ASCENDING THE MATTERHORN.-The feat of ascending the Matterhorn, a mountain of the Pennine Alps, that has an elevation of 14,771 feet, without guides, says the London Times, has for the first time been performed by three Englishmen-Messrs. A. Cust, Colgrove, and Caywood, all members of the Alpine Club, and experienced mountaineers, but none of them had ascended the Matterhorn before. The guides were naturally jealous of the attempt, and the party had difficulty in finding porters to carry provisions, but at last procured two through the help of Mr. Seiler, the landlord. They left the hotel at Zermatt on Friday, the 21st of July, at 11 A. M., intending to pass the night at the hut, the position of which two of the party had explored the previous day. It should be stated in excuse for what some might think an act of foolhardiness that the party agreed that, if they came to places of positive danger, they would desist from the attempt, but the state of the weather and the mountain was highly favorable to them. The hut is situated about half way up to the shoulder of the mountain, on a ledge at the foot of a rock, which protects it from rolling stones. The approach to it is along the arrete of the Hornli, then up the steep, rough, rocky slope of the mountain at an angle of fifty degrees, with some steep climbing towards the top. The party reached the hut at 6 P. M., and let the porters go back. They contrived, with difficulty, to light a fire, the floor being covered with ice, and made themselves as comfortable as circumstances admitted. They witnessed a glorious sunset, and saw the vast shadow of the mountain gradually extend its picture along the glacier below, and steal up the side of the Breithorn, which it finally embraced. At about 2.30 A. M., the morning being very cold, the fire was again coaxed up for coffee, and the party set off at 3.45. The part above the hut was considerably harder than that below. though never of a hard kind, was continually necessary, and judgment in selecting the way amid the ridges and ledges, and some cairns of stones were made to guide in the descent. This part of the ascent was tedious and laborious, and great care was necessary to avoid knocking stones on those below. The patches of snow were also troublesome, being, in fact, ice in which steps had to be cut, and cautious treading was requisite. On reaching the arrete above the shoulder, they could see the steep side of the mountain, which was the scene of the

Climbing,

reached the top at 9.30, and, after little more than an hour spent in admiring the glorious view, they commenced their descent. Their course had been watched through telescopes from Zermatt and the Riffel, and their arrival on the summit hailed with pleasure. They found no particular difficulty in the descent; but, of course, they used every precaution. The long climb down the face of the mountain was, however, very fatiguing. They reached the hut at 3.30, and, after some rest, continued the descent to Zermatt, where they arrived at 9.30, amid the con. gratulations of the visitors, who had all taken a great interest in the exploit. The guides, of course, were chagrined at their success, as somewhat damaging to their prospects.

A BLIND Swiss girl, who is an adept at fine needle. work, recently sent to the Emperor of Germany a table-cover, exquisitely worked with her own hands; and, to avoid the appearance of having sent the present in expectation of getting something in return, she omitted her address, and simply signed herself "A Blind Girl in Switzerland." The mon

arch was so pleased with the gift, and the manner of sending it, that he caused the German Minister in Switzerland to ascertain the girl's name and address, whereupon he sent her a valuable brooch and an autograph letter of thanks.

ORIGIN OF THE CHINESE QUEUE.-The history of the Chinese queue is told by the Rev. Julius Doolittle, a missionary in China, as follows: The first emperor of the present dynasty, who began to reign in 1644, having usurped the throne, determined to make the tonsure of Manchuria, his native country, the token of the submission of the Chinese to his authority. He ordered them to shave all the head except the crown, and allowing the hair on that part to grow long, and to dress it according to the custom of Manchuria. The Chinese had been accustomed, under native emperors, to wear long hair over the whole head, and to arrange it in a tuft or coil. The change was gradual, but finally prevailed through the empire. At first those who shaved their heads and conformed to the laws received, it is said, a present of a tael of silver, after a while only half a tael, and then only a tenth of a tael, and afterwards only an egg-finally even an egg was not allowed. The law requiring the people to shave the head and braid the queue was not only rigidly enforced by the pen

but a very steep slope of rough, broken rock; and a short distance off was a cord hanging down from a rock, bleached with time, a melancholy memento of that event. No party has ever since crossed that fatal slope. There are now some chains fixed to staples in the rock, and, by the help of these, the party ascended the steep, rocky arrete, which forms the upper boundary of the dark triangle so conspicuous at the summit of the mountain. With the help of the chains, they found no difficulty in this part of the ascent, the fatal ice slope being avoided by keep. ing near to the arrete on the left; though, of course, extreme caution in stepping was required. In this way they reached the summit of the mountain, which was covered with snow, curling over the black sheer precipice on the Italian side; the other face, covered with snow, being so steep as to render the greatest care necessary, and obliging the party to keep roped together. As they moved, one of the party put his foot through the snow, and they could see through the hole far down to the plain below. On this ridge are three points, the middle being the highest; on this they found a pole set up, to which they added a crossbar, with their names. They

that those who did not conform to the wishes of the dominant dynasty would never become successful in a lawsuit against those who did conform, nor would they succeed at the literary examinations.

A FRENCH physician makes the remarkable statement that one-half at least of the so-called drowned persons are buried alive, and that they may be brought to life by proper treatment after having been "several hours under water." His remedy is to get out the water, pour in and inject alcoholic stimulants, and use a whip energetically, or hot irons in bad cases. The statement has been partially confirmed by the resuscitation of a man after he had been under water in one of the Seine baths for more than twenty minutes.

AT the Brussels International Exhibition Italy exhibits several furnaces proposed for cremation purposes. As a specimen of the merits of his modus operandi, one enterprising inventor shows a bottle containing a human body reduced to a weight of about two pounds.

NEW ENGLAND EPITAPHS.-There is hardly an old graveyard in New England, says the Boston Advertiser, where plenty of odd or original epitaphs may not be found by the patient seeker who will brave the tangles of roses and briers or wade through the long grass where the old stones are half hidden. The lichens must be scraped away, and often the lettering be traced by a careful pencil or sensitive finger; but this work of Old Mortality is seldom fruitless almost always it brings to light quaint expressions, awkward and ungrammatical attempts at comfort and moral teaching. Yet there is often great vigor and singular fitness in these rough verses, making them far better than the smooth platitudes in rhymes which are put on newer stones. In Manchester (Massachusetts) we find these:

"Death through this family has gone,
Of all the males there 's not one.
His arrow swift, his bow so strong,
No mortal soul can ever shun
And when on one his hand doth try,
He points his dart and it doth stay.
This family has felt the stroke,
And youth has vanished like an oak-
Like chaff before the wind.
Death sweeps away where it begins,
Friends no more our voices hear,
For they are gone we know not where."

"The Eminently Pious Edward Lee,
Died in 1793,
Aged 64.

If real worth demands a tear,
Stop, reader, pay the tribute here;
The man of God beneath this stone,
Equalled by few, excelled by none.'
This, also, on a wife of twenty-one years:-
"Stop, blooming youth, and ponder o'er my dust:
In life's bright prospects, oh, put not your trust;
Could infant cries, or friends, or partner dear,
Prolonged my life, you would not found me here.
Dear youth, take warning from my early grave-
Oh, look to Jesus Christ your soul to save."
These two, on sailors:-

"A son of ocean, just and brave,

Beloved and honored, fills this grave."

"Though Boreas' blast and Neptune's waves Have tossed me to and fro,

In spite of both, by God's decree,
I harbor here below.

Now here at anchor I do lie,

With many of our fleet,

In hope again for to set sail

My Saviour Christ to meet."

BRIGHT green snakes, just as pretty as it is possible for any snake to be, have been discovered in the Black Hills. They are about the size of garter snakes, and are of a variety not found elsewhere in the United States.

ENGRAVING ON GLASS.-In the six hundred and twenty-fifth part of an inch the following words have been engraved upon glass: "Lowell & Senter, watchmakers, 60 Exchange Street, Portland. Written by Fremont, at Paris, 1852." This is equal to forty-six thousand eight hundred and seventy-five letters in the circle of an inch in diameter. The most powerful magnifying glass reveals only a few apparent scratches, but with a microscope of great power the inscription can be plainly read. The body of an ordinary pin, placed between the inscription and the microscope, completely covered the inscription, the circle in which it is inscribed being smaller than the head of a common pin.

But even this has been surpassed, the Lord's Prayer having been executed within the same compass; and within the one-hundredth part of a square inch, VOL. XCIII.-25

that is, the fiftieth of an inch in length, and the twohundreth of an inch in width, the following lines have been engraved:

"A point within an epigram to find,
In vain you often try;

But here an epigram within a point
You plainly may descry."

The process of engraving consists of a mechanism by which the point of the graver or stile is guided by a system of levers, which are capable of imparting to it three motions in right lines, which are recipro cally perpendicular, two of them being parallel, and the third at right angles to the surface on which the characters or designs are written or engraved.

KISSING. Two of our New York contemporaries are at present engaged in a little controversy concerning a very sweet and interesting question, viz. : Whether it is right or proper for a young lady who indulges in moonlight strolls to permit her escort to kiss her on the doorsteps. In this controversy we have another singular illustration of the inconsistency of newspapers. The Sun, which is usually regarded as the most unblushing of New York dailies, holds up its types in holy horror at the bare idea of a young lady kissing any young man to whom she is not engaged, while the World, a virtuous and matronly old fogy, believes and stoutly maintains that in the mouths of sensible and discreet maidens who may be trusted to a "moonlight stroll" the right to kiss and to receive kisses may also be trusted, not only with perfect impunity, but also with advantage. "The Sun must admit," says the World, "that the harm which it professes to fear lies not in the kiss itself, but in the intention of the kisser or kissee. Given a kissee of good sense and discretion, qualities. enabling her not only to choose a kisser of good and religious motives, but also to receive his kiss with pious and proper intent, then let the kiss be gently but firmly placed where it will do the most good, not hastily and clumsily on the nose, and if a body kiss a body need a body cry ? We trow not."

It appears to us that there are two sides, as well as lips, to the question. Granted that there are many forms of kisses, harmless as well as harmful, it is a generally-accepted social rule that no young lady has a right to receive or permit a liberty from a gentleman not a relative which she would not acknowledge in the light of day and in the presence of the world. An accepted lover may, of course, kiss his fiancée, but even then a strict sense of delicacy will deter a virtuous young woman from receiving more than a moderate share of these seals of affection. Engagements in these modern days, like marriages, very often end in smoke, and a husband always feels more contented if he knows or believes that his wife has not been prodigal of these favors to half a dozen fellows before him. On the whole, therefore, we agree with the Sun in this matter.

American girls have an abundance of personal liberty already, too many opportunities, indeed, for permitting the advances of unscrupulous and designing men. Our country women abroad have acquired a reputation for boldness and brusquerie, the result, no doubt, of that lack of strict training which forms a guard to virtue, and so much adorns it. We conclude that, except in the case of a very near relative or a prospective husband, kissing between man and woman is not only improper, but vulgar. We have had quite enough of paroxysmal kissing and all that rubbish in this country already, and the sooner we do away with such false sentiment the better for our sisters, sweet hearts, wives, and daughters, and for that purity and virtue which ought to be the glory of a nation.-Chicaco Inter-Ocean.

BEAUTIFUL EXPERIMENT.-An experiment of exceeding beauty and delicacy, indicating the action of cerebral activity, is due to Dr. A. Mosso, of Turin. At a recent meeting of the French Academy of Sciences, Professor Claud Bernard explained by means of a simple apparatus the method employed. To the physiologist it is well known that the circulatory vessels expand and contract under the action of the blood. It is quite possible that at one time the veins and arteries are more fully charged than at another time. When the blood is driven from the brain into the body the veins increase in size, and the opposite takes place when the blood is sent from the body back into the brain. Any excitement of a centre of nervous action draws towards it an increased circulation. Believing that this action could be physically demonstrated, Dr. Mosso conceived the following simple experiment, which was fully illustrated by M. Bernard. A glass vessel, large enough to hold a man's outstretched arm in it, there being an aperture in the side big enough to admit the arm, was used. The arm of the person to be experimented upon was made to fit exactly in the orifice, so that there could be no escape for the warm water with which the vessel was filled. Connected with the water was a thin glass tube, something like a thermometer tube, in which water is placed. Of course, the level of the water in the tube being determined, the least rise or fall of the fluid is appreciable. Dr. Mosso's experiment demonstrated beyond the least doubt that the faintest mental effort on the part of the person who was experimented upon caused an appreciable lowering of the water level, showing that the blood left the arm, diminishing its actual volume, and went to the brain. As those component parts which go to make up the limb of the person, such as flesh and bone, were incapable of rapid change, the difference in bulk could not have arisen from any other cause than the draining off of a certain amount of blood from the arm. So sensitive did this experiment show itself to be, that when the person had his attention attracted, by the reading of a book or a newspaper, instantly the bulk of his arm diminished; even the entrance of a new comer into the room produced a visible effect. We know that when food is presented to a hungry man an involuntary flow of saliva takes place. It is, then, fairly deducible from this fact that in any mental effort an extra quantity of blood surges to the brain. This very ingenious experiment, if carried further, may mark an exceedingly interesting period in biological research.

SNAKES AND HINDOO JUGGLERY.-There is cer tainly much that is curious in the snake-charmers of the East; nor has any one yet thoroughly explained the method of many of their tricks. The men themselves, always of low caste, possess an amazing command of the deadly varieties of reptiles, which they bring in flat wicker baskets to the door of any one who will pay a trifle for the exhibition. They lift the lid, and out glides the dreaded cobra; but at a pluck of his tail, or a light touch with a stick, the "living death" rears his head and neck, puffs out his hood, and dances time to the sound of the tumbi, a rude instrument which the samp-wallah blows upon, being a gourd stuck over with the red and black seeds of the abrus precatorius, and fitted with a double reed. The gray, horrid eyes of the serpent fix themselves steadfastly upon the man's gourd, or turban, and the creature nods backwards or forwards, this way or that, with an obedient movement which follows every bend of the charmer. Armed with the same rude musical instrument, these men profess, as is well known, to be able to draw venomous snakes from

their holes; but it may be doubted whether the reptiles care for the playing, or even hear it, since the auditory apparatus of the cobra is imperfectly devel oped, and in Burmah as well as Egypt they play the same trick with the snake, not only without any such music, but when the fangs are not extracted, as they almost always are in the case of these tamed reptiles.

The majority of cobras carried about by these men will be found not only fangless, but with the fang. gum cauterized, so that the poison teeth cannot grow again. At the same time instances are common enough, like those quoted by Forbes in his Oriental Memoirs, to show that many of the charmers are not at all afraid to handle new-caught and deadly snakes, as indeed everybody must confess who has watched them at work in an Indian garden. Mr. Nicholson, in his excellent book on Indian ophiology, has very truly pointed out that even the deadliest snakes may be taken up with impunity by those who have nerve and quickness of touch. Unless frightened or hurt, they are remarkably slow to exercise their power. They seem to have an instinct which warns them to economize it for a real extremity; for once spent by angry striking, the cobra, it seems, must have time to collect his lethal force-not, however, his venom, for he ejects but a drop of that at each stroke. Mr. Nicholson says: "I have often envied the nerve of a man here who puts his hand into a narrow-mouthed basket containing several fresh cobras, and picks out the one he wants, without the slightest objection on the part of the snake beyond a furious hissing."

The great thing is, in fact, not to terrify the terrible naga; and half the mystery of the business stands explained when this odd amiability in the deadly cobra is understood, and the perfectly collected man. ner of the charmers is also observed. The snake, judiciously handled, seems to know he will not be hurt, and even when he emerges, indubitably fresh and fatal, from his hole, it is a lesson which Rarey would have treasured to see how the charmer presses his head quietly to the ground, and takes him up calmly and smilingly, hissing and expanded, though one-sixteenth of an inch of that curved needle-tooth driven in earnest is death beyond hope. In illustra tion of this curious good temper in poisonous snakes, we may mention that the Hindoos have little or no fear of them. It is considered rather lucky to have a cobra in the chuppur of the hut, and the children put out milk and eggs every night for "their uncle," who keeps down the rats, and will live a whole season about the place without doing any kind of harm.

THE SIOUX WOMEN.-These Indian girls are a very happy set, and if the old women are bent from being hewers of wood and carriers of water, the men do their part in hunting and fighting. The girls are at once both modest and bold. They will stand and gaze into your windows for a quarter of an hour at a time, but having once ventured to hint to one of them that her ways were most winning, the poor child was so overcome that she ran away, hid her face in her robe and refused to be comforted. The manner of love-making among them is strange. When afflicted with Cupid's dart the young men go about wearing their blankets in such a manner as to cover up all the head except the eyes, and, having spied the object of their affection, they slip up behind her quickly, throw the blanket over her head also, and, holding her tightly around the waist, compel her to listen to the soft accents of love. In case of a popular belle, they will sometimes range themselves in a line at the door of her wigwam, and when she comes out pass her from one to the other as she in turn unburdens her surcharged heart.

First Story contains a hall and vestibule, 12 feet wide: a fine parlor, P, 18 by 28 feet: SR sitting-room with alcove, 20 by 16 feet: a general family room, L 20 by 20 feet: a library adjoining; a kitchen, 20 by 20 feet, with back stairs: ample store rooms, pantries, etc.; dining-room, 15 by 20 feet: a fine hot-house and conservatory, large porches for carriages, also fine verandas with bower.

The Second Story contains fine chambers marked C, with all necessary wardrobe closets, bath-rooms, to make it a full and complete building: six fine chambers are organized above the second floor.

The second edition of Hobbs' Architecture, greatly enlarged and improved, will be sent, postage paid, upon the receipt of $3.50. Address for all information of books and architecture to Isaac H. Hobbs & Son, 804 North Eighth Street, Philadelphia.

"CIVIL SERVICE REFORM."

THE papers talk about,

And it's needed, massy knows!
The world is more uncivil
The older that it grows:
And manners ain't as common
Among the folks at large.
As when the lively school-marm
Used birch upon her charge.
The mothers think o' fashion
And outward show and dress,
And sarvants takes the children
And teaches 'em the less
O' morals and o' manners,
And civilness and sich,
While fathers think o' nothin'
Exceptin' gettin' rich.
It's time that bein' civil

Was made ter be the rule,
In houses and in churches,
In streets and in the school;
And sartin time that sarvants
Was taught that some amount
O' civil tongue is needed,
And thought o' some account.
SALLY JERUSHA.

You can always find a sheet of water on the bed of the ocean.

AN EDITOR FROM SIAM.-Nearly thirty years ago Rev. Samuel J. Smith left Philadelphia to perform missionary labor in Siam, in southeastern Asia, for the American Baptist Missionary Union. When the funds of the Missionary Society ceased to sustain the Siamese mission, Mr. Smith and his talented wife nobly resolved to sustain themselves by teaching, by translating, and by the publication of the Siamese Weekly Advertiser. Mr. Smith was ordained in Philadelphia, in 1848, in the old Sansom Street Church. He is the pastor of a Siamese church at Bangkog, the capital of Siam. Previous to Mr. Smith's entering the ministry, he had served an apprenticeship at the printing business in the office of T. K. & P. G. Collins, Philadelphia. He is now engaged in writing a history of the Centennial Exposition for his paper in Siam.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

UNDER this head will be found all information connected with MSS., and answers from the Fashion Editress.

In sending an order to the Fashion Editress, the cash must always accompany it, or it will not be attended to.

All persons requiring answers by mail must send a post-office stamp; and for all articles that are to be sent by mail, stamps must be sent to pay return postage.

Be particular, when writing, to mention the town, county, and State you reside in. Nothing can be made out of post-marks.

Any person making inquiries to be answered in any particular number must send their request at least two months previous to the date of publication of that number.

Authors are requested to pay full letter postage on all MSS. Hereafter we will not take any MS. from the post-office when the full postage has not been paid. M. E. A.-Sent patterns August 1st. Miss B. R. H.-Sent lead comb 1st. Miss. S. E. D.-Sent necklace 2d. Mrs. F. W.-Sent patterns 2d.

Mrs. S.-Sent gloves, 3d.

Miss E. H.-Sent crochet cotton 5th.

Dr. H.-Sent article by express 5th.

Mrs. J. C. H.-Sent tea-tidies, 7th.

Miss Helen.-Sent rubber gloves 9th.

Miss M. T.-Sent ribbons 9th.

Mrs. D. V. R.-Sent infant's clothing 11th.
Miss J. S.-Sent embroidery 19th.

"The Heart's Yearning," and "The Whisper at Even Tide," declined.

Plum. The Damson plum takes its name from Damascus, where it grows in great quantities. It was known as a fruit in the year 114 B. C.

Young Musician.-Practice regularly every day: let nothing interfere with this. When you are playing, never trouble yourself about who is listening.

M. A. L.-Green gloves are emblematic of jealousy. We know of no other meaning attached to them. Mrs. R. H.-You will perceive that we have availed ourselves of your suggestion.

Rose. It is not safe to cut your eyelashes. Julia. We think the color of the hair bestowed by nature is better suited to the complexion than any that can be obtained by artificial means.

Fred.-Camphor and borax we consider the best wash for the hair.

M. R.-The "Sicilian Vespers" was a name given in history to the massacre of the French which oc curred at Palermo, in Sicily, on the 12th of March, 1282, at the hour of vespers, on Easter Monday, in which great numbers, including women and chil dren, were slain.

ashions.

NOTICE TO LADY SUBSCRIBERS. HAVING had frequent applications for the purchase of jewelry, millinery, etc., by ladies living at a distance, the Editress of the Fashion Department will hereafter execute commissions for any who may desire it, with the charge of a small percentage for the time and research required. Spring and autumn

bonnets, materials for dresses, jewelry, envelopes, hair-work, worsteds, children's wardrobes, mantil. las, and mantelets will be chosen with a view to economy as well as taste; and boxes or packages forwarded by express to any part of the country. For the last, distinct directions must be given.

When goods are ordered, the fashions that prevail here govern the purchase; therefore, no articles will be taken back. When the goods are sent, the trans. action must be considered final.

Instructions to be as minute as possible, accompa nied by a note of the height, complexion, and general style of the person, on which much depends in choice.

The publisher of the LADY'S BOOK has no interest in this department, and knows nothing of its trans. actions; and whether the person sending the order is or is not a subscriber to the LADY'S BOOK, the Fashion Editress does not know.

Orders, accompanied by checks for the proposed expenditure, to be addressed to the care of L. A. Godey, Esq.

No order will be attended to unless the money is first received. Neither the Editor nor the Publisher will be accountable for losses that may occur in remitting.

DESCRIPTION OF STEEL FASHION PLATE.

Fig. 1.-Evening dress of pink silk, with one boxplaited flounce around the bottom of the skirt. Low necked polonaise, with puffed skirt made of white gauze, and trimmed with lace and pink flowers; pink ribbon sash. Fink silk trimming the back, and finished with a bow. Hair puffed, with flowers at the side.

Fig. 2.-Walking dress of brown silk. The back is made with shirred puffs; apron overskirt with openings at the sides, laced across with narrow bands of silk. The skirt is trimmed with lace at the sides where the overskirt is fastened. Basque bodice, trimmed to correspond. Brown velvet bonnet, with feathers, lace, and flowers.

Fig. 3.-Carriage dress of two shades of purple silk. The underskirt is of the dark, the polonaise of the lighter shade, trimmed with the darker; sash of the dark. Velvet bonnet of the two shades, trimmed with feathers and flowers.

Fig. 4. Walking dress of myrtle-green silk and camel's-hair. The underskirt is of the silk, trimmed with narrow ruffles. The overskirt and basque of the camel's hair, trimmed with fringe; silk sleeves. Bonnet of silk, with trimming of velvet and flowers inside the brim.

Fig. 5.-Walking dress of navy-blue silk, made with a polonaise and underskirt; the polonaise buttoned down the back; the knife plaitings and rules are faced with cardinal red. Bonnet of navy-blue, with cardinal flowers and trimming.

DESCRIPTION OF EXTENSION SHEET.

FIRST SIDE.

Fig. 1.-Walking dress of plain and striped gray camel's-hair. The underskirt and sleeves are of the plain, the overskirt, basque, and trimming of the striped. Gray felt hat, trimmed with velvet, lace, feathers, and bird.

Fig. 2.-Underskirt of myrtle-green silk. Overskirt and basque of plaided wool goods, with sleeves and trimming of the silk. Green velvet bonnet, trimmed with flowers and feathers.

Fig. 3.-Walking dress of black silk, made with two skirts, the lower one trimmed with two ruffles with shirred tops; the upper skirt with one. Mantle of black Cashmere, trimmed with bands of silk and fringe and ribbon bows. Black velvet bonnet, trimmed with flowers and lace.

Fig. 4. Walking suit of brown cloth, made with one skirt, trimmed with a plaited ruffle; apron overskirt, trimmed with a band corded with silk. Basque sacque, long in front, short in the back, trimmed to