The Indians.-Again the telegraphic columns of the daily press tell of great victories over the fighting Indians. These Indians appear to bear a great many whippings without being seriously checked in their warfare; indeed, they may one day be named with the Cuban patriots, who are the most marvelous fighters on record-every few weeks or months we read that their Spanish oppressors have achieved a tremendous victory and are just about to crush the rebellion, and yet the patriots survive the victories, fail to get crushed, and fight on. In the case of the Cubans we confess we are too thoroughly American in our sympathies to wish to see them fail in their grand struggle for liberty; in the case of the Indians, however, we can scarcely define to our own satisfaction our views and wishes. We cannot rid ourselves of the conviction that they are more sinned against than sinning, and with this conviction we cannot quite decide that we wish them badly whipped. We believe, as we have long believed, that the Indians would be more easily managed by exercising towards them some little honor and fair-dealing. The peaceQuaker plan would prove far more effective, if our Government could once convince the Indians that we mean to deal honestly by them; as it is, they see or suspect in our peace

plan only a screen for fresh attempts to deceive and over. reach them. It may be we fail to comprehend the facts in the great Indian problem, but we have watched with keen eyes the course and conduct of Indian affairs for many years, in the sincere hope that the supposedly superior race would learn to be just and true in their dealings with the savages, but we cannot say that we have ever been quite satisfied on this point. We want to believe that the Government means rightly to conduct Indian affairs, and do in a measure so believe; but on the other hand we as truly believe that it shows culpable disregard of rascality on the part of those it could and should control.

Specie Payments.-We have recently had quite a brisk little breeze on the question of resumption; it seems to be subsiding, however, with nobody hurt. Though not of the paper-money persuasion, we cannot believe it wise to attempt undue haste in resumption; if President Grant and everybody else will be still and let "well enough" alone, financial affairs will doubtless adjust themselves in good time, but these occasional agitations of the matter only retard resumption.

LAMENT OF THE HEBREW MINSTREL.

66

The Hebrew Minstrel and the Hebrew Maidens. In its February issue, the MONTHLY gives, under the head of "Literature and Art," an engraving and poem on Rizpah," the Editor stating that he does not know the name of either the artist or the poet. I cannot supply the latter name, but the original of the engraving is by an excellent painter of Bible themes, John Tenniel, who, though not extensively known, has produced a number of creditable works in his chosen line; he is more remarkable for his common sense and understanding than for brilliance of execution. His "Rizpah" is a good illustration of this characteristic of Mr. Tenniel, and as a farther illustration I would commend his "Lament of the Hebrew Minstrel." The artist is not more sug. gested than the Bible scholar by his pictures. There is another English painter who deserves notice for the same peculiarities: I allude to F. R. Pickersgill, R.A., whose "Lament of the Jewish Maidens " is an appropriate companion picture to the "Minstrel," in harmony, while eminently different in treatment. Mr. Pickersgill has produced numerous Scriptural pictures, equally striking in their truth to their respective subjects; his "Visit of the Magi" is bolder than any other of his works that I have seen, and yet it does not contradict my comment. Of course, the two "Laments" are illustrative of the one hundred and thirty-seventh Psalm.

NELLIE HESS MORRIS.

REMARKS.-We give herewith engravings from the paintings specially referred to above, and also copy, as appropriate to accompany the engravings, two fine poems, one upon "The Captivity in Babylon," by an anonymous author, the other upon "The Visit of the Wise Men," by Captain David Vedder, who, Allibone tells us, "rose from the post of cabin-boy to the captaincy of a ship; subsequently entered the revenue service, and from 1820 until about two years before his death, at Newington, near Edinburgh, February 11, 1854, was a Tide-Surveyor of Customs."

Let dire destruction seize this guilty frame!
My hands shall perish, and my voice shall cease!

Yet shall the Lord, who hears when Zion calls,

O'ertake her foes with terror and dismay;

His arms avenge her desolated walls,

And raise her children to eternal day.
SONG OF THE WISE MEN.

Son of the Highest! we worship Thee,
Though clothed in the robe of humanity;
Though mean Thine attire, and low Thine abode,
We own Thy presence, incarnate God!

We have left the land of our sires afar,

'Neath the blessed beams of Thine own birth-star,Our spicy groves, and balmy bowers,

Perfumed by the sweets of Amra flowers;
Our seas of pearl, and balmy isles,
And our crystal lake, which in beauty smiles,
Our silver streams, and our cloudless skies,
And the radiant forms, and the starry eyes
That lit up our earthly paradise!

LAMENT OF THE JEWISH MAIDENS.

We have turn'd us away from the fragrant East

For the desert-sand and the arid waste,

We have forded the torrent, and pass'd the floods,

And the chilly mountain solitudes,

And the tiger's lair, and the lion's den,
And the wilder haunts of savage men,-
Till Thine advent Star its glories shed
On the humble roof, and the lowly bed,
That shelters, Lord, Thy blessed head!
Son of the Highest! we worship Thee,
Though Thy glories are veiled in humanity!
Though mean Thy attire, and low Thine abode,
We hail Thine advent, eternal God!

A Valuable Antique Inscription.-According to the Contemporary Review, in the Hippodrome at Constantinople may still be seen the remains of a venerable trophy of the Persian war, the bronze serpent which, with the gold tripod it supported, was dedicated to the Delphian Apollo by the allied Greeks after the victory of Platea, as a tenth of the Persian spoil. On the bronze serpent, which served as a base for the tripod, the Lacedæmonians inscribed the names of the various Hellenic States which took part in repelling the barbaric invader. The golden tripod perished long ago in the sacrilegious plunder of Delphi by the Phocians, but the bronze serpent remained in its original position till it was removed by Constantine the Great to decorate, with other spoils of Hellas, his new seat of empire at Byzantium. Here it has remained in the Hippodrome till our own time, not unscathed, for the last of the three heads of the serpent has long since disappeared; but the list of Greek States inscribed on the intertwined folds of the body remains perfectly legible to this day, having been fortunately preserved from injury by the accumulation of soil in the Hippodrome. This earth concealed about two-thirds of the serpent till the excavation made in the Hippodrome in 1855, when the inscription was first brought to light. As the date of the battle of Platea was B.C. 478, it may be assumed that the setting up of the tripod took place shortly afterwards. Thus the inscription would not be later than B C. 476. Of hardly inferior interest is the bronze helmet found at Olympia early in this century, which, as its inscription tells us, was part of a trophy dedicated by Hiero I., of Syracuse, after his great naval victory over the Tyrrhenians, B.C. 474. If the German excavations now going on at Olympia continue to yield results as promising as the discoveries which have distinguished the first months of

this enterprise, we may hope that many similar records of Hellenic triumphs may be found in the rich soil of the Altis.

Dr. Schliemann.-According to The Press (Philadelphia), the discoverer of the site of Troy and of the tomb of Agamemnon, was formerly a citizen of the United States. After having made $93,000 in the banking business in Moscow, he resolved to visit California, and towards the close of 1851 sailed for New York in the steamer Atlantic. He arrived in America after a stormy passage of six weeks, bringing with him a draft from Rothschild on August Bel

He estab

THE VISIT OF THE MAGI.

(See preceding page.)

him, he made a voyage around the world, and landed in New York in a state of extreme prostration from an attack of Panama fever. By the careful treatment of Dr. Tellkampf he recovered and returned to the Old World, where he has since occupied himself with antiquarian investigations. They are for the most part carried on at his own expense.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has an association called the "Schiller Verein," devoted to the critical study of the German classics in the original. They are now engaged in reading Goethe's "Egmont."

Wall Papers-Influence of their Colors on Health. -When doctors disagree-men in whom we have had entire confidence-how are we to decide in matters appertaining to our health? If they fail us, on whom are we to rely to settle momentous questions that are brought directly within the range of their observation, but which are still left open for discussion? It has been generally understood, that housepapers stained with certain greens are injurious, in that the greens are neither more nor less than preparations of arsenic; and yet the London Lancet, admitting that in some papers arsenic may be found, holds that if such papers are well made and carefully sized, they may be safely used in papering our rooms. But a room so papered, it adds, should not be used for a few days, or until it has been well ventilated; giving as a reason that during the operation of papering, some of the arsenical pigment becomes detached and remains suspended for a time in the atmosphere of the room. This being the case, we not only run the risk of getting a paper that is imperfectly made, but have also to take the chance of inhaling the minute particles of arsenic floating in the air, ready to be drawn into our lungs the moment we open the door of our newly-papered room. Better would it be to eschew paperhanging altogether, or, at least, to have nothing to do with paper in which we can detect the presence of this pernicious color.

The question does not admit of a doubt, that persons living or sleeping in rooms papered with hangings stained with arsenical preparations, in however minute quantities, suffer in health, even if they do not die from poison, or an aggravated attack of diphtheria. Even birds hung in cages in a room so papered, sicken and die, and children exposed to such an atmosphere drop away at once.

There are all sorts of theories as to the manner in which the poison is set afloat. Many, whilst they admit the presence of the poison, maintain that the arsenic is only freed when the walls are brushed or rubbed. The Lancet apparently holds to this view. Admitting it to be true, who is willing to expose himself and family to so subtle a foe? A child, picking at a wall, may set arsenic enough afloat to end its days, even if it does not convey to its mouth bits of the paper it has pulled off in its restless desire to pluck the bright colors that compose the design.

Arsenic has been found in a number of colors, but it is generally confined to a light green. This green is not a natural color, or one that can be used to represent the green of of nature; but it is very popular on account of its brilliancy. It is produced from arsenite of copper, and is sometimes known as emerald green; but it is recognized by chemists as Scheele's green, after its discoverer. Its use is not confined to staining house-paper. We find it wrapped around our cake of chocolate, and in the fancy boxes that contain dried fruits and confectionery. It also has a conspicuous place in the manufacture of artificial flowers, and to many light gauzes this color is imparted. The safest, or, in fact, the only way is to reject all papers stained with it either in large or small

splashes. But if one would use paper of this color, let him at least test it before hanging it on his walls. This can be done by placing a piece of the paper in a saucer, and pouring over it half a teaspoonful of the solution of ammonia. If arsenical green be present, the solution will become of a rich blue color; and if, on placing a bit of nitrate of silver, the size of a pea, in the solution, a yellow ring or crust of yellow arsenite of silver forms around the caustic, it will show unmistakably the presence of the poison. Dark green is composed of wholly different materials, and is in no way injurious.

Great care should be had in putting on house-paper, whatever the quality of the paper may be. If put on carelessly or hurriedly the effect will be injured and much of the beauty of the design lost; and if bad or lumpy paste is used, we run the risk of impairing our health. Paste, to be good, should be clear and thin; if well made, even though thin, it will be perfectly adhesive; but coarse or lumpy paste will mould and become offensive when it is exposed to dampness from the external air. This is objectionable at all times, and it is particularly so when, through carelessness or a desire to hurry the work, the new paper is put on without removing the old. Sometimes a part of the old is torn off-all that will yield readily-and then the new is put on, but the edge of the old will show through, and with this annoyance we have a double quantity of paste to sour and become offensive whenever the weather is damp and lowering. Better do without the paper altogether, and paint our walls instead, than to employ it in this way. But a good paper hanger can, if he will, put on our paper-hangings in a way that will give us no trouble. GEORGE C. MASON.

A New Wall Paper.-It is proposed in Germany to make wall paper which will adapt itself to the degree of illumination of the room, becoming darker as the room is more lit up, and vice versa. The Papier Zeitung suggests to this end paper printed or coated with oxalate of copper, which acts in the manner above described. It is believed that very curious and novel effects of color and shade may in this way be produced on wall papers, and possibly on other

materials.

Testing Iron and Steel.-Government Experiments which should be Continued.-Colonel Laidley, of the Ordnance Department; General Gilmore, of the Engineers; Chief Engineer Smith and Commander Bairdsley, of the navy; General W. S. Smith, Mr. A. L. Hall, and Professor Charles Thurston, compose the Commission appointed by the President under an act of Congress to conduct experimental tests of iron and steel. By the last Sundry Civil Bill the Commission was discontinued at the end of the present fiscal year. The Commission have just gotten ready for operations at Watervliet Arsenal one of the most complete testing-machines in existence, and are anxious to carry out the provisions of the act under which they were appointed, as it would be impossible for any private enterprise to make adequate tests, and they have asked Congress for an appro

priation of thirty thousand dollars to carry on the experiments through the next fiscal year. The President has sent a special message to Congress embodying the views of the Commission on this subject, and urging that the appropriation asked for be granted. These experiments are of great importance to the coal and steel trade. They not only propose to determine the amount of strain which iron and steel will bear, but make a thorough test of the theory of crystallization in iron, as set forth in the opinion of the engineers who investigated the breaking of the Ashtabula bridge. A large number of iron bridges are now used on the railways, and thousands of human beings whose lives are hourly risked upon them render these experiments of vital importance. The Message.-The President's capital message is as

follows:

I desire to call the attention of Congress to the importance of providing for the continuance of the board for testing iron, steel, and other metals, which by the sundry civil appropriation act of last year was ordered to be discontinued at the end of the present fiscal year. This board, consisting of engineers and other experts from the army, the navy, and from civil life (all of whom, except the secretary, give their time and labors to this object without compensation), was organized by authority of Congress in the spring of 1875, | and immediately drafted a comprehensive plan for its investigations, and contracted for a testing machine of 400 tons capacity, which would enable it to properly conduct the experiment. Meanwhile, the sub-committee of the board have devoted their time to such experiments as could be made with the smaller testing machines already available. This large machine is just now completed and ready for erection at the Watertown Arsenal, and the real labors of the board are therefore just about to be commenced. If the board is to be discontinued at the end of the present fiscal year, the money already appropriated and the services of the gentlemen who have given so much time to the subject will be unproductive of any results. The importance of these experiments can hardly be overestimated when we consider the almost endless variety of purposes for which iron and steel are employed in this country, and the many thousands of lives which daily depend on the soundness of iron structures. I need hardly refer to the recent disaster at the Ashtabula bridge in Ohio and the conflicting theories of experts as to the cause of it, as an instance of what might have been averted by a more thorough knowledge of the properties of iron and the best modes of construction. These experiments cannot properly be conducted by private firms, not only on account of the expense, but because the results must rest upon the authority of disinterested persons. They must, therefore, be undertaken under the sanction of the Government. Compared with their great value to the industrial interests of the country the expense is very slight. The board recommend an appropriation of $40,000 for the next fiscal year, and I earnestly commend their request to the favorable consideration of Congress. I also recommend that the board be required to conduct their investigations under the direction of the Secretary of War, and to make full report of their progress to that officer in time to be incorporated in his annual report. U. S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 30, 1877.

The Sea-Serpent.-The London Spectator gives full credit to the last reported observation of the sea-serpent: "In the Straits of Malacca the sea-monster, so repeatedly seen and so repeatedly declared to be mythical, appears at last to have been carefully observed by competent witnesses. The creature was seen by the passengers and crew of the ship Nestor, on her voyage to Shanghai; and on her arrival at Shanghai the master of the ship, Mr. John Keiler Webster, and the surgeon, Mr. James Anderson, made a statutory declaration of what they had seen before a magis. trate, as a mode, we suppose, of formally attesting that they spoke in good faith. The creature (which resembled a huge salamander, only that, instead of being about six or eight inches long, these dimensions must be multiplied by at least 75 or 100, the body being from 45 feet to 50 feet in length, the head 12 feet, and the tail, it is said, no less than 150 feet) was first seen at half-past ten o'clock on the 11th of September, fifteen miles northwest of the North Sand Lighthouse, in the Straits of Malacca. The weather was fine, the sea smooth, and the air perfectly clear. The Chinese on deck were terribly alarmed and set up a howl. The whole watch and three saloon passengers saw the creature clearly and observed its movements. It travelled for a long time about as fast as the steamer, appearing to paddle itself by the help of an undulatory motion of its tail in a vertical plane.' The body and tail were marked as those of the salamander are marked-with alternate bands, black and pale yellow in color. The head was immediately connected with the body, without any indication of a neck,' Both witnesses state positively that the only resemblance was to some creature of the frog or newt kind, while one of them (the surgeon) says that the longer he observed it the more he was struck with its resemblance to a gigantic salamander, Its back was oval in form. No eyes or fins were seen and it did not blow or spout in the manner of a whale. The greater part of its head was never seen, being beneath the surface. Probably the creature is of a race which survives from that very different world in which creatures of gigantic size seem to have been so much commoner than now. There appears to be no manner of reason for doubting the very express evidence so succinctly and soberly given."

Poisoned Arrows.-There has been some difference of opinion whether the North American Indians use poisoned arrows or not; but it seems to be pretty conclusively shown that they do not. According to Major Powell, who has carefully examined the subject, in connection with various tribes of the Rocky Mountain region, there is a very weighty reason why such should not be their practice. The Indians do not understand diseases to be bodily ailments, but to be entities, evil spirits, which take possession of the body, or parts of the body, and all their therapeusis is sorcery. Their Shamanistic ceremonies are well known. Hence, they would not arrive at the notion of inoculating disease by means of poisonous substance-in fact, have no idea of material poison, as such. They do not seem to know, for instance, that the sac of venom on a rattlesnake's jaw furnishes the substance which produces the effect of the reptile's bite. When the Indians use what are called in jargon "medicine arrows," they indicate weapons which have been charmed with fatal power by means of