The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-29 00:00:00

LITERATI/4

Physiology and Calisthenics fa r Schools and Families.
By Catherine E. Beecher.. Sampson Low, Ltd-
gate-hill. -

It is well known that physical. deterioration, too
frequently accompanied by mental and moral in-
feriority, is, in the aggregate, to be imputed to our
want of knowledge of the construction of the human
body, and the neglect of the simple laws of health.
Heads of families seldom pay sufficient attention to
the habits and practices of those under their charge,
which are connected with exercise and dietetics.
Mrs. Beedaer's volume is • just the work' which
ought to be in the hands of all who desire to
thoroughly and healthily devolope the constitution
of a rising generation. It .imparts a system of
physiology-and social treatment well adapted to
inter,lst the uneducated, and at the same time fully
satisfy the intellectual and enlightened mind.
It embraces the gist of all that is to be found in
the works of eminent English, Fronch, and. Swed-
ish professors ; but rendered in such a plain and
popular form as to be perfectly comprehensible to
the most uninitiated reader. It coutains a chap-
ter of well-directed censure against the old and
crying evil of the tight lacing of girls and women
in order to procure a "beautiful figure"—such a*
figure, by the bye, as Rubens or Titian never
selected to grace their invaluable canvass, and
which our modern artists of real genius quietly
sneer at. _

The abuse, of Dress are also sensibly pointed
out ; but we fear that Fashion, like an insolent,
presuming ignoramus, as she is, will ever hector
and bully that simple old lady, Nature, into the
background of Civilisation. Fashion is the most
mischievous tyrant that ever damaged and distorted
the perfect productions of our Almighty Master.
Now,. she, insists on divesting us of the black,
brown, and golden tints distinguishing our tresses,
and treats us as a cook does poles for frying—with
a horrible smotheration of flour and lard. Anon,
men must carry a "pig's tail," in addition to the
human proportions ; and women must walk about
with story upon story raised upon their cranium,
looking as though they were hired to exhibit a dirty
model of the Tower of Babel. Slashed velvets and
trunk hose must be donned at Fashion's bidding,
and satin trains of ridiculous and inconvenient
length obsequiously tolerated. Cocked hats and
knee buckles are ordered, and forthwith are deemed
the only available "mode." Hoops and toupees
are pronounced to be elegant, and of course are
'the rage." Some years since, the Damons were
to charm the Sylvias by the aid of blue coats and
buff waistcoats, and, the Sylvias were to fascinate
the Damons beneath the shadow of an Oldenburgh
Poke. At present, the aspiring gallants offer their
devoted hearts under cover of a free and easy
tweed Paletot, and gentle dames parade the city
streets in the modest concealment of feature be-
stowed by a gauze or silken imitation of a scallop
shell. Fashion is truly a capricioui, inconsistent,
vulgar /deity to Worship ; but, we repeat, that it
will be a hopeless endeavour to convert her fol-
lowers to'the creed of Common Sense.
Such works as the one now under notice are
efficient agents in disseminating the practicability
of " knowing ourselves ;" and parents and teachers
would do well for their children and pupils in
amalgamating: a portion of such knowlete with
the Muiic, French Fancywork, Dead Languages,
Mathematics, and Logic, so eagerly pursued in
the present age, and so frequently of little benefit
when acquired.

The Channel Islands. By Octavius Rooks.
Booth, Regent-street.
How many there are who, like Johnny Gilpin,
"on pleasure bent," go prancing off to Italy,
Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, North Ame-
rica, and other far-away, foreignation places, with-
out possessing any knowledge of the beauties closer
at hand 1 They rave of Chamouni, but are igno-
rant of the exquisite mountains and dales of Der-
byshire and Wales. They indulge in extatics about
the Lagoons of Venice, but have never seen the
moon rise over the lakes of Westmoreland. They
can dilate largely on the Rhine, but cannot expa-
tiate on the Wye. In fact, a prevailing notion
appears to exist that we must go a very long way
off to see anything worth looking at.
The little volume before us has suggested these
remarks. We aro often surprised that among the
myriad of Continental touris►.s so few should take
the Channel Islands in their route. Jersey, Guern-
sey, and Sark contain scenery of the most varied
and charming character, and, moreover, they lie
within a short and inexpensive digtance. Let any
lover of nature perambulate the bays and valleys
of Jersey, and he will confess that the little island
is an enchanting one, and that he might go much
farther and behold less beauty. Mr. Ruoke has
s ipplied us with a very acceptable guide-book in
this publication, for we believe there is no work of
the kind in print relating to these fair spots of
etrtb. The illustrations are faithfully given, and
are unmarked by the romantic exaggerations too
frequently evident in such sketches. The letter-
press gives much useful and entertaining matter,
and those who wish to derive healthy enjoyment
at moderate expenditure daring a short recess can-
not do better teen put Mr. Rooke's book in their
carpet-bag and take a ramble through the Chantrl
Islands.

Davidson's Musical. Opera Books. G. H. Divid-

son, Peter's-hill, Doctor's-commons.
This publication is a great boon to the opera-
frequenting public. The Italian and English
libretto, with the music of a considerable number
of the finest melodies i►► each opera, are presented
at the lowest price possible ; and a prefatory ex-
planation of the story, so generally needed in these
mysterious lyrical dramas, together with the full
description of scene and action, are given ; form-
ing the most complete and desirable brochure
extant, as an operatic hand-book. The most
"verdant" novitiate and the yawning habitue may
alike congratulate themselves on the issuing
of this useful work, which we are glad to see is
supplied to the audience at her Majesty's Theatre
in lieu of the old and far less elucidatory stylo of
opera books.

Tasso and Leonora. By the Author of " Mary
Powell," tir,c. Hall, Virtue, and Co.
This author is already favourably known to the
public by her success in a new and peculiar depart-
ment of fiction. Her narratives are for the most
part the histories of some well-known characters,
supposed to be written by themselves or by some
one immediately connected with them. Of course
this style of narrative requires a greater degree of
talent than a simple story, as well as necessitating
a thorough acquaintance not only with the main
incidents of the lives of the chief actors, but also of
the manners and customs of the age in which they
lived. In the arduous task she has undertaken
she has, however, been very successful, as the his-
tories of Mary Powell, the first wife of Milton, and
of Margaret Roper, the heroic daughter of Sir
Thomas More, will, among others, prove. no
subject she has this time selected is one not infe-
rior in interest to either—a subject that haS been
the theme of poets and romancists, of historians
and biographers, that has excited the sympathies
and aroused the indignation of every successor
generation of its readers, and that still retains the
undying interest due to poetry, love, and socr6w.
The book is supposed to be written by Ser Pante-
leoue, gentleman usher to Madame Leonora d'Este.
Be is, or professes to be, a sober and peaceable
personage, little disposed to share in the jealousies
and factions of a court. He takes a lively interest
in the fortunes of Tasso, however, both from per-
sonal friendship and from an early acquaintance
with his father, Bernardo Tasso, the author of
" Amadis de Gaul." The story is simply and natu-
rally told, or rather sketched—the little incidents
and speeches, though described and recorded with
ease and fluency, carefully preserving the indivi-
dual characteristics. Leonora is sketched with
much skill and delicacy, which is a matter
of some difficulty, as it is not easy to main-
tain a high strain of romance in the descrip-.
tion of domestic details. The character
of Tasso also is described with effect ; the vehe-
mence and absence of suspicion that belong to his
character being forcibly contrasted with the Mal, a
volence and craftiness of the Duke, so heedful of
the honour of his family; and, observes Ser Pallift•
leone, " When a prince, and that prince an Italian,
gets into his head that the honour of his house is
affronted there is no knowing what may come
next." The volume concludes with Tasso's release
and arrival at Mantua, where he meets his old
friend, Ser Pantaleone, who is about to retire to a
monastery, being disgusted with the world, owing
to the death of his august mistress, the cruel im-
prisonment of his friend, and specially attracted
by the excellent soups made by the brethren of
St. Olivet. It has been objected to this style of
work that it is apt to produce an injurious effect
on its readers, leading them to suppose it real, and
if not it cannot be interesting. Few, we should
imagine, among the middle class of readers would
be ignorant enough to fancy that this work was the
veritable production of Ma lama Leonora's gentle-
, man usher, yet still feu er, we should imagine,
ould compla.n of want of interest. It may, in-
deed, be instructive to some by impressing the
leading events on their memories and directing
their attention to historical subjects. The au-
thoress may be congratulated ou having teen suc-
cessful in an exploit which was certainly adven-
turous, considering the distance of the age and
country and the celebrity of the characters. She
has not, however, proved unequal to the undertak-
ing, and the present volume is likely to enhanoe
her reputation.