LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2250, 18 June 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

LETTERS TO BARNUM. ["From the “Era.”] {Concluded.) Two or three mathematical wonders offered their services, but the one moat full of promise aa a ‘lightning calculator’ came from a Oentreville, Johnson County, Mo., corre spondent:—‘There Is a man in _this county worthy of yonr notice. He is a natural mathematician. Ho does all his work in hia head. He can tell yon how many times a car wheel, ao many inches in circumference, will torn round in going from here to St. Lonis, or from Fork to Philadelphia, or any distance, in aa quick time almost aa yon can ask him ; or anything in figures, no matter what it is. He can also tell you wh-t time of day it ia to the second any time yon may ask him Though ho is a truly wonderful and remarkable man, ho can neither read nor write, and ia what yon may call an idiot. Hia name is Rube Fields. ’

Two begging letters were next in succession, A destitute widow wanted Mr Barnum to pay her back rent for three months, A young woman in Boston had just been reading ‘ Struggles and Triumphs of P. T. Barnum, ’ and was ao filled with admiration for the anthor that she proposed to start out in life it herself. If Mr Barnum would buy her a sewing machine and piano -she coaid get along. A bogus sea serpent man sent the following shameless offer from Chicago : —“ The newspapers throughout the country are again getting up the excitement of the sea serpent. Why cannot he bo manufactured sixty to sixty-five feet long, that will defy detection, especially in a glass case, or waggon four or five feet long. The same to be made here or in New York, and shipped, for instance, to Month America, month of the Amazon Eiver ; and after an excitement through the press from that locality, a month or so before captured by two or three native fishermen, well paid. Don’t yon think this practical ? If so, I would like to help produce the monster, so as to let the people see the Amazon Sea Serpent at 50a, per head. Some may cry humbug. The one that does only invites ten to see if it ia or not,” From St. Louis was a long letter, finely written, in a woman’s hand. The writer was evidently a person of some acquirements. She said she was once a wealthy Southern woman, and had been impoverished by the war. She described herself as forty three years old, small, of good figure, and fasoinating manner. She was the mother of eight children, but so youthful was she in looks that she was often taken for a young girl. She desired Mr Barnnm’s advice on travelling to show her “remarkably youthful looks." An old man of Penn Yaa’ was the next correspondent. He said he was too old to work, and not fat enough for a curiosity. hut he thought he could ait on a stool and sell tickets.

Another juvenile letter writer from Waverley place. New York, said —“I have taken a great liking to a showman’s life. I am now eleven years of age. What I would like you to do is when 1 am sixteen years old yon will fit me oat a tent to perform in, and some small tents for the animals ; also to give some animals and waggons (or the same; and also for the tents ; I to pay one-fourth of the proceeds of every night’s performances to pay for everything that you provided me.”

The tone of the following from Kansas City gives rise to the suspicion that the author has been sent out with a show before " 1 have an invention by which I con walk upon the surface of the water with as mneh esse and safety as upon land, and would like to make arrangements to give exhibitions. This enables any person, with or without faith, to traverse the surface of the water at will, emulating the example of our Saviour upon the sea of Galilee, when he inspired Peter, his disolple, to do likewise.” A Philadelphia inventor, not Keety, offers to sell to Mr Barnum for 1,000 000 dole, an *' aerial battery.” A Connecticut journalist starts a letter by saying, I am in a devil of a fix.” He wants to borrow 40 dole. A Harford woman writes “Knowing that you tnke interest in anything that is not common, I have a daughter with such a particler mark that people that see her say they never see such a thing befor. Yon can see her at any time." A litter of foxes, a woman with no hair on her head or eyebrows, a double-headed calf, an Ulster County rattlesnake, two rare ooins, and a girl with a thirty-three Inch head are offered. An Osborn, Mo., man thus tells how he can do what no other man can do :—“ 1 can perform a trick that cannot be done by any one else, and that is pat my hand on the floor behind me and tarn under it with lOOlbs extra on my body, and I say I am the only one that can do this ; also, I will say that there la not the man made that con hold me on my back or that I cannot hold on his this |s business if you go the rounds next sumer or if still in the Show Biz I will ofer yon my Serveses." The next letter is from one of three maiden sisters, triplets, forty-one years old, and so alike that nobody can tell one from the other.. They would travel. A wheelbarrow tramp sends his piotnre and wants an engagement. So does a twelve-year-old girl actress in Canada. Two live humming birds are offered by an Albany lady. It Mr Barnnm does not want them, it is hinted that Mrs Barnum might like them. A Goshen, Ind., correspondent contributes this : —“I can make a machine that I can fly with. This you may give but little credit; but, sir, 1 can convince you of the troth of It. 1 have been unlucky urd lost 40,000 dols,, and left me a bankrupt, Now some money must he made. 1 have not the capital to make the flyer, neither the faculty to make the dimes with it when made that you would.” "Do yon want to buy a fine alligator ?” begins a Florida letter. "1 have a dog that has lost one leg, and travels just as well on the other three; also a cat that is crosseyed,” says a Winchester County lady. “Do you want a pure white oat without a white hair on her ?” inquires a Lynn woman. " I have a talking crow," writes a Cana dian, “ that is a great cariosity.” “I have csnght a back deer, what will you give for him P" a Sullivan County hanter writes. Another tri-colored tom cat is offered, a chicken that staggers like a drunken man, the bedstead on which Queen Elizabeth slept, a man who wants to row 1500 miles and exhibit his canoe when his feat is done an original of the newspaper containing Ben Franklin’s first editorial, a diagram for a sectional theatre to'travel on wheels, a fat boy, a lady’s writing desk made in 1805, a pair of block eagles, a girl twenty-two Inches high, a Mexican boy with forked feet, an invitation to subscribe to a churoh fund, and two opportunities to relieve the wants ef unknown people in distress, conclude the varity of subjects called to the great showman’s attention by his carious correspondents. PIPPO’S KEWAED. * If I could but buy it!’ He was only a little brown faced, bare footed Italian lad, and be stood with his wistful eyes fixed on the window of a dingy shop in a still more dingy London street. Above his head the hot sun poured down in burning rays, but he did not mind that; it reminded him of his own land on some dim cloudless afternoon, where he had had nothing to do save to be under the shade of the vines on the mountain side, or to listen to the music of some rill of water babbling under eoel green loaves, with a stone image sculptured ab -ve, that those who sought its shelter might also give due reverence to its patron saint. There were no vines here, and no babbling fountains and sculptured Madonnas; only hot streets and countless roofs, and bat chanco glimpses of bine sky far np above the housetops, Neither were there market days and feast days for innocent merry making ; nor any rest or peaco for bis weary little body since the crnel black browed padrone had brought him from across the seas to this country of want, and work, and endless misery. No. Thera was never any poaco for him now; any pause of time when he might dream day dreams of all things beautiful. All was noise, and turmoil, aod ceaseless clangour, and unending strife, and life was a sordid pitiful thing that left him only too often sleepless, and hungry, and footsore, and with a tired aching in his heart that ho could not put into any words 5 that even if put into words would have won for him nothing but mockery and jeers and perhaps blows. Blows—was that a blow now that fell on hii shoulder from which the ragged little shirt bad partly fallen t He started and shrank back with the timid, frightened

gesture of a beaten dog. But it ■was no blow this time, only the presanre of a strong hand on hia little shrinking form, ‘ What are you staring at so earnestly 1

asked a kind hearty voice in the language whioh the child aa yet only imperfectly understood.

• Nothing, Signor Inglese,’ he answered timidly, and shrank away with hia little broken fiddle under hia arm, aa though he had done something to bo aahamed of. ‘ Nothing ?’ Why, your eyes looked as if they would start out of your head. If it had been a cook-ihop, now, or a baker’s, 1 could have understood it; yon look half starved. Bat this old rubbishing bric-a-brac place What the deuce could you see there ?’ i He w s a young man who spoke, dressed in naval unform, but his loud hearty voice bewildered the little lad, whoso scant knowledge of English prevented his understanding what was said. He stood looking helplessly at the stalwart frame and sunburnt face of his interrogator, but something m the kind blue eyes gave him courage at last. He drew a step nearer. <I look but at—-this.’he said shyly, pointing to an old violin lying amongst a heap of mbbish in the window. ‘That! and what do you think of it? asked the young man wonderingly. ‘lt makes music/ faltered the child. ‘ Music!’laughed the young lieutenant, * and what of that Y The little lad's eyes grew soft and dreamy. • What ?’ he murmured in Italian ; * only that I love it; only that in all this great city it is the one thing that speaks to mo of the heme I have lost.’

‘ Poor little ohap,’ said hia interrogator regretfully ; ‘ I don’t understand yonr lingo, but I daresay you’re a victim of one of those rascally padrones who make a living by sending women and children into the 'streets to work for them. Would you like that fiddle ?’ he added slowly, pointing to the instrument as he spoke. The child did not understand the question, ao to make it clearer the young man walked into the shup, making a sign to the little lad to follow. An old Jew rose np from behind the counter and peered through the gloom at his customer. ‘Vhat yon pleashe sare ?’ he asked, rubbing his dirty hands slowly together as if he scented business. ‘ Let me see that fiddle you have In the window,’ said the young man. ‘ That—violine,' corrected the dealer, ‘ Well. I don’t know that the name makes any difference,’ returned his customer impatiently ; ‘haul it out of your hold, and let’s have a look at it. It doesn’t seem np to mneb, to judge by Its appearance.’ ' It ish one “var fine inshtrument, sare,’ exclaimed the Jew indignantly; *it ish an old Italian violine, of fine make, and of tone wonderful. Try it, sare.’ • Try it 1’ exclaimed his customer contemptuously; * yon don’t suppose I should play on a dirty blackened old thing like that ? If I ever perpetrated anything ia the musical line,’ ha added, laughing, * I should take care to have a fine brand-new instrument, at all events. ’ The Jew looked with unfeigned commiseration at this display of musical ignorance. ". r . ' ‘ A new violine,’ he exclaimed , * play on a new violine! Ah, sare, it ish plain you know not much of music,’

‘ You’re right there,’ laughed the young sailor; ‘ but I want to try what this youngster does. I found him looking very covetously at that rubblshly old piece of wood and catgut. Just hand it over here a minute.’

‘ Let that dirty little vagahone touch my Italian violine ? Neva •!' exclaimed old Jacobi with Indignation ; ‘do you take me for von fool, sare ? I thought it vas you that needed the inshtrnment for yourself; but that street brat ’

He turned away contemptuously, and thrust the viclm once more into its old'place among tbo cracked china, and dull brasses, and time-worn bronzes, and bits of genre, as he called them. The little lad, who had imperfectly understood the dialogue, clasped his hands despairingly together as he saw the coveted treasure put once more beyond his reach; but hia new protector was not to he easily baffled, and ho sternly ordered the Jew to give the instrument to him and tell him its price. * Twenty pounds!’ was the cool response, ‘ Twenty pounds !’ exclaimed the sailor, indignantly; *do you take me for a fool ?’ ’No, sare, for a shentlemans,’ answered the Teutonic Hebrew with a grin j * but if you vere a connoisseur you would know that this it? a fine old Italian instrument, and worth every penny of what I ask you.’ * Fat some strings on it, and let me hear what it is like,’ said his customer shortly. The old man obeyed, and presently handed the violin to its prospective purchaser with its bridge fixed and its strings in playful condition. -. ■

1 You vant a bow, too,’ he asked with a grin. ‘Of course,’ answered the young man loftily, though when the violin and bow were in his hands he knew nothing how to use them. 'I used to see old Jack Barber play the thing on board ship often enough,’ he said ruefully ; * but I’m blest if I know how to clap sail on myself. Here, boy,’ he added, nnheedlug the Jew’s remonstrance, 'see what you can make of it.’ The child, with reverend tender hands, and without an instant’s hesitation, began to play. Something in the little rapt face and earnest eyes, as well as in the instinctive grace with which he used the bow, and brought the long silent music from out of that old time-worn instrument, silenced the Jew’s remonstrances, and changed the young sailor’s laughing curiosity to a deep attention.

*By Jove 1 the little chap understands what he’s about,’ ha said In surprise; * curious, how natural music seems to these southern birds. What do you think of that, eh ?’ he asked old Jacobi suddenly. ‘ Tinki Why. that he vill spoil my violine, and I shall hold you responsible,’ was the strictly professional reply. The sailor gave a prolonged whistle. ‘Stow all that trash,’ he exclaimed indignantly ; * that lad knows more about the instrument than you do. Spoil it ? Those clever little fingers ? Bosh 1 I’ll tell yon what, though ; I’ll give yon five pounds for the old fiddle, and a deuced good offer it is, Take it or leave it, as you like. I can soon pick up another. I saw some at Levi’s, in H street, and he’s an old friend of mine.

' Levi ish mine cousin, and he is rich, and I am von ver poor dealer,’ screamed the old Hebrew excitedly; * but Levi has not in all his shop von single violine that is in the least degree as good as that. No, sare, yon vould not rob a poor old man ; yon vil give me for him ten pounds.’ ‘Five,’ and not a halfpenny more,’ was the resolute answer, as the yonng man took the violin from the child’s reluctant hand and placed it on the counter. ‘Seven—six—five pound ten,’ persisted the Jew in a moat broken voice, as each abatement was steadily ignored. ‘ Veil, veil, if it must it must. I make von great sacrifice, but it shall not be said that you ver ■ Impoahed on by one of my cousin Levi’s bad violines. No ; sooner vould I suffer myself than that, and von day you jnay again see a little instrument yon like—also it shall be a bargain—if yon go not to Levi. He is notin of a dealer, noting 1 I should not like to see a goot yonng shentleman like yon imposhed on by him.’ The youcg man laughed heartily at this tirade, and drew his parse out, ‘ All right; I won’t go to Levi,’ he said ; 1 now, put that fiddle la a case and hand it over, will you ?’ ‘ Shall I not send him for you ?’ asked the dealer persuasively; ‘I shall come today, certain.’ ‘ Thanks,’ raid the yonng sailor cautiously ; •but you see I’m not a good judge of instruments, and—ahem—l might forget what it was like.’ (To be Continued.')

that a slight heel or shield of the older growth is attached to the cutting. The young plants may be grown successfully, planted out in prepared soil under a frame for two or three years. The progress is more rapid in this way than in pots. Slightly cutting back the young growths in autumn, so as to form the basis for a handsome bush, is all the manipulation needed. After once being placed in moderately drained pots, they should not want, any repotting for a season or two. With all such subj ofcs, the objects in view should bo to keep them healthy and growing in as small a pot, comparatively speaking, as is possible. A moderately open loamy soil, with a little peat and charcoal, will suit them. The lanreatinus is another useful plant, preserving its freshness of foliage under very adverse conditions of life. Because it is commonly found out of doors with us, is no reason why it should not bo used for the purposes indicated. Its flowers are fresh-looking and pleasing, and produced by pot-bound plants in abundance. It is easily increased by layers, cuttings, or seed, and may be grown for two or three seasons in the open ground before being placed in pots. Thrips are particularly partial to it when grown under cover. Viburnum macrooephalum, a deciduous, handsome snowball, is also desirable ; but, its habit being straggly, it is beat grown as a standard, worked on V. opulua or V. macrophyllum. The numerous sub-varieties of Buonymus japonicus are likewise useful for indoors, being easily propagated and grown, and, when onoe established and of the desired size, they require potting only at intervals of two or three years. Astelia Banked, an Australian grass, partaking of the habit of a Pampas grass, but having longer and more gracefully hanging foliage, makes a good hall plant. It is almost aa effective aa Dracmna indivisa, and stands hard treatment far better than any variety of the latter. It is propagated by seeds or by division. Eugenia australis is a handsome slender-growing evergreen, with panicles of myrtle-hko blooms, which are succeeded by purplish berries. This variety has the appearance of the common myrtle ; but it is of much more rapid growth, and the colour of the foliage more pleasing. PBNDULOUS-IBATBD PX.ANTB- - the numerous and continually increasing numbers of plant novelties brought into commerce, it becomes difficult to make a selection of those whioh will, when brought to a proper size, be of use for indoor decoration. Many valuable or delicate plants got sadly damaged or killed outright, through not knowing whether or not they can withstand the evil effects of the treatment which must of necessity fall to the lot of such plants in the dwelling. I venture to name a few plants suitable for such purposes. Foremost amongst these is Ourouligo reourvata, whioh has leaves from three to five feet in length and four inches in breadth, springing directly from the roots ; it has an elegant drooping habit of growth, and is quite effective in foregrounds, large vases, or os an undergrowth amongst taller plants. The colour of the leaves is a cheerful green ; its flowers, like those of other falms, are insignificant and yellow in colour, ta lively colour makes it very useful in places full of shadows, and as a graceful bracket or niche plant it is of great value. It bears confinement and a variable temperature without much damage for many weeks together. It is propagated by seed or division. It should he grown in a mixture of two-thirds loam with one-third peat and a little wood charcoal. The drainage should be perfect, but not excessive; daring growth it should enjoy a night temperature of 65deg., and a small pot will suit it, as a well-rooted example can always be assisted with some kind of manure, either liquid or other. It should be gradually accustomed to fuller exposure preparatory to its being employed. Dractcna braziliensis is another plant with good bold foliage, of a light green colour, and, being of a hardier constitution than the new hybrids, can be used ia places ia which it would be undesirable to place the latter. This sort and D. (Aletria) fragrans, and D. australis, when grown to the height of six or eight feet, having at the same time fine heads of foliage, are, when placed amongst round-headed or pyramidal forrqs of flowering plants, very effective; the heavy yet graceful masses of greenery being good foils to the colour and forms of the flowers. Panioum sulcatum, a broad-leaved grass of robust growth, growing to the height of three feet, is good as a bordering plant; the colour is also light green, as is that of Oyperus alternifolius and O, alternifolius variegates. Anthurium Fontanesii, a semi-epiphyte, with bold, large dark green foliage and arum-like blooms, seems to enjoy shady places. Its culture is simplicity itself, and it does as well on a mossy block of stone or wood, as in a small pot, in fibry loam or peat. Hedychium coronarium and venustum, tall-growing cannalike plants, with delioiously aromatic scented yellow flowers, make capital decorative subjects for open balconies and verandahs, in rooms or passages ; they should be allowed to make their growth in a temperate house or in a very warm nook out of doors. The blooming period is late summer and autumn. They all propagate by rhizomes and division, or by slices of the short stem, as with cannas. Oasuarina quadraugularis, the cassowary tree of Australia, mixes up well with erect-growing or round-headed outlines, and suffers, but little confinement, at least during its season of rest. During the growing season it would not be advisable to use either that or any other coniferous plants for indoor decoration.