The New York Herald Newspaper, November 25, 1878, Page 5

LITERATURE. The German Empire as Viewed by @ Liberal Frenchman, - HISTORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE. Biography---The Latest Poetry--- Chit-Chat About Books. A well digested book on the German Empire is very welcome just now, and one of this character from the Pen of a Frenchman is something of a surprise. We have had so much Chauvinism from the French on the subject of Germany, her affairs and her govern- ment, that the work by Monsieur J. Cohen, published in Paris by Calmann Lévy, and entitled, “Etudes sur Empire d’Allemagne,” brings some promise of & wider spread of common sense relations between the peoples of these two great nations of Continental Europe, M. Cohen has qualified himself for his task by study, observation and experience, having resided in the new Empire, and coming frequently in contact with the leaders of thought and action therein. He writes in a plain, forcible style, without special orna- ment and but little of the washy sentiment which to the mind of sober critic weakens as well as disfigures so much French writing. He is a Jew in religion, a previous work of his, entitled “Lhe Deicides, an Examination of the Life of Jesus and the Developments of the Christian Church in Their Relation to Judaism,” having attracted considerable attention. His present volume, while partaking throughout of the essay, is lib- erally supplicd with salient facts. Founded, there- fore, upon full information, his criticisms of events and his definition of tendencies carry weight with them. ‘They are pervaded bya liberality of tone and breadth of view which secure them from the taint of national bias. He divides his work into three parts—namely, “The Developments of Gerinan Unity,” ‘he Political and Economical Situation” and “German Civilization.” His opening chapter is devoted to arapid sketch of Germany from the tenth to the ninetecnth ‘century, That the author appreciates the vast importance of Germany in the movement of European civilization may be judged from the following passage:—“It is impossible to deny the importance of the part which Ger- many has played in the world. Twico already she has transformed it. ‘Yo-day, for the third time, she has brusquely modified its equilibrium. In the fifth century she opened the Middle Ages; in the seven- teenth century she founded the modern era. ‘What will come of her now enterprise?” Germany was the first to rise trom the confu- sion that followed on the death of Charlemagne. For three centuries she was ruled by her emperors, mak- ing the epic age of Germany. At length the diadem, having passed successively from the house of Saxony to thore of Franconia and Swabia, became fixed in the house of, Austria, where it remained until 1605, The election by the Diet of Charles V. contemporary with the outbursi of the Reformation was the signal for a war which convulsed Germany and drew into the struggle all the States of Europs. Just as the con- queror of Francis I. seemed about to give to Germany the old rank it held in the tenth century, bestowing, besides its dominating place in the Oid World, tho sceptre of the New, the hour was struck when the Holy Empire was to be attacked by the most radival of revolutions. ‘‘Luther,” says the author, ‘‘arore before Charles V. The monk of Wittenberg dared to combat him who, at the close of his career, would become the monk of St. Just. The Holy Roman Em. pire and the Roman Pontificate entered together upon their supreme crisis.” After three centuries of struggle we see to-day tho fall of the temporal power ‘and the foundation of a Protestant Empire. PRUSKEA RISES. . The dukes of Brandenburg, who founded their power upon “the triumph of the now faith and the delittling and weakening of Austria,” now come upon the secna. Prussia becomesa kingdom. Under Frederick the Great and his successors we see the gradual extension of its fronticra. Its national spirit grows, After the fall of Napoleon I., the troaty of Vienna, which gave Europe forty years of peace, was formulated. Austria still held its leadership of the German peoples, but ‘Prussia was tireless in combat- ing the imperial influence. She was gathering her forces; it needed but a strong hund to shake Austrian influence in Germany, and at length the man came in Otto von Bismarcx. The aspirations toward German ‘unity had lived among the people—in the schools and universities and in the songs of the poets. It re- caived its first real impulse in the revolutionary out burst of 1843, but a democratic Germany was an im- possibility then. Its second impulse came from the side of monarchy in the Austro-Prussian war, so that “all was ready for the explosion of a grand move- ment of revolution and ambition combined.” The occasion was furnished by France, and Count Bis- marck grasped it. On the succeeding chapters of the first part of the book it is not necessury in the limits of this review to dwell at length relating to “the Austro-Prussian conflict,” which excluded Austria from Germany and founded the German Confederation of the North, and to “the faults of France,” which were primarily that of declaring war on a base or frivolous pretext and in not concluding a peace at the fall of Sedon. Economicaly, no doubt the author is right in his last deduction, but the lengthened struggle secured Frauce to the Republic and mado German unity more than ever certain. BISMARCK, Of the virtual ruler of Germany M, Cohen draws a portrait flattering im outline but uncomplimeptary in many of ita details, Bismarck ho declares a great historic figure and a dazzling personality. Whether we love him or hate him we cannot hinder ourselves from admiriog him, The work which he has aceom- plished is immense; that which remains to be accom- Plished is no less, But for this powerful mind it ap- pears that the word “impossible” does not cxist. He has two masterly qualities—insight and foresight. He knows how to judge a situation and appreciate surcly how it eau comport with the possible. Hence he does not dream an ideal which svon clashes with the reality, Ho has in # high degree the taleut of sco- ing at a glance the faults of his adversury and of tak- ing advantage of them, Having arranged all his means to the smallest detail he pushes for his object with an ardor and power that nothing can arrest. He cares nothing for consistency. Ho haa never been an abstract idealist, but a positive realist. Hoe may be an absolutist in fact, but he has no absolute system. He changes opinions and systems with surprising fa cility. During the first forty years of his career he was the intrepid defender of the supremacy of ihe Hapsburgs, the energetic champion of the monarchy of divine right and feudal privileges; implacable an- tagonist of the democracy and obstinate. ad- versary of the national aspirations and po, litical liberties. In 1849 he, who has made the unity of Germany and = pluced tho imperial crown on the brow of tha successor of Fred- eric the Great, protested against the unitarian pro- gramme and denounced as the fatal present of radi- culism the sceptre offered to the King of Prussia by the Purliament of Frankfort. Theso chfnges aro * merely the gropings of ga ambition which is secking its way or rather its prey. On this subject Bisinarck himself has said :—“It is possible that 1 have changed, but I have never been ashamed to modify my opiu- ions every time that cireumstances have brought me to recognize that things could not yo as 1 desired.” He is a Cwsar in arrogance, « Sphinx in sileuce. Ho {es incorruptible. He has created and he sustains the Empire. In his retreat a¢ Varzin plotting, in the Reichstag debating, in the Chancelleric at Berlin di- rocting, we see the same bold and haughty spirit ear- rying everything before it, But the unification of Germany lecks much of accomplishment. Can he overcome all the obstacles and leave at his death a Fatherland as sceurce against disorder from within as it is now against aggression from without? TUS GERMAN GOVERNMENT. In achapter of the highest intorest M. Cohen dis- cusses the imperial constitution, showing its many weak points, which the power of the ChanceiJor alone can prevent from endangering the strange govern- mental fabric, and then proceeds to polat out the work- NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1878--TRIPLE SHEET. : ing of the opposing forces of centralization and partic- ularism, which are reapectively the strength and weak- ness of an cmpize based mere on force than on com . His examination of the parties in the Federal Council, which represents the rulers of the twenty- seven confederated States, and in the Reichstag, chosen by universal suffrage, is able. It is demon- strated that the government since the break of Bis- marck with the national liberals has been without a reliable majority, and it is argued that until the Chan- cellor returns to them it will so remain. But at pres- ent the outlook is the other way, The chapters de- Voted to the religious struggle (Kulturkamp/); to the relations of Germany to Europe; to the present poli- tical and economical crises; to Alsace and Lorraine, are marked like the rest of the work by knowledge and ability, and ifsome of the remedies he suggests are not easily realizable they have at least the merit of good sense and good faith, ‘To ease the relations of Church and State; to pursue a foreign policy of peace; to make concessions to the liberals and erect a responsible Cabinet; to make Germany prosperous by abolishing or decreasing its huge army and con- clnding a commercial treaty with France, like that of France with England; to regaig the love of Hance by restoring to hor Lorraine and nentralizing Alsace— these are the things desirable, perhaps, but what mountains of projudice, pride and even pressing ex- pediency standin the way! ° SOCIALISM IN GERMANY. + The chapter devoted to German socialism is, per- haps, that which will be most closely examined by the general reader, ‘The ‘four attempts at regicide, two of them on the aged German Emperor, by per- sons imbued with sociilistic ideas have directed wt- tention to socialism more keenly than the 600.000 votes polled for its candidates in 1877, votes which in the recent election reached nearly to 1,000,000. Its progress has been extraordinary. What dogs this socialism mean? Beginning Ina moveinent directed against the Manchester school of economists und their idea that “the removal of restraints would result in a simple eystem of natural liberty establishing itself,” it hus rapidly passed through several phases and at length stands demanding the re-establishment of society on the basis that the labor which furnishes all should enjoy all. It scoffs at plans for ameliorat- ing the condition of the toiler while the present rela- tions of capital and labor exist. ‘Che smalt economies, the savings which provide for the rainy day or on which fortunes may be founded are, it declares, ini- quitous self-priyations in the present. ‘The laws have considered man simply as a productive force and not as amoral being. “Property is robbery,” said Proud- hon; “Capital is spoliation,” says Karl Marx, the socialist leader of to-day. The economy of the present has decided that the toiler shall gain no more than his daily bread, while the capitalist gains uine- tenths of the profit of his labors. “The iron law of wages” is what must be abolished. So said Lasalle, the founder of the movement. polities “to conquer political power that labor may break the yoke of the capitalists;” it extends its sympathies beyond the frontiers, because ‘the in- terest pf tho workingmen is everywhere the sume and dominates the questions of nationality.” Curious fact, there are no foreigners among the German so- cialisis; there are Germans in every socialistic’camp outside the Fatherland. German socialism demands, to begin with, the creation of producing associations for industry and agriculture, which should be on such a vast scale that the general organization of labor (by the State) might grow out of them, Everything of production is to be finally managed by the State, accompanied by @ condition of things regarding indi- viduals which is to secure them the fullest liberty of thought, speech and movement under the restrictions of obligatory education and compulsory labor. M. Cohen does not believe that repressive laws will stifle this wild, subversive movement, but that good laws might disarm it by satisfying all bat the ingrained revolutionists. On the other, hand, he does not think that it is likely soon to seek to vindicate its preten- sions by a generel armed revolt. Its forces are too scattered and the government is too strong. Mean- while it goes on growing in the dark as it did in the light, nursing its wrath,” and waiting. ‘The portion of the work ably analyzing German civilization we have no space at present to examine. A translation of M. Cohen’s work would find many readers in Aucrica. “(HISTORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE.” Professor Moses Coit Tyler has published, through G. P, Putnam's Sons, the first two volumes of what we have reason to believe will prove an exhaustive “History of American Literature.” The volames be- fore us cover @ period extending from 1607 to 1765. In them Professor Tyler has not undertaken to give an indiscriminate dictionary of all Americans who ever wrote anything or a complete bibliographical account of all American books that were ever written. It is our literary history only that he has undertaken te give. To accomplish this task he has spared no Pains, and we are assured that he has endeavored to examine the entire mass of American writings during the colonial time, so far as they now exist in the pub- lie and private Hbraries of this country, and he says, “In the exercise of a most anxious judgment and a desire for completeness that has not grown weary even under physical fatigue, I have tried in these vo umes to make an appropriate mention of every one of our early authors whose writings, whether many or few, have any appreciable literary merit or throw any heipful light upon the evolu- tion of thought and of style in Amer- ica @uring those flourishing and indispensable days.” ‘The extracts from these early authors are copious and bring together, in two convenient vol- umes, matter that one would have to search the ar- chives of many States to find. ‘Lo that yedoutable soldier, sailor, diplomatist, cour, tier ani adventurer, Captain John Smith, belongs the honor of having been the writer of the first book in American literature, The Srst of his books, “A True Relation of Virginia,” gives a simple and pituresque account of the stirring events, the most of which ho was the central figure. The first edition of this yolume was published in London in 1605, It is worthy of remark that almost the earliest note of Amorican literature is a note of unsubmisiveness. Though the Virginians were of the same stock and speech as the founders of New England, in ideas they were very different. The founders of Virginia settled in detached establishments; they bréught with them the memory of the English lord seated proudly in his own castle, The founders of New England settled in groups of families, forming villages and cities from which it resulted that among them there was @ constunt play of mind upon mind. Now we come to literature in New England, a fruit- fal subject, to which the buik of the present volumes ix, devoted, The proportion of learned men in ‘New England in those early days was extraordinary. Professor ‘Tyler thinks it probable that between tho yeurs 1630 and 1600 there were in New England as imany graduates of Cambridge and Oxford as could be found in any population of similiar size in the mother country. Among the clergy there were John Cotton, Jobn Davenport, Richard Mather, Mliot, Norton, Hooker, Roger Williams, Stone, Bulkley, Nathaniel Ward, Thomas’ Shephard, Dunster and Chauncy, whilo the laity boasted Winthrop, Thomas Dudley, Si- mon Bradstreet, William Brewster, William Bradford, Pyuchon, Daviel Gookin and John Hayes, By tho year 1649 every colony in New England except Rhode Island had made public instruction compnisory, In many ways, Professor Tyler saye, their literary de- velopment was stunted and stiffened by the narrow- ness of Puritanism, Within their souls at that time “the msthetic geuse was crushed down and almost trampled out by the fell tyranay of their creed,’ William Bradtord, the pioneer of the New England historical writers, is highly praised by Professor tyler, who places hia “History of Plymouth Plante- tion” at the head of American historical literature. “A delightful group of writings belonging to our earliest age,” says Professor ‘Tyler, ‘is made up of those which preserve for us, in the very words of the men themselves, the curiosity, the awe, tho bewilder ment, the fresh delight, with which the American fathers came faco’to face for the first time with the various forms of nature and of life in the New World.” The first of these books consists of a journal pt by two renowned passengers upon the May- flower—William Bradford and Edward Winslow—from the month of November, 1620, the day on which they cought their first glimpse of American land, until the return to England of the good ship Yortane, more than thirteen months afterward, In the chapter on theological and religious writers the supremacy of the clergy in New England is dwelt upon and the wonderful influence of John Cotton, Chapter 9 is devoted to miscellaneous prose Socialism enters |. writers and chapter 10 to the verse writers. Of these latter Aune Bradstreet was the first who wrote poetry a8 a profession, Amitall the lamentable rubbish she wrote Professor Tyler finds “such wn ingot of genuine poetry as proves to have had, indeed, the poetic en- downment.”” ‘The second volume of this work deals with the second colonial period—from 1676 to 1765. In @ con- tinuation of the chapter on verse writing Professor Tyler shows the strong influence in America of con- temporary English poets, He devotes a large part of the chapter to “Pictas ct Gratulatio,” a sycophantic volume addressed to George HI. ‘The book contains thirty-one pieces of poetry in Greck, Latin and Eni- lish, and is valuable as represeuting the most ad- vanced stage of classical and Mterary culture reached in America in the colonial time, The date of this book is 1761. There is no more interesting chapter in Professor Tyler's book than that which deals with the Mathers—the “Dynasty of the Mathers,” he calls it. ‘The intellectual distinction of this family is recorded iu an old epitaph composed for the founder of the illustrious tribe:— Under this stone ties Richard Maiher, Who had w son greater than Lis fat! And eke 9 grandson greater tuan-cither, Professor Tyler says that ‘the trac place of Coiton Mather in our literary history is indicated when we say that he was in prose writing exactly what Nicho- las Noyes was in poetry—the last, the most vigorous, and, therefore, the most disagreeable reprerentative of the fantastic school in literature.” History and biography and the pulpit in literature form the topics of the concluding chapters ou New England. In tho latter the author pronounces Jonathan Ed- wards “che most original and acate thinker yet pro- duced ip America.” Literature in the middle coionies—New York and New Jersey—occupies little space in this work. “Wo shall greatly err,” says this writer, “if we imagine that during the larger part of the colonial time New York was much more than a prosperous ahd drowsy Dutch villag».”” Danie! Denton, the son of a Connec- ticut minister, was the first to write a book in New York, which was published in London in 1670. “A Brief Description of New York” it was called, and we have no reason to belivye that it was anything very remarkible. Professor Tyler seems to think that Pennsylvania ranks aster Now England in intellectual position. He credits Willism Penn with the development of a literary spirit in Philadelphia, and pays deserved compliments to the ‘intellectual attainments of James Logan, the larger part of whose writings still remain unprinted, but cnough of which are given to the world to cstablish his high reputa- tion as @ scholar. Benjamin Franklin's splendid career is pointed out and his autobiography pro- nounced the “most famous production in American literature.” The next volume of this valuable work will be devoted to the Revolutionary period, which is a prolific one. The date of its publication is not announced, for the reason that Professor ‘l'yler will not bind himself to a specified time, MEMOIRS OF MRS, JAMESON. So much has been written by Mrs. Jameson that one turns with interest to somcthing written about her. This volume of memoirs (Roberts Brothers), prepared by her niece, Mrs. Geraldine Macpherson, gives us an authentic account of Mrs. Jameson’s life, and is in a measure intended to explain her unhappy, or, rather, unfortunate, marriage relations, The marriage was a mistake, but why we have hot clearly learned from these memoirs. Mrs. Jame- son appears to us rather cold, and not willing to make any concessions to her husband. Jameson was, no doubt, an eccentric fellow, though he appears to have been kind. True, she followed him to Canada, as a dutiful wito should, and true he did not make her visit agrecable enough for her to stay there. Mrs. Jameson's father was an Irish miniature painter by the name of Murphy, and he enjoyed the friendship and patronage of several royal as well as titled personages. At an early age Anna showed a taste for literary composition, but it was not until after her marriage that she published her first book. A friend of her husband, who was part bookseller, part publisher, had read the diary of her travels on tho Continent en] offered to print itin book form. She laughingly consented, and told him that if therc were any profits in the volume she would expect the pres- ent of aSpanish guitar from him. It is @ matter of history that she received the guitar. After leaving her husband Mrs. Jameson spent a great deal of time at Weimar (where she was very in- timate in Goethe's family), from whence she writes on January 11, 1636, giving » vivid account of her intro- duction to Alexander Humboldt, She found him very talkative, much us Bismarck describes him to Busche, only to the woman the flow gf talk was a deep pleas- ure, while to the busy statesman it was an‘ inter- minable boro. She returned to London to her father's sick bedside after publishing “Charac, terintica of (Slakespearo’s) Women.” She was very much ionized in London and gave enter. tainments that were attended by ‘Hurrict Mar. tincau, Mra. Opie and Mra. Austen, Ha; ward, the famous German scholar; Biggs, R. A. and Kastlake, R. A., two of our best painters. About this time her husband, who was holding an oficial position in Canada, thought that he would like to see his wife. She wrote that she would not come unless he commanded. So he commanded, and she sailed for Canada in September, 1836. In New York sho was received with enthusiasm, but not by her husband or any of his friende, She dined with the widow of De Witt Clinton, who, sho says, is “quite » character and amused me exceedingly, She gave me @ wampum bag which had been a present to her from an Indian chief.” In the way of presents her table was strewn with “presentation copies, poems and the Lord knows what." She had a long visit from Washington Irving, “who has a benevolent and agreeable countenance and talks well.” ‘That she was not happy in Canada is easily seen from the tone of her letters home. She returned to Kayland in time to witness the coronation of the young Queen Victoria, who, she says, “went through her part beau- tifuily, and when she returned, looking pale and tremulous, crowned and holding her sceptre in a manner and atttiude which said, ‘I have it, and none shall wrest it from me! even Carlyle, who was stending near ni uitered with emo- tion a blessing on her head, and he, you know, thinks kings and queens rather superfinous.”” Once in London she fell into the old life again, and was surrounded by Mrs. Austen, old Samuel Rogers, “whose critical taste was at once the most exquisite and the least exclusive she hal ever known;” Mrs. Browning, of whose honoynioon in Pisa she was the companion; *Miss Martineau, ‘fat aud portly and handsome, or less plain thau she had ever seen her Maria Kdgeworth, “fuil of life aud vivacity’’ at eighty? ono; “that excellent” Joanna Baillie, and many other familiar personages in the world of ietters. Lady Byron was at one time one of her intimates, but that singular woman picked a quarrel upon some foolish matter and their friendship came to an cud. Mrs, Jameson died soon after, and among the last things she said was that Lady Byron had “broken her heart However she may have felt toward her husband, she was certainly kind to her family, the most of whom were content to live upon her rather scanty earnings. This volume of memoirs, which is very interesting in itself, is made doubly so, as it is, in a measure, 4 monument to two notable women—Mrs, Jameson, its subject, and Mrs. Macpherson, its compiler, the Latier having died before her work was finished. ‘The com- plotion of the book i# by Mrs, Olyphant, who pays a bowatiful tribute to Mra. Macpherson in her preface, ‘We will not attempt now to fix Mra, Jameson's place in literature, Her work, as Miss Martineau rather ‘ungraciously said, was mostly mechanical, It is doudtfal if her opinions on art matters find much weight to-day; it was more the personality of the woman than any great critical powers that gave her fame A MASQUE OF TOUTS. A book about which a groat deal has beh said and more expected ia “A Masque of Poets,” published in Roberts Brothers’ No Namo series. We have been given to understand that the most famous of living English and American poets were’ to contribute anonymously to this volume. If they have their dis- guise has boon complete. We have failed to detect the muse of Tennyson, Browning, Longfellow, Lowell or Emerson. Again, we do not like the idea of the book, for we misa the pleasure of a quiet perusal of the poems in our efforts to guess their author, It is almost impossible to read any of them for their own sake, for our mind is continually on the rack to trace similarities or fathom the. style. The poem “Love's Day” might be Swinburne or an imitation of that poet :— Oh, that my heart were the breezes that sigh for you Over the pussiouate flowers that die for you, Beating against your window at night— Ob, like w flame I would quiver wud fly for you has @ good deal of the Swinburnian swing, but it may be by his admirer Brown, Jones or Robinson. ‘The poem “Provencal Lovers” shows an experienced hand and is exceedingly pretty. The next page cou- tains a sonnet, “My Lady's Voice,” which reads like un imitation of Rossetti, “Husband and Wife’’ is probably the work of Jean Ingelows the closing stanzas are quite in her style:— Ob, let ine kiss my baby once, Vance before I dic And bring it sometimes to my grave ‘To touch it where I lio. And tell my husband when he comes Safe home from sea, ‘To love the baby that I leave If ever he loved me; And tell him, not for might or right Or tor sworn marriage vow, But for the helpless baby's suke, I would have kissed him now. ‘The poem on Appledore might be by Celia Thaxter, only we do not believe she would write Flashes fair forms of foam that falling throw Their ardent ams round rocky Appledore. “Amy Margaret’ suggests I. B, Aldrich at his worst. “Kumenides” might be by a pupil of Emerson, but not by that poci himself. If Dr. Holmes wrote the “Old Beau” he has simply imitated his “Last Leaf.” “Guy Vernon,” tho novelette in verse which occupies nearly half of the book, is evidently the work of J, I’. ‘Trowbridge. There is the same good common s¢nase and lack of imagination in this that we find in his other works, As a litorary enriosity “A Masque of Poets” has its value, but we have a private opinion that, writing anonymously, the contributing poets have not done their best. On the contrary—but we do not wish to be severe, BAYARD ‘TAYLOR'S NEW RELIGION. “Prince Deukalion,” # lyrical drama by Bayard Tay- lor (Houghton, Osgood & Co., Boston), is one.of the most arabitions works of our erudite Minister to Ger- many. The author furnishes a clew to what would beotherwise a labyrinthine work, at least as far as the full development of his conception to the under- standing of many. ‘The central design is to picture forth the struggle of man to reach the highest, justest, happiest, hence most perfect condition of human life on this planct. The end of all things being pre- figured in their beginnings, the attainment of such condition belongs to mun’s original destiny. But knowledge, religion, political organization, art and the manifold assumptions of the animal nature, by turns promote or delay the forward movement, make season after season of promise deccitful, and cease not continually.to assail the faith of humanity in much that it possibly may, and rightfully shonld, possess. Such a struggle, prolonged through a period of more than two thousand yearg; the author hath endeavored herein to present, using the devico of making per- sonages stand for powers and principles, yet without losing that distinctness of visage and thoso quick changes of blood which keep them near to the general heart of man.” For this end Eos, the goddess of the dawn, Earth, Eros, Prometheus and other representa tive powers which influence man’s carcer upon earth aro introduced. ‘The passing away of the mythological faith before the dawn of Christianity is set forth in the first act of the drama. The voice of the unthinking multitude is heard from the lips of a shepherd, and the delightful art and poetry of the classic era find beauteous interpretors inthe nymphs. Prince Deukalion and Pyrrha rop- resent in thef&ourse of the drama the ideals of pos- sible manhood and possible womanhood. The ec- closiastical system of the Middle Ages is represented in the second act in the person of Medusa. In act IIL the development of the ideas and thoughts of tho ninetecnth century is portrayed, and in tho last act the veil of the future is slightly lifted to show a passing glimpse of man in possession of that con- dition of life the attainment of which belongs to his original destiny. Tho poem, based upon such broad principles, is noble and dignified in all its details, save where the voices of the nymphs, the muses, the cleménts and other poetical spirits permit the sathor to depart somowhat from the severe grandour of the subject and drop into a tender and romantic vein. The plaint of the nymphs is paerticulariy begutiful and may be compared to some of the pas- sages in ‘‘Manfred.” There are, indeed, in every part of the work passages of rare loveliness never AMONG THE sTruDIEs, John B, Bristol hus on sn easel, about half finished, “View on Lake Paradox,” in the Southern Adiron- dacks, In the middle distance two headlands jut out into the lake, leaving but a narrow strip of water be- tween. A broad streak of light strikes on the smooth waters of the lake at this point, and behind rise grand mountain forms, On another canvas is a golden, early morning effect in wutumn, on Luke George, the view being from Waltonian Island, looking toward Black Mountain. He has also started a scene on Lake Dunmore. A. I. Bricher is finishing up on a large canvas @ view of “White Head, in Portland Harbor, on a Sum- mer Afternoon.” ‘The cold gray granite cliffs, covered here and there with yellow lichens, which form the “Head,” ave excellently rendered; on, the quict sea, with the surf rolling gently in, ave a few sail and a steamer in the distant haze; near the shore a fishing boat, with a party of ladies and gentlemen, forms neat bit of color aud gives a good reating spot for the eye, aud on the beach ure threo young ladies, Mr. Bricher is painting for the Artists’ Pund “A Windy Day on Cushing's Island, Portland Harbor.” A low cliff line in the middie distance, a bold jut of rock in the foreground, a strong surf rolling in, a luminous cioudy sky and a few fishing boats off shore make up the picture, Vor the Grannis Fund the artist has under way some fishing boats stranded on the shore under an admirabiy clouded sky. Walter Satterlee hus finished a couple of careful and pleasing genre pictures, in water colors. They are culled “Such a Difticult Passage’ and “Solitaire, the latter being especially good and having an exc lent motive, in the first a girl is playing on a harp- AMUSEMENTS, STEINWAY HALL—THE CECILIAN CONCERT. The most important of the Sunday night concerts. of the present sexson, thus far, was given at Steinway Hall last night for the benefit of Father Flat- tery’s St. Cecilla’s Church, Nine of the promfhent artists of Mr, Mapleson’s troupe appeared: in a choice programme, mainly of operatioa numbers, which was as follows:—Overture, “Mireille,” Gounod, orehesira; air, “En vain Pharaon” (Joseph), Mehul, Signor Teecht; seena, “Ahf mon fils” (Prophéte), Meyerbeer, Mme Lablacheg aria, “Se il rigor’? (La Juive), Halévy, Signor Foliz aria, “Dore Sono,” Mozart, Mile. Parodi; romanza,. “Salve Dimoral’”’ (Vaust), Gounod, Signor Came nini; morceau a la gavotte, “L’Ingénue,” Arditi, orchestra; aria, “Di Provenza’’ (La ‘Traviatta), Verdi, Signor Galassi; song, ‘Kathleen Mavourneen,’”’ Mlle. Parodi; solo pianoforte—Fugue in A, 1» Mile, Jeanne Douste; air, “Angils Ever Bright and Fair,” Handel, Mime. Sinico: “Echo So! Eckert, Misa bo eong Hauk; song, ‘Little Jack’"( story the old sailor's. Diehl, Signor Foli: trio, “Le Faccio nn In~ (matrimonio segveto), Cimarosa, Mile, Parodi, nico and Mme, Lablache; march, “La Reine ," Gounod, orchestra, ‘That such 4 programme, including, as it did, an exceptional variety of classical and popular numbers, save rare pleasure to the audience, goes without say= ing, and it may be readily premised that the efforts of Miss Hauk, Signor Campanini and Signor Galarsi were the wHes of the evening. Misa Hank, mewhat indixposed, cama quite lute in the evening, but her welcome was all the more cordial, in that her sacrifice of personal convenience and comfort was heartily recognized, She displayed her facile execu- tion in the Kckert song with such effect as to com mand several recalls, ‘The artiste at lust yielded to the wishes of the audience and sang, to her own aec- coiupaniment, a verse of ‘Kathleen Mavourneen,” a sichord, while a young fellow accompanies her on a flute, The passage must be difficult indeed, for in their anxiety to see the music their heads have como into dangerots proximity, The ertist has been happy in his choico of accessories, for the old tapestry on the wall is pieturesqife and the harpsichord anda round | table on which a vase of. flowers stands are good ma- terial. In the second work, “Solitaire,” we see an old bachelor, in the costume of some cighty years ago, seated in his chamber, whose walls are hung with sporting prints, deeply interested in the gume. His position, with his legs crossed under the table as he bends over tht play, is good and the face is well rendered. On the table in front of him are some wine anda pipe, the smoke from which curls up to the ceiling. ‘This work does the artist much eredit, the little story being admirably told. H. W. Robbins is again in his studio, and has brought back with him from the Adirondacks » num- ber of careful studies. He is finishing up for the Artists’ Fund a painting already spoken of, and hus started anew picture trom one of his studies on the Ausable River. Among his summer's studies we note one taken from the centre of Keene Valley—a morn- ing effect, and afine afternoon study, looking west across the valley from rising ground. his latter is very picturesque and would work up well. A row of lofty elms stretckes across the middle foreground, and the trees stand up dark, with their outlines sharply defined aguinsi the purple hues of the moun- tains which close the view across the valley, and against the greens of the woods below in the latter, lit up here and there by the sun. Robert ©. Minor is at work on an upright canvas, which seems likely to turn out ¢: ingly well. The subject is un autumn scene in Wyndham county, Conn. Between large oaks, which rear themselves in’ the foreground, is seen a little lake, closed in opposite us by low wooded clits, which give oy © tu # small etream flowing into it. Be- hind rise hills, and above is a lightly clouded sky, ‘Tae motive is avery picturesque one.” A couple of little panels, “Morning” and “Evening,” both lake scenes, which are in the studio, are worthy of note. In J. C. Beckwith’s studio we lately had the pleasure of viewing an interestiug collection of draw- ings and oil studies made from the life by that artist during his five years’ residence in Paris. He has on an easel a pleasing little portrait in water colors, and intends shortly to commence a half length life size figure of an Eastern girl Leon Durand is arden: @ pleasing plaque, a woodland scene, with a iale and female figure. He will sena to the Brooklyn exhibition a “bketch on Staton Island” —s little landscape, with two children in the Soreueeng gathering grasses. James M. Hart is at work on an upright cenvas, with some cattle by trees on 4 riverside. A large elm, under whose shade they are, is well contrasted with a gracctul white birch behind :t.. Some ducks are in the water by the shore, Constant Mayer has just started “Prayer”"—a young girl knocling at her devotions. Hoe intends, shortly, to paint a large canvas to be called “Adversity,” and ropresenting a couple of young girls of gentle birth soliciting in the street by their mute appeal the char- ity of passers. Nelson R. Bickford has in his studio some neat fe- before equalled in the many inspired poems of the prolific author. ied LITERARY CHIT-CHAT, “The Mystery of Roaring Meg” is the title of Mr. Farjeon’s Christmas story. The name suggests Bret “Harte. The Athenwum gives Mrs. Francis Ann Kemble's “Records of a Girlhood” # very pleasant notice. Mrs. Louise Chandler Moulton is the American cor- ‘ respondent of the Atheneum, a position filled with grace by Miss Kate Field previous to her residence in "England. Edwin Waugh's complete worka are to be published in London by Christmas. Anew volume by Rickard Watson Gilder, entitled “The Poet and His Master and Other Pocms,”* is an- nouaced by Charles Scribner’s Sons for the early part of December. The same firm have in press a novelette by Charles de Kay. “Flowers of the Sky" is the title of Profeasor Proc- tor’s forthcoming book. ‘The first volume of Talboys Wheeler's “History of India” has been translatea into the French. Mrs. Mortimer Collins has in press a new edition of her husband's “The British Birds.” Mmo. Mobl announces a reprint of her late hus- band’s yearly reports on Oriental literature in one volume, “Bjorn and Bera” is the title of anew pocm by B. Montgomerie Ranking. “Michelet’s History of France’ is being repub- lished. NEW BOOKS RECEIVED. Notes of a Voyage to California via Cape Morn, together iN ii im in the years 1849-50, With an Forty-five illustrations’ he author, ra de Vor ait 5 Rendon vt Plachbucker ON of Amerioan Literature. 1007-1765, Two ogee Coit Fylor. “G. F Patmam's Sons, pub- A Histor By story Ry Anna publishers. children. Elaine ale. G. P. Putgam's Sons, Froe Trade, By Richard Hawley. @. P. ubli¢hers and Othor Pooms, Ry Julia i wens Sone, pabstiv " Bryant Gd. P. Pow IMastrated hy V. publisier, Jorsey By BB. Mharles 8. Clark, ‘Tho Normans in Rurope. By Rev. A. i. Johuson, M.A. With maps. Charjos Scriboer's Sons, publishors, New York en, Ry Frances Hodgson Burnett. ablishers. Hy Vrauces Hodgson Burnett. s Sons, publishers k. By Frances Hodgson Burnett. Charlies smgpean Turkey. ‘Thoth eit ‘uropoan Turkey, i history, condition Ne hy Rdson be Ginek. Dodd, Falited by Jobn New York. Hn Square Library — rosaes. A novel. By PEM. Motley. Harper & Brothers, publishers o My Lady end (ther Poems. By Pakenham Heatty. Provont & Co. publishers, London. Poems by Sarah Helen Whitman. Houghton, Osgood & ©, Boston, lion. By Bayard Taylor, Houghton, O ablish Way Lectares. By Josoph Cook. Scribner's Konn The Races of Symonds. nlers Conscience, with Preludes on good Hosta Hoaghton, Osgood & Current Events. by 7. B. Al 6 by Hopkins, ion, Osgood & publishers. Art in the Moase, Misterieal, critical and mwsthetical studios an the ations and furni of the di By dacob Yon Falke, View Director of tho Austrian of Art and Tndustry at ‘Translated frou third Gorman edition. ‘hart M.A. Hilw oh in America, Ite founders, promoters and By James D. Reid. Derby Brothers, publishers, York. ‘Harper's Half Mour Series: Stories from Virgil, Ry. “ Rev, Alfred Chareh, M.A. A luheritance, By Mary y Hay. ern Kugland: 1820 to 18th By kespoare’s Comedy of Much . with notes, hy William J. Rolie, A.M. Wit Uarper & Brothers, pubtishors, Nursing for Family and Genoral Use. under the direction of the ‘ral m Ovear 4 Ado About Nothing. Fait ch one nice, BA Handbook of Tublished Seb nectient ‘Training Hospital, New Haven, Cona. J. B. Ex. rs, Philadelphia. fe and Times of Prancis Bacon, eilition of Diocesenional writings by dh ols, Houghton, Osgood & Co., publ rn. “Ariiet-Biogtaphies, Landscer, Houghton, Osgood &Uo., malo heads, painted abroad. Woe also had the pleas- ure of seeing there some strong studies from the nude, by H. L. Doucet, of Paris, the rising you Freuch artist whose female head attracted so muc! attention at the last Academy Exhibition. Arthur Quartley hus abuut finished a breezy little picture of “Castle Rock, Marblehead.” There are some boldly painted cliffs, a storm sky drawing oft, and rolling surf. It i solidly painted and in good tone, Another canvas, just sturted, isa scene on a beach at low tide, with a sloop high and dry and some fishers by it laying out their nets. HOME ART NOTES, The thirty-seventh reception aud opening of the fall exhibition of pictures of the Brooklyn Art Asso- ciation will take place on Monday evening, December | in the Academy of Music and Art Association Buildings. The exhibition will be open to the public on thé following morning and remain open for two weeks. A new foxture is that the water colors, bluck and white drawings and etchings will be given space in one of the large galleries inftead of being hung in the small room, which has usually been their fate. The Water Color Society held their first meeting under the new president, Mr. Wood, early in the past week. H.W. Robbins resigned his position as treas- urer and his place will be filled by George H. Smillie. Every effort is being made to secure a good exhibition this season, and the illustrated catalogue was such a | good feature at the last one that a similar one will be publishod this year. The Hanging Committee clected consisia of Walter Satterlee, C. 8. Reinhart and Heary QParrar. ‘The private view of the nineteenth anuual exhibi- tion of the Artists’ Fund Society will take place on ‘Tuesday evening, the 2lst of January. ‘The exhibit will probably be made as last year at the Kurtz Gal- lery, The sale will take place on the evenings of the wth and 2th of that month. One evening's sale only hax usually been held, but as each mieaber has been requested to send two contributions there will be two evenings’ sale this time, There are now «ixty imcm- bers of the society. ‘The fifth lecture of the Loan Exhibition course will be given on Tuesday evening at Association Wall. ‘Tue Jecturer will be General di Cesnola, and his subject “Ancient Art in Cyprus.” fourth and last lecture of Goheral di Cesn: course on “Cyprus, Its Ancient Art and History will be delivered at Chickering Hall on Wednesday evening. William M,. Hunt's allegorical mural paintings in the new Cupitol at Albany, which he ia now at work on, ave entitied “The Flight of Night” and “The Disvoverer” (Columbus), Wiiliam H. Hiliiard, of Boston, is painting ov a largo canvas a view of one of the Rangeley lakes. Ernest Longfellow will continue his sketching in Greece and on the Nile during the winter, and return home in the spring. The Loan Exhibition of the Chicago Society of Decorative Artopenod on the 2ist inst. It will remain open for one month. Leonard Volk, the sculptor, has fnishod the clay model of his statue, “Minois,” one of the tour to be placed.at the base of the Douglas monument. FOREIGN ART NEWS, Gérome is to paint the scene of the burning of Shelley's corpse on the coast, near Viareggio. A monumental stone, with an inscription, dedicated by Barates, & Palinyrene, to his wife, Regina Liberta, has been found ut South Shickds, It is announced that Sir John Steel, the Scottish sculptor, ia to oxeente # statue of Robert Burus, which is to come to America to adorn a public park. A monument to the memory of Gustav Nieritz, the opular writer for the youth of Germany, has lately Been unveiled in Dresden. M. Kousselon, manager of the sig ao wed eatab- lishment of Coupil et Cie, at Asnieres, has been dec- orsted with the Legion of Honor. ‘The city of York is to havea Fine Art and Indus- trial Exhibition. It will open on May i and close oa October 3L. ‘ A statue to Rabelais will be erected at Tours, On the arrival of the King and Queen of Italy at Naples there will be opened an oe og oy of Ane arte, An Industrial Museum, with schools, is to be founded, Lievenmayr, the illustrator of “Faust,” is now en- guned ons sovies of pictures from Schiller’s “Song of the Bell.” The Jatest Paria auction prives, in francs, are Bu- one Delacroix's “Education of ‘the Virgin,” 4,200; ost Bonheur’s jorma: Prairie,” «Heaths in the Pyrences," 20,000; Diaz's Fontaiubieau,” 1,600, and Ary Scheffer’ Uhrist," 690, Two sculptors of Orleans, MM. Monceau pri! took casts after death of the head of the late Archbishop Dupantoup. ‘The distinguished Chapa and Lan- trie pprlte Weed, By Colla Thaster, Houghton, Osgood & Co, hers. Fis Bel By Oliver Wondoll Holmes, With itius- tration: ood & Co., publishers, of Boy Houghton, Ovy took sev sketches @ aid him in executing @ statue in marble of the prelate, Unless is painting & portrait of John Bright. selection which made a suppressed sensation, as, un known to Miss Hauk, who came late, Mie. Parodi sung the air some time before, as indicated above. Signor Campanini, for his encore gave “La donna 6 mobile” with such weccpgance that he was obliged to repeat the encore, Signor Galassi was received with, sitailar favor, The efforts of little Miss Douste, am interesting child of seven years, merit more than & passing mention, Her playing of the Bach fugue showed a truly classic style and a true ap= preciation of the work performed. Although, the little one’s pigmy fingers cannot yeb strotch an octave her execution is Tomarkably brilkiant. », too, had a double encore, and played agigue by Mozart und a gavotte by Neustadt. Signor Polis song was as fine an offort as ho has given, res markable not only tor its stirring spirit, but for the, faultless enunciation, which made every word of the song clearly intelligible. Signor Arditi’s contribu- tion, a delicate composition after the style of Boc- cherini’s Menuet,” given by the Thomas’ orchestra, was very heurtily encored. The concert was, alto- gether, a brill artistic success, and was listened to hy a great audience, that must have made it a material success as well, ° 2 GRAND OPERA HOUSE, ‘The popularity of the Grand Opera House Sunday night concerts is always attested by large and appre- ciative audiences, and the entertainment last evening was not an exception to the rule. The performance was begun with an overture by Gilmore's Band, after which Signor Susini seng “Oh Chi Piange,” from “Nabuco.”” His voice has seldom been m better con- dition. Professor John Hili played one of Thalberg’s piano solos, “The Prayer from Moses,” and was fol- . lowed by Mr. Chr. Fritsch, the fine tenor. Gil- more’s Band then rendered ‘The Monastery Bells’® and Mile, De Mureka ended the first part of the pro- gramme with » superb aria from ‘Robert Je Diable.”” In part second she sang Ar- tot’s variations for voice and violin, tho obligato being performed by Professor Hill with & piano accompaniment by Mr, Charles Pratt. Subscquently she sang a duct from “Don Pasquale” with Signor Susini. In each of these per- formances she was deservedly applauded and encored. The rest of the programme consisted of the followi selections:—Duo, ‘Belisario, harles Fritsel and Signor Susini; overture, “Robespierre” (intro- ducing the Marseilles Hymn), Gilmore's band; grand selections, “0 Profeta,” Gilmore's band; march, “Krolls Garden,” Gilmore's band, GILMORE’S GARDEN—ARONSON'S POPULAR CON The third of Mr. Radolph Aronson’s popular com certs took place last night. The programme mainly of light music, including two dance nums bers by Strauss, comprised yen pieces, open- ing’ with tho “Lafayette March,” by Aron- son, composed for the Paris Exposition of 1878. In the way of cornet soloists there wera two Richmond's in the ticld—Mr, Arbuckle, the “prince, as che was © on the bill, and Mr. Bent, the “favorite,” so-called, The latter, being th favorite, played a fantasie, by Hartmann, “Favorita. Had his bent been in some other direction his meas- ure of artistic success might have been greater, but he was encored. A cornet solo usually is encored. Mr. Arbuckle played “Silver Threads" with his well known delicacy and finish andthe “Sweet By and By” for the encore. Miss Matilda Scott sang Sulli- van's “Let Me Dream Again,” and was permitted to do so in the emphatic encore that followed. Tha grand orchestra of fifty did some good work in the Seow from ‘Carmen,” which was redemanded, ‘here was a good and approciutive audience present. MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES. Mile. Lita has appeared with success in Chicago te a crowded house as Lucia. ‘The Carri brothers will repeat their musical soirées at Steinway Hall during the winter, Remenyi achicved such a triumph in Boston that he is going there again Dece:nber 20, Miss Genevieve Ward appears at the Academy of Musie, Philadelphia, this evening, in “Henry VIII.” “The Vigilantes” is the title of Bartley Campbell's play which is to be produced this evening at Niblo’s. Coup’s Equescurricalum has taken up its quarters | in Philadelphia for the winter. It is well patronized, ‘The Williamsons make their appearance at the Grand Opera House to-night in a new play, entitled | “Yulie.”” Mr. Jobn McCullough plays King Lear at the Brooklyn Park Theatre to-night, and Virginius to morrow night. . At the Arch Street Theatre, Philadelphis, this week, Mr. Milton Nobles appears in “The Phanix,’* supported by his new company. Miks Selma Borg delivers her lecture on “Finland and Hints to Tourists” at the Young Women's Chrise tian Association Hall, to-morrow afternoon. “Our Club” is to be brought out at the Chestnut Strest Theatre, Philadelphia, on Monday night, by the excellent stock company of that establishment, It is reported that a new hall and garden for popus lar concerts is to be erected in a central locality in New York, the music to be under the control of Mr. Rudolph Aronson. ‘The performance of “Carmen” at Hartford will take place at an early date, but not to-morzow night, as announced. “Lucia’’ will be given at Brooklyn, De« comber 12, with Gerstor, Caurpanini and Gatiasi. The system of supplying opera tickets at the Dise trict Telegraph offices is now in full working order, Any measure like this, that tends to check the extor tions of epeculatora, will be welcomed by the public. Mr. Dion Boucicault, after his performances in thi city, will make a spring tour, under the management of Mr, W. R. Deutsch, viviting Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, the principal Western cities, and prob- ably San Francisco. | Booth’s theatre will be reopened this evening on the popular price principle, when the new play, “That Lass o' Lowrie’ will be presented, It is said to be full of thrilling effects, The cast comprises Miss Maric Gordon, Mr. J. B. Booth, Mr. William Davidge and other excellent actors. Messra. Robson and Crane appear at the Park Thea- tre for the first time to-night in the “Comedy of Errors,” with @ new and strong company. Great preparations have been made to present the play ina novel and unique manner, and Mr. Charles Webb, whose name is well known in connection with ita English production, has been specially brought from London to superintend its mounting on the stage here, At the Broad Street Theatre, Philadelphia, this week Mr. Ben Macaulay makes his first appearance in the East with a comedy entitled “A Messenger from Jarvis Section,” in which Mr, Macaulay playa Unele Dan'l, an cecentrie homesptin character of tha Joshua Whitcomb order. Mr. Macaulay's interpreta. tion has been very highly praised, Messrs, Ford & Zimmerman, the successful managers of the now theatre, will produce the play with a good company and a carefal and conscisntious stage setting. L’Arronge’s new comedy, “Doctor Kiaus,” hag proved a genuino success at the Germania Theatre, “filling the house every night since it was first put upon the stage, which was on the 13th inst. Mane ager Nenendorf® hus decided to continue the por | formances of this attraction until further notice, ox cept that on Tuesday evening the Germania will be closed, as tho company performs “Die Gates Freunde’ at the Academy of Musio'for the benefit of the German Hospital, Mr, Conried’s Dr. Klaus and Mise Schits's Muriauna are ropresen tations which are worthy of not a little study. .