A CORRESPONDENT, writing from one of the summer resorts, tells the following story: A paternal, the other day, shortly after his return to the Springs, was approached by a youth, who requested a few minutes' conversation in private, and began : I was requested to see you, sir, by your lovely daughter. Our attachment- Young man," interrupted the parent briskly, “I don't know what that girl of mine is about. You are the fourth gentleman who has approached me, this morning, on that subject. I have given my consent to the others, and I give it to you. God bless you."

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EVERY day in the week is the Sabbath of some nation. Sunday is observed by the Christians, Monday by the Greeks, Tuesday by the Persians, Wednesday by the Assyrians, Thursday by the Egyptians, Friday by the Turks, Saturday by the Jews.

YOUNG MAN, DEPEND ON YOUR OWN EFFORTS.-Fight your own battles. Hoe your own corn. Ask no favors of any one, and you will succeed a thousand times better than those who are always beseeching some one's patronage. No one will ever help you as you can help yourself, because no one will be so heartily interested in your affairs. The first step will not be such a long one, perhaps; but, carving your own way up the mountain, you make each one lead to another, and stand firm in that while you chop out still another. Men who have made their fortunes are not those who had five thousand dollars given them to start with, but started fair with a well-earned dollar or two. Men who have by their own exertions acquired fame have not been thrust into popularity by puffs, begged or paid for, or given in friendly spirit. They have outstretched their hands and touched the public heart. Men who win love do their own wooing; and I never knew a man to fail so signally as one who had induced his affectionate grandmamma to speak a good word for him. Whether you work for fame, for love, for money, or for anything else, work with your hands, heart and brain. Say "I will!" and some day you will conquer. Never let any man have it to say, "I have dragged you up." Too many friends hurt a man more than none at all.— Grace Greenwood.

ASK MY WIFE.-A notorious character was converted. His former associates taunted him with being a hypocrite. He replied: "If you want to know whether I have got religion, go and ask my wife. I was a brutal vagabond, squandering what little I earned in drink. My poor wife at midnight could be seen hovering round drinking-places trying to get me home, and then I would curse and swear at her, and sometimes beat her almost to death. My children fled from me as they would from a tiger, and hid when I came into the house. Now I have got as happy a home as there is in the city, and my children watch for my coming. I have good wages, and I don't spend my earnings at the corner grocery. You go and ask my wife if you want to know what religion has done for me."-Christian Era.

THE pastor of the late Admiral Farragut relates the following incident of the old hero in connection with the capture of Mobile: On that occasion, while the Admiral was lashed in the rigging of the Hartford, he offered up a prayer in the following words: "O God, my Maker, lead me to do this day what is right and best for my country.' In answer to the prayer the Admiral said he heard a voice from heaven, which seemed in tones of thunder to say, "Go forward!" He obeyed the voice and went forward, and conquered.

The most of our readers doubtless know that a harem is the apartment or dwelling assigned to the women, or wives, in an eastern home. Few travellers are admitted into this sacred part of an oriental dwelling. Some of these abodes of women are magnificent prisons, where they fare sumptuously, but are cut off from social communication with the outside world. The lady members of W. H. Seward's party had the honor of an invitation to visit the harem of the Khedive, or viceroy of Egypt. Of course, no gentleman of the party, however distinguished, could profane the place with his presence. They received instruction as to what kind of dresses would be agreeable to their royal hostess. By no means would black be allowed. For if within six months after a Christian lady visits the palace wearing a black dress or trimming, a death occurs therein she will be held responsible for it. Through the help of a woman of their own country they procured dresses of blue and lavender. With the necessary guide and interpreter they presented themselves at the palace. Two companies of jet black Nubian soldiers at the gate, presented arms as the party entered. At the second gate they received a similar salute. And likewise at the third gate, where alighting from their carriage, eight black eunuchs took charge of them. Through a beautiful garden they were led to the vestibule of the palace. This was filled with young Circassian slave girls, "dressed in gay-colored gauze and muslins, some with little turban hats. Two of these, more richly dressed than the rest, displaying many diamonds, took each of the visitors by the hand and led them through endless corridors and salons, all the others following.

"All these apartments were gorgeously furnished. They were conducted into a hall, as large as the cast-room of "The White

house." At the far end of the hall they saw a lady reclining on a divan, with one of the princess-wives sitting near her, and sixty slave girls formed in a crescent-shaped group at her left hand. The lady on the divan was the Princess Valida, the first lady of State. The other wives and the daughters of the Viceroy are princesses. The slaves who followed the visitors formed themselves into another half-circle on the right-hand of the Princess Valida. Between these two groups they passed to the divan, where her Highness received them standing.

"Her dark eyes are sharp, her face expressive of great cleverness, her voice clear and pieasant. She received the ladies with perfect courtesy, and presented them to the princes at her side, and then invited them to seats on her left. The princess was dressed in a long white satin skirt which covered her feet, and a black velvet jacket with long pointed Turkish sleeves A fold of violet satin, with variegated border, was fastened around her head with a band of diamonds, the whole surmounted with a solitaire diamond of immense size."

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The harem ladies confess being very partial to European fashions, and order their outfits from London and Paris. They speak Arabic, an English lady acting as interpretress. Of course, all the world over ladies must pass the usual compliments when they meet. Slave girls brought ice-water on a golden salver, sugared rose-leaves in enamelled cups, with golden spoons. Then a chibouque or Turkish pipe, with tobacco, was offered to each lady. The bowl of this pipe is of the red clay of Egypt, the stem, five feet long, of the fragrant Danubian willow, with an amber mouth-piece eight inches long. Valid 's pipe had a mouth-piece of black amber, profusely set with diamonds. Etiquette compelled the visiting ladies to smoke the pipe, resting its bowl on a small silver tray on the floor. After the pipe came black coffee.

The slave girls are brought from their native land when they are quite young, and are provided with husbands and dowries. The Princess Valida remarked that they were "very lucky." Two hundred served on this occasion. They were neither pretty nor graceful. Usually the Viceroy chooses a slave to wife. After her marriage the slave girl becomes a princess. What did these Eastern and Western ladies talk about? Many a curious question was put to the visitors, such as :

"How old are you? How many brothers and how many sisters have you? What are their ages? Are you married? Why not? Are you going to be? How old is Mr. Seward? What does he travel for? How many sons has he? How old are they? How many of them are married? Has he any grandchildren? How old are they? How many boys, how many girls?"

For three hours they were entertained with delicacies, pipes,

coffee, dances and "sweet music" by the girls. They played on the violin and cithern and other instruments.

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Kiamil Pacha was the Prime Minister of Turkey, and one of its wealthiest citizens. The American ladies were invited to breakfast, at his palace. Through certain misunderstandings they came at an unexpected hour. Upon their arrival they were presented to their expected host, a man about sixty, of commanding presence, with piercing black eyes, white hair and long pointed beard and moustache. He was dressed in a flowing dressing-gown, of rich white silk, and yellow Turkish slippers. He apologized for being en dishabille, which, indeed, seemed to us extraordinary."

A deformed Nubian led the way for four white slave-girls and the visitors into a large and grandly furnished room, but without books, music, pictures, or statuary. Fifteen minutes later a lady entered, attended by six slave girls. She was small, about forty-five years old, dressed in a simple white muslin gown, with a simple band of blue tulle on her head, fastened with an enormous sapphire, the only ornament she wore. On entering she acknowledged the presence of her guests by a cold distant inclination of the head, and nothing more. Seated on a divan, drawing her slippered feet under her, and embracing her white poodle dog, she scanned the toilets of the strangers for fifteen minutes without saying a word. In vain did the interpretress try to open a conversation. The great lady was evidently in bad humor. At length she broke silence with the usual oriental questions:

"How old are you? Have you any brothers or sisters? How many? How old are they? Where do you come from? Why do you come so far from home? How can you fatigue yourself so much? Why do you not stop a d rest? Why did you come here in such a hurry this morning, aud give us no time to dress?"

Encouraged by her freedom the visitors essayed speech in their turn. They said: "We understood that we had the houor of being expected here this morning."

She replied: "I know nothing about it."

She was asked: "How do you amuse yourself?"

"I look at the Bosporus and smoke."

"What is the name of your pretty dog?"

"He has no name!"

"How do you call him?"

"I say dog."

Her questions and answers she interspersed with puffs of smoke from her cigarette. After an hour spent in this way the princess extended her beautiful little hands to her guests, to be kissed, and the foreign ladies took their leave." Kiamil Pacha, who took the

surprise in a better humor, meanwhile had a sumptuous feast prepared, at which he entertained his company in the most agreeable style.

The Sultan or Emperor of Turkey received them with marked kindness. "He is a stout, well formed man, forty-seven years old, with a pleasing and amiable, though not impressive countenance. His hair is slightly gray, and he is said to dislike the national fez (red Turkish cap), which he wears very small. He rides remarkably well, like a soldier accustomed to the saddle." Seated at Mr. Seward's side he inquired about his health, the time he had been abroad, and the countries in which he had travelled.

Hearing of the expected tour of Mr. Seward through Syria, the Sultan, through the Turkish Government, issued the following firman to the Governor or Pacha of Syria. :

His imperial majesty, Sultan Abd-ul Aziz Khan, son of Sultan Mahmoud Khan, may his virtues be perpetuated! To my noble vizier-my glorious councillor who administers the affairs of the people confided to his care with great justice and equity- who strengthens and consolidates the edifice of the empire and public weal with much zeal and ability-who is one of the faithful ministers of my government, and who by his convictions has merited the favor of the Most High, possessor of all things; the balee or governorgeneral of my province of Soria (Syria), the possessor of my noble decoration of the Majidich of the first class, Rechid Pacha, may his glory be increased! be it known:

"That the bearer of the present royal and sovereign document is the Honorable William H. Seward, formerly the chief minister of the government of the Republic of the United States of North America, who, with his companions, is visiting for the purposes of travel, my province of Soria-and that it is my sovereign will that you who are balee of the same, consider him as my honored and dis inguished guest.

That you treat him with every demonstration of honor and respect, and see that, wherever he may be pleased to go, he be shown hospitably. It is my royal pleasure that he be everywhere known as the guest of my government and treated accordingly. Let all measures be taken for his comfort and protection, and permit nothing to occur contrary to the present command.

"This know, and hasten to carry my sovereign will into execution. "Written the 15th day of the Moon of Rejeb, the Unique, of the year of the Hedjera, 1287,' September 20, 1870.

This firman to the Governor of Palestine or Syria secured to Mr. Seward the treatment of a royal guest, when visiting that country. In Jerusalem he was received with distinguished honor. Thanking the Sultan for these marks of consideration, he replied to Mr. Seward, "That these attentions were justly due to him, as an eminent man of a great nation."

Would the Sultan ever honor the United States with a visit?

Shaking his head, he answered with a smile, that the German ocean made him so sick, that he determined never to go to sea again.