The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-01 00:00:00

history. " The Annals of London Opera Lite " proceed in
their usual style, and chronicle the shifting fortunes of
musicA celebrities from 175 Ito 1772. Other articles and
sketches complete the number, prominent among which is
the fresh instalment of the story of fashionable life—" The
Ordeal for Wives."

ST. JAMES'S.—" The Man in Chains"iscont,i'2ued
at some length, and shows ns the seemingly pros-
perous barrister becoming more and more involved
with his enemy. The opera, which seems to nave
come into favour with meg writers, is the
subj(ct of a paper, which tells what English cperi
was like in the days before the Italian fashion came into
favour. It wax ecrtai:;ly something very different from
the sensational school of our Lucrezia Borgias and 't rova-
tories. "This real English opera always kept on the level
wale of comedy, eschewed the dagger and bowel completely,
and remained within a charming province of love and hap-
piness and namby pamby." "A Remarkable Tiler narrates
oneof those extraordinary cases which make us thankful that
capital punishment is no longer so lightly inflicted. "The
Ronian Convert" is a tale of the early Christians, ani
" The Shadow Land of Ireland" gives an account of some
of the more remarkable superstitions of that imaginative
people. The art of stenography is discussed in a paper on
Parliamentary debates and reporting, which is somewhat
unjustly severe on our representative eloquence. However
dull or tedious the debates may often be, still a full and
accurate report of them is a most important part of our
present freedom of thought and action, and despotism
would win a great advantage if the open discussion of all
sides of our political questions ceased to be publicly re-
ported. Dr. Scoffern contributes a paper on " Gunpowder
and Gun Cotton," which will interest the scientific; and
too staralVßeitiiiirray" is brodg—ht to itotictillifort."4llfr
reader will not be able to complain of lack of incident, for
this last instalment is crowded with events. It is satisfac-
tory to find that the attractive and sensitive heroine is not
left lamenting for the treachery of the faithless hero.

CORNHILL.—We are this month presented with
the last of "Denis Duval," and appended to it are
some remarks by the editor, who writes in eloquent
terms of the great departed, and speaks favourably
of the work, which, he says, "breaks off as his life
ended—full of vigour, and blonming with new
promise, like the apple-trees in this month of May : the
only difference between the work and the life is this, that
the last chapters of the one have their little pathetical gaps
and breaks of unfinished effort, and the last chapters of the
other were fulfilled and complete." It is, of course, impos-
sible to form a correct estimate of what the story might be
as a whole, but many readers will be gratified with this
opportunity of perusing another, if an imperfect and un-
finished, specimen of the powers of their favourite author.
"In the midst of life we are in death," is wonderfully
illustrated in this sudden removal of an author in the midst
of his work ; the labourer in the literary vineyard had not,
to our finite judgment, nearly completed his task when his
mission, in his Master's sight, was accomplished ; and he
was called away, "The Red Shirt in Calabria" is another
of those Garibaldian records like that which appeared last
month in this magazine. It is spiritedly written, and is
sure to attract attention at this juncture. " The Story of a
Spoilt Life" refers to William Behnes, the sculptor. The
unfortunate career of this gifted man is ably narrated to us,
and the last passage met with in this interesting but melan-
choly epitome of his existence observes that " from what he
has left behind him arises the thought of what he might
have left, and then the inevitable conviction of a
life wasted in struggles with gratuitous difficulties."
" Margaret Denzil's History" is not yet con•
eluded. The same animated descriptions are met
with, and the heroine is as excitable amid the cares of a
family as she was in her romantic girlhood. " Devonshire
Lanes, and their Associations" is a pleasing sketch of
rambles in that charming locality, and the reader will doubt-
less be tempted to follow the writer's example, or at least
wish to see for himself places so favourably presented to
notice. " How we Mounted the Oldenhorn" is one of those
exciting descriptions which are so characteristic of the life
our countrymen lead abroad, and ably represents the daring
spirit and love of adventure which have made their names
famous throughout the world and stimulated other nations
to follow In their track.

GOOD WORDS.—There arc several pv.pers of inte-
rest in this month's number both of instruction and
entertainment. Sir John Herschel hr.s a paper
on " Celesti-d Mearurings and Weighings," Mr.
Gosse continues his " Year at the Shore," Dr
tliset,urs;:s ilyout the streets of Parizl, anti Isaac
Taylor gives a furthe: instalment of his "Personal Recol-
lections." In the department of fiction we have the sixth
part of Mrs. Wood's interesting though melancholy story
of " Oswald Cray ;" and the author of " John Halifax"
supplies the sec)nd and concluding chapter of "The Un-
kind Word," a story that has truly a moral for many
homes.

-
CHRISTIAN WORIC—This little serial contains a
record of all that is being done for the Christian-
ising and civilising of the poor. It has, besides,
several very interesting articles on similar subjects.
In the first of these, which is entitled, " On some
Social Fruits of Work among the Poor," we find
some gratifying accounts of the good and great results
flowing from the humblest earnest efforts for good. One
case ie especially striking. A young English labourer in
Clifton, who had but eight shillings a week, hired a room
for half a crown weekly, and gathered together periodically
many of the worst characters in his neighbourhood, endea-
vouring to reclaim them. He died a year or two after, but
not before he had done his work; and a temperance meet-
ing„ a ragged school, a mothers' meeting, a lending library,
a Bible-woman's mission, and a Saturday evening coffee
and reading meeting are now in existence, all owing their
origin to the half a crown room. Those interested in
philanthropic efforts will find much to excite their attention
in this little serial.

THE SIXPENNY. —ln this serial C. Co
romance of The Singed Moths is continued, and
there are also some entertaining papers on various
subjects. We have a sketch of the manners end
customs of the Circassians, a description of Indian
Jugglers, &c. ; but the great part features of the work are
the sensation stories, some of which are A 1 in that line.
" Barry O'Byrne" draws towards a conclusion, and in spite
of the contradictory and unnatural influences brought to
bear upon it, many parts are well written, and the tale is
not devoid of interest.