that the moral life of these poor easy laborers was but little above that of the beasts they lived so intimately with; but he sighed for something of that grace to drape the rough virtues of his native rustics.

He thought painfully over the subject as, having declined company, he strolled backward to the town of Ombra that evening.

"Must I distrust so much that is pleasant?" he asked himself, 'and be forever on my guard against its charms? The lasciar andare does very well in matters of taste, but not when it is a question of right and wrong."

He reached his hotel in a golden silent gloaming, and was met by his landlady, who smilingly presented him with a package of letters forwarded by his banker. He glanced them over, as he ate his solitary dinner, at which the landlady served him with an extraordinary solicitude. When he retired to his chamber he was surprised to see her follow him. She lighted his candles though it was hardly dark, beat up his pillows, asked if he would n't have a bottle of wine sent to him, and showed herself so loath to go that he finally suggested the good-night she seemed to have forgotten. Then she stopped before him, with one hand hidden in her apron pocket.

"There is one more letter, Signore," she said. "I hope that it does not bring you bad news."

"One more letter?" he echoed. "What do you mean?"

She half drew it from her pocket. "I did not give it to you before dinner, lest it might spoil your appetite," she said.

He silently took from her hand a black-bordered, thick letter, and seated himself to read it. The woman stood looking at him, watching his expression with a real anxiety. She had not known him twenty-four hours; yet when she saw his brows knit as he laid aside a large double sheet closely written, and unfolded a briefer letter enclosing it, she made a quick forward movement, as quickly checked, and bit her lips to keep silence. He read, and dropped his face into his hands.

"I knew it!" the woman cried. "O Signore, I was sure that there was sorrow in that letter. I knew that ill news

was coming; for last night I heard an owl crying like an infant on the roof of the church opposite. I said to my husband: 'Something is going to happen here.' And he said: 'Ma, che! the only thing that will happen will be that I shall catch that owl. It's just what I want; for I am going lark-shooting,* says he. And says I-"

She broke off; for the doctor lifted his face, and she saw traces of tears in his eyes.

"O, Signore! what has happened?" "Poor Aunt Betsey!" said her boarder; and took up the long letter he had laid aside. "I have lost a dear aunt, who was a second mother to me. She has been sick a long time, and would n't let me know, lest it should trouble me, or make me give up some journey I wished to take. See! she wrote this letter in the last days of her life; a little every day. Oh! oh!" and he wept.

She

The woman was weeping too. patted him on the head and shoulder, said all the comforting words she could think of, begged him to have patience, and finally induced him to speak. It was the best comfort .she could have given him: and the doctor presently found himself relating his story to this sympathizing listener. With anguish in his voice, he spoke of his aunt's love for him, and of the fresh, bright health of her sixty years. And then-his hostess still wiping her eyes, and murmuring words of sympathy-he translated that pathetic, yet cheerful, last letter. He did not observe how his listener's expression changed as he went on. Her tears ceased, her eyes enlarged and brightened, and her mouth remained open with the eagerness of her listening.

"She leaves it all to you!" she exclaimed, the moment he ceased. "It is all yours?" Her hand pressed his arm. What?" asked the doctor, absently. "Oh, the money? Yes, she leaves it to me."

"How good of her!" the landlady cried, with sparkling eyes. "It must be an immense fortune.

"I don't know," he replied, still absently. "No; it is not immense. Poor auntie! I wish I had n't stayed so long. How glad you would have been to see me."

"There must be a good deal of land," the Italian pursued. "And it is all yours now ?"

The doctor did not reply. Her questions had begun to reach and grate upon him. He wondered now how he could have read that sacred letter to a stranger.

She had half a mind to put five paoli into a quaterno. Only it might be land instead of fortune, man crying instead of doctor, and mourning letter instead of dead aunt.

Any way, there was no time to lose. She found her dream and lottery book; called a servant to go to the office for her; and finding no other piece of paper at hand, tore a blank leaf out of her prayer-book to write the numbers on. This done, she pushed her lagging messenger out of the door with such force that the girl ran stumbling half way across the piazza before regaining her

I.

TRONG efforts to have national controversies settled by arbitration are being put forth by good men among all civilized nations. But the time has not yet arrived when gov ernments have either adopted or show a very decided disposition to adopt the new method. Certainly, larger standing armies are to-day in existence than ever before, and until arbitration, therefore, shall be an accomplished fact, a reasonable precaution for our national defense and public safety demands at least a nucleus of an army and navy; and also that proper and adequate means shall be easily available for the protection of the nation's life and property. It is true that our geographical position and our non-interference policy will, most likely, preserve us from European complications; yet, there are causes which may at any time lead to war; such as the imperialism, wherever it is found, in fact or in spirit, which abhors any republic; the constant and bold assertion on our part, of our national demands; the fearless proclamation of the rights of our

citizens abroad; the sending of the subjects of other nations from our shores; the increasing desire of our people to hold such islands and outposts as will help to secure America to Americans; and the resistance that will surely come sooner or later to enforced immigration from any foreign nation whatever.

The proposition is an indisputable one, viz: This nation (the United States) is liable at all times to war.

According to modern experience, war once declared bursts upon a nation like a thunderstorm. Quick to rise, it is sudden in its outbreak, and is soon over; and the devastated and defeated country is forced to defray the expenses of the campaign. There is great need then for a nation liable to war, to be at all times reasonably prepared; that is to say, the army and navy should be trained to their duties and ready for expansion; and the militia. should be well organized and easily mobilized.

It is, therefore, important in considering this question to discuss first the different forms of attacks, the quarters from which to expect them, and how they should be met.

The attacks upon our country might be made from the land or from the sea. Land attacks, either from the north or from the south border, are not to be

greatly feared; for, as we could easily bring into the field our full strength, we would, in such event, have decidedly the advantage over an approaching enemy. Attacks from the sea, that is from the Gulf of Mexico or from either ocean, would be aimed at our cities on the seaboard, or at those within easy reach near the mouths of large navigable streams; also at sizable harbors, important depots, coal mines near the shore line, and navy yards.

The enemy's navy would strike our merchant marine wherever found, and would, of course, if strong enough, endeavor to defeat and destroy our navy afloat.

One well-defined object of an attacking force would be to levy contributions upon our cities; a second to secure some important lodgment as a basis of operations upon our soil, and a third to control or destroy internal communications and

commerce.

To withstand such a hostile force and defeat its purposes is the province of coast defenses. How to place such defenses and render them efficient, present problems of vital interest to every citizen of this country.

It cannot be the part of wisdom, as society is now constituted, to throw away every lock and key, or leave the doors to all our treasures unbarred; neither can it be considered a wise policy to permit, as we have done for the last quarter of a century, the channels to our principal cities, important supply-depots and large tenanted harbors to remain without a respectable show of protection in the way of coast defense.

Next, let us take a glance at some of the improvements that have been made during the last twenty-five or thirty years in foreign guns and armor, and have had a tendency relatively to lower our national standing and to jeopardize our interests. From 1850 to 1855, our existing fortifications were, as a rule, put into their present condition. Then, war-ships were unclad with iron or steel, and smooth-bore guns had short range and comparatively inaccurate fire. Since then, there has been extraordinary expenditure by foreign powers in developing every kind of ordnance.

Breech-loading rifled cannon have attained enormous proportions, and the

plating with which ships of war have been covered has been continually increased in thickness, until some of the vessels constructed could hardly float heavier material.

The foreign naval depots and gun factories, such as Portsmouth and Essen, have kept up, on trial grounds, a steady contest between heavy ordnance and the armor for ships. The constantly changing ordnance, increasing in size and power, has been matched by a corre sponding increase in the thickness of the iron or steel used for floating armor, until now probably a limit has been reached, or rather approached; because it is impracticable to go much further in size, weight and expense.

The Elswick breech - loading rifled cannon weighs one hundred and ten tons; the diameter of the bore is 16.25 inches; it hurls a projectile of 1,800 lbs., and uses habitually 850 lbs. of powder at a discharge. This gives an energy of 53,927 foot-tons (a foot-ton is the work expended in raising a ton's weight one vertical foot). With one thousand pounds of powder, the muzzle velocity is 2,128 feet (i. e., the distance the projectile would pass over in a second, with the same speed it had on leaving the muzzle), and the energy 57,680 tons.

The new English war-ship "Benbow," which has just been completed at a cost of four million dollars, will have two of these Elswick guns, and the Italian government has received from Krupp's manufactory three others weighing 118 tons each.

Another, 139 tons in weight, 15.7 inches calibre, is under construction. It is 524 feet long, and has two projectiles. The lighter weighs 1,630 lbs., is 45 inches in length, requires 1,069 lbs. of powder, and is estimated, at the muzzle, to pierce 45 inches of wrought iron. The heavier is 62 inches long, weighs 2,314 pounds, and with the same charge of powder, is estimated to penetrate 47 inches of wrought iron.

It is even proposed to manufacture a still larger gun, which will weigh at least 150 tons, and carry a projectile of 3,360 lbs.

Such are samples of heavy ordnance now made or making.

There are many other changes of importance. England, for example, has recently nearly reconstructed her navy. Ninety-seven of her war-ships carry five hundred and eighty-nine heavy guns, whose projectiles will pierce from 12 to 20 inches of wrought iron; fifteen more carry fifty guns whose projectiles will pierce from 20 to 33 inches.

Furthermore, she proposes to use the merchant steamships of the White Star and Cunard lines for cruisers and transports in case of war.

In brief, England has now a navy which could not be replaced for two hundred million dollars. In her actual service there are two hundred and fifty vessels, while she has a reserve of three hundred, with one hundred and fifty torpedo boats. Moreover, England, in case of need, is prepared for prompt extension. At home and abroad -that is, within her own domain-armored defenses have been constructed and prepared with or for modern heavy

rying two smooth-bore guns, and five double-turreted monitors at present rebuilding, and intended to mount each four breech-loading rifles. So that altogether we have fifty-five vessels, carry

EIGHT-INCH BREECH-LOADING STEEL RIFLE.

ing three hundred and fifty-two guns, most of them old smooth-bores.

Now, the best gun in our navy is the 8-inch steel breech-loading gun; weight about 28,000 lbs.* The weight of the projectile is 250 lbs., and the service charge 122 lbs. The estimated penetrations in wrought iron are as follows: At muzzle, 17.1 inches; at 1,000 yards, 15.1 inches; at 2,000 yards, 13.6 inches.

The calculated range for this loading, with the extreme elevation which the carriage permits (20 deg.), is about eight and a half statute miles.

The regular army has an aggregate force of 28,000 men, and there are 81,700 organized militiamen. Aside from these, an unorganized body is available for military duty, of (in round numbers) about seven million men. In case of foreign war, the number of men essential to work all our permanent batteries proposed would be drawn from this quota, aggregating at least 85,000 artillery troops.

Our sea-coast defenses, when constructed years ago, were equal to those of any other country. Since 1865, Con

gress has failed to make sufficient appropriations even for repairs, so that they are in poorer condition than they were twenty years ago. Our sea-coast cannon consist mainly of the 15-inch smooth-bore and the 8-inch converted rifle, with a number of 10-inch smoothbores and other smaller guns. The only guns of these worth considering for present defense are the 15-inch smooth-bores and the 8-inch converted rifles.

The

*It is asserted that a 10-inch naval gun is now just finished. It is a breech-loading steel rifle.

penetration of the former, using 130 lbs. of hexagonal powder and a 450-lb. chilled shot, is ten inches of wrought iron; that of the latter, using 35 lbs. of powder and 180-lb. projectile, is eight inches of wrought iron-both at 1,000 yards.

Many of the 15-inch guns cannot now be used for want of suitable carriages.

The largest guns we have are the 20-inch smooth-bore; and of them we have but two. These, the 15-inch and other smooth-bores, which would be serviceable within range against wooden ships and transports, and ironclads where a plunging fire could be secured, are utterly ineffective against armored vessels at greater distances; because modern war-ships could easily lie beyond their range, and at their leisure disable them and thereby destroy their inadequate protection.

For interior defense, guarding torpedo plants and sweeping narrow passages, some of our existing sea-coast guns would be of service; but evidently for the ordinary coast defense they are worthless, and where these heavy guns fail of execution for defensive purposes, an army of men, however large, could accomplish nothing. They could not prevent a single shell from entering a city and doing its horrible work of demolition and destruction.

It was necessary for us to go to an English gun foundry for some of the forgings of the present 8-inch breechloading rifles authorized in 1883. They were not ready for use until June, 1886. Since then our home factories have been improved so as to complete guns of this calibre; but the question is, Where could we get larger guns than these in time of war?

In reference to torpedoes, the engineer corps has made remarkable progress and worked out good plans for their play in the defense of our harbors; yet even in this, the appropriations have been too limited. There are no properly-protected operating rooms, o electrical apparatus or other adequate means for carrying out their proposed systems.

The carriages of most of our sea-coast guns are out of repair; they could not bear the shock of continuous firing. Some of them have already given way under experimental discharges. Thus

we see, whatever be our point of view, that we are hardly prepared by our present coast defenses to resist any, even the smallest, hostile fleet which may approach our coast with armored vessels and modern long-range rifled cannon.

II.

San Francisco has a population of about three hundred thousand; a real and personal estate valued at $250,000,000; a destructible private and city property, estimated at $190,000,000, and a railway property worth $184,000,000. This city is the center of a vast system of railroads and telegraph lines; the harbor is fine and commodious, and the largest ships may enter at will and find safety from the storms of the ocean. The shipping interests are immense, in fact, co-extensive with the world. Other sizable cities cluster about the harbor and its bays. The large navy yard is at Mare Island, and the United States Arsenal at Benicia, both of which can be reached by large ships.

With the evident want of preparation, granting our present defenses their full value, the San Franciso bay could be entered by an enemy's fleet without meeting any material opposition. The city and surrounding towns could be shelled; the communications with the interior could be cut off, and irreparable loss would be suffered by the destruction of our naval and military stores at Mare Island and Benicia.

Should we possibly succeed, by using all the appliances, in closing the harbor against an enemy's vessels, they could still lie at points below Lobos, out of reach of our ordnance; and with their heavier guns send their shells into every part of the city.

Foreign nations know the condition of our defenses. They have our complete coast-survey maps. They know also the status and whereabouts of our ships of war. Weak and assailable points are those which are chosen for attack, so that being liable to war there is a possibility of a naval attack against San Francisco, and it is the part of common-sense to make preparations for such a contingency.

Coast defenses are more important than fire insurance. In the fiscal year, end