Opinion, let me alone: I am not thine. Prim creed, with categoric point, forbear To feature me my Lord by rule and line. Thou canst not measure Mistress Nature's hair, Not one sweet inch: nay, if thy sight is sharp, Wouldst count the strings upon an angel's harp? Forbear, forbear. SIDNEY LANIER July Sixth A golden pallor of voluptuous light Filled the warm Southern night; The moon, clear orbed, above the sylvan scene Moved like a stately queen, So rife with conscious beauty all the while, What could she do but smile At her perfect loveliness below, Glassed in the tranquil flow Of crystal fountains And unruffled streams? PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE _Paul Hamilton Hayne dies, 1886_ _John Marshall dies, 1835_ July Seventh Do orioles from verdant Chesapeake, And crested cardinal, With linnets from the Severn, come to seek, Obedient to thy call, If they can give thee one new music-thought, Who ev'ry note from ev'ry land hast caught? E. G. LEE (_The Mocking Bird_) July Eighth Sweet bird! that from yon dancing spray Dost warble forth thy varied lay, From early morn to close of day Melodious changes singing, Sure thine must be the magic art That bids my drowsy fancy start, While from the furrows of my heart, Hope's fairy flowers are springing. CHARLES WILLIAM HUBNER (_The Mocking Bird_) July Ninth And to defenders and besiegers it is alike unjust to say, even though it has been said by the highest authority, that Port Hudson surrendered only because Vicksburg had fallen. The simple truth is that Port Hudson surrendered because its hour had come. The garrison was literally starving. With less than 3000 famished men in line, powerful mines beneath the salients, and a last assault about to be delivered at 10 places, what else was left to do? LIEUT.-COL. RICHARD B. IRWIN, U. S. V. _Fall of Port Hudson, 1863_ _Defeat of Lew Wallace by Early at the Monocacy, Maryland, 1864_ _Alexander Doniphan, "the Xenophon of America," born 1808_ July Tenth MAMMY'S FIRST EXPERIENCE AT THE 'PHONE We heard Mammy say "Hello--H'llo! (What meks you rattle de handle so?) Is dat _you_, Miss?--wants Main twenty-free! (I ain't gwine to have you foolin' wid me!) I say, Main twenty----what's ailin' you? '_Bizzy!_' I guess I'se bizzy, too! You gim-me dat number twenty-free, I'se bizzier 'n you ever dared ter be!" MARY JOHNSON BLACKBURN July Eleventh The Old World had its Xantippe; but----the facts have not been fully established in the New!