The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-01 00:00:00

As to War—

I dunno but wat it's pooty
Trainin 'round in bobtail coats--
But it's curus Christian dooty
This ere cuttin' folaa's throats.
Another while, pretty much to the earns effect in
meaning though to a different measure, qnoth our
transaltiantie chanticleer (still harping!on War)—
This sort o' thing aint jest like thet—l wish that I wile
furder—
Nhoepunce a day fer killia' folks comes kind o' low ter
mn?der.
The fuL', the wisdom, the wit, the humour of the
thing eau only be caught by reftdilog these most
whimsical papers each in its entirelti—or, better
still, the whole series of Biglow papers just as they
are hero presened to us, with all their fantastic in-
troductions, foot-notes, interpolations, and runn..
ing commentaries. Mr Molten has done exactly
the right thins in issuing precisely this very
edition of James Fussell Lowell's literary master.
piece.

The Danes in Camp. Letters from Sonderborg.
By Anberon Herbert. One Vol., pp. 221, Saun-
ders, 0 tley, and Co.

The author of these pleasant letters ktouses their
homely form, written as they were during his resi.
dance in Denmark, and at toe very seat of the war.
His object in their publication is, he tells us, twos
fold. " I have been iefluenced by the double wish
to reproduce in some simple fashion, for the sake of
those of my countrymen who are interested in the
present fortunes of Denmark, a part of My personal
impressions and experiences, and also to place on
grateful record the kindness with "0 hick soldier
and civilian, stranger and acquaintance invariably
befriended mo during my visit to that country."
Written in an easy, gossipping style, full of inci.
dental anecdotes and reflections, these gi Letterwv
give a very interesting glimpse of Daumark and the
Danes. Mr. Herbert recognises mar'Y points of
resemblance between Englishmen and Danes.
ter example, where he writes—
Comparing breakfasts, I here take oce!sion to notice
what has been striking me most forcibly during, the last fevr
days—the resemblance between the Danes and the English.
There is not only a resemblance between us in certain,
loading points of character, not only do I think that they
have a double portion of that honesty and straightforward-
ness which we are apt to claim for our own national cha-
racter and peculiar birthright, not only have they a man-
liness and dignity of behaviour which is certainly a northern
rather than a southern virtue, taut 1 find that In some

trifling matters of detail, particularly in our failings, the
resemblance becomes almost amusing. Before coming to
these, I have to remark that we are neither of us a nation
cf diplomatists. I do not think that we have as a nation
ever taken kindly to the craft. I do not venture to say
whether that which is deficient in us is a loss or a gain,
but whether loss or gain the Danes are not more successful
than we are. They cherish their personal independence in
the same way as we do—their thoughts are outspoken—
their press is free—a spy is a thing as unknown to them as
it is to us—you scarcely meet a policeman in the streets,
and if you do he has nothing in common with the self-
important sergeant-de-ville whom we in England so much
dislike; oven the guards on the railway are "good fellows,"
and not overclad is their own importance; and wherever
you go you feel that this fresh exhilarating northern air
was not made to be breathed by men living under the terrors
of a petty officialism.
Then as to our failings in common. Their cooking is of
the same unartistic kind as our own, and as far removed
from French refinements ; their shops, like our own—
though a change beitinsi
to take place in England in this
respect—a: wanting in the brilliancy and arrangement,
which with other nations so succEsen.illy attract the travel-
ling moths as they flutter about the continent. Indeed
their character is like our own northern island, with its
wealth deeply buried in it for those who care to pierce be-
low, and etaler, or the art of display, is not an instinct
born with the Dane. There is also a want of method and
management with them, as notwithstanding our great
workshops and manufactories, and mercantile combina-
tions, I shall always contend that there is with us, and from
the administration of a fleet down to that of an hotel I look
upon both nations as equally unsuccessful; though how
much of the blame in some of these matters is to be laid on
the shoulders of constitutional government I do not take
on myself to decide. In a word, neither Danes nor Eng-
lishmen have been born diplomatists, or cooks, or haber-
dashers; but they both have a share of sound qualities,
and not least amongst them a healthy love of individual
reedom, which takes little account of any inconsistencies
or inconvenience which may belong to it.

The people of Denmark evidently won the heart
and captivated the imagination of the youthful
traveller—witness the closing passage of this his
very interesting tribute to them :
_

I have road of an Arcadia, but I never thought to have
set ray foot within it. In all soberness of speech, the vir-
tues and happiness of this country would lead me to give
this namo to it, were it not that in the very moment in
which I first discover the picture, there is a dark eurtain
which seems to be descending and blotting all out. I have
read of a "patriot-army," of peasants, and ploughmen, and
fishermen fighting for their country, and burying the care
of self, and home, and family, in that deeper love; but ex-
cept in my dreams, I never thought to have seen what I
only imagined from my school books.
As I write, I feel that there is a bitter irony laughing
through my words. My Arcadia is a prey to Uhlans and
to Croats; my patriot army stands on the eve of a trial—
where perhaps the highest science and the fullest resources
of war could not save them. Can I accredit them with
either? Van I hope that we still live in days, in which
patriot armies gain victories, and repulse the host of count-
less invaders ?
Dark as are the clouds, and cruel as is the game which
is being played out, however chances may fall, and whether
I succeed in persuading you or not, I am determined to
remain constant to my own belief, that I have both visited
Arcadia, and seen a patriot army.
Do you blame me in this 19th century for cherishing two
such illusions, if illusions they are ?

Among the many books recently published on
Denmark and the Danes Mr. Auberon Herbert's
"]Letters" may take high rank with the moat in-
teresting.