One thing the Egyptian women were not taught that the women of almost every other nation, ancient and modern, practise with pleasure-music. I am not sure that the Egyptian women were positively forbidden to learn music, but it is almost certain that the same reason which induced other nations to encourage women to be musical, impelled the Egyptian legislators to deprecate it, "because," said they, "it softens and relaxes the mind."-How annoyed they must have been with the song of Miriam and her timbrel accompaniment !

Whether the Egyptian women were allowed to practise music or not, it is certain that no nation of antiquity until the Romans treated women so well as the Egyptians did. Some writers affirm that the men did all the domestic work, and left trade and commerce to the women. Well, those who like to believe it are welcome to do so. I cannot fancy a woman conducting a caravan to a distant land and her husband staying at home dandling the baby! Who mended the stockings, I should like to know? But even if I allow the conjecture that they did not wear hosiery of any kind (and stupid they were, with all their learning, if they did not), I am sure that they used "fine linen." I have the best authority for that. Well, who got up the fine linen? What about shirt buttons? I should like to know, too, how business went on when the lady of the house could not possibly attend to it. I'll tell you, dear Bessie, how it was, or how it should have been-the wives helped their husbands in business, and the husbands helped their wives in domestic affairs.

We have read much of the wisdom of the Egyptians: in one respect they were much wiser than their neighbours-they were not polygamists. Depend upon it, dear Bessie, that where there is polygamy there is female slavery, and the women are rarely so good as when each one's ambition is to be the one loving wife of a loving husband. Mrs. Potiphar was a wretch; nothing short of it. She ought to have been ashamed of herself. In these days of virtue and equity, she would have been indicted for stealing and for perjury.

It is said that the queens of Egypt were much more honoured, and much more readily obeyed than the kings. I believe it. They were well educated, at least I suppose they were; and they behaved themselves properly, and were beloved.

Some say that in Egyptian marriage contracts the bridegroom promised obedience to the bride a very good plan in some cases, I should think. In our day many wives promise obedience, and make their husbands perform it. Now I certainly think that every wife should obey her husband; her love for him should make her obedience a pleasure; but on the other hand, the husband should not require the wife to do anything that-if she think as she ought-would not be a pleasure to perform.

Egyptian women were obliged to provide for their aged or indigent parents; so we may make up our minds that the women always kept, or rather expended the cash. Quite right this, especially in a country like Egypt, where "fine linen" was the staple and Phoenician merchandise the imports.

Of course, Egyptian history supplies instances of female depravity; but that nation must be a complete Arcadia where all are as they should be. That woman, when educated and placed in her proper position, invariably does good to all around her, is the experience of ages.

With reference to Ancient Egypt, a French writer says:-"By raising the veil which fiction and heathenism have placed between us and truth, we shall see, in very remote back-ground, history pointing to Isis, and saying, 'She was queen of Egypt.'

"While Osiris was dictating laws to the Egyptians, Isis his wife was giving them those precepts of agriculture which rendered his dominions the richest in the universe. Isis had chosen the ox as her type, on account of its great usefulness in agriculture. Hence the Egyptians fancied that the soul of that princess had after her death animated the ox; and, impelled by this idea, they exalted that useful animal to the rank of a deity.

"There are still extant several statues of Isis, which represent her with the body of a woman and the head of an ox; and we know of several monuments on which their numerous inscriptions witness what an idea those people who adopted the worship of Isis entertained of their deity."

I must now dress for dinner, "so no more at present," as Molly says.

THE HAIR, TEETH, AND SKIN.-The importance of these essential portions of the human frame cannot be too highly estimated, whether we regard them as the attributes of beauty and of female loveliness, or whether we investigate their peculiar structure and the elements of which they are composed. The hair, with its singular tubular structure, its peculiar mode of growth and elongation, the delicate method by which its tinge and colour are produced; partaking, moreover, as it does, of the influence of the mind-liable to be injured by disturbing causes, and totally ruined by neglect; next, the teeth, with their singular formations of osseous and fibrous structure, of bone and of enamel; and lastly, the skin, with its secret and wondrous sympathies with the health and well-being of the frame-these are all structures obviously too delicate to be intrusted to ignorant or unskilful hands, or to the injurious and corrosive mineral substances which are often so injudiciously applied to them. It is highly satisfactory to state that Messrs. Rowland and Son have succeeded in producing applica tions of the most meritorious character-their Macassar for the hair, Odonto for the teeth, and Kalydor for the skin, being composed of the most beneficial and innoxious elements, and having stood the test of many years of trial and approbation.

LEAVING ONE'S CARD.-Voltaire and Piron were mortal enemies, and to their great embarrassment they met one day at the country-house of a mutual friend. Piron got up early, went to Voltaire's door, and wrote upon it, in chalk, the word "rogue." At breakfast-time Voltaire advanced towards Piron, and smilingly observed, "I thank you for showing your interest in my welfare, by leaving your card at my door this morning."

L

EVENING ECHOES.

BY J. E. CARPENTER.*

COME, the moon is falling
On the quiet lake,
Come, the bird is calling
In the forest brake.
Let us, silence keeping,
Seek the rocky cells,
Where, now calmly sleeping,
Mystic Echo dwells.

Hush! now louder, clearer,
Wakened by our song,
Still, as we draw nearer,
Echo steals along.
Sweet, that music stealing,
Seeming to impart

Happy thoughts and feeling
Echoed in the heart.

Now, again replying
From the hills above,
Fainter grows its sighing,
Breathing peace and love.
Ah! hark the leafy bowers
Listen with delight,
Echo to the flowers,

Breathes the soft, "Good night."

GERMAN FAIR, PORTLAND GALLERY.-We have great pleasure in noticing the elegant bazaar and public promenade which, under the name of the German Fair, is opened at the Portland Gallery. Most of our readers have, doubtless, been in the habit of visiting this gallery during the summer, when it has been opened for the exhibition of pictures. Mr. Cremer, the well-known presiding genius of the German Fair, formerly held in the Portland Bazaar, has now opened the Gallery as a Fair of a most recherché description, in which everything almost that can be desired, either for utility or ornament, is to be found. The German Fair is held in three spacious rooms, of which the principal one, elegantly decorated and lighted, is appropriated to toys, china, articles of vertu, and a most carefully selected stock of foreign and English goods for presents; while refreshments of a very superior quality are not forgotten. Excellent music is provided, and will, doubtless, add to the attractions of the German Fair. The octagon room is a perfect wonder, from the vast variety of toys and useful and ornamental articles it contains, not one exceeding a penny in price. The Grand Room is, however, the principal. It is charmingly decorated, and contains pictures, books, statuary, and other things, conspicuous among which is a choice collection of ornamental work. Mr. Cremer deserves much credit for having thus congregated under one roof such varied attractions, which, while affording a delightful promenade, also enables ladies to make all their purchases for the festivities of the coming season under one roof, without trouble or exposure to the weather.

Music (Duet) by S. GLOVER. Published by B. WILLIAMS, Paternoster Row.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE;

OR,

THE MYSTERIOUS MURDer.

(Continued from p. 79.)

87

FERDINAND VON BERGFELDT subsequently saw Charlotte several times, and though she did not seek to avoid him, yet she behaved with coolness and reserve. Though she had just ground of complaint against her husband, she rendered the due tribute of regret for his sudden and unfortunate death. About the end of August, Ferdinand received a letter from Schelnitz, which was in substance as follows:

"I have some particulars to communicate, which appear to me to be of the utmost importance, and to which I beg your earnest attention. In the first place, I have to inform you that we have found the left-hand glove. The name 'Heinrich Finacke' is legibly written in the inside. It is supposed to be the name of the manufacturer, and we have taken measures for ascertaining this fact. The glove was discovered in the following manner. In the course of his investigations, the police agent, who had possession of the right-hand glove, showed it to a milliner of Muhlbach named Mademoiselle Enkel. A lady named Raumer, who was a customer of the milliner, happened to see the glove, and examined it attentively. This lady knew that I was engaged in investigating the affair of the murder of Ottenberg. Three days afterwards Mademoiselle Raumer called upon me, and presented to me the left-hand glove. This lady is an intimate friend of the family of the protestant pastor Gaeben. She related to me that one day, whilst she was visiting the daughter of that clergyman, a discussion arose on some point of dress, and one of the young ladies having opened a drawer to search for something, accidentally drew out a glove, which fell at the feet of Mademoiselle Raumer. On picking it up, she perceived something written in the inside, and she mechanically read the name "Heinrich Finacke.'

"Where did you get this glove, my dear Caroline ?' inquired Mademoiselle Raumer.

666

From the femme-de-chambre of a lady who was here last summer from Berlin,' was the reply.

"I lost no time," added Schelnitz, "in writing to the pastor Gaeben, and he called on me this morning, accompanied by his daughter Caroline. They were very uneasy, lest the discovery of the glove-a circumstance in itself so trivial--should place them in an unpleasant position. I tried to dispel their apprehensions, and begged the young lady would tell me candidly how the glove came into her possession.

"She informed me that a young widow lady, Madame Weltheim, a resident of Berlin, had some time ago been on a visit to Baron Schonwald, at his castle near Muhlbach. Caroline, who was a great musician, frequently went to the castle to sing, and accompany the ladies on the pianoforte. When Madame Weltheim was about to leave the castle, Caroline assisted the femme-dechambre to pack up. In a small box filled with ribbons, flowers, and other trifles, the glove was found. Being an odd one, the lady's maid threw it on the ground as

useless. Caroline, admiring the small size and elegant form of the glove, picked it up, and said she would keep it as a memorial of Madame Weltheim. I am fully convinced," pursued Schelnitz, "that all that the young lady has stated is strictly true.

"You remember the letter written in French which was found among your brother's effects. Its signature was the letter 'C. Now I am informed that Madame Weltheim's femme-de-chambre was a French girl, and that her name was Cecile. You will, no doubt, be struck with this coincidence. Cecile is described as tall and slender. Caroline Gaeben is, on the contrary, of short stature. All that I can learn of Madame Weltheim is, that she is a lady of good family, and moves in the best society at Berlin."

"It is strange," thought Ferdinand, when he had finished reading the letter, "that Schelnitz should attach so much importance to coincidences which seem to me the mere result of chance." He went out to call on Count Hildenerth with the intention of communicating to him what he had learned. The Count was from home, but the Countess, who had just arrived from the country, received him with great kindness. She was full of curiosity respecting the murder, and pressed Ferdinand to inform her of all the particulars.

"Your brother was buried near the spot where his body was found, I believe?" said the lady.

"Yes, Madame, his ashes repose in the little village churchyard, not far from Muhlbach."

"Muhlbach!" exclaimed the Countess, "Oh! what would have been poor Charlotte's feelings had she known that she was not far from Muhlbach at the time.'

"How! Madame! was my sister-in-law near Muhlbach ?"

"She was passing some time at the castle of Baron Schonwald, which is only a few leagues from Muhlbach. Don't you know Baron Schonwald? He is a very pleasant man, only so exceedingly fond of hunting. And the Baroness, she is quite an oddity; in her youth. she was one of the maids of honour to the Electress; there was no king of Saxony in those days, but everything is changed now, and as I was observing a day or two ago, to my friend Madame Schilichtegroll, I don't know what we have gained by all these changes."

In this way the loquacious old lady gossiped for some time unheeded by Ferdinand, who was absorbed in profound reflection.

"How!" thought he to himself, "Charlotte so near the scene of crime and we not know it! She and her father have been silent on a fact of which they ought to have assured me the very first moment I was in their company."

He took leave of the Countess and returned in a very pensive mood to his hotel. He once more read the letter of Schelnitz, and pondered on every line of it. Another initial C. had now come to light; was it the one that they were in quest of? Could the accusatory glove belong to Charlotte? Had she assumed the character of a widow with the false name of Madame Weltheim ?

These and a thousand other perplexing thoughts and suspicions haunted the mind of Ferdinand throughout the night.

(To be continued.)