The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-29 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Theresa. By Noell Radecliffe, author of "Alice Went.
• worth," 3 vols., Hurst and Blackett.

The author of this novel may be congratulated upon
the originality of his plot. The double-identity of the
hero is cleverly managed, and the audacity with which
this very unprincipled Lothario employs his own
betrothed to convey love messages from his other
self to another lady-love is surely unparalleled in the
annals of treachery ! Theresa, the heroine, is a singu-
larly foolish young lady, who, imagining herself to be
misunderstood and unappreciated by the relations
around her, turns from the frivolities of fashion
to seek a solace in the companionship of
art. How she nearly falls a victim to art of another
character we must leave the curious to learn in the pages of
the novel. We have always a particular reluctance to

"spoil the interest" of a story by anticipating the revelation
of its mysteries, and inthis particular instance the mystery
and mystification of Algernon Conway Clydesdale involves a
great portion of the interest of Theresa's history. The
other hero, " blunt Harry Blount," who is at first re-
garded both by the heroine and by the reader as a
mere nobody, greatly improves upon acquaintance, but
he is certainly one of the most matter-of-fact lovers ever
introduced into the pages of a romance. His excellent
qualifications are, however, the better appreciated by the
side of the atrocities of Abraham Cox—we mean Algernon
Conway (and in mentioning this second name we have not
revealed the mystery, the gentleman in question having
yet another alias). We cannot say that we ad-
mire the introduction of the episode of Johanna
Twysden, a strong-minded, middle-aged female, who,
being possessed of a little money, becomes fora time the
object of Conway's avaricious affections. One of his
acquaintance, extenuating his want of taste in this selec-
tion, observes that if money were to be gained
by it, Conway would make love to the Fates
and Furies, and even the great Gorgon herself 1
The moral of the story is very well carried out, and if
any fair reader should chance to be al foolishly inclined
as the sentimental Theresa, a circumstance hardly within
the limits of possibility, she will do well to take warning
by her example.

NOVEL ADVERTISING.—The trade of London is a
perfect wonder both to provincial and foreign visitors,
but the extraordinary modes of advertising adopted
therein must be something almost beyond comprehension.
Now-a-days some tradesmen think it a mere bagatelle to
spend £lO,OOO or £12,000 a year in advertising ; but then
such an outlay would not be made without advantageous
results followed, and as matters stand at present the
most spirited advertiser generally succeeds and, in the
end, makes a colossal fortune. One of the most popular
modes adopted is to cause a mysterious word or sentence
to appear day by day jn the newspapers, at the railway
stations, and on all the hoardings in the Metropolis, but
other tradesmen believe in addition that a gratuitous
distribution of printed matter is indispensable. Thus,
Holloway issues tons of bills and testimonials, Moses and
Son hundreds of thousands of yearly diaries ; but it
has remained for Messrs. A. Lynes and Son, of Holy-
well-lane, Shoreditch, to present gratuitously to
their patrons a magazine, entitled " Smiles and
Styles," quite equal in every respect to the ordinary
shilling monthlies. .This new winter magazine far exceeds
in importance all the previous publications of Messrs.
Lynes, and shows a degree of energy and enterprise that
must command success. The first part of " Smiles and
Styles" contains amusing stories contributed by authors
of known ability, and the matter of Part 11. is purely
commercial, but still exceedingly useful, inasmuch as
intending purchasers of " Kensington clothing." will find
in its pages every explanation as to prices and styles.
Messrs. Lynes's magazine advertisement is a good one,
and will no doubt lead to the most successful results.
The Scotsman says :—" Our townsman, Captain
Moncrieff, inventor of the gun carriage which bears his
name, has been for some weeks laid up at Edinburgh
by a severe attack of bronchitis. His friends will be glad
to learn, however, that he is 110 W so far.recovered that
his physicians hope he will be able to resume his duties
in the course of a week or two."
BREAKFAST. —EPPS'S COCOA.- -GRATEFUL AND QOM-
FORTING.—The very agreeable character of this preparation has
rendered it a general favourite. The Civil Service Gazette re-
marks :—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which
govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a
careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa.
Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately
flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors'
bills." Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold only in
tin-lined packets labelled—JAMS Drs & Co., llomueopatlti
Chemists, London.—Advt.