The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-17 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Atherton, and other Tales. By Mary Russell Mit-
ford, author of "Our Village." Three vols.

Hurst and Blackett.
The announcement of a tale from Miss Mitford is
of itself a great attraction to all novel readers ; but
when it is further considered that this story before
us is the longest which has been presented to us by
the gifted authoress, it is probable that the interest
will be increased and the expectations. heightened.
Neither hope nor attention will be thrown away on
the perusal of " Atherton," for it is a charming
and graceful sketch of calm and sweet simplicity.
A country life in a secluded village, with nothing
of modern hurry and tumult to disturb its serenity,
was the lot of the heroine. "Remote from towns
she ran her goodlyrace ;" nor, although subsequently
becoming a great heiress, did she manifest the
slightest desire to leave her rural abode. Her
position became a very trying one at a later period,
and it must be seen by every one that Katey Warner
exhibited more true feelings of the heart and right
judgment than the courtly Lord Delaney and his
accomplished son, skilled in all the refinements and
acquisitions of society. She even surpassed -the
intellectual guide of her inexperienced and un-
cultured girlhood in the best of all wisdom—the
art of knowing her duty, in the complicated posi-
tion unwise friends and skilful enemies had con-
trived to create for her. Lord Delaney is a very
life-like sketch of the representative of an old and
honoured line, clinging to the remnants of his time-
honoured and dearly beloved home, preferring death
itself to being torn away from its holy shades.
Many other persons are characteristic of the re-
semblance to truth and nature that Miss Mitford's
creations always peculiarly possess. Mrs.
Bell, the bustling, strong, and good-natured
mother, Mrs. Warner, the calm and serene
grandmother, who ruled her large property
with a gentle dignity and genuine kindness
that many a magnate might have envied.
The chief charm in the story is in the description.
The pure and fresh scenes of the country appear
before us in all their glowing verdure and flowery
loveliness as we trace the path of our heroine in
her wanderings. It is a pleasing thought to dwell
upon at last, that she is not removed from the
sphere she was calculated to adorn and to beautify,
and that she had passed through a trial of great
severity with the calmness and candour which dis-
tinguished and elevated her simple nature. Ather-
ton-hall in its pride and grandeur never owned a
nobler daughter amid its titled ranks than the one
who put aside the glittering coronet held out to
her, and turned away from the high place offered
for her acceptance, when the conviction came
upon her that she should go no further. In
the other stories we meet with in the
remaining volumes a great deal of variety exhibits
itself in country, scene, and manners. " The Lost
Pearl" is interesting, and furnishes a proof of
cunning and deceit rarely equalled. " Wedding
Slippers" is a very remarkable narrative, and
although the scene is laid in England, the events
partake of the nature of Oriental wonders rather
than the transactions of our own country. " The
King's Page" is a very ingeniously contrived ad-
venture that befel the favourite of Frederick the
Great, in consequence of his imprudently throwing
out of the window some portions of a letter which
had a double meaning. " The King's Ward," and
" The Oaken Cross," bear a likeness to the tales
of the chivalrous ages, while " The Ploughing
Match," and others, contain the doings and sayings
of modern rural life. "Tb e Gleaner," is a very
interesting sketch. An old man returned home, rich
and friendless, and wishing to know the true from
the false, he first presented himself before his rela-
tives as a poor mendicant. They all repulsed
him with but one exception, and he next
r came among them the proprietor of the hall,
which he had just purchased. The. astonishment
and horror of the one side, and the delight and
gratitude of the other may be imagined. The
varying emotions are skilfully exhibited, and Mar-
garet, the widow, who had offered him her home
when he appeared destitute, was welcomed to the
hall to dwell with the proprietor, from whom she
had expected to rent a cottage. A great deal of
life as it is appears before the reader who glances
over these pages. Whatever be the time, place,
or circumstance selected for notice, the same
fidelity to truth is evidenced, and talent is em-
ployed to pay homage to the pure, and crown with
lustre the works of the good.

Modern German Music. By H. F. Chorley. Two

vols. Smith, Elder, and Co. -
A part of these volumes has already appeared in
a work on " Music and Manners in France and
North Germany," which the author published in
1841. Since then he has frequently visited Ger-
many, and made a further acquaintance with the
progress of the art in that country. He has con-
sequently revised and added to his former descrip-
tions, introducing some sketches of life and man-
ners in that part of the Continent, without
materially altering the form of the work or
retracting former opinions. Independently of the
interest attaching to the impressions and criticisms
of one who is evidently an enthusiast on the sub-
ject, the work presents an attraction in the ac-
counts of an eye-witness of the different festivals
and .ingers of the chief towns of Germany. It
commences with " A North German Festival" in
Brunswick, in 1839, which was conducted by Men-
delssohn, and which the author travelled to Bruns-
wick expressly to hear. The second part, "In
the Harz," is chiefly a travelling narrative.
" Glimpses of Berlin and Dresden," in the
same year, give criticisms on the chief singers
of that period, the progress of the opera, the effects
of court patronage, &c. One portion of the second
volume is devoted to a criticism on Dr. Spohr's
music, which analySes his works and powers. Most
readers will regard the portion of " Music in the
Rhine Land" with interest, which relates the ap-
pearance of Jenny Lind, and the universal excite-
ment which prevailed. The concluding division
of the work is entitled " The Last Days of Men-
delssohn," with whom the author was personally
acquainted. Many incidents and remarks relating
to him are mentioned throughout the volumes,
which conclude with a tribute to his genius, and a
summary of his claims to be ranked among the
greatest composers. An account is given of the
Beethoven Festival at Bonn, in 1845, during the
inauguration of his statue. While at Vienna the
author paid a visit to his tomb :

" It is a cheerful looking white sarcophagus, having
an obelisk ornamented with a gilt lyre, and a butterfly
within a coiled serpent for its devices ; for its motto,
simply