A witty Frenchman once observed to alndy who 
handed him a cup ot tea, “ Madams, cette tasse 
vous ressemble.” “ Pourquoi, monsieur ?” “ Par- 
cequ’eUe estpleine de. bon the (bonte)." 
It may explain why Moukhtar Pasha escaped 
with a part of his army, while the Russians bag¬ 
ged the remainder, when we read in the olllclal 
Turkish bulletin, that the Commander-in-chief 
retired on Kars. 
A rather curious question has been raised in 
practical acoustics, one In which musicians will 
be interested, as it Is on the rise of the diapason 
r.r nrrmentr.iH. it appears that the to at the be- 
Billard had given him that morning, and whicn 
be bad not since found t ime to OlstitbuW. 
“ The very thing I” cried he. “ Hillard bloose! 
shall be my enemy. Nothing more sensitive than 
the epidermis of a poet- I'll get bis comet } 
hissed l" lie fummoned Francois. „ 
go up to the attic, and fetch the w^terhere. 
“Monsieur lms a play or a novel to be copied 
Is monsieur about to become an author? In that 
case, 1 would much piefer remaining 
“No comments : call the wrltei. 
•• Monsieur Jullen,” said Bonneau whenhe en- 
vouTe acquainted with many dramatic 
and people who like to see the play 
joyfully. “ Dear master, no\* kuiu 
perceived that, 1 wished to hire will 
Blllard, and that I did not know now 
to you; so you have yourself given me 
to change, i shall never, monsieur, i 
goodness.” 
“ Here's a pretty business!” exc.laln 
prlso.l master; “ I that thought 
do you menu to say that you wish to 
Blllard ?” 
“ But monsieur himself-” 
“Ungrateful !” 
“ near master, let us undersland 
Are you going to dlsml-H me or are >< 
•‘Get about your business!” shout'' 
for once in a real passion. Francois r 
persuaded that his master hud only t 
him. . 
“Come,” thought the clerk ot dear 
but a b id beginning. I wanted lotuo 
of the fellow, and he only thanks me 
ness!” At I hat moment, Victor, the > 
entered the room, holding a letter in 
tered, '• 
writers, 
grafts*” I g 
“Yes, monsieur.” . , 
“ Well, here are a hundred free, tickets for to- 
night, wi I eh you are to dlsirlbute, «« condition * 
that the persoos taking them must llnd the 
comedy detestable, and unite to Hiss it down, l I 
shall give you Olty francs tor your trouble. 
“Many thanks, monsieur. 1 shall execute! > 
comnd’-slon to the very best of myubUlty. 
Bonucan sat. down to dinner, hut bis kind heart. | 
was ill at ease. Ho had a real Section for Ids t 
early triend, Blllard, and he could not bewto . 
think of his dUappol ntment. Afterwards betook 
up a book, but found H impossible to read, tor 
crave doubts as to the rectitude of bis 
troubled hts conscience. He wished and ^e • 
dreaded to hour tue step of Blllard, who seldom 
| failed to pay him a visit alter the play. 
About midnight, t.he door opened suddenly, and 
Blllard, rushing In, throw himself Into his arms 
“Victory! Joy I” ho shouted; “success and 
triumph over all my rivals I -Tls to you I owe It 
all. Ah, Bonneau, a true frleud la a precious 
“ What’s oil this?” munmirpd the astonished 
cleric. ** How do you owe your success to me?” 
“ Through your inimitable sagacity in distrib¬ 
uting the tree ilekets. ’W hen the public perceived 
that all me prominent, places were occupied by 
my declared rivals, envious players and jealous 
authors, It was liumedlately rumored that a 
league had been made against me, and that same 
honest public been mo anxious to defeat it. W ben 
the curtain rose, our free ticket gentry tried to 
hiss; but they were completely borne down by 
thunders of applause from gallery, pit, and boxes, 
and in the eud were forced to give In. Before t he 
. fifth act, they actually to a man joined In the ap¬ 
plause. What n capital hit It was to send them 
t.hfiro lj* 
“ it was not I who did it,” said Bonneau faintly. 
“ i was busy ; I gave the tickets to Jullen, the 
writer who occupies the aulc. 
“Ah. the worthy fellow!” cried Blllard; * how 
well ho understood his business!” 
jus, then they heard the writer's voice outside 
the door, speaking to Francois. Hillard called 
him in w thank him. The poor fellow felt rather 
uneasy at the result or his exertions, and ap¬ 
proaching his employer, whispered: ‘Indeed, 
monsieur, 1 did wh 1 1 could. I sent the tickets 
to Monsieur BUlurd’arivals, as ll they came from 
t.i...cow> nud Hintouirhttohave answered. But 
RECENT LITERATURE 
The Devil Puzzlers. By F. B. Perkins. new 
York: G. i’- Futnnm'8 Sons. 1 Hpeiv-oOt. 
We think that others, besldps “devils,” will be 
puzzled by this work. Not that It Is profound or 
mysterious, but one is amazed that, even an au¬ 
thor's vanity would tempt him to inflict suc.i a 
compilation of utter nonsense on the public. " he 
preface Is devoted mainly to a eulogy of publish¬ 
ers in general and of Messrs. Harper Bros. In 
n.rtlcular, and ol a rambling account of bis (the 
author’s) expei lence as a vender of lit era ry wares; 
then follows a story, in whlchtt is represented 
that a certain doctor entered Into a compact with 
his Satanic majesty, and after the usual fashloD, 
it was agreed by the “party of the first part - 
vlv Old scratch—that Dr. Hicox should succeed 
in whatever he undertook during twenty years, 
ar .,i by the party ot the second part, that at the 
E2S in* lM U_ Would Mk U» M 
manner and form as Is ordinarily provided vet 
t ucre was added a peculiar clause. This was that, 
when the time came tor the doctor to depart, he 
should be left entirely whole and unharmed la 
mind, body, and estate, provided he could put to 
the Devil three consecutive questions, of which 
either unc should be such that the cunning spirit 
could not solve K on the spot. So for twenty 
years Dr. IIiook lived and prospered, and waxed 
vorv great; at theexpiraUon of which time the 
Devil calls on the Doctor, as per agreement, and 
answers quite readily two out of the three ques- 
tions. The wife of the Doctor propounds the 
Third auery* Holding up her bonnet, she asks, 
“ Which lithe front sldeof this?" TheDevilhad to 
“give it up." Now we submit, is there wisdom 
or wit In such a tale ? The last sketch, “ My Fore- 
n wit h Ihft Baby.” is a frantic but ineffectual 
lie; back. “I thought you had gone out, ana 
win seeking Francois." , , 
• You look agitated. Monsieur victor. I hope 
nothing unpleasant has occurred ? 
•• onIv, monsieur, that I'm excessively angry 
with Monsieur Dugrtnet. I could notmon.it guard 
, pi, morning, because my grandmother was taken 
££« III. Md mm «»• » X 
IIIVself. There happened to be a Hot In th 
Bireot, and our captain, Dug.met, Mid to' me, In 
ills daughter's presence, that I was afraldto show 
nr self, and kept out of harm’s way. Now, that s 
a soi t, ot thing I wont bear from any man . 
“ i* irblcu 1” thought Bonneau, “here’s a line 
opportunity for me! H won't be difficult to make 
!,enemy of this young fellow. Refill!. said lit 
nl ,U.|, “ I don’t know but your captain la in the 
rl in ' Every citizen should do his duty.” 
’“Certainly; but, there are other duties as im¬ 
port. nt as those of a citizen. My grandmother 
has ouly me—the Btatc has many children. 
“It everyone said that, but few would take 
arms," remarked Bonneau dryly. 
“ Every < ne has not bo good a reason as l have. 
“But no oie should act so as to incur sus¬ 
picion.” 
Victor’s handsome face flushed high. 
understand by that, Monsieur 
“ What am l to 
Bonneau ?" 
“ Whatever you choose.” 
“ You arc impertinent," said the painter, “ and 
must give me satisfaction. As I don't want my 
poor grandmother to he disturbed, the sooner we 
jYM it, the better; ~o l "ill just eugage a second, 
and wait for yon In the Bols de Boulogne.” | 
.«why — wnat!” said Bonneau, who did not. 
quite relish such sharp practice. “ Monsieur Vlc- 
i tor— Monsieur Victor 1” But t he painter was al¬ 
ready gone. 
•• Well,” thought Bonneau, “ I won’t hurt him 
much, i’ll just give him a flesh wound, which 
will excite his rancor against me. Blllard will he 
satisfied when J have a young man ot talent for 
an enemy.” Feeling n very natural reluctance ro 
explain the cause of the duel to any reasonable 
friend, Bonneau contented himself with engaging 
Francois as a second, and desiring bun to inflow 
1,1 m to the appointed place. The valet thought 
Ms master had taken leave of his senses; and be¬ 
fore going out, ran to tel', the story to the family 
York: Geo. F. 
Putnam's Sons. 
Tins object of Mr. Horns book Is to furnish a 
i.~ —V- ; ' rested in scroll-saw - 
both beginners and experts, and 
- j treated of every branch 
oods and their preparation 
branches, to overlaying, 
, The hook Is Illustrated 
manual for all who are inter 
lng and carving, l--.-- 
with this in view, he lias 
of the subject, from wc 
on through the various 1 
Inlaying, silhouettes, etc- 
with lull paper designs, many of them the Choic¬ 
est silhouettes— the designs alone, it bought a . re¬ 
tail, amounting to more than the pi Ice of the j *• 
We do not see how anything better than * i. 
hock’s little volume could w ell be prepared. It 
is remarkably explicit and remarkably rui in e - 
plaiting and describing the very things that he 
amateur worker most wishes to know, and being 
himself an enthusiast, he can have little difficulty 
in awakening a corresponding Interest ln others. 
The book Is especially Interesting to our read -. 
many of whom will, no doubt, possess the brack a 
saw offered nmong our premiums, and which 
designed to he used for this species of woik. 
from a VeulUun goblet, ex: 
at the Bulgarian atrocities. 
ROYAL GLUTTONS. 
When the clerk and his second arrived on the 
field, they found victor end bis friend there al¬ 
ready They had brought swords, and Immedi¬ 
ately began to fight. Bonneau was by far the 
Beat, swordsman, but, Instead of taking advantage 
or his superiority, he sought, to disarm his arit.iig- 
o nlst. without hurting him. 1 n doing so, however, 
he Inflicted a wound on the young man’s hand, 
and t.he blood flowed freely. 
«WhatBlurt l 1 do? You aro wounflcfll” crl^a 
the conqueror, more pflle Minn the conquered. 
•4 vpjs not hing,” rcpllfd Victor; “ let us go on.” 
But, at that moment Monsieur and Madame T>u- 
grlnct, with th cl r daughter Agnes, appeared on 
the field; and the ladles, like two Sabines, rushed 
between the combatants. 
“Stop!” shouted M. Dugrlnet; “sheathe your 
swords, my triends.” Then turning to \ ictor, lie 
said: “I have done you injustice, Monsieur Vic¬ 
tor; you are ft brave follow; and to make you 
amends, T give you full permission to win my 
daughter’s heart; It, indeed,” he added smiling, 
“ you have not done so already.” 
“ Ah, monsieur!” said victor, “this is the hap¬ 
piest moment of my life. And you, monsieur, 
he added, turning to Bonneau. “ must permit me 
to reckon you among my best friends. It Is tc 
include Cresar, Frederic, Na- 
[. of England, Henry IV. of 
_ janclerc, and many others, 
kiy freshened himself with an emetic. 
, loved to stay five or seven hours at a 
_ r:_: ' “y of his devouring a dish of 
without offering any to the Princess 
historical, and earned him the 
winch was bestowed upon him 
Rov.ii, Gnm-rONS : 
poleon, William ill 
France, llenrj 
Ctcsar probably 
William HI. 1- 
tabie; while the story 
young peas \- 
Anne Is perfectly 
name of Caliban, 
by her indignant Highness. 
Another authentic piece of gluttony maybe 
said to have largely contributed to the deliveience 
of Europe from the yoke Of France. It was the 
opinion of one of Napoleon’s skiff that the Em¬ 
peror was not himself at the battle ol Lelpsle, his 
faculties being almost paralyzed from the effects 
of an indigestion caused by a surfeit ot shoulder 
of mutton stuffed with onions. Frederic not only 
ate enormously, but In hts latter years the honor 
of an Invitation to the royal tabic must have been 
received by dyspeptic men with a secret terror; 
for the great Klug was passionately fond of 
pepper, and the royal cooks peppered him to his 
heart’s content. He required, moreover, that his 
food should be heated to something not far 
removed from white heat, and a miserable guest 
at Potsdam has Immortalized a certain pie which 
looked and tasted “ as U It had been baked in 
Toplict.” _ 
BRIC-A-BRAC, 
s the election, the French Republican 
l has, MacMahon /” Now they derisively 
AU, bah! MacMahon 1” 
THE ZUYDER ZEE 
This sea, which thp Netherlands Government 
has lately determined to get rid or, affords em¬ 
ployment and subsistence, at the present time to 
3 ZC 9 fishermen, with, their wives and families. 
Mr. Fenton’s consular report describes the fisher¬ 
ies upon which, these men are engaged, as pro¬ 
ducing chiefly herrings and anchovies. Of the 
former, it. Is estimated that about 84,o0O,OOO were 
lauded by the Zuyder Zee bouts In 1*75, the prt ce 
of them when sold In the various market towns 
fluctuating to an extraordinary extent. At one 
of these towns the price was at one time as low 
as s cents per zoo fish, and at other times as high 
Sumptuary laws, prescribing what people might 
and w hat they might not wear, were favorite 
features of English legislation from early Plan- 
Uigatiei days down to the lime of the Stuarts. In 
the first year ol Henry the Eighth was passed an 
•• Act sgaynst wearing of costly apparelL” This 
Act foibade any but the King and his tamlly to 
wear cloth of gold, of purple color, or of silk of the 
same. 
