The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-06 00:00:00

LITERATURE,

Frost and Fire. Two Vols. Edmonston and

Douglas.

These very imposing and even alarming volumes
may rank with the curiosities of literature and the
marvels of science. The title-page is pictorial and
allegorical, and is, we are told, an index to the con-
tents of the work. We cannot depict the fac-simile
of the title-page--we can only transcribe its pen-
and-ink description. "On the title-page," says
the preface, " the word Frost is written over snow,
and above the top of Hecla ; the word Fire under
steam in Stoker, and under the sea. The book at-
tempts to prove that both of these natural forms,
which were copied from nature in Iceland—the cold,
conical, snow-clad pile built above a hot crater,
raised high in cold air ; and the conical pit, from
which steam casts boiling water along rays—are
tool-marks of natural engines, which shape the
earth's crust, and are moved by Frost and Fire ;
by cold above and by heat underground. The
atmosphere and the ocean aboveground, solids, fluids,
and gases under it, are the engines meant ; sedi-
mentary and igneous rocks are the chips and cinder
heaps ; mountain forms the tool-marks of these
engines ; and the ultimate course of their move-
ments must be the will of Him who made them all.
The aim of this book is to show that where light
shines there also force radiates, and there forms re-
sult from movements caused .by ray-force or by
light." No pains have been spared in the getting-
up of these very handsome volumes, which
are profUsely adorned with illustrations of the
various natural marvels, to which the work re-
lates. From a beautiful glimpse of the midnight
sun, as 'seen from Tromso, Juno 12, 1852, to an
accurate fac-simile of some scattered drops of ink,
the illustrations are as diversified and extraordinary I
as they are interesting and instructive.

Epoch Men, and the Results of their Lives. By
Samuel Neil, author of " Shakspere, a Biography."
1 Vol. Pp. 312. Nimmo.

Charlemagne, Hildebrand, Roger Bacon, Dante,
Chaucer, Copernicus, Lord Clive, and James Watt,
are the men of mark selected by Mr. Neil for the
subjects of his very interesting sketches. He has
purposely selected his heroes from various times and
countries, and from different ranks and pursuits,
to exhibit " the power of persistent purpose in the
world, and prove that there is ample scope in human
life for the display of individual effort and energy."
A still higher and more important lesson the author
in another place deduces from his examples, where,
in slimming up the character of a hero, he truly
observes, " the honest performance of duty is the
noblest heroism, the truest manliness. In the
mighty strife of time we have each--kings, thinkers,
artizans, merchants—to bear our part. If it be well
and honestly done, whatsoever be the form thereof,
it is sacred and noble." The Men selected for these
biographies are especially selected as men who left
an impress on their own and future generations,
" Footprints on the sands of time," which will not
be easily obliterated.

People, Places, and Things. By the Author of
" Lost Sir Massingbred." One vol., pp. 213.
S. 0. Beeton.

This is just the work for a present, with its gilt
edges, elegant binding, and diversified and very
interesting contents. When we say that many of
the stories which it contains have appeared in House-
hold Words and Chambers's Journal, it will be a
sufficient guarantee of the excellence of the
contents. Sketches of various " People," adven-
tures at various "Places," and descriptions of dif-
ferent " Things" comprise the subject matter of
this very amusing little volume.

Pages in Waiting. By Edmund Yates. 1 Vol.

Pp. 332. Maxwell and Co.