that the new faith has lost nothing in these the young prophet was wholly absorbed up years of secresy. Throughout the king- to the very day when he was led forth to dom of the Shah, there are hosts of people die. who are commonly reputed to be its adherents; and what is notable is that they are especially numerous among the higher classes, the educated, the wealthy and even the public officials. If the country should ever fall into the hands of a foreign and non-Mahometan power, Babism may yet become the religion of Persia. Before concluding this account of Bab, we must briefly notice the system of religion which he founded. Its general drift can be easily understood. Theosophic and mystical speculations have always been the darling passion of the Oriental thinker. Even Mahometanism, simple and sharply defined as is its theological system, has been forced to yield somewhat to this universal tendency. Especially in Persia, it has incorporated into itself many conceptions entirely foreign to the primitive faith of Islam. But even these concessions have not been sufficient to satisfy the dreamy, mystical spirit of the East. The most profound thinkers have always been repelled by the bare and rugged monotheism of the Koran; they have been constantly seeking for a system of faith more in accordance with what seems the primal bent of Oriental thought. This struggle against Semitic monetheism, this invincible predilection for mystical and pantheistic ideas has originated many a heresy and revolt; it still remains the chief source of religious disaffection in the Islamite world. Bab, so far as his theology is concerned, was a new traveller in old paths. His system, with its elaborate arrangement of emanations and incarnations, is another protest of Oriental pantheism against the severe monotheism of the Koran; it is a new recurrence to that old type of thought which is familiar to every student of Iranic or Indian or Neo-Platonic ideas. Of course, it presents many variations which originated in the teeming brain of Bab himself. But essentially there is nothing new in his theology. And it would only be, for us, a waste of time to wade through the cabalistic conceits and theosophic dreams in which We will not even pretend to decide precisely what position the Babist theology assigns to its founder in the scale of existence. "Bab was a blasphemer and claimed to be God' say the Mahometans. But in this matter, great allowance must be made for the vague and rhapsodical language of mystical pantheism. Suffice it that Bab claimed, in a peculiar sense, to be the most perfect embodiment in human form of that Divine Unity which is enfolded in every living thing. But when Bab descends from this high region of dreams and theological mysteries to the affairs of practical religion, he shows himself at his best. He seems to have been blessed, despite his philosophy, with a rich vein of that sober common-sense which generally is so deplorably lacking in the East. In this, to Western eyes at least, lies the chief charm of his religion. He looked with contempt upon the monotonous formality and parade of Mahometan worship. In every Mussulman's house there is a niche cut in the wall which is supposed to precisely mark the direction of Mecca; and towards this niche or Kibleh as it is called, all turn their faces when engaged in prayer. But Bab would have nothing of this. "God is your Kibleh," he said to his followers: "wherever you turn, God is before you."* In the same spirit, he discountenanced that rigid adherence to set times of devotion, which characterizes the Mussulman. True, he advises his followers to pray at certain ap pointed times, but he naively adds: “if you are in the mood, if not, wait until you are."† He protests, also, against the parade of Mahometan worship. Every Babist is commanded to have in the most secluded part of his house a secret closet where he is to engage in devout meditations in the presence of God alone. In a word, Bab, in spite of his theological extravagances, has the true idea of religious devotion. With *The Book of Precepts, translated by Count de Gobineau, in the Appendix to his Relig. et Philos. dans Asie Centrale. p. 517. him, it is a free, spontaneous exercise in the closet, rather than a monotonous parade in the mosque. In the same free, broad spirit, Bab dealt with the social questions that came in his way. The triumph of his religion, if it should ever be brought about, would effect a complete revolution in the domestic life of the East. It discountenances polygamy: it permits woman to cast aside the veil, that odious badge of her inferiority and bondage in the East: by raising the beautiful and eloquent Gourret-Oul-Ayn to the rank of a chief apostle, it has granted privileges to the female sex which are only sullenly accorded even in the West. And so in all its social views, Babism is the bold champion of the reforms that Asiatic life most urgently needs. One of the chief glories of the new faith is its hostility to asceticism. The most incurable vice of all Oriental religions, heretofore, has been their passion for monker, their habit of looking on beggary, indolent revery and self-imposed tortures as forming the highest ideal of human excellence. This fatal superstition, Babism opposes with all its power. Mendicancy is prohibited. Men are taught to delight in the beautiful, rather than in the squalid and the poverty-stricken. The Babist does not become a saint by sitting in the ashes and clothing himself in the garb of a beg gar on the contrary, he is commanded to strive after the graces and refinements of life, to be attentive to the laws of social courtesy, to decorate his home, to adorn his person and that of his bride, to make things around him look attractive and beautiful. "Do all this, if you can"; the Book of Precepts says, and then wisely adds, "but do not afflict yourself if you cannot."§ There are many other features of this new faith which we should like to present if our space permitted. But enough has already been said, perhaps, to indicate the general drift of the system. In its theology, it remains true to those speculative tendencies which seem inwoven into the texture of all truly Oriental thought. But in all questions of practical religion and social life it is treer and more in unison with the spirit of the West. In his efforts for the emancipation of woman, for the separation of Church and State, for the overthrow of religious formality and ascetism, Bab touched the springs of true reform for his people. Whether the new faith will ever realize its first promise of success, no one can tell. But at any rate, its history serves to show that the quickening influences of modern civilization are slowly infusing themselves into the sluggish spirit of the East. Summer Nights. [From the French of Victor Hugo.] When summer days have died, while flowers uprearing A vague, dim twilight, where all darkness dies, Sarah G. Duley. IT Was She a Widow? 'T was a beautiful morning in the very heart of June, 1871, that I stepped from a coach on the St. Louis and Rock Island train to the platform of the station at Bushnell. Very leisurely, if not languidly, I moved among the crowd, so many of whom seemed impressed with the idea that it was their duty to go somewhere as soon as possible, and that it would be necessary, in order to do this expeditiously, to jostle an indefinite number of elbows, and tread upon an indefinite number of toes. We Americans are, theoretically, a civilized people; practically, we exhibit some remnants of habits which might have belonged to our uncivilized condition, except that uncivilized people never hurry. Railroad stations and railroad trains are, therefore, good places to test the courtesy of a gentleman, or the kindliness of a lady. If exhibited there, among baggage-smashers, hotel runners, carriage drivers, foreigners who do not understand where they want to go, and old ladies who are afraid they shall take the wrong train, we may be certain it is every day wear, and not, like a country boy's best suit, put on for occasion. Upon this particular morning the little station at Bushnell seemed to have more than its usual proportion of human beings; for so, I suppose, they must, in Christian courtesy, be called, although it would have been a doubtful question if they even aspired to be men and women. For that unmitigated nuisance, a third or fourth rate circus, had just emerged from the Quincy train close by, and its performers, like a swarm of locusts, were overrunning the whole place. pied a place at the head of the omnibus, as I entered, and I had fondly hoped the circus company would go to the other house, and leave us to the sole occupancy of the conveyance. Not so, however. In they came; a small swarm of individuals, old and young, masculine and feminine, each one striving for the best seat, and at last for any seat, or even standing room. The trunks and boys were piled upon the top of the old, dilapidated and already groaning vehicle, until I began to reflect upon my folly in entering it when the distance was so slight, and to speculate upon the possibility of getting out uninjured. At last one who seemed to have superior volubility, if not authority, checked the farther attempt to load the already overloaded carriage, and somewhat quieted the grumbling of those who were left behind by the promise, “The old ark shall be sent back for you if you do not choose to walk." The "I won't walk! I'm tired!" and "I don't want to stay here! I'm cold!" were shouted after us until distance and the rattle of the wheels drowned the discordant sounds. Not more harmonious, however, were those which accompanied us. little ones cried, the women scolded, the men swore and laughed by turns, and the lady in mourning shrank more closely into her corner, looking across to me, as if to ask if I were not alarmed. "We are almost there," I replied to the look, in a reassuring tone, returning to my study of human nature in the peculiar phases thus presented to us. Tired, cold, hungry, sleepy and cross! Not very desirable conditions to develope the Christian graces into full perfection, certainly. I have never met with a company who exhibited so much selfishness and disregard of the rights of others but once, and that was in a railroad coach crowded with saints just from a twelve days' revival meeting. We soon reached the hotel, and here I supposed we should at least have a quiet breakfast by ourselves at the usual hour; but alas! quietude and that circus company did not appear inclined to Still I experienced no alarm, for I was homeward bound and well acquainted with the route, besides having with me that sure passport to protection in travelling, a child. So, beckoning to the 'bus boy of the American House, I was soon convoyed to a seat in his time-honored vehicle, and for a moment believed my tribulations were over. Like many another mortal, I soon discovered, however, that they were only begun. A lady dressed in deep mourning occu- exist very near each other. Owing to a mistake, the agent had only engaged dinner and supper, while, the manager having insisted upon their coming upon the night train, they needed both breakfast and beds, and declared they would have plenty of food and rest, or the performance which had been advertised for afternoon should lack their aid. As the night had been cool, and most of them were thinly clad, they gathered round the kitchen fire to the great inconvenience of the good landlady and her slender stock of help, as they not only clamored like hungry children for their breakfast, but delayed its preparation. Poor Mrs. Smith was hurried, heated and worried. I felt sure I should have been in utter despair in her situation, but "the right woman" happened to be in "the right place" for once, and she never once lost her equanimity of temper. It was worth the endurance of all the other circumstances of our situation, disagreeable and vexatious as many of them were, to watch her demeanor upon this trying occasion. for the soul, I may as well plead guilty to remaining in the good woman's kitchen longer than was absolutely necessary on a June morning, although the cool, damp, night air had rendered its warmth agreeable. I wanted to see if she would grow first nervous, then cross, as most women do under vexatious circumstances. I wanted to hear if she would scold her inexperienced help for the blunders they were sure to make in their confusion, and thus increase the trouble; and when I found she did none of these things, I wanted to admire her patience. So I made an impromptu Bridget of myself, and performed several little services, which required time rather than strength and skill. My little boy was delighted with the task of shelling the early peas, while I prepared the pie-plant for stewing, and picked over the lettuce and onions, which, with a few radishes, formed the whole stock of fruits and vegetables. I was rewarded by hearing Mrs. Smith's gentle "Yes, dear, if possible," in reply to her husband's "Can't you hurry up the breakfast a little faster?" The penitent look with which he watched her movements for a moment afterwards was a study for an artist. Breakfast was announced at last. To the great indignation of the host, who had taken the precaution to go up to the ladies' parlor and invite them to take seats before the ringing of the bell, a crowd rushed forward and filled every place, with an utter disregard of all else but the fact that they were hungry and food was there. With only two "helps," one evidently improvised for the dilemma, and both inexperienced; such resources as a small village could supply in June, when the eggs were mostly too old, and the chickens were mostly too young; when all but a scanty supply of milk and butter was in the country, and the busy farmers would not bring it to town for twice its price; when the small fruits had not ripened, as the season was unusually cold and wet; and even vegetables in that demoralized state that old ones were uneatable and new ones unripe; with the nice breakfast which had been ready for the usual few who had been expected by the trains spoiling for want of being served, and the hungry passengers every moment becoming more uneasy, lest the next train find them breakfastless; while over and above all arose the clamor of the tired and hungry actors, who, having warmed their benumbed limbs at her kitchen fire, seemed disposed to snatch the very steaks from the gridiron, and the steaming coffee from its boiler, she alone was calm. Right here, as honest confession is good tions which seemed to serve instead of The matter was now becoming serious. My little boy had a boy's appetite, very much sharpened by his early awakening, and the cool morning air. My all-night's ride had ill prepared me for a long fast, and the cosy breakfast which I had anticipated upon my arrival at the usually comfortable little inn, seemed now further than ever from attainment. So, with a wistful look at the peas he had shelled, as they were shovelled down the yawning chasm of the circus clown's throat, my boy turned away from the crowded table, while I hurried him out of the sound of the impreca grace, both before and during eating, to the that those who had a short time since been dissatisfied throng. For they were a dissatisfied company, else, perhaps, their manner and tone had been less repulsively coarse and rudely selfish. Dissatisfied with the manager, who had compelled them to travel when tired and sleepy, with the agent, who had not engaged breakfast and sleeping accommodations, of whose need he knew not, and with the landlord, who had not provided them without being engaged. "May I go with you?" asked a gentle voice, as we passed through the hall. It was the lady in mourning, who had attracted my attention in the omnibus. "Certainly, if you wish; but I am only going in search of a bakery or restaurant, for I do not care to eat and drink after that company." "Precisely my thought. The prospect is slight that they will leave anything edible, and our surroundings here are very unappetizing." So we passed through the village street together, and finding a neat bakery we obtained permission to use an adjoining sitting-room belonging to the family. There we extemporized a breakfast, which was certainly much better than shipwrecked mariners or weather-bound travellers in the story books usually obtain; and as Eugene and I were confident of dining at home, we were only anxious for the time to arrive when we could proceed on our journey. So we walked slowly through the streets of the little town, entering one or two stores, where the boys were busy removing the dust of yesterday's trade from the feet of to-day, causing the surprised little tradesmen to bustle about in sad bewilderment at lady customers being abroad so early. There were no pleasant places to walk or recline in the shade within the town, and we dared not venture into the country beyond, lest our train should leave us to a longer martyrdom. So we bent our unwilling steps again toward the hotel. There we found a change for the better in some respects. As we passed in we distinguished plainly sounds which indicated loudly swearing, were now as loudly sleeping. How did they dare to sleep, with the name of their Creator upon their lips, yet not named in penitence or prayer, lips steeped in liquor as well as profanity? yet they also received the boon, "He giveth his beloved." Verily, if God doeth this, what are we who judge our fellow mortals? We can only "Be still and know that He is God." Entering the ladies' sitting-room we found it filled with couches, and even the carpet overspread with mattrasses for the tired women and children of the company. Yet it lacked several hours to train time, the other station was distant, and the omnibus driver had my baggage checks. It had been my practice at this place to give them to him upon my arrival, that he might transfer my trunks and recheck them at the other station, at such time as suited him best before my departure, having invariably a dull four hours to remain. They were more than dull upon this occasion, they were sadly uncomfortable, and, shadowed in spirit by recent bereavement, I could not shake off the depressing influence. Mrs. Smith entered the room with noiseless tread, and whispered to the lady who was now my companion, although a stranger, then with a smile and nod towards me, left the room. In a few minutes we were quietly seated in a cosy little room, where breakfast for three was steaming forth savory odors, flowers were blooming, a bird was singing, and a neat workstand in a corner, with a low rocker by its side, suggested the thought that the kind landlady had given us her own sitting-room. We found the freshly made coffee, and beefsteak broiled not burned, wonderful restorers of the appetite, which had been "silenced, yet not convinced," by our visit to the bakery. After we had done justice to this second breakfast, and it had been removed, we still kept our quiet and undisturbed possession of the pleasant retreat until called to enter the omnibus again, and in these two hours there was plenty of opportunity for Illinois women to become acquainted. She had said to me in the earlier morn |