Remark. The following article, entitled " Festival of the Abbreviations," contains substantially all of the words found in the List. It should be written and rewritten until thoroughly mastered.

425.   It probably will-be a long-time [T-M] before there-is-another assembly of ladies and gentlemen brought together here which, for dignity, intelligence, for every mental quality, and for moral worth can stand on-an equality with that which-has just left our city. The Festival, the object of which was to-celebrate (176) the anniversary of-an (163, 167) important event in-the (270) history of-the (167, 164) American republic, was held in-a (163) large, new hall of great architectural beauty, which-is situated just beyond Madison Square. Indeed it-is-the (164) largest assembling (148) place in New-York. The architect, who I hear could always be found on-the premises, did-not neglect an opportunity to-explain (176) the architecture, giving-the (166) perpendicular height and width of-the building (148), to-all (229) who had-a certificate of membership and possessed sufficient familiarity with-the (164) subject to give every specification especial attention and form an opinion of it that-was-not artificial but practically sound. The promoters of-the movement held two meetings (324), the first in September and-the second in November and then they commenced late in December or early in January to-regularly (406) advertise it by putting (257) every week a long advertisement in-the public prints of larger circulation, which-was (439) different in form each time, and to-do (176) all they possibly could by publishing ( 148 ) such preliminary statements as are indispensable to-develop ( 176 ) and dignify the affair to-the (270) utmost degree; and not through their-own negligence, or any negligent act of-their employes, let it languish and go where there-is danger that-the (270) gentlemen who represent the Press may, as from lack of sympathy they usually do, send it or any similar scheme or proposed performance, by putting in-the manuscript that-the newspapers publish and republish, an objection or representation that it-is-not practicable. The brethren began to-assemble (176) in February, and almost every quarter of-the United-States was represented (393). A distinguishing characteristic of-the gathering was-the (164) great number-of (197) different kinds of people present with-the title of "Doctor." There-were Dr. Smith, a dentist, Dr. Jones, a regular Old School physician, Dr. Robinson, a surgeon from Bellevue Hospital, whose regularity was never questioned amongst his acquaintances, Dr. Root, who-has practised Homeopathy, according-to all accounts, with beneficial results, and-a horse doctor named Robert Brown, Jr. There-had also come from San-Francisco a Baptist Doctor of Divinity, the benignant Rev. Dr. Waters, who spoke very earnestly of-the Saviour, of-the Angel Gabriel and-the Archangel Michael, of-the advantage of baptism, of-the resurrection and-of-the celestial joys of-the kingdom-of-Heaven. Next, an archbishop from Massachusetts, whose bishopric had been left in-charge-of (197) another, told us why every citizen should belong to-the Roman-Catholic Church and believe in-the truth of-the doctrine of transubstantiation, giving in distinct language his reasons for-such belief. A Protestant Episcopal bishop from western Pennsylvania spoke of-the Christian-religion and-of Christianity in-general, incidentally speaking ( 148 ) of-his-own church as " The Holy Catholic Church of America ; " which remark caused some surprise among-the members of-other (271, Rem.) evangelical churches.

I recollect, and-I presume you all have-a remembrance of-it (270), that during our sessions the capable Governor of Wisconsin, whose popularity is said to-be (176) in proportion to-his ability (268) in public speaking, and who-was present from-the beginning (148), told us how to govern both a state and-a large family of children, describing-the (166) difference in principle between those two kinds of government. The meeting (257) was aristocratic as-well-as (311) democratic. A republican representing-the (166) aristocracy and-a democrat rep-resenting-the democracy had a controversy about Home Rule, making frequent reference to-the license question. What seemed to astonish people most was that they-would differ about everything ; the difficulty being that neither would acknowledge the importance of anything the-other (276) said, or that it could possibly be true. But no indignity was offered by either. A phonographer, who had practised phonography in-the legislature for a year, and was consequently very familiar with-the art, made phonographic memoranda of everything that each gentleman said and did. Now, because one-of these distinguished gentlemen gave his opinion about Great Britain and her system-of jurisprudence, and spoke frequently (406) of "plaintiff" and " defendant," "mortgage" and "mortgagee," and of "delinquent jurors," and would dwell on-the importance of circumstantial evidence, and cross-examine everybody, (allowing nobody to-escape), by putting a-great-many lengthy interrogatories, sometimes saying "I object," in the usual way, people generally were led to-infer (176) that-he might be a representative of-the Bar, and said they-would (435) thank him if-he-would deliver a lecture on-the practice of-the law.

Captain David Emerson, a-man of high financial standing and large pecuniary responsibility, and-of much influence in public affairs, who-is understood to-be president of-a savings-bank as-well-as of a bank-note engraving company and-a director in several insurance-companies, also a manufacturer having-a manufactory somewhere in southern Illinois, where he-is largely engaged in-the manufacture of woolen cloths principally (393) for domestic use, and who does-not owe anything to anybody, spoke in-favor of-a uniform and satisfactory bankruptcy law which-would enable people who-are (230) bankrupt to-recover (176) themselves and become financially responsible again and-as-a consequence begin life over as others have begun it before notwithstanding their failure. Usury, he-said, was specially repugnant to-him (169), and he took satisfaction in-the fact that malignant creditors could-not collect under-a usurious contract. Mr. Johnson, his brother-in-law or half brother, I-don't remember which, though yet quite a young man, is superintendent of-an electric supply company, and-has probably more practical knowledge of electricity and electro-magnetism, and of-the universe in-general, than any similar person in-the-world, embraced the opportunity to-say something on-those subjects, using many electrical instruments to occasionally illustrate a peculiar observation or suggestion that might without them be somewhat difficult if-not altogether impossible of preservation in one's recollection. I-speak the truth with some awe when I-say I-shall ever remember the extraordinary and singular circumstance of-his saying it-was (439) his privilege, aye, his prerogative to-endeavor to-establish by a single subjective description the probability of-a particular theory, the immediate effect of-which, if-it should-be accepted and become popular would-be quite revolutionary, as it-would change or qualify the significance of much that-we perform electrically, and help correct the mistake made by-the first generation of intelligent and worthy investigators who, I-think, knew not one thing about-the peculiarity of electricity which made the telephone possible.

There-was also present a member of-the Canadian Parliament, and formerly of-the Cabinet, a fine, healthy looking man, whom we frequently mistook for our minister plenipotentiary, so striking was-their similarity of appearance. It may-not signify much or show great singularity of conduct, but nevertheless I heard him observe, and I made a memorandum of-it, that he never swore in-his life, and never would swear under any contingency except when sworn on-the Bible.

Miss Emily Blank, a woman of large experience, who-has already been admitted to-the Bar, took the principal part in-the debate on-the duties of-an administratrix or executrix. She could discriminate between a felony and-a (163) misdemeanor, and their consequent penalties, and was especially earnest in-the hope that all who-are given to crime will-be brought into subjection. Her advice to every young man was, "Inscribe your name in-the Temple of Fame, and there let it stay forever and aye (a)."