placed on a stand made movable by truckles. To complete the resemblance with the noblest animal in creation, a head and tail were added. When a soldier was sentenced to ride the horse, he was placed on the brute's back, with his hands tied behind him, and frequently enough, in order to increase the pain, muskets were fastened to his legs to weigh them down, or, as was jocularly said, "to prevent the fiery untamed barebacked steed from kicking him off."

The gantelope, or gauntlet, was another military and naval punishment for theft. A man had to run the gauntlet of a long file of his fellow soldiers, each provided with a switch, and to prevent the sinner going too

rapidly and to see that no man impelled by motives of friendliness or kindliness failed to strike hard, a sergeant walked backward, facing the said sinner, with a halberd pointed at the latter's breast. After a lengthy experiment this was found to be inconvenient and degrading; so recourse was had to another method-a variety of the same species of torture. The offender was tied to four halberds, three in a triangle and a fourth across. The regiment or company then filed off, the cat-o'-nine tails was placed in the hands of the first man, who gave the culpirt a lash and passed on, handing the cat to the second, who gave a lash, and so the game went merrily on.

ENGINEERS tell us that, notwithstanding the learning of scientists and the ingenuity of inventors, man realizes in the best machines he may construct only a small part of the energy that is in the coal he consumes for fuel. Much of it is dissipated by imperfect methods of combustion, and the losses continue all through the conversion of steam into water, the utilization of the steam to drive the engine, the transfer of power to the machines to be operated, and in the friction of the machines themselves.

Ever since the introduction of steamengines the ingenuity of scientists and mechanics has been directed to a reduction of those losses. They have accomplished much, but to-day the waste of energy exceeds the use that is made of it. Outside of the mechanicd world there is a similar waste of energy continually going on, but it can not be measured and weighed, and little attention is paid to it. Yet just as the energy stored up in coal is of such high value that it is well worth the efforts of the brightest minds to seek means that will prevent its waste, so the energy represented by strong impulses should be conserved and utilized to the highest advantage.

Sometimes the waste of moral energy is due to imperfect combustion. It is not fanned or encouraged, and makes but a feeble effort for want of encouragement. Very often there is loss through friction by a conflict of energies. Men can not agree as to what should be done in a particular case, and they waste their energies in argument and dispute, neglecting the work they have to do. And sometimes they enter into needless competition and waste their energies in doing over

again that which would be accomplished by energies already at work.

This is notably the case in the work that falls to the lot of voluntary associations laboring without concert of action. All of us know how schools and libraries are started in a feeble sort of way in competition one with another, when if they should unite their forces they might make one great center of energy in a community, accomplishing more good than falls within the power of the separate units. The difference between what can be done by a great college richly endowed and that which is done by half a dozen struggling colleges having in the aggregate equal endowment represents an enormous waste of energy for which a remedy should be found. Although charitable organizations in many communities have for some years endeavored to act in concert, they, too, are responsible for much waste of energy. They spend more than is necessary in administrative expenses in the effort to maintain many separate organizations with a common object in view, and they become. successive victims of swindlers not deserving help at all, yet managing to get more than those who are in real distress.

The waste of energy in commercial life is enormous, but the world has not advanced far enough toward socialism on the one hand or monopoly on the other to apply a remedy in business affairs. It is possible, however, to do a great deal toward preventing a waste of energy both by individuals and by associations organized for educational and charitable work. The boy who shows that he is possessed of energy should be encouraged to use it in the right way and to good purpose. It is

a gift to be valued as much as bodily strength or mental power. "Energy may be turned to bad uses, but more good may always be made of an energetic nature than of an indolent and impassive one."

Young people who act upon strong impulses should not be repressed, but guided to expend their energy on worthy objects; thus they may not only be strengthened in right-doing, but have preserved that enthusiasm of spirit which is the cause of their energy. To repress the spirit is to put a check upon the generation of power. In associated work waste of energy may

be lessened, if not avoided, by conference of those engaged in similar labors, with the purpose in view to avoid direct rivalry and make their efforts supplemental to each other. Thus in the educational field the multiplication of similar schools in the same neighborhood may be avoided. Each can take its specialty or one may move to a new field of usefulness. Charities may be conducted as now. with the exception that by means of a central organization each may be kept advised as to what others are doing, and duplication of effort may thereby be avoided.

IF ALL generals had died at Alexander's age, all poets at Marlowe's, all statesmen at Pitt's, all philosophers at Spinoza's, how many men would have missed reputation. Hannibal, indeed, was only 29 when he invaded Italy, Conde but 22 when he won Rocroi, and Napoleon, according to the alleged date of his birth, 27 (more probably 29) when he started on his Italian campaign; but Cæsar was 45 when he commenced the conquest of Gaul, Gustavus Adolphus 37 when he defeated Tilly at Leipsic, and Cromwell. 45 when he gained Marston Moor. Frederic II., though only 28 on overrunning Silesia, was 43 when he embarked in the Seven Years' War. Washington was 43 on his appointment to the command of the army. Wellington, had he died at 39, would have been known merely as a promising

Indian officer.

Keats, dying at 25 Shelley at 30, Byron at 36, had achieved fame; but

these are brilliant exceptions of precocity. Had Goethe been as shortlived as Marlowe, he simply would have been the author of "Götz von Berlichingen" and of "Werther," works which can not compare with those of the men just named. Even Shakespeare, early as he began to write, would not, had he died young, have bequeathed us "Othello," "Hamlet," "Macbeth," or "Lear," but merely his minor plays, some of them remodled rather than original works. Spencer was 37 when he began publishing the "Fairy Queen. Milton was 52 when he set himself to writing "Paradise Lost. Dante was

37 when he was banished from Florence, and he had scarcely commenced his great poem. Virgil was 34 when he began the "Georgics," and 44 when he began the "Æneid." Tennyson, though only 21 on his first appearance in print, was 41 on the publication of "In Memoriam;" but Browning at 30

had issued examples of nearly all his varied work, ranging from "Pauline" to some of his most famous dramatic lyrics, 'and including "Pippa Passes." Schiller, it is true, produced his "Brigands," the work of fervid youth, at 22, but he was 40 when he commenced with "Wallenstein" his series of masterpieces. Burns, again, was famous at 27, but Scott was 37 when "Marmion" appeared, and Wordsworth was 44 when "The Excursion" saw the light, though it may have been years in preparation.

Statesmanship and youth can not be expected to go together. Pitt, indeed, was prime minister at 24, Burleigh was Elizabeth's minister at 38, and Walpole was premier at the same age; but Walpole's long lease of power did not commence till he was 44. Fox was 56 when he became foreign secretary. Palmerston did not reach the highest post till he was 70, his long premiership not beginning till he was 75. Gladstone was not premier till 59. Beaconsfield, albeit premier for a few months at 62, was 68 when he entered on a six years' term of office. was 50 when he overtook the liberation of Italy. Bismarck was 48 when he gained power.

Cavour

Philosophy also implies mature years. Pascal, indeed, died at 39, but Bacon was 59 when he published the 'Novum Organum;" Descartes 48 when he fully expounded his doctrines in his "Principles of Philosophy;" Hobbes 54 when he appeared in print; Kant 57 when he issued the "Critique of Pure Rousseau, only 37 when he wrote his paradoxical defence of barbarism, was 50 when he published his "Social Contract.”

Historians likewise require experience of life and years of research. Buckle, it is true, died at 39, and

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Froude began his history at 38; but Hume and Prescott were 43, and Macaulay 48, when their first volumes appeared.

Even novelists are sometimes of

tardy development. Scott was 43 when, renouncing poetry, he wrote "Waverly." Manzoni, inspired by his example, was exactly of the same age when he issued "I Promessi Sposi.' Cervantes was 53 when "Don Quixote" saw the light. Thackeray was 35 before he made his first hit with "Vanity Fair," and George Eliot 36 when she essayed fiction. Washington Irving was only 26 when he produced "Knickerbocker," and Richter only 31 on the appearance of "Hesperus;" but Rabelais was probably 40 when "Gargantua" made him famous. Swift wrote "Gulliver" at 41, and "Sterne Shandy" at 46.

For founders of sects no rule can be laid down. George Fox, in the ferment of the civil wars, began his career at 23, and Wesley commenced itinerant preaching at 35; but Mahomet was 40 when he found his vocation, and Swedenborg, had he died at 60, would have been known only as a scientist.

Great as have been some men who died young, who knows how much greater they would have been had their lives been prolonged! Michael Angelo showed astonishing precocity, but he owes to his 89 years his great renown as painter, sculptor. and sonneteer. Voltaire's fame, again, rests on the entirety of his writings, not on any single work, and on the literary dictatorship with which age invested him. Cut off twenty years of his life, and his fame would preceptibly shrink. the, Emerson, Carlyle, Longfellow, Tennyson, Hugo, Dumas, all had the advantage of fullness of years, so as to be judged by bulk as well as quality.

Goe

Humbolt, too, owed to his 90 years a portion of his reputation. The true comparison would obviously be between works produced at the same age,

or between men dying at about the same age: but it is much easier to test acheivement than capactiy.

OUR road lay through groves of graceful and luxuriant palms, and thickets of flowering shrubs whose delicious fragrance scented the sunny air. Here and there we passed a group of flamboyants, magnificient trees, well named "The Flame of the Forest, so gorgeous are the masses of scarlet and gold blossom which rest on delicate feathery foliage of dazzling green. Especially fascinating to us was the Hibiscus mutabilis, a shrub whose masses of rose-like blossoms daily change from white to crimson.

Each morning sees the bush covered with newly-opened flowers gleaming like freshly fallen snow, and ere the sun sets all have assumed a lovely rose-color. Amid the flame-colored and golden blossoms, flitted splendid butterflies, velvety-black with crimson spots, or pale blue, yellow, and green, and brilliant, metallic-looking dragonflies.

Flowers, familiar to us only as store and hot-house treasures, were there in wild luxuriance-ipomeas, convolvuli, orchids, the quaint pitcher-plant with its fringe of rich color, and many another blossom; while ferns which we deem rare and precious, formed a rich undergrowth of golden green. The loveliest of all were the climbing ferns, which, creeping on delicate hair-like stems, form a tangle of exquisitely dainty foliage, veiling trees and shrubs. In some districts I have seen these

growing to such a height, and hang ̄ ing from the trees in such dense masses, that the natives cut them as we would bracken, and use them for thatch, the long, hair like stems reaching down to the ground and acting as rain conductors.

Here and there clumps of graceful bamboo waved their feathery branches, and broad shining leaves of the yam, resembling huge caladium, and the still larger and more glossy plantain, clustered round the picturesque native huts, whence pleasant, cherry-looking people, or curious small brown children, come to offer us flowers or wonderfully ingenious toys made of strips of palm-leaf, twisted into stars, wheels. birds of paradise, and all manner of strange forms, suspended on long thin grasses, so as to tremble and quiver with a breath.

Before these novelties had lost their first charm, we had reached our destination, a hill clothed with cocoa and other palms, overlooking a fair valley richly wooded, and through which a broad river, glittering like silver, and with a thousand silvery veins, was winding westward to the "fair wide sea."

We sat on the grassy headland, and watched the incoming of the tide, soft gray and blue and gleaming green blending in its silvery shield. Presently, as the sun lowered, the light grew golden, and poured in misty rays