Masterpieces Of The Architecture Of Different Nations.

no part m the wars which for several centuries ravaged- the countries of the easfc and laid in silence , from the resources of commerce , the foundations of her future greatness ; she became in the end an actual port in the midst of sand . Ifc was the place Avhere assembled the caravans from Persia and Hindostan , and by ifcs means the dangers of the navigation of the desert being lesseneda great number of merchants Avere

, induced to traffic . But commerce and industry , Avhich give life to states , do not make such a forcible impression on the imagination of men and do not create such great reputation as the warlike exploits Avhich destroy them . For this reason Palmyra , so opulent and so peaceful , remained for a long time unknown . John of Antioch speaks

of its destruction b y Nabuchodonosor before the siege of Jerusalem ; but ifc is seen playing no part , neither since the expeditions of the young Cyrus or Alexander the Great , nor in fche history of the kings of Syria , nor during the first conquests made by the Romans in those distant countries , nor during the campaigns of Pompey the Great ; it is only in

the time of Mark Antony * that ifc is first mentioned in Roman history ; he wished to sack it , but the inhabitants saved themselves from pillage by carrying precious goods beyond the Euphrates , the passage of which they defended with their archers , whose skill was of high renoAvn ; they were then a rich , commercial people , aud sold to the Romans both tho merchandise of India and Arabia . About

forty years after they were excessively extravagant and luxurious . The pretext of Mark Antony for this war—for it is usual to give one let ifc be what it may—was that this city , besides being much too rich , had not -preserved a strict neutrality between the Parthians and fche Romans , of whom it Avas then the common frontier . A strong place in the midst

of a desert , the access to which was known only by ifcs inhabitants , ifc was enabled for a long time to preserve ifcs liberty as useful to the two powers AVIIO wore inimical to each other , as taking care to make their interests its own , and as being in peace one of the entrepots of their respective commercebut during war ifc was the object of their mutual

, fears . The description which Pliny gives in the twentyfifth chapter of his fifth book—and it is a perfect explanation of the position of Palmyra—is the only one that we have from the ancients respecting that city ; but what we have said alread y is sufficient for our purpose ; and so without entering further into its history , AVC will turn our attention to that

Avhich should alone occup } ' our minds—its architecture . From , the numerous remaining monuments it is seen that tlie architecture of Palmyra was of the greatest magnificence ; thafc ifc participated equally of that ofthe Greeks and that of the Romans , and that never did these tivo people combined

employ it with such a grandeur of luxury , and it may also be said with such an equality of profusion . The first description , and even the drawings which modern travellers have brought aAvay of it , have all been treated as fables and as dreams of the imagination ; so much magnificence could not be conceived , and travellers themselves , filled with astonishment and admirationdoubtedin the midst of ifcs

, , ruins , whether they were awake or whether it was not a dream thafc was presenting so many marvels to their eyestheir eyes dazzled with the whiteness of tho marbles , the infinite number of columns , the immensity of the fragments of scattered sculpture , and for the most part so well preserved that they seemed rather as if thoy had all been

prepared and were ready to bo set together for the erection of a new city , than that they were tbe ruins of a city destroyed and prostrate in the dust for a number of ages . Such were the sensations that M . Cassas experienced during his stay at Palmyra , aud which he has been able fco communicate to us as well as to all lovers of the fine arts , by showing to us the numerous drawings ivhich he made during his travels , and tlie models since executed after those drawings , as well as the works published in London by "Wood and Haivkins ,

Masterpieces Of The Architecture Of Different Nations.

which he verified on the spot , and to ivhich he has made a great number of additions , by paying particular attention to monuments which they did not examine , and of which they have given scarcely any account . ( To be continued ) .

Red Masonry; Or, Masonry Among The Indians.

RED MASONRY ; OR , MASONRY AMONG THE INDIANS .

( From Hob Morris's Voice of Masonry ) . SOME years ago I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the old chieftain Bertrand , whose many narratives of early life among the Indians were , to me , very interesting , and I was often a guest at bis Lodge , lie ivas of French ori gin , born at Montreal , long before the American revolution . His father died Avhile he was yet an infant . He could not tell his exact age , but thought

he was some ten or twelve years of age at the time of the old French and Indian war . His early education was received from a Jesuit of Montreal . Being ready in figures and a fair writer , he found employment as an under clerk for a French fur trading company , and was stationed at Mackinaw when about sixteen years of age . Here he rose from one post to another , until at length he became an important agent of the company . He

married the daughter of an Indian chief of the Chippewa tribe . Iu that vicinity occurred many of those startling adventures which rendered his life so interesting . He often re-visited Montreal , where he became a Freemason .

On one occasion the company desired to send an exploring party around Lake Superior , to go up on the north , and return on the south side . This expedition was committed to Bertrand and four others , two Frenchman and two Indians . The extent of Lake Superior was not then known . It was supposed that tbe voyage could be performed before winter . The party left Mackinaw" in June , provided with guns , ammunition , & c . They were expected

to obtain food from the forest . The distance proved greater than they expected ; the underbrush impeded their progress , the rains of heaven delayed them . They often met ivith friendly Indians , reposed in their Lodges , and united in their ceremonies . At last the western point of the great lake ivas turned ; but the summer had passed , cold winter had set in , and the earth was buried in snow . The remaining portion of their journey was to be through

unknown regions , supposed to be inhabited by hostile tribes . Their provisions were consumed , their ammunition greatly diminished , and game was scarce . They were compelled to delay for a time , buiTOAv in the snoiv , and construct snoii' shoes , ivith which they slowly advanced . After travelling three dirys without food , they halted , hungry , weary , and cold . They constructed a rude shelter from the boughs of the pine and hemlockbuilt a fireand

, , laid down to die of hunger . The tivo Frenchmen declared they ivould proceed no further , nor longer contend against fate . From their revery of despair they were startled by hearing the hoarse croak of a crow on the opposite side of a small lake . Bertrand seized his gun and started around , hoping to prolong life and give a feast to five men from one CI'OAA- , hut on arriving at

the place , no croiv was to be found . Being thirsty he stepped to the shore of the lake and knelt down to drink where a rivulet discharged itself into the lake . Here the water was not congealed . On stooping down , Bertrand discovered that the pool was full of small fish , about tivo inches in length . He took the handkerchief from his neck , formed of it a sein , and scooped up as many of the little fishes as it ivould hold . AVith these he

returned to his comrades , and in their kettle they boiled them , and feasted on the minnows . On these they subsisted two days more . All night it rained and froze , so that in the morning the crust upon the snow Avas sufficiently strong to support them . Again they journej'ed on two days more , when suddenly they were startled by tbe war whoop , and found themselves in the midst of Menominee Indians . The tomahawk ivas raised , and the

death cry uttered . The tivo Frenchmen were immediately struck to the ground . The tivo Indians ivere killed , and the scalping had commenced . Bertrand himself had sunk upon his knees in the snow . Before him stood the Menominee chief , ivith the weapon of death raised over his head . Upraising his hands towards tbe Great Spirit , in whom ho put his trust when be commenced his uncertain journeyBertrand cried to the God of the

, stranger , and looked steadfastly in the eye of the foe . The savage chief paused , dropped the deadly weapon , and cried out in the Indian tongue " Comrades , forbear !—be is my brother !" They bad recognized each other as Masons . The intended victim was taken by the hand in token of brotherly love and esteem , directed to arise , folloiv his captors , and fear no danger . Alas his comrades were dead , but Bro . Bertrand soon found himself