The New York Herald Newspaper, December 21, 1873, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1873—QUADRUPLE SHEET. - LITERATURE IN GERMAN The Last Nights of King John of Saxony—His Memoirs—His Interest in Literature. WEW GERMAN PUBLICATIONS. Literary Production and Con- sumption in Germany. Works on Art, Industrv, Travel, Biography. Schliermann —Vambery — Lasker — Frede- rick the Great— Benedix — Bret Harte’s Welcome in Germany. LErpsic, Nov. 23, 1873. Lamented King John of Saxony, prince of letters } and of blood, still occupies a loyal portion of at- tention in the literary world of Germany, He was | @ good King and a wonderful scholar; Catholic in | religion, universal in spirit and dearly beloved by his Protestant subjects, Scores of anecdotes are now related of him—of his wanderings incognito | among his people, of his taking upon himself du- ties which he loved, visiting the schools in the re- motest parts of his kingdom, and evincing at all times a vital interest in the progress of art, sci- ence and literature in his little land. He was master of eleven languages, and it is related that, in order to pass away the long, weary, sleepless nights that preceded his ceath, he would desire his attendants to read to him selections from Latin authors and the Church Fathers; from the Italian classics and his favorite authors of French classic literature; trom Milton’s “Paradise Lost’? and Shakespeare’s sonnets, all in the original lan- guages; and fromthe German class! especially Voss’s translauon of Homer’s “Iliad’ and “Odys- sey.” What an insight does this fact give us into the monarch’s high culture and love for literature! KING JOHN’S MEMOIRS, It was a peculiar fancy that led the monarch, whenever he suffered from unusual pain at night, to call for his own written memoirs. He | loved thus to forget his pain in living over again his rich and eventful lite. He listened witb rapt attention to the account he wrote in youth of the | first news of the battie of Jena reaching the Saxon | Court, when Saxony and Prussia fought side by | side against Napoleon, The portion of the me- | motrs relating to the revolutionary year of 1843 is full of interest; and those relating to 1866 and 1870 are said to give highly important historical details, | His Italian journey, where he first became enthusi- astic in the study of Dante, and when, on the way, | he first made the acquaintance and secured the love of Princess Amalia at the Munich Court, and sang with Shakespeare— Were I crowned the most imperial monarch, Thereof most worthy; were I the iairest youth That ever made eye swerve, had force and knowieage More than Was ever man’s, I would not prize them Without her love— jis wooing and marriage, his life in the midst of his family, devoted to study, until he was called to be king, and his later relations to his country—all Gre faithtully recorded in these memoirs as if for @n autobiography. KING JOHN'S LITERARY FAME was firmly established by his translation of Dante. He published the first 10 songs of the “Inferno” in | 1828, as manuscript, and 10 years later the transia- tion was completed, itis said, without any foreign aid. Encouraged by the reception given to his work by the scientific and literary world he deter- | mined to give his translation to the world. He | adopted the pseudonym of “Philalethes’—the | friend of truth—and in 1339-40 and 1849 the two | octavo volumes of his work, enriched with a valu- able commentary, appeared. A popular edi- | tion was first published in 1365 and 1866, I need not enter into any criticism of King John’s labors. He is the author of many unpub. lished essays on scientific and juristic subjects AS a mere youth he wrote a tragedy in verse en- titled “Vertinax,” which bas many brilliant pass- | ages. Some of his poems have been published in the Saxon papers, One written on the death of one of bis children is full of tender feeling and | poetic beauty. He was eminently a lover of classic literature, which he considered to be the true | basis for elevated culture, as did Goethe, Now | that the King is dead the chief cities of Saxony | Bre eager to erect him monuments. Leipsic, which | he called the “Pearl of the Saxon crown,” which | owes 80 much to his efforts in behal! of the Uni- Versity and its trade, will be among the first to raise one. And, indeed, King John deserves the Veneration of all who are interested in the prog- ress and prosperity of literature, art and science. King Albert, the present King, has never shown any decided literary talent. His education was almost entireiy devoted to military and historical studies. LITERARY PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. Turning to the literary productions of Germany, We can assume with tolerable certainty that the publications of 1873 will tar exceed the number issued in previous years. Leipsic book printers never remember to have had such & busy year. The 28 large book printing firms of that city are so crowded with work that most of them now refuse to make any contracts except for completion after Christmas. The book dealers, on the other hana, are complaining that the market is overstocked with new publications, and assure us that the con- sumption does not keep pace with the production, There is certainly no perceptibie increase in the demand for books in Germany. The sale of new publications is confined to a very small class, and the buyers of lighter literature is confined, to a great extent, to the circulating libraries. German books are too expensive for people of small means; they are issued in an unbecoming form, in unhandy paper covers, necessitating the futher expense of Minding pefore being ready for use, though the English custom of issuing popular works in handsome bindings is fast gaining ground. It isa remarkable and no less surprising fact that although Germany leads the world in the number of literary productions an- nually issued, her people spend a very small amount of money annually in the purchase of books. Herr Hirth has recently made some statis- tical calculations by which he proves that the an- nual consumption in Germany amounts only to eight silver groschen (about 18 cents) per head of the population ; that the total amount of book sales in Germany is not 80 much as the annual duty levied and collected by the government on spirit- | ous liquors. It is unfortunate lor German authors | and publishers that they have such a poor market | at home, The former would rejoice to have a jit. | ‘erary convention established between Germany and America. The latter would thank the gods it the American duty on literary products were abol- ished. WORKS ON ART MANUFACTURES, Some interesting and valuable publications have been issned by the German publishers during the past three or four weeks. One of the more valu- able works of the month is connected with the Vienna Exposition, Sceiman, of Leipsic, publishes & superbly illustrated work, in 12 numbers, giving the artistic results of the Exposition, “Art and Art Manufactures at the Vienna Exposition’ (“Kunst und Kunstgewerbe auf der Wiener Welt- ausstellung”), edited by Carl von Lutzow, with the assistance of eminent scientific writers, is a work that will be welcomed by all persons who have Visited Vienna, or by those who, not having done 80, wish to know what progress art and art man+ ufactures have made since 1867, The essays of the first two numbers are very thorough, each treating of a single department:—(1) ‘The Ex. position Grounds,” with iustrations of the various structures; (2) “The Buildings of the Exposition; (3) “Art Manufactures at the Exhibition’—the first part of which, relating to household modes of furnishing nomes in France, England, Germany and Austria Hace number contains 25 or more excellent wood engravings. The work is asinali quarto, An equally brilliant illustrated work, also in monthly instalments (folio), is issued at Stuttgart, by Spemann, entitled “The Work of Art” (“Das Kunsthandwerk”), which is to contain acollection (Ulustrations and text) of the models of art and art products of all periods, The pub- | hsher’s intention is to bring in carefully executed pictures, wood and tint, fac-similes of the trea- sures contaiued in the public and private collec tions, museums, churches, &c., of Germany, Aus tria and neighboring countries—in fact, to make the work an “atlas to the history of art products.” The work ts especially valuable for the decorative manufacturer, the art collector and the scholar, It is edited vy Dr. Bucher, custodian ana secretary of the Imperial Austrian Museum for Art and In- dustry in Vienna, and Professor Gnauth, in Stutigart, Both works are a credit to their pub- lishers. Spemann, of Stuttgart, publishes in pho- tographs, irom the original cartoons, 20 fac- similes of B, Neher’s celebrated frescoes in the Schiller and Goethe room at Weimar, with text by the art historian, Professor Labke, GERMANY AND ROME, The Germans have a peculiar admiration for ancient Roman life and history, Gregorovius de- voted eight well-written thorough volumes to his “History of the City of Rome im the Middie Ages,” and had the satisiaction of receiving the public thanks of the Manicipa! Coancil of the Eternal City for his labors, The eight volumes treat of the history Of the city from the fifth to the sixteenth century, and the concluding volume of the period from the death of Pope Alexander VI, to the death of Clement VU, (1503-1535.) It is published by Cotta. The second number of a large quarto, beautifully illustrated work, entitled, “Pictures of An- cient Rome,” (‘Aus Altrémischer Zeit Cul- turbilder”), by Theodor Simons, with illus- trations by the celebrated Munich artist, Alex- ander Wagner, appears as a Christmas giit volume. The present instalment is made up of four exceed- ingly interesting illustrated essays:—1. A Gladia- tor Fight and a Wild Beast Fight in the Arena at Pompeil, 79 A. D.; 2, A Chariot Race in the Circus Maximus at Rome, 10 A. D.; A Banquet at the Pal- ace of Lucullus, 74 B. C., and a Marriage Festivalin Carthage, 224 B.C, Both author and artist appear to comprehend the spirit of the times they illus- trate, and their united labors make a most vala- able and artistic work. The author has a thorough | knowledge of ancient Roman life, and possesses imaginative power enough to make bis writings intensely interesting. In power of delineation he is tully equal to Bulwer, and, in thoroughness in Whatever be undertakes to describe, to Gregor- ovius. SCHLIERMANN'S TROJAN DISCOVERIES. The new pubucations of Brockhaus (Leipsic) embrace some exceedingly interesting and valua, ble scientific works, first of all “Trojan Anti- ” by Di, Schiiermann, renowned for his tions on the site of ancient Troy. These ‘ations have been carried on by the enthu- silastic antiquarian (and his wife) from October 1s71, to Jaly of the pri thinks, the question as to the exact site of ancient Troy. The atlas accompanying the work will con- sist of 217 photographic tables, a number oi views 1e and piaus, and pictures of some 4,000 objects dis- | covered—the richest material ever brought intoa single work—say the publishers. The objects dis- covered by Dr. Schliermaun are at present in Athens, The text of the work will, judging from the essays that have appeared irom time to me in the Augsburg Allgemeine Zeitung and in the HERALn trom his pen, be full of romantic interest. | The German archwologist, @ man of weaith, and enthusiastic in nis labors, oifered some years ago as a prize his own person in marriage to any young lady who could repeat the “Iliad"’ by heart. The prize was won by a modest, enthusiastic, but | not rich young lady of Atnens, who has ever since been the constant Lelp and companion of her hus band. GEOGRAPHICAL WORKS. Arminius Vambéry, Who is at present about the only authority on Central Asiatic matters we have, issues a volume of more than‘ordinary mterest just now. In his “Central Asia and the Anglo- Russian Boundary Question’ (Brockhaus), the author has collected, arranged ana enlarged his numerous essays written from 1867 to 1873, during the progress of the Russians in Asia, and published mainly in the Germaa review “Unsere Vambéry is well Known as a bitter antagonist of Russia, and has been warning England for years past to prepare Jor the inevitable conflict with the Muscovite, who, he says, has dishonest intentions in regard to India, Whether we agree with tne renowned Magyar traveller or not we must ad- mit that he knows whereof he spe: Speaking of the Mag. book (Leipsic) other Hungarians), which will be read with in- terest, especially in view of the approaching mil- lennial anniversary of the Magyars settling on the Danube. The first volume of “History of the Moors in Spain up to the Conquest of Andalusia by the Almoravides" (711-1110), by R. Dozy, is pub- lished by a Leipsic house. Since we haye not be- fore us the two volumes published by Hartleben, of Vienna, describing voyages to and around the | moon, We cannot say much of them, The first ts entitled “From the Earth to the Moon, Direct Route in 97 Hours, 20 Minutes;’’ the second, ‘*Voy- age Around the Moon.’ We recommend them to the notice, however, of the Graphic and P. T. Barnum. ne fourth instalment of “The Franco- German War,” edited by the Prussian General Stat, just issued, contains the ch of the Third Army to the Moselle and the events connected with the First and Second armies up to the even- ing of the lith of August, with four plans, seven lithograpiied sketches and order of battle. POLITICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORKS. German political works bave generally very little mterest for American readers. The only e announced in this department of the German Pariiament, tion of his essays, lectures and speeches, to be published by Brockhaus. The first volume promises to be of more than ordinary interest, and will contain his essays on the Prus- sian constitution and its development. It will be published asa separate work under the title of “History of the Prussian Constitution.” A jew interesting biographical and autobiographical works have appeared during the month, among which we may mention the first volume of the renowned Prussian historian, Droysen’s “Frederick the Greav and the second halt volame of “Frederick the Great's ted Works,’ translated into German by Merkens, with an imtroduction by Prolessor Wegele. The present yolume contains Frederick's “History of My Own Tim Timely, but hastily, written are a series of pamphlet biographies by brachvogel of “The Men of Modern Germany.’ The lives of the late King Jonn of Saxony; his successor, King Albert; Prince Frederic Carl, Crown Prince of Prussia; Ludwig I. of Bavaria, Kaiser Wilhelm and Moltke and Roon have so far been published in this series, Adoiph Strodtmann, the well-known biographer of the poet Heine, is preparing a complete edition of the poems of Birger, the author of “Lenore,” ag well as a biography of the poet. Strodtmann is in possession of a “surprisingly rich material” for the latter work, and nearly a thousand letters written by burger to Goethe, Wieland, Voss and others of his renowned contemporaries, YOETS AND PORTRY—DRAMA, German poets of celebrity seem to be resting on their laurels. We have scarcely anything but new and collected editions announced, although these are in many cases very welcome. Hoffmann von Failersieven is preparing a complete edition of his poems, and intends to give in an appendix all the musical compositions for his eflusions, The German dramatic poets and authors have been drawn by the | appearance of Roderick Benedix's “Shakespearo- mania” into @ Warm conflict as to the merits and demerits of the Swan of Avon, dead, and therefore his work is treated with ten- derness. He was @ fruitiul writer of comedies, but by no means a genius. He drew his subjects from ordinary le, and became exceedingly popu. lar, because he was understood by the masses. Heinrich Laube tells us that Benedix looked sus. piviously at all imported works for the stage, and his whole lie was @ systematic opposition of Shakespeare and his “overloaded language,” as Aecormions, is a valuable Ulustration of the Yurious he cued i. Paul Lindau, the dramatist aud ent year, and settle, as he | Zeit.” | yars we would medtion F. V. Loeher’s | on this people (the Magyars and | Poor Benedix 15 | | editor of the Gegemoart, the German Dumas, Jr., | seems now to have adopted Benedix's ideas, for- getting that Goethe himself received much 0! his inspiration from a study of Shakespeare, AMERICA IN GERMANY. An entirely new translation of Walter Scott, by Robert Koenig, is being published in Germany. Friedrich Spielhagen’s “Problematic Natures’? ap- pears in a sixth edition, A new, enlarged (chird- edition of Meyer's “Conversations-Lexicon” is an) ngunced, Berthold Auerbach’s new novel 18 awaited with considerable impatience, The main characteristics of the work relate to the Franco- German war, in which the author was a looker-on im Alsace and Strasburg. We are told that the work will have considerable autobiographical in- terest, inasmuch as it will contain the experiences and observations of the author's whole life. A translation of Bret Harte, under the title, “Die Argonautengeschichten, spanischen und amerika warmly welcomed by the German press, The Ber- lin Nationai Zeitung compares Harte to Eagar A. Poe, without the delirum tremens of the latter, and in tne annual literary report, published as a@ preface to Seeman’s “Annual Christmas Book Oat- alogue,” he is thus characterized :—*A Californian poet! Here we have one for the first time! We are, indeed, inclined to be distrustful wher we bear of a Californian poet. We can hardly believe in the possibility of a poet developing on such soil and in such society (?). Butitisafact. We have here todo with @ true poet. He possesses the ‘divine spark,’ which only needs the awakening Opportunity to call it into being.” “SKETCHES OF IRISH SOLDIERS IN EVERY LAND!’ is the title of a very neat little book recently pub- lished by J. Alexander McGee, New York, trom the pen of Colonel James E. McGee. The sketches, over 30 in number, are short, concise and well written, Mk. Rvskry, in the thirty-fourth number of his “Fors Clavigera,’’ attacks Professor John Tyndall for the emptiness of his book on “The Forms of Water.” He ridicules the Professor's dramatic pictures of Alpine scientists wading “breast deep | through snow," which, Mr. Ruskin says, a3 a mat- ter of hard fact, 1s impracticable. A TRANSLATION OF “The Deicides,” by J. Cohen, ; the well known French journalist and theologian, | has been made by Anna Goldsmid and published by Deutsch & Co. It isareview of the life of Jesus Christ from the Jewish standpoint, Aone £ v? SCIENTIFIC BOOKS out in London Mr. George Henslow's “Theory of Evolution of Living Things” is highly spoken of. THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT has had Macedo's book on the “Chorography of Brazil’ translated | into English to attract emigrants. But the English | of itis execrable enough, as may be seen by this lucia sample :— In what has been just shown, the riches of Bra- | 2ii in the three kingdoms of nature—that 13, in the | magnificent and extraordinary opulence of its soil, } @ wonder of spontaneous treasures which no coun- Ury possesses united In that great degree—is stated | in’a moderate description, and that trebly deficient, | in or lat, above all, the extraordinary grandil- | oquence of truth shail net compromise and preju- | dice the verisimitude in the opinion of those who | do not yet know the marvels o/ Brazilian nature, and therefore have a right to be slow in beilei of | the exposition of the marvellous, THE vELIST, PAUL DE Kock, could write with | nothing except goose quiils, which he cut himself, | and he wrote a very fine, feminine hand, excced- | ingly legible. He would never read his own proof sheets, because typographical errors threw him inte a passion, he considering them inexcusable | because of the clearness of his copy. Tue Saturday Review praises Charles G, Lelana’s “English Gypsies” tor its ‘‘keen perception of char- | acter, sympathy with native humor and power of picturesque description.” He traces the gypsies back to Hindostan, There is in no other race in Great Britain so much that is quaint or weil adapted to the purposes of the novelis AND PERSONAL RECOL- LECTIONS OF EDWIN Fort the great American tragedian, by James Rees (volley Cibber), which | has been appearing for many months past, in | weekly instaiments, in a Philadelphia newspaper, | as now in press and will be published in a few days } in book form by T. B, Peterson & Brothers. The | author has written and added to thAwork several | introductory chapters, which contain a tull and complete history of Mr. Forrest’s life from the time of his birth until his first app He | rance on the stage. refully revised and rewritten the st of the work. as also yle of the | as destitute of imaginative power as it is possible for the healthy cerebral organization of a highly 2ammatian to be. from the French of Anthony Real, is announced in London. It covers | Very much the same ground a3 Mr. Cooper's lately published “History of th id Rod. NEW PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. From Harper Brothers:—Wilkie Collins’ “Basil,” “The Dead Sec: and “Man and Wife’ (new | edition); “Memories of Many Men and Some Wo men,” | Pastoral Theology,” by Wiliam S$. Plumer, D. Dy | LL. D.; “The Best Methods of Counteracting | Modern Infidelity,” by Theodore Christiieb, Ph. Dw | D.D. From G. Way,” an W. Carleton & Co autobiography by Robert Date Owen; “Fanny Fern, a Memorial Volume, containing her Select Writings and a Memoir," by James Parton; and other § D.D., “pittle Wanderer” Samuel Wuberiorce, chester, From J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia:—“Pen Pictures of Europe,” by Elizaveth Peake; “Liberty and Law Under Federative Gove:nment,” by | Britton A. Hill. From Scribner, Armstrong & Co.:—*My Kalulu, | Prince, King and Slave,” by Henry M. Stanley; | “Diamonds and Precious Stones: A Popular Ac- | count ot ¢ ‘om the French of Louis Dicula- Jait, by Fanchon Saniord, From Claxton, Remsen & Hofelfinger, Philadel- phia otes on the Exodus,” by Alfred Nevin, | D.D., LL. D3 “The World to Blame,’ by Waldorf H, Phillips. | From E. P. Dutton & Co.:—“Mrs. Mainwaring’s | Journal,” by Emma Marshall. From the National Temperance Society and Pub- lication Society tie Loring: A tian Infuences and Temperance Princip beth Downs. From Dood & Mead:—“The Women | Arabs,” by Rev. Henry Harris Jessup, D. D. | From Barnes & Oo. :—*Metrical Tune Book: | Designed to be Used With Any Hymn Book,” by | Philip Phillips. “Midland Poems,” by Orsatus Cha From Procter Brothers, Glouces Fistermen’s Memorial and George H. Procter. FAIR IN AID OF 81. GABRIEL'S CHURCH, A fair will be held in the hall attached to St, Ga- | briel’s church, commencing on Monday, Decemver 29, and continuing during the month of January, in order to raise funds for the support of the school of the parish. This school, numbering some 2,000 children, of both sexes, is under the care of the Sisters and Christian Brothers, and 1s main- tained at a vast expense. Since the withdrawal of the government ald it is solely dependent for its support on she voluntary contributions of the | parishioners. Hence the object of the air is to obtain means to meet the current expenses, Independently of the numerous attractions with which this fair will be replete, there is @ novier incentive to the pubiic to ‘ve @ hearty response to this appeal for so deserving an object. The Rev, | Father Ulowry, the esteemed pastor, has in the | face of the most disheartening diMiculties struggled to establish a school suited to the requirements of the children of his parish, and no one will deny has any knowledge of the character and merit . Gabriel's school but that he has nobly suc. ceeded, unday stories, by late Bishop of Win- ” by of ries Dake. r, Mass. :—“The Record Book,” by OHARITY, The seventeanth annual ball of the Young Men's Assoviation for the benefit of the Romnn Catholic Orphan Asvium will be held at the Academy of Music, on Wednesday, the 17th of January, 1874 i nts for the undertaking are under ttee of comp nen, W ry means at th | confiiand to make the occasion one of pleasure to the patrons and profit to those most deserving objects of ¢harity, nischen Sagen,” is poblished in Letpsic, and is” ays of Voltaire that “his head was | by Maunsell B. Field; “Hints and Helps in | e of Chris. | ART MATTERS. Christm: mriositics at Sypher’s, Itis safe to make the statement that yesterday nota store in the city that contained any attrac- ‘ tions having relation to the holiday season was | ett unvisited. Among the establishments which were thronged was that of Mr. Sypher, No, 593 Broadway, the passages between the countless objects of art and souvenirs of antiquity being almost incapable of being threaded. To some of these objects we have already referred, but there has since been an accession of new ones, if those can be called new which have the flavor of an- tiquity about them, At any rate they are new to the public here, although they have had quite a career abroad. Among them is a little old-fashioned otgan, made of mahogany and lavishly adorned with gilt work curiously chased, The chasing was done by hand long before the processes at present in use were invented, and. when the liberal use of quick- silver shortened the life of the workman, This little organ, which is about as wide and as long a8 an average sewing machine, and about one foot higher, contains seven cylinders and is capable of playing 28 airs. It is interesting in itself, but it is doubly interesting because it was formerly the property of the Empress Josephine, the unfortu- nate and unhappy Empress, who, when questioned by a peasant ignorant ot ner rank, replied, “I am pace Josephine.” The organ has been in this country ut a short time and was accidentally snapped up by its present proprietor trom a private connoisseur, Whom circumstances rendered willing to dispose oiit, The tunes are modern, the machinery for erforiming them having been inserted since, Near the organ hangs a genuine piece of Gobelin tapestry, about 200 years oid and 10 leet by 14 in size. The colors are as iresh as though the work were finished only yesterday. Gobelin tapestries In this country are rare. To speak candidly they are not periectly appreciated here. You do not olten meet aman, even 4 coniessed amateur or curiosity hunter, who possesses many relics of this description. We know ol one gentleman in this city, a very accomplished antiquarian, who owns several pieces; bul such an instance in this country is infrequent. And yet these tapestries are oftea very beautiful—beautilul in themselves and in the traditions which linger around them, The pa- tieut workers upon them may be said literally to have woven their lives into the fabric, so lavorious was the task, so vast was the time consumed. The Subject in the piece we have been speaking of isa scene in the garden at Versailles, On the opposite side of the room is a magnificent piece of bronze, bas reliei, eight feet by three, tuken irom the la- cade of the Church of St. Roche, at Paris, 1t re resents the entombinent of Curist, and is a most dignified and noble piece of work. All we hope is that the French government will not make a requi- sition for it, as they recently did lor a piece of the Column in the Place Vendome lately in Mr. Sy- pher’s hands, This Place Vendome relic had been purchased by that gentieman as a veritable curiosity, and he had been flattering himselt ou being able to dispose of it at a price proportionate to its interest and value, One tine October morn- ing, however, a representative oi the Frencu goy- ernment, accompanied by some local officials, made their appearance and presented a Jormai requisi- tion .or the delivery of the relic in question, Mr. Sypher took the reasonable view of the matter, wasted no time in mourning the money mistakenly spent, did not resist the requisition and good tem- peredly allowed the fragment to be removed. By this time we presume it ho.ds ita piace in the re- stored Column. ‘To finish our summary, however, mention might be made of some exquis- itely painted Sevres pilates selling at $100 and $25 a piece, and, what is more, readily fetch- ing that price, Which proves that Sevres ware 18 more appreciated in this country than Gobelin ta- pestry. There 1s also a wonderlul Venetian seat, carved and gilded, upon which the Doge o! Venice might have rested, und which is valued at $300, A very fine portrait of Rembrandt, which every pert in pictures would be interested in examining, occupies an out-of-the-way nook, and ought to be more prominently hung. ‘he objects we have mentioned have not, indeed, the gioss of newness, but they flil a very valuable position 1m the Christ- mas chiarascuro, and an inspection of them is almost us interesting a3 a visit to the Metropolitan Museum. THE HORACE GREELEY ALBUM The committee of the Common Council appointed to make the necessary arrangements for the pre- sentation to the family of the late Horace Greeley of the album prepared by the Common Council met yesterday, in the Aldermanic Chamber, Alder- man McCatterty in the chair. In consequence of the absence from the city of Mr. Whitelaw Reid the committee adjourned till Wednesday next, at twelve o’ciock, Without transacting any business except tuat of passing a@ resolution asking the Mayor to make the presentation to the family. MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF HAMILTON, Grand Display of Presents. [From the Daily Telegraph, Dec. 9.] Kinbolton Castle is at present the scene of a brilliant gathering to celebrate the nuptiais of the Duke of Hamilton and Lady Mary Montague, eidest daughter of the Duke of Manchester, Among the | distinguishea guests are the Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Duchess of Hamiiton, Princess Monaco, Prince Louis Esterhazy, Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, Lady Blanche Somerset, Karl and Countess of sandwich, Earl of Gosford, Lord Ossuiston, Baron Detwyll, Hon, 4. Bourke, Mr. Henry Chaplin, M. P., and orhe: Lady Mary’s trou u and bridal presents we! exhibited yesterday in the White Hall, and were inspected by numerous persons. Among the bridal gifts 1s a valuable Indian shawl, by the Queen; a gold brooch, surmounted with coronet and bearing the &) 8’ medallion likeness, by the Empress oj G r and goid-mounted photographic frame Majesty’s likeness, by the Emperor of an antique cross, set with precious stone Prince and Princess of Waies;a set of érystal studs, set in gold, by the Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar; @ gold bracelet by Prince Ester- hazy, and a diamond bracelet of several thousand pounds value by the Duke of Hamilton’s Lanar! shire tenantry. There are other costly presents by the Duke and Duchess of Manchester and mem- bers of the family, the Marquis o} Hartington, Earl Granville, Baroness Lionel Rothschild, Lord Ossul- ston, Karl and Countess of Sandw. Countess of ‘Tankerville, Marchioness of Westminster, Coun- tess o; Westmoreland, Lord and Lady Londes- borough, Eari aud Countess of Aylesiord, Duchess of Abercorn, &¢. RAILROAD DISASTERS AND PERILS, none WB? RESINS Men Killed by Collision Freight Trains. PorrsMOUTH, N. H., Dec. 20, 1873. Two freight trainson the Eastern Railroad col- lided at Kennebunk last night, and were so badly smashed that no train has passed since. One man is reported to have been killed, and two are miss- ing. Ap alarm was sounded here by the whistles earty this morning and @ relief train sent down, Three of How the Accident Occurred. PORTLAND, Me., Dec. 20, 1873. The accident on the Eastern Railroad occurred between Kennebunk and Day's siding. Freight “w"' left here for Boston at twenty minutes to eight, which was tnree hours later than the usual time. Near Day’s siding the train broke apart, and the engineer ran ahead toavoid being struck | ny the rear part, it being a down gra¢ He ran | on the siding, and then, finding that the bal- ance of the — train did not — overtake him, kK to get it While so doing: from Bosto ran into | him. he damage is unknown, but a wrecking train has gone out to the scene ot the disaster. Three men were killed—a conductor, brakeman and fireman—and two unknown men were injured, The Pullman train had safely passed the pout where the collision occurred, Names of the Killed and Injured. Porrsmoutn, N. H., Dec. 20, 1873, The names of the persons kitled by the collision between freight trains at Kennebunk this morn- ing are reported as follows:—Conductor, Albert | Bisbee, of Saco, Me.; brakeman, Milan Fitch, of | Seabrook, N, H., and fireman, Sheburne, They all belonged to the train coming from the eastward. Theodore Davidson, of Portsmouth, N. H., had an ankie broken and shoulder dislocated, Killed in Jumping from a Moving Car. Bosrox, Dec. 20, 1873. James F. Wall, residing in Watertown, and con- nected with a publishing house in Hanover street, Boston, was killed last night im jumping froma moving train near this station into a culvert, Narrow Escape of a Train. Wonrcesrer, Dec, 20, 1873. A police oMcer discovered a horse and wagon caught fast in the Norwich and Worcester Raitroad bridge, over Still River, near this city, this morn- ing, just before the steamboat train arrived. Te owner of the team, Patrick Kane, of Leices- ter, ts missing, ‘The police will drag the river, ex- pecting to find the body, A CLERK BOBS HIS EMPLOYER, Syracuse, Dec. 20, 1875. Herbert 0. Brown, for the past three years a trusted clerk of ©. S, Hall, jeweller, last night melted up a quantity of silverware, valued at about £3,000, with which he decamped. It 14 ascertained in toe cars. The police are in pursuit ol the young man, Who is only 18 years old. purchased a railroad ticket for Oswego and lett | | at Smith’s Pattern Bazaar, THE FASHIONS. Evening Dresses, Dinner Dresses, Ball Dresses, Fancy Dresses, Walking Dresses and Riding Dresses. The Parlors of the Modistes in Full Bloom. Yesterday morning was one of the jubilces of mature, The fog lifted itself, the blue sky was visible, the sunshine showered down liberally, and the streets were ative with shoppers. A large pro- portion of these shoppers visited the toy stores and the book stores in quest of the publications and joujouz to which reference has been made in the HERALD during the past week. A certain Proportion, however, repaired to the homes of fashion, with which several of the quieter and more respectable streets at right angles to Broad- way abound, And it is a remarkable thing that Fashion is always at home, She always has some- thing fresh to say, something new to show you, some unique caprice to set of. We might almost travesty St. Paul and say, “And now abideth these three—Faith, Hope and Fashion, and the greatest of these is Fashion.” We shall not make any more apologies for this expensive and eccen- tric goddess than are her due. We acknowiedge that she leads men and women to destruction, that She sets up false standards to which her worship- pers must bend the knee, that she monopolizes time which might be much more profitably em- ployed, that she is a great promoter of heartburn and envy, and that her yotaries are litile better than slaves, All this 's too sadly true, But, then, Fashion is an inevitability that there is no abolish- ing. Her dynasty never wears out. If we de- throne one fashion another immediately occupies the vacant place. The moment we exclaun, ‘The Queen is dead,” we are obliged to shout, “Long live the Queen!”? Fashion is one of the conditions of existence, and abounus as much in Typee as Murray = Hill. There would have been @ fashion in the very nudity of Paradis had the apple remained indefinitely untouched, It is use- less to try to escape trom an institution which runs in the blood, Let us rather look on the bright side of the matter and felicitate ourselves that it is no worse. The fashions of civilization oiten are to the body what good manners are to the mind—setting it off, embellishing and recom- mending it, and enabling it to make its way with greater smoothness and decorum. We have little patience with husbands, fathers, sons and brothers who do aot sympathize to some extent with the fashions of the gentler sex. Extravagances and caprices there may be in this fleld; but there isa substratum of so much that 18 sensible and artistic that we have little prejudice in tavor of those of the masculine sex who do not take the trouble to find itout, Perhaps American gentlemen are less ignorant and bigoted in this respect than the genticmen of most other civilized nations. The American gentleman likes to see a well-dressed woman and, as a rule, is willing to defray all the wardrobe expense of those female mem- bers of his family who have a right to claim his support. We do not know that a much more per- sistent pull at masculine purse strings, to defray expenses of this character, has ever been made than now. If any one is inclined to believe in the existence of a panic let him visit our milliners and dressmakers, and the corresponding depart- ments oi stores where bonnets and costumes are manufactured, His illusion will be immediately dispelled. He will come to the cenclusion that the panic was a phantusm—a good subject for newspaper men to write about. For our part, after having wandered through a labyrinth of dinner = dresses, walking dresses, visiting dresses, carriage dresses, evening dresses, fancy dresses, school dresses, laces, lingerie, paletots, furs, hats, boots and bonnets, we are inclined to think that there 1s as much money inthe pocket of puteriamilias as ever, and that no very greay, persuasion 18 needed in order to induce it to come out. We have never seen the rooms of the modistes more crowded than they were yesterday or a greater variety of beau- tiful fabrics on hand, At Mme. Collins’, No. 26 West Eleventh street; at the Maison Walton, No, 862 Broadway; at Mme. Lumley’s, No. 110 West Twenty-third street; at ©. M. Olney’s, No. Fourteenth street; at Mme. Angie No, 48 University place; at Mme. Wash- ington’s, No, 773 Broadway; at the establishment of Miles. De l'Ouest and Hendrickx, No, 1,130 Broad- way; at Mme. R. Kendall's, No. 719 Sixth avenue; 914 Broadway; at Mme. Grenier’s, No, 32 West Ninth street; at Mrs, Myers’, No, 22 East Fourteenth street; at Mrs. Van Dusen’s, No. 35 West Eighteenth street; at Mme, Adolphus’, No. 40 East Twentieth street, a more than usually large company of ladies were found inspecting, questioning, comparing and contrast- ing, testing the most piquant novelties, enchanted with this and in despair over that, so that the uni- verse for the moment seemed to be divided into two great classes—those whose duty is was to make bonnets and costumes, and those whose duty it was to try them on. THE SUBJECT OF BONNETS. As an object bonnets are apt to wear out. Asa subject they never do. There is always something new to be said about them, ‘They have monopo- lized the invention of a very industrious and taste- ful proportion of the gentier sex for the last 200 or 300 years, and they will continue to exercise it until that happy hour shail arrive when science shall govern the world, Then, we suppose, the bonnet will be constructed upon a sanitary model, and no woman will become the victim of neuralgia - in the head from the unnatural exposure entailed by the knot of silk and iace which at present answers for feminine head gear. To come down to facts, however, the most bizarre shapes continue to be worn, and no change for the better in this re- spect is promised in the January fashions. The bon- net of the period is a burlesque upon common sense, a very beautiful, a very dainty, a very exquisite burlesque, perhaps, but an undeniable burlesque, nevertheless. When M. Victor Hugo remarked that the beautiful is as useful as the useful he either saw no beauty in the bonnet of the day or he was not aware that a jabric of that sort, laying claims to beauty, existed, else he must have modi- fied his aphorism. We have seen during the past week numberless bonnets which are beautiful as wax flowers are beautiful, it to be put under a glass and admired as a monument of wrongly di- rected skill. And the worst of it Is that you can- not tell a bonnet Irom a female hat. We have seen lady connoisseurs sorely puzzled, until Mme. Til- man or som er dis inguished authority came to their re: ‘There ought to be an academy of modistes to determine these mooted questions. By the bye the attempt to popularize colored feits for hats and bonnets has almost tatlen through, Last winter no one could be found to give it a helping hand; this winter only @ little progress has hitherto been made. Perhaps the most popular torm is that known as “Gimmenx,” the brim of which is wide, the crown low. The ornaments are of jet or steel, and the hat is worn at the back of the head. One of the episodes of the month, in relation to the kind of embellishment used for hats and bonnets, is the spreading Vavitittl ty for jet and steel, Among the latter there are several styles, such as brown, blue and engraved. The subject of hats and bon- nets naturally cpnducts to that of hoods and caps, The hood knows as the “Barathea” 1s very pretty and comfortable, It is made of blue barathea, Suitably lined and wadded with trimming oi ruchel rolls and gros grain, Other hoods are of white and Violet cashmere, and some very handsome ones of silk and tulle attracted a great deal of attention, Among caps were some of simple tulle, others of tulle and Jace, and others again of Swiss muslin and lace and ribbons of various colors. Among caps, however, there if nothing absolutelv new, and, in fact, it Would puzzle the moat accomplished mistress of fashion to devise a complete originality in this line, BALL, EVENING AND FANCY DRESSES. Has it ever occurred to any of our readers that art is just as industrious as nature? Nature plods on in her slow, patient, unobtrasive manner, and accomplishes fine but very similar resuits year alter year, The leaves and flowers perish on the October tree and bush, but we look forward to May with the certainty of aseing something just like them again, or so little different that the d 18 hard to detect, Nature accomplishes varie. gations slowly. She never starties us by a sudden new departure, She never introduces a new Specion ail at once, but grinds it out leisurely in the gradual process of centuries. We are dead and tarned to dustan age belore the change which began while we were living is perceptible. Art Works more radely, perhaps, but more quickly, especially that variety of art which we find among milliners aud dressmakers, They are \ kind of gardeners who, to borrow a similitade from Douglass Jerrold, are always tickling the soil of fashion with the hoe of change, ‘They must have, not only airesh harvest every year, but a harvest of fresh things. They must have new shapes, new colors, new materials, new combina- tions, in shore new creations. With so vast am amount of labor, patience and invention, it would be strange indee. if some proportionate result were not attained. And, what 1s all the more Startling, this department Of art knows no rest, It must bloom and blossom, must flower and flour- ish in winter as well as summer, in autumn ag well as spring, There is scarcely @ week in the year when the mantuamaker may fold her bands ‘and congratulate herself upon ended work, The quantity of ball, evening and fancy dresse: for ladies at present on band is a illustration in point, The dresses are ri in material and profuse in number. Among these we saw a@ skirt of poult de sole, biue in color, Its trimming consisted of a pleated flounce, of the same material, with bows and folds, ‘Tuere wad also a waist and an overskirt of Chambéry 6 areeraa Ab exquisite fancy dress was of rose-tinted cash- mere. It was intended to allegorize the idea of sunset at sea. The trimmings were cloud-colored, and a mist-like sash was fastened with a star. One of the chastest of unpretending toliets was an evening dress of plain gray silk, Meant to be worn with a black-ligured tulle and lace fichu. A second fancy costume was of crimson cashmere, trimmed with black velvet, fit to be worn by some ideal milkmaid. Numerous waite tarlatan ball dresses are tobe seen, Skirt, overskirt and basque waist were of tarlatan. Very delicate and picturesque was a dress of violet-hued cashmere, whictt might appropriately be used in private the- atricals by a young lady assuming some such part as that of Marie in “La Fille du Régiment.” The trimmings were principally of silver and white satin. An evening dress of dark green silk a deeply pointed basquine. The overskirt wi trimmed with Valenciennes, the lower with pPlaited ruffle. Another evening dress of white aud biue silk Was among the most tastefu! on exhi- bition. Blue sik was used for the underskirt, Which was trimmed with a rutile and ribbon 10ops ol blue gros grain. The silk polonaise, white in color, was trimmed with Valenciennes. No dresses that we have seen during the season equal, in variety and richness, those of which tne ones We have mentioned may be regarded as rep- resentative, DINNER, VISITING AND CARRIAGE DRESSES, One peculiarity of the 1ashionable woman 1s that she must have dresses for everytaing. It is hardly a figure of speech to say that 6he would not ap- proach her Creator wituout being attired comme & Jaut, \vis apart of her religion always to be per- lectly well dressed. Some people say that it is the whole of her religion, but we are not su malicious as that, And this mania for perfection in costume 18 just as intense among the members of the demt- monde as in legitimate circles, A curious story which we have heard told of the notorious com- tesse de M—, and which we believe has never appeared in print, 1s a fair illustration of this point. The person whom we have mentioned is very well Known member of that fair, frail and brilliant sphere known as the demi-monde, She is equally celebrated for the homeliness of her features and the periection of her costume. One fine day her Carriage stopping for @ Jew moments in one of the drives of the Bois de Boulogne, was presently surrounded by @ criticising crowd, such as only Paris could muster, and to all of Whom she was known by reputation. Comments were free upon her personal appearance, ali of which she ignored with imperturbaovle sang/roid. Suddenly one of the crowd exclauned, loud enough for all to he: “Mon Dieu! vow ugly she is!’ “Yes; but hot perlectly well dressed,” exclaimed tue Comtes: without for an instant losing countenance, at with that inimitable chic which 18 inborn, acquired, and of which the true cocotte is perie mistress. We trast this litte digression may bt pardoned, for it illustrates the ruling passion ol two classes, Which are as wide apart as the ex- tremes of eternity, and which have notning im common bat a cultivated passion {for dress. And now to our dinner, visiting, carriage and walking dresses, We saw a very rich dinner dress 0! purple silk, It was made with a single skirt, The back breadths were trimmed with quillings of sik, the iront was en tablier, AD extremely handsome but somewhat sombre visit ing aress was Cf coffee colored silk, also made with one skirt. The trimmings were of velvet of a tint deeper than that of the silk, A walking dress of very dark green silk, which almost had the ap- pearance of piack, Was made with two skirts, plaited flounce bound the under one and lace and velvet the upper. A carriage dress of dark bronze colored velvet was made with one skirt and polo- nalse, Favorite walking costumes are ot black silk and black velvet, the skirts plain in front and trimmed behind, with flounces, This fasion ts much followed in Paris just at present, and bids fair to become popular here. Olive green diagonal is very otten selected for cloaks, and makes an elegant appearance when tastefully trimmed with ruches of black gros grain. The military mantle is also coming into requisition. 1t is made oi cioth, light or heavy, as the case may be, and elaborately embroidered, The styles are numerous, and eachof them con- tains a martial suggestion. ‘hey are not as much worn by unmarricd young ladies as by married ones, but there is a piquancy in them which is not as yet periectly appreciated. It 1s always spicy to see how graceiuily fanciiul and capricious Fashion is when one of the sterner clements lent by war becomes subject to her contemplation. Her ingenus ity 18, then, never at a loss in toning down the harshnesses and bestowing an ensemble brisk, sharp and picturesque + MISCELLANEA, When one comes to treat of the miscellaneous articies included in the répertotre of tashion th field becomes very extensive indeed. Jf, in addi- tion to the place we have mentioned, we also specily Smith's, No. 914 Broadway; Liverre’s, No. 441 Sixth avenue; Laforcade’s, No. 6 West Elev- enth street, and De Perceval’s, No. 730 Broadway, We shall have indicated most ot those places where information of this Kind is to be sougnt, At Mme, Laforcade’s all the novelties provided by Worth, Pingat, Lateriére and Hantenar in the way of opera cloaks are tobe found. Her stock of embroidered velvets and Sicilienne, cashmere and camel's hair polonat is extremely large, and her dol- mans, slevele nd Louis XI. jackets are well worth inspection, Her bonnets and hats ure of the new- est Parisian styles, and the Shan’s incroyable, negresse, Persian and silver !ox mutls and boas are @ unique and superb collection. Smith, at No, 914 Broadway, is remarkable for the novelty of his designs. His Oriola suit, intended for the prom. enade, has charmed a great many visitors with admiration. So has Le Capita, intended for house and street, Patterns are ready tor distribution, and there are cloth modeis with every pattern. Mme. Camille de Lacy, No. 8824 Broadway, has some of the newest importations of bonnets, and at Binns’, No, 1,173 broadway, velvet bonnets, ribbons, flowers and feathers are selling very cheap. James Russell, No. 33 East Twentieth street, intends retiring from business and is selling cheap some handsome camel’s hair shawls and scarfs. We have seen no better bargains of the kind elsewhere. In regard to A. T. Stewart's establishment only a word ts necessary, and that is that the stock is just as large, varied and valuable as it has been for many years, und that as many novelties are to be encou tered there as anywhere. W.-K. Peyton & Co. have a large stock ot /adies’ suits, cloaks, shawls and dress goods, which they are disposing of at reason- able prices. An exceedingly large array of fanci- ful accessories is discoverable at the store of Stern Brothers, at the intersection of Sixth avenue ana Twenty-third street, H. O'Neill & Co., Nos. 327 and 329 Sixth avenue, have greatly reduced the prices of their millinery goods, Their brocade, scotch and Roman sashes are both handsome and cheap. The firm is rich in ostrich plumes and tips, willow plumes, fancy feathers and French flowers, and black thread, ipure, and point lace, It has not less than 3,000 dozens of Windsor ties, selling at less than half their former Bre We might have mentioned, in speaking of tewart, that the best bargains offered by him are his camel's hair sultings and camel’s hair cloths, his mixed wool fabrics, colored alpacas, all wool satinés, diagonal serges, Empress cloths, dress attern calicoes, Tycoon reps and dress goods. r. Letsinger, at 26 East Fourteenth street, has a unique patent known as the Vienna button boot. Lord & Taylor's remains one of the head- quarters for silks, cloaks, shawls, furs, sealskin sacques, Velvets, laces and fancy goods, Between the localities we have mentioned there is not so much room for choice as those who have habitually gone to the same lace year after year would be apt to imagine. The spirit of rivalry has done much to equalize the merits of large establisnments. And it is worth bearing in mind that almost anything that has an appreciable, exchangeable or intrinsic value, 18 worth giving or accepting as apresent. There a@ jalse delicacy, and therefore some vulgarity, in that sentiment which hesitates about offering as & gilt an article of wearing apparel, The sentiment is & Wholly conventional one and cannot be justified by reason. On the contrary, looked at in one ee it would seem as if the intrinsic value of a git would be enhanced by the capability of continually bearing it about with one. The faise feeling to which we have alluded, however, is, we are glad to say, shared by but few, Beyond this point upon which we have touched in this and one or two other articles lies a wide realm of purchases, the contents of which are not eastiy classified, but among which we hope to ba able to make our way. Meanwhile it 18 to be hoped the weather will for the next few days prove more propitious than it has lately been. ‘The first haif of yesterday was indeed gala-like, and the crowded streets ‘and stores proved how determined the opie were to make good use of it, But during he rest of the week storekeepers were complain- ing of the poverty of the contrast which the present season furnished to that of the previous years. Among milliners and dressmakers we did not hear the same lament. The behests of Fashion are imperative. She not only proposes hut dis- re and is never permanently damaged even by ad weather. CANAL TRANSPORTATION, ALBANY, Dec. 20, 1873, Auditor Dayton received the following despatchea this afternoon ;— Foutonvinie, Dec. 19, 1873, We are just here from Schenectady with two tugs, Encountered some heavy ice. Fifteen boats with two tugs end 30 teams went Hast to-night, May get through if weather keeps favorable, The 61 boars that left Schenectady yesterday are lock. ing through the #ixteens to-day. A. BARKLEY, Canal Commissioner, Couoks, Dee, 20, 1873. Twenty of the boats of the fleet that left Schened. tady on the 18th stuck fast above the lower aqueduct yesterday, We now have them all here and will be through the sixteens to-night, ‘A. BARKLEY, Canal Commissioner,