JUNE 23 
THE BUBAL HEW-YOBXER. 
399 
generous, and Ills vices are attributed to his hav¬ 
ing been brought up under the Influences of a cor¬ 
rupt court. Ills licentiousness and pusillanimity 
are not commented on, although he gave abun¬ 
dant evidence-, during his reign of six months (not 
a year, as Miss Shaw puts It), of being both a 
cowanl and a profligate. 
While we are willing to concede that. Pktkr, by 
his magnanimity toward personal and political 
enemies, by the abolition of the Inquisition, and 
by extending the privileges of the nobility. Is en¬ 
titled to the highest, commendation, wo are not 
prepared to regard him as other than a weak, 
wicked man, and an unwise ruler. In his short 
reign he alienated the Church and the army, and 
by his Insane admiration and preference for Prus¬ 
sians, he Irritated his people. As to ids private 
life, he was excessively fond of drinking and 
gambling, and he would pass whole days lu the 
apartments of his mistress, t.o the total neglect of 
public affairs, lie grossly Insulted hl3 consort, by 
applying the most, approbrlous epithets to her, in 
the presence of the courtiers. 
Now, while we have no wish to enter the lists 
as the champion of Catherine, we must protest 
ugalnst the harsh Judgment passed upon her In 
this book. It would bo only just to judge her by 
the same standard usher husband. This Is pre¬ 
cisely what has not been done. No extenuating 
circumstances are admitted In the case or Cath¬ 
erine, although subjected to the demoralizing in¬ 
fluences of the court, which, It. Is claimed, were 
responsible ror Peter's moral obliquity; although 
In the person of the reigning Krepress, Elizabeth, 
Catherine saw one of the most shamelessly dis¬ 
solute women, whose misconduct was not only 
tolerated by the court and the people, hut (ms one 
historian pubs it) regarded as “one of t he prerog¬ 
atives Of royalty,” Mias shaw refrains from charg 
lng these examples and Influences In extenuation 
of Catherine's crimes. 
Had Peter III. formally acknowledged Catha¬ 
rine as his Empress and Paul as his son und suc¬ 
cessor, there would have been no Incentive for 
Catharine to conspire to dethrone him. Hut 
threatened with life-long Imprisonment and with 
seeing her place as Kmpress usurped by the mis¬ 
tress of Paul, Catherine laid her plans so as to 
secure the downfall of her husband und the ele¬ 
vation of herself. And however much we may 
deplore the subsequent assassination or Petek 
(on moral grounds), we confess to feeling but lit¬ 
tle pity for one whose cowardice cost him hit: 
crown and his life. 
Without sacrificing a life, Catherine became 
Empress of Russia. It, is claimed t hat, she had 
not a “shadow of right to the throne.” The 
same claim might Do urged against Petek Ilf., 
who reigned by favor of Elizajietit. in fact, 
from the time of Peter 1. hardly any but usurp 
era had occupied the throne; therefore, at least, 
Catherine had precedent on her side. She 
showed clemency towards the oiileera and friends 
of the Emperor, most of Whom were her avowed 
enemies. Not one was deprived of his life or his 
property. She protected Countess Vorontsov. 
her late rival, from Insult, liven when called 
upon to quell Insurrections whit'll threatened her 
life, she acted with moderation. Miss Shaw ac¬ 
cuses Catherine of being “ bloodthirsty und re¬ 
vengeful.'' ir those were actually attributes or 
her character, we can only say she showed mar¬ 
velous self-control. In I lie beginning of her reign 
Catherine had ample opportunity, and there 
were not wanting pretexts to “glut her Ire,” had 
she been so disposed. Even Miss Siiaw, however, 
falls to record an Instance in which she did so. 
No credit Is given the Em press tor the good she 
attempted to do. What, was a virtue In others, 
Is charged US a fault in her. For Instance, among 
her other crimes and misdemeanors, It I s alleged 
Catherine was “stimulated by vanity to the 
adopt Ion of foreign customs and maxims of gov¬ 
ernment for which her people were not prepared.” 
Now, it was Petek I. and not CATHERINE who 
first. “ adopted ” German bureaucracy and foreign 
culture. 
We Incline to the opinion that It would perhaps 
have been well for the sovereigns of Kusslu to 
have developed the native genius of the people 
rather than to force them to become mere pla¬ 
giarists of foreign Institutions and usuuge; but 
as Peter was the Innovator, why extol him as a 
civilizer and reformer, und condemn Catharine 
for perpetuating his work ? 
When Catherine first ascended tlic throne, 
and at a lime when she was under t he gravest 
apprehensions for her own safety, she applied 
herselr to the details of government with great 
assiduity. She founded colleges, endowed hospi¬ 
tals, encouraged commerce, and rewarded Indus¬ 
try; enlarged her army and navy, and Invited 
foreigners to colonise in Russia, offering induce¬ 
ments for them to do so, such as religious tolera¬ 
tion. and exemption from taxation for a given 
number ol years. Miss Shaw makes no mention 
of these efforts, except to say lu general terms, 
“Catkhkink was active in pushing forward so- 
called reforms when they would redound to her 
own glory.” Catherine hoped to place her 
grandson, Constantine (not “one of her lovers*'), 
on the throne at Constantinople. Mias Shaw will 
not even allow that Catherine had extraordinary 
capacity and genius. In short, in order to Inten¬ 
sity the raults of Catherine, the author has not 
scrupled to give a false color to historical facts, 
or,—to contradict herself. 
One more extract trom tills remarkable work 
and wc will have iinUheii. of Nicholas 1. It Is 
said, “With all his ha uglily obstinacy, he was 
vactllatinrj q r puvjiouv.” Later on, lu praising 
Alexander II. for abolishing serfdom, it Is as¬ 
serted nun "he showed a courage and a persist- 
tnrij lyuai to that of Nicholas.” The. reader Is 
left by these conflicting statements In the dark as 
to Nicholas’ true character. 
We regret to see that a work, a few 0! whose 
Inconsistencies and inaccuracies we have pointed 
out, should have passed through three editions. 
A QUIET NIGHT. 
So still the starry night, I almost fear 
My mortal tread, lest I should put to flight 
A fairy that, for something of the year 
Holds court in this old garden by the night. 
The flow'rs are broad awake; for every truth 
On this forsaken ground enchantment dwells. 
Such as may breathless hold an am’rous youth, 
Who seeks at dead of night for lover spells. 
With anxious, fearful heart in haunted dells. 
I will not walk, but ett upon this seat, 
That I may see. and hear, and no noise make; 
In time gone by how many gentle feet 
Strayed hitherward to rest for dear love’s sake! 
Brave, bright-eyed youths, and many a gentle maid 
Came, haply, here lu June or autumn cold. 
Leaving the great hall by the portal's shade 
To tell a tale that even then was old 
How oft at tills seat has the talc been told? 
The growing things, it seems, have eyes to sec; 
They softly shake tlielt- heads, but make no moan; 
It may be they are whispering of me, 
And wond’ring why I wandered here alone. 
I am not waiting for a partner; no. 
You need not point at me for that; the hall 
Is rank with rtiin; lovers do not go. 
To feast together at tho baron's call. 
For years they have been dead auil buried, all. 
How silent! how bewitdrringly calm! 
How strange In such a place to be alone! 
The big owl on tho buugh Is lived by charm; 
The cat bus on the wall still as a stone; 
Listen! the nightingale! Oh, what & thrill 
Of glory falls on all fair tilings around 1 
Now know I why this place lias been so still; 
The fairies have shut out all grosser Hound 
To hear your sotjg in this old garden ground. 
■-w-t--*- 
THE NICE YOUNG MAN. 
The “ nice young man ” Is generally a flirt, and 
It doesn’t make any difference to him whether 
the lady he flirts with la married or single. In 
fact, ho rather prefers the former, thorn being, In 
ills opinion, more piquancy In a flirtation where 
the lady knows he has no intentions, and whore 
lw knows she is hot trying to entrap him. 
But, girls, although It makes you very Jealous 
and angry to see him paying such devoted atten¬ 
tions where ho has no right to, st.lll, 1 hour you 
say, “ he Is such a nice young man 1” I only wish 
you could see this nice young man among his 
male companions, when freed from t he restraints 
of polite society, and especially ol female society. 
When they got together, a lot of ala young mon 
are perfect d—lls. There 1 How do I know? 
Haven’t you a brother, a cousin, or some male 
friend, who loves you enough to enlighten you 
and put you on your guard against the “tricks 
and manners” of a nice young man? Ugh! I 
hate the name! 
But, girls, how you do let him nuke fools of 
you! First, talking with his eyes. Some men’s 
eyes say very queer things, don’t they, now ? and 
well they know It, too. Than ha’ll gently press 
your hand—In such a way, oh, dear I Uy-and-by, 
lie'll swear you are perfection. He lias sworn the 
same thing to a hundred women, who believed 
him. too—Innocent, creatures! He protests that 
lie loves you to distraction—that lie’ll die if you 
don’t, pity him. lie has repeated that sentence 
too often not to know it by heart. He calls all 
creation to witness that, you only are the girl or 
Ills heart, his “ bright particular "—that speech 
has been made to Ally or sixty other simpletons— 
and you believe even/ word, and give him your 
“lily-white hand” to kiss, and your Lips, too, If 
he asks you, which he Is not likely to forget. 
After amusing himself sufficiently at your ex¬ 
pense, he leaves you to personate a similar role. 
lu some other loecUly, not forgetting to boast of 
his conquests to fellows or the same stamp as 
himself, making his successes the subject of ridi¬ 
cule and vulgar Jests. 
Girls, you can't be too careful how you encour¬ 
age young men, especially nice young meD, that 
are noted flirts. It seems to be tho hlght of their 
ambition to “ smash hearts,” as they call It, and 
the tears the poor, foolish maidens shed on their 
pillows In secret can never wash out the hurt, 
when they are deserted. c. ii. c. 
- ♦♦♦ 
THREE SAN FRANCISCO GIRLS. 
Kate Heath In a letter to the Sacramento 
Union says: 
Going out to the Exotic Gardens wo took the 
Howard street cars. Three young ladles, who 
looked as though they might but the moment be¬ 
fore have stepped from a fashion-plate in the 
Ladles’ Magazine, occupied one seat. From the 
shoulders down they looked us slim as If sliced 
down cacti hide and trimmed off, like people 
slender up evergreen trees. They were all put¬ 
ting on gloves. Each attacked a Anger separate¬ 
ly, from Index to dainty little one, then In went 
the thumb, and they all skewed that little end of 
a seam Umi's left over Into the exact center ol 
the thumb nail, then simultaneously Hire© pairs 
of hands made a plunge lor hairpins, diving into 
French twists, exploring braids, and poking about 
among a mass of ribbons and frizzes and finger 
puffs, then withdrew each with Its wiry prize. 
And such gloves! well, they traveled way up 
their arms, and when the operation was com¬ 
pleted those three young ladles arranged their 
three Irreproachable gloved pairs or hands kan¬ 
garoo fashion, and gave themselves over to 
gossip. 
One ol them was a blonde ol the bluest of eyes 
and the fairest of fair skins. She was extensively 
decorated with this new bead Jewelry. You know 
how to make it: wind a small ball of worsted and 
sew the. beads on round and round In strings, only 
be sure to get them even, and don’t let oue crook 
out of Its place. Well, she had on earrings of 
light blue beads, and bracelets, and a comb whoso 
blue tips were exposed under the back of her hat 
brim, and a cross, and a necklace, and what a 
fearful amount of work It must all have been, lor 
It takes twenty six balls to make a necklace alone. 
Well, this little blue-headed blonde began to talk, 
gave her whole round of calling acquaintances 
hall Columbia, and whipped everybody right and 
left, and tossed her head, and never minded who 
heard; and emphasized with her forefinger, and 
pursed out her Ups and declared It was so, “ and 
you never heard tho like now did you, and 1 as¬ 
sure you It’s true, and mark my words It will 
happen within u mouth. “What! didn't you 
know she was going to he married? She Is, and 
right, Boon, to the poorest kind of a stick—no 
money, and no nothing, and no style to bis name 
besides. She was telling us about, it. and she 
wound up by saying In an apologetic tone, 'You 
know I can’t expect to do as well as the rest ol 
you, because rmso homely;’ and Bhe saui it so 
humbly and forlornly that I felt ever so sorry for 
her, aud I'm sure I’d made her handsome that 
minute H 1 could have done It. Why did the good 
Lord make some all beauty—and no brains, and 
some all brains and homely as a hedge fence? I 
thank the star l was born under, that I have 
sense enough to read George Elliot, and yet not 
have my nose bo very much turned up to pay Tor 
It.” Then the three rose, smoothed out. their 
wrists, shook themselves and went out with tho 
blonde in the middle. 
-♦♦♦- 
SETTING THE FASHION. 
In ik 23 Talma, having only appeared In tragedy 
since iTUtS, consented to give his support, to Mile. 
Mars, In one of Casslniar Devallgne’s comedies. 
The announcement oreatedft wonderful sensation, 
the best actor and the best actress In France to 
appear together. One morning, about a week 
previous tu the time of the announced appearance, 
while M Ho. Mars was in her private apartments, 
a manufacturer, of Lyons, asked tor an audience, 
On entering, he spread out before the actress a 
shimmering fold or costly yellow velvet. “Will 
you deign to accept, this and make my fortune ?” 
said the visitor. Explanations followed, and It 
was understood to bo a purely business affair, 
Tho sagacious manufacturer know very well that 
the superb woman before him set the fnstilou In 
female dress bororo all Farts. Yellow velvet was 
his specialty, hut nobody wore It; and yet he was 
assured that ll would he all the rage If once seen 
upon the queen of the stage. Mile. Mars did not 
know. Tho color was very trying; she bail Ureases 
enough; hut at length the plctidlntfof the manu¬ 
facturer overcame her scruples, and In the good¬ 
ness of her heart she took t he velvet and handed 
Itovri to her dressmaker, with Instructions for 
the making up. 
The eventful evening arrived, and Mile Mars 
was arrayed In her robes of yellow velvet, on 
beholding the reflection of herself In her dressing 
room mirror her heart gave way. “ It Is too ridi¬ 
culous !” she cried, almost sledding tears of vex¬ 
ation. “ 1 look like an awfully exaggerated 
canary bird. Really I cun not appear. Tell the 
manager he must postpone the play, or at least 
wall, for me.” Talxna hoard tho word, and hurried 
from Ids dressing room. “Is that all!” ho said, 
when he had surveyed the queen and heard her 
story. "I pon rny word you never looked better 
In your life. The effect Is superb, lam charmed 
with It.” And the play went on. In less than 
two weeks thereafter tho salons of Paris were 
literally golden with yellow velvet. A lady could 
not be lu the fashion In any thing else. Years 
afterwards the wealthy manufacturer of Lyons 
gave a grand rcto In honor of Mile. Mare, enter¬ 
taining her sumptuously. The festival was held 
in a spacious and superb country house on the 
banks of the Soane, und the fortune upon which 
the estate had been reared had grown np from 
yellow velvet. 
-»->» 
HEROISM OF MONTENEGRIN WOMEN. 
Montenegrin women have the same passionate 
attachment with the men to family and country, 
and display much of the same valor. Goptchcvllch 
swppllostwo most remarkable examples. A sister 
and four brothers, the lour of course all armed, 
are making a pilgrimage or excursion to a church. 
The state of war with the Turk being normal, wo 
need not wonder when wo learn that they arc 
attacked unawares on their way, in a pass where 
they proceed In single file, by seven armed Turks, 
who announce themselves by shooting dead the 
first uf the brothers and dangerously wounding 
the second. The odds are fearful, but the flight 
proceeds. The wounded man leans against, the 
rock, and though he receives another and fatal 
shot, kills two of the Turks betore ho dies. The 
sister presses forward and grasps Ills rifle and his 
dagger. At last all are killed on both sides, ex¬ 
cepting herself and a single Turk. She asks for 
mercy; and he promises It, but names her maiden¬ 
ly honor as the prleo. Indignant, and perceiving 
that now he Is off hLs guard, she stabs him w ith 
the dagger. He tears It from her hand, they 
close, and she dashes the wretch over the preci¬ 
pice into the yawning depth below. The second 
anecdote is not less singular. Tldlng3 reach a 
Montenegrin wire that her husband has just boon 
slain by a party under the command of a certain 
Aga. K no wing the road by which they are travel¬ 
ing, she seizes a rifle, chooses her position, and 
shoots the Aga dead. The rest or tiie party take 
to flight. The wife of the dead Aga sends her an 
epistle. “ Thou hast robbed me or both my eyes. 
Thou art a genuine daughter of Tsornagora. 
Come to-morrow alone to the border-line, and wo 
will prove by trial which of us was the better 
wife.” The Tsernagorlno appeared, equipped 
with the. arms of tho dead Aga, and alone, us she 
was Invited. But the Turkish woman had thought 
prudence the hotter part of valor, and brought an 
armed champion with her, who charged her on 
horseback. She shot him dead ns he advanced, 
and, seizing her faithless antagonist, hsnnd her 
and took her home, kept her as a nurse-maid for 
fourteen years, aud then let her go back to her 
place and people.—IF. A*. Gladstone, nineteenth 
Century, 
- 4 - » » - 
A LOW VOICE IN WOMAN. 
Yes, we agree with that old poet who said that 
a low, soft voice was an “excellent thing In wo¬ 
man." Iudeed, we feel Inclined to go much fur¬ 
ther than he has on the subject and call It one of 
her crowning charms. No matter what other at¬ 
tractions she may have; she may be as fair as 
the Trojan Helen and as learned as the famous 
llypathta of ancient Hines; she may have all the 
accomplishments considered requisite at the 
present day, and every advantage that wealth 
can procure, and yet If she lacks a low, sweet 
voice, she can never be really fascinating. How 
often the Spell of beauty Is rudely broken by 
coarse, loud talking. Ilow often you are Irresist¬ 
ibly drawn to a plain, unassuming woman, whose 
soft , silvery tones render her positively attractive. 
Besides, we fancy we can lodge of tho character 
by the voice; the bland, smooth, fawning touos 
seem to betoken deceit and hypocracy as Invar¬ 
iably as the musical subdued voice Indicates gen¬ 
uine refinement,. In the social circle, how pleas¬ 
ant, It Is to hear a woman talk In that low key 
which always characterizes tho true lady, tu 
the sanctuary at home, how such a voice soothes 
the fretful child and cheers the weary husband. 
How sweetly Its cadence floats through the sick 
chamber and ftrottnd tho dying bed; with what 
solemn melody do they breathe a prayer for the 
departing soul. Ah, yes, a low, soft voice Is cer¬ 
tainly “ an excellent thing in woman.” 
VASSAR’S NEW RULES. 
Tub Faculty of Vassar Colloge have determin¬ 
ed:— 1. That all candidates for the Freshman 
Class,coining from schools which have previously 
sent, students prepared for admission without 
conditions to that or any higher class In this cal- 
lege, will ho admitted, without examination here, 
on the ccrtytlcato of the principals or said schools, 
based upon a general examination Immediately 
before their coming, that they have mastered the 
entire requisites for admission as set rorth in tho 
latest catalogue, or equivalents accepted by the 
Faculty, «. That the admission of every such 
student shall ho regarded as probationary until 
the Faculty, on personal knowledge or the stu¬ 
dent, shall make It absolute. 3. That this privi¬ 
lege shall l»o continued In the case of every sueh 
school uut.ll a candidate corning from the same 
shall, altera fair trial, fall to establish her claim 
to membership In the class for which she was re¬ 
commended. 
-*-*-*- 
WOMEN. 
Paris sewers still supply rats for the fashionable 
kid gloves. 
No man ever got marrlod without somebody 
calling him a fool. 
The “ Raven ” Is the name of a popular dressing 
for tho hair. A very appropriate name for Poc- 
madc. 
Mrs. Coleman, the daughter of Senator Critten¬ 
den of Kentucky, and the t ranslator of the Inter¬ 
minable Muhlbach novels, la a tall, majestic per¬ 
son, strikingly like her distinguished father in 
feature. She Uvea in Washington. 
Dartmouth College has taken a step toward 
admitting girls as students by allowing a young 
woman to attend all class recitations and lectures 
and be examined with the male students, though 
reciting privately to the professors. 
A new Invention for dancing boots and shoes at 
Paris, Is the separate heel and how In all shades. 
They are made with a view to match the color of 
the dress with which they are worn, and are, by 
means of a spring, attached to any kind of kid, 
satin or silk boot. 
Miss Ellis, the young lady at Wesleyan, who 
has been forced to resign her post as class poet 
because her brilliant brother students did not 
think a woman ought to hold It, may comfort her¬ 
selr with the reflection that it was all a matter of 
prejudice and not of brains. 
The Empress Augusta of Germany. Is one of the 
most simply dressed or women, except on occa¬ 
sions of ceremony. Her bills are said to be less 
In amount than those of the wives of many of the 
Berlin merchants. She not unfrequent,ly Is seen 
driving out lu a calico dress. 
Ok Queen Victoria It, Is said that she has her 
favorite Ministers, but this favor Is detected In an 
uncommon fashion. The Queen has a delicate 
aud discerning ear, and tho man who speaks with 
a dear voice, which contains the ring and cadence 
of honesty and manfulness, is sure to become a 
personal friend. 
To the husband who truly loves Ills home, the 
presence of a loving wife Is as the light of heaven 
to the smiling earth. The patter of her feet trip¬ 
ping o'er the floor makes music. And If it be that 
there are moments when her glory and radiance 
are e’en brighter than is wont, It. is when he Is 
shaving himself with a particularly poor razor 
and she insists on dusting round the looking glass. 
■ 
m 
