Picardy as are not yet invaded by the Prus¬ 
sians. 
Tours is situated on the Loire, one hun¬ 
dred and twenty miles southwest of Paris n«, 
the crow flics; and at the hour of that 
Thursday evening when the Minister of the 
Interior started upon his curia! voyage there 
was a favorable wind blowing, which would 
very soon have brought him to his dcstinar 
tiou. But during the darkness another 
breeze prevailed, and the aeronaut in charge 
of the balloon, believing they were not far 
from Tours, on the Friday morning, allowed 
the machine to descend—but only to find out 
that they were lioveriug over Metz, two 
Usage, in questions of language, is as au¬ 
thoritative as any grammarian’s rules, and 
usage lias made the common meaning of the 
above expressions perfectly plain and proper. 
Not one person in a thousand would ever 
understand them in the sense that “ Mrs. C.” 
does. The wonder is that even she has done 
so.— Mr. C. 
not mean by this that some of its depart¬ 
ments are not in most excellent order; for 
personal examination has assured me that 
this tstho casein an eminent degree in most 
of them. The most complete instruction is 
given in chemistry as applied to agriculture, 
with ample laboratory practice, so that the 
student who graduates in this college will he 
perfectly able to conduct personally all the 
experiments and make all the analyses that 
may he necessary or desirable in tlie practi¬ 
cal management of a farm. All that it is 
necessary for a farmer to know in Geology, 
Botany, and Natural History is taught by 
thorough aud accomplished professors; in a 
NEW PUBLICATIONS 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY; 
An Iutercstinsr Htntement of its Condition 
nnd Work. 
Ahnoil a Prieit. (Philadelphia: McKinney 
and Martin.) Much has boon written for and 
against religious controversy, but we narrow 
the question lUt to its desirableness down to ono 
of personal feeling. Peace Is a good thing— bo is 
Truth. Somo there are who live in perpetual 
controversy, and whether the call to butlto bo 
sounded by 
" Pulpit, drum occtonlnstlc 
That’s boat with list Instead of panstick,’’ 
Or such a book ns this—they are always ready 
for the fray. They arc not pleasant neighbors, 
perhaps, but they have thotr use in the world. 
Others, agalu, love pence, so they will not op¬ 
pose the foulest heresy; they behove wtiaL they 
suppose to lie true, (perhaps without much ex¬ 
amination.) and dee title anything Likely to 
change their opinion or any one else's. These 
are comfortable people, but not those that make 
a world; Uiey only help lilt it. Peace is good, 
but if It be sought through laz ness or indiffer¬ 
ence, or cowardice, there arc fit ter things than 
such peace. Truth Is good, but if the war for 
truth is prompted only by a general coinbative- 
noss of disposition; If truth is only the pretext 
and not Hie cause of the war, wo don't want to 
bo counted in. Tills book Is strongly antl- 
Itomunistic; it is well written ; an interesting 
story well told; very handsomely printed, mul 
altogether attractive. It will please many and 
disgust many. It. attacks Catholicism gracefully 
but vigorously ; therefore both clusscs will read 
it, and “agree to disagree’’ about it. It will bo 
praised and denounced os, from either point of 
view, it deserves to bo. 
HAVING always taken a very deep interest ] 
in Cornell University from its earliest incep¬ 
tion, I availed myself of a visit to Ithaca, to 
examine, personally, the working of the in¬ 
stitution in all its parts, every facility for 
doing so being politely accorded to me by 
the founder, the President, and the resident 
Faculty. 
It is not, as is generally supposed by farm¬ 
ers, an exclusively Agricultural Institution. 
Its charter requires it to give instruction in 
Agriculture, the Mechanical Arts and Mili¬ 
tary Science, and provides that such other 
studies shall ho pursued as the Trustees shall 
deem useful and proper; and the founder 
has emphatically declared that he wishes to 
“ found an institution where any person can 
find instruction in any study.” It is hardly 
possible for the mind to conceive, or for lan¬ 
guage to express, anything more liberal or S 
comprehensive than the plan thus laid down 
by the charter aud by the founder. 
In pursuance of this design, the Univer- 
sity is divided into nine colleges, viz:—Ag¬ 
riculture, seven professors; Chemistry and 
Physics, six professors; History and Political 
Science, four professors; Languages, seven 
professors; Literature and Philosophy, four 
professors; Mathematics aud Engineering, 
four professors; Mechanic Arts, four pro¬ 
fessors; Military Scieuce, two professors; 
Natural Science, six professors. 
All the colleges arc now in good working 
order with a siuglo exception, and arc train¬ 
ing their students very thoroughly and ef¬ 
fectually. There may he other institutions 
where students are more thoroughly train¬ 
ed in 
History, 
for example, but if there are any either in 
Europe or America, I have never heard of 
them. In the first place, the student hears, 
in the College of Military Science, a series of 
lectures illustrating most of the celebrated 
battles of the world. Maps, plans and sec¬ 
tions arc used in the description, and the 
bearing of every movement of 1 he troops, 
and uvery incident of the conflict on the 
final issue of the battle, is explained geo¬ 
graphically and orally in the clearest man¬ 
ner, so that when the student afterwards 
reads descriptions of battles in works on his¬ 
tory, they are no longer a sealed book to 
him, but lie is enabled to read them with in¬ 
terest and profit. He next attends a course 
of lectures by Dr. Wilson on the Philoso¬ 
phy of History, in which the laws which 
regulate the relations of the Governors with 
the governed are expounded, and the influ¬ 
ence which legislation exercises on the pros¬ 
perity of nations is fully explained. 
The student then passes on to the lectures 
of Prof. Russia, who lectures on the twi¬ 
light regions of history, giving the genesis of 
modern nations, disentangling facts from 
legends, and giving such a view of the facts of 
ancient history as the present state of his¬ 
torical criticism will permit. The next step 
is to President White’s course on Medieval 
and Modem History, in which the salient 
points in the History of Europe, from the fall 
of the Roman empire to the French revolu¬ 
tion, are sketched in a most brilliant and 
masterly manner. The student then passes 
to the lecture-room of Prof Goldwin Smith, 
who gives a clear summary of the History 
of England from the earliest times, with 
most valuable commentaries ou its leading 
incidents, and explanations of some of its 
apparent anomalies. Active preparations are 
making for a similar course on the History 
of America. The course concludes with the 
lectures of Prof. Dwight on the History 
and Philosophy of Constitutional Law. The 
lectures are completely illustrated through¬ 
out by the best collection of Mural maps that 
have ever been published in the world; also 
by casts, diagrams, and a collection of large 
aud admirably executed photographic views. 
Tlie Collection of Apparutus 
to illustrate every department of physical 
science is remarkably flue and in some 
respects unique. Large collections of ad¬ 
mirably finished models illustrating every 
conceivable form and combination of me¬ 
chanical motion, bridges, root's and every 
joint known iucarpeutory, the steam engine, 
the gas meter, pumps, wind mills and every 
thing that the mechanic desires to study are 
found here to t he fullest, extent of his wants. 
There is much that I would like to say in 
relation to the ample library of the University 
and to the affluent provisions that are made 
for the successful prosecution of studies in 
other departments; but I must forbear lest I 
, should not leave my9elf space to describe 
the working of 
Tlio College of Agriculture, 
^ in which I must confess I feel the deepest 
■Av interest. I remarked before that all the 
^ colleges were in flourishing operation with 
A Problem for Scholars. 
I would like to ask your readers a ques¬ 
tion that was given to the Institute in this 
village:— IIow many square feet iu a stick 
of lumber eighteen feet long, ten and one- 
fourth inches square at one end and sixteen 
Scientific it e»ult a of a Journey in ttraiil , 
(Boston : Fields, Osgood & Co.,) is the title of a 
work by Louis AGASSIZ and his tmvolhig com¬ 
panions. Tins volume is by Cli. Fred. Hahtt 
upon Uio Geology am! Physical Geography of 
Brazil. Mr. II a hit was a member of the Ttaoyer 
Expedition of which Prof. Agassiz was director. 
It is a volume of over 000 pages, handsomely and 
profusely Illustrated and ts the result of two 
journeys made In Brazil. It is admirably written 
and furnisliesevldenco not only of critical scien¬ 
tific observation but of poetical appreciation on 
the part of the author. And yet there tiro no 
unnecessary nor Incongruous rhapsodies—only 
the natural expression of an enthusiastic anil 
intelligent ly appreciative student of Nature. 
Wo cannot of course attempt even a summary 
of the results of those observations and explora¬ 
tions. The book needs to ho studied with the 
maps which arc embodied in It before the 
reader. To Hie scientific, and especially tho 
geological, student this work must prove of 
great value and interest; also to the student of 
political economy—ho also looks for new fields 
to be cultivated for the sustenance and happi¬ 
ness of tho increasing population of tho globe. 
To Americans this ought to yield much Informa¬ 
tion of practical value; for now that tlioroaro 
no more tcrritorrles to conquer, Brazil, it seems 
to us opens a field for praotloal enterprises well 
worttiy cultivation. 
Tho appendix is devoted to a most interesting 
description of the physical characteristics, pecu¬ 
liarities, beliefs habits and customs of tho cele¬ 
brated Indian tribe now known as Botocudos. 
The .1 luitc to ttacinr*i .It finite , with nil Eng¬ 
lish adaptation of tho Lyrics, by M. Bak i iiolO- 
mew, Esq. Composed by F. Mendelssohn Bar- 
tiioldy. (Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.)—Thcro 
ar<! t.wo iiotieouble tilings about the issue of lids 
work. It shows a huge udvauec in musical cul¬ 
ture, when such u work could be published with 
even a remote prospect uf reimbursement, and 
it shows that Messrs. Ditson A Co. have relaxed 
none of the energy aud enterprise which have 
made thorn tho largest music publishers In tho 
United States. For the work itself, it is an ora¬ 
torio, apparently written for somo special asso¬ 
ciation, (as the composer wrote liU opera, " Sou 
and Stranger," for his own family,) as all tlie 
solos are for alto or soprano. Some of the 2-part 
writing for tenor and bas6. Is, however, very 
dramatic. We have not skill enough to discover 
all its merits by simple inspection of tho score, 
and hope some of our musical societ ies will en¬ 
able us to hear It fully performed. Tho musical 
typography is especially neat and clear. 
Mental Arithmetic, by JOHN H. FRENCH. 
(Now York: Harper & Brothers.)—We onoo Imd 
a teacher named John R. French, who was a 
splendid mathematician and excellent, practical 
teacher. If by any chance tho author of this 
work and our old teacher arc identical, wo can 
indorse it without qualification; for no man wo 
know of ought, to know better, from practical 
experience, what is needed in schools than ho. 
Wc cannot speak of the comparative merits of 
this work, because we have no time nor (of Into 
years) the practical experience as a teacher upon 
which On opinion should be baaed. Its defini¬ 
tions are concise and correct. Its met hod seems 
natural and easy. Its mechanical appearance is 
attractive. _ 
Piano and Muiical Matter^ by G. DE LA 
Mottk. (Boston: Lee & Shepard.) — This is a 
book of elementary instruction in music, a His¬ 
tory of music, a musical dictionary, a course of 
studies iu counterpoint, a list of eminent mu¬ 
sicians—in short, it eoutuins in condensed form, 
but exceedingly clear style, all that could ho 
learned from most libraries on “ musical mat¬ 
ters," gathered into a book of less than one hun¬ 
dred and fifty octavo pages. It is the most 
comprehensive music book we have over seen, 
rich in information, condeused In style, clear in 
expression. It ought to be popular. 
Millie lifceiced. ^Wo have received tho fol¬ 
lowing music from Oliver Ditson & Co., Bos¬ 
ton : “ Down by the Seaside,” words by Gooi«o 
Cooper, music by Edwin Christie; “Moonlight 
Nights," by Stephen Ilcllcr; “I Watch Theo 
from Afar," by Hamilton Aide. From 0. If. 
Ditson & Co., New York: “ Birds in the Night," 
by Arthur S. Sullivan ; “•Christmas i'olku,” by 
A. W. Frenzcl; “Cloches Do Noco,” by Mrs. J. 
! Thomas. From Henry S. Mackie, Rochester, 
( N. Y.: “Sleeping Where tho Daisies Grow;" 
words by George Cooper, music by A. D. Wnl- 
bridgo. From Geo. H. Ellis & Co., Rochester, 
N. Y.: “Gouo,” by Arthur D. Walbridgo. 
M. LEON GAMBETTA, MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR OF FRANCE, 
and four-fifths inches square at the other?- 
Joel Grumes, Broome Co,, N. Y. 
hundred miles away to tho east, from tlie 
neighborhood of which the Prussian troops 
fired volley after volley at the travelers. 
The balloon was made to rise again, but not 
a moment too soon, for already some half 
and even 
word, everything that can be desired by the 
most fastidious person with regard to purely 
scientific agriculture is taught there in the 
most thorough manner. 
The course on the Anatomy, Physiology 
and Pathology of Domestic Animals, em¬ 
bracing the Horse, Sheep, Cattle and Pig, by 
Prof. Law, can nowliere be surpassed. There 
is abundant provision made for the most 
complete exposition of all these topics, con¬ 
sisting of models, skeletons, morbid prepara¬ 
tions, diagrams, and drawings, and instru¬ 
ments for performing all the operations of 
veterinary surgery and for making an accu¬ 
rate diagnosis of tho diseases of animals. The 
model of the horse, which is of full size, illus¬ 
trates his anatomy in the same way that the 
manikin does that of the human subject. 
It was made by Auxzoux of Paris, and con¬ 
sists of upwards of four thousand separate 
pieces. The failure hitherto has boon in the 
Department of Practical Agriculture. Al¬ 
though the Founder, tlie President and the 
Trustees have made the most strenuous ef¬ 
forts to give the best instruction in this de¬ 
partment, yet they have hitherto been 
thwarted by adverse circumstances. 
Plans, however, are being now carefully 
matured to raise this department to a level 
with the others during the present year, and 
in the year 1872 to the very highest standard 
of excellence. 
Impudent aixl Impertinent. 
Lotta asks :—“ What, is tho difference be¬ 
tween ‘impudent’ and ‘impertinent?’” 
Lotta should study Webster’s Dictionary. 
dozen balls bad pierced the car 
ouc of tho cords which attached the latter 
to the balloon was cut, and had to he 
spliced by the Minister himself. All through 
Friday the balloon made little or no pro¬ 
gress, but on Saturday at daylight it was 
safely brought to tho ground in the neigh¬ 
borhood of Montdldier, a small town about 
a league off the railway between Amiens 
and Paris, and somo four leagues from the 
former place. There M. Gambetta was 
met by a gentleman of the neighborhood, 
who brought him in his carriage to Amiens. 
M. Gambetta remained in Amiens until 
noon, and then left by the ordinary passen¬ 
ger train for Rouen, en route to Tours. 
Of course, at Tours and elsewhere in 
France where lie has since traveled to pro¬ 
mote the enlistment, and organization of 
troops, and to stimulate, exertions for the 
National Defense, M. Gambetta hag been 
received with great enthusiasm. We give 
herewith uti excellent likeness of this Hying 
Minister of tlie Interior of the French Re¬ 
public. 
-- 
IIow .Mark Twain Got his Nmue. 
We have recently noticed several para¬ 
graphs concerning this gentleman. It. is 
very true, he was once a river character 
about this port. “Mark Twain” learned 
the river on the old steamer John J. Roe, 
and used to write up steamboat memoranda 
and occasional squibs for t.lm Republican. 
Gapt. Sellers, one of the first victims of Mark 
Twain's burner, was an excellent pilot but 
devoid of any literary culture whatever; but 
withal had quite an opinion of his own men* 
tal abilities. Mark sketched the captain in 
good style. Alter ho had written the article 
he inquired of John Morris, now steward of 
the Belle Memphis, what name ho should 
sign to it. 
One of the deck hands at the time, hap¬ 
pening to be heaving the lead, hollowed out 
“ Mark Twain,” meaning the depth of the 
water, when Clements exclaimed,“That's 
it ; Mark Twain’s my name.” This sketch, 
with his new name, “ Mark Twain'’at the 
bottom of it, was subsequently placed in the 
hands of Mr. T. E. Garrett, who was at that, 
time river editor of this journal, and it 
found a place in the river department of the 
Republican. It proved to bo a decided hit. 
—Missouri Republican. 
Shootimr Slurs. 
Wiiat causes falling or shooting stars? 
Will not some, learned man answer?—j. CL 
M. GAMBETTA 
Tile Minister of the Interior in the Pro¬ 
visional Government of the new French Re¬ 
public, and one of the most active members 
of tho Board of National Defense, is M. 
Leon Gambetta, a young barrister, avIio 
won a seat in the late Chamber of Deputies 
in I860, and who lias since distinguished 
himself by his bold attacks on the Imperial 
policy, and by his advocacy of Democratic 
principles. He is a native of the South of 
France, but his family is Genoese, and lie 
lias the ardent physical and moral tempera¬ 
ment of that passionate Italian race. His 
eloquence and capacity for business are 
proved by many successes at the French 
Bar, though ho is hut thirty-two years of 
age; but he came first into public note as 
counsel for some of the accused under the 
Government, prosecutions of 1868, against 
the promoters of the subscription for a 
monument to Baudin, one of the members 
of the National Assembly killed in the street 
fighting after the coup-tfetat of December, 
1851. 
M. Gambetta has just performed a feat 
which was never before attempted by a 
Minister of State in any age or country— 
that of traveling from the capital city to the 
provinces through the air in a balloon. He 
ascended from Paris in the night, intending 
to get to Tours, the chief town of the De¬ 
partment of the Indre-ct-LoIrc, where his 
colleague, M. Cremieux, Minister of Justice, 
has established Ihc administrative head 
offices of the Government, having access to 
all the southern and western parts of France, 
and cyen to such portions of Normandy and 
The farm is now being well 
stocked with cows, horses, pigs, &c., and a 
new Director of the Farm has been appoint¬ 
ed, from whose intelligence and energy the 
best results may be reasonably looked for. 
Oil the whole, T am satisfied that after a 
little while the instruction in practical agri¬ 
culture will rise to the very high standard 
which bus been attained in scientific agricul¬ 
ture, and that the College, as a whole, will 
become a source of profit and of pride to the 
Farmers of New York. I have made ar¬ 
rangements with friends at Ithaca to receive 
the programme of lectures on practical agri¬ 
culture for next term, as soon .as it is finally 
arranged, and as soon as it is finished I will 
send you a copy. Y. 
EDUCATIONAL NOTES 
iJodetpi Tadf/h Booh Becelptn ImVO been se¬ 
lected and arranged by S. Annie Frost, «ncl 
published by Evans, Stoddard & Co., Philadel¬ 
phia, making a valuable volume of 450 pages. 
