The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-01-01 00:00:00

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Literature.

81 nourY Holland's Fer,ail, translated into 'he German
by Herr Bombard Althauss : Lordon, 10, Manor Road.
tipper Lewisham Road, a.m. Hamburg: Boring Von
M. and W. fibraeu.
The first volume of these highly interesting
essays has been forwarded to us by our clever
friend the translator. Herr Alibiing, well known
amongst the musical circles of our great
metropolis as • composer and ariistlot no mean
order, who haa by this most graceful and polished
translation of Sir Henry Holland's essays on
"Vital Statistics," shown that he is not only an
accomplished adept in the art and science of
music, but also a muter of the science of
!engage. W. have met with many translations
of English works into • foreign language, but
seldom or never, with one in which more taste was
displayed in tlsis choice of words, at the same
time preserving so clearly the original text of
the work. '1 Sees essays are.vaiwe havetstated,
on "Vital Statistics," These statistics are
grouped in the first volume now before in into
three distinct heads—lit, Man; 2nd, Physical
Forces; and 3rd, the Life of the Animal King-
dom, The books from which these essays are
take; or rather we should say, worts which Sir
Henry Holland has reviewed and criticised in
his essay, are P. Plouren's "Longevity of Man."
B. Von Oesn's "Decline of life in health and
dispose," and last, but not least, our much loved
and respected friend and neighbour the late
Thomas Bailey of Buford, Notts, whose admir-
able work "Records of Longevity" is used as a
text book. The second essay holds out a brave
criticism on the Inductive Philosophy and
physical foram The works therein treated upon
are the Rev. Baden Powell's essays on the Spirit
of the Inductive Philosphy, the Unity of Worlds
sad Philosophy of Cristion, W. IL Grove's
celebrated work on the Physical Forces alio
Professor Faraday's Conservation of Fortin
Sir John Hereohel's esays, Ira The third
essay on is "IA!. and organisation." Agroup of
works written by Thomas Rymer Jones, Richard
Owen, O. H. LIMN and George Ogilvie, form the
nucleus upon which this essay is bared. Lewes'
Seaside Studies are very familiar to many of our
readers. These mays would form a good
exercise for the German student. The German
is pare and faultless, the printing unusually
good, and the subjects of these criticisms instrue-
ive and amusing. The essays themselves are
justly celebrated. The translator informs us
that Sir Henry Holland was really delighted
and charmed with his rendering of the works
into the language of "the Fatherland," and no
wonder, it could not have le3o better done.
This work will be a good test to those who are
studying German, to prove their progress in the
study of that splendid language, by comparing
the,r translation into English with the work as
it first appeared—only we are afraid the result
may prove something like that attained by the
Welsh clergyman who, when complimented upon
his capital sermons, informed his delighted
hearers that they were taken from Hooker.
" But I have read all Hooker's sermons," said
one of his most attentive parishioners, •• and
never met with to-day's sermon." " Ah, my
dear friend," replied the pastor, "Hooker him-
self would not know them, for! translate them
into Welsh for my morning sermon, and back
again into English for the afternoon, and I won d
defy the author to be able to know them again"
Heartily reoommendial the work at present
before us to all lovers of German in its most
polished and finished style, we must elope our
review, congratulating Herr Althaus on the
universal success of all his undertaking', whether
musical or literary.—L W.

Received : Evans'. Illustrated Almanac for
1887 (quite • credit to Dorchester).

NEW MUSIC.

The nes musk wu sent too late for review
this week. but shall be noticed in our next nu-
prusion.—L.W.