The New York Herald Newspaper, June 7, 1875, Page 5

” HOME AND FOREIGN BOOKS. An Autobiography of the Bard of Baiernth. AMERICAN HISTORY SIMPLIFIED. ‘Chats About Books—"Mr. Smith,’”* “Our Detachment.” WORK OF THE ENGLISH AUTHORS. A Review of Latest Productions--- Novels, Ballads, Poetry, Music. THE FRENCH LITERARY WORLD. D'Haussonville on the Penitentiary Sys- tem of France. STARTLING STATISTICS. French Progress in Art—Theat- rical Publications, RICHARD WAGNER. Notbing could be more apropos than the publi mation at this time of the “Art, Life and ” of Ricnara Wagner by Henry Holt Mr. Edward L. Burlingame is ‘the lator of the book, which con- “tains the autoblography and a selection trom the essays of Herr Wagner. These essays comprise :— «(he Lote Veto,” the ‘Pilgrimage to Beethoven,’ ‘An End in Pari “Der Freiscntitz in Paris,” | “The Music of the Future,” an account of the productien of Tannhiuser in Paris, “The Pur- pose of Opera,” “Musical Criticism,” “The Legend -of the Nibelungen” and “The Opera House at Beyreuth.” Nine large volumes contain Wagner’s writings in German, and from these Mr. Bur- ‘Ungame nas selected what he has considered the most characteristic, The task of rendering Wag- -ner’s German into English is no easy Oue, as the translator says it is about like trying to render @arlyle’s English into French. Mr. Burlingame has, however, succeeded admirably in preserving the spirit ef the original. One gets a betier idea of the great composer from studying his writings than from hearing his amusic. He writes very much like he cemposes, though we miss the diminished chords that are no effective in his music. Language flows readily ‘from his pen and he does not waste any time in “picking his words, good is good and bad 1s bad fo his lexicon, He rather suggests Heine in his out- kenness and general style; ne is just as pright and quiet as impudent, He tas two idols, Beet hoven and Wagner. His seli-appreciation 1s too childlike to be effensive. It is more amusing than annoying, and we can forgive it, seeing how great the provocation. Unfortunately the antobiography ends just about when its author’s prosperity begins, but of nis after life we are more familiar. He does not aliude directly to his poverty and struggles in his life, but we glean some idea of ti miseries he passed through in the sketones he wrote for the Gazette Muswale, supposed to be fictions. He does not deat about the bush any, but begins (m shis straightiorwara way:—‘‘My name is Wil- helm Richara Wagner, and I @as born in Leipsig mn the 224 day of May, 1818 My lather, who was a police actuary, died #ix | months ter my birth.” His stepiach Luu wig Geyer, Was an acror, dramatic author painter, He wanted very muci to make a painter ‘out of the little Richard, but he bad no talent for drawio, Wagner played # littie ou the piano when he Was seVen years oid, but was not looked apon as a prodigy. “sly private tutor, woo taugut me to construe Cornetius Nepos, had to give ine jano lessons as well, I had hardly finished the Pret exercises 1u fingering when | began secretly wo study the overture te the ‘Fretscnutz,’ at first ‘without notes. My teacher once over- heard me doing this, and pronounced that 1 would come to notuing. He was right. 1 have never im my iife learned This whole connection with music,” De Continues, “was entirely a tuing of tecondary Imporiance. Greek, Latin, aud ancient bistury made up my chie x ment. I made verses, oo, * * * Atone ime 1 began to jeurm Koglish, solely that | mignt know Shakespeare thoroughiy. leven made a metrical | stauslation of Romeo's monologue. My Kugiish, however, | soon dropped; bul Shakespeare r maived my moael.” For two years he spent bi time in writing @ tragedy on the most stupendous acaie. Alter hearing Beethoven he says toat the nusic in Egmont” so excited me tnat | deter- | mined that my now completed tragedy should not proceed # step farther without being proviaed wiih just such accompaniment.’’ At this time he uecwed to be A Musician; be Was then Im his s1x- teenth year. During the revolution of Joly, 1830, he became a yioient revoiuwonist, ana even to play the plane.” began au overture aealing @ith ‘a political | theme. His university career was practi- cally of litue profit, for be gave himself | up to all kinds of students’ excesses. He soon came to his senses, however, and set to work in He studied with Weinig, and then a to compose. He heard Devrient, weom he y admired, sing in Belitar's “Rumeo and jniiet.”” and says, “I Was amazed to hear suco a cemarkabdie performance of such utterly isignif- cant music. 1 Was driven to despair at the means that could lead: to so great a success. I was iar from atirivating any great merit to Bellini; yet the material of which his Music Was Made seemed | to me, nevertheless, better calculatea to dufuse tile and warmth than the caresul and anxious conscientiousnes with which we Germans gens- raily brought about only a tortured sembiance of reality. Tne ieebie tameness of the modern Ital- fans and tne triffog irivouties of the French seemed to challenge the earnest, conscientious Germans tO make tuemselves masters of the det- terchoven and elaoorate material of their rivals, in order to vastly improve upon them by nsing it for real Works of art.” Mow tnoroughly German | that last sentence! = While in tue most wretched circamstances Waguer marfricd, in the year 1836, He passed a | miserable aud unuappy time in Paris, where he enjuyed noth.ag but the orchestral concerts at the Conservatoire. The account of am imagiuary pil- rimage 10 Beethoven, written for tne Gazet Sfuswale, shows the bumorous side of Wage coaracter. He introduces a snobbish Engusnn a masical amateur, in this story, in tue Most ridicuious light, contr bunting Mavia with the ardor of the true prerim. The sketen, “An Bud tn Paris, sald to be arawn from bis own ike. The two articies on “Der Freischutz in Pa give & good idea of the com- poser’s art ite in that city. Perhaps tne mo: = portant article in this voiume is the one on “The Music of the Future,” written in the form a letter to a French triend. He goes over tbe | whole ground taken against lum by bis evemi and auswers cuarge by charge, Whether we acree cutirely Witt All his ideas or not we © Dut uamit that they appeal to the invellect are original, {i not always practic: he says, “I find in the frequent and sori demanas of Our superticial musi¢al diletanti for ‘Melody, meloay |’ & coufirmation of the beer that they derive their idea of jody irom musical works in which, oesides the melody, complete lack of molouy occurs, which makes What they think me- lodious appear so precious. * * * In truth, what from @ suygniar narrowwess is looked upon as rich. | hes# must needs ap ear to the more cultared mind as very poverty.” He says of “Tann- hauser,” “My object as been to irst encbain the attention of the audience by the dramatic action, oy the tact that it 1s never compelled jor a moment to lose sight of this, DUL That on the trary the cal dress at lirst seems on Method used ior the vetter display ol it. Aad it Was this doing away with ail concession iu the matter of the subject, which made it possible for also do away with 1% m the mast + and in these things, \aken together, you Will perhaps Qa the best example of what my “movatton’ realiy consisis in; you certainly will not fod it in a purely musical lancy which many have thougnt themselves justified im foisting upon me as a si a afer a music wf tne Jucure!” 1¢ is very evident that Wagner atiaches more importance to his lidrette taan most com- sets, He toes not believe im having a staxe people singing and shonting abont nothing. Wagner's descripiton 0: his oper house at Bay- euch, and tue circumstances lewding to its Incep- tion and to the formation o. tne Wagner-vereine is HOt the least interesting part or the book, This article 18 illustrated with three views of the Opera House, Apponded to this volume is a carefully | FO a on nee RD arranged lise of the published musicsl works of Wagner by Mr. William F. Apthorp, of Boston. Mr. Burlingame has been engazed upon this work for aconsideravle time, but was prevented by Various reasons from giving it to the public until pow. No better time could nave been se~ lected for its production, unless, perhaps, 1! might be the year that “Lohengrin” was frst brougut out by the Italian Opera Company. Sutourday, toe day of the publication of this volume,.1s Wagner's sixty-third birthday, POPULAR AMERICAN HISTORY. Mrs, Abby Sage Richardson has written an in- zeresting book, “The History of Our Vountry,” an alustrated volume of 600 pages, issued by Hurd & Houghton, of New York. Uniike most bistori it has @ simple Style that must make it popular, The author does not attempt to moralize or discuss questions of political government, She begins with Columbus and his voyages, and tells the story of the Spanish conquests, the struggles of the colonists, the Revolution, and ihe Declaration of Independence. Then follows part second, en- titled ‘Tne Nation, Its Bir! Confilcts and ‘Triumphs.’? the subject is familiar to every schoolboy, ana so Inuch bas been written that the common people have lost their interest in it, But the writer has brought new facts-and given life and freshness to the old ones, Some would have nothing more than a historical gazetteer, the duller the better, There is no reason why the great events of the world should ve described tn cold and colorless language. ‘Ihe massacre of Wyoming was not tame, nor the assault on Ticon- deroga. A battle is a picture, Why not make it soon the printed page? The history of the Re- public is @ succession of dramatic scenes. Plu- tarch and Irving are not less trustworthy because their books are interesting. Mrs, Richardson labors under two disadvan- tages, She hasbeen unfortunate, and she is a woman. Her Mistory should be judged by its merits, She bas spent several years in writing it, and the pages are the resuit of intejligent and conscientions research, It is cersainly a charm- ing book. The style is often vivia and always fas- cinating. The sentences seem to lend color to the tinted pages on which they are printed. There are more than 200 fine illustrations, with table of contents and a complete index. It is the only work of the Kind that includes the history of the rebellion. Of course the particniars, battles and political movements are not given in detail, but for the average reader, and especially for schools, itis valuable. Among the complimentazy notices on the publisher's list are letters from Whittier and Curtis. CHATS ABOUT BOOKS. MR, SMITH. “We did not leave the city a day too s00n,”’ sald the Doctor, as he stepped out upon the broad piazza at Belle Vac, the old homestead on the panké of the Delaware, to smoxe his after dinner cigar. “How charming the country looks; even those lazy button-woods down by the gate seem ambitious not to be outdone by the mapies, and have a tolerabiy thick foliage already.” FELICIA (coming up from a stroll through tne grove)—Just look at those lilac bushes; they are fairly weigned down by their flowers. Docuta jor, Fred, and I will put them in every room in the hor FRED—I will, with pleasure, by and by; but you know that I live up to that wholesome.rule—aiter dinner sit awhile. Fevicta—You lazy fellow! If: you were not go- Ing back to the hot, tiresome: city to-morrow I would scold you, Miss RACHEL (coming out of’ the library with a book in her hand)—You mast excuse me for not having joined the family circle before, but when I tell you that Ihave been reading the last iew pages of that delightful novel, “Mr. Smith’ (Henry Holt & Co.), know that you will forgive me. The MoTHeR—Indeea we will, my dear, I could forgive a person for sitting up all nightina hot room with no better light than a candle if it was to read that book. The Docror—it 18 the novel of the season, and if Mr. Walford has any more of that sort on hana Lhope he will bring them out before my busy days begin. Frvicta—Not only the most fascinating but the most nataral story have read in many a long day.’ There is not an overdrawn character ih the entire book. Those Tolleton girls are splendid. Frep—Don’t say those Tolleton girls—say “that Tolleton girl is splendid.” Fenicta—Of course it was all Helen, though Lilly was not without her attractions. But have you ever noticed thatif two orthree girls go together, ana one of them is handsome and stylish, the others get the credit of being so too? The Docron—It is not every writer who can keep up the most intense inter in the doings of a quiet little English town, The scene never shirts frem Eastworld and you don’t want it to. I can imagine just the excitement created by the arrival of Mr. Smith, That ke should become the ceatre of that little world without knowing it and be tought over and gossiped about is perfectly natural, and so was bis slow dawning love jor Helen Toileton, Of course, if he loved any one in East- world, it was to be Helen Tolleton. Frep—He would nave loved Helen if there had been fifty others around. I felt sorry for Pbliip Wellwood, for it was not hard to see what was the | matter with him. FELIcIa—That Hunt family is too good. How they did-try to believe that Mr. Smith was in love with Maria! With what ili-concealed triomph Mrs. Hunt satd, “If it Was either of the girls, it was Maria!” I don’t wonaer that the Tolletons had to turn their mischievous eyes away. Frep—| don’t see how those giris ever got the name of being fast. Helen flirted, or rather co- quetted, with a married man when she was sev- enteen, and once her father thought that he smelied smoke about I wonder how many fashionable girls could show a better record—I | mean girls whom no one pretends to call even | fastish, I cali Helen Tolleton # nobie-neartea, natural girl, and I would be giad to have just such aone for Mrs. Fred. ‘The Mornen—I do not go quite so far as you, my son, in my likiog for Helen; put sne certainly was amiri to love, and! cansot blame Lord Sanffren- den for having a desire to visit “the T.s,” and only wonder how he could keep from accompany- ing Philip on some of his visits, “OUR DETACHMENT.” “Katherine King seems to be of a military turn of mind,” said Miss Rachel, glancing at the title page of.“Our Detachment. (Harper & Bros.) ‘All her stories are more or less of tne service.” PRLICIA—And Very pleasant stories they are, too. “Our Detachment” you wil find weil worth spending a few hours over these lazy days. The plot is mild and the sitaations are not particulariy startiing. It 1s merely the story of the lives of some of the officers of Her Majesty's ——th Foot, quartered in a quiet Irisn town, as related by Vivian Darrel), a janitor ensign. Miss RachRL—Suppose you take Darrell’s duties | upon you and tell me the story yoursel’, Felicia? 1am in just tne bamor jor listening. Friicia—‘Madcap”’ Darrell, as he is called, was the youngest man in “Our Detacnmeot’—in trath he was no man at all, but just a boy of eignteen, and looked allof his youth. His age was «thorn im the flesh, for he could not get the girls to con- sider him other than a boy, and he went a great | deal by the name of Baby. Prep—From the hammock in 4 distant corner of the piazza—He acted jike a baby, too; I can hardly imagine a fellow of eighteen foding any amusement in making beds pie tasnion or putting shot between the sheets; that sort of fun wiil do very well for school children, Peuicia—Darrell, of course, fell hopelessiy in love with a young lady much older than himserf— Gwendoline Bambridge, the belle of tue town and the idol of the regiment, a beauti(al warm hearted Irisn girl, But alas! Gwendoline looked nigher and toariper lover. Lord Ciauae Feversham, a captain m ‘Oars’ was more to her fancy, Prep—Feversham was po common ciay, and he felt it. Friicta—He was @ pretty good fellow on the whoie, though I preferred Cecil Egerton, notwith- standing his loug hair. Feversham loved Gwendo- ine ana would have married her but for his offictious mother, who took a mean way to get the girl to give bim up ‘The old dowager wanted nim . ana picturesque | ‘The task is not an easy one, hecause { NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, to marry Mable Prendererast, a rich heiress. | ¢1d not care for Mabel, ner she for him. She was | quite indifferent to fils Lordship untit she met | Cecil Egerton, also of “Ours,” in a romantic way, | 8nd though she was cold asa stone she gave him ail the heart shy> had, | Frep—Show me a beauty with red hair, dark | eyesand pale skin andI will show youacold- \ blooded firr, FELicia—Feversham, being rejected oy Gwen- | doline, turned his attentions toward Mabel, and although she did not care ‘or him, and dia care for | Cectl, she thought it would %2 more agreeable to | De Lady Feversham tkan plain Mrs, Egerton, so she engaged herself to Claude, notwithstanding the previous engagement to Cecil, { Darrell, in the meantime, nas hung around tne ‘beautiful Gwendoline, and she, taking pity on his faithfulness, piights her troth with bim, and he is happy though she 1s not. Egerton, who is away from his sweetheart, sees the announcement of her engagement to Claude in the papers. Claude, by the way, did not know that she was engaged to Cecil. Well, the hot-headed, parsionate Cecil sends a chalienge to Claude and they fight a duel. Cecil fires up into the air, and Claude fires straight ‘before him, He dges not mean tw hit Cecil but he knows that if be does not fire’ at him, the almost insane fellow will insist upon another round. Cecil walks away and so do the rest of the party, A night or two after that Mabel is walking through her father’s gronnds and ts startied at seeing a man lying, face downward, under the trees, She ts not long tn discovering that it is Cecil, She calls him, but he answers | not; she lays ner hand upon his shoulder, but the touch which would have thrilled nim through to the heart the day before does not quicken a pulse now. Cecil 18 dead. Claude’s shot had proved fatal, or rather tts effect bad been fatal. Physicians pronounced that he would not have died had he not lain out in the wet woods all night; so Ciaude was cleared. Mabel released herself irom ker en- gagetoent to Claude and Gweadoline did the same with her engagement. So there was nothing left for the Irish beauty and the Englisd lord to do but to seck dowagers at defiance and get married. There are a great many little incidents of more or { less interest woven into this story, and I think you would have enjoyed it more had you reag it yourself, Miss RacHEL—Y6u ao your powers of narration injustice, my cousin; but you might tell me what became of poor Darrell, who loved Gwendoline so madly. Fexicta (with a sigh)-Alas! poor fellow, his best happiness passed away in that brief dream, though 1t was only a boy’s love. FRED (with asperity)—Only a boy’s love, inaced! 1 strould like to know if there is anything more in- tense, more absorbing, more wild than a boy’s love. I shall never forget my own passion at the age of fourteen. I really thought that | was go- ing to die of unrequited afection for a lady twice my years who encouraged me only to flirt with my tutof, ENGLISH BOOKS. Lonpon, May 22, 1875. Agreat principle of compensation penetrates universal nature, and if the dulness of stagnation reigns in Parliament there is a good deal of evergy and activity observable in the world of contemporary literature. Of writing books there is noend, and in the novelties which the pyb- lishers’ advertisement colamns announce there isas yetno decrease. ‘The season of 1875 may not nave given us any work of immortal worth— anything which we might rank with the histories of Macauiay or Froude, or with the masterpieces of Thackeray or Dickens—Ddut it bas been prolific in the supply ofnovels and miscellaneous treatises, whose average merit is decidedly above the com- mon, and that 18 as much as one has a right to ex- pect, To these productions in order, and to begin with NOVELS. Next week will witness the pubdtication of Ouida’s new fiction *Signa’”—a title which conveys neither more nor less a character of the book than ordinary titles usually do, I may venture to remark in advance ol its appearance, that Signa’) is an Italian story, and that tt will be found to abound in those peninsular experiences which its author nas collected in the course of her different Visits to ltaly and which she is collecting now at Florence, for which fair cisy she has for a while ex- changed her apartments at tne Langham Hotel, with the causeries intimes, cigarettes permises, for which she was in the hosprtable habit o/ issuing her Mondays and Thursday's invitations. Tne two pov- els which have made the most deciaed hit during the present year are Mr Blackmore's “Alice Lor- ers and even founders of a distinct school | in current fiction, They initiated they continue by theirexample to srimulate the reaction against the artificial novel of society, faithtul disciple, Ouida, introduced as—the im- Possibie guardsman and the gilded courtesan. Instead of muscular melodramatic heroes, one- haif coxcomb and the other hall Haymarket | buily, Messrs. Blackmore ana Black give us honest Englishmen or Scotchmen, fiesn and blood creatures, Who cau exist apart from the fascina- tions of the demi-monde and are possessed by no invineible yearning for champagne and Bor- gundy. Instead of Messa'in: and “lacies with white camellias,” we have specimens of girinood and womanhood such as ac- tually exist on the Scotch Highlands or in the vales of Devon. There is no tragical dé- | two gentlemen may be regarded as the lead- | He | JUNE 7, 1875,-TRIPLE SHEET, the public;to extract the contents of his note book, to print them, and to label the result a his- torical novel, Historical novels are always failures | Unless they are written by literary masters, THE VIKINGS are already becoming literary bores. One has heard quite enough adout them irom Dr, Dasent and others, and it is unreasonable to expect one to met through the antiquarian réchaugé which Dr, Dasent now serves up. As for Mrs, Faw jett's book, I am in doubt what to make of ir, When a lady who never writes at all unless she writes with a purpose, and whe has lately published @ series of tales for the young, designed to illustrate and enforce certain prime truths in economie science, condescends to give US A nOvC), it 18 MAtural to look for some pur work. [I do not know whether “Janet Doncaster” is meant chiefy to warn society against the mischief which matca- making Mammas and aunts or the mischief which family drunkenness may work. ‘Janet Doncas- ter’ may either be a temperance tale or a society tale, or, lastiy, it may be a talo written to ex- pose the evil effects of the institution of marriage, Janet Doncaster is a strong-mindod young woman, of considerable personal attractions, who is In- duced to marry @ gay patrictan (Mr. Charles Leighton) of great wealth, but a hereuitary drunkard, to ignorance of what his relative: amiably call his vonstitutional weakness, This weakuess—namely, excessive addiction to the brandy bottle, manifested itself within a fortnight after the marriage. His wife is disgusted, leaves him, refuses his money, and makes her living by translating French. All this while sne 18 se- cretly loved by the gentieman who has acted as her husband’s secretars, Mr. Forsyth, Bat as Mr. Leignton will vot die she cannot marry him, Eventually Mr. Leighton drinks himself to deat! the lovers are united, and Janet Doncas- ter is happy. Such 1s the subject of a pretentious, dull and ill-written story, which can excite no Interest and serve no end. We are suffering from qut'e an outbreak of sec- ond and third rate poetry. Within the last month Professor Nichol has given to the worla a complete edition of the works of the leader of that mob once known as the spasmodic school, SYDNEY DOBELL. In his exceedingly clever satire “Firmilian”’ Professor Aytoun, who, with Mr. Theodore Mar- tin, wrote the “Bon Gualtier Ballads,” nas sketched the salient characteristics of vhese bysteric bards and has caricatured most happily the violent inflation of their language, the artificial hyperbole of their metaphors, their straining after poctical effect and metrical sen: tion, their assumption of philosophic profundity, their endless iteration of words ana their weari- some repetition of refrains. Sydney Dovell’s writings—bis ‘“Balder,” bis “Roman’’ and his ballads—are all marked by these faults. He has some eloquence, it is true; he is not without fancy and imagination. But in the exercise of those gifts ne defles alike taste and sense. The chief of a little coterie of half-educated young men in Edinburgh some twenty-five years ago Mr. Sydney Dobell was greeted as the founder of a school, though the real jounder of the spasmo@ic school was F. Bailey, the author of “Festus.” Among his followers was the late Alex- ander Smith, and the result of their friendship was that Alexander Smith gave up the honest but pro- saic industry by which he made his living, and rushed st full speed in the direction of Parnassus, He never got any great distance. He wrote neither better nor worse than Sydney Dobeil. Like Sydney Dobell he was puffed into notice by the Atheneum, In the words ofJobu Watson he ‘went up lke a rocket and came down like a stick.’» The spasmodic school was an organized literary imposition which bas long since been found out, and now that Mr. Dobell’s poems are collected ana published it is improbaple that they should find readers. , Something like the attempt which was made in the case of Sydney Dobell by the Athenawum ts now being made by other critical journals in the case of MR. W. B, SCOTT, who has just given us a daintily printea ana bound volume, which he is modestly sanguine will be recognized as ‘‘his credentials to be con- siderea a poet.’ Mr. Scoit is an artist, aged sixty-two, the friend of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, of Algernon Charles Swinburne and of William Morris. To the trio he dedicates his book. The Mlustrattons are by Mr. Scott himself and M, Alma-Tadema. One or two are pretty; but for the most part they are ugly, scratchy etchings. The verses them-elves are the approved jingle of the pre-Raphaelite school, and with the members of Taine” and Mr. Black’s ‘Three Feathers.” These | aod | against the atmosphere heavy with elaborate per- | fumes to which George Laurence and his most | | nouement, no hizh-colored word painting of | suggestively erotic scenes, Neverthe! power is not sacrificed to purity, nor is truth purchased at | the cost of picturesqueness, Both mr. Blackmore and Mr. Black are writers eminently picturesque and poweriul. Mr. Black 18 a trifle too pictur- esque, and ocstows an inordinate amount of care on the portrayal of his landscape. The sxetch when finished is very beantiful and perfect as a | work of art; bat it is almost too good for nis | | characters, That is the eMect leit upon the mind alter reading the “Three Featners,” a title, I may explain, derived from the crest of the Duchy | of Cornwall, the novel itself being & Cornish story. Mr. Blackmore is a more mascu- | line writer, with a much wider grasp of thought and a far decper knowledge of hw nature, a8 | his “Alice Lorraine,” nad he never written “Lorna Doone,” would be sufficient to show. Both books deserve to be read for tneit own inherent merii# buttotne critical student their chief interest ‘arises irom the tact that they are the’ most able representatives we have of @ literature of fiction which, although it may be a@ healthy protest against a mischievons class of books, admits of no degrees of merit.’ It must etrher be excellent, as Messrs. Black’s and Biackmor novels are, or it will be intolerably weak and altogether insigid, as is the case with the novels of their imita | With these exceptions, there is scarcely anotner novel of marked merit before the pubii Tha however, juse read two to which a certain amount of mterest or importance attaches, not in virtue of their contents, but of their authors—the ‘Vikings of the Baltic,” by Dr. Dasent, and it Dow caster,”’ by Mrs, Millicent Garrett Fawcett. vr. Dasent Is an accomplished Scandinavian scholar, and an admirabic leader writer in tne Times. But @ novel is a thing Which ke never could manage, which he never wil, and which he makes a great mistake toattempt, This 1s not the first failure that Dr. Dasent has perpetrated. A few years ago he wrote in the Selgravia magazine Three to One,” the must flimsy romance which has appeared even in that periodical, Then he has penaed another work that is called a nove’ — “Annals of an Eventful Life.” These books are without single qualification which @ novel should have. They lack piot, incident, movement; ther dialogues are dull farces, flat; their descriptions drag; there is neither observation of ilie nor stady otcharacter, Each ofthese muics Dr. Dasent bas exaggerated in his “Vikings of the Baltic.” He bas given himseli no trouble about his asory, he | has not even been at the pains to bring historical personages into distinct relief, No one van have read a8 widely as Dr. Dasent and nave devoted so much attention to a special topic without hay- ing acquired a certain amount of Knowledge. What, Dr. Dasent has now done ts to pick up nis staly shavings, so to speak, add to offer them to that community thes will find approval, and with mo one else. Among other re- | cent contributions to modern poetry I may mention a little yvorume of posthumon: pieces by Miss Shute, who, judging trom her work, never falfilied in her early womanhood the promise of her giflnood; “Interleaves in the Working Prose of Twenty Years,” a selection of infidel meloaies, by Mr. Percy Grey; “Aurora,’’ by, 1 believe—though published anonymously— Alaric Watts and his wife, and containing much that is pretty and one or two things that are bean- tim, [have omitted to mention MB, SWINBURNE’S NEW VOLUME, “Songs of Two Nations,’ nothing of which, how- ever, now sees the light for the first time. The odes to Italy and France were published some years ago in the Fortnightly Review. The sonnets called “Divorce” were printed in the Zraniner, weekly newspaper, I think, in 1873. In the department of MISCELLANEOUS BOOK LITRRATCKE we dave, of course, Macready's “Reminiscences,” & book which, though it has been over reviewed and overrated, is not lees interesting than vol- umes containing personal gossip of eminent men and popular favorites usually are, and the first volume of the “Lite of Lora Sheibarne,” which is disappointing, as it throws no new light mpon the secret history of Eng.ish statesmansnip im the Georgian era. Unquestionanty it THOMAS CARTYLE, to whom the first place will be given in padiic im- terest. His new book, “The Early Kings of Nor- has a twofold fascination—frst, as coming from the pen of the author of “flero Wors: second, as written in his most characte manner, The style shows no decitne of force or fire, and the theme ts one whicn th thor muss have found certainly congenial. To conquer some part ef Chaos for Cosmos, to diffuse discipline, to subdue the rebellion, to organize communities — such, as Mr. Cariyle’s reaaers know, is the highest function which the greatest of men con full, and that was the mission which the Norwegian kings in their way dischargea. Living at a time when vhetr country was emerging from the di-order and anarchy of barbarism to the settled condition of Christianity, these old monarchs displayed sume- thing of tne strength of Frederick the Great and Cromwell. It isin pis sketen of Olaf, who in his attempt to spread the truths of the Christian religion was altogether anscrupulous as to the instroments he used or the violeace he employed, tat Mr, Carlyle writes at his best. Th: descrip- tion of the-sea fight in which Olaf Is finally con- quered is superb. Treachery only jas overthrown nim. At last Otef, left with hardiy more than one mad, sprang overboard (one sees that red coat of his still glancing in the evening sun) and sunk in the deep waters to his ong rest. Strangely he remains stil im shining figure with us; “he, wildly beantifuliest man, in body and in soul, that one has ever heard of im the Norta.” I might also mention as valuable books a very charming volume entitled “Shakespeare Dt- versions,” by Mr. Jacox, which will rank in its way witn Buttons “Anatomy of Melancholy,” Mr. J. A. Symonid’s essays on the ‘Renatss vce tn [taiy;' and, More attractive than any Of these, the second volume of the “Lite of DR. THOMAS GUTHRIF,”’ the leader of the Free Caurea on its disruption from the Scotch Eatabiishiment in 1843, and one of the most remarkable and popalar men of his day Edinburgh had seen, with the exception of the obsequies of Dr, Chaimers and Sir James Simpson, no such funeral as that of Gutrie’s. “The magis- trates,” writes the vtographer, ‘4m their robes v¢ office and various ovher public bodies, clergy- men of every trotestant denomination in t+ jand, represeniauves of the Wesieran Methodists fom England and of (he Waldensiah Coarch from Italy, passed to the grange cemetery through a living vista of 30,00v spectators. But the most touching feature in ali the procession was tne presence of 230 children from the Uriginal Ragged Schools, many ol whom were overheard to say, “He was all the father I ever knew.’ ” FRENCH . LITERATURE. Panis, May 18, 1875, Among the numerous works which have been recently issued by the French press there is not one which can compare in interest and value with M, d@’Haussonvilie’s ‘Etablissements Peniten- tiairesen France et aux Colonies,” published by Michel Lévy & Cie. To the philosopher, the legis- lator and the statesman it will equaily furnish matter for reflection, and I am persuaded will supply the solution of many of tke difMculties which have hitherto obstructed the efforts of those wno have occupied thems with the reform of the criminal classes, Since the philanthropist John Howard frst = dt- rected public attention to the cundition of the French prisons, efforts been made from time to time by French legislators to carry out Mis ideas, and a variety of plans for the reform and reclamation of crim!nals has pericdically oc- cupted public attention, Fora long perioa there seemed a probability that the cellular system, as applied in the prisons of Philadelphia, would be adopted in the French criminal régime, and tn fact it had been partially pat into practice and Tecetved the sanction of afreport from M, Béran- ger to the Chamber of Peers in 1843, but the revo- lution of February gave the coun ds grace to that elaborately prepared scheme. France, eager for security and repose, cared only for such measures as were likely to promptly satisfy its require- ments, and, consequently, criminal reform lost in the pubditc mind the fayur which was suddenly at- tained by questions relating to the development of industrial and commercial interests. And this Tetrograde result was c normed by a ministerial circular issued im 1863, directing the aban- donment of the régime of separate confinement for that ot imprison, tim common, witn separa- tion by quarters. The question slumbered during nearlythe whole period of the existence of the Empire until the year 1870, when the spirit of progress, which nad again begun to animate the public mind, took it up, and was abont to push it to @ practical conclusion when the war broke out and put a stop to all further efforts in that direc- tion, Afters while, however, the National As- sembly, feeling that it was one which entered properly within the sphere of its mission of na- tional regeneration, appointed a committee to inquire into the condition of the penal establish- ments, both at home and in the colonies, and to examine tbe measures that might be proposed for its amelioration. ‘Independent of the eternal interest which attaches to these questions touch- tag the moral reform of criminals,” says M. d’Haus- sonvil: “the political circumstances through which we have just passea imparted to them ae special interest. - All. those who have studied the history of the Paris Commune from another point of view than that of superficial curiosity must have been struck with the considerable rdle which the convict element ("élément réctatuiste) played in those bloody struggies. Liberaved pris- oners emtered the ranks of the soldiera of the Commune in a proportion so considerable that tt will pe interesting to determine exactly its amount when all the judicial documents are col- lected. The same phenomenon has been observ- able, theugh perhaps in a lesser degree, in all our ervil wars, and that fact in itself is sufficient to demonstrate the narrow ties by which the peni- tentary question ts attached to the great social question which preoccupies all minds at presen:, and compared to which all our political divisions appear very secondary."’ M. d’Haussonville was appointed by the commission charged with this inquiry to report to the Assembly the result of its isbors, In the discharge of bis duties he had access tothe mest complete collection of documents, statistical and otnerwise, whicn had ever been collected on the condition of the French prisons. In order that the information which was sought for should be as perfect as possibile, ne vis- ited a large number of penal establishments not only in France but in the neighboring countries, and devoted much time to theBtudy of the penal legislation of other nations. It is the .results of these labors which M. d’Haussonville now offers us in the work to which T call attention. Though provessedly confined to the penal legislation and | having | augmentation of ease and institutions of his own country, the statistics which he has collected and the deductions which he dtaws from them bossess a universal interest and value, Take, for instance, & statement supported by figures that during the last tweaty years crime in France, after traversed a period of dcrease, hy gain Tre explanation which M. d’faussouville gives of this anomaly will apply to other countries as well as to France. Hesays that for many years past the general wealth has increased, and that, in consequence of this increase, riches, insteaa of remaining concentrated in the handsof a privi- lege few, nave become more generally difused, and have deen brought closer under the obserra- thon of the classes to whem the economical laws which preside over the distribution of wealr' continue to deny its sumed a rapid rate of augmentation. | | i | 5 by the figures of this interesting book, From @ table prepared by M. Dapur, formerly direetor of the administration o/ prisoas, it appears thatthe number of crimes against property rises and falls with unfailing regularity accerd- mg as tho price of the heotalitre of wheat increases or diminisnes! ‘Talk of the influence of education or repression in prese ence of such @ fact as that! As to the effect of education, M. d’Haussonvilie furnishes some curtous statistics which, [ fear, will rath the equanimity of the advocates of suasion.’’ He gives 4 list of ten departments which occupy the first rank in the category of legal mo- rality, and he shows us that the depariments which furnish the lowest percentage of crim- wals are precisely those which stand lowest in the scale of elementary instruction—in ‘other words, that the most. ignorant are the most vit- tuons, or at all events the least given to infraci tions of the law. From these and other facts of # similar character M. d’Haussonville arrives at the conclusion that ignorance exercises over crime only a ndary influence relatively to the gen+ eral conditions of existence of which ft is more especially the index, It would require more space than I cao devote to the subject to enavie Me 10 do jull justice to the merits of this remark- able work, Ihave said enough, however, to give &@ general idea of its character, and sufficient, I hope, to induce some American publisher to re- produce it in a form which will render it accept able to all classes of readers at your side, + ART PUBLICATIONS. This period of the years usually prolific inart Publications, Ine opening of the Salon anda the great picture sales which are reserved for tne month of May naturally dispose people to pur: nase works of this character. When every one is talkingartthe books on your table shoutt at ‘least attest that you bestow some attention on the subject. 1 know several professed dflettanti who make tt a point to purchase every new work which appears in relation to if, but who nevor read. a line of their contents, To use Sterne’s malicious description of a similar class of pre- tenders in his time, ‘They use books as they use lords—learm their titles and then boastof their acquaintance,” Therefore it is that the pub. lishers wisely select this season for the issue of art publications, Among the best of the recent issues of this class is that publishea by the house of Germer Batilitre, under the title of “L’Artet la Critique en France Depots 1822.’? M. Petroz, its author, like M. Paul de St. Victor, M. Charles Bigot and a host of other publicists that I could name, oniy ventured into the fleld of criticism after qualifying himself for it by.laborious and conscientious studies: thereiore, everything they publish on the subject of art is sure to command attention from all whe are desirous of watching and studying its tran- altions and manifestations, The work of M. Pe troz covers a period which will always be es teemed eventful in French art; for it has di» turded, if not revolutionized, many of the oid theories of the clatsicists and started others which were destined to exercise an ascendancy 1a the schools. Iam rejoiced to see that the house of Michel Lévy Freres has brought out a new and cheap edition of Prosper Mérimée’s “Etudes ‘sur les Arts au Moyen Age.” Lhe work is too well known for it to be necessary for me to desoribe it. It 1s suficient to say that no art student can dis- pense with it, “MEMOIRS OF ODILON BARROT.” “ ‘The “Memoirs’’ of the old chief of the Dynastte Left, which has just made its appearance witn a preface irom the pen of M. Duvergier a’Hauranne, bas disappointed the anticipations formed ‘of’ it. It was to be expectea that a man who had plared such a prominent partin the political events of his time, who bad been brougat into personal con- tact withamost of the prérfinent men of nis day and who had access to sources of information which are enjoyed by but few would have some- thing to tell us which would, at least, have the interest of novelty. so far is this from being the case that we find oursel in company with s mere political radoteur, a narrator ef facts with which every one is acquainted, and which hae been besser aud more amusingly related by ott Sr writers, And as regards the historical person- ages introduced im nis pages, they seem to have lost all color of individuality, so uniform ts the light im which they are presented tous, Like Wadswortn’s Peter Bell, who could find nothing to admire in the primrose, the aa- thor of these memoirs seems to have lacked that facuity of observation which renders the study of the human character one of tne most instractive and interesting to which the mind can apply it self, Had he possessea but in an infinitestma; degree the qualities which bave imparted sock spicy interest to the works of Horace Walpole and M, Greville, bis opportunities would have en- gblea him to bequeath to us a book that would at least have been readable. As it is, the impression leit by his memoirs on the minds of those who have nad no other means of forming an opition or him, must be that he was a dull, pretentious man, more favored by fortune than by capacity. THEATRICAL PUBLICATIONS, Notwithstanding the fact that toe French stage suppiies, either in the original form or in that of same time, the means adequate to counteract the | effect of tempt progression as rapid @ march as that of wealth and luxury, a8 mstraction has not been sum- | ciently encouraged, as religious faith has beca shaken, an increase has naturally followed in the infractions which bave jor motive the the = satisiaction of appetites. It would be curious to examine how far this exposition of causes is applica! tries, for ux the same tendency to increase in crime Is not confined exclusively to France. In view of the rapidiy increasing wealth ai taste for luxary, the growing distrast of religious guides and con- sequent indifference to religion itself, caused by religious scandals, and tne dishonesty and corrup- tien Im high p.aces, which constitute the prom- nent features of our present social condition in the United States, ti much in this book that ‘Will be useful for us to stud t, notwithstandiag ths difsrences that exist in the institutions, ideas and habits of the two peoples, the causes of and temptations to crime are the same and the remedies for them are equaily applicable. A the mi urious tacts estabiisned by the statistics given im this volume is the pregressive augmentation which nas taken place in France during the last jon Bave not followed in their | adaptations, most of the pieces performed in the theatres of other countries, it is remarkable that up to quite @recent period there has been no pub- lication which recorded regularly its events, or which furnished cetatis regarding the careers of eminent artists. Vor these the files of the news- papers could alone be consulted—a work ef consié- erable labor and diMcuity. I am gia@ to say that the wantof a regular record of this kind has at last been supplied by a work entitled “L/Année Théatrale,” edited by the well Kmowm critic, M. | Georges Duval and puolished by Tresse of the for it will be found | twenty years in the namber of récidives (criminal relapses), and which is the more | remarkable when it is borne in min that since the law of the 30tm of May, 1854, the largest proportion of liberated convicts is retained at Caye 4 New Caledonia, a port which in itself should have largely reanced tne number of | récidivistes, The only explanation which M. @'Haussonville can suggest for it @ abuse of short terms of imprisonment which have of late years been committed by the tribunals, Tous im 1869 more than 40,000 persons were ced to terms of imprisonment Icss than a month. M, a@’Hanssoaviile thinks thar, applied in such re- stricted limits, senrences of imprisonment do more harm than good, for they lose all character of in- timidation, and result in nothing burt the familiar- ization of the offender with punishment. Here are facts and interefices saagestive of reflections not very complimentary, either to our own or to the Englisn penai 5, of opinion that in both countries tne factl- ity Of passing what is called “ligot sen- vences’? nas tendea more to the spr than to the prevention of crime. If the law were more speciiic on the subject of pu and left less to the discretion of the magistrates itis probable that m many cases the prisoners wonid escape with a severe reprimand, and that the disgrace attending Nts offence would be sum- cient to prevent nis repeating it. Ajudge wonld hesitate to send a young boy or girl to prison for @ lengthened period whem the offence was a trifling one, ana when the certain resuits of such severity would be to confirm them by tre force of evil associations in their evil tendenties. Such, If we are to accept M. d’ Hausson viile’s conctusions is the result of the system of short senrences as practised by the French magistracy. But there is another ateument in favor of lenity furmished Palais Royal. It will be continued yearly, and will be fonnd indispensable as @ work of reter- ence by all who take an interest Im theatrics) matters. The same publisher is also issuing as anecdocal history of the Parts theatres, whicd has high literary as well as artistio value. LITERARY CHAT. The few enthusiasts interested in the new study of the Assyrian language will welcome Mr. Sayce’s “Grammar, Reading Book and Syllabary of tue Assyrian,’ just out in Lonaon. Proiessor Helmboitz’s “Treatise On the Senss- tions of Tone” has been transiated by A. J. Ellis, Tne London medical poplisher, Churcniil, prints Mr. Huth’s book on “The Marriage of Near Kis Considered with Respect to the Laws of Nations, Results of Experience and the Teachings of BL olegy.” the Revue des Deux Mondes for April 1M, Simonin haa a long article on “The Two Rival Cities of the American West, Chicago and st, Louis,” in which he predicts that ina quarter of a century those cities will aggregate 4,000,000 in- habitants, Tne Library of Congress secured at the recene sale of M. Gaizot’s library in Paris the complete set of the Journal des Débats, trom the beginning, in 1789, to 1874, In 300 volumes, It is reported from Madrid that cepies of “Dow Quixote,” in flity languages, will be exhibited at the Phtiade|phta Centennial. Great Britata’s new annexation ts descriped te Dr. L. Forbes’ book, “Two Years in Fiji.’ The second voiume of the new edition of the new “Encyciopedia Britannica” ts about ready, Four-filths of the matter init ts entirely new. The longest articie is “Architecture,” over ninety pages, The “Natural History ana Science” of tie Encyclopedia will nnquestionaliy take the hignes? rank, the articles ocing written by Professor Huxtey, Professor Mivart, R. A. Proctor, Dr. W B, Carpenter, FE. B. Tylor, Max Mitiier, &c, Professor Ferrier, the metaphysician, bas a nen book on the “Functions of the Brain” tn press. Among recent deaths of English Writers are Mr, A. G. Findlay, the geographer, whose “Direc.ory of the Pacific Ocean” is familiar to navigators, and Dr. S. P. Tregelies, the Molhcal scholer, who Wrote three books on the text of tne The London Corstian Knowledge Society has put forth an exceedingly good litle volume em ited, “Ancient History trom the Monuments,” It treats ot Egypt by the skilfal haad@ of Drs, Birch, and of Assyria by George Smith, who tes exptored Babylon xo recently. | General Snorma jemotre” tO at least 100,000 copies, whith digious sate for almost any LOOK. to sell np id he a pre