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and address of an American detective who happened to be in Paris, and who became interested in the case, it turns out, after numerous involvements, and after the innocent daughter has been made to endure imprisonment and protracted misery, that the French police were totally at fault, and that the supposed murder was no murder, but that the death of the father had been caused by a fit, excited by the discovery of his lost daughter, whom he tenderly loved, and that the wound to which his death had been attributed was received, after his death-stroke, from a fall upon a weapon that had belonged to the sonin-law, and had come accidentally into the old man's hands. On this slight thread a sensational story is constructed which has at least the merit of being curiously ingenious.

justly deserved by many of them) for pyrotechnical display and excessive frivolity and immorality, may read Edmond About's Story of an Honest Man1 without any apprehension that their taste will be offended or their delicacy subjected to the slightest strain. Its tone is pure, its incidents are perfectly natural and, although striking, free from extravagance, and its dramatis persone are genuine men and women, whose oddities even are the spontaneous outgrowth of their native character, and invariably lean to the side of honor and virtue. Thackeray's Colonel Newcome, though a more humorous conception, is not a nobler specimen of simplicity, integrity, and chivalrous purity than the grandfather of the hero of M. About's story, and lacks many of the sturdy, fine qualities of the latter. The father of the hero is another robust character, who possesses all the simple and heroic virtues of the grandfather, THERE are few of our contemporary novelwith the addition of greater intellectuality ists to whom we are as much indebted for and that more progressive spirit which enables thoroughly genial reading as we are to the anhim to regard all mankind with the kindly feel-thor of Mr. Smith. None of Mrs. Walford's ings that the older man reserved for French-novels may be styled dramatic; her plots have men only. The pictures of the domestic life no exciting entanglements; the incidents of of these loyal and true-hearted men, of the her stories are rarely imposing or affecting; early training of the child who is the hero of and it is seldom that the characters who figure the story, and of the effect wrought upon the in them are of the kind that we recognize as child by the death of his father, and its influ- typical, whether we have regard to their peence upon his choice of a career, are as eleva- culiarities or their representative qualities. ting as they are tender. M. About has inter- Nevertheless, we are familiar with no recent woven with a love story which is replete with romances whose stories are more fascinating, interesting mutations a graphic view of the or whose characters are more animated and state of feeling and of the social condition of engaging. Her latest production, Troublesome a rural province of France prior to one of the Daughters, combines all her best characterisperiodical national revolutions, and also a spir- tics. Fresh, lively, sparkling with gayety and ited and suggestive description of the methods a sense of motion, shaded here and there by by which the hero of the tale was enabled, by trials and vexations that are sufficient to his tact, ingenuity, skill, self-devotion, and masawaken our solicitude for her actors, but are tery of delicate business problems, to raise one not so heavy as to leave a scar on any of them, of the industries of France to the highest and chastened by an occasional under-tone of pitch of excellence and prosperity. The novel deep and tender feeling, it is a book to raise couples instruction with entertainment in a the spirits of an invalid, and to cheat even the way so unobtrusive and attractive as to rivet most confirmed ennuyé of his indifference. the attention of the reader without any consciousness of effort or sense of weariness.

No. 13 Rue Marlot0 is the characteristic title of another French novel, which has few of the sterling qualities of the fine tale just noticed. It is an exceedingly clever detective story, in which the interest turns upon the supposed murder of a gentleman, as the Parisian police suspect, by the husband of his daughter, an Italian musician and exile who had married the daughter against her father's will, and had thereby incurred the old man's wrath. Among other circumstances, the suspicion of the French police was increased by the discovery of violent letters addressed to the father by the son-in-law. Through the cleverness

19 The Story of an Honest Man. By EDMOND ABOUT. Svo, pp. 270. New York: D. Appleton and Co.

20 No. 13 Rue Marlot. Translated from the French of RENÉ DE PONT-JOST. BY VIRGINIA CHAMPLIN. 16m0, pp. 258. Boston: Lee and Shepard.

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21

FIVE passages from the supposititious diary of a young girl, describing her experiences of fashionable city life, from the first ball at her "coming out" till, at the close of her "second season," she settles down into the comparative quiet of wedded life, form the staple of a story entitled The Confessions of a Frivolous Girl,22 which abounds in clever and piquant sketches of society usages, manners, and people, looked at from the stand-point of a débutante. The assumed diarist records with refreshing spirit and vivacity the impressions made upon her by the gayeties in which she became involved, and by the typical society men and women by whom she was surrounded; and although she

21 Troublesome Daughters. By L. B. WALFORD, "Leisure Hour Series." 16mo, pp. 530. New York: Henry Holt and Co.

23 The Confessions of a Frivolous Girl. A Story of Fashionable Life. Edited by ROBERT GRANT. 16mo, pp. 220. Boston: A. Williams and Co.

styles herself "a frivolous girl," and for the time being surrenders herself, butterfly-like, to the enjoyments of the hour, and revels in the brilliance and glitter and allurements of society, she is far from being as thoroughly empty or irreclaimably giddy as the term would seem to indicate. On the contrary, being naturally sound at heart and gifted with good sense, she is prompt, as her arch revelations plainly show, to detect the shams and hollowness of her gay life, and equally quick to penetrate and estimate at their true worth the characters of the gallants who flutter in her train and flatter her with their devotions. This native soundness of her disposition saves her from degenerating into a vain and soulless woman of the world, and enables her so to distinguish between the glamour of superficial seeming and the genuineness of real worth, and so to blend her enjoyments and duties, that she comes out of the furnace of fashionable society unscathed, though still relishing its innocent gayeties, and fit to become the loving and helpful wife of the sterling but staid man who wins and merits her fresh young love.

Cross-Purposes is one of the most pleasing, though perhaps least pretentious, novels of the month. Its heroine is one of those brave and loving women who refuse to succumb to adversity, and who, putting their own shoulders to the wheel, take the burdens of those they love upon themselves, and bear them heroically and cheerfully. The type is not an uncommon one in romance or in real life, but

23 Cross-Purposes. A Novel. By CECILIA FINDLAY. "Franklin Square Library." 4to, pp. 42. New York: Harper and Brothers.

it has seldom been made to appear more engaging than in the resolute, spirited, joyous, warm-hearted, and beautiful Elsé Bertram of this tale. The reader will have all his sympathies enlisted for her, as she sets herself now to one and then to another self-imposed and self-sacrificing task, and as she overcomes every difficulty by her straightforward and loving energy, till the sunshine of happiness not only gilds the pathway of those for whom she had toiled and endured, but irradiates her own faithful heart.

THE readers of this Magazine will be glad to learn that Mr. Nordhoff has collected his stories" depicting phases of New England life, which originally appeared, with one exception, in its pages, and that they have been made accessible to those who can appreciate their racy humor and rich stores of proverbial wisdom by their publication in the popular "Franklin | Square Library."

No words of description or criticism are needed to introduce to the reader Charles Kingsley's brilliant religio-historical novel Hypatia," or Dr. Warren's well-known tales, The Experiences of a Barrister. The former has been republished by the Messrs. Harper in their "Franklin Square Library," and the latter in permanent form by Messrs. Estes and Luariat.

24 Cape Cod and All Along Shore. Stories. By CHARLES NORDHOFF. "Franklin Square Library." 4to, pp. 39. New York: Harper and Brothers. 25 Hypatia: New Foes with an Old Face. By CHAELFS KINGSLEY. "Franklin Square Library." 4to, pp. 81. New York: Harper and Brothers.

26 The Experiences of a Barrister, and Confessions of an Attorney. By SAMUEL WARREN. 8vo, pp. 376. Boston: Estes and Lauriat.

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Editor's Bistorical Record.

UR Record is closed on the 25th of August. | Lloyd, of Seneca, for Secretary of State; D. -State Conventions were held as follows: W. C. Londen, of Brown County, for Supreme Ohio Democratic, Cleveland, July 22, nomina- Judge. Michigan Republican, Jackson, Auting Judge William Long, of Tiffin, for Secre- gust 5, nominating Moreau S. Crisby for Lieutary of State; M. B. Follett for Supreme Judge; tenant-Governor; William Jenny for SecreRichard J. Fanning, present incumbent, for tary of State; Benjamin L. Pritchard for TreaClerk of the Supreme Court; W. J. Jackson surer; W. J. Latimer for Auditor-General. for Board of Public Works; J. J. Burns, pres- Georgia Democratic, Atlanta, August 10, reent incumbent, for Commissioner of Schools; nominating A. H. Colquitt for Governor. ColR. P. Ranney and John F. Follett for Presiden- | orado Democratic, Leadville, August 20, nomitial Electors at Large. Missouri Democratic,nating John S. Hough, of Hillsdale County, for St. Louis, July 22, nominating Colonel Robert A. Campbell, of St. Louis, for Lieutenant-Governor; Robert D. Ray, of Carroll County, for Judge of the Supreme Court; M. K. McGrath for Secretary of State; and Phil. E. Chappell for Treasurer. California Greenback, San Francisco, July 22, nominating two Congressmen.lish for Governor, and Charles M. Pond for Vermont Democratic, Burlington, July 22, nominating Edward J. Phelps for Governor; George W. Gates for Lieutenant-Governor; and James K. Williams for Treasurer. Ohio Greenback, Columbus, July 28, nominating Charles A.

Governor; W. C. Stover, of Larimer County, for Lieutenant-Governor; O. Urfug for Secretary of State. New Jersey Republican, Trenton, August 18, nominating Frederic A. Potts for Governor. Connecticut Democratic, New Haven, August 18, nominating James E. Eng

Lieutenant-Governor. New York Greenback,
Syracuse, August 18, nominating Thomas C.
Armstrong for Judge of Court of Appeals.
Michigan Democratic, Detroit, August 12, nom-
inating F. M. Holloway for Governor; E. H.

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Ali, the newly appointed ruler of Candahar, in a defense against Ayoob Khan, sovereign of Herat, who had attacked him, was badly rout

peans and 21 officers. General Primrose's division was driven into the citadel. The enemy is besieging the city, and General Roberts is on his way to relieve the defenders. Re-en

Thompson for Lieutenant-Governor; Henry P. Henderson for Attorney-General; I. M. Weston for Treasurer; General Richard Moore for Auditor; James I. David for Land Commis-ed, with a loss of 1000 men, including 400 Eurosioner; Zelotus Truesdale for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Tennessee Democratic, Nashville, August 12, split and made two nominations for Governor, John V. Wright and S. F. Wilson. California Republican, Sacramen-forcements have been sent from England. to, August 12, choosing Electors at Large. Connecticut Republican, Hartford, August 11, nominating H. B. Bigelow for Governor, and William H. Bulkeley for Lieutenant-Governor.

The Independent People's Labor Convention met at Sharon, Pennsylvania, July 28, and indorsed the nominations of Garfield and Arthur.

The Alabama State election was held August 2. A majority of 90,000 is reported by the Democrats.

During the year ending June 30, 1880, 457,243 immigrants arrived in the United States, or 279,417 more than those of the previous year.

The recent disturbances in Ireland are causing some anxiety to the British government. In the House of Commons, August 23, Mr. Forster, Chief Secretary for Ireland, stated that it was not thought necessary to ask for exceptional powers for the preservation of peace and the protection of life and property. A rising was not feared, but the condition of the country is precarious, and should the necessity arise, government would not hesitate to summon Parliament to obtain additional powers; but they do not think the occasion is likely to arise.

The British House of Commons, July 26, passed the bill providing for the compensation of Irish tenants, when ejected by their landlords, for the improvements which the tenants have made upon the property. The House of Lords, Angust 3, rejected the bill by a vote of 282 to 51.-The House of Lords passed the Irish Relief Bill July 30.-The government's proposal to increase the income tax was rejected by the House of Commons July 27.

A return published in connection with the bill introduced by Mr. Plimsoll, before quitting Parliament, for the better security of vessels with grain cargoes, shows that between the years 1873 and 1880 twenty-six steam-ships, laden wholly or partially with grain, foundered at sea, and twenty-four were reported as missing; and during the same period 100 grainladen sailing vessels foundered, and 111 were reported as missing.

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The returns of the elections for CouncilsGeneral in France-with Corsica yet to be heard from-show that 902 Republicans and 372 Conservatives were chosen. The Republicans gain 240. One hundred and twenty-five second ballotings will be necessary.

Mr. Goschen, the British ambassador, has communicated to the Porte a telegram from the British consul at Scutari, announcing that the Albanians are preparing to resist the surrender of territory to Montenegro. The diplomatic body at Constantinople are convinced of the sincerity of the Porte in offering to cede Dulcigno, but doubt its ability to do so. Several ambassadors have received instructions from their respective governments in reference to their reply to the Porte in regard to the Greek frontier question. The powers decline the proposal of the Porte to open direct negotiations with the ambassadors at Constantinople. A royal decree has been issued in Spain abrogating the decree of May 16, 1850, and declaring the sons of Alfonso direct heirs to the throne, with the title of Princes of Asturias.

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wounded.

July 22.-Steam-yacht Mamie cut in two by steamer Garland, on the Detroit River, nine miles below Detroit. Sixteen lives lost.

August 11.-Collision of two excursion trains on the West Jersey Railroad, at May's Landing, New Jersey. Twenty-three persons killed. OBITUARY.

July 23.-In Philadelphia, Dr. Constantine Hering, founder of the homeopathic school of medicine in the United States, aged eighty years.

August 9.-In Clearfield, Pennsylvania, exGovernor William Bigler, in his sixty-sixth year.

August 15.--In Paris, Adelaide Neilson, the celebrated actress.-In London, England, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, for many years British Ambassador to the Porte, aged ninetytwo years.

August 16.-At his residence in Jefferson County, Georgia, ex-Governor Herschel V. Johnson, aged sixty-eight years.

Fresh disturbances have occurred in Afghanistan, and the situation is far from satisfactory. On July 22 the British government formally recognized the new Ameer, Abdurrahman Khan, and announced the proposed early withdrawal of their troops within the frontier fixed by the Treaty of Gandamak. Hardly had this announcement been made when tidings came of a serious disaster to the British arms. General Burrows's brigade, while re-enforcing Shere | United States.

August 18.-In Bergen, Norway, Ole Bornemann Bull, violinist, aged seventy years.

August 24.-In Buffalo, New York, General Albert J. Myer, Chief Signal Officer of the

THE

Editor's Drawer.

HE following composition, written by a young hopeful in Onondaga County, was read before a Teachers' Institute by a grave and reverend LL.D., whose sense of the ludicrous is so keen that he fairly shook and gasped in his efforts to suppress unseemly mirth until he finished:

"MEAT MARKET.

"Meat Market is a place where there is things to sell. There is most trade in the morning and evening, as they butcher their things in the afternoon. There is two Meat Market in this place; we trade to both. Meat Markets are very useful; if it was not for Meat Market we should have to butcher our own things. I think all these things show the providence of God."

WE are getting to have many curious epitaphs in this new country of ours. The last one of which we have heard comes from Indianapolis, Indiana, where a man has had the uncommon experience of losing five excellent wives. He was desirous of erecting a headstone for each, setting forth their virtues, but was deterred by the expense. A happy thought struck him. The wives were buried side by side. He accordingly had the Christian name of each engraved on a small stone-"Emma," "Jane," "Mary," "Margaret," "Elizabeth"a hand cut on each stone pointing to a large stone in the centre of the lot, and under each hand were the words, "For epitaph, see large stone."

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doubled. "You know I don't bet, Len." For he was even then somewhat anticipating and preparing in his mind for the ministry.

"Well, I'll lay you a dollar. If I do what I say, you give me a dollar without bettin', and likewise, also, I the same will give you a dollar if I don't." And he shifted his tobacco from his jaw, and chewed it rapidly between his front teeth, as if he felt that he had Henderson where he wanted him.

"Len's got you there, Henderson," said Jim Hart. "You can't get around that."

"Oh, I admit it, boys," said Henderson. "I see the difference, but I don't want to see the poor creeter hurt. I wouldn't see that, and at my own house, fur a dollar." "Oh, I see, I see."

And Len turned away in disgust, and the company laughed yet louder.

"See what, you weazened- See what?"

"That you're 'fraid-'fraid for yer dollar, or 'fraid for yer dorg, and I don't know which. But ef I was in your place, I would never say anything about that thar dorg any more; that is, right round and about here, in this here neighborhood.”

“Oh, well, if you want to git eat up—”

"That's adzactly what I'm arfter," said Len, "or-that thar dollar o' yourn; and ef I am to be eat up by a dorg, and 'specially your dorg, Henderson, it's time it was done. But never you mind."

This was too much. The bet was made, though, in respect to Henderson's scruples, it was called a lay instead of a bet. Poor Len had to borrow a quarter here, and a sevenpence there. The money was deposited with Jim Hart, and the trial was to take place at any time within a fortnight.

Two days afterward Dr. Henderson was sitting, about an hour after dinner, in his front piazza, and alternately reading and drowsing. The house was forty or fifty paces from the gate. Suddenly, hearing a smothered cough, he looked up, and saw Len Peek standing before him.

LEN PEEK'S WAGER. HENDERSON was a farmer on a small scale, residing a short distance from the mill-pond on the north side. How he obtained the title of Doctor will be told hereafter. This was before he had become a divine. A great talker was he the greatest in the neighborhood. Among other possessions of which he boasted was a very large, savage dog-a cross of the cur and bull. One day at the mill, where Len Peek, himself, and others were assembled, he wound up a discourse on this dog by saying "Why, hello, Len! that you? You liked to that there wasn't a man on top of the ground | 'a skeered me. How did you git in ?" who could dare to come into his house day or night without arms or other protection. Len was a man of very few words, and those were usually uttered in low tones. "Henderson," said he, almost in a whisper, "I can go thar without a thing in my hand, and run him out o' yer yaard."

Everybody but Henderson laughed, and he was disgusted.

"You?-you?-Len Peek?"

"Yes, me, Len Peek. I can go thar without a thing in my hand, and run him out o' yer yaard. And I'll bet you a dollar on it."

Henderson's disgust seemed to hinder any words from his mouth, and the langh was re

"At the gate."

"How long have you been here?"
"About two minutes and three-quarters."
"Good gracious! long as that?"

"It mout not 'a been more'n two minutes and a half, but I'd swar it's been over two, and not beyont three."

"How did you git in, did you say, Len!"

"At the gate. How do you supposen I could 'a got in providin' I didn't git in by the gate?"

"I thought maybe-" and Henderson looked up at the ceiling and back through the door leading into the house, and around generally.

"No, sir," said Len, in very low tones, "in

none o' them places, but right plum through your gate."

"I wonder whar Tige is ?"

"He's out yonder a-layin' down on the grass by the kitchen door. I've come for my dollar, Henderson. I come yisterday, but I come too soon."

"You here yisterday?"

"Yes; not adzactly here--that is, in the house-but I was a-prowlin' around, and I seed that yer dorg were a-hungry, and he were res'less. Considerin' what a good geard he is, Henderson, you ought to feed that dorg better and give him his dinner sooner. I looked at him, and I seed it warn't the right time, and I left."

"Did he see you?"

"Not as I knows of."

"You may thank your stars for that, Len." "Better for you and him to be a-thankin' o' yer stars, providin' you and him hev got any stars to be a-thankin'."

"Look here, Len, come now, don't be a foothat is, don't be brash. I'm thankful that Tige didn't see you when you come yisterday nor today. If he had, you wouldn't 'a wanted a dollar soon, except it mout be to help pay the doctor, if any of you had a-been left. Set down, Len, and let me talk with you awhile."

"Look here, Henderson, I promised Jimmy Sharp a pan of suckers for breakfast, and I've got to catch 'em to-night. You're a mighty interestin' talker, but I hain't the time now to listen to you. If you say, I go to Jim Hart and git the two dollars, and yon willin' to be laughed at and talked about at the mill, all right."

"No, I'll be blam- No, Len. I've dealt with you farly; and if you're such a foo-if you are determined to be so brash, why, go ahead. But I'll go 'long with you, for I don't want-"

"Keep yer seat," said Len, in a passionate whisper. "Keep yer seat. I wants none o' yer help. Will you keep yer seat?"

Henderson looked at him with amazement. "Look here, Len, it's understood that I'm clear o' the law?"

“Yes, yes, clear o' the law and everything else except yer dollar; that I'm goin' to have. Will you keep yer seat, and say nothin'?" "I will."

"Good."

Len glided out of the piazza, and down the steps; then he got upon his all fours. Noiselessly and swiftly as a duck upon the pond, he crept to the dog, as, being fully fed, he lay asleep upon the grass. Then bending over him, he whispered in his ear. The great beast instantly sprang up and gave an amazed look at his awakener, who crouched and grinned and chattered in his face. Suddenly he uttered a howl that echoed far and wide, turned, scampered to the fence, cleared it at a bound, and, howling yet, plunged into the woods hard by.

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What had become of Tige? His master mourned him for three days. On the morning of the fourth a little negro ran into the house with the news that Tige was come back, and that the cook was feeding him in the kitchen.

"But, oh, marster, you wouldn't know Tige! He so po'. Look like dat little white man done bin skeered all de lights outen Tige. Mammy say he were a witch."

And down to his dying day Len would never tell what it was that he said to the dog.

THE following is from a friend of the Drawer in Massachusetts:

The late Judge W, on a visit to Niagara, when the car was in use on the inclined plane, raised and lowered by steam-power, went into the starting-house to witness the descent, too timid to go himself. After the car started, fully impressed with the danger, he turned to the man in charge, and said, "Suppose, sir, the rope should break?"

The man, with a serious conntenance and a single eye to business, replied, "Oh, they all paid before they went."

MANY years ago there lived near Albany a queer Dutch family named Smith. The men were not particularly addicted to hard work, but spent most of their time hunting and fishing. One day the old man was telling a neighbor what a large flock of pigeons he had seen that morning. "Why," said he, "there must have been eleven hundred, 'most a tousand.”

"More as tat, taddy," said the son-": more as tat, taddy; f-i-v-e hundred."

SENATOR EDMUNDS was not long ago spoken to by some of his intimates in the Senate about his Presidential aspirations. He answered them by saying, "I see not a single feature in the Presidential office which would please me." "What!" exclaimed Senator Hoar, "not even the power to veto bills ?"

THERE lived at one time in Monmouth County, New Jersey, a widow whose husband had kept a country tavern in his day, but imbibing too freely of his own apple-jack, had departed, leaving his wife mistress of the business. She used to tend her own bar, and sold a great deal of rum to a rough class of men. On the principle that "evil communications corrupt good manners," she became about as rough as her customers. At length she was taken sick, and the doctor said she must go. So the minister was sent for to prepare her mind for the coming change. After some talk, he took his Bible, and asked her what part she would like to have read to her. "Well," she replied, “I

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