The Press. — London, England, 1858-12-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS, DECEMBER 4, 1858. would defend him, and the dark array of spiritual foes who throng around his bed. Point a pitying finger to the yawn iog abuse of shame, ruin, and despair that even now per hapa 6 being cleft under his feet. Show him the garlands o f the present and the past, withering at the touch of the E r mevs in the future. In pity, in pity show him the canker which he is introducing into the sap of the tree of life, which s l ai n cause its root to be hereafter as bitterness, a nd its b losso m to go up as dust. But the sense of sin was on Eric's mind. How could be speak? was not his own language sometimes profane ? H o w—how could he profess to reprove another boy on the ground of morality, when he himself said and did things less ruinous perhaps, but equally forbidden ? For half an hour, in agony of struggle with himself, Eric lay silent. Since Bull's last words nobody bad spoken. They were going to sleep. It was too late to speak now, Eric thought. The moment passed by for ever ; Eric had listened without objection to foul words, and the irreparable harm was done. How easy it would have been to speak ! With the temptation, God had provided also a way to escape. Next time it came it was far harder to resist, and it soon became, to men, impossible. Alt Eric, Eric! how little we know the moments which decide the destinies of life. We live on as usual. The day is a common day, the hour a common hour. We sever thought twice about the change of intention, which by oue of the accidents—( accidents ! )—of life determined for good or for evil, for happiness or misery, the colour of our remaining years. The stroke cf the pen was done in a moment which led unconsciously to our ruin ; the word was uttered quite heedlessly, on which turned for ever the decision of our weal or woe. Eric lay silent. Tice darkness was not broken by the lashing of an angel's wing, the stillness was not syllabled by the sound of an angel's voice ; but to his dying day Eric never forgot the moments which passed, until, weary and self•reproachful, he fell asleep. Neat morning he awoke, restless and feverish. He at once remembered what had passed. Bull's words haunted him; he could not forget them ; they burnt within him like the flame of a moral fever. He was moody and petulant, and for a time could hardly conceal his aversion to Bull. Ah Eric ! moodiness and petulance cannot save you, but prayerfulness wank' ; one word, Eric, at the throne of grace—one prayer before you go down among the boys, that God in his mercy would wash away, in the blood of his dear Sun, your crimson stains, and keep your conscience and memory clean. This is impressive writing, and worthy of a Christian clergyman. No one assuredly can question either the high moral tone or the eloquence of "Eric." But as a story we must again pronounce it most poor and paltry. We must again express the pain with which we see one who probably has the power to produce a solid and sterling literary work giving the rein to his fatal facility and wasting his powers in vague and cheap rhetoric. To write for posterity may seem a vain and presumptuous ambition, and the phrase has indeed an arrogant sound, but he should avoid literature who is not prepared to be silent where he does not know and to utter without exaggeration what he knows, even at some sacrifice of rhetoric and of what he may fancy poetry. cannot fail to furnish a fund of amusement to the Country-House and its Christmas gatherings. The Headlong Career and Woeful Ending of Precious Piggy. By the late Thomas hood. Illustrated by his Son. London : Griffith and Farren. THERE is many a merry laugh in this drollery of an author whose name recals pleasant hours snatched by Humour from work-a-day life, while the fun of the father has been admirably illus trated by the son. Piggy pokes his nose into every imaginable place, and in every place he is absurd and amusing. Favourite Pleasure Books for Young People. London : Sampson Low, Son, and Co. Tuts is an admirable Rilpertoire of the standard literature of the nursery up to the latest date, of its prose and of its poetry, illustrated with infi nite taste and vigour with no less than a hundred pictures admirably coloured by Absolon, Willmot, and Harrison Weir. The printing and the paper are of the highest class in quality, and it there is anything which we admire more than the excel lence of this charming little book it is the price at which it is presented. The Angel over the Right Shoulder. London : Sampson Low, Son, and Co. THIS little book, by the author of " Sunnyside," combines with much graceful writing and delicate and fanciful thought admirable advice, especially to those who are, or may be, the mothers of England's children. Its especial object is to impress upon the reader the value of system and of unity of purpose, and it is enforced in a very interesting manner. Our Little Ones in Heaven. By the late Rev. Henry Robbins, M.A. London : Sampson Low, Son, and Co. Tills is a selection of pieces in prose and verse by one who had himself been sorely tried, and fought the battle of life with no ordinary cou rage and self-devotion. They have aft been chosen with a view to appealing to the heart, especially to those feelings which are connected with the love of children, and the choice shows that Mr. Robbins combined strong affections and delicate imagination with uncommon taste and judgment. Among the most beautiful are Longfellow's " Reaper," and that most touching poem of Moir, on the death. of his child, known as " Casa Nappy." This class of books which touch the heart are most powerful and useful agents in the work of education, and are, we fear, too commonly and too much neglected for those which merely concern the head. Gray's Poetical Works. London : Sampson Low, Son, and Co. A SINGULARLY elegant edition of the great Lyrist, with illustrations by Birket Foster. It is in a beautiful type, and printed on that paper of India hue which affords such delightful relief to the eyes of the reader. POCKET-BOOKS, ALMANACS, AND DIARIES. IN no department, probably, connected with lite rature has there been exhibited greater artistic progress than in that of Almanacs and Diaries. Messrs. De La Rue and Letts are the great pur veyors ; and whether you are a clergyman, or a solicitor, or a sportsman, or an idle man, or a husband looking for an krenne on New Year's Day for your wife, you will find what you want at one establishment or the other. There are — The Improved Indelible Diaries. London : De La Rue and Co. 1191 Letts'a Diary. London: Letts. IN all sizes and all shapes, with all kinds of con ceivable facts and statistics; and whatever your calling may be, it must go hard if you cannot suit yourself somewhere between No. 1 and No. 24. Besides all these, we have — The Farmer's Almanac and Calendar. London : Ridgway. A PERFECr handbook for the agriculturist and the gardener. And— The British Almanac. London : Knight and Co. Witicii combines a precis of the history of 1858 with all the intormation that is needful for 1859. rusital guitt. Chappell's Popular Instruction-Book for the Violin. By E. J. Rimbault. London : Chap pell and Co. ALL who would rapidly acquire an imperfect knowledge of the violin may invest eighteenpence in this very superficial work, and have no canoe to repent of their bargain. The comprehensive title of "Instruction-Book " must not, however, mislead aspiring amateurs as to the true charac ter of Messrs. Chappell's publication, which is nothing more than a primer, adapted to the requirements of those who, in musical art, are but children. In future editions the publishers would do well to get rid of those antiquated and barbarous terms, " half shift, whole shift, double shift, and last shift," and adopt the modern and far more intelligible word " position." A violin player in a "half shift" would be absolutely in decent, and not much more proper in a whole one. In a " double shift "it were very difficult to say what he would look like ; and in his " last shift" he would excite pity and grief rather than pleasure. We must also call the attention of Messrs. Chappell to the fingering, as well as to the want of it. The greater number of' exercises are left unfingered altogether, and in certain in stances, where the editor has thought fit to direct the digital faculties of the learner, his fin gering is so ridiculously bad as to make us think the faults must be attributed to excessive care lessness on the part of the engraver. Chappell's One Hundred Dances. Arranged for the Violin by E. J. Rimbault. London : Chappell and Co. THESE tunes are chiefly selected from the dance music of M. D'Albert, and, although they are by no means effectively, or even conveniently, arranged for the violin, will doubtless find favour with those who like to see a good deal for their money. Fancy a hundred tunes for eighteen pence ! Why, it is not a farthing a tune ! The Beating of My Own Heart. Song. Sung by Madame Clara Novello. Poetry by Monck ton Milnes ; Music by George Macfarren. London: Cramer, Beale, and Chappell. WE regret to find a musician of Mr. Macfarren's eminence putting his name to such poor stuff as this ballad is made of. It is essentially "of the shop, shoppy," and must have been written to order. The graceful words of Mr. Monckton Milnes deserved a better fate. t . .. . THE PRESS, DECEMBER 4 1858 t • 1191 cannot fail to furnish a fund of amusement to the . wo uld defend him, and the dark array of spiritual foes who throng around his bed. Point a pitying finger to the yawn- Country-Ho and its Christmas gatherings. Lettis Diary. London: Letts. hp , abyss of shame, ruin, and despair that even now per. IN all sizes and all shapes, with all kinds of con- _ bap is being cleft under his feet. Show bier, the garlands o f t he present and the past, withering at the touch of the The Headlong Career and W o ef u l E n d calliing of ceivable facts and statistics; and whatever your Edoeys in the future. 1n pity, in pity show him the canker P rec i ous Pi ggy. B y t h e l ate Thomas Hood. ng may be, it must go hard if y ou canno t w hich be is introducing into the sap of the tree of life, which suit yourself somewhere between No. 1 and aliall cause i t s root to be hereafter as bitterness, an d its Illustrated by his Son. London : Griffith and No. .24. bl oss om to go up as dust. Farren. But the sense of sin was on Eric's mind. How could THERE is many a merry laugh in this drollery of Besides all these, we have — be w — ho was not his own language sometimes profane How —how could he profess to reprove another boy on the an author whose name reca l l pleasant hours The Farmer's Almanac and Calendar. London : ground of morality, when he himself said and did things snatched by Humour from work-a-day life, while Ridgway. less ruinous perhaps, but equally forbidden ? the fun of the father has been admirably ill us - A P ERFECT h an db oo k for the agriculturist and For half an hour, in agony of struggle with himself, trated by the son. Piggy pokes his nose into the gardener. Eric lay silent. Since Ball's last words nobody bad spoken. every imaginable place, and in every place he is And— They were going to aloep. It was too late to speak now, E r ic thought. The moment passed by for ever ; Eric had absurd and amusing. li s tened without objection to foul words, and the irreparable The British Alman ac . L on d on: K n i g ht an d C o . harm was done. F avour it e Pl easure B oo k s f or Young People. Wiricti combine s a precis o f t h e hi story o f 18.58 How easy it would have been to speak! With the te mptation, God had provided also a way to escape. Next London : Sampson Low, Son, and Co. with all the informati on th a t i s nee df u l f or 1859. time it came it was far harder to resist, and it soon became, THIS is an admirable Re'pertoire of the standard to men, impossible. literature of the nursery up to the latest date, of Ali Eric, Eric l how little we know the moments which rusital guitt. decide the destinies of life. We live on as usual. The its prose and of its poetry, illustrated with infi- by is a common day, the hour a common hour. We nite taste and vigour with no less than a hundred Hever thought twice about the change of intention, which pictures admirably coloured by Absolon, he pap by oue of the accidents—( accidents ! )—of life determined and Harrison Weir. The printing and the paper Chappell's Popular Instruction-Book for the for good or for evil, for happiness or misery, the colour of Violin. By E. J. Rimbault. L on d on : Ch a p- are of the highest class in quality, and if there is Ch ap - oar remaining years. The stroke cf the pen was done in anything which we admire more than the excel- Pell and Co. a moment which led unconsciously to our ruin ; the wont was uttered quite heedlessly, on which turned for lence of this charminglittle book it is the price ALL who would rapidly acq u i r e an i m p er f ec t ever the decision of our weal or woe. at which it is presented. knowledge of the violin may invest eighteenpence Eric lay silent. Toe darkness was not broken by the in this very superficial work, and have no cause lashing of an angel's wing, the stillness was not syllabled The Angel over the Right Shoulder. London : to repent of their bargain. The comprehensive by the sound of an angel's voice ; but to his dying day Eric never forgot the moments which passed, until, weary and Sampson Low, Son, and Co. title of "Instruction-Book " must not, however, self•reproachful, he fell asleep. ~ mislead aspiring amateurs as to the true c h arm - Tins little book, by the author of " Sunnyside, Nett morning he awoke, restless and feverish. He at grace ter of Messrs. Chappell's publication, whi c h i s combines with much ful writing and delicate once remembered what had passed. Bull's words haunted him; he could not forget them ; they burnt within him and fanciful thought admirable advice, especially nothing more than a primer, adapted to the like the flame of a moral fever. He was moody and to those who are, or may be, the mothers of requirements of those who, in musical art, are petulant, and for a time could hardly conceal his aversion England's children. Its especial object is to but children. In future editions the publishers to Bull. Ah Eric ! moodiness and petulance cannot save • would do well to get rid of those antiquated and impress upon the reader the value of system and you, but prayerfulness wank' ; one word, Eric, at the throne ba rbarous terms, " half shi ft , whole shi ft , double of grace—one prayer before you go down among the boys , of unity of purpose, and it is enforced in a very shift, and last shift," and adopt the modern and that God in his mercy would wash away, in the blood of interesting manner. his dear Sun, your crimson stains, and keep your conscience far more intelligible word " position." A violin- and memory clean. p layer in a " half shift" would be absolutely in- Our Little Ones in Heaven. By the late Rev. decent, and not much more proper in a whole This is impressive writing, and worthy of a Henry Robbins, M.A. London : Sampson I one. In a " double shift "it were very difficult Christian clergyman. No one assuredly can question either the high moral tone or the Low, Son, and Co. to say what he would look like • • and in his " last i eloquence of "Eric." But as a story we must Tnis is a selection of pieces in prose and verse shift" he would excite pity and grief rather than again pronounce it most poor and paltry. We by one who had himself been sorely tried, and pleasure. We must also call the attention of must again express the pain with which we see fought the battle of life with no ordinal,/ cou- Messrs. Chappell to the fingering, as well as to the one who probably has the power to produce a rage and self-devotion. They have all been want of it. The greater number of exercises are solid and sterling literary work giving the rein chosen with a view to appealing to the heart, left unfingered altogether, and in certain in- to his fatal facility a n d was ti ng hi s p owers i n especially to those feelings which are connected stances, where the editor has thought fit to vague and cheap rhetoric. To write for posterity with the love of children, and the choice shows direct the digital faculties of the learner, his fin- may seem a vain and presumptuous ambition, that Mr. Robbins combined strong affections Hering is so ridiculously bad as to make us think and the phrase has indeed an arr oga nt so und, b u t and delicate imagination with uncommon taste the faults must be attributed to excessive care- he should avoid lit era t ure w h o i s no t p re p are d t o and judgment. Among the most beautiful are lessness on the part of the engraver. be silent where he does not know and to utter Longfellow's " Reaper,' and that most touching without exaggeration what he knows, even at poem of Moir, on the death • of his child, known Chappell's One Hundred Dances. Arranged for some sacrifice of rhetoric and of what he may as " Casa Wappy." This class of books which the Violin by E. J. Rimbault. London : fancy poetry. touch the heart are most powerful and useful agents in the work of education, and are, we Chappell and Co. CHILDREN'S BOOKS. fear, too commonly and too much neglected for THESE tunes are chiefly selected from the dance- those which merely concern the head. music of M. D'Albert, and, although they are A CROWD of Gift-Books, in bright-hued covers by no means effectively, or even conveniently, and brilliantly illustrated, come gaily dancing Gray's Poetical Works. London : Sampson arranged for the violin, will doubtless find favour along the path of time, treading on the heels of Low, Son, and Co. with those who like to see a good deal for their the Old Year, and heralding the approach ofmoney. Fancy a hundred tunes for eighteen- MerryA siwut ARLY e l egan t edition of the grea t Lyrist, ' ' • Christmas, of holiday making and joyous with illustrations by Ihrket lobster. It is in a children. They issue mostly from the establish- beautiful type, and printed on that paper of m,ents of Messr s . Sampson Low, Griffith and India hue which affords such delightful relief The Beating of My Own Heart. Song. Sung I. arran, an d S m i t h , Elder, and Co.; while Messrs. to the eyes of the reader. by Madame Clara Novello. Poetry by Monck- he La Rue add to their force Pocket-Books and ton Milnes ; Music by George Macfarren. Diaries full of fancy and replete with informa- tion. W e POCKET-BOOKS, ALMANACS, AND London : Cramer, Beale, and Chappell. subjoin the muster-roll, so that our readers may choose for themselves. DIARIES. WE regret to find a musician of Mr. Macfarren's . IN no department, probably, connected with lite- eminence putting . his name to such poor stuff as ; this ballad is made of. It is essentially "of the The Parents' Cabinet. London : Smith, Elder , rature has there been exhibited greater artistic shop ' choppy, and must have been written to and Co. progress than in that of Almanacs and Diaries. order. The graceful words of Mr. Monckton Tins is a new edition carefully revised, and Messrs. De La Rue and Letts are the great pur- Mihies deserved a better fate. 11 With much new matter iidded, of that well-known eyors ; and whether you are a clergyman, or a work which has been so strongly recommended v solicitor, or a sportsman, or an idle man, or a Sleep in Peace. Duet for Two Sopranos. by Miss Edgeworth. There is a most judicious ~ husband looking for an et renn e on New Year's Brightly Shone Those Days of Childhood. Ro- ; ' mixture in it of the amusing and the instructive, Day for your wife, you will find what you want and throughout we find a character of thought manes from the Opera of "Martha." Com- 1 at one establishment or the other. and language eminently calculated to educate posed by Flotow. the heart as well as the intellect. The first There are— -,, London : Cramer, Beale, and Chappell. number was published on the Ist of the present The Improved Indelible Diaries. London : month, and the work is to be completed in twelve THE above duet has already become popular in monthly parts. De La Rue and Co. this country through the charming singing of Miss As fanciful as Owen Jones roof to the London Louisa Pyne, aided by her sister, and as much, / Three Christmas PlayB for Children. By Theresa Crystal Palace, and full of information. You can- if not more, has been achieved for the romance Pulsky. London : Griffith and Farran. not buy a prettier little present. by the exquisite vocalization of Signor Mario. TnnEE ve clever little dramas—" The Sleeper A n d — Pieces so thoroughly well known require no cri- Awakened,"ry " The Wonderful Bird," and ~ Cri- ticism ; and we may, therefore, content onr- The Improved Red Letter Diary. London : selves with the statement that the translator and Army- age, with th e a dditi on o f severa l pre tty an d Wine "—admi ra bly ill us t ra t e d by Ch ar l es Army- De La Rue and Co. arranger, Mr. Baylis Burton, has acquitted him- Well-imagined songs by Professor Janaa. They JUST the thing for a lady's writing-table. self creditably of his duties. • CIIILDREN'S BOOKS. A CROWD of Gift-Books, in bright-hued covers and brilliantly illustrated, come gaily dancing along the path of time, treading on the heels of the Old Year, and heralding the approach of Merry Christmas, of holiday making and joyous children. They issue mostly from the establish ments of Messrs. S am p son L ow , Gri ffi th and larran, and Smith, Elder, and Co.; while Messrs. 1 )F La Rue add to their force Pocket-Books and D . larks full of fancy a n d re pl e te w ith informa tion. We subjoin the muster-roll, so that our readers may choose for themselves. The Parents' Cabinet. London : Smith, Elder, and Co. is a new edition, carefully revised, and with much new matter added, of that well-known work which has been so strongly recommended by Miss Edgeworth. There is a most judicious mixture in it of the amusing and the instructive, and throughout we find a character of thought and language eminently calculated to educate the heart as well as the intellect. The first number was published on the Ist of the present month, and the work is to be completed in twelve monthly parts. Thri As fanciful as Owen Jones roof to the London . _-• .n u 1:,1 1 um Well 90 strongly recomoTiueu l' by Miss Edgeworth. There is a most judicious solicitor, or a sportsman, or an idle man, or a Sleep in Peace. Duet for Two Sopranos. ~ husband looking for an krenne on New Year's Brightly Shone Those Days of Childhood. Ro- i ' mixture in it of the amusing and the instructive, l Day for your wife, you will find what you want and throughout we find a character of thought manes from the Opera of "Martha." Wm- and and language eminently calculated to educate at one establishment or the other. posed by Flotow. the heart as well as the intellect. The first There are— London : Cramer, Beale, and Chappell. number was published on the Ist of the present The Improved Indelible Diaries. London : month, and the work is to be completed in twelve THE above duet has already become popular in monthly parts. De La Rue and Co. this country through the charming singing of Miss As fanciful as Owen Jones roof to the London Louisa Pyne, aided by her sister, and as much, / Three Christmas Plays for Children. By Theresa Crystal Palace, and full of information. You can- if not more, has been achieved for the romance Pulsky. London : Griffith and Farran. not buy a prettier little present. by the exquisite vocalization of Signor Mario. TnnEE ve clever little dramas—" The Sleeper And— Pieces so thoroughly well known require no cri- Awakened,"ry " The Wonderful Bird," and " Cat- ticism ; and we may, therefore, content onr- n°line "— a d m i ra bl y ill ustrated b y Ch ar l es A rmy - The Improved Red Letter Diary. London : selves with the statement that the translator and tags, with the addition of several pretty and De La Rue and Co. arran g er, Mr. Ba y lis Burton, has ac q uitted hi m - i' imaguled gong's by Professor Jansa. They JUST the thing fora lady's writing-table. self creditably of his duties. . .