The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-06 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Spirit of the Giant Mountains. A Series of
Fairy Tales. By M. C. R.; from the German.

Murray and Co.

This little volume records the varying legends in
which Rubezihl, the Giant Spirit of the Mountains,
plays a prominent part. They are full of interest and
humour, not devoid either of the moral so often found lurk-
ing under fairy lore. The spirit is a whimsical creature,
who occasionally plays stern tricks, but he is oftener repre-
sented as a just, though kindly creature, who rewards
honest industry and kindliness in the most liberal fashion,
reserving his terr.rs for the cruel and crafty or The avari-
cious. There are many instances of poor labourers and
their fariailies suddenly enriched, of merry-hearted fearless
children befriended by the mountain sprite. Rubczahl's
healing plants, too, gives ri,o to many a legend. alto-
gether it is a very pleasant collection of tales, which will
introduce their young readers into a world quite new to
them.

Luttrell of Arran. By Charles Lever. Part 6.
This periodical does rot come wp to what might
have been expected from the pen of Mr. Lever, on
a:subject of which he is such a master as that of Irish

life and character. As the characters of the dra-
matis personce are developed, they show evident
signs of exaggeration. It is certainly not consistent with
the description given of Sir Gervais Viner that he should
employ such a simpleton as Mr. Brinlay for his legal ad-
viser, nor is it natural that the old Irish peasant should be
at once so noble in his rough nature, and yet possess such
low cunning as he displays in some passages. The young
Irish peasant girl Kitty O'Mara has been adopted
by Sir Gervais Viner, much to the annoyance of his sister-
in-law, Georgina, who forthwith sets her wits to work to
oust her from her position, and, as the concluding chapter
indicates, with a certain amount of success. The plot of the
tale is cleverly contrived, and in spite of the objections above
alluded to, contains much to interest the reader.

Mr. Facey Romford s Hounds, By the Author of
"Handley Cross," &c.
A new serial by the author of "Handley Cross"
and " Mr. Soapey Sponge's Sporting Tour," is sure
to be welcomed by the public, but we had rather so
able an author had introduced us to an entirely
new hero, and likewise to one of better repute than Mr.
Romford, whom the readers of Mr. Sponge's adventures
may remark as an individual a few shades lower in charac-
ter and honesty than even that gentleman himself. Mr.
Pacey Romford having been disappointed in his expecta-
tions from his uncle, determines to play a bold card, and
becomes the master of a subscription pack, in which en-
deavour he seems to have succeeded. Mr. Sponge and his
pretty wife are introduced, and if we are to draw an inference
from the illustration on the cover, Lucy, who has been
deserted by her faithless husband, will possibly figure in
future numbers. The descriptions are clover, and what
might be expected from the author's antecedents, although
he, as is his wont, delights to pourtray the dark side of
sporting character.

Shakpere Weighed in an Even Balance. By the
Rev. A. Pownall,l4l.A. Saunders and Otley.
The motto of this work aptly explains its pur-
port. It is taken ffom King Henry the Sixth,
" Who hath not heard it spoken—How deep you
are within the books of God." The author explains in his
preface that he has attempted to illustrate the striking
similiarity that exists between passages of Shakspere's
writings and texts from the Scriptures. This interesting
pamphlet is worthy of attention, and the anther has the
merit of originating the idea of thus collecting and com-
piling the several examples at the present time. It is to
be presumed that everything that has reference to the works
of this immortal author will be welcome,and there is no reason
to doubt that the issue of this little work will be success-
ful, exemplifying as it does how the mighty composer did
not draw all his inspiration from the sources of human in-
telligence, but delved in a deeper mine of wisdom, and
ascended to more sublime heights of glory.

Vestern Woods and Waters. By John Hoskyns

Abrahall, Jun., M.A. Longman.

This is rather an original kind of work; much
care has been bestowed upon its compilation, and the
reader who likes to study the peculiarities and
wonders of an interesting region will be delighted
with its perusal. It consists of poems and illustrative notes.
There are also a map and a frontispiece. Tha subject is a
description of a July among the woods and waters of the
red man. It is mentioned in the introduction as " that
magnificent region which presents the grandest combina-
tion of inland wools and waters that earth can show."
Some various measures aro adopted in the course of this
work, and occasionally the metre is of a very flowing de-
scription. Many characteristic sketches are given, and
some legends are skilfully introduced, which enliven the
course of the poem. Altogether there is quite enough in
the contents of this book to arouse the curiosity, awaken
the interest, and stimulate the inquiry of the reader. It is
written throughout in the style and spirit of one who enters
on his task con amore, and thus it is animated and ex-
pressive.

Reynard, the Fox, in South Africa. By W. H.

Bleek. Trubner and Co.

The most industrious reader amongst us is pro-
bably unaware of the fact that there existAuch a
thing as a Hottentot literature, yet that such is the case is
amply proved by the little volume before us. It consists
of Hottentot fables and tales, and is chiefly translated from
original MSS. in the library of Sir G. Grey, K.C.B„ who
was at one time Governor of Cape C Any. The fables are,
as might be supposed, of the quaintest character, and great
numbers of them refer to the animal kingdom, wherein
lions, jackals, &c., hold discourse. But however primitive
these legends may be, they possess a certain interest from
their origin, as the translator observes in his preface. The
fact of such a literary capacity existing among a nation,
whose mental qualifications it has been usual to estimate at
the lowest standard, is of the greatest importance ; and that
their literary activity (in contradistinction to the general
character of native literature among negro nations) has
been employed almost in the same direction as that which
had been taken by our own earliest literature, is in itself of
great significance. Though we cannot suppose that the
general reader will care much for these singular narratiTes,
they will certainly, on the grounds thus enumerated, at-
tract the attention of the philologist.

A Woman's Example and a Nation's Work.

Ridgway.

We have here a tribute to the self devotion and
public services of F;orence Nightingales and a
record of the progress of the great work she set on
foot. It is chiefly ot,upied by an account of what
has been done for the care of the sick and wounded
in the American army of the North, and in the course of
tile narrative supplies some fresh and interesting informa-
tion.

Spiritualism, its Facts and Phases. By J.

Powell, Pitman.

Criticism is perfectly useless with regard to such
a book as this, since if the author actually believes
the personal experiences which illustrate it to have
taken place, he will not easily be convinced of the
light in which they appear to mortals unfavoured
with raps on the wall, and falls of the crockery.
We can only express our regret that such works
should be circulated, influencing, as their professed