The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-09 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

2he Whztc Rose of Chyyleigh: a Novel. 3 vols.

Hurst and-Bhickett.

In these volumes we meet with a very complicated
story, which will afford the reader ample scope for
the exercise of his memory with its intricate
labyrinths and its perplexing ramifications. There
is great skill exhibited in the description of some
of the leading characters, and the various discus-
sions and dissertations that take place show more
knowledge, reflection, and analysis than aro often
displayed in the pages of novels. Mildred, the
heroine, is not at all an attractive personage. She
possesses good principle, kind feelings, anel often a
lofty purpose ; but she marred the effect of these
advantages by her peculiar ideas and her extraor-
dinary temper. The love of contradition seemed
inherent in her nature, and hence she would deny
well-known truths, disagree with her own motives
if expressed by another, and perform all kinds of

strange and disconcerting actions. One does not
feel at last that her untimely death strikes one with
the horror that ordinarily arises in parallel casual-
ties befalling the chief actors in the drama of

romance. Mildred had so confused and complicated
herself with her dogmas and doctrines, that her
future life did not promise to be a very happy or
successful one • at the same time her zeal had
not been without profit. For many had cause
to rejoice at the benefits and blessings she had been
the instrumental means of obtaining for them. The
last chapters are entitled " Rest from Labour," and
" Works Abiding," which are cheering and peace-
ful associations to dwell upon, when the tale is con-
cluded. Fitful and stormy as had been the life of
Mildred at evening time there was calm and serenity
made perfect. All angry and vexatious things
were put off or passed away, and the world she
had found so troublesome in its pathway at last
showed its brightest auspices as if in foretaste and
harbinger of the better world to come. " She lay
on her white-draped bed, clothed in white robes,
strewed with white roses. Her spirit had left its
earthly home, and gone to its other home in heaven,
to the glorious mansion prepared for her by her
loving Saviour and friend, and illuminated by that
perfect, all trascendent light, the faintest reflection
of which on earth she had so sought after and
loved." " Works Abiding" is a very grateful re-
miniscence for friends to gaze upon, and of our
heroine it is thus made mention " Mildred is dead,
but her work still lives, the prints of her footsteps
in the sands of time are not yet effaced, her spirit
lingers still near those she loved, inciting them to
noble faithful lives—pointing to a lofty goal,—a
certain blessed hereafter." Further on in alluding to
her career it is said, " Yes, Mildred, your task is
well done ; your labour is not in vain ; your work
abides crowned with a golden harvest of success,
whose first fruits only it was granted you to taste.
Yes, Mildred, your work is done, not till then were
yon called to your rest. Your influence touched
those who came within its orbit : it lives still, and
surely will grow and spread as does all influence,
good or bad, bearing fruit to eternal life, or apples
of the dark sea of death, to be cut down and burnt
with consuming fire in the day when the angel of
God shall thrust his sickle into the earth to gather
in the harvest of the ages.' There was great truth
in the remarks made by Mildred to her brother
Ernest. This latter individual is very ably de-
picted as one of those erratic characters who are ever
intent on grand actions and yet perform none, who
are to astonish mankind by their achievements, and
end in surprising the few who know of them by
doing so little. In the clearer light that dawned
upon her, Mildred spoke strongly to her brother,
"I have learnt that the glorious dream-land which
used to seem to us so very far off and unattainable
lies all about us. The heroic is possible to
all, and does not wait on rare opportunities
only. Common every-day life is the field where each
man may prove himself a hero." Emmeline, the
sister of Mildred, is a very great contrast to her;
but one really likes her better, as she is more
natural. She, however, shared the fatal perversity
which seemed indigenous to the family. This story
has many points of merit, and contains much. to
attract attention. It certainly labours under the
disadvantage of too many abstruse conversations,
which are well to illustrate a purpose, but may
weary out the patience of the gene ral reader. The
arguments of Mildred with Aubrey and Ernest are
of considerable length, and if both these characters
are necessary for the tale the colloquies should have
been shortened. This is most likely a first pro-
duction, as it bears traces of want of condensation,
but, of course, these defects can easily be remedied
on another occasion. The work is calculated to be
uncer-
tainma mnenotdaedsvoafnatacgtieon artoae notnyb likely to
ody;bu
of service, if only to show that the
but
wildt
resulthat and
the
hi
ne
pr ee ra
l
do what
comesbl
eea nveefat
hcbteeofrroesrseouf he
them
thtseimni their
the
ketihhnaedn
bdaesrset
of
outfhi
nt sheewiwrh
ohp o
the foolish ones of the earth to confoundhowtahseecrh'woaissneend.
This idea was never better illustrated or expressed
than in the grand words of the poet—
" His state is kingly.
Thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest ;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

7hAeprPil.trTisholmica9sa, niirytadngdesir-sot2rlerent, Journal
of Fashion for
oven t-
garden.
This is one of those pretty publications which
ladies appreciate so highly, bat which men are so
little able to criticise. There are three engravings
of 'fashions, and we must admit that the ladies de-
piuted appear most charming and attractive, owing
doubtless, in a great measure, to the elegance of the
costumes. There are ball-room toilets, visiting
toilets, violet taffeta flounces, tulle under-sleeves,
solferino ornaments;girdles en cordeliere,' and other
pretty mysteries which we cannot pretend to under-
stand. We judge by results, while utterly unable
to comprehend details. We know that elegantly
dressed ladies are most attractive ; and while leav-
in n
b • to their tasteful judgment the selection of means
to that desirable end, we must be thoughtful to the
clever artists whose combined talents are placed, in
such publications as the one before us, at the ser-
vice of the fairer half of the human race.