The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-02 00:00:00

loses something by the extravagance of its style, but it is
a striking and original story nevertheless. The hero is
supposed to have shot his only brother by an unhappy
accident, and circumstances have filled his father's mind
with dark suspicions. The unfortunate young man
leaves his home in despair, with what result we have to
learn. " Essays at Odd Times" perform less than they pro-
mise, but they deserve not to be overlooked. The literary
life of Isaac Taylor, a comprehensive and thoughtful
writer, is the subject of a brief memoir by Professor
Fraser.

TEMPIX BAR.—" Sir Jasper's Tenant" is con-
tinued, and new mysteries appear in the shape of
an intruder on Mrs. Harding, just as her schemes
were maturing and her grand prize seemed within
her grasp. The character of the " florid widow"
is one of the most successful that this writer has
drawn, and the description of the artful manner in which
the adventures went on is quite dramatic. Sir Jasper
makes himself most absurd in his devotion to the untruth-
ful woman, but the worst is that he knows her insin-
cerity, and yet suffers himself to be fooled. In real life,
however, we find many Sir Jaspers, only they do not avow
their knowledge with the candour of this selfish old
baronet. Marcia Denison is engaging in her way from
hor quiet earnestness and simple demeanour. As might
have been expected Mr. Dobb has got into trouble, and
his employer's money seems very uncertain as to
its chance of finding its way back again to proper
quarters. " The Streets of the World,"
.by George
Augustus Sala, concerns " Mexico, the Calle San
Francisco," this month. " High Horses "is a sugges-
tive sketch on matters of daily life and domestic affairs,
which are too often slighted and their importance over-
looked. The descriptions here given of " high horses" are
very true, and many may take a useful hint from them if
so minded, although it is to be feared that they are too
stuck-up to profit by the opportunity afforded to them.
" We get high horses and ride on them when we have more
money than our neighbours, when we have testimonials
and presentation-plates, when we inherit where we had no
claim of birth or blood unexpectedly and richly, or get into
the newspapers for any feat of daring, not of such heroic
diversions as to annihilate the high horse altogether, which
is a property belonging to true greatness." " Land at
Last" is continued, and the visit of the questionable-look-
ing friends to Highgate is not a very successful one.
Little Annie Maurice is now possessor of a large fortune,
and astonishes every one by her moderation. " Through
Hants" is another of those charming little sketches which
we have before met with in the pages of this periodical, and
which present the reader with such pleasant pictures of
their own country, which study is too often neglected by
those who rove about foreign lands. "In the Land of
Nod" contains some curious accounts of dreams, etc. " A
Government Clerk's Holiday" is a very clever paper, which
is sure to find admirers. "Good Cheer" is the title of
some verses by Thomas Hood, jun., which afford a useful
moral as to the benefits and blessings of labour. "David
Chantrey" approaches completion, and becomes more ex-
citing in its incidents. Altogether there is a great deal to
attract attention in this month's number of this periodical.

CORNHILL.—" Wives and Daughters" is here
continued at some length, and many readers will be
sorry to think that it is so near completion, for it is
a most interesting story, told in a natural manner.
Guthia and Molly arc about as great contrasts as
can well be imagined, and the difference is becoming
more palpable as circumstances develope their characters
and call out their different qualities. The mystery of Mr.
Preston has now assumed most formidable dimensions, and
threatens to create a fearful division in the household of
Mr. Gibson. Lady Harriet is quite a relief after the sense-
less gossips of Hollingford. There are many characters
met with in this narrative, but it so dexterously
arranged that no complicatipn takes place, and the
reader is easily enabled to follow the clue of the story.
" Aftnadale" is also very eventful in this instalment, and
Miss Gwilt obtains some decided advantages in consequence
of the extraordinary imprudence of Allan, and the exceed-
ing folly of Midwinter. No two young men could possibly
have exhibited more want of wordly wisdom than these
adventurers displayed in their debut at Thorpe-ambrose.
The interview between Mr. Pedgift, senior, and his client
is very aptly described, and the effrontery of the designing
sorceress is almost unbounded. The next portion of this
tale promises to be yet more stormy, as the two insepar-
ables aro on the point of coming to a quarrel concerning
this Marplot who has started up, and put allithings about
and around her to confusion. "Acquitted on the Ground
of Insanity" is an article that is sure to arrest attention
just now, because so much is said on this point, and such
various opinions prevail in respect to it. Some very true
observations are made on the unreasonable horrorlwith
which many people regard the insane, and which extends
to those who aro but slightly affected. "A Holiday in
Venice" is a lively sketch , that presents some brilliant
pictures of gaiety in the far-famed Sur-Mer of the Waters.
Studious readers may find food for speculation in the
"Platonic Doctrines of Ideas," " Trouville-Sur-Mer is a
sketch of the new fashionable watering-place in France ;
•' Maori Sketches" is the title of an article on a subject that
comes prominently before the reader nowadays. The ob-
ject is to show what the Maories were before they gained
oven their shallow varnish of nominal civilisation. It is
truly stated that they have shown splendid courage, and
the traits of their character exhibit their unwillingness
to civilisation as nothing remarkable, however disappoint-
ing it may be.

_
THE ENGLISHMAN'S MAGAZlNE.—Aquariums
seem of late to have gone a little out of fashion, at
least we do not meet so many rhapsodies about
amphibious creatures who make up for the indistinct-
ness of their physical form by the dignity and pre-
cision of their learned names. There is, however,
still something to be said about them in the way of pleasant
practical description as is shown in this number, in the
account of a ramble" Among the Tangles" of the Devon-
shire coast. "Some account of Barrack Life in India" is
written by an officer who knows what the life in barracks
was before the recent changes. From his calm and mode-
rately drawn picture the reader cannot wonder that no less
an authority than the late Sir Henry Lawrence declared
that the longing for transportation induced many soldiers
to commit capital offences. The barbarous routine which
gave the soldier no means of occupation during the weary
day had nearly as much to do with the disease and death
among our troops as the wretched sanitary arrangements.
The improvement in health and morals has kept rapid pace
with the changes in the soldiers' physical and mental con-
dition. " Stray Thoughts on Failures" is a well-written
and suggestive essay regarding the different aspects and
types of human failures, whether voluntary or involuntary.
The story of the "Old Pagoda Tree" is continued, and has
reached its third part. The officer supposed to be dead has
come to life again under singular circumstances. But too
late so far as his bride elect is concerned. Mr. Bouncy
gives us his second paper on " Man before History," a
wide subject, and the eventful life of "S t. Charles Borromeo"
is the subject of an earnest encomium. " Such a man," it is.
remarked, " will accomplish for thousands in one lifetime
that which generations of inferior men can scarcely effect
for as many hundreds." For the poetical reader there are
several verses, some of the best being imitated from Cal-
deron, and others rendered from the German.

- ,
THE ST. JAMES'S MAGAZINE:" The Lady's
Mile," Miss Braddon's new fiction, proceeds with
interest. Already, in this early stage of the story,
the secret of Captain Gordon's incomprehensible
conduct is explained to us, while the rival romance
of the painter's fair daughter is carried on simulta-
neously with the story of the chequered fortunes of Lady
Cecil Chudleigh. The author of "Shirley Ball Asylum'
continues his narrative of the " The Village Doctor," and
Paul Ferrol's " Working in the Dark" is rapidly approach-
ing a conclusion. Fiction is always predominant in the
"St. James's," but there are several graver papers, one a sen-
sible essay on the ment9.ltraining of girls, very appropriately
in these days when the guardians of young maidens are
beginning to inquire whether they do not want something
more than superficial accomplishments to equip them for
the battle of life. "The Great Unread" refers to the for-
saken and forgotten literature of mediaeval times ; while
an account of "Hindoo Prejudices" shows us the mischief-
working power of caste ; and an amusing paper on
" Waverly Tourists in Scotland" assures us that the Bor-
der, socially speaking, is fast becoming destroyed by the
constant passage of travelled's. Thirty times a day does
locomotive pass the Cheviot Hills ani the Border regions
going from south to north by various routes, and, of
course, a corresponding number of times does it pass
from North to South. Rather a change from the days of
William of Deloraine, and the Border forays. Mr. Sala
gives us a full account of the marvels of the Charing Cross
Hotel, and M. Dulapierre continues his versions of " His-
torical Misrepresentations."
LONDON SOClETY.—Pleasant and bright, as usual,
comes the animated " society," which is introduced
to us under the sparkling cover. No more suitable
companion could be formed for turning over on the
beach or under the flapping sail. The subjects are
varied and numerous, beginning with the " Medi-
dieinal effects of Laziness," and ending with an essay
on Hogarth. Between the two come sketches of Boulogne
Pier, of the Kentish Hop Gardens,- of Welsh Waterino.-
places, of Salmon Spearing, and Partridge Shooting. Be-
sides, wo have, in spite of the long vacation, a continuation
of the gallery of portraits drawn in the witness-box, giving
us some very striking and characteristic specimens of the
genus. " Witty Women and Pretty Women of the Time
of Horace Walpole" is the title of an entertaining paper;
while the fifteenth chapter of the series, on our good old
merchant princes, tells us the story of Thomas Coutts of
banking celebrity. Tho illustrations, graceful and effective
as over, adorn both prose and poetry.
THE BOYS' OWN MAGAZINE : THE BOYS'
MONTHLY MAGAZINE (Beeton).—These two little
serials contain much pleasant reading for boys, and
if the contents be not professedly instructive, 'they
yet convey a good deal of indirect information in history,
geography, and zoology, though it is given in the form
most attractive to boys.. The riddles, experiments, and
' puzzles of various kinds will amuse many a play hour on a