'Reveries of a Bachelor.' Eighth Edition. New York: Charles
Scribner.
A book of farm experience from Ik. Marvel cannot fail to awaken the
interest of the community. If the author sees with the eye of the poet,
his imagination is no ignis-fatuus fire to mislead and bewilder him when
moving among the practical things of life. He begins with the beginning,
the search and finding of the farm. Every page is pregnant with valuable
hints to the farmer as well as to the gentleman and scholar. The book is
a real picture of country life, its pains, trials, pursuits, and
pleasures, and the most varied information is given with respect to what
it might be made, what it should become. A single glance at the varied
table of contents would be sufficient to convince the reader of the
great interest of the topics so pleasantly treated in the volume before
us. We extract a few of them: Around the House; My Bees; What to do with
the Farm; A Sunny Frontage; Laborers; Farm Buildings; The Cattle; The
Hill Land; The Farm Flat; Soiling; An Old Orchard; The Pears; My Garden;
Fine Tilth makes Fine Crops; Seeding and Trenching; How a Garden should
look; The lesser Fruits; Grapes; Plums, Apricots, and Peaches; The
Poultry; Is it Profitable? Debit and Credit; Money-making Farmers; Does
Farming Pay? Agricultural Chemistry; Isolation of Farmers; Dickering;
The Bright Side; Place for Science; Æsthetics of the Business; Walks;
Shrubbery; Rural Decoration; Flowers; L'Envoi.
LETTERS TO THE JONESES. By TIMOTHY TITCOMB,
Author of 'Letters to Young People,' 'Gold Foil,' 'Lessons in
Life,' etc., etc. Eighth edition. Charles Scribner, 124 Grand
street, New York.
A work evincing strong practical common sense, and acute discrimination.
Our author is a poet, but no mysticism or sentimentalism disfigures his
pages; he is a clear, keen observer and analyzer of human nature,
lashing its vices, discerning its foibles, and reading its subterfuges
and petty vanities. He says: 'The only apologies which he offers for
appearing as a censor and a teacher, are his love of men, his honest
wish to do them good, and his sad consciousness that his nominal
criticisms of others are too often actual condemnations of himself.'
He addresses himself in a series of letters to the Joneses of
Jonesville, each Jones addressed being a typal character and such as is
of frequent occurrence in our midst. Homely and excellent advice,
appropriate to their faults and needs, is administered to each
individual Jones in turn, as he falls under the salutary but sharp
scalpel of this keen dissector. There are twenty-four letters,
consequently twenty-four studies from life, true to reality and detailed
as a Dutch picture. We feel our own faults and foibles bared before us
as we read. While these pages are very interesting to the general
reader, the divine may learn from them how best in his preaching to aim
his shafts at personal follies, and the novelist find models for his
living portraitures and varied pictures.
THE WATER BABIES: a Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By the
Rev. Charles Kingsley, Author of 'Two Years Ago,' 'Amyas Leigh,'
etc. With illustrations by J. Noel Paten, B. S. A. Boston: T. O. H.
P. Burnham. New York: O. S. Felt, 36 Walker St., 1864.
A lively tale, dedicated to the author's youngest son, and calculated to
entertain the elders who read aloud, as well as the children who listen.
There are in it many tender touches, and numberless satiric blows
administered in Mr. Kingsley's own peculiar way.
ADVENTURES OF DICK ONSLOW AMONG THE RED SKINS. A Book for
Boys. With Illustrations. Edited by William H. G. Kingston. Boston:
J. E. Tilton & Co. 1864.
Stories of the Western wilderness, and of life among the Indians, are
sure to meet with favor in the eyes of American boys, the descendants of
a race of pioneers.
MY DAYS AND NIGHTS ON THE BATTLE FIELD. A Book for Boys.
By 'Carleton.' Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1864. For sale by D.
Appleton & Co., New York.
This is a useful book, containing sundry items of military information,
and many vivid descriptions of land and naval engagements during the
present war--all interesting to young people.
LOUIE'S LAST TERM AT ST. MARY'S. By the author of
'Rutledge,' 'The Sutherlands,' 'Frank Warrington,' etc. New York:
Carleton, publisher, 413 Broadway, 1864.
A book of school life, intended not less for teachers than for the
youthful maidens whose various typal forms act, love, hate, and suffer
through its very natural and interesting pages.
MILTON'S PARADISE LOST. In Twelve Books. New York: Frank
H. Dodd, 506 Broadway, 1863.
The text is a literal reprint from Keightley's Library edition. Print,
binding, and size all render the tasteful little book a pleasant form in
which to possess the greatest epic in the English tongue.
THE GAME OF DRAUGHTS. By HENRY SPAYTH, Author of
'American Draught Player.' Buffalo: Printed for the Author. For
sale by Sinclair Tousey, New York.
This book has been pronounced by the highest authorities on checkers,
both in the Old and New World, the best work of the kind ever written.
It is said to contain 'lucid instructions for beginners, laws of the
game, diagrams, the score of 364 games, together with a series of novel,
instructive, and ingenious critical positions.'
PECULIAR. A Tale of the Great Transition. By EPES
SARGENT. New York: Carleton, publisher, 413 Broadway.
Mr. Sargent has given us a tale of the times--his scenes are laid in our
midst. He grapples with the questions of the hour, handling even
Spiritualism as he passes on. Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, George
Saunders, Senator Wigfall, &c., are sketched in these pages. The story
is founded on the social revelations which Gen. Butler, Gov. Shepley,
Gen. Ullman, the Provost-Marshal, &c., authenticated in New Orleans
after the occupation of that city by the United States forces. These
materials have been skilfully handled by the author of 'Peculiar,' and
the result is a novel of graphic power and sustained interest. It will
make its own way, as it has the elements of success. We must, however,
give a caution to our readers: 'Kunnle Delaney Hyde' and 'Carberry
Ratcliff' are true as _individuals_ of the South, but it would not be
fair to regard them as _typal_ characters. Let the magnanimous North be
just, even to its enemies. Slavery is a great wrong, as well as a great
mistake in political economy; men are by no means good enough to be
trusted with irresponsible power; slaves have been treated with savage
cruelty, and the institution is indeed demoralizing: all this, and a
great deal more, we readily grant our writer; and yet we cannot help
wishing he had shown us something to love, to hope for, in our enemy. He
makes an earnest and able protest against a great wrong, and as such we
gladly accept his book; but as a work of art, we think his tale would
have held a higher rank had he given us some of the softer lights of the
picture. In this we may be wrong, for a dread Nemesis stalks even
through the plains of the Ideal. To stand up truly for the Right, we
must comprehend the Wrong; meanwhile an important end is answered. We
are taught, a lesson we should all learn, compassion for the negro, and
enabled to understand some of his latent traits. For the ability and
tenderness with which this has been done, we have reason to thank Mr.
Sargent. The tale of Estelle is one of pathos and beauty, and
'Peculiar,' the negro, shines in it like a black diamond of the purest
water. The book cannot fail to interest all who trace the cause of the
mighty transition through which we are passing to its true source, the
heart of man.
POEMS BY JEAN INGELOW. Boston: Roberts Brothers.
Many of these poems are vague and incomplete, others evince maturity of
thought, and are of singular beauty. We are quite charmed with the
'Songs of Seven.' It is highly original and tender. The rhythms vary
with the chimes of the different ages, always in tune with the joys and
sorrows sung. The poem is full of nature and simple pathos. There is a
dewy freshness on these leaves, as if a young soul were thus pouring its
spring carols into song, Jean Ingelow has been highly commended by the
English critics. In regard to her poems the _London Athenæum_ says:
'Here is the power to fill common earthly facts with heavenly fire; a
power to gladden wisely and to sadden nobly; to shake the heart, and
bring moist tears into the eyes through which the spirit may catch its
loftiest light.'
ALICE OF MONMOUTH, an Idyl of the Great War, with Other
Poems. By EDMUND C. STEDMAN. New York: Carleton,
publisher, 413 Broadway. London: Sampson Low, Son & Company.
With the many stirring events passing around us, the heroic deeds
enacted in our midst, it is fitting that the poet should begin to find
his scenes in his own country. Mr. Stedman has so done in his 'Alice of
Monmonth.' The story of the Poem leads us from the fruit fields and
plains of New Jersey, from love scenes and songs, to the din of battle,
and the sufferings of hospitals in Virginia. There are various changes
rung in the rhythm, so that it never becomes monotonous; and many of the
descriptive passages are full of beauty.
DEEP WATERS. A Novel. By ANNA H. DRURY, Author of
'Misrepresentation,' 'Friends and Fortune,' &c. Boston: Published
by T. O. H. P. Burnham, No. 143 Washington street. New York: H.
Dexter Hamilton & Co., 113 Nassau street. O. S. Felt, 36 Walker
street.
Never having before met with a work by Miss Drury, we were quite
surprised to find 'Deep Waters' a novel of so much power. The plot is
original, and well managed throughout, the characters well conceived and
sustained, the morals entirely unobjectionable, the style pure, simple,
and unaffected, and the interest uninterrupted. The tale is indeed one
of singular beauty.
IN WAR TIME, and other Poems. By JOHN GREENLEAF
WHITTIER. Ticknor & Fields, Boston. D. Appleton & Co., New
York.
If bold, varied, musical rhythm; high and tender thought; hatred of
oppression; warm sympathy with suffering; correct and flowing diction;
intense love of nature and power to depict her in all her moods, joined
with a glowing imagination and devout soul, entitle a man to be classed
with the great poets, then may we justly claim that glorious rank for
John Greenleaf Whittier. All honor to him, who, while he charms our
fancy and warms our heart, strengthens our souls, ennobles our views,
and bears us, on the wings of his pure imagination, to the gates of
heaven. We are ready to accord him the highest rank among our _living_
poets. No affectations deform his lines, no conceits his thoughts, no
puerilities his descriptions. His 'Huskers,' should be graven on every
American heart; his 'Andrew Rykman's Prayer' on that of every Christian.
We regard this poem as one of the noblest of the age. Humble devotion
and heavenly grace are in its every line. We pity the being who could
read it unmoved. We deem 'the world within his reach' is indeed
'Somewhat the better for his living,
And gladder for his human speech.'
It seems useless to us to commend this volume to our readers; the name
of its author must be all-sufficient to attract due attention. Has not
this truly national and patriotic poet a home in every American heart?
If not, he deserves it, and we for one offer him our grateful homage.
Not only shall the refined and cultivated in the coming ages praise the
noble singer, but the 'dark sad millions,' whose long 'night of wrong is
brightening into day,' shall bless him, as,
'With oar strokes timing to their song,
They weave in simple lays
The pathos of remembered wrong,
The hope of better days,--
The triumph note that Miriam sung,
The joy of uncaged birds:
Softening with Afric's mellow song
Their broken Saxon words.'
MENTAL HYGIENE. By J. RAY, M. D. Ticknor &
Fields, Boston.
This work is not offered as a systematic treatise on Mental Hygiene. Its
purpose is to expose the bad effects of many customs prevalent in modern
society, and to present practical suggestions relative to the attainment
of mental soundness and vigor. Many important facts are clearly stated,
and sound deductions drawn from them. The law of sympathy is clearly
traced in the propagation of tastes, aptitudes, and habits. Many curious
and startling examples of its effects are detailed. The author traces
the laws of mind, exhibits the consequences that flow from obeying or
disobeying them, in a succinct and able manner. The art of preserving
the health of the mind against incidents and influences calculated to
deteriorate its qualities; the management of the bodily powers in regard
to exercise, rest, food, clothing, climate; the laws of breeding, the
government of the passions, the sympathy with current emotions and
opinions, the discipline of the intellect--all come within the scope of
the work. It is designed for the general reader, and will interest all
who care for the preservation of mental or physical health.
The subject is one of great importance in our excitable country, where
so many minds are overtasked, so many brains too early stimulated, and
insanity so rapidly on the increase. We heartily commend it to all
readers interested in the subjects of which it treats.
* * * * *
[Continuation of Literary Notices prepared for the present issue
unavoidably crowded out; they will however appear in our next
number.]
* * * * *
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Since the above was written, the speech of Earl Russell, in
Scotland, indicates a disposition on the part of the British Government
to do us justice, at least in the future; and it is to be hoped that a
satisfactory adjustment of all differences on the whole matter may be
peacefully made.
[2] In the 'Letters to Professor Morse,' in the November number of
THE CONTINENTAL, a sentence on page 521, relating to the
Confiscation Law, was left incomplete. The whole sentence should have
been as follows: 'As to the _Confiscation_ Acts--it is enough to say
that the Constitution gives Congress power 'to declare the punishment of
treason';--_or if the constitutionality of the Confiscation law cannot
be concluded from the terms of that grant--about which there may be a
doubt--it is undoubtedly contained in the war powers vested in
Congress._'
I have here put in italics the clause omitted in that article, and hope
my readers will insert it in the proper place. The sentence, as thus
completed, contains all I cared then to say on the point--my object
being mainly to vindicate the justice and conformity to public law of
the policy of confiscation. In the present article I have gone more at
length into the question of the constitutionality of the law of
Congress, and have come to the conclusions herein expressed.
[3] Our whole area is more than sixty times as large as England.
[4] One hundred years have elapsed since that treaty, and the London
_Times_ proclaims that England will not fight for Canada now.
[5] See Alison's History, chap. xxxvii, p. 269.
[6] Kinglake's Crimea Invasion, p. 250.
[7] Kinglake.
[8] See Kinglake's remarks on the design of Louis Napoleon in making St.
Arnaud commander-in-chief of the French army in the Crimean war, p. 321.
[9] Written in August, 1863.
[10] Pansclavism
[11] The following story, in substance, is to be found in Joinville's
Memoirs.
[12] There may be extreme cases, few and far between, when the evil
contained in laws may justify their overthrow by revolutionary
force--witness our own separation from Great Britain; but the doctrine
is one most unsafe when lightly broached, and we doubt not the
Constitution and laws of the United States offer a basis broad enough
for the legal as well as the most judicious mode of settlement under the
present difficulties.--ED. CON.