Amongst these the Journal des Savants was perhaps the most successful, which still exists under the auspices of the minister of public instruction. Medical, commercial, industrial, philosophical, and ecclesiastical journals followed suit.

readers. Advertisements, too, were multiplied, and became a source of large profit. These radical changes were not effected without considerable opposition from less prosperous journals, which were not prepared to meet the enlarged demands upon their resources. A duel was fought between M. de Girardin, the leader of the changes, and M. Carrel, their fierce oppo

was, in fact, the last struggle between the old system and the new, and preluded the triumph of the new. The establishment of universal suffrage gave a still more powerful impetus to its progress. Still cheaper and more popular newspapers were issued, and in 1863 the Petit Journal as a sou paper began its marvellously prosperous career, and was soon followed by others of the same price.

Meanwhile, newspapers of all descriptions were being multiplied in the Low Countries and in England. In 1702 the first daily paper, the Daily Courant, ap-nent, in which the latter was killed. This peared in London; whilst in France it was not till 1777 that the Journal de Paris was published as a daily, and yielded an income of one hundred thousand francs per annum. It was, however, left to the first French Revolution to give the greatest impulse to journalism in France, which, with occasional interruptions, has been felt increasingly ever since. Mirabeau, in fact, is considered to have been the founder of the French political press. In his Journal des Etats Généraux politics were for the first time freely discussed. Its second number was suppressed by the consul in 1789; but a meeting of the electors of Paris protested so vehemently against this measure that he boldly continued the publication. The day after the taking of the Bastille he republished his journal under the new title of the Courrier | de Provence. Although it survived its founder only six months, a fatal blow had been struck at the restrictions of the press. For a short time under the iron rule of Napoleon politics were again a forbidden topic. The Moniteur alone received the imperial sanction, and in gratitude celebrated the victories of its master, and concealed his defects. The Débats, which had been purchased a few years previously by the brothers Bertin, and was already giving promise of its subsequent success, was for a time taken out of their hands, and thirty_other newspapers were suppressed. But at the fall of the Empire the Bertins recovered possession, and journalism in all its branches entered on a new era of rapidly advancing prosperity. Louis XVIII., who as "Monsieur" at one time used himself to write for the Journal de Paris, now gave considerable freedom to the press, and a host of newspapers started into existence under the favoring gale of fortune. The reign of Louis Philippe was perhaps the most brilliant period of French journalism, for then distinguished statesmen such as Thiers, Guizot, Rémusat, enriched it with their contributions and elevated its tone. At the same time the prices were reduced and the sales proportionately increased amongst a poorer and a more numerous class of

Under the present Republic, whilst the freedom of the press at times borders on licentiousness, competition has advanced with colossal strides in Paris and the provinces, as well as throughout the civilized world. In the year 1891 (the two hundred and sixtieth of French journalism) there were 3,180 periodicals of all kinds published in the provinces, and 1,998 in Paris, 5,178 in all. The daily newspaper now echoes every sound heard in every quarter of the globe, and it serves as a mirror, on which every phase of human thought and every event, the smallest as well as the greatest, is reflected, so that the ordinary reader at his breakfast table is better informed than the most intelligent statesman formerly was; and we seem to be almost omnipresent. All this is done for a price which hardly pays for the paper and ink; and yet the enormous circulations in London, Paris, and New York enable the proprietors to realize immense fortunes. It is said that the Paris Figaro would hardly be sold for less than thirty millions of francs, and that the Petit Journal nets from twelve to fifteen millions a year. It has been calculated that each side of the Tour d'Eiffel from its basement to its highest platform has a surface of fifteen thousand square mètres; and yet that the paper used for one day's issue of this little news sheet would cover the space of all four sides ten times over.

The sheets consumed in one day by the whole world's press would be sufficient to reach to the heights of the Alps or the Himalayas, while from their summits would flow torrents of ink not equal to its demands. But who can estimate the amount of human thought, labor, and skill

involved in the production of one daily | expenses of illuminations, fireworks, and paper?

processions of carriages. Many Sevillians What, we naturally ask in conclusion, of the better class make it a custom to are the results of all this marvellous ex- leave the town for the three days precedtension of the press? Opinions on this ing Lent; and besides the decree of the subject are as diverse as are men's tastes, alcalde and the disfavor of the upper class, habits of thought, and means of informa- the weather during the Carnival week did tion. Proteus-like, the press assumes so all in its power to wash out the color from many various phases in different times, a season which was once so gay. The places, and circumstances, that it is im-visitor who walked through the wet streets possible to arrive at any positive and defi- might receive a few handfuls of colored nite judgment upon its merits as a whole. paper cut into small pieces (papelitos) It is neither an unmixed good nor an un-thrown in his face by girls stationed in the mitigated evil. Certain it is that it has balconies above, and might see a few figbecome an absolute necessity of our mod-ures with masks and strange disguises wanern civilization. Without it society as it dering disconsolately about; but he would is would soon cease to exist. Even at the otherwise hardly be aware of the presence beginning of this century a writer in the of the Carnival,-unless, indeed, he came Zoologic Magazine remarked that "a fam- upon one of the bands of wandering muily met in the morning would often drink sicians (estudiantinas), singing national the tea of Lethe and eat the toast of taci- airs to the accompaniment of the guitar, turnity, were they not happily relieved and dressed in the garb of students of the from torpor of thought and immovability seventeenth century, short black jackets of tongue by the entrance of a newspaper. "and knee-breeches, with black caps and In these days of penny dailies the neces- feathers. These musical bands are the sity has grown and is annually growing only pretty feature of the Carnival as it with the supply. How weighty is the now is. Sometimes they improvise songs responsibility of all whose high office it is with true Spanish facility, slyly alluding to minister to this need to see that the to any noticeable figures in the crowd mental pabulum they set before their read-around them. At night, when the weather ers be of a wholesome and elevating char-improved, the crowds in the streets inacter! Very true, as well as forcible, was the remark of the late Lord Shaftesbury on this subject: "If you will tell me," he said, "what is the literature of the people, I will tell you what is their private character, and what is their domestic life, and what will be the future public security of the empire."

From The Spectator.

CHURCH DANCES AT SEVILLE. LIKE the other survivals of mediæval life, the Carnival is rapidly dying out in Spain and Italy, and the local press at Seville, far from lamenting the decay of the ancient festivities, is positively rejoicing over their disappearance. There is, indeed, some reason for the eagerness expressed by the Andalucia, the Orden and the Baluarte to see the Carnival dead and buried, in the extravagant license and disorder which have in recent years characterized a festival chiefly kept up by the lower orders; and this year the feeling has been so strong, that the alcalde was induced to issue a notice to the effect that the Town Council would not, as in former years, grant a sum of money to pay the

creased, and the pelting with egg-shells full of cut paper, and with bon-bons, grew faster and more furious. But, generally speaking, Carnival seemed to have left the street this year, and to have taken refuge in the cafés and theatres, where masked balls took place each night, chiefly patronized, however, by the middle and lower classes. At these, dancing was kept up from nine o'clock at night till five o'clock in the morning. In some of the cafés the pelting and horseplay led to various disturbances, in which the police were required to play a part.

The license and disorder of Carnival has always led the clergy to look upon it with a certain degree of disfavor, and it has long been the custom to open churches for special devotions during the three days preceding Lent, in reparation of the scandals of the streets and public places. In Seville, as elsewhere, the sacrament is exposed during the season, and the churches are filled with worshippers. But there is one custom peculiar to Seville, which now really forms the prettiest scene to be viewed during the Carnival, although it is religious, not secular, and is a protest against the licentious gaieties of the time, instead of being a part of them. This custom is the dancing of the little choir

boys of the cathedral before the Host any rate, was the feeling of a former pope, every evening at five o'clock. Above the who sent a commission to inquire into high altar, blazing with wax-tapers, the this ceremony, unknown except at the Host is exposed in a magnificent silver Cathedral of Seville, and there only prac ostensorium, surmounted by a huge silver tised at the Carnival, the festival of the crown; the illumination of the sanctuary Conception in December, and that of is completed by a row of tall and massive Corpus Christi in the summer. The papal silver candelabra standing outside the commissioner, however, reported that the rail. As soon as vespers, compline, and whole thing was decently and reverently matins are ended, the archbishop ascends performed, and that the covering of the to his throne at the north side of the sanc- head was simply the ancient Spanish custuary; the canons, in their purple mantles, tom; and so the supreme authority of the follow, and kneel in rows on each side; Church could only give its approval to a then in the space before the altar ten little harmless and charming ceremony, which choir-boys (seises) take their stand in two perhaps forms a useful counter-attraction ranks of five, facing each other. The to the masked balls and other spectacles boys are dressed as pages of the seven- of the streets and theatres. The origin of teenth century, with jackets of red and the dancing is not attested by any docuwhite in stripes, white knee-breeches, mentary evidence, but it is believed to stockings, and satin shoes; in their hands date from the conquest of Seville by St. they hold white hats, broad-brimmed and Ferdinand from the Moors. It is a surhigh-crowned, with drooping plumes of vival, in fact, of the autos sacramentales, red and white feathers. After "Tantum or miracle-plays accompanied by music Ergo" has been sung, to the accompani- and dancing in honor of the sacrament, ment of a full orchestra, the boys begin a which are chiefly known to European hymn in Spanish to a bright and charming readers outside Spain through the beau air. When this is ended, they genuflect, tiful compositions of Calderon. put their hats on their heads, and begin "Autos" of Calderon carried these pertheir dance, still singing to the accom-formances to the highest point of literary paniment of the orchestra. The dance is art, but they had been customary in Spain slow and stately, like the old minuet, with throughout the Middle Ages at Corpus a pause between each step; the boys wind Christi and other festivals. Not only in and out, form various figures, and end boys but also women used to dance before with a pirouette. At the completion of the the Host, until this part of the ceremony hymn, the orchestra continues the air, and was suppressed by authority. the boys accompany it with castanets, still dancing. The ceremony is then repeated, with another hymn and different music, and the whole performance lasts twenty minutes. At its conclusion, "Tantum Ergo " is again sung, while every one kneels; the archbishop gives his benedic-airs sung at the festival of the Conception; tion, and departs with his attendants, the people crowding round, as he goes down the church, to kiss his episcopal ring.

The

The music employed at the Church dances in Seville is the property of the chapter, and strangers are not, as a rule, allowed to see the scores. Mr. Lomas, however, who mentions these dances in his book of travels in Spain, gives two of the

at the Carnival and Corpus Christi, entirely different words and airs are used. It is rumored that, in deference to modern sen Many Protestants, and even Roman timent, the dances will be discontinued Catholics, may be scandalized when they before long; but if this is to be the case, hear of dancing as part of a Church ser- many will certainly regret the disappearvice; above all, of dancing in fancy cos-ance of one more picturesque scene, and tume, and with covered heads. Such, at one more survival of medieval life.

CARLYLE ON LOUIS BLANC. Among a collection of Carlyle's letters is one in which he gives a little sketch of Louis Blanc. "I also," he says, "rather like the little Revolutionist. During the time of his Luxembourg saturnalia, I read all his books; found in him immense vivacity, and ardent zeal, a swift, clear, shallowish, but honest judgment, and a

dreadful deficiency of all the silent faculties; which latter, indeed, are not very rife anywhere at present, and in France I think never were. Monsieur a peu ou presque point de talent pour le silence!' An amiable little revolutionary curiosity - unhappily invested with a kind of magnitude just at this time."

III. CONVERSATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE

Longman's Magazine, .

WITH THOMAS CARLYLE. Conclusion, Contemporary Review,

IV. SKETCHES FROM EASTERN TRAVEL.

III.,

V. EARLY RAILWAY TRAVELLING,

VI. THE NEW STAR IN AURIGA,

VII. NUNC DIMITTIS,

VIII. THE WILD FLOWERS OF SELBORNE,

Blackwood's Magazine,

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