, the empori¬ 
um, and the temples of the Bruction are no 
more; the unrelenting torch of Omar con¬ 
signed to heaps of ushes the accumulated 
learning of centuries; yet from the firebrands 
of the barbarian were snatched the “Ele¬ 
ments,” nobler trophies than the spolia opitm 
of any victor. They yet remain uninjured 
by the despoiler, untarnished by time, proud 
memorials of genius, and a lasting heritage 
to mankind. a. j. e. 
Linmittonal 
GEOMETRY AND EUCLID 
The Cloister and the Hearth; Or. Maid, Wife 
ami willow. A Manor-of-Fact Roaianuo. By 
ChAki.es Risahi:. Household Edition, [liimo.— 
pp. Hu.] Boston ■ Fields, Osgood Jt Co. 
As a romancer Charles Rbadh haa taken 
high rank, and justly. We do not like the tone 
of some of hia later productions,—they are not 
so refined and pure as wo could wish; but all 
his works show a vivid imagination, much in¬ 
genuity of plot, rare skill in the treatment of 
characters, aud great descriptive power. Marty 
of Ids portraitures are admirably drawn. The 
present volume combines hia excellences In a 
large degree. We should differ from him, 
though, in terming it "matter-of-lact.” Ger¬ 
ard, the hero, passes through a series of adven¬ 
tures so improbable as to be wholly matter-of- 
fiction. 
, , -.... . AJtVLilk l/U lltl 
'1 rue Principles; or. The Art of Thinking in a For¬ 
eign Language. By C. Marcel, if at. Leg. Hon.. 
Author or "Language us a uieurts of Mental Cul¬ 
ture," etc. [i’huo.—pp.228.J New York: D. Aoule- 
ton Jc- Co, 
A French edition of this admirable essay was 
published two years ago. The author is not a 
practical teacher of the languages, but fa a 
French scholar of rare linguistic accomplish¬ 
ments, and haa pursued in his own studies the 
method which he here advocates. He believes 
tliut “ to think in a language is tho primary con¬ 
dition for knowing it.” On this belief he builds 
up his philosophy,—putting the language first 
and the grammar next,or learning the grammar 
through the language. The essay is suggestive, 
and will well repay perusal. 
The j erusalem Delivered of Torqua to Tasso. 
drum-luted into EnglishSpenserian Verse, With a 
Life of the Author, by J. H. Wti rr.v, Third Amer- 
icauirom the Last English Edition. [US mo.-pp. 
615.J New \ ork : D. Appleton & Co. 
Among the grand, heroic poems which are en¬ 
during as language itself, “Jerusalem Deliver¬ 
ed” holds a high place. The translation here pro¬ 
duced Is not beyond criticism, yet is very well 
sustained. The life of TASSO, which preludes the 
poem, is full of rare interest. 
Reading makes a full man; conversation, 
tt ready man, and writing an exact man. By 
reading, we enjoy the dead; by conversation, 
the living; and by contemplation, ourselves. 
Reading enriches the memory; conversation 
polishes the wit; and contemplation im¬ 
proves the judgment. Of these, reading is 
the most important part, as it furnishes both 
the others. 
T R t ;.'t VA r E r1 L , KV 1 X0 ,. V , 1 ? LS - By Str WALTER SCOTT, 
Butt. A Legend of Montrose, The Antiquary. The 
Talisman, Ucdguuntlet, St. Ruinin'* Well Illus- 
™ Steel and Wood Engravings. [ 12 mo., 
pp. SOL] New York: D. Appleton & Co. 
Five volumes here elegantly bound in one 
comprise another issue of the Library Edition of 
Scott s W avertey romances. As a cheap and con¬ 
venient edition it has no equal. 
All knowledge is not in books; therefore 
cultivate a habit of observation. 
t'.lF’ 
