much less absurd than the rules of the mas- and wearing a Cashmere shawl. Quaintly ter-singers is felt by the most careless reader, barbaric as this image seems, yet how charged

in the indescribable tediousness of Spanish poetry. The study of the French Romanticists for France is the true teacher of the enlightened Cubans-has indeed somewhat relieved the Cuban poets from this thraldom. While Volney and De Tracy have taught the Cubans materialism in morals and philosophy, Victor Hugo and Lamartine have disclosed to them new secrets of poetical composition. But the prevailing temper of the tropics is hostile to the highest forms of poetry.

it is with the sad history of gorgeous dreams and warm visions, prisoned in the poet-brain of an outcast and a pariah !

The prose literature of Cuba may be quickly reviewed. "How can we speak, who have no freedom to will," cried Jacques de Molay to his judges; "for with the loss of freedom to will, man loses every thing-honor, courage, eloquence!" No plea of "poetic license" avails the Cuban whose words are not tagged with rhymes. The Havana bookstores contain nothing to indicate that the

fruit than El Azhar, the Oxford of the Arabs. The periodicals are trashy in the extreme. The newspaper press is, of course, entirely in the hands of Spaniards.

In that eternal summer, the voice grows languid as the mind. "Out of their few "University of Havana" has borne any more warm days," says Landor, "the English, if the produce is not wine and oil, gather song and garner sensibility." Out of their unchanging heats and splendors, the sons of the tropics gather tears and garner sentimentalism. The Cuban Muse rarely tries the flights of the "Theban eagle," as rarely the soaring rapture of the English lark: she sits in the heavy foliage of her delicious home, and there "her sad song mourneth well," or ill, as the case may be.

In the feuilleton, the ladies are generally furnished with a translation of some French novel. The leading articles are often able, but the body of the paper is filled with very much such matter as one finds in the columns of the "newspapers" which young ladies at boarding-schools sometimes concoct.

The names of the Cuban poets-those rich, The current news of the island is only sonorous Spanish names, which you cannot picked up by hearsay in Havana, and chiefly utter without an unconscious inflation of the on the crowded quay at the mouth of the voice, and an involuntary wave of the hand-harbor, where every morning "the merchants tempt one to expatiate upon this subject; but most do congregate." I shall forbear. The titles of some of these works will convey a sufhcient idea to the judicious reader of the school to which they should be referred. Leaves of My Soul, Heart-beats, Whirlwinds of the Tropics, Passion Flowers-such are the baptismal phrases in which Cubans delight. Gleams of manly aspiration are not wanting in these writings, nor the comfortable light of a true respect for what is trust in womanhood. Milanes is not alone in the faith that

The old Spaniards are very chary of their communications, and the creole hatred of the government acts like a mordant, biting in the blackest shades of every picture. While I was at Havana, the garrotte was several times erected at the Punta, and twice for the punishment of political offenders. The newspapers made no allusion to any of these events. In one instance, I happened to be dining on board a man-of-war, when an officer in the company gave us the history of one the way, were reprieved at the place of execuof the political prisoners-both of whom, by tion, and sent to the galleys at Ceuta-telling us that his name was Garcia, and that he was a miserable old creature, at whose house two of the Lopez party, badly wounded, had been left. He treated them very well, but they died. Shortly afterwards, the news of Las Pozas reached him, and our Cuban Falstaff instantly produced his dead pirates, alleging that he had slain them "for queen and country." He was rewarded with a decoration; but the truth coming to light after a while,

Señor Garcia was compromised, and finally Two mutinies of troops, at least, accom brought into the shadow of death. One or panied with fusillades, came to my knowledge two days after the reprieve, there appeared in-one at Villa Clara, and the other at Santithe Diario what purported to be a sort of ago de Cuba. They were only darkly glanced jubilate from the wife of one Garcia, who at in leaders laudatory of the "firm justice of ought to have suffered something, but had Spain," and contemptuous of the scandal which been spared by the queen's mercy. No one something not stated might cause in “a neighwho had not in some surreptitious way heard boring nation." The Cuban press is, indeed, of Garcia and his story, could possibly have no transcript of the Cuban, but only of the comprehended this singular communication. "Peninsular" world.

WATER GAS AT WILMINGTON.-On Saturday | from thirty to fifty cents per one thousand cubic the neighboring city of Wilmington was splen- feet. Rosin alone need not be the basis, for didly lighted with gas made from water, under Sanders' process covers the use of bituminous the patent of Professor Sanders, of Cincinnati. coal, lignite or any of the multitudinous forms The charges were drawn from the retorts; the of hydro-carbonaceous material. There need supply of coal-gas was turned off; the water-be no expensive erecting of large gas works, gas was run through the pipes, and Wilmington and the gas produced makes neither a bad smell had a light thrice as brilliant, thrice as pure, as nor "blacks." The gas itself, by a simple adapany it had ever known before. tation, actually can make red hot the charcoal which assists in decomposing the water which supplies it. The Great Eastern, in point of fact, might be lighted with water gas made on board, and have the heat thus generated used in lieu of coal for her engines.

The operation was observable to the citizens of Wilmington in its results, while its practical working was witnessed by several journalists, many inhabitants, and some parties who are actually interested in the production of coal-gas. Among these last were the Superintendent of the Philadelphia Northern Liberties Gas Works, and the President of the Financial Board of that company. All agreed it was a decided

success.

The theory of Sanders' process is this: Water, as steam, is decomposed by being passed over red-hot charcoal, and the resulting gases (hydrogen, carbonic oxide, and light carburetted hydrogen) are chemically combined with heavy carburetted hydrogen, or light-giving gas, by the decomposition of rosin or coal vapor simultaneously with, and in the presence of, the decomposition of the vapor of water. At Wilmington gas works are now three water gas retorts, aggregating only one twenty-seventh of the cubical area of their coal-gas retorts, yet more productive than the whole of their present coal gas apparatus, making one thousand two hundred to one thousand eight hundred feet per hour. The gas manufactured is superior in color and strength of flame to that produced from coal. Rosin is used as the carbonizing element, requiring from twenty-five to forty pounds for every one thousand feet of gas, which is free from sulphur or nitrogen, and has an odor rather agreeable than otherwise.

The quantity of coal-gas annually used in the city of Philadelphia is estimated at six million cubic feet, for which the public pay $13,500,000 per annum. Say that the water-gas be supplied at $1 per one thousand cubic feet, and our public save $7,500,000, for light alone every year. New York, it is estimated, consumes twice as much coal-gas as Philadelphia; therefore, twelve million cubic feet now cost $30,000,000 a year. Should the water-gas be substitued, the saving would be $18,000,000 a year. - Philadelphia Press, 3 October.

FOR the steam navigation on the river Amazon Mr. Laird, of Birkenhead, has just completed a vessel for a company formed under the auspices of the Baron de Mana, of Rio Janeiro. This vessel is named the Manuos; she is two hundred and twenty-five feet long, and twentyfive feet beam. Her tonnage, old measure, is six hundred and eighty-one, and she is intended to combine great capacity with speed. In order to test this vessel's capabilities for speed and sea-going qualities, she was despatched from Liverpool to Beaumaris on Monday last, and made the passage from the Rock Light (a disWill it pay? The price of coal gas in New tance of forty-eight statute miles) in three hours, York is $2.50 per one thousand cubic feet. In giving an average speed of sixteen miles per Philadelphia it is $2.25 for the same quantity. hour. She returned from Beaumaris to LiverThe cost of making one thousand cubic feet of pool on Wednesday in two hours and fifty minsuch water gas as illumined-we might say, as utes, being an average speed of seventeen miles illuminated-Wilmington on Saturday, ranges | per hour.—Press, 12 November.

From Once a Week.
THE LOST CHILD.

A CHINESE STORY.

[The tale, entitled "Sea-lou (Little-chamber) the Lost Child," is one of the most popular of Chinese fictions, and fairly indicates the state of intellectual activity prevailing over that extensive and thickly populated empire. The very inanity of the story, with its marvellous coincidences, is significant to our Western minds, while its details afford interesting glimpses of the semi-civilized state of the Chinese people. It is abstracted, rather than translated; but the spirit, characteristic phrases, and curious Chinese tone of thought of the original have been preserved as closely as possible in the following version.]

own, and would ultimately found a family on his wealth; moreover, that, at his death, the adopted, though becoming the master of his household, would not grieve for him.

"It is not right," he continued, "that I should give the property acquired by myself and ancestors to an entire stranger. But I will wait till I find a young person who has a true affection for me; and I will not adopt one before I have received ample proofs of such affection, and satisfied my heart that I really have secured it."

Lien's friends were not altogether disinterested advisers: they all had children, and any one of them would gladly have allowed the rich agriculturist to adopt a son. Several boys, too, about this time seemed all at once to become wonderfully fond of the childless old man. So, one day, Lien said to his wife,—

IN a certain district, in the province of Kwantung, there lived a gentleman named "The people of this place, knowing that Lien, possessed of considerable wealth; not my property is fat and thick, and that I have acquired, however, by official exactions, or not decided on adopting a child, are continu the chicaneries of traffic, but by his ancestors' ally pestering me with advice upon the matand his own industry in cultivating the soil.ter, and letting down all manner of baits and He was married to a lady of great domestic virtues wealth established their house, prudence regulated their conduct; and the calm current of their happiness was unruffled, save by one unfortunate circumstance they had no children. Attributing this misfortune to the unpropitious form of his abode, Lien added to the paternal mansion a small apartment, having many lucky angles and corners and, accordingly, in course of time, in this very room, a son was born to him. In grateful acknowledgment of the beneficial effect of the lucky corners, Lien named his son Sea-lou -the Little-chamber. The boy grew, and thrived apace, till between three and four years old, when, happening one evening to go out to play with other children, he did not return home at night. Search was immediately made in every direction, and continued for many days, but without success; so, at last, the disconsolate parents were reluctantly forced to conclude that their darling son had been devoured by a tiger then infesting the "It is true my years are many, and that I district. Lien, being a wealthy man, had am not worth a hair as a laborer, domestic many friends to condole with him in his dis-servant, or tutor; but the purchaser I seek is tress. They advised him to pray to Buddha a wealthy orphan, to whom I could act in the for another son; but he replied, that he had capacity of a father, by taking care of his already wearied his mouth in fruitless prayer. money and property, managing his affairs, Then they advised him to adopt a son; this and regulating his household." he also refused to do, alleging that an adopted child could never essentially become like his

hooks to deceive me and catch my wealth. I intend, therefore, to travel into a distant country, in order to endeavor to find some one, by land or water, who may evince a true affection for me. I may be lucky enough to find a suitable person, who by showing a sincere heart towards me, may, on his part, be lucky enough to become my adopted son." ;

The project meeting his wife's approbation, Lien, as soon as he had settled his plumsthat is to say, arranged his affairs,-started off on his journey. When he had reached a considerable distance from home, he threw off the garb and character of a well-to-do Chinese gentleman, and assumed the appearance of a beggar, who wished to sell himself as a slave. The various persons he met by the way, rea> soned with him, saying that he was unfit to be either a laborer, domestic servant, or tutor,

that, in short, no one would purchase a helpless old man like him. To this Lien invariably replied :—

Then the strangers with much laughter, would say :—

"You have an oily mouth, old man; but you will not succeed in this country!"

And passed on their way, wondering whether he were a rogue or a simpleton.

After long and painful travel, Lien, not finding a wealthy orphan to purchase him, determined to try another course. Buying a piece of white cotton cloth, he wrote on it, in large and distinct characters, the following words:

"THIS ELDERLY GENTLEMAN IS DESIROUS

pointed to the words on the placard-"The purchaser shall never have reason to repent of his bargain." Without saying more, the young man gave Lien ten dollars. Then the latter tore the placard off his breast, and put it in the hands of the young man, as a receipt in full, thus consummating the bargain after the Chinese fashion. Then the young man, seizing his newly purchased father by the arm, led him through the uproarious crowd to the nearest wine-shop, where, seating him in the

TO SELL HIMSELF TO SOME YOUNG MAN, IN place of honor, he put a pot of rich, warm wine in his hands with all due filial reverence. The rabble followed, shouting as they

ORDER TO BECOME HIS FATHER. THE PRICE
IS TEN DOLLARS ONLY. FROM THE DAY OF
SALE THE SELLER WILL ENTER INTO THE MOST
FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE PURCHASER,
WHO SHALL NEVER HAVE REASON TO REPENT
OF HIS BARGAIN."

Lien placed this placard on his breast; and, travelling onwards, was saluted by deriding shouts, coarse jeers, and contemptuous laughter from all who met him. Nothing dismayed, however, he still kept on his way, passing through towns and villages, though hooted and pelted at by all the rabble. One day, at length, as he was sitting in the market-place of the city of Hwan-Shing, surrounded as usual by an insulting mob, a tall, well-dressed, young man, of benevolent countenance, pushed through the crowd to learn what might be the matter. The young man presenting a fresh but for the vulgar witticisms of the mob, they cried to him :

:

"Hallo, sir! you are very charitable and compassionate to widows and orphans. Pull out your purse, pay ten dollars, and have a father."

ran :

"Is this old man a god, a devil, or an ass, that he should lead the sharpest young broker in our city into so foolish a bargain?"

But the broker soon quieted them, by giving the wine-shop keeper some silver to treat them all round in honor of the joyous occasion; and then, calling a sedan-chair, he took Lien home to his house.

Lien was well pleased to find that his new son's house was evidently the dwelling of a prosperous merchant. On entering, the young man led him to the seat of honor; and, after performing the four reverences which Chinese etiquette demands from a son to a father, begged to inquire his name and history. But Lien was a genuine Chinaman, and accordingly gave a very patchy and muddy, or, in plain English, a very false account of himself. The young man, in return, and speaking truthfully, said that his name was Yaou, and he was the son of one Kwe, formerly a rice-merchant in the city of Hwo-Kwang. He had lost his parents when young, and, conse "What does the greedy old rogue want quently, began the world early in life as an with ten dollars? since whoever may be fool apprentice to a travelling silk-dealer. Harenough to buy him will assuredly have to keep ing acquired a knowledge of the business, him!" and a peculiar skill in estimating the value The young man, however, was too much of different qualities of silk, his master frestruck by the shrewd but amiable features of | quently entrusted him with small ventures Lien, and the extraordinary nature of the placard, to pay any attention to the rude ribaldry of the rabble. Musing, he thought:

While others cried :

"If this old man should really prove a true father to me! I ought to buy him, and thus obtain a renown for benevolence for one hundred years. But he may have relatives, who might some day recognize and claim him."

To the question if he had any relatives, Lien answered that he had not. To all other questions he did not answer, but merely

and commissions; so, by care and industry, he was soon enabled to set up for himself; and now, though only twenty-two years of age, he was one of the leading silk-brokers in Hwan-Shing.

Lien was highly gratified to find that he had obtained so promising a son; but, with the characteristic cunning of his race, he determined to learn more about Yaou, before he disclosed his real name, great wealth, and high position in society. Day by day, how

ever, the silk-broker's excellent disposition | the landing-place, the other passengers, and energetic business habits became more alarmed by reports of the proximity and apparent, and Lien was almost tempted to dreadful atrocities of the rebels, would not reveal his true history when, all at once, news allow the boat to stop any longer time than arrived that the rebel army was in full march was merely necessary to land such travellers towards Hwan-Shing, with the intention of as wished. To the expostulations of Lien, sacking, if not totally destroying, the doomed who spoke of his son's particular business, the city. Yaou, on hearing this alarming intelli- passengers turned a deaf ear, exclaiming that gence, asked Lien's advice as to how they time pressed, and every one had his own should act. Lien advised that Yaou should business to do; that the traveller never knew sell off all his goods as soon as possible, and whether life or death, preservation or destrucwith the proceeds concealed on their persons, tion, depended on the rate he travelled; and the two should travel about, disguised as beg- they concluded by observing ::gars, until tranquillity should be restored. To "When we took our passage we made no this Yaou warmly replied, that the hardships bargain about waiting for you." and fatigue of such a mode of action would This last was decisive. seriously injure, or perhaps kill, so aged a man as Lien; and that, for his own part, he would rather remain in the city, and endeavor to compound with the rebels, even if he lost all his property, than allow his venerable father to suffer such privations. This, melted Lien's heart. He acknowledged that he was a wealthy gentleman, and declared that Yaou should be his heir. Their plan was soon arranged. That very day Yaou sold all his goods, and the two embarked in a passageboat, their destination being Lien's house.

So, as nothing better could be done, under the circumstances, Lien, who in his capacity of father, carried the joint purse, gave Yaou one hundred ounces of gold, with which he jumped on shore to arrange the marriage; while the old gentleman proceeded homewards, in the boat, to prepare a grand festival for the reception of the bride and bridegroom. But scarcely had the boat again started, when Lien, with great vexation, recollected the very patchy and muddy account he had given of himself to his adopted son; and, also, that though he had since acknowledged his wealth and position in society, he had never told Yaou his real name and place of residence. His natural shrewdness, however, did him good service in this dilemma. When the boat reached its destination, he caused a number of placards to be printed and posted, in various conspicuous positions, on the roads most likely to be travelled by his adopted son, and these placards, couched in ambiguous language, so as to be understood by Yaou alone, were intended to inform him respecting his adopted father's real name and address. Having accomplished this, Lien proceeded on his homeward jour

When the boat had started, and the adopted father and son had once more, after the hurry of their departure, an opportunity of quiet converse together, Lien asked the other how it was that he had never married. Yaou replied that he had intended to marry a certain lady, but now of course he must be entirely ruled by his respected parent's wishes. Lien rejoined that if the rank and fortune of the lady were suitable, he could have no possible objections. Yaou then told him that the lady's name was Faw-wang, and she was the daughter of his old master, the silk-merchant, that they had long loved each other, but on account of his youth and want of fortune her parents would not allow their mar-ney. riage to take place. After some further con- Yaou, as soon as he had landed, hurried versation on the matter, it was agreed that, off on the wings of expectation to the dwellas there was a landing-place, at which the boating of the silk-dealer; but, to his consternastopped to take in and discharge passengers, close by where Faw-wang lived, Yaou should take the opportunity to run up to see her; and if she were still unmarried, and willing to come with him, he was to bring her to the boat, and they would all go home to Lien's house merrily together. But, on reaching

tion, soon found that it had been burned by the rebels; and, on making further inquiries, learned that all the family had been murdered, with the exception of the fair Fawwang, whom the rebels had carried off in captivity. Sorrowfully enough, then, Yaou turned his steps towards his adopted father's