The New York Herald Newspaper, January 6, 1879, Page 8

& . LITERATURE. A French Critic on the Present State of Art. THE BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR, A Lord’s Reminiscences—" The Story of Liberty.” CHABLES BLANC ON ART AT THE PARIS EXPO- SITION. ° M. Charles Blanc, member of the French Academy, of the Academy of Fine Arts, and Professor of Zsthetics at the College of France, has republished in book form—Libraivie Renouard, Paris—under the title “Les Beaux Arts 4 I'Exposition Universelle de 1878,” the interesting, scholarly and eminently read- wWle series of fortnightly articles which he cou- wibuted to the Parisian newspaper Le Temps. After teventy-two pages devoted to architecture at the éxposition, including the main buildings and those arected by the different nations, the author passes to iculpture, and opens his critique by saying, “Who will explain this singular phenomenog? Sculpture is the art for which the French school has the most aptitude and the French public the least taste! One may even say that the more skilled *our artists are in this art the more the public is in- different to it.” And again, “It is true, with- put a doubt, that sculpture would perish in France if it was not protected by that personage who represents the general interests and who is called the State.” He says that in sculpture France holds the first rank among the nations of the world. In Italy it is am endemic art; in Germany and Austria-Hungary it has the vices of localism and ser- vile imitation of classic styles, and in England— though that country exposed several remarkable works—there is in all, even in the best of the works, something of a savage flavor. The writer con. cludes this réswmé by stating that there is hardly any true sculpture to-day ont of France, _ M. Blanc in opening his chapters on painting says:—‘‘Whatever may be our love for France and our partiality for all that goes to make up iis glory, it is impossible for us not to render homage to the truth, or at least to what seems to us the truth, in saying that to-day French painting is like a tree that still produces fine fruit but in which the sap com- mences to grow feeble and is in need of rejuvenation. The passion which formerly stirred it, together with the struggles for supremacy, have long since ended. The energetic temperaments, the artists with deep convictions, the souls of a strong stamp like Ingres, the soaring natures like Eugéne Dela- croix, have disappeared, and if there are painters who bring credit to the race they forbear to mount to the heights. We have now very few artists who seek the subjects which an elevated style al- lows; those who, instead of offering the fastidious repetitions of realisms, carry us where poetry gives form to all its dreams and an air of truth to all its fictions. A few minutes’ walk in the” galleries re- served to Austria-Hungary, for example, suffices to make us feel that there is,in the painting which comes to us from that country, @ youth, an abund- ance, a juice, a substance, an enthusiasm which is not seen in ourown. I think of our nationai art and that of this people—the first as a gentleman who wears with distinction a threadbare coat, and the second as a provincial, newly clad in garments whose gloss is not yet worn off.” The causes of this the author traces to the worldliness of the French artists of the time; to their mingling so much with the world and thereby losing the bene- Sits of isolation. When they lived apart from the world they were not infected with Gallic irony; they could be original, rare, fearless or vivified without fearing the railleries of the press, without being stopped in their flights of imagination by the thought of ridicule. Living with the world, they think them- selves but a mirror of it and their true duty the imi- tation of their land, its customs and denizens. They aspire to be not of all time but of one, to talk a patois instead of the language of humanity. Paint- ing in France is not indigenous, as in Italy; it is an acclimated plant, which needs protec. tion, care and official sunshine, ‘he French have always been better sculptors and architects than painters and musicians. The true fruits of French genius are literature and dramatic art. Among the French painters of note there is not one ot those who have produced high art whose works are not second hand—inspired by that of others. . In painting the fathers expressed where the sons now imitate. Formerly paintings were thought out and composed before painted; now they are produced ‘without forethought. But thecooks of art, the paint- ers of kitchens, table, furniture and vegetables, con- sider themselves equal to the masters in style; they are placed on art juries like them and affect a kindly compassion for David and Ingres. That there are still artists in France who have at heart the dignity * of their art and who paint la grande peinture is due * ehiefly to the school of Rome, After criticising in detail the works of the French * schools the writer takes a hasty tour through the exhibits of the rest of Europe, omitting entirely to note anything American, and concludes his volume as follows:—“Up to the present the pre-eminence belongs to our country. Here it is that are produced—foreigners concede it themselves—the finest works in architec, ture, painting, sculpture, of the glyptic art and en- graving. Nevertheless there are in Europe symp- toms which must be looked to, and it is Incky that ‘we have been able ina magnificent and serious ex- hibition of the products of the world to establish comparisons, note the differences and the various do- grees to which the water mark of humanity rises- ‘This universal competition teaches us thet art is awakening in Greece and tn Italy, is undergoing a transformation in Spain, sleeps in Portugal; England + individualizes it curiously, Belgium cultivates it with success and love and Germany sustains its honor; but it saddens in Holland, vegetates in Denmark, lives in small style in Sweden and shivers in Russia, Switzerland has it only in fragments; Austria-Hun- gary alone seems to have conceived the noble am, bition to lead one day, at least in painting, and this is not impossible if it be true, as Fourier says, that attractions are proportionate to destinies.” ’ “BATTLES OF AMERICA.” A formidable volume is the fifth part of “The Bat- tles of America,” by Mr, John Laird Wilson, This book, which comprises nearly a thousand folio pages, is entirely devoted to the military and naval history of the rebellion. Beginning wittr the opera- tions in Charleston Harbor, at the ciose of the year 1860 and in the beginning of 1801, Mr. Wilson traces the history of the civil war through gall its varying phases to the conclusion of Sherman's great march to the wea and the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, The story of the first battle of Bull Run is simply but graphically told. “From the window of his chamber in the Whito House,” says Mr. Wilson, “the President could see on the other side ot the Poto- mac ‘the waving folds of the Southern flag, and by the aid of his field glass he might observe the Confederate enyinvers at work.” It was a spectacle that could not fail to fire the Northern heart, sud it is not wonderful that, in anticipation of a for, ward movement, the cry “On to Richmond” became feneral. An inglorious defeat followed, “It was not Brepulse,” says the historian, “It wasa@ rout.” A flescription of the »inor events of the early part of the war, events almost forgotten now but fraught with the greatest signiticance then, fill the succeeding bhapters, To read Mr. Wilson’s recital of those skir- mishes is to live the time over again, aud dimly Femembered names shine with renewed lustre. McClellan loomed into prominence at Carrack’s Ford, Rosecrans met Floyd on Powell Mountain, and the battle of Carnifex Ferry was s substantial victory to the federal arms, ‘hen came the Bali's Bluff horror, where the gallant Baker was killed; the battle of ‘Wilson's Crook, in Missouri, made the coun- try familiar with the name of Sigel, aud at Belmont Grant first ‘appeared on ¢he Borizon of atuirs, where his fame 4 i NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1879.-TRIPLE SHEET. was soon to illumine the national sky. Early in 3862 Stanton made his advent in the War Office and McClellan was in command at Washington, The war began in earnest. The battles of forts Henry and Donelson were fought and Shiloh followed, The na- tional forees were hurled back from Richmond and the Pope episode and the second battle of Bull Run ensued, MoClellan was restored to the command and achieved a substantial victory at Antietam, Then there was a winter campaign—Burnside dashed to pieces on the heights of Fredericksburg in December and Hooker floundering in the mud at Chancellors- | Ville ig the first days of May, In the meantime Grant had lished himself on the Yazoo and was pre- paring to supplement the victory at Gettysburg with the surrender of Vicksburg on the 4th of July, 1863. ‘The story of Meade's battle is very elaborately told #&d the campaigns of Grant and Sherman complete the volume, Mr. Wilson’s style is simple and unaf- fected, his facts are generally trustworthy and his judgments, even when they are not acceptable, com- mand respectful attention, because they are manly and honest. The chief value of the book is in the fact that it is a continuous narrative of events of which the history had never been completely told in connected form, It is a narrative drawn from many sources and welded together by the deft hand of a practised writer, and the book will be welcomed to many tables where a desirable résumé of the conflicts of the rebellion has been wanting. It is well bound and profusely illustrated with portraits and battle scenes engraved on steel. James 8, Virtue, New York, is the publisher. “(THE STORY OF LIBERTY.” C. C, Coffin, who gained some reputation as a war correspondent for the Boston Journal, under the nom de plume of “Carlton,” and who has written several juvenile stories which have met with an ephemeral success, has put forth a quasi historical book, pub- lished by Harper & Brothers, which one can scarcely read with patience. In his preface he acquaints the reader with the extraordinary information that his- tory is ‘‘a chain of events;"’ that it is “like a dram: and, more astounding than all, ‘that there are but a few principal actors” in it. Marvellous! Again, he ventures the astute conclusion “that there must be a meaning to history, or else existence is an incomprehensible enigma.” Perhaps it is. Many in- | telligent persons are of this mind who, possibly, are quite thoroughly convinced that there is a mean- | ing in history. M®. Coffin attempts, in his lurid | narrative, to narrate the struggles of liberty with | oppression during s period of 500 years, from the | date of Magna Charta to that of the landing of the Pilgrims in America, The idea of such a book is | unobjectionable. In other hands it might have | proved a valuable acquisition to historical lit- erature, but Mr. Coffin’s “feading has not been thorough or profound enough to admit ot his successful treatment of a subject of such moment, even if his views were fairer and broader than they are. We should hardly look to Mr. Moody or Mr. Sankey for an unbiassed narrative of the world’s history of religious toleration; and the author of this volume has proved himself as un- adapted tothe unprejudiced treatment of his work as either of the revivalists would admittedly have been. The book is well printed on fine calendered paper, copiously illustrated and tastefully bound. AN ENGLISH LORD'S RECOLLECTIONS, Under the title of “Reminiscences of Many Years” ' Lord Teignmouth has given his recol- lections of men and things to the world (Scrib- ner & Welford) in two substantial volumes. It was tho good fortune of Lord Teignmouth to know large number of distinguished people, and, as he kept a diary from 1807 to 1873, his record is as varied as it is valuable. While in Venice; in 1816, he met Lord Byron, who was leading an “unhappy and ill-con- ditioned life in that city.” He was engaged in look- ing over a picture gallery, sccompanied by some Italian artists. “I recognized him st once,” says Lord Teignmouth, “having seen him in the House of Lords; but we carefully, as we thought, concealed our knowledge of his person, till perceiving that we had passed two or three times through the room in which he was he concluded that | he was observed.” With a look of scorn he turned | his back upon the party and “stalked away indig- nantly with his suite.” Back again in Eng- land he saw thé celebrated Hefry Grattan, “short of stature, but long limbed;” whose ex traordinary stride “so alarmed the girls of Mrs. Lalondre’s school, as he approached them on their way to morning prayer,” that they took to their heels, He heard Alexander Knox and Grattan hold an interpsting discourse on the Catholic emanci- pation question. He passed an evening with Southey, but Mrs. Coleridge, who was present, talked so much that the poet had no chance to speak. Lord Rolle is described ‘‘stalwart in his dimensioné” and as having the largest hands and feet in the kingdom. ‘The last occasion on which Lord Teignmouth saw the venerable peer was at a Lambeth dinner, “when a well tutored servant removed from before him dish after dish, heedless of his never failing remon- strance.” An interesting chapter is devoted to Wilberforce, The author remembers, when ® child, first seeing him at Broomfield, “where he gave me a seven shilling piece, which led to my father prohibiting my accepting pecu- niary presents from any one but himself.’ In body Wilberforce was’ slightly deformed, “his profile, his shoulders being thrown back, exhibiting, notwithstanding the stoop of his head, the convexity of a bent bow, a defect aggravated, perhaps, by the weight of books and papers with which his capacious pockets were stuffed.” BROOKLYN MERCANTILE LIBRARY CATALOGUE. ‘To the lover of books nothing is more interesting than the well digested catalogue of a large library. It is only to those who have essayed the task that the difficulties in the way of @ perfect and comprehen- sive classification are at all apparent. It is creditable to Américan bibliographers that this vital portion of the equipment of @ good library has received their best attention, and year by year the fruits of their intelligence and experience are given to the world in volumes which tell the story of arduous labor. While the systein of card cataloguing has obvious ad- vantages for use in the library itself, yet to put the book list within reach of those who cannot always spare the time to go there some sacrifice of complete- ness a8 to date must be made for the sake of porta- bility ond durability. In almost all printed cata logues there are separate alphabetical series for sub- jects and authors, and often triple alphabets, where books me, in addition, indexed by their titles. Mr. 8. B, Noyes, librarian of the Mercantile Library of Brooklyn, has now published the second volume of his catalogue, which goes from D to M, the first part covering A to C. It is worthy of particular note as an entirely successful “Dictionary Catalogue,” that is, combining in one alphabetical arrangement the authors, titles, subjects and classes of the books in the library. Its system of cross-indexing, by which not merely specific works, but the contents of peri- odicals, the proceedings of learned societies, collec tions of voyages, biographies, essays, &c., are placed under their respective subject and class headings, is very complete and greatly increases its value. There are libraries in the United States containing more and better books, but none of any importance has so complete a key to it contents, Mr. Noyes has done good service, not merely to the Brooklynites who are members of the library, but to bibliography in gen- eral for accomplishing a task which haa deterred so many other conspicuous members of his craft from even the attempt. The two volumes are of 400 pages each; the typography is @ merit in itself, NEW BOOKS RECEIVED. Clvillsation and Barbariam, illustrated y expocial refer. nat and the extinction uf hin race By wi. eluted for the author ab the Miver ross, Cambridge, Bride of Gettysburg. An episode of 1863, In three hy J.D. iyiton, Palmyra, N. Say Happen, 'A story of American life and char. By Trovor. Porter & Coates, publishers, Philadel. jonal Review. Vol. V. 187% A. 8. Barnes rs, New York. Us Yott_ By Mrs, Cornelius W. Lawrence, Now York, ‘San Francl and incidental): P John a afietell tA ke Wats rom the Time of the Indian to the Present Day, Eri. bracing an account of Washington's first campaign and butte of Fort Necessity, tovethor with « history of Brads docks expedition, de. de., with maps aud tlustrat at ‘Thi parts, As It ee 8 Intern & Lo Lov . pabiial of the Ort Gatitorn By Wiliam H. Lowdermlik. James Augtin, publisher. Washington, Coal. Its history and nses, By Professors Green, Miall, Thorpe, Rucker and i Edited by Prote Loudon aud Now Youk, Marshall, of the Yorkshire Colle, Vhory pe, Macmillan & Ca, publishuis BOSTON BOOKS. DR, CHARLES BEECHER ON SPIRITUAL MANIPES- TATIONS—RAPPINGS AND PROFESSOR PHELPS— PLANCHETTE AND MRS, SfOWE—NEWS ABOUT THB PRINCE OF WALES. i Boston, Jan, 4, 1879. ‘The first book of the new year will be Dr. Charles Beecher’s “Spiritual Manifestations,” which Lee & Shepard will publish in a few days, and which is likely to cause some commotion in orthodox. circles in spite of the author's explicit declaration that he Speaks only for himself, “not as the representative of the Church visible or invisible, nor of his pro- fessional brethren, nor of his kindred.” He begins by asserting that Spiritualism, or rather the belief in spiritual communication, seems nod more improbable than a great many scientific hypotheses, and says that there never has been in his mind any sense of the impropability of the existence and agency of spirits, and avers thatthe abstract probability that spirits exist and act is equal to if not greater than the proba- bility that there are really such things as ultimate particles, which nobody claims to have discerned, while a greft many persons say that they have seen spirits, He speaks of the many family histories of mysterious occurrences which he has encountered while performing his pastoral duties, finding that there are few households in which*there is not some strange tale which they shrink from making public. He begins by telling # story whicli was repeated to him by Professor Austin Phelps, of Andover, and which has some curious points of resemblance to the tale of the ghost Jeffrey that vexed the Wesley family. In 1851 Professor Phelps’ father requested him to come to Stratford, Conn., to investigate cer- tain strange phenomena which"had from time to time appeared in his house. Says Professor Phelps:— “The first thing that took place of an unusual nature was on a certain Sunday. The family, includ- dng the servants, according to custom, had been to church, leaving the house locked up. On returning they found the front door wide open. The first thought was that robbers had been there. No signs, however, of their presence appeared until they came to my father’s room, and there they found three full suits of his clothes, stuffed out with old clothes, &c., and laid out side by side upon the floor, with boots, hat, &c., somewhat as I have seen them after a rail- road collision. This seemed very strange, but the general impression was that it might be the roguish trick of the boys or of some one unknown. In the course of the day, as my father was walking across the parlor, po ot person in the room, a key was thrown from behind, over his head and fell on the floor at his feet.’ He picked it up and put it in his pocket, Soon after a nail was thrown in the same way. In the evening, as the family were sitting together, suddenly a turnip fell from the ceiling in their midst. Then they be- gan to hear littleraps in various directions, They tried to trace them, but could not.” Mr. Phelps’ barn was mysteriously burned in broad Agylight, when ne one was near it, so far as was known. An ignited newspaper was found under the mattress of & cot bed occupied by one of the children who slept in Mr. Phelps’room. One night, when the noises were very troublesome, Professor Phelps and his uncle followed them until they came to the room of Mrs. Phelps’ oldest daughter, and then one stepped inside the door and the other remained outside, and the knocking came on the door between them, each thinking it upon the surface furthest from himself. As Professor Phelps stepped back into the room a hairbrush flung from the door fell at his feot, a thing which suggests to an unbeliever that very possibly the bad little boy who had been “followed by the knockings” had grown tired of rapping on the door casing at Professor Phelps’ feet and had flung the brush at him as a crowning performance, Moreover, not only was the knock-pursued smgll boy in the house to account for many things, but also a woman suffering from thé first approaches of a malady which finally destroyed her reason, and that woman disliked Stratford and was anxious to move to Philadelphia, This was Mr. Phelps’ second wife, to whom and to her children the disturbance was attributed by the uncharitable, She was much grieved at the charge and denied it solemnly, 8 fact which, considering her mental state, has no weight at all with the most credulous person. Professor Phelps himself thinks that the presence of bad spirits is the most prob- able explanation of the affair, » fact that seems to indicate as little scepticism as his remark that nobody was near the barn when it wasburned. Asa rule, incendiaries do not sit down on a camp stool and watch the progress of their work at a convenient distance, and it is possible that whoever set the fire preferred to go into the house and wait for deve- lopments. Conversation was carried on with the spirit by raps, and the fact that he was in hell and would like a piece of pumpkin pie was elicited, and @ great many ideas “like Swedenborg’s” were ob- tained, Mr. Phelps’ religious convictions were un- changed by all this, although his views on Scriptural demonology were more distinct, and his belief that both good and bad “spirits have access to us was strengthened.” ‘The second chapter contains some revelations made by the spirit of the Duchess of Sutherland, through Planchette, to Mrs. Stowe:— “We fear,” said Her Grace, “sorrow will come upon bee before inany years.’ = it sorrow?” “Our Queen will come to us, and you know in what hands the g' it will then be, Edward Albert overnment is not all he should be. He has not the strength of character necessary for # ruler; but, poor boy, let us be charitable. He 4s young and has a noble wife; he still be redeemed,” “Is the Queen unwell now?" ‘She is not strong. If Edward Albert could or would be more like his blessed father she would ab- dicate in his favor.” “How strange that he should be such a character when he was so carefully educated by his father and mother.” “ ; but too many children are born. He, as well as many others, should never have lived.” “I do not understand that.” “I mean that the sins of the father are visited upon the children, even unto the third and fourth genera- tion, and constitutional passion and the disposition of the parents sre sometimes aggravated in the children, Do I make it cleartoyou? I'm afraid Bt “How does God judge children who thus inherit constitutional tens ies to evil.’” “Docs He not tell you in His Word that charity is the greatest of all virtues? He speaks what he know and because he has so much.” “But Prince Albert was a perfect saint.” “Yes? but his grandfather? Parents, you know, cannot be too caretul. The Prince was not imme- diately responsible for Edward Albert's sins; but he should have Jooked jnto the past and contemplated the future before bringing his son into the worid.”’ ‘This gives the reader the impression that Plan- chette supposes Queen Victoria to be the daughter of George IV., a8 its heathon darkness in regard to the Prince of Wales’ name makes such ignorance more probable. Charlotte Bronté, speaking through the same medium, imparts the news that Emily Bronté is happy, that Bramwell may be in Hades, and that Thackeray is very lovable now. Dr. Beecher says that Professor Stowe is “a seer” and believes in the reality of spirit intercourse, and that he has seen and touched a dead friend, and the writer by no means accepts Dr. Clarke’s way of ac- counting for such an appearance, The doctrinal part of the book is cleverly written, The unproved as- sumptions are rather too numerous for @ good argu- ment, ‘The announcements are not very numerous, although there are a few worth mentioning, Mrs, Clara Erskine Clements’ “ Artists of the Nineteenth Century,” which will be published in a short time by Houghton, Osgood & Co,, contains the lives of over two thousand painters, with lists of their works and criticisms upon them, “Swift,” in the “Riverside Poets,” aud “Heredity,” in Mr. Joseph Cook's set of lectures, will come at about the sume time. Roberts Brothers have in press “Mary Woolstonecraft's Let- ters to Imlay,” accompanied by a clever memoir by Mr. Kegan Paul, who enthusiastically admires his heroine. The same firm will also bring out “Read- ing a8 @ Fine Art,” by Krnest Legouvé, transiated by A. L, Alger, and ® new paraphrase of Chaucer for children, written by Frances Storer and Kegan Paul. A HIGHWAYMAN IN OUSTODY. Detective Mullen, of the Ninth sub-precinct, Brook- lyn, arrested Hugh Roy, at No. 84 Stockholin street, on Saturday evening, on @ charge of highway rob- bery, The complainant in the case is Mr, L, Riemen- schneider, of No, 31 Park row, this city, who charges the prisoner with having knocked him dowa, in com, pany with another man, and robbed him of $50, ‘The assault was committed on New Year's night, on the corner of Myrtle and Central avenues, where the gentleman named was standing at the time waiting foracar, The accused, who was fully identified as one of the robbers, is twenty-seven years of age, and oiaims to Le a boukbinder by occupation, FINE ARTS, PENCIL NOTES AMONG THE STUDIOS, Walter Blackman, a well known American pupil of &érome, who lately returned from abroad, has in his studio several important pictures painted there, some just finished here, and a number of oil studies, some of which, on the Swiss and Itelian lakes, are faithful and pleasing. Mr. Blackman is equally at home in landscape and figure painting, and in his pictures we have humawand local interests portrayed in almost equal degree. The largest cunvas in his studio is called “The Echo,” truthful sunset view on Lake Maggiore, with a hayboat in the forewater. Among the peasants—men and women—in the small barge stands a young fellow awaking the clear echoes with his trumpet. The effects of light on the snow-covered peaks to the le’t and on the rocky sum- mits nearer the lake are admirable. A pair of genre pictures, in which the figures are carefully and well drawn and full of expression are called “The Wrong Fish” and ‘Just the Color.” In the first an ojd fellow, in Louis XV. costume, stand- ing with coat and hat off on the banks of a stream, has caught his hook in his wig. The second shows us an old nobleman, who is an amateur florist, standing «by @ fountain, the stream from which is falling on a basket of flowers, smiling, with half-closed eyes, as he fondly gazes on a red rose which he holds in his hand. The figure is good, and the painting of the picturesque fountain is de- serving of much praise, A canvas with a good story, which represented the artist at the Salon of 1877, is called “The Adieux of a Son to his Father.” The youth has just taken the cowl, and the procession is pagsing down from the church to the cloisters, The newly made monk waves a farewell to his father, who stands agonized by the stairs down which the rest of the figures come. AD elderly monk points the father for consolation to ® fresco on the wall of the sacrifice of Isaso by Abi m. A little picture called “The Musical Resi painted some time ago in Paris—possesses an interest other than purely artistic. It shows a painter who haz thrown aside his palette and brushes tora guitar, with which he accompanies the singing of his model. She is the one whom the lamented young artist, Henry Leland, pointed the--as he thought— unloaded pistol at, before he dentally shot him- self. A painting which Mr. Blackman has recently finished pleases us exceedingly, It is a scene in an ‘Alsatian kitchen, with @ girl seated peeling apples by the stone range on which dinner is being pre: pared. The over! himney and cooking place are admirably given. depth is well telt, and the dark brownish and Ug Orage are well harmonized. 10 Henry P. Smith, w! itely returned from & sketching tour along the English coast about Land's End and the French near Etretat, has brought back with him a number of oil and weter color studies of cousiderable interest. Some of the picturesque cliits about Etretat are good in drawing und local color. A little water color sketch of a Druidical table near Penzance is simply delicious. The artist is now painting a moonlight on the Mersey, with a steamer coming out accompanied by atug. A storm- surf rotting in at Land's Endis noticeable. Arthur Quartley is at work on ‘‘Mackere! Fishing,” a view of some sioops off a low, rocky coast. One in the forewater has sails reefed and is at anchor. Others are beating to and fro and the distance is dotted with white sail. The perspective is excellent and the water is fullof buoyancy and movement. To the right a fog bank rises over the land line, while white clouds cover the middle of the sky. Arthur Parton is finishing for the Artists’ Fund a canvas with an extremely picturesque motive—a scene on the Delaware River, near Milford, Pa. He ae Saee @ large view on Lake Champlain, near es A. ¥. Bunner is at work on a large view on the Riva della Schiavoni in Venice. The quay, with mauy figures, the picturesque colorful architecture and ‘shipping, the Lot alr of the giternoon and the roseate clouds floating lazily over the ay are finel; rendered. The perspective is good and the ric color well graded. e Custom House and Santa ‘Maria, seen in shadow across the canal, form a pleas- ing rest for the eye after a glance over the rich tints of theremainder of the scene. A, T, Bricher is painting “Toujours d Vous,” 9 young lady sitting on a rock by the seashore ee a letter. He has also on’ an easel a combination land and seascape, Wordsworth Thompson is finishing up the scene at @ steamboat landing on the Rappahannock whose in- ception was noted some time ago. ‘The boat has just run alongside the old dock, the darkies swarm about, and in the foreground two young planters, one in & chaise and the other horsed, have halted to chat. A. C. Howland nas on easel a canvas which he in- tends ior the Academy, ‘The Country Gossips” shows us three old fellows talking to ‘the vilage Diacksmith, who stands just ouside of his shop; some cackling gee a cripple com! along the sh, and a pleasing little landscape in the distance, ‘ne artist has under way alarge picture ofa fantastical Fourth of July procession passing over a green in an old New Hampshiretown. ‘he handgome old resi- dences form au excellent background to the figures, Another canvas—a coruer of @ field used as a cavbage garden, with achurming little landscape scen through | arching trees—is worthy of note. George H. Story has finished @ neat little interior, in which young giri sits pecling ples, as she looks out of the window on a sty morning. He is at work on @ lifesize portrait of a young lady in the core W. Hubbard ts pointing a pleasing littlo land. . Hul is ap it jan scape, With cows under toreyround troes, and a ten- der, quiet sky. He has also on an easel a view on Lake George, with a good sky reflected admirably in the well rendered water. 8. B, Gitford was working at our last visiton “A Sunset on the Seashore, on Cape Ann,” with children bathing in the surf, The sky is fine in toue and color, Another picture is a reminiscence of recent boating experiences on Lake Kanogama, near the headwaters ot the Saguenay. Sportsmen in canoes are gis aap through the mist. A good sized canvas shows a view from the artist’s studio while in Rome, which has well rendered local color. Kruseman Van Elton has finished for the Utica Exhibition a scene in Connecticut riverside meud- ows, with cattle under the willows and fishermen leaving the banks. Another picture is on the Housw tonic River, with sunlit clouds above and a single figure throwing a line from the pebbly beach. THE ART JOURNAL, ‘The January number of the Art Journal (D. Appleton & Co.), is an excellent one. The plates ‘are:—A good rendition by C. H. Jeens of Frank Holl’s fine picture of soldier life, “Leaving Home; one by Brandard, after a picture by R. F. Pritchett, “Iceberg Lake, Isterdal,” which is much better than his drawings illustrating the series on Norway have been, and “The Lady in Comus,” engraved by Roffe from the statue by J.D. Crittenden, A couple of full page wood cuts of F. Barth’s painting “The God of Wine,” and B. Knuepfer’s “The River's Bounty,” are engraved in W. J. Linton’s masterly style. There is, however, so much ot the eugraver in them that as faras we could decide they might have been painted by either artist. Among the articles in the number we note that on « pe in American Poetry,” illustrated in a most spiritueile mauner, by J. Appleton Brown; more about the ictures at the late French exhibition, wy Lucy H. looper, and ® sensible article by 8. G. W. Benjamin on “art Criticism.” GENERAL ART NEWS, In a conversation recently with D. Maitland Arm- strong, the Director of the American Art Department at the late Paris Exhibition, that gentleman sad that the French and other Europeans thought much more of our art exhibit than the American visitors did. ‘These latter were rather apt to sneer at it and run it down. This year’s exhibition and sale of the Artists’ Fund Society will be held at the Leavitt Art Galleries in Broadway. The private view will take place on the evening of Tuesday, the 21st inst., and the exhi- bition will be open free to the public from the fol- lowing morning to the time of the snle—the evenings of the 27th aud 28th inst. We hear that a great effort ‘was made this ycur to raise the standard of the pictures exhibited, and that the committes on acceptance of works were much more strict than usual. The pablic know little about this admirable institution, donations to whose fund from the charitably dis. posed would be well placed. There are three funds— “the widow’ that for the assistance of disabled members and # third called the “benevolent fund,” which is for the reliof of distressed artists who are not members. From tho first $4,000 is paid tothe deceased widow or fmaily of a member and irom Sere sums a6 the circumstances seem to ‘The fitty-fourth annual exhibition of the Nation Academy of Design will open on Tuesday, the 1s¢ ‘April, and close on Saturday, the dist of May, Satur> day, March 29, will be ‘varnishing day,” aud the Jeries will be open to artist exhibitors, from ten to four P.M, ‘Phe conditions of exhibition are as usual, The “private view” will take placeon the evening of Monday, the iat of March, ‘The first of this year's monthly ert receptions and exhibitions of the Art Students’ League will oceur tor morrow evening. A feature of the dixplay will be @ number of original drawings by William Blake, There will aiso be exhibited some sketches and studies by John Latarge, Millet’s superb work “The Potato Harvest,” which attracted so much attention while lately at Goupil’s, now forma part of the fine collection of Mr. William ‘1, Walters, of Baitimore, « Sixteen pictures were sold at the late exhibition of the tit Art Association. The total amount paid war c 5 We note lately in the gallery at Goupil’ ome of creditable litile pictures by Alois O'Kelly, The figure in one, of u boy ishing, is well posed. The o is @ church interior, with @ peasant women huecling in prayer, The little figure is niculy touched in and the architecture is carefully and well painted. NOYES FROM ABROAD. ‘There were twelve pictures purchased from the American art exhibit at the late Paris Exhibition, ‘The great lottery scoured J, B, Bristol's “Luke Cham- plain, from Ferrtsburg, Vt.;"" W. Gedney Bunce's “Approach to Venice,” W. Bolton Jones’ “Return of the Cows, Brittany;” H.R. Bloomer’s “Old Bridge at Giez,” F. P, Vinton’s “Head,” Edgar M. Ward's “Sabot Maker,” and H, W. Bobbins’ water color, “New England Homestead.” The other printings sold were F, Dielman’s “Patrician “Lady of the Six- teenth Century . corative Panel,” T Hovenden’s ‘Breton Interior” (to an English gen- “The Squall” (to Comunissioner , and his large “Solitude” (to the Hungarian Count Kaltiy; a residant of Paris). ‘The highest price paid at recent sales in Vienna of the celebrated collection of Anton Ritter von Oelzelt was 17,955 florins ($8,685 73), which was given for Ludwig Knaus’ “Children at Play,” 2534 inches in height, by 424 Inches in width. It was bought for William T. Walters, of Baltimore, Among the other prices obtained were for A, Calame's ‘Forest in Storm,” 12,60 florins; Knaus’, “The Little Artist,” 9,292 florins; Lessii jurning of the Cloisters,” 8,977 florins; Pettenkofen’s “Great Hungarian Mar- ket,” 8,925 florins; Andreas Achenbach’s, ‘fhe Broken Mill Dam,” 7,900 florins; Vautier’s “Sunday 6,405 florins; Rotta’s “‘Niente da Fare,” 6,040 florins; Troyon's “Landscape in a Storm,” 6,300 florins; his “Hound in Leash,” 5,880 florins; Hans us for a plafond, “Vier Tageszeiten, Oswald Achenbach’s ‘4 id at Na ples,” 5,250 florins; F, Willem’ ‘The Convales- cent,” 5,250 florins; Andreas Achenbach’s “Seylls and Charybdis,” 4,210 florins, and Troyon’s “Cow und Sheep,” 4, lorini SENATOR JONES INTERVIEWED. GENERAL GRANT'S PROSPECTS ON THE PACLVIC COAST—-THE SOLID SOUTH, [‘Gath” in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Jan. 3.] “Senator, do you regret that General Grant signed the veto of the Inflation bill following your gold speech in the Senate “I believe that at that time he thought he had done the great act of his life. Iadmit,” said the Senator, “that I applauded Grant’s act heartily and spoke in favor of that step. I think now that he and I made a tremendous mistake, When I advocated specie and speedy resumption I was only in the ves- tibule of later convictions which have made me be Heve in nothing but the money of intelligence.” “Are the people on the Pacific side rather well dis- posed toward the republican party and Grant for President?” k “There is no doubt,” said Senator Jones, “that General Grant is enormously the favorite among the people at large. He is my friend, and I have a strong admiration for his good, strong traits of character, At the same timeI do not know whether enough votes might not be cast against him among republicans to | beat him. It is probable that he could be elected, but there is a risk in it, I confess myself that it gives me a little resentment to have people say that no- body but Grant can run this great country. When I hear that said I feel like exclaiming, ‘Well, we'll sce if there ain’t! We wall just have it ruined for fun by another man!’ “Then you are not yet certain in your mind that Greut is your first choice?” « “I have not made up my mind at all yet. There is no-person who thinks more of Gencral Grant than I do. If we were in a very bad condition—threatened by socialism, with great railroad strikes, with inse- curity, insubordination and rebellion in some one section, I think the people would ‘almost unani- mously cry out for Grant, believing that in his su- perb poise, his intelligent insensibility at the proper time, and strong, physical way of facing disorder, he would be unequalled as a magistrate. Yet it seems to me that we are in no such straits. Ours is acoun- try seeking for intelligence, for mildness, for the government of thought.” BLAINE. Q “You are not much of a Blaine man, I believo?”’ “No, I have no political respect for him. I-prefer Conkling to any other public man in the republican pened that is named for President. He has added justre of victory just now. Able at any time, he has tee ht his point out and is recognized as a victorious id EDMUNDS AND FISH. “Senator, why cannot the republican -party, go wholly outside of the persons discussed and nom- inate some euch man as George F, Edmunds?’ “There is no objection to unds wt all, I doubt, however, if he has the warmth of disposition—at any rate, whether he would satisfy the wants of tempera- ment of the party.” “Well, here is Hamilton Fish, of New York, who has as much influence in this Stato among quiet peo- ple as anybody; how would he do?” “That strikes me as @ first class #1 tion, In my judgment he could carry the Seager of the electoral votes more readily than any other person 1 could name. Everybody who wants General Grant would vote for him, and those who do not want Grant would find Fish a happy alternative. Tshould see him nominated in the confidence that he could carry the country. There is some idea, besides, that New York had better present the eandi- date. That is one reason why I metioned Conkling’s name.” “How do the le where you have been look upon the Southern ‘quest ion?” mi “TRE SOLID SOUTH?” “I think the general feeling throughout the North, and extending as far as the Pacitic coast, is indiffer- ence about the South. Our le seem to have made up their minds that the South has always been overestimated ‘and does not:contain sincere elements of patriotism or good behavior, Ido not know that there is any bitterness toward them. Tho feeling is rather disgust, as toward some worthiess kinsman.” “Have you been through the South recently?” “Yes. Ihave been down during the past year. I have some {interests in Atlanta, Ga, and I went there aud to New Orleans, and ag far. as Texas. ‘he onl: portion of the South that struck me with hes romise was Northern Texas, where it is inhabited y our own Northwestern people. They will make a new Kansas of it, with the institutions and feelings of a good civilization. As for the rest, I think very little of it. I don’t think I would livein the State of South Carolina if they were to give me the entire Commonwealth for # barony. It is im- possible to get a good meal of victuals in the South. They have not learned the first rudiments of cooking. Wherever you go you find your meats fried in boar’s fat, There is one spot, ut least, where I am delicate, and that is in my stom- ch. They have plenty of good game in the South, at have no conception of how to prepare it. They gave us in Texas fine chicken, which had tha promise of making a deligious meal, but suddenly it would be returned; ail baked in sow’s fat. ‘¥or God's sake,’ I said to the cook at Atlanta, ‘can’t you take that and have a little butter put on it and cook it like a Christian?’ oy thing struck me in almost every part of the South—the vicious, surly looks of the young men. Throughout the whole North the young men have genial, considerate, kind countenances. In the South the young men too often look at you as if to, say, ‘What in the devil are 7o8 Spinking about me” now? They look ready to burst out and cut some- body for a fancied slight, Such a state of society is far irom amiable, when at the very brink and hope- tuluuss of lite you see the 7oung, men wearing coun- tenances like Absalom. noticed, also, that they have great numbers of military academies, Whore they are drilling and wearing uniforms, .. THE RMBEL YELL, “In a certain place in Yexus I was taking an even- ing walk along the road at the outskirts 0: the town, when I heard somebody walking behind me, and found it to be an athletic young man. § he raised # yell like an Indian which made my blood run cold, I turned about to investigate this savage, and he paid no attention to me until he yot right up op- posite to me, when, without saying a word, hy reised another unearthly yell. I then turned around and suid, ‘What do you mean, sir, rising such a seream as that at my side” ‘By God, it is @ iree country, and I reckon 1 can yell!’ ‘No, six,’ 1 replica; ‘i don’t see why you should choose this hour of the evening wheu you come up to 4 person you'don't know to shout like an Apache,’ | “Now, I suppose that young creature was merely practising his rebel yell, as the highest intellectual bse eae’ form ot about. ° “I iooked at their country, covered with pines and occasionally showing @ lean pig, and 1 tho: t myself, ‘My God | Did we leave £60,000 of our youn, men aud $600,000,000 in such & country ae this 7” RESTORED TO LIFE. [From the Joplin (Mo.) Daily Hersté.) From « lady who arrived at the St. James Hote Saturday from the central portion of Arkansas we learn the particulars of an affair which posfosses many features of interest and to the medical profes sion in particular, The lady left her home at tie be. ginning of the present cold snap, with the intention of coming to Joplin, and there being no other con. veyance was compelled to muko the entire trip by ry The only passenger in the stage with he: w nian very thinly clad, While crossing the Buster Mountains he compisined very much of the cold; und in fact the weather was remiarkably cold, even ioe the top of those mountains, Atter a while he appars ently fell asieep. Arriving at the station on the north side of the mountains the driver ut to awaken the passenger, hit to his nese toa him frozou stiff and apparently dead, He was tuken out sola th Lt ctegee tee in & room, which was rather cold, though not as low aa the treexi it by wev- eval degrees. The lady remained ati eation until next day, and just as she was preparing to rewume her Journey was surprised to learn that signs of life had been detected in the sup; doud man, who was to have been buried that torenoon, True enough, plane of life were plain to be observed, aud by lively rubbing with flannels saturated with whiskey for about an hour he was, abie to speak, Wien the lad leit he was favt recovering from his stupor, and sht had no doubt by this tine he has fully reco’ . Had he continued in that condition three hours longer he would doubtless have been buried, a6 all thought he was dead, Being placed im a room of just the riut tempereture no doubt assisted his recovers. amusement he kuew anything “ALWAYS WITH YOU,” NO GOAL PROVIDED FOR THE POOR BY THE CITY—WHERE HELP IS GREATLY NEEDED—A + SAD CASE IN NEWARK. Since the cold weather set in the office of the Com- missioners of Charities and Corrections has been daily thronged with poor people clamoring for the share of coal given them by the city every winter, ‘These people are necessarily turned away, as the de- partment is not yet able to supply them with the much needed fuel. Superintendent Blake stated yes. terday that an average of 500 men and women had applied to him daily for more than a week past for this relief, Not until about the 18th inst., however, is it expected that the department shall be able to distribute the fuel, as not even the bids for the sup- ply will be received until the 14th inst. The appli- cants in most instances press their claims to the superintendent with piteous appeal, und tell him of the famishing condition of their families from want of warmth, ! pee ‘The following cases, after investigation, are sented to tho charitable as worthy of consideration: in East Thiriy-fifth street, a widow, sixty-four years of age, is in absolute need, At No. 387 Second avenue, second floor, back, a family of dive aro iv distress. The father.hag been out of employment tor some time, and has good roc- ommendations. The mother is in delicate health, ‘The three children need clothing. On the top floor of No. 99 Roosevelt street another family of five are in great distress. ‘The hushand ‘a aps er by trade, but has been out of work for six months. At No. 245 Monroe street, a family of six need help, The four small children are without suficient sus- teu and are sadly in need of clothing, Ape. hus- band hus been out of work eight months. @ wite was the only support of the family, but the money she earned by ng hus long since been spent. + in the rear house of No. 28 Thompson street a widow and her three children—the youngest an in- fant—are in abject poverty. On-the first floor of No, 195 Division street a sick husband, his wife and -five children appeal for help. ‘Lhey ail need sood and ciothing. On the top floor of No. 191, Forsyth stteet, room No. 16, # tamily of sevon aro on the verge of starva- tion, The husband has beea out of work for eight months. All the little household articles the family ad have been sold to buy bread and fuel. At No, 212 West Thirty-seventh street a widow and her in ‘ughtor are in d:s.ress, The daughter's earnings before ier sickness were the support of her- self und mother, but as these are now lost both are in poverty. In room 12, No. 413 West Twenty-sixth strect, an old inan, who was iormerly, a 5 Nie ae hotel keeper in this city, is now in need ot heip. He has no means of supporting his family, as he is sick, and his wile and two children are suffering greatly, On the second floor, front,.of No, 282 Mott street a family of fivo are in need of assistance, A poor biind woman and her invalid son are in ab- solute need of assistance at No. 311 Monroe street. Occupying '’® few rooing on the second floor of No. 119 Chatham street, Newark, N. J., is one Joseph Maddox, a quarryman, who has had no work since November, and who,.ow! to sickness and death ee to that time, was not able to save a penny from is smali earnings. Three months ago his wife died, leaving him with five children. The eldest is thir- teen years old and the youngest ten months. Maddox has tried hard to find some onInlOR Tah, but in vain. Bitter as was Thursday he and little ones had to go without a@ fire in the house or a loaf of breai in the eupboard, On Friday the Overseer of the Poor puppiied thom with some food and fuel. Previous to this Maddox, who was once well to do, preforyed to suffer rather than beg for charity. His eldest boy is now down with diphtheria, lying on a mattress spread on the floor and having very scanty covering. The boy is Ekin 2 “Give him some beet tea,” said the district physician, who the reporter was I have no beet,” said his roken-hearted father, in tones that brought tears to the eyes of the spectators. Until Tuesday all the children lay with the sick boy. One of his sisters has died and two others are sick, but in fair way ot recovery. Her atten doctor said that when he visited the house on iday the corpse of the dead girl lay in @ corner ofthe room. It has been buried in the Potter's Field. bs CONTRIBUTION RECEIVED, To THE Eprron or THE HERALD:— New Yonk, Jan. 5, 1879, Enclosed you will find $10, which you will please apply as follows:—To widow lady, 441 East Ninth street, $5; two children, 173 Wooster street, $2, and two children, 897 First avenue, $3, av. THE SUGAR QUESTION, MR. THEODORE HAVEMEYER'S PROPOSITION TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH. New Yous, Jan. 5, 1879, To tae Eprror or THE Henatp:— When the general allegation was made, some months ago, that®American refined sugars. were adulterated, 1 calléd on Professor Chandlor, presi-, dent of the Board of Health, and urged upon him the necessity of making an examination of the re- fined sugars on sale in the New York market and of giving the result of such examination to the public, He then stated to me that refined sugars were not adulterated and that he considered such examination useless. Notwithstanding this J insisted, that as the public mind was easily excited, it would be proper to give present attention to the matter, Proiessor Chandler's reply was that such an_ examination would be jive, that the Board of Health had not funds to defray the expense and that it was already overrun with work, Ithen offered to bear the ex- pense of the examination, stip! only that it showld be thorough and complete. Upon his answer, that he did not think, as « public he could agcept such an offer from a ate individual, and his reassurance that refi sugars were not adul- terated, Tallowed the matter to drop for the time As the assertions of the parties attacking the re finers continued to be reiterated in a still higher key, I again Waited upon Professor Chandler aud urged him to make an examinatio. of the New York refined sugars. I received substantially the same replies and Seourances as On the previous occasions, ‘Ou Saturday, December 21, a report ap] in the Tritune stating that Professor Chundier analyzed cerésin samples taken by bis assivtant, Protessor Ricketts, frou stigars in the possession of Mr, ‘le, and that in these samples been found tin, cop- per end treeacid. I called upon handler that morning aud asked him whether the Zrivune re- port was: ree wa ans » bat on Temding over report Presence said that the v Copper ought to have been inft out.” He further iniormed me that Mr. Earle had sent him some sam ory to test, anc that his assistant, Professor Ricketts, ad taken ‘samples, at Mr, Earle’s request, from sugars in Mr. Warle’s store; that these sampies had been examined and found to contain tin, copper wand tree ucid, and that one sample was so acid that it set the ,tecth on edge, I asked to seo the analysis; but this Professor Chandler declined, on the ground that, as Mr, Earle bad paid for tue examination, the was his (Mr. Earie’s) tae, ‘To this answer no objection can, I think, emaie, The sogees themselves I could not see, aa they were in Professor Ricketts’ laboratory and he was absent. When I asked Professor Chandler whether the samples of sugar furnished by, Mr. Earie and taken by Professor Ricketts from Mr. Earie’s store were the only samples of refined sugar he had examined he replied ‘that euch wus the case. i agin, inated ee meant heey ger nn mal a report upon ener: chang of adulteration to the Chamber of Commer ud loft him with the im- pression that, while cailing attention to certain sumples tesied, he would contradict the geu- eral charge of’ adulteration advanced by the op ponents of our industry. His report given to the ublic ttnous any — such qualification, Now, let ine ask the public, Mr. Editor, whether the general issue of the adulteration oF non- adulteration of reiitied sugars is to be, or should be, decided solely upon samples of fu Pro- fessor Chandler by Mr, Karle, whi sugars left the refiuery unadulterated; which haye been in the lat- ter’s sole possession since June last, and the analysis of which was made by Professor Chandler at Mr. Earle's request to je the latter to answer OF fa tga aie aay o Suit the fact sugars re petri laa ie will be quite suficiently established, Yesterday Morning I again called w Professor Ciandier dud eeited toi him the game statesn ut that the sugars tested, and on which he had based his report, were chiefly taken from Mr. Earle’s stock. 1 will not comment upon the manifest untairneas of allowing the public to rést under the impression that 2 ed Sanyo Betas ats complete, ua e aud com- plete ouatye is of All refined ‘etigars that I have for months been omdeayoring to scene. I have, there- fone, addvessed the following letter to the Chamber of Commerce :— ary ee Tr Paemonyt ano Mestetng oF rite wmkR OF Com MERCR . Chandler informed me yorterd wens by him, bud on the analysis othe fhe y ‘hamber of my tee a iy when com Professor hd, ‘espures outing, Aenot, £ hold my ‘expense, I noed no cod to. tod. I name the above it ie cee ient te respon lor vert to Professor Chan , both as Preside: tn : of He As one whove long eonugetion wi wand Edgar, st h ‘analysis of #0 Pray lo ' sere er a eB ok ie SR ER Believing that at this junctute you will deom the above communication of poreabes to the public, Laan, str, am, air, yours traly, A Ba aa,