courage to proceed. "Certainly," he reasoned with himself, “either I have lost my way, or those who have directed me here have laughed at me, seeing I am a stranger; for this is no dwelling for a Dervish, but the home of a King." He was in this embarrassment, when a man approached him and said, "Abdallah, you are welcome; my master, Abounadar, has been expecting you a long time." He then conducted him into a delicious garden, where the Dervish was seated. Abdallah, overcome by the splendour he beheld on every side, was about to prostrate himself before the venerable man, but Abounadar prevented him, and interrupted the young man when he wished to make a merit of having returned the chandelier to him. "Thou art an ungrateful person," he said, addressing the confused Abdallah; "dost thou think to impose on me? I know all thy thoughts, and hadst thou been aware of the real value of this chandelier, thou wouldest never have brought it me. I will now show thee its virtues." having restored the chandelier, and thus lost the opportunity of realising wealth, preyed upon his mind. Abounadar, however, pretended not to notice his disappointment, but, on the contrary, loaded him with kindness, detained him several days in his house, and caused him to be treated with the same distinction as himself. When the evening preceding the day fixed for his departure had arrived, the Dervish said to him, " Abdallah, my son, I believe thou hast been corrected, by what has happened to thee, of the fearful vice of ingratitude. I owe thee some acknowledgment for having undertaken a long voyage in order to bring me a much desired object. Thou canst depart, I will not detain thee longer; and thou wilt find to-morrow, at the door of my palace, a horse to carry thee. I present the animal to thee, as also the slave, who will conduct two camels to thine abode, laden with gold and precious stones, which thou mayest choose thyself from among my treasures." Abdallah, in return, said everything that an avaricious person would express when his passion was apparently satisfied, and sought his bed to dream over the wealth that the morrow would furnish. This, however, was not the only occupation of his thoughts. The chandelier and its productive gifts were constantly re So saying, Abounadar placed a light in each of the branches, and when the twelve Dervishes had turned round for some minutes, he gave to each of them a blow with a stick, and in a moment they were changed into twelve rows of sequins, diamonds, and precious stones. "Be-curring to his memory. hold," he cried, "the use to which this marvellous object can be applied! But I have never desired it for any other purpose than to place it in my cabinet, as a talisman executed by a philosopher whom I revere, and to exhibit to the friends who come to visit me at different times. And to prove to thee," he added, "that curiosity is my only reason, take these keys of my cellars, and thou wilt tell me that the most insatiable of misers would be content with my stores." Abdallah obeyed, and traversed twelve caves of immense extent, so filled with riches of various kinds, that he was puzzled to select those which chiefly claimed his admiration. The sight was dazzling and perplexing. He was, however, sorrowful; for the thought of "I had it," he said, "so long in my power, and Abounadar would never have possessed it but for me. What risks I encountered in the cavern when seeking it! By what right does he possess the chandelier now? Because I have had the honesty, or rather folly, to restore it to him, he is to profit by the pains and toil I have undergone in this long voyage. And what does he give me in exchange? Two wretched camels laden with precious stones, when the chandelier would bring me ten times as much. It is Abounadar who is ungrateful. What a fool I have been in bringing this chandelier, and what harm should I do in taking it away? None, assuredly, for he is rich, and what do I possess ?" These ideas at length predominated so strongly, that he determined, at all risks, to get possession of the coveted object again. His object was not difficult. Abounadar had confided to him the keys of his caves. He knew where it was placed, and proceeding stealthily to the spot, he seized the treasure and concealed it at the bottom of one of the sacks, covering it with pieces of gold and precious stones he had been permitted to carry away. After having taken a hurried leave of the generous Abounadar, he returned him his keys, and left with his horse and the two camels. When he was at a considerable distance from Bassora, Abdallah sold his slave; not wishing to have near him one who had witnessed his former poverty, and knew the source of his present riches. He purchased another attendant, and at length arrived at the house of his mother, whom he scarcely saluted, his attention being entirely absorbed in his treasures. TURKISH CUSTOMS. THE following is the text of an Imperial edict, regulating the costumes of the ladies in Turkey, in conformity with Mussulman tradition. We give the principal points of the document as a matter of curiosity in the present day: "All women must take the greatest care to refrain from everything contrary to good conduct, and must watch most attentively over the honour of their family. The laws and customs of other nations have regulated all that is connected with the observance of morality. According to the Mohammedan law, the first obligation for women consists in the use of the veil; consequently, for a Turkish woman to depart from the observance of that custom is a breach of not only a social duty but of a precept of faith. Nevertheless, for some time past a certain number of women, contrary to the laws of propriety, make use of very thin veils, and of dresses made of materials which have never before been used for such purposes, and walk about with their features and persons too much seen. They moreover affect indelicate manners, and in the public promenades mix with men. Henceforth all women, whoever they may be, on leaving their bouses must wear thick veils which completely cover their features, and be clad in dresses of cloth or other suitable material without embroidery, trimmings, or external ornaments of any kind. They must not show themselves out of doors simply in stockings and slippers, but must wear half-boots in yellow morocco leather, or some other suitable and decent covering for the feet. When they go out to make purchases they are strictly prohibited from entering shops, but must stop on the outside to be served, and must not remain longer than is absoThus, for not contenting himself with lutely necessary. When they are on the an immense fortune honestly obtained, public promenades they must confine Abdallah fell into a miserable condition, themselves to the part reserved for fefrom which he never rose: a just punish-males. Any woman who shall be guilty ment for his ingratitude and sordid avarice. His first care was to place the chandelier, with the precious objects brought by the camels, in a room, and unable to control his impatience he at once lighted the former. The twelve Dervishes appeared as usual, and he gave each of them a blow with all his strength, fearful of weakening the effect of the talisman; but he had not remarked that Abounadar, when he had practised the same ceremony, had held the stick in his left hand. Abdallah, therefore, by natural habit, employed the right, and each of the Dervishes, instead of becoming a heap of riches, took immediately from beneath his robes a formidable staff, with which they returned his compliments so vigorously, that the poor man was almost killed; when they disappeared, carrying away camels and treasures, horse, slave, and chandelier. of acts against the law will be severely punished. No family shall keep equipages beyond their means, and the drivers must be most carefully selected." FEMALE DRESS. THE luxury of a woman's dress has ever proved a step towards national ruin. The inspired prophet denounced the divine judgments on the pride and dress of the Jewish women. Rome suffered from the same cause. France, under the last two reigns of Bourbon princes, at the close of last century, was brought to a revolution partly by female folly and extravagance. Let not England lose her power, but above all, let her not lose her Christianity by such Idolatry of Fashion. We cannot serve two masters; we cannot serve God and mammon. Surely the enemy of our salvation is tempting us to ruin, by throwing before us the bait of fashionable indulgence, to divert us from walking in the ways of godliness. Oh! for a voice of more than mortal power to call on my country women to pause ere they take another step in the path of the gay multitude they are following! And where will that path lead them? Extravagance in dress will generally lead to debt, and the consequent ruin of the tradespeople and dressmakers they have employed. How many young ladies spend so much upon their wedding outfit that they begin married life with that load of care and sure temptation to falsehood which unpaid and unacknowledged debts must bring. England boasts of having an open Bible for her people, and perhaps in no nation is it more studied, particularly by our women. How is it then that they can shut their eyes to the plain meaning of such texts as these, where the Apostle Paul (1 Tim. ii. 9) requires "that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array ?" St. Peter, in his First Epistle, iii. 3, says of women, "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel." Whatever may be the practice of those women who disregard the precepts of the inspired apostles, let not women professing godliness give way to such extravagant fashions as now prevail. Every woman who wears what may be called an "ex tremely fashionable dress," adds, by her example and influence, to the power of fashion. Let the matrons of England set a pattern of a wise moderation, and, as they value their daughters' modesty and their husband's peace, as they would be free from the blood of those young victims who are every year sacrificed to the overworking system of the great dressmaking establishments, let them firmly stem the torrent of extravagance, and forbid, with the voice of parental authority, the indulgence in elaborately trimmed dresses. THE MULE IN CENTRAL AMERICA. This animal is led One of the most striking characteristics of the mule is his aversion to the ass, and the pride he takes is his relationship to the horse; which instincts are met by obtrusivehorse. If an ass at any time-urged by the ness in the ass, and by indifference in the vanity peculiar to its race as related to the mule-happens to fall in with a drove of mules, he will, in all probability, be kicked and lamed by his proud relatives. A horse, on the contrary, takes a distinguished position in a drove of mules. The latter crowd hibiting a violent jealousy, each trying to around him, and follow his movements, exstand nearest to their high-bred relative. This instinct is employed to keep together the drove of mules, on a journey or at pasture, by putting a mare to the drove, with a bell round her neck, and called the "bellmare," by the Mexicans "la yegua madra," mother mare. day and night by a cord, and the whole not leave their queen. It is, therefore, drove is thus kept under control, and will very difficult to separate the drove. The man who leads the mare is instructed, in case of an attack from the Indians, to leap instantly upon the back of the animal, and take refuge in the waggon encampment, whither the drove is sure to follow him. Even if the Indians succeed in separating any from the drove, they find it difficult to carry them off. The animals incessantly attempt to turn back, and the travellers are thus enabled to overtake the robbers, and recover the stolen animals. The Indians, in consequence, use every means to get possession of the mare, and if they succeed in this, the whole drove is lost to their mules, the danger is that the latter becomes dispersed; and this is the reason that, in these journeys, saddle horses are not allowed to go loose, but are led by a cord. owners. If several horses are in a drove of LADIES' WORK. MUCH has been said and written of late on the subject of female employment, its growing importance, and the necessity of finding new outlets for its operation. The subject has employed many benevolent persons, and many minds remarkable for their powers of practical arrangement; but it is found to be surrounded with difficulty. It is not only the sphere of their work that requires to be widened, many of the employments most appropriate for women having been already usurped by the other sex; but, besides this, there are many ladies who might be profitably disposed at home in preparing articles for sale, who are unable to find a market. For, after all, the women who would go into shops to earn a livelihood, must ever be confined to a particular class, and their occupation would go but a short way to the mitigation of the evil. How many gentle women are there, educated in their tastes, and refined in their habits, whose delicacy would induce them to shrink with invincible repugnance from any open way of working for a livelihood, and yet whose limited means would lead them gladly to employ their taste and education on the preparation of work for sale, if they only knew of a market where it might be disposed of, without the necessity of their coming forward in the matter. It is incalculable how much privation might be averted, how many a scanty and precarious income might be helped out by the simple contrivance of opening a market for the disposal of such plain or fancy work as ladies, who are too timid or sensitive to come forward in the sale of their own productions, might commit to its disposal. Such considerations occurred a short time ago to some benevolent ladies, who, after mutual consultation, resolved to make the experiment, and we are happy to find that so far as they have yet gone, their success has exceeded their expectations. Like all good things, the "Association for the Sale of Work by Ladies of Limited Means," was modest and unpretending in its origin, and has been gradual in its growth. It opened two years ago, by the occupation of a couple of stalls in the Soho Bazaar, and in a short time it was found that the accommodation thus provided was not sufficient for the business of the Association. More commodious premises were therefore taken at 16, Berners Street, Oxford Street, where the business of the Association has been carried on for the last twelve months; and though the limited means at the disposal of the com mittee, have prevented its existence from being widely circulated, yet it has been steadily increasing. Its plan of operation is exceedingly simple. Ladies who wish to send in work, must be recommended by a guinea subscriber, and they are also called upon to pay two shillings and sixpence for the privilege. They may then send in work. fixing their own price for it; but they must not send more than £5 worth at one time. The articles are received by a saleswoman who does her best to dispose of the articles to customers, a penny in the shilling being deducted from the price of every article sold, as commission. Each lady's work is distinguished by a private cypher, known only to the Secretary of the Association, so that in every instance the name of the ladies who thus send their work for inspection and sale, is scrupulously concealed. We need not dwell on the advantages which an Association like this affords to those ladies who, having been brought up in affluence, and suffering from a reverse of fortune, are willing to labour for their livelihood, though they cannot bring themselves to make a public display of their necessities. This Association completely relieves them from that difficulty, and enables them, without any fear of notoriety, to convert what may have only at first been intended for an elegant accomplishment, into an important means of usefulness. The large proportion of articles on sale, consists, we believe, of plain needlework, but there is also a fair sprinkling of embroidery, knitting, netting, crochet, illuminations, paper and wax flowers, leather work, and even wood-carving. Upwards of 200 ladies are now in the habit of sending their work to the sale rooms; and the number of purchasers is ever on the advance, though it is obvious that an increasing number of these is required to meet the increase of the sellers. We do not know any Association where ladies can do more good at less personal convenience than by patronising this establishment. There is only one objection which can be made to its operation, that the secresy observed as to the names of the exhibitors may induce ladies to send their work who have no real need for such a means of support, and that an unfair competition would thus be established with the really necessitous workers in the labour market. But the committee are on their guard against this danger, and they have taken effectual means to guard against it, by requiring that all exhibitors shall be recommended by the guinea subscribers, who are to vouch for the straitened means HUSBANDS AND WIVES. How often is it said in the present day that men and women are falsely placed with regard to each other. According to one party men are too strong, and women too weak, and they demand that women's prerogative be forthwith greatly increased -they would make men of them at once. Others consider that by a different course of education, which should direct their minds to great objects, women would quietly assume a position equal to that of men, without any more active interference. A third, and large party assert that, so far from men being the stronger, they have always been the victims of the other sex. There is perhaps some truth in each of these propositions; but when we consider that men have always been the law-makers there may be a suspicion of their having secured to themselves an undue portion of the powers and privileges of social life. It is so easy to make a law in favour of one's-self, that we think there is a chance of the suspicion being well founded. On the other hand, the small amount of truth which we have supposed to exist in the propositions above stated, is completely swamped by the presence of a load of injustice. from the position of master, not that his place may be taken by the woman— "For woman is not undeveloped man"but that she may be the sharer of his pleasures, hopes and joys, as she has ever been the partaker of his pains, fears, aud than friendship; and the friendship of hussorrows. There is nothing more beautiful band and wife insures the highest earthly happiness. Many married men consider themselves fully justified in passing most of their evenings away from home, among their companions. If this be fair for the man, it is equally fair for the woman to go out and visit her friends also. If it be essential that the woman have always a smile ready to greet her husband when he enters, it is equally essential that he should bring good-humour and a pleasant countenance with him. True, he may be troubled and annoyed with business cares; but, is she not troubled and annoyed, often to a greater degree, with family and household cares, with the difference that, while she is always amongst hers, the man by his more active out-door life does, in some measure modify his. If it be fair for the husband to keep the purse, it is fair that the wife should know how much or how little there may be in it. There must be no secrets on either side; what the man knows the woman ought to know. In cases of difficulty woman's feelings will often suggest a better remedy than man's reason. The case might be met by the mutual recognition of one common purpose, and object, combined with respect for differing views regarding its attainment. Generally speaking, it may be said that there wants for man, more of sympathy, for woman, more of discretion: "The kindest and the happiest pair The destiny of man and woman, husband and wife, is the same: each has certain duties to perform which, of themselves, combine for the mutual advantage, as truly and beautifully as the engrafting of two trees will produce one excellent kind of fruit. If men and women, when brought together by marriage, and who have to live together for the whole of their lives, wouldningham's Life of Sir Joshua Reynolds," which make up their minds to be as charitable to each other's failings, as much disposed to mutual forbearance, and considerateness towards each other's feelings in private, as they appear to be when in presence of their friends, we should hear much less about injustice, and false position. To use a common expression, what is fair for one is fair for the other: in the married state there should be the strictest equality. The husband must come down FORCE OF HABIT.-A story is related in " Cunshows how ridiculous a great man may be rendered by the force of habit. He had been tanght by his old master, Hudson, to paint portraits in a certain position, the gentleman holding his hat under his arm. Before he had thrown off the trammels of habit, and began to exhibit that free and bold manner that afterwards distinguished him, a certain customer desired to be His wish was gratified, but when the portrait was sent home, the gentlethat her husband had two hats, one on his head man's wife was not a little astonished to perceive and another under his arm! painted with his hat on. |