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Original Correspondence.
Charity , and the General Committee , which " consists of the whole of the lodge committees , " and a few ex-off ., has to report , not to itself , as in your article , but to Provincial Grand Lodge , as you suggest . See Bye-law 16 . Each lodge in the province was invited by the P . G . M . officially to elect a small committee , the aggregate of the
lodge committees to form the Provincial Committee for the administration of the Charity . Every lodge in the province responded , and thus by their " several and joint" consent imposed on themselves the duty of maintaining and managing this provincial work . The dependence of the
Dorset Masonic Charity on the Provincial Grand Lodge is almost but not entirely absolute , and could not be carried on with any chance of success on any other conditions . Again thanking you for your kind article , I am , yours truly and fraternally , E . T . BUDDEN . Hon . Sec . of the Dorset Masonic Charity .
THE GIRLS' AND BOYS' SCHOOLS ELECTIONS . Dear Bro . Kenning , — As many of my kind friends tell me they have " votes" for me when " we meet" in the " Hall " on the gth and nth inst ., I wish to say that ( D . V . ) I hope to be there at twelve on each day , and shall be glad to see my fiiends , and still more their " votes . " Yours very fraternally , A . F . A . WOODFORD .
MUM . To thc Editor . of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Though " Mum " in one sense has nothing to do with Freemasonry except perhaps as typical of " discreet silence , " I think from an antiquarian point of view it has ,
inasmuch as I am able to give in the pages of the Freemason information respecting of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer confesses himself to be ignorant . He tell us in his speech on the Budget that he does not know what "Mum" is . Mum , or Mumme , is a specialite of porter brewed at
Brunswick , into which treacle largely enters . It is very dark , thick , sweet , and luscious , and is the daily " potation " of the rich Brunswick farmers and well-to-do burghers of Brunswick . Henry the Lion , who married a sister of our Richard I ., made a commercial treaty with England , one of the first in existence , to import " Mumme " into'England . I am , yours fraternally , ONCE A SOJOURNER AT BRUNSWICK .
A SERIOUS MATTER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to Bro . Duckett ' s letter in your last issue headed " A Serious Matter , " when I was a member of the particular lodge of instruction there was no chaige
to visitors . Circumstances , however , only allowed me to attend—I think—twice during three or four years' membership . I do not object to the rule I refer to , but what I object to is its not being fairly—Masonically and instructivelycarried out by thc P . M . ' s The rule is , I believe , that all
brethren resident in Newcastle or Gateshead who arc not members shall pay sixpence each visit . How does it come that on the night I visited , a brother of a N . C . lodge was acting J . W ., and who was neither a member or paid his sixpence ? This is my objection , as if the ruleexists it should , especially in a lodsre of instruction , be carried out fairly
and equally . As stated , the sixpence has been offered back by several brethren , but was of course not accepted , as I am glad to have the honour of a sixpenny entry in the Treasurer ' s books , and trust that they may have many visitors , so that a good revenue may arise from that source . Yours fraternally , P . J . J .
THE OLDEST FREEMASON IN ENGLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Secinga notice in to day's Freemason of the interment at St . Mary Le Gill Church , Barnoldswick , of Bro . Henry Crook , aged 84 ( said to be the oldest Freemason in England ) , I beg to inform you that there are two brethren ,
now living in Accrington , who were initiated the same evening , October nth , 1 S 21 , in the Samaritan Lodge , No . 539 , held at the Red Lion , Accrington ( afterwards removed to Bacup , now numbered 2 S 6 ) , and their certificates were signed by William H . White and Edward Harper , April 2 nd , 1 S 23 . The names and ages of the two brethren are William Oldham . 8 K . and lohn Barnes . 82 .
I am , yours fraternally , DAVID ORMEROD , P . M ., Sec . Accrington , April 2 nd .
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In reading to-day's Freemason I notice under the heading "Masonic Tidings , " a report of the funeral of Bro . Henry Crook , Barnoldswick , and headed " Funeral of
the Oldest Freemason in England . " I think it as well to correct the error , ai R . W . Bro . Wm . Eliot , P . P . G . M . of Dorset , is an older Mason by five years than Bro . Crook , and is still a subscribing member to his mother lodge , No . 170 , Weymouth , and has not ceased since his initiation in 18 i 6 |; he is , therefore , a member of thisjodge for sixty-five
Original Correspondence.
years , and is now eighty-seven years of ags . I have enclosed for your perusal an address delivered by him in 18 7 6 , and I will thank you to return the same at your convenience . We have likewise two or three very old Masons
connected with us , who have subscribed almost as many years , I may also add W . Bro . Eliot is a P . Z . of All Souls Chapter , No . 170 . Your correction of the error will oblige , Yours fraternally , CHAS . G . TARGETT . April 2 nd . P . G . Stwd ., and S . D . 170 .
THE ANCIENT AND PRIMITIVE AND SWEDENBORGIAN RITES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Some little time ago you took the very decided step of declining to admit to your columns further
correspondence concerning the rights and privileges of the Ancient and Primitive Rite" and the "Swedenborgian Rite , " and I shall , therefore , have no right to complain if you refuse the insertion of this letter . Perhaps , however , if you take the trouble to read it , you may consider that the statements contained in it are sufficiently important to warrant its being
made public in your paper . At any rate , I feel it my absolute duty to endeavour to make known to the Fraternity generally the false position which these " Rites " are occupying , and the grievous injuries they are inflicting upon Craft Masonry . Bro . Yarker , who , I understand , is the acknowledged
head of these Orders , has admitted lately that he is no longer a subsciibing member of a Craft lodge , but he has , at the same time , declared that no intercourse with irregular Craft Masons is permitted in the lodges , chapters , sanctuaries , or whatever they may be called , of the Rites alluded to . In order that you may judge for yourself of
the value of this declaration , I will give you an example of the practice of the Ancient and Primitive Rite as contrasted with its theory . In common with numbers of English Masons , I have viewed with pleasure the progress of the Craft in Tunis , North Africa , have enjoyed the privilege of lending my
trifling aid to its endeavours , and am proud in the possession of honorary membership of the famous Ancient Carthage Lodge , No . 1717 . Some time ago the then assistant Secretary of that lodge made the acquaintance of a certain G . B . Persina , of Naples , the head of a notoriously irregular body working in open rebellion to the National Grand
Orient of Rome , and on his application received the 33 by return of post . He then proceeded to procure the support of three or four other brethren of neither influence nor position , and the party at once announced themselves as "The Grand Orient of Tunis of the Reformed Egyptian Rite , " and set to work initiating persons at a nominal fee
into the Craft Degrees , in order to strengthen their numbers . This was all done in direct opposition to the unanimous and strongly expressed wish of the regular lodges in Tunis . The Grand Orient of Rom ; warned its members at Tunis of the illegality of the self-styled " Grand Orient ; " a similar injunction was issued by the Supreme Grand
Council of England ; and the District Grand Master of Malta promulgated an official circular , forbidding English brethren from holding any Masonic communication with the spurious body on pain of exclusion . This so-called Grand Orient of Tunis , though quite unrecognised by any acknowledged or reputable Masonic
authority , has continued to the present time to irregularly initiate all sorts of persons . I find , however , that this precious organisation has at last found a friend in the Ancient and Primitive Rite , and an acknowledgment in the pages of an extraordinary production called the Kneph . An entire page of that valuable journal , put into my hands
a few weeks since , I found to be occupied by a list of the dignitaries of the " Reformed Egyptian Rite at Tunis , " and I also saw it stated in a foot note that " this body seems to be formed simultaneously as a council ' of the A . and A . Scottish Rite , " [ a statement the absurdity of which must have been patent to the Editor of the Kneph when he
penned it . I have made it my business to enquire ' as to the names in this published list , and I find that of the twelve " greater lights" enumerated , two have made written declarations that they have no connection with the concern , one of these being the "Lieut . Grand , Commander ; " one has left
Tunis , and five are so described as to be unrecognisable . I refrain from going into any details as to the reputation ot the persons who can be recognised from motives of charity . This spurious body , which has brought and is still bringing scandal upon Masonry , which the Grand Lodges of England and Italy regard as wholly devoid of status or
authority , and which is acting in direct violation of all Masonic law and justice , is thus not only in communion with the Ancient and Primitive Rite , but an entirely false account of its organisation is published in the official organ of that Rite . I am not going to say that the Editor of the Kneph has deliberately transgressed . He may have been the victim of designing persons . But such
proceedings should open the eyes of the Craft generally to the consequences of entering upon a path beset by such perils as that adopted by Bro . Yarker and his disciples . As for the Kneph , it is welcome to retain the marvellous but unintelligible design which it has adopted on its first page , but it will have to make a sweeping change in its pretentious motto of " Peace , Tolerance , and Truth . " I should have communicated with you some time since on
Original Correspondence.
this subject , but was anxious in the first place to obtain authentic information from North Africa . This I have done , and am now in a p position to state that W . Bro . Reade , P . D . D . G . M . of Malta , who is H . B . Majesty ' s Consul General at Tunis , can confirm any of my assertions . I am , yours fraternally , AN HON . MEMBER OF 1717 .
DEAN SWIFT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am a little inclined to think that the " reference " alluded to by " Bro . T . P ., P . M . 1125 , " in your last is not identical with either of the references given by Oliver in
the Revelations of a Square . They are found at [ pages 30 and 84 respectively , and I give two or three lines of each , in order that " Bro . T . P . " may " collate " them with the reference he alludes to . Page 30— "As to the secret words and signals used among Masons , it is to be observed that , as in the
Hebrew alphabet , there are four pair of letters , of which each pair is so alike , that at the first view they seem to be the same , " & c . At page 84 the following extract from the celebrated Tripos deserves noting : " It was lately averred that for the
honour and dignity of the university there should be introduced a Society of Freemasons , " & c . The rest is too coarse for quotation . These hardly seem to apply to the passage " Bro . T . P . " refers to , and if they are not identical , I still want a reference to the special work or volume in which these " skits " appear . Yours fraternally , ANTIOUARIUS .
YOUNG INSTRUCTORS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Another serious evil beside the one you pointed out in the first leader of your valuable paper of the 23 rd ult . has lately sprung into existence amongst us , and to
which I beg to draw attention . It is the arrogance of some young and inexperienced Masons , who are neither subscribing members of a lodge nor ever held office in one , exceptperhaps as I . G ., to " seek for and obtain the important position of Preceptor" in a regularly constituted lodge of instruction , simply because
as they assert , they know " almost every word of the ceremonies of the Three Degrees by heart . Surely something more is required to qualify a " Preceptor" than this parrot-like knowledge . The Book of Constitutions seems to make no reference to " Preceptors , " but I have always been given to
understand that only W . M . s and P . M . ' s arr : duly qualified to act in that capacity . I trust you will consider this subject of sufficient importance for insertion in your columns , with a view of eliciting the opinions of true experts . Yours fraternally , A PAST MASTER .
Reviews.
Reviews .
UNBEATEN TRACKS IN JAPAN . By ISABELLA L . BIRD , author of " A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains , " Sic . Two Vols . G . P . Putnam and Sons , New York . This work , published in 1 SS 1 , is the production of a writer whom some of us may have loitered with pleasedly before , namely , the authoress of " Six Months in the Sandwich Islands , " and "A Lady's Life in the Rocky
Mountains . " Untired and undaunted , accompanied by a single native youth of eighteen as an interpreter , she started , unaided and alone , to explore the interior , and go over the ground , where probably no European foot had trodden before , those " Unbeaten Tracks , " which are the delight of the intrepid , and the indomitable . She seems to have been very successful , and to have seen a
great deal which no one has recorded before , at least so far as we know , and on the whole to have been well received , and kindly dealt with . She has beheld Japanese life in the interior in its simplicity and squalor , in its " poor living , " and rigid monotony , but she speaks well of the general gentleness and inquisitive friendliness ofthe native population . There are it seems but few large towns , or
great buildings , and the account of the splendour of the great Damios seems to be a " myth . " Japan has over 34 , 000 , 000 of inhabitants . If Mifs Bird's account be correct , the outcome and outlook of " Missionary work , " for instance , are not promising . As is well-known the Japanese religion , with some variations , and not a few " sects , " is a form of " Buddhism . " Miss Bird tells us that there are about 1617
converts to all Protestant missions , 20 , 000 Roman Catholics , 300 , Grcek'Christians , and thirty-four million " sceptics or materialists , " sunk , as it seems to us , in " childish and degrading superstitions . " But on all these points we ought always to be reticent in our opinions , unless we have been able to master the very facts of the case , and we will hope at any rate that the case is not quite so bad as the able and courageous writer believes it to be .
THE MAGAZINES . "Scribner" is really A 1 ; it is , in fact , simply unequalled as a magazine , as far as we know . We say nothing of its various articles , or its reall y exquisite illustrations , for they all have interest for special schools of thought and aesthetics , of taste and culture , just now . To all who
admire " wut" whenever it appears , and like a " well-told tale , " and especially of that " true love , " which , when true , is so " simpatico" with most of us , young or old—yes , old—we recommend the perusal of a " -Freak of Fate , ' p . 870 . It was read out before some "fair beings" the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
Charity , and the General Committee , which " consists of the whole of the lodge committees , " and a few ex-off ., has to report , not to itself , as in your article , but to Provincial Grand Lodge , as you suggest . See Bye-law 16 . Each lodge in the province was invited by the P . G . M . officially to elect a small committee , the aggregate of the
lodge committees to form the Provincial Committee for the administration of the Charity . Every lodge in the province responded , and thus by their " several and joint" consent imposed on themselves the duty of maintaining and managing this provincial work . The dependence of the
Dorset Masonic Charity on the Provincial Grand Lodge is almost but not entirely absolute , and could not be carried on with any chance of success on any other conditions . Again thanking you for your kind article , I am , yours truly and fraternally , E . T . BUDDEN . Hon . Sec . of the Dorset Masonic Charity .
THE GIRLS' AND BOYS' SCHOOLS ELECTIONS . Dear Bro . Kenning , — As many of my kind friends tell me they have " votes" for me when " we meet" in the " Hall " on the gth and nth inst ., I wish to say that ( D . V . ) I hope to be there at twelve on each day , and shall be glad to see my fiiends , and still more their " votes . " Yours very fraternally , A . F . A . WOODFORD .
MUM . To thc Editor . of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Though " Mum " in one sense has nothing to do with Freemasonry except perhaps as typical of " discreet silence , " I think from an antiquarian point of view it has ,
inasmuch as I am able to give in the pages of the Freemason information respecting of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer confesses himself to be ignorant . He tell us in his speech on the Budget that he does not know what "Mum" is . Mum , or Mumme , is a specialite of porter brewed at
Brunswick , into which treacle largely enters . It is very dark , thick , sweet , and luscious , and is the daily " potation " of the rich Brunswick farmers and well-to-do burghers of Brunswick . Henry the Lion , who married a sister of our Richard I ., made a commercial treaty with England , one of the first in existence , to import " Mumme " into'England . I am , yours fraternally , ONCE A SOJOURNER AT BRUNSWICK .
A SERIOUS MATTER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to Bro . Duckett ' s letter in your last issue headed " A Serious Matter , " when I was a member of the particular lodge of instruction there was no chaige
to visitors . Circumstances , however , only allowed me to attend—I think—twice during three or four years' membership . I do not object to the rule I refer to , but what I object to is its not being fairly—Masonically and instructivelycarried out by thc P . M . ' s The rule is , I believe , that all
brethren resident in Newcastle or Gateshead who arc not members shall pay sixpence each visit . How does it come that on the night I visited , a brother of a N . C . lodge was acting J . W ., and who was neither a member or paid his sixpence ? This is my objection , as if the ruleexists it should , especially in a lodsre of instruction , be carried out fairly
and equally . As stated , the sixpence has been offered back by several brethren , but was of course not accepted , as I am glad to have the honour of a sixpenny entry in the Treasurer ' s books , and trust that they may have many visitors , so that a good revenue may arise from that source . Yours fraternally , P . J . J .
THE OLDEST FREEMASON IN ENGLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Secinga notice in to day's Freemason of the interment at St . Mary Le Gill Church , Barnoldswick , of Bro . Henry Crook , aged 84 ( said to be the oldest Freemason in England ) , I beg to inform you that there are two brethren ,
now living in Accrington , who were initiated the same evening , October nth , 1 S 21 , in the Samaritan Lodge , No . 539 , held at the Red Lion , Accrington ( afterwards removed to Bacup , now numbered 2 S 6 ) , and their certificates were signed by William H . White and Edward Harper , April 2 nd , 1 S 23 . The names and ages of the two brethren are William Oldham . 8 K . and lohn Barnes . 82 .
I am , yours fraternally , DAVID ORMEROD , P . M ., Sec . Accrington , April 2 nd .
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In reading to-day's Freemason I notice under the heading "Masonic Tidings , " a report of the funeral of Bro . Henry Crook , Barnoldswick , and headed " Funeral of
the Oldest Freemason in England . " I think it as well to correct the error , ai R . W . Bro . Wm . Eliot , P . P . G . M . of Dorset , is an older Mason by five years than Bro . Crook , and is still a subscribing member to his mother lodge , No . 170 , Weymouth , and has not ceased since his initiation in 18 i 6 |; he is , therefore , a member of thisjodge for sixty-five
Original Correspondence.
years , and is now eighty-seven years of ags . I have enclosed for your perusal an address delivered by him in 18 7 6 , and I will thank you to return the same at your convenience . We have likewise two or three very old Masons
connected with us , who have subscribed almost as many years , I may also add W . Bro . Eliot is a P . Z . of All Souls Chapter , No . 170 . Your correction of the error will oblige , Yours fraternally , CHAS . G . TARGETT . April 2 nd . P . G . Stwd ., and S . D . 170 .
THE ANCIENT AND PRIMITIVE AND SWEDENBORGIAN RITES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Some little time ago you took the very decided step of declining to admit to your columns further
correspondence concerning the rights and privileges of the Ancient and Primitive Rite" and the "Swedenborgian Rite , " and I shall , therefore , have no right to complain if you refuse the insertion of this letter . Perhaps , however , if you take the trouble to read it , you may consider that the statements contained in it are sufficiently important to warrant its being
made public in your paper . At any rate , I feel it my absolute duty to endeavour to make known to the Fraternity generally the false position which these " Rites " are occupying , and the grievous injuries they are inflicting upon Craft Masonry . Bro . Yarker , who , I understand , is the acknowledged
head of these Orders , has admitted lately that he is no longer a subsciibing member of a Craft lodge , but he has , at the same time , declared that no intercourse with irregular Craft Masons is permitted in the lodges , chapters , sanctuaries , or whatever they may be called , of the Rites alluded to . In order that you may judge for yourself of
the value of this declaration , I will give you an example of the practice of the Ancient and Primitive Rite as contrasted with its theory . In common with numbers of English Masons , I have viewed with pleasure the progress of the Craft in Tunis , North Africa , have enjoyed the privilege of lending my
trifling aid to its endeavours , and am proud in the possession of honorary membership of the famous Ancient Carthage Lodge , No . 1717 . Some time ago the then assistant Secretary of that lodge made the acquaintance of a certain G . B . Persina , of Naples , the head of a notoriously irregular body working in open rebellion to the National Grand
Orient of Rome , and on his application received the 33 by return of post . He then proceeded to procure the support of three or four other brethren of neither influence nor position , and the party at once announced themselves as "The Grand Orient of Tunis of the Reformed Egyptian Rite , " and set to work initiating persons at a nominal fee
into the Craft Degrees , in order to strengthen their numbers . This was all done in direct opposition to the unanimous and strongly expressed wish of the regular lodges in Tunis . The Grand Orient of Rom ; warned its members at Tunis of the illegality of the self-styled " Grand Orient ; " a similar injunction was issued by the Supreme Grand
Council of England ; and the District Grand Master of Malta promulgated an official circular , forbidding English brethren from holding any Masonic communication with the spurious body on pain of exclusion . This so-called Grand Orient of Tunis , though quite unrecognised by any acknowledged or reputable Masonic
authority , has continued to the present time to irregularly initiate all sorts of persons . I find , however , that this precious organisation has at last found a friend in the Ancient and Primitive Rite , and an acknowledgment in the pages of an extraordinary production called the Kneph . An entire page of that valuable journal , put into my hands
a few weeks since , I found to be occupied by a list of the dignitaries of the " Reformed Egyptian Rite at Tunis , " and I also saw it stated in a foot note that " this body seems to be formed simultaneously as a council ' of the A . and A . Scottish Rite , " [ a statement the absurdity of which must have been patent to the Editor of the Kneph when he
penned it . I have made it my business to enquire ' as to the names in this published list , and I find that of the twelve " greater lights" enumerated , two have made written declarations that they have no connection with the concern , one of these being the "Lieut . Grand , Commander ; " one has left
Tunis , and five are so described as to be unrecognisable . I refrain from going into any details as to the reputation ot the persons who can be recognised from motives of charity . This spurious body , which has brought and is still bringing scandal upon Masonry , which the Grand Lodges of England and Italy regard as wholly devoid of status or
authority , and which is acting in direct violation of all Masonic law and justice , is thus not only in communion with the Ancient and Primitive Rite , but an entirely false account of its organisation is published in the official organ of that Rite . I am not going to say that the Editor of the Kneph has deliberately transgressed . He may have been the victim of designing persons . But such
proceedings should open the eyes of the Craft generally to the consequences of entering upon a path beset by such perils as that adopted by Bro . Yarker and his disciples . As for the Kneph , it is welcome to retain the marvellous but unintelligible design which it has adopted on its first page , but it will have to make a sweeping change in its pretentious motto of " Peace , Tolerance , and Truth . " I should have communicated with you some time since on
Original Correspondence.
this subject , but was anxious in the first place to obtain authentic information from North Africa . This I have done , and am now in a p position to state that W . Bro . Reade , P . D . D . G . M . of Malta , who is H . B . Majesty ' s Consul General at Tunis , can confirm any of my assertions . I am , yours fraternally , AN HON . MEMBER OF 1717 .
DEAN SWIFT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am a little inclined to think that the " reference " alluded to by " Bro . T . P ., P . M . 1125 , " in your last is not identical with either of the references given by Oliver in
the Revelations of a Square . They are found at [ pages 30 and 84 respectively , and I give two or three lines of each , in order that " Bro . T . P . " may " collate " them with the reference he alludes to . Page 30— "As to the secret words and signals used among Masons , it is to be observed that , as in the
Hebrew alphabet , there are four pair of letters , of which each pair is so alike , that at the first view they seem to be the same , " & c . At page 84 the following extract from the celebrated Tripos deserves noting : " It was lately averred that for the
honour and dignity of the university there should be introduced a Society of Freemasons , " & c . The rest is too coarse for quotation . These hardly seem to apply to the passage " Bro . T . P . " refers to , and if they are not identical , I still want a reference to the special work or volume in which these " skits " appear . Yours fraternally , ANTIOUARIUS .
YOUNG INSTRUCTORS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Another serious evil beside the one you pointed out in the first leader of your valuable paper of the 23 rd ult . has lately sprung into existence amongst us , and to
which I beg to draw attention . It is the arrogance of some young and inexperienced Masons , who are neither subscribing members of a lodge nor ever held office in one , exceptperhaps as I . G ., to " seek for and obtain the important position of Preceptor" in a regularly constituted lodge of instruction , simply because
as they assert , they know " almost every word of the ceremonies of the Three Degrees by heart . Surely something more is required to qualify a " Preceptor" than this parrot-like knowledge . The Book of Constitutions seems to make no reference to " Preceptors , " but I have always been given to
understand that only W . M . s and P . M . ' s arr : duly qualified to act in that capacity . I trust you will consider this subject of sufficient importance for insertion in your columns , with a view of eliciting the opinions of true experts . Yours fraternally , A PAST MASTER .
Reviews.
Reviews .
UNBEATEN TRACKS IN JAPAN . By ISABELLA L . BIRD , author of " A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains , " Sic . Two Vols . G . P . Putnam and Sons , New York . This work , published in 1 SS 1 , is the production of a writer whom some of us may have loitered with pleasedly before , namely , the authoress of " Six Months in the Sandwich Islands , " and "A Lady's Life in the Rocky
Mountains . " Untired and undaunted , accompanied by a single native youth of eighteen as an interpreter , she started , unaided and alone , to explore the interior , and go over the ground , where probably no European foot had trodden before , those " Unbeaten Tracks , " which are the delight of the intrepid , and the indomitable . She seems to have been very successful , and to have seen a
great deal which no one has recorded before , at least so far as we know , and on the whole to have been well received , and kindly dealt with . She has beheld Japanese life in the interior in its simplicity and squalor , in its " poor living , " and rigid monotony , but she speaks well of the general gentleness and inquisitive friendliness ofthe native population . There are it seems but few large towns , or
great buildings , and the account of the splendour of the great Damios seems to be a " myth . " Japan has over 34 , 000 , 000 of inhabitants . If Mifs Bird's account be correct , the outcome and outlook of " Missionary work , " for instance , are not promising . As is well-known the Japanese religion , with some variations , and not a few " sects , " is a form of " Buddhism . " Miss Bird tells us that there are about 1617
converts to all Protestant missions , 20 , 000 Roman Catholics , 300 , Grcek'Christians , and thirty-four million " sceptics or materialists , " sunk , as it seems to us , in " childish and degrading superstitions . " But on all these points we ought always to be reticent in our opinions , unless we have been able to master the very facts of the case , and we will hope at any rate that the case is not quite so bad as the able and courageous writer believes it to be .
THE MAGAZINES . "Scribner" is really A 1 ; it is , in fact , simply unequalled as a magazine , as far as we know . We say nothing of its various articles , or its reall y exquisite illustrations , for they all have interest for special schools of thought and aesthetics , of taste and culture , just now . To all who
admire " wut" whenever it appears , and like a " well-told tale , " and especially of that " true love , " which , when true , is so " simpatico" with most of us , young or old—yes , old—we recommend the perusal of a " -Freak of Fate , ' p . 870 . It was read out before some "fair beings" the