ling, golden tresses, or mischievous, rosy mouth; or in her

SLINGING LETTER-BAGS ACROSS A NULLAH IN THE half-tender, half-taunting air and manner, no one could say;

RAINY SEASON.

DURING the rainy season in India the whole face of the country is changed. The ravines and gulleys become torrents, and traveling, always difficult in that country, in some places becomes all but impossible.

The endurance of the coolies is something wonderful. They are the running and working class of the nation. They carry the palanquins, run with the messages, and in short perform every species of work. Their ingenuity is equal to their endurance--sagacious and active, their incessant exercise is to them what training is to an athlete. There is not a spare ounce of flesh on their bodies; all is hard, dry muscle. In the picture on page 353, we give a sketch of the manner in which they carry the mails across the nullahs or swollen streams in the rainy season. It is so simple and apparent that it requires no explanation. We may remark, that such is the astonishing endurance and speed of these coolies that they have been known to travel eighty miles in one day, and on one occasion one of them went one hundred and forty-seven miles in fiftyeight hours. This was during the great Sepoy rebellion of 1858. All the provisions they carry is a little rice.

GUY HILLIARD'S SKELETON.

but it was generally agreed upon that she was quite a beauty.

Volet was uniformly kind to her many suitors, making her denials, when necessary, so sweetly, that the rejected ones felt almost as much favored as the accepted. And when Guy Hilliard came to succeed the deceased surgeon of the village, although he was a young man of fine appearance and excellent character, it was a long while before the little village beauty vouchsafed to him the least sign of preference. But perseverance and patience, as they generally do, succeeded at last; and, in due course of time, one tender, moonlit eve, under a honeysuckle arbor, in the old squire's garden, the young man plead his cause in true lover-like fashion, and was transported into the third heaven of bliss by being accepted. The old squire made no objections; and after a proper lapse of time, the young couple were united amid a bewildering profusion of laces and white flowers; and the poor lov-lon swains of Readsville were left to console themselves as they could.

Everybody was surprised to see what a loving, exemplary wife Violet made. She had been so gay as a girl, so full of mischief, so petted and flattered, that some of the Readsville wise cres shook their heads and hinted that Guy Hilliard might repent bis bargain; but, on the contrary, he rejoiced over it anew every day, regarding it as the best transaction of his life.

They had a cozy little villa on the outskirts of the town, ail embowered with trees, and a flower-garden in front; and the VIOLET HEATH was an only daughter. Pretty, highly accom- young surgeon must have regarded it as the sweetest, happiest plished, and very sprightly withal, she reigned supreme in spot on earth, judging from the briskness of his step aud the Radsville, the pleasant little country town where her father brightness of his face, as he returned from his rounds of visits. resided. All the young men admired her; and, as a natural Violet was always at the gate to meet him, robed in some pretty, consequence, all the female population envied and strove to fresh apparel, her curls looped back with roses, and her blue imitate her. Still, it so turned out, that after all their trouble, eyes full of tenderness, ready to lead him to the tidy, wellthe Readsville girls never succeeded in looking like Violet; she ordered parlor and dinner-table. No wonder Guy was happywas purely original, with an air and style of her own that it was he would have been a monster if he had not been so. But after just impossible to imitate. Every one admitted that she was awhile, as if fortune was bent upon running his cup over, some. beautiful, yet it was a difficult matter to determine what con- thing else came to make him still happier--a small, dimpled, stituted her chief charm. Whether her chief charm consisted crowing babe, with eyes like its mother, and rings of hair that in her fair, dimpled face, or deep blue eyes, looking like half-looked like spun gold. Violet was in raptures, and Guy could blown forget-me-nots bathed in dew; or in her curling, crink- I scarcely wait for night to come in his eagerness to get home.

"Have you been out, Violet?" he asked, making a great shall I ever endure it! My wife-my darling wife-my Violet, effort to appear unconcerned.

Nothing; only I saw you putting away your dress; and and cooed amid the green leaves, making him envy their hapyou've got baby all rigged out in her finery."

1

CHARLES HERMANN, THE PRESTIDIGITATEUR.

minutes ago—and be has been here for hours. Violet I want to know what it means?"

She bent lower over her work, but made no answer. "Violet," he went on, his agitation increasing at a fearful rate, "I cannot live with you, if you persist in keeping this secret from me. My wife must have no skeletons in her closet. I have borne is as long as I can-as long as I will. I command you now to tell me all-to make everything clear or from henceforth our lives are divided."

Violet was very pale, and her fingers trembled nervously as she stitched away at her embroidery; still, that little, dancing, mischievious sparkle lit her eyes.

“Violet, will you explain?” urged her excited husband. "No, sir; I have no explanations to make."

He rose to his feet white and stern. "Then you are no wife of mine. I cast you off-wash my hands of you. You can go back to your father, and tell him that you have blighted and blasted my life, and broken my heart." She rose, also, and took up her babe. "I will go, Guy," she replied, quietly.

He stood still where she left him, listening to her light footsteps ascending the stairs. Was he awake-in his senses ?-was it a reality? Was she leaving him-his Violet-the mother of his babe-the only woman he had ever loved? He was on the point of rushing after ber and imploring her forgiveness; but that stinging pain came back to his heart and held him back. She was false to him-let her go. At that instant be heard her voice calling softly from the head of the stairs-"Guy, Guy, will you come up here, please? I want you a moment." He went up. She met him in the passage. "Bear with me, Guy," she said humbly; "I will go directly; but I have something to show you first."

BATHING ON THE JERSEY COAST.

355

We publish two sketches in our present magazine, which will, undoubtedly, remind many of our readers of some of their most joyous times. The mere fact of bathing is an exhilarating one, but when to this are added the fresh sea, the inspiring breeze, the healthful, sunny sky, the merry pranks of the children, the laughter which always leaps from the heart when we are engaged in something which, although perfectly proper, has a spice of the unusual about it-all these combine to make a day's splashing, dashing, and romping on the sea beach, one of the most glorious things in the world.

The pictures we publish represent scenes lately witnessed on the sea beach of Amboy, at the grand annual picnic of the New Jersey Farmers. Despite the unmerciful sarcasms poured out against that beautiful and independent little State, it preserves many of those time-honored customs which bind it to the past, as almost to justify the popular joke that it does not belong to the Union. It follows Shakspeare's advice, to choose "the most desertless meu" to be school trustees, &c., such as ferry masters, who, like railroad conductors, are the most economical of men, saving fortunes out of small wages, or oyster saloon keepers and rent collectors, who are equally valuable members of society-yet, in spite of all drawbacks and advantages, New Jersey retains many excellent customs, and has many noble institutions, as witness her apple-jack, cider and mosquitoes, the latter of which are almost as large as chickens, and are used, so a serious friend of ours decl tres, in some of the rural districts, to make pot pie.

Now, it is a custom with these old Jersey farmers to celebrate the second Saturday in August as a holiday, and living near the centre of the State, the love of change naturally leads them to fly to the circumference-in point of fact, the coast-consequently, upon the day in question, the gambols and fun seen at Raritan Bay defy alike pen and pencil. Bathing is with some people an acquired habit-the first plunge is always distasteful

She led the way to a small room just beyond their chamber, the same little sparkle burning in her eyes. Guy followed with a fierce, impatient stride. She threw open the door; and there, supported against the wall, was a portrait of herself, with the babe in her arms, as large as life. Her golden hair fell back from her smooth brow in shining ringlets, and her azure robe,—children, when first introduced to old Neptune, generally sweeping off from the shoulders in clouds of misty lace, fell to the floor in gorgeous folds. Never was anything so perfect or so lovely. And the babe, a mass of white embroidery, with a round, dimpled, laughing face, and chubby hands peeping out. Guy stared at the beautiful creation in utter astonishment; then, forgetting his wrath, his jealousy, everything in his joy, he exclaimed, "Oh, Violet, where did you get it? It is yourself over again, and the loveliest thing I ever saw."

"To-day is your birthday, Guy," she replied softly, and this is my present. I heard you say once that you would sooner have a portrait of me and the baby than anything else in the world; so I coaxed the money out of papa, and engaged an artist to paint it secretly, that I might give you a surprise. But he had to work hard to get it done against to-day."

squirm and whimper, but grown up girls invariably revel in bathing exercises, especially by moonlight. It converts them, for the time being, into Naiads. Every true woman is at heart an admirer of Diana, and as she modestly chose the silent watches of the night for herself and nymphs to disport in the crystal flood, there is certainly a great hereditary impulse in the female heart to follow the example of so charming a person as the Goddess of Purity.

CHARLES HERMANN, THE PRESTIDIGITATEUR

THE love of the marvelous is an ingredient of human nature, and our earliest histories contain many references to men who have speculated upon it, and represented themselves as supernaturally gifted. In latter days, of course, such a claim would only expose them to be laughed at, however clever they might be as conjurers, and consequently McAllister, Anderson, Heller, Blitz, and Hermann, simply come before us as men who, by

Poor Guy! the truth flashed on him like lightning. That was the secret: he had seen the artist going and coming, and had doubted his wife while she was working to please and gratify him. His face turned all manner of colors, and he stood in silence looking heartily ashamed of himself. "I am done now, Guy," Violet said, the mischievious dim- wonderful skill and sleight of hand, the result of long practice, ples deepening about her pretty mouth; "I will go."

so completely elude the scrutiny of the senses as to give an air

"Oh, Violet!" he burst out, "forgive me-forgive me? I of magic to the feats performed. It seems to be generally conhave been a great fool, I know--but forgive me, Violet.'

Holding her babe with one arm, she put the other round his shoulders and drew him close to her side. He bent his head to kiss her; but the babe gave a gleeful spring, and buried both fat fists in his whiskers.

ceded that Heller and Hermann excel their predecessors in the magical art, both of whom are familiar to the American public

since the former filled his hall for 360 nights, while the latter found even the large Academy of Music insufficient to contain his admirers. Despite the very clever feats performed by the "That's right, baby," laughed Violet, “pull them hard, he Prestidigitateurs we have named, for that name is more approdeserves it;" but she added the moment after, her eyes over-priate than those of magician, conjurer, necromancer-since flowing with tears, "Yes, Guy, I forgive you; but you must never doubt me again. "

"Never again, Violet," he answered tenderly. "You have cured me completely; we shall never have another skeleton."

To be cheerfully disposed at the hours of meals is one of the best signs of health.

rapidity of fingering is the secret-it would seem, from the concurrent testimony of recent travelers, that this art is carried to its highest state of perfection by the Arabs, some of them having performed feats which Houdin had tried in vain to penetrate,

This celebrated necromancer was born in Hanover, in 1821, and is one of a family of seventeen children. His father, who was a man of considerable ability, was a proficient in parlor magic and legerdemain, and, when the subject of our memoir

was quite a child, removed to Paris, where he supported him- RAISED PIES.-Take seven pounds of flour; then take one self by giving private entertainments in which his son Charles pound of mutton suet clarified down, put it into a saucepan assisted. On one occasion, while performing at M. Carnat's with one pint and a half of water, and set it over the fire till it academy, at Versailles, that gentleman was so much struck boils; make a hole in the middle of your flour, and pour in with the inteligence, beauty and vivacity of the juvenile artist, your liquor boiling hot; then mix in your flour with a spoon, that he offered to admit him, free of charge, among his pupils, till you can bear to put your hand in; mix it till it becomes a an offer which was promptly accepted by his parents. Here the rice smooth piece of dough, cover it with a cloth, and raise young Hermann remained two years, making wonderful pro- your pies with as much of it as will make the size you want ; gress in all his studies, but still retaining his boyish devotion when filled and nicely closed, wash with egg, and lay on vour to the paternal art. It was while at this academy, that, hap-ornaments. Your oven must be brisk, if for small pies; but if pening to wander, with one of his fellow scholars, into the for large ones, a more steady heat will be the best. forest of Fontainbleau, he ascended a tree aua commence i some of those bir warblings for which he is so remarkable. The family of Louis Poillippe, happening to pass beneath the tree, were astonished to hear such beautiful sounds, but still more astonished when the bird itseif, in the shape of young Hermano, came tumbling from the tree into the midst of them. This led to an invitation from the royal party to visit them a few days after. After several years practice in Paris, the great Prestidigitateur commenced his grand tour by crossing over to England, where he gave over 400 entertainments, to immense

SILVERING LOOKING GLASSES.--Take a sheet of tinfoil, and spread it upon a table; then rub mercury upon it with a hare's foot till the two metals incorporate. Lay the plate of glass upon it and load it with weights, which will have the effect of pressing out the excess of mercury that was applied to the tinfoil. In a few hours the tinfoil will adbere to the glass, and convert it into a mirror. About two ounces of mercury are sufficient for covering three square feet of glass.

EGG WINE.-Beat an egg, mix it with a tablespoonful of cold water; set on the fire one glass of white wine, half a glass of

water, some sugar, and a little nutmeg. When this boils, pour it on to the egg gradually, stirring it well. Then return the whole into the saucepan, put it on a gentle fire, and stir it one

way for about a minute. Serve with toast.

audiences, in Loudon, Dublin, Edinburgh, and, indeed, in all the principal cities of the United Kingdom. In 1850 he revisited his fatherland, where his succe-8 was almost magical. After visiting the principal German States he went to Italy, where the usual flattering reception awaited him. After another visit to Germany he went to St. Petersburg, where he remained a RED INK -It is well known that a solution of carmine in year, receiving many distinguished marks of public approba- caustic ammonia gives a fluid of a very beautiful tint. The foltion, among others, the Emperor Nicholas presented him with lowing proportions are recommended: Pure carmine, twelve a costly gold repeater. Warsaw was next visited, and Copen-grains; solution of ammonia, three ounces. bagen and the Hague, after which he performed before Leopoli in Brussels. Lisbon and Madrid were next visited by the enter

prising magician. In the latter place he presented the proceeds of several of his exhibitions, CO,000 francs, for the benefit of the Spanish soldiers wounded in the war against Morocco.

From 1859 to 1865 Hermann has visited Cuba, Brazil, Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, the United States, Turkey, Asia Minor, Egypt, England, and other places. The Sultan of Turkey was so much pleased that he conferred upon him the unusual honor of the Order of Merit.

In Havana he was presented, by the editors of that city, with a costly baton of solid gold.

Four years ago he made his debut at the Academy of Music, and the reception he met with was most flattering. He is now performing at the Academy of Music his farewell engagement, which there is every prospect of being brilliantly successful.

At the conclusion of his present engagement in this country, Professor Hermann intends visiting some portions of Eastern Asia, including the Celestial Empire; he then inte ads returning to Europe, where he will take a final leave of the profession to which he owes his fame and fortune. We have not space to enumerate the various marks of public favor which he has received from crowned heads. Wherever he has traveled he has reaped a rich harvest of golden opinions, as well as dollars.

HOUSEHOLD RECEIPTS.

Place the carmine

in a porcelain vessel; pour thereon the solution of ammonia; heat over a spirit-lamp for a space of five to eight minutes, carefully managing the temperature so as not to boil; and to the of powdered gum-arabic. When dissolved the ink is ready for solution thus formed, add (continually stirring) eighteen grains use. After using, the inkstand must be well closed. Instead of using carmine, which is expensive, drop-lake (being a mix ture of carmine precipitated with alum) may be employed, since the ammonia re-dissolves the carmine therefrom, and leaves the alumina.

TO PREPARE RABBIT SKINS.-Lay the skin on a smooth board, the far side undermost, and tack it in every direction, with tinned tacks. Dissolve two ounces of alum in a pint of warm water, and with a sponge dipped in this solution moisten the surface all over; repeat this every now and then for three days; when the skin is quite dry, take out the tacks, and rolling it up loosely the long way, the hair inside, draw it quickly backwards and forwards through a large smooth ring, or anything of a similar kind, until it is quite soft, then roll it the contrary way of the skin, and repeat the operation. Skins prepared thus are useful for many domestic purposes.

MUSHROOM CATSUP.-Sprinkle mushroom flaps, gathered in September, with common salt, stir them occasionally for two or three days; then lightly squeeze out the juice, and add to each gallon bruised cloves and mustard seed, of each, half an ounce; bruised allspice, black pepper and ginger, of each one ounce; gently heat to the boiling point in a covered vessel, macerate for fourteen days, and strain; should it exhibit any indications of change in a few weeks, bring it again to the boil

DUTCH SEALING WAX.-The best is made by melting lighting point, with a little more spice. colored shellac, four pounds; adding, first, Venice turpentine, one pound; and then Chinese vermillion, three pounds.

STIR-ABOUT-Oatmeal is excellent, stirred gradually into boiling water with a stick, having a little salt sprinkled into it. Boil it ten minutes alter the oatmeal has been put in, and stir it the whole time to keep smooth. If well done, it becomes a solid, stiff pudding. It should be eaten with a little milk or molasses. This is an excellent wholesome dinner or supper for children. The cottager should always have a clean bag, or earthen pan, full of oatmeal at home. It keeps well in a dry place; and so does rice and dried peas; a good store of these articles on a shelf, or in a box, would be economy in the end. The pea-e he might grow, and “ broken rice" can be bought equally clean and good as the very highest priced rice. A teacuprul of rice goes a great way in cooking.

MULTIPLYING COIN.-To increase a sixpence, apparently, to a shilling Get a glass of water and a plate. Put the sixpence into the tumbler, and then, covering it with the plate, turn it upside down on the table. The coin will seem as though on the plate, and appear a shilling; while the sixpence will seem to be floating on the top.

POITED OX-TONGUE.- Boil tender an unsmoked tongue of good flavor, and the following day cut from it the quantity desired for potting, or take for this purpose the remains of one which has already been served at table. Trim off the skin and rind, weigh the meat, mince it very small, then pound it as fine as possible with four ounces of butter to each pound of tongue, a small teaspoonful of mice, haif as much of nutmeg and cloves, and a tolerably high seasoning of cayenne. After the spices are well beaten with the meat, taste it, and add more if required.