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days, I became familiar with the following unwritten history regarding Tecumseh. My informant was William Casad-or, as he was always called, "Old Uncle Billy "who was born about 1772, in Virginia, and was living about a mile from Fairfield, Ohio, at the time of my father's settlement there, in 1832, and how much longer I cannot say; but this I know, that he was surrounded by numerous relatives, extending to the fourth generation, numbering at least twenty families-the descendants of which are scattered into nearly every State in the Union, a number of the name still remaining in Ohio, and one, Martin Casad, being now a resident of this city. He will be able to corroborate the following facts, and perhaps add to them. I have sat for hours listening to "Old Uncle Billy's" stories of hair-breadth escapes from Indians, bears, wolves, or panthers, when he was hunting in the mountains of Virginia, and the forests of the West. Among them was this: During the protracted war with the Indians from 1800 to 1810, he was a hunter by trade, hunting bear especially, and also smaller game. He sometimes spent nine months at a time in the western wilds, without seeing the face of an Indian, let alone that of a white man. He always hunted alone, and became so attached to the woods that he could scarcely tolerate any other life. During the fall of 1810, while on a hunting expedition, he was taken prisoner by a band of Shawnees, who carried him hundreds of miles in a direction he had never been. His Indianlike appearance, courage, and ability to stand as much hardship and privation as any Indian, caused his adoption as one of them, and finally into Tecumseh's own family. He slept in Tecumseh's tent for more than two years, and was allowed to carry the War Hatchet in battles, which was quite an honor among them. He had many interesting personal reminiscenses of Tecumseh-among others, of his musical turn, especially with the flute; he would lie on his back and play a sort of march on the flute, which "Uncle Billy" had never heard before or since, and which the chief himself called "Tecumseh."

Casad made his escape from the Indians the day that Tecumseh fell, and was within fifty feet of him at the time he was killed, at the Battle of the Thames, Canada, October 5th, 1813. "It has been reported

for years," "Uncle Billy" would say, "that Colonel Dick Johnson killed him; and Colonel Dick Johnson thought he did; but he did not. Tecumseh was killed by a common soldier." He gave the soldier's name, but I have forgotten it. The cause of the mistake was this: Tecumseh never went into battle with his chief's or general's suit on (he was a British brigadier-general from February, 1813); but some Indian of his own tribe was always found brave enough to wear the habiliments of the chief for that day. On the day that Tecumseh fell, fell also, and by the hand of Colonel Johnson, the brave who wore Tecumseh's suit. "I often asked the soldier who killed Tecumseh,” said Casad, "why he did not write to the War Department, and claim the honor of having killed the chief of the Shawnees; but he always answered: “Oh, I am only a common soldier, and it would do me no good; whereas, to one in the position of my commander, it will give additional honor." Perhaps some reader of this will be able to supply the name of the soldier that " Old Uncle Billy" used to give.

There existed a legend among the surviving descendants of Tecumseh who remained near Station Pond up to the time they were sent to Indian Territory, that Tecumseh's bones and all his war trophies were carried back from Canada and buried on the spot of his birth. Respectfully yours,

San Francisco, October, 1885.

L. P. McCarty.

The 44 Golden-Thread." WITHIN the cañons dim, where grasses lush Bend down the stream, or struggle tall and rank With twisted willows and the mosses dank; Where manzanita reddens in the flush Of tardy dawn; where grand in awful hush

The mountains tower with torn and jagged flank; Where scarcely venturing to the dizzy bank The thirsty deer disturbs the brooding thrush ; Strong boughs of shrubs, rock-rooted, thick and young, The tangled skeins of golden-thread ensnare With parasitic tendrils subtly flung;

Anon shines forth its beauteous death-light flare O'er trees that die, by its embraces stung: Even Nature says "Of gold's soft gleam beware." Amelia Woodward Truesdell,

BOOK REVIEWS.

The Coming Struggle for India.1 THIS is a plea in behalf of English as adverse to Russian civilization, and an appeal to the people of Great Britain to stay the further progress of Russia

1 The Coming Struggle for India. By Arminius Vambery. London, Paris, New York, and Melbourne: Cassell & Company, Limited. For sale in San Francisco by A. L. Bancroft & Co.

into Afghanistan on its way to India. It is written by a Hungarian, a professor in the university at Buda Pesth, a scholar in the oriental languages, a traveler and resident in central Asia at intervals extending over some twenty years, and a frequent writer upon questions relating to the politics of the countries with which he has so long been familiar. He disclaims being moved simply by any spite against Russia, be

cause of its treatment of his native land; but urges, with some force, that he is moved by "motives strictly humanitarian," in no way influenced "by any special predilection for, or unconditional admiration of, the English." After a study of the history of the Russian advance to Tashkend, the conquest of the Three Khanates, the material and moral victory of the Russians at Geok Tepe, the further progress from Ashkabad to Merv, and the further encroachments towards Herat, the author took up the question and discussed it in a course of lectures in various localities in England. Encouraged by the sympathies which he apparently succeeded in arousing among his hearers, and in a spirit of gratitude therefor, he has written this volume, hoping thereby to arouse "the masses also to the necessity of an active, patriotic, and decisive policy as to Russia." The story of the advance of Russia is necessarily brief, but very interesting, and as an ex parte statement of the case in behalf of England is forcible. The author includes in this discussion, arguments upon the importance of Herat, Russia's chances of conquering that place, the chances in favor of the English defense, and her best method of that defense. He compares the result of Russian civilization in the new countries, in which it has supplanted the more barbarous native tribes, and the result of English civilization, as displayed in the occupation of India; and, finally, sets forth the grounds on which England should retain India, which, by her inaction, the author believes she is certain to lose to Russia. The author appeals to English statesmen as well as to English people, and can scarcely suppress his indignation at the government that apparently supinely allows Russia to advance, when but a few more steps will, in his opinion, bring her so near to India that her progress and conquest over that country will be inevitable. As a plea on one side of the great debate, it is meritorious and convincing. If its influence shall be considerable among those to whom it is chiefly addressed, and so great that it shall become known among those whom it specially attacks, it may be that it will call forth from Russian sources statements of Russia's position, and the world be better taught in a great question, which were much better determined by intelligent arbitrament than by the commoner resort to the god of battles.

Briefer Notice.

THE Philistinism that gives the name to the Reverend R. Heber Newton's book of sermons1 is mod

ern materialistic scepticism, and its Goliath is Ingersoll, whom the preacher calls "the blatant mouthpiece of the crude thought of the day." Yet these sermons have drawn upon the Rector of All Souls' the criticism of many well-meaning people, both in

1 Philistinism. By R. Heber Newton, Rector of All Souls' P. E, Church, New York, New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1885. For sale in San Francisco by Strickland & Pierson.

and out of his communion. He expresses in the preface a mild surprise that it should have been so, being "conscious of an earnestly constructive aim." It is difficult to see how he could have expected any other result from some of his utterances. For instance: "The popular notion of the Trinity is undoubtedly utterly grotesque-a sort of Midsummer Night's Dream of a Divine Being, at once one and three, of whom no conceivable thought can be formed better than that which the popular imagination of India cast into the monstrous form of an image with three heads" (p. 58). True, he goes on to build up a new conception that may be clothed in the language of the received formulas; but the sentences that cling in the memory and make the deepest impres sion are those like the above. Mr. Newton is more fearless, more intellectual, and more liberal than most of his brethren. He cares not where his logic leads him; he studies Huxley and Tyndall and Spencer; he quotes from Theodore Parker, and pronounces him "the greatest American preacher of the last generation." There are two introductory sermons on historic Christianity, in which the results of recent criticism are discussed; three on dogmatic theory, in which the doctrines of the Trinity, original sin, election, atonement, the resurrection of the body, and future punishment are developed in the old forms and in the newest thought concerning them; and seven sermons on the essential Christian faiths. In these, modern science is put on the wit. ness stand, and made to testify regarding mind and matter, design in nature, the problem of pain, both animal and human, Jesus the Christ, and immortality. Spiritualism, the mind cure, and other modern ideas, are discussed in connection with these last subjects. It will be seen that Mr. Newton's book is one that thinking people will like to read, and it is a book that invites, almost demands, a second and third perusal. That is sufficient praise for a book of ser. mons." Due West," by M. M. Ballou, published some time ago, was successful enough to lead to the publication of a new book by the same hand-Due South2. In the earlier book the author, starting from Boston, contiued his westward course till he reached his home again. It would be rather unrea. sonable to expect an attempt at the same plan in the present book; for that would condemn the voy. ager to a perpetual home in the Antarctic regions. In point of fact, Mr. Ballou's present book deals with Cuba. Not having so much ground to cover as in the former volume, the narrative is more detailed

and more enjoyable. The history of the island is briefly given, but the greater part of the book is filled with description of her present condition and resources. The picture is painted from the New England standpoint, and does not lack for dark shadows to offset the high lights. Mr. Ballou considers the

2 Due South. By Maturin M. Ballou. Boston: Houghon, Mifflin & Co. 1885. For sale in San Francisco by C. Beach.

present a crisis in Cuban history. Despite the merciless extortion of taxes that bankrupt the natives, Cuba is an expense to the crown, and thousands of the soldiery of Spain are sent there every year to maintain the garrison. Twenty-five per cent. of these soldiers die during the first year. Spain, always in financial and military distress, cannot endure the drain much longer, and Mr. Ballou predicts and justifies the acquisition of Cuba by the United States. The Philosophy of Art in Americal is an attempt, accompanied by many digressions, to prove the advisability and even the necessity of establishing a department of Fine Art and Art Industries in the Government. As a secondary object, the author pleads for the abolition of the duties on art subjects. It cannot be said that Mr. De Muldor is successful in his attempt. As regards his primary object, he does not even apprehend the objection of those that oppose the paternal idea of government, but thinks it sufficient to show that several European nations have such departments with apparently good results. He is under the delusion, too, that to make his work philosophical it must be written in a style so stilted and involved that it would, indeed, take a philos. opher to discover the meaning of the page-long sentences.No. 14a of Geo. M. Baker's series of se lections contains fifty readings of fair average merit. At first it is a little doubtful whether the claim of entire novelty can be allowed to a collection opening with "Virginia" from the "Lays of Ancient Rome"; but on reading the garbled version given, it is sufficient ly certain that Macaulay would not care to own it.-Dr. Benson's comedy, Frolicsome Girls, contains no strong situations, no depth of plot, no telling hits, and nothing new or attractive. The translation by Ada S. Ballin, from the French of Professor Darmesteter, College of France, of his book on the Mahdi, will be welcome to those who wish to understand the Soudan problem. The term Mahdi, the One who is Led, is a generic one; there have been very many of them from a time within fifty years of the death of Mahomet till now. The principal Mahdis of the past, and the doctrines and beliefs concerning the Mahdi, form the main part of the pres

1 The Philosophy of Art in America. By Carl De Muldor. New York: William R. Jenkins. 1885. 2 The Reading Club. No. 14. Edited by Geo, M. Baker. Lee & Shepard, Boston. For sale in San Francisco by C. Beach.

8 Frolicsome Girls: A Comedy. By Dr. W. H. BenNew York: G, P. Putnam's Sons. 1884.

son.

The Mahdi. By James Darmesteter. Harper's Handy Series. New York: Harper & Bros. 1885.

ent volume. The story of the Mahdi of '84 is told very briefly, and the problem of keeping the Soudan open is as briefly discussed. The solution of that problem Professor Darmesteter finds in building up Abyssinia, a Christian power which commands the Soudan from its most vulnerable quarter. The translator adds as appendices two articles; one, an interesting account of the private character of the Mahdi, with two letters of his, and the story of the rise of a rival Mahdi; the other, a most quaint recital by an Egyptian soldier of the events in Khartoum during the siege.—G, P. Putnam's Sons have done well in adding to their Traveler's Series a reprint of Mr. Clarence Deming's letters to the "Evening Post," which they published in more elaborate style two years ago. These letters are happy in the novelty of their subjects and in the charm of their style. A re-reading of some of them confirms the favorable opinion expressed when they first appeared in book form. The Chatauqua Literary Society begins, as it seems to us, the department of activity in which it can be most useful that is, bringing out, and distributing through its far-reaching channels, first-class books-by the publication in a series, called the "Garnet Series," of selected Readings from Ruskin₺ and Readings from Macaulay upon Italy. The former has an introduction by Professor Beers, the latter by Donald G. Mitchell. The other two of the four volumes that make up the series are more or less in keeping (one more and the other less) in subject, being Michel Angelo Buonarottis and Art and the Formation of Taste.—The Biglow Papers are the last addition to the Riverside Aldine series; and it is a great deal to be able to say of any book-making, as we must say of this, that it adds a new pleasure to reading the Biglow Papers. It was, of course, necessary to devote one volume to the first series, and the other to the second series; but it makes a marked discrepancy in the thickness of the two volumes.

5 By-ways of Nature and Life. By Clarence Deming. Traveler's Series. New York: G. P. Putnam's Son's. 1885. For sale in San Francisco by Chilion Beach. 6 Readings from Ruskin: Italy. Boston: Chatauqua Press. 1885.

7 Readings from Macaulay: Italy. Boston: Chatauqua Press. 1885.

5 Michel Angelo Buonarotti. By Charles C. Black. Boston: Chatauqua Press. 1885.

9 Art and the Formation of Taste. By Lucy Crane. Boston: Chatauqua Press. 1885.

10 The Biglow Papers. By James Russell Lowell. The Riverside Aldine Series. Boston: Houghton Mifin & Co. 1885. For sale in San Francisco by Chilion Beach.

THE

OVERLAND MONTHLY.

DEVOTED TO

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY.

VOL. VI. (SECOND SERIES.)—DECEMBER, 1885.—No. 36.

THE LICK OBSERVATORY.1

THE Completion of the task entrusted to the Lick Trustees by the provisions of Mr. Lick's deed of trust is now apparently near at hand. This task was to construct and to erect "a powerful telescope, superior to and more powerful than any telescope ever yet made, with all the machinery appertaining thereto, and appropriately connected therewith . . . and also a suitable observatory." The present Board of Trustees was appointed in September, 1876, and has there fore had this object continuously in view for the past nine years.

ment of a vast astronomical establishment on the summit of a mountain four thousand feet in height and twenty-six miles distant from the nearest town, has been personally superintended. It is impossible to convey in a few words any adequate idea of the multiplicity of separate interests which have been considered-from those of the practical astronomer to those of the day laborer-nor of the distressing legal complications which have arisen, and which are now happily settled; but it will be interesting to those who may read the first and the succeeding volumes of the publications of Mr. Lick's Observatory, to remember the very exceptional nature of the duties confided to his Trustees.

In the course of this time members of the Board have visited many of the leading observatories of this country and of Europe; the principal astronomers of the world have been advised with personally and by corres- They have been obliged to make the sumpondence; thousands of letters have been mit of Mount Hamilton accessible by road; written to them, to architects, contractors to remove seventy thousand tons of rock in and builders, and to instrument-makers; and order to get mere standing room for the inevery detail of the construction and equip- struments; to arrange a good and sufficient 1 The first volume of the Publications of the Lick water-supply on the top of a barren mounObservatory of the University of California is now in tain; and to carry out in the best and most course of preparation under the direction of the Lick Trustees, by Captain Richard S. Floyd and Professor economical way the real object of their trust Holden. At the request of the Editor of the OVER--which was to present to the world an LAND MONTHLY, Professor Holden has made an abstract of those parts of it which are of general and pop

ular interest, and this is here printed with additional

paragraphs.-EDITOR.

VOL. VI.-36.

astronomical observatory of the very highest class, which should be permanently useful

to science.

(Copyright, 1885, by OVERLAND MONTHLY Co. All Rights Reserved.)

The difficulties were far from being merely practical and material in nature. At the very beginning of the work it was a matter for scientific determination whether the most powerful telescope should be a reflector or a refractor. The procuring of the rough glass castings for the object glass has alone re'quired six years, and has but just been accomplished after twenty unsuccessful trials, each one lasting several months. The plans of the observatory buildings had to be conceived and executed so as to accomplish the ends in the most efficient and at the same time in the most economical manner.

In every one of these tasks, the Trustees have been cordially aided by all who have been called upon. The county of Santa Clara has provided and now maintains a magnificent mountain road from San José to the summit. The State of California has assumed the charge of publishing the astronomical observations already made. The United States has liberally granted the site for the observatory. Astronomers all over the world have been consulted, and have willingly given their time and their advice. The original plans for the observatory were fixed on in Washington, in 1879, by Captain Floyd, President of the Trustees, Mr. Fraser, Superintendent of Construction, and Professors Newcomb and Holden, of the United States Naval Observatory.

These plans have proved to be entirely adequate, and have been closely followed. Many other astronomers have been deeply interested in the work, and have shown by personal visits and by correspondence their appreciation of the importance of the undertaking. Among these should be especially named the late Doctor Henry Draper, of New York: Mr. Burnham, of Chicago; Doctor Johann Palisa, of Vienna; Professor Krueger, of Kiel; and Professor Auwers, of Berlin.

It would be of extreme interest if one could give a truly adequate view of the character of Mr. Lick, and of the motives which led him to dispose of his large fortune in public gifts, and especially of the motives which led him to found an astronomical observatory.

Certainly, no sufficient exposition of either

his character or of his motives has yet appeared in print. There is no doubt that a desire to be remembered by his fellow-men influenced him largely. He wished to do something which should be important in itself, and which should be done in a way to strike the imagination. He was only restrained from building a marble pyramid larger than that of Cheops on the shores of San Francisco Bay, by the fear that in some future war the pyramid might perish in a possible bombardment of the place. The observatory took the place of the pyramid. The beauty of the one was to find a substitute in the scientific use of the other. The instruments were to be so large that new and striking discoveries were to follow inevitably, and, if possible, living beings on the surface of the moon were to be descried, as a beginning.

It would, however, be a gross error to take these wild imaginings as a complete index of his strange character. A very extensive course of reading had given him the generous idea that the future well-being of the race was the object for a good man to strive to forward. Towards the end of his life at least, the utter futility of his money to give any inner satisfaction oppressed him more and more. The generous impulses and halfacknowledged enthusiasms of earlier days began to quicken, and the eccentric and unsymmetrically developed mind gave strange forms to these desires. If he had lived to carry out his own plans, there is little doubt that his fellow citizens would have gained less from his gifts than they will now gain. If his really powerful mind could have received a symmetric training, there is no question but that the present disposition of his endowment would entirely satisfy him.

He has been most fortunate in having his desires studied and given an ultimate form by successive sets of trustees, who had no ends in view but to make this strangely acquired gift most useful to the city, the State, and the country. He will be buried in the base of the pier of the great equatorial on Mount Hamilton, and will have such a tomb as no old world emperor could have commanded or imagined.

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