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
of the present and the past, withering at the touch of the
Ermevs in the future. In pity, in pity show him the canker
which he is introducing into the sap of the tree of life, which
slain cause its root to be hereafter as bitterness, and its
blossom 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 ?
How—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 fora 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 .
would 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
of the present and the past, withering at the touch of the The Headlong Career and Woeful End
calliing of ceivable facts and statistics; and whatever your
Edoeys in the future. 1n pity, in pity show him the canker Precious Piggy. By the late Thomas Hood. ng may be, it must go hard if you cannot
which be is introducing into the sap of the tree of life, which suit yourself somewhere between No. 1 and
aliall cause its root to be hereafter as bitterness, and its Illustrated by his Son. London : Griffith and No. .24.
blossom 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 recall 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 illus- A PERFECT handbook 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,
Eric thought. The moment passed by for ever ; Eric had absurd and amusing.
listened without objection to foul words, and the irreparable The British Almanac. London: Knight and Co.
harm was done. Favourite Pleasure Books for Young People. Wiricti combines a precis of the history of 18.58
How easy it would have been to speak! With the
temptation, God had provided also a way to escape. Next London : Sampson Low, Son, and Co. with all the information that is needful for 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. London : Chap-
are of the highest class in quality, and if there is
Chap-
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 acquire an imperfect
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 charm-
Tins little book, by the author of " Sunnyside,
Nett morning he awoke, restless and feverish. He at
grace ter of Messrs. Chappell's publication, which is
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 barbarous terms, " half shift, whole shift, 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. player 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 and wasting his powers in 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 arrogant sound, but and delicate imagination with uncommon taste the faults must be attributed to excessive care-
he should avoid literature who is not prepared to 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 elegant edition of the great 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 Messrs. Sampson Low, Griffith and India hue which affords such delightful relief The Beating of My Own Heart. Song. Sung
I. arran, and Smith, 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. We 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 etrenne 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 And— 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 the addition of several pretty and
Wine "—admirably illustrated by Charles 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.
•