The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-20 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

David Elginbrod. By George Macdonald, M.A.,
author of " Within and Without," &c. 3 vole.
Hurst and Beckett.

This is a peculiar story in satno reap,-;ets, but it
Will delight the lovers of the tr.AIVCIIOII6 and roman-
tic, for some most weird-like iocideDts are recorded,
and the mysterious is a ruling element throughout
its pages. Before we come to the wonderfu!, how-
ever, we are introduced to a very pretty picture
of rural life. David, the man who gives his name
to the story, is not at all a prominent figure in it,
but we are told that his influence was apparent
throughout, and long after he departed this life the
fruits of his labours were evident in many minds
he had benefitted and many whom he had counselled
and guided unto virtue. The Fir Wood as described
to us is a very appropriate home fbr such a man.
He would have been quite out of place in towns or
cities, but in the majesty of nature's stillness end
the glories of sublime scenery his spirit was at home
and rose in reverence to his Creator, whom he atcd-
f,

vastly regarded as dwelling not in temples made
with hands. Some of the conversations which he
holds with Mr. Sutherland are replete with native
wisdom, andseem to express not only the knowledge
that might have done honour to one skilled in some
profession, but also evince a depth of feeling and a
kindness of heart that mark him out as a superior
character. It was a great pity, as far as Mr.
Sutherland was concerned, that he so soon left his
old simple instructor. Not that his advice was wholly
lost, only had he been more under its guidance
he would not have made so many mistakes when he
came to England. In the portrait of this young
man the author has shown much discernment. We
find nicely depicted the undercurrent of self-esteem
or conceit, which so often mars at the outset of
their careers many youths of high promise. This
faulty feeling it was which made the young man
neglect to write to his simple friend, until the
great divider, Death, had taken him away from him
for ever. The grand old primitive man passed
away from worldly distinctions and educational
differences to a world where such dignities and
dogmas were unknown, but where his honest
nature and true soul would be seen in their real
excellence and ranked above more specious, but less
sterling qualities. Margaret, the heroine, is not
so pleasing a character as her father. She is like
him in some things, but has more reticence of
disposition. It is not so improbable as it
may appear to some at first sight, about her
transformation from a rough country girl to a lady
in look and bearing. From her earliest years she
had possessed a passion for study, but when Hugh
first saw her this refining process had not been
long enough at work to effect its ennobling end.
and create its shining masterpiece. 'as time went
on Margaret removed from the rough and coarse
employments of her early years, and mixed with
elegant society; for although sbe was partly a de-
pendant she was treated as a companion, from her
inteliigence and superior disposition ; soon showed
the native lustre of her mind and revealed the soft-
ening grace of her heart. The character of Euphra
is an extraordinary one; her style is of tropical
fervour and violence, and it lessens our good
opinion of Hugh Sutherland to find that he could
have been at all impressed by such a woman. This
misguided lady, however, worked out a dreadful
fate for herself, with all her adroitness and cunning.
She became the tool of a designing foreigner, who
exercised some mysterious influence over her, and
her superstitious dread was so great, that she be-
came a mere puppet in his bands. Some of the de-
tails are very ingeniously narrated, but others the
reader will doubtless consider exaggerated, parti-
cularly the spirit rapping, in which Count
Haikar so delighted to practise. Certainly a
man such as he was could have devised no better
means to make good his entrée into a desired house
than to invoke the aid of spirits sinister as himself.
Hugh allowed himself to be made a regular dupe
throughout these proceedings; and indeed for some
time marred his prospects in life by his unwise ar-
rangements. Mr. Arnold had every excuse for being
dissatisfied with him, and appearances were much
against him, His subsequent adventures in London
are detailed with vigour and vivacity, and finally
his triumph over Count Halkar is very satisfactory
to peruse. Euphra at last succeeds in freeing hers
self from the clutches of the ominous Count, but in
the mental struggle she expires. The accounts of
her last days are rather exaggerated, as she must
have been out of her mind to entertain such extra-'
ordinary notions of the Couat's power over her.
Still as a symbolical sketch of the hard but heroics
efforts of good striving with evil, and at last gain-
ing the glorious victory, in the struggle for which, if
flesh and blood fail, the spirit can rejoice trLumphant,
this exciting episode may be regarded as a successful
passage. On the whole then we meet with consi-
derable variety in these pages, many personages are
introduced, some being remarkably well pourtrayed.
Falconer, for instance, who is just the sort of man
to make himself notable in the world, and be of tise
to all who come in contact with him. Lady Emily's
facile nature comes out in strong contrast with
Euphra's violent style; and Mr. Arnold's simple
and rather vapid test of being shows out in bold
relief the vivid restlessness and sharp manoeuvres of
the wily Count. Also we meet with some striking
illustrations of life in various aspects, and are occa-
sionally struck with some forcible passage that
exposes cant or betrays cunning. Hence when a
well-frequented church was visited by some of the
chief characters in the story, there appears this
sharp criticism on certain of the worshippers. The
vicar was possessed of a gentle familiarity of man-
ner "that was exceedingly pleasing to the fashion-
able sheep, who, conscious that they had wandered
from the fold, were waiting with exemplary pa-
tience for the barouches and mail-phaetons of the
skies to carry them back without the trouble of
walking. Alas ! for them, they have to learn that
the chariots of heaven are chariots of fire." This
work may be confidently taken up by those who
like something out of the common, and they will
surely be struck with many of its animated and ex-
citing passages. There is ample scope for varying
tastes to be satisfied in the selection here afforded
them, as the scene ranges from nature's solitude
to the abode of fashion, and leaves us awhile to
study simplicity, then hurries us away to become
efficient in the mysteries of crime. There is a vast
amount of thought met with in the course of the
reflections in these volumes, and the conversations
are particularly brilliant in some parts, so that there
is every reason to suppose that "David Elginbrodo
will find many admirers.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT NICE.—On Wednes-
day last a grand ball was
given by an English lady
to the King of Bavaria, and among the guests were Cap.
tain, Mrs., and Miss Mary Johnstone Gordon, the latter a
lovely girl of 19. Captain Gordon, being an invalid, loft
early on leaving was upset in his carriage, but with-
out injury. Mrs. and Miss Gordon left at about half•
past two, and, the night being
and
wet and cold, Miss Gordon
went to the fire, which had been kept up for their return.
She took off her bracelets, &0., and put them on the fire-
place; she then turned round, and the bottom of her dress
caught fire, the fireplace being a low French one. She rushed
to her mother's room, which was some distance off, and in a
minute both were in flames. Captain Gordon was roused
and rushed in, receiving some burns about the legs. Mrs.
Johnstone Gordon is severely injured, bul her case is not
considered quite hopeless, but poor Miss Gordon died to-.
day at 12. She does not appear to have sufferred mush
pain after the first, but sunk under the shock to the nervous
system, her body being fearfully burnt. Captain Gordon
is a brother of Mr. Johnstone, of Alva, and took his wife's
name on their marriage.
ENGLISH PUGILISTS AT BERLIN.—A letter from
Berlin says;—" At the Circus Carre, in Friedrichs
Stress°, on Monday evening, a phendmenon was witnessed
of a character which is very rare in Germany. It was the
dcbut of the world-renowned English boxers, Alec Keene
and Jerry Noon '—the latter of whom the German public
is informed is the only man in the "profession" who has
never been beaten.' The house was crowded to excess to

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witness the display of science.' "
M. LOMB JULLIEN.—Mr. Bignell, proprietor of
the Argyll Rooms, has entered into an arrangement
with M. Louis Jullien to conduct the excellent orchestra of
this much frequented institution. The name he bears would
be a sufficient attraction of itself, but, in addition to this,
M. Louis Jullien is known to have inherited a large share
of the musical talent of his universally regretted relative,
and, there is little doubt, will do credit to the post which
for many years was filled with such ability by the late lei•
Emile Laurent,—.From tho ituaical Wora