te down
in a place where there was a mighty display of trees, flowers, and
fountains, and a pretty big sprinklin' of people.

Good Heavens! thought I. Is this the New Jerusalem? and lookin' around
timidly for the man with the key, fearin' I might be turned out, but
seein' nothin' but common lookin' men and women, and no "flamin'
cherubim," and creaters with wings stuck on their heads, and no bodies,
such as I had naterally expected to find in such a place, I took courage
and stept forward boldly.

The people all commenced cryin' out as loud as they could:

"Artemus Ward! Artemus Ward!"

I felt kinder abashed at this, but advanced and called out, "Hear! hear!
Friends, it's an amazin' mystery how you know'd my name." (I felt
diffident at not havin' my lecter in my pocket, and not bein' accustomed
to speakin' verbatim.) Howsumever, as they continooed to clap their hands
and shout, I got together all the brass I used to carry "down East," and
jumped right atop of one of the roarin' fountains--the very biggest on
'em all. I surmised it was kinder dangerous, havin' always experienced a
religious awe of the "water of life," and not knowin' but what this might
be it. "Here goes," said I; "faint heart never won fair lady," for rite
at the foot was that bootiful poetess to whom allusion has been made,
lookin' straight at me with all her eyes.

I wanted to make a grand impression and let 'em know that I cum from a
nation that could fight for the Constitution, and wasn't afeard of
spirits. And as for the "gold and pearls," the "jasper and the sardonix,"
they needn't expect to snub me off with this, for I had been all through
the gold and silver regions of Ameriky, and could tell as big a story as
any on 'em.

"The fact is, friends and nabors," said I, "it is one thing to read of a
place, and another to see it. Now I must say, that geography and book of
travels called the 'Bible' is suthin' like 'Gulliver's Travels,' rather
loose in description; and, for all I see around me, the grand nation of
Ameriky can beat you all holler in wonders."

Havin' thus spoken a good word for my country, I dismissed them, and
hurried back to commence these lecters, which is only a beginnin' of what
I intend to do for the Amerikan People.

LADY BLESSINGTON.

_DISTINGUISHED WOMEN_.

It is remarkable to what a degree woman develops her intellect in the
spirit world.

Freed from the cares of maternity, she seems like some young godd