"_Tonnerre de ciel!_ what a roar of laughter there was! The very Arabs couldn't help joining in. As to the young villain himself, he stood stock-still for a moment, and then flew out of the court like a madman; and that was the last of him. We gave Eugene a famous supper that night at the Cafe Militaire in honor of his escape; and the story was in all the papers next morning, headed 'A Judgment of Solomon.' And from that day to the end of his life Colonel de Malet never went by any other name among us but 'Solomon the Second.'" DAVID KER. STARLIGHT How dark against the sky Loom the great hills! Over the cradled stream They lean their dusky shadows lovingly, Watching its happy dream. The oil-well's little blaze Gleams red and grand against the mountain's dark: Yon star, seen through illimitable haze, Is dwindled to a spark. Far greater to my eye The swimming lights of yonder fishing-boat Than worlds that burn in night's immensity-- So huge, but so remote. Ah, I have loved a star That beckoned sweetly from its distant throne, Forgetting nearer orbs that fairer are, And shine for me alone. Better the small and near Than the grand distant with its mocking beams-- Better the lovelight in thine eyes, my dear, Than all ambition's dreams. CHARLES QUIET. THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE OF 1878 IN VENEZUELA. On Friday evening, the 12th of April, 1878, we were collected, as usual, in our drawing-room in Caracas, and were in the act of welcoming an old friend who had just returned from Europe, when there came suddenly a crash, a reverberation--a something as utterly impossible to convey the impression of as to describe the movement which followed, or rather accompanied, it, so confused, strange and unnatural was the entire sensation. It was like the rush of many waters, the explosion of cannon--like anything the imagination can conceive; and at the same time the earth appeared to leap beneath our feet, then swayed to and fro with an oscillating motion: the panes of glass rattled in the windows, the beams of the flooring above creaked ominously; lamps, chandeliers and girandoles vibrated and trembled like animated creatures. The great bells of the cathedral suddenly rang out a spontaneous peal of alarm with a sonorous, awe-inspiring clang, while the clock in the tower struck the ill-timed hour with a solemn, unearthly reverberation.