Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

infidelity upon the Scriptures," yet which expresses "the hope that a little light well concentrated, (as in our author's book,) "will melt those triumphantly dancing white feathers into bitter tears of remorse" (!)such a book, as every sane man who reads it will be convinced, is only calculated to make infidels scoff, the scientific laugh, and the "judicious grieve."

LECTURES ON NATURAL HISTORY.*-Prof. Chadbourne, in this little work, has entered an earnest and eloquent plea for Natural History, as an important element in a course of education. He has discussed the subject in a series of four lectures, prepared for delivery, and here printed as prepared, in which Natural History is considered in its relations to Intellect, to Taste, to Wealth, and to Religion. Its claims to consideration in each of these relations are presented with clearness and force, and with ample illustration from the facts and principles which this department of science so abundantly affords. It is shown that the right study of Natural History not only feeds and strengthens the intellect, develops taste, and enhances man's capacity for rational enjoyment, but also tends to the improvement of his moral and religious nature, and even contributes its full share, directly or indirectly, towards the production of material wealth. On all these grounds the author advocates with the warmth of an earnest lover of science, yet with no disparagement of other branches of study, a more prominent place for Natural History in our systems of education, than has heretofore been assigned it. The set of the current, in educational matters, at the present time, is clearly in this direction. These Lectures are well ealcu

lated to aid in accelerating the movement.

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

LEONARD SCOTT'S REPRINTS OF THE BRITISH REVIEWS.-As we take up, from month to month, the numbers of Leonard Scott's indispensable reprints of the British Reviews, we often think of the utter astonishment of an English lady, (for years a resident of the Prussian capital, Berlin,) who was told there by a friend of ours that he saw The Times only occasionally, at home, in America. "Is it pos

* Lectures on Natural History: Its relations to Intellect, Taste, Wealth, and Religion. By P. A. CHADBOURNE, Professor of Natural History in Williams College, and Professor of Natural History and Chemistry in Bowdoin College. New York: A. S. Barnes & Burr. 1860. pp. 160.

sible?" exclaimed the ardent worshiper of the British thunderer-“ Is possible that there is any one who speaks the English language who doesn't take The Times? How can they live without it!" There are many reasons why we Americans do not subscribe to The Times; and not the least is its cost-about fifty dollars a year. But there is less excuse for not taking the English Reviews. We call attention to the advertisement on page 14 of the NEW ENGLANDER ADVERTISER. It will there be seen that for ten dollars a year Mr. Scott will send his reprints of The London Quarterly; The Edinburgh Review; The North British Review; The Westminster Review; and Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. There cannot be many better investments of the money. [T. H. Pease, Special Agent for New Haven and vicinity.]

LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-We call attention to the Advertisement of Messrs. Littell & Co., on the first page of the NEW ENGLANDER ADVERTISER. There are few magazines which can be so attractively heralded to the world as this. It will be seen that its praises are set forth in most glowing terms in "a Star Paper by Henry Ward Beecher," one, too, that was penned when he was evidently in his most genial mood, and felt the inspiration that came from having a "complete set" of the Living Age on the shelves of his library. We heartily endorse these praises, although we have no hope of ever being the fortunate possessor of so rich a treasure. There is certainly no more readable magazine, and none more universally popular, in city and country, among the rich and among those who are obliged to expend their money with care. The Living Age gives its readers, every week, a choice selection from the whole range of British periodical literature, and just those articles from The Times and the other leading newspapers in England, which they would be most disposed to read if they had access to their files.

In the last number alone, there are extracts from the Saturday Review, the Spectator, the Press, the Economist, the Examiner, Chambers' Journal, Once-a-Week, and other periodicals besides. To those who wish to know what is said in the daily journals in England about all the exciting European questions of the day, and who wish the cream of the British weeklies and monthlies, Littell's Living Age is a necessity. [T. H. Pease, Special Agent for New Haven and vicinity.]

BELLES LETTRES.

THE SAND HILLS OF JUTLAND*-This is the title of a new volume of stories by that prince of modern story tellers, HANS ANDERSEN. We found them capital reading in the warm days of summer, and, we doubt not, others will find them equally good in the long evenings of winter that are so soon to come. Seated on the rocks, with the cool sea-breezes blowing full upon us, we yielded ourselves to their fascination, and cared not to ask whether these new stories were better or poorer than those which gained a world-wide reputation for their author. It was enough that they bore unmistakable evidence of the source from which they came. Of course they are extravagant as any tale of the Arabian Nights. Of course they are simple as a nursery rhyme. But they bear the marks of the inspiration of genius, though they set at defiance every rule of criticism. Then the spirit they breathe is so tender, so gentle, so kind, at times so joyous; they manifest such a sympathy for the poor, for the down-trodden and all who are in distress; the lessons they teach, without being too obtrusive, are so pure, and so elevated, that we cannot but wish them the widest circulation throughout the whole land.

THE MILL ON THE FLOSS.f-Since the publication of "Jane Eyre," whose advent chronicles a new era in novel writing in the present century, no modern romances which have issued from the English press have excited more interest than those of the author of "Scenes of Clerical Life," and "Adam Bede." The latter, particularly, in its dramatic delineation of character, as shown in its illustrative sketches of homely English life, its breadth and richness of painting, its mingled strokes of humor and pathos, its outspoken freedom and truth to nature, and superadded to these, and which is no inconsiderable charm, the garb of Yorkshire dialect, which marks the language of its interlocutors, giving an air of quaintness to the whole, has been received with a degree of popularity seldom equaled in this novel reading age. We repeat what is no secret, when we say that George Eliot is only the nom de plume for Miss Evans-a lady who has been well known for her suc

* The Sand Hills of Jutland. By HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1860. 12mo. pp. 267. 75 cts. [T. H. Pease, New Haven.] The Mill on the Floss. By GEORGE ELIOT. Author of "Scenes of Clerical Life," and "Adam Bede." New York: Harper & Brothers. 1860. pp. 464. $1. [T. H. Pease, New Haven.]

cessful efforts in other departments of literature. As has been justly remarked, an author's second appearance before the public is even more trying than the first. Previous to this he is unknown, and due allowance is made for the fact in case of failure, as being his first effort, or, should success crown the enterprise, he may, perhaps, be overpraised; with the second, (in the work before us, it is the writer's third literary venture in the particular line chosen,) the case is different, and he is judged by the standard which he himself has set up, nor must he complain that the ordeal to which he is subjected by a capricious public, is a pretty severe one as a decisive test of his powers. Is the present volume an instance of this kind? Does it mark an advance or retrograde movement in the "scope and vigor of mind" of the author! A brief analysis of the book itself will help to answer this question.

"The Mill on the Floss," as its title indicates, is a tale of industrial life, and derives its main interest from the fortunes of two characters, who are introduced as brother and sister-Tom and Maggie Tulliverchildren of the mill-owner-Mr. Tulliver, as also those of three other individuals who appear in a later period of the story, to whom we shall presently allude. We remark by way of explanation to our matter of fact readers, that the scene of the romance is laid in the town of St. Oggs, while Floss is the river on which the Dorlcote Mill is situated. The second chapter is taken up with the subject of Tom's education, which is the chief object of his aspiring father, occasioning a spicy conversation between himself and Mrs. Tulliver, the detailed execution of the plan being carried out in his being sent to the Rev. Walter Stelling, who undertakes to "put his pupil through" an approved course of Latin and Greek roots, reminding us of Dr. Blimbo's forcing system in "Dombey & Son." While the matter is under deliberation, the reader is treated to an episode in the convening of a family party, to whom, among other matters, the topic is for the first time broached, which creates no little surprise and begets a protracted discussion on the important event in the family history. Tom and Maggie (in our minds they are inseparable) appear before us, the former as the type of the healthy young English animal, with no very decided features, "light brown hair, full lips, indeterminate nose and eyebrows, a physiognomy in which it is impossible to discern anything but the generic character of boyhood," with a dash of the mastiff in his composition, full of fun and sportiveness, more inclined to "percussion caps" than to Virgil or Euclid, delighting to tease his sister to whom he is yet devoted with true brotherly affection, and the pet of his mother;

[ocr errors]

Maggie is a stout, buxom little miss, with "dark eyes and black hair," and a face striking the beholder as possessed of uncommon beauty, her father's especial favorite, or, as he was accustomed to call her, "little wench," and the prettiest "gell" in the neighborhood of St. Oggs. To return to the family party to which we have referred, which breaks up as such family parties generally do, owing to the intractable spirit of two of its members, relating to some moneyed transactions between them-Aunt Glegg and Mr. Tulliver, in a pretty family quarrel, rather ominous in its bearing on the future destiny of Tom and Maggie. We have room but for a single extract from this part of the work, in which the reader will find some exquisite character painting, and which we present as a specimen of the whole. It is taken from the chapter entitled "Mr. and Mrs. Glegg at home," and occurs farther on in the story. Aunt Glegg is Mrs. Tulliver's sister.

"People who seem to enjoy their ill-temper, have a way of keeping it in fine condition by inflicting privations on themselves. That was Mrs. Glegg's way; she made her tea weaker than usual this morning and declined butter. It was a hard case that a vigorous mood for quarreling, so highly capable of using any opportunity, should not meet with a single remark from Mr. Glegg, on which to exercise itself. But by and by it appeared that his silence would answer the purpose, for he heard himself apostrophized at last in that tone peculiar to the wife of one's bosom.

"Well, Mr. Glegg! it is a poor return I get for making you the wife I've made you all these years. If this is the way I'm to be treated, I'd better ha' known it before my poor father died, and then, when I'd wanted a home, I should ha' gone elsewhere-as the choice was offered to me.'

"Mr. Glegg paused from his porridge and looked up-not with any new amazement, but simply with that quiet, habitual wonder with which we regard constant mysteries.

"Why, Mrs. G., what have I done now?'

"Done now,

Mr. Glegg? done now? ..

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

I'm sorry for you.' "Not seeing his way to any pertinent answer, Mr. Glegg reverted to his porridge.

"There's husband's in the world,' continued Mrs. Glegg, after a pause, as 'ud have known how to do something different to siding with everybody else against their own wives. Perhaps I'm wrong and you can teach me better-but I've allays heard as it's the husband's place to stand by the wife, instead o' rejoicing and triumphing when folks insult her.'

"Now what call have you to say that?' said Mr. Glegg, rather warmly, for, though a kind man, he was not as meek as Moses. When did I rejoice or triumph over you?'

"There's ways o' doing things worse than speaking out plain, Mr. Glegg. I'd sooner you'd tell me to my face as you make light of me, than try to make out as everybody's in the right but me, and come to your breakfast in the morning, as

« PředchozíPokračovat »