[Illustration: THE "GREAT EASTERN" LAYING THE ATLANTIC CABLE. (_From Cassell's "Illustrated History of England."_)]
Although the expedition reached Newfoundland on Friday the 27th, yet as the cable across the Gulf of St. Lawrence was broken, the news was not received in New York until the 29th. It was early Sunday morning, before the Sabbath bells had rung their call to prayer, that the tidings came. The first announcement was brief--"Heart's Content, July 27th.--We arrived here at nine o'clock this morning. All well. Thank God the cable is laid, and is in perfect working order.--CYRUS W. FIELD." Soon followed the despatch to the Associated Press, giving the details of the voyage, and ending with a just tribute to the skill and devotion of all who had contributed to its success. Said Mr. Field: "I cannot find words suitable to convey my admiration for the men who have so ably conducted the nautical, engineering, and electrical departments of this enterprise, amidst difficulties which must be seen to be appreciated; in fact, all on board of the telegraph fleet, and all connected with the enterprise, have done their best to have the cable made and laid in a perfect condition." Other despatches followed in quick succession, giving the latest events of the war in Europe. All this confirmed the great triumph, and filled the breasts of many with wonder and gratitude that Sabbath day as they went up to the house of God and rendered thanks to Him who is Lord of the earth and sea.
Perfection in Nature's Smallest Works--A Word on Scientific Classification--Protozoa--Blind Life--Rhizopoda--Foraminifera--A Robbery Traced by Science--Microscopic Workers--Paris Chalk--Infusoria--The "Sixth Sense of Man"--Fathers of Nations--Milne- Edwards' Submarine Explorations--The Salt-water Aquarium--The Compensating Balance Required--Brighton and Sydenham--Practical Uses of the Aquarium--Medusæ: their Beauty--A Poet's Description--Their General Characteristics--Battalions of "Jelly-fish"--Polyps--A Floating Colony--A Marvellous Organism--The Graceful Agalma--Swimming Apparatus--Natural Fishing Lines--The "Portuguese Man-of- War"--Stinging Powers of the Physalia--An Enemy to the Cuttle-fish.