Show THE MEXICAN T S van dyke in the current umber of harpers magazine gives E graphic description of the chief body of mexico which may be interesting to our readers in view of the periodical rumors about the alleged intention of the mor mons to bettle in the northern part of our aister republic mr van dyke says that mexico is nominally governed by a congress first called september which IBS probably seen as many udea as any assembly on earth has ever seen in the same time it has een chased here and there dissolved expelled recalled re called and re modeller modelled model led until it bas finally settled aown into an established institution it now consists of a senate Q about sixty members which meets in a room in the national palace and a chamber of deputies of some two hundred and twenty members which meets in the old theatre of iturbide over half ft mile from the national palace in appearance this congress could hardly be distinguished from that of the united states fully nine cintha of its bembera are of pure white blood and the other tenth have no more color than fashion demands of v stylish brunette no traces of rusticity coarseness ignorance or stupidity are visible bor ia there any sign of what is generally known aa mexican costume coa tume both bodies tire composed of eminent soldiers scholars and members of other young men have attracted notice members show a lle t W greo of politeness and dignity that would improve many of our legislatures their conversation in the lobbies and on the floor shows an extraordinary degree of culture and education and both bodies are the last to which one would look for to the executive theoretically this congress ia elected by the people practically it is elected by the president A note to the officer in command of the military district or to the political chiefa civil officer whose actual powers are co extensive with the requirements of any emergency recommending a certain person as a suitable subject for a congressman rarely fails should it fal the error is easily corrected in the canvass or still more easily in the final returns in the federal district the city of mexico and its environs 0 the elective system is still more charmingly simple should there bo two candidates which is rarely the case the defeated candis date is the last one on earth to complain or contest the seat A congress so elected can be nothing but a ratifying committee especially must it be so in a country like mexico with a vast agnor ant lower class taking no interest in public affairs in time of peace with no middle class worthy of mention and with an upper class too small to resist the army which must be kept up to restrain the turbulent part of the lower class under such circumstances it is quite useless for a representative to be independent the result would be the loss of a good position with a month for doing next to nothing and should he find himself upon some pretext banished to yucatan or languishing in prison hia nominal constituents are the last ones OH earth to whom he can look for redress the visitor in the galleries of the mexican congress sees at once the effect of day alter day the houses meet and adjourn in a few moments after hearing the minutes of the last meeting and a formal communication or two from some state legislature or officer occasionally casio nally a bill is passed but it goes as a matter of course the members taking no interest in it many do not even hear their names called and their assent is assumed others give a delicate nod or little wave of the hand while others merely smile at the secretary as if conscious of the absurdity of the ceremony tho congressman cares no more for the dear people than the people care for him respect for them can only get him into trouble whereas respect for the president will insure his return his constituents trouble him with no letters instructions resolutions or petitions and he in return spares them the inflections inflictions of public document printed speeches papers and 11 ll other of his res gard M GREVY waa elected president of the french republic on the of january 1870 for seven year and consequently hia power expire on jhb of january 1886 but according to article 3 of the constitution new election must take place one month at least before the legal expiration of the presidential dental term the now election therefore cannot bo delayed beyond the of december of the current year As the beneral elections are fixed for the first week in october it is believed beli eyed that the congress for the election of a president will assemble in noyem her the probabilities are that M jules grevy will be elected reelected re pread dent by the tacit agreement of all parties eyen non republicans DURING EIGHT centuries ones direct amount to a greater number than att first would bo contemplated tem plated taking tareo genera bons to a century ono baa father and mother 2 grandparents 4 great grandparents 8 at the end of the second century the number of ancestors springs to 64 arl lowing the calculation you will find that at the end of eight centuries ono i descended from no ices than ancestors intermarriage of course would reduce this estimate and there i no doubt it havo largely prevailed but the figures are so that in baite of all a writer ventures to suggest that the words all ye are brethren are literally true MAKI nasto of thoughts nono of us yet know for of us have been taught in early youth what fairy wo may build of beautiful thoughts broor against all adversity bright fancies satisfied atis fied Bie morlea noble histories faithful enyings treasure housea of precious and restful thoughts which care cannot disturb nor pain mako gloomy nor poverty take away from us houses built without hands for to live in |