The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-10 00:00:00

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LITERATURE.

Two Marriages. By the author of " John Halifax."

Two vols. Hurst and Blackett.

A new novel by the author of " John Halifax" is
always a welcome sight to many readers, and the
work now brought forward by that popular author
will in no wise disappoint the expectations of her
many admirers. These two volumes contain two
separate stories, in no way related to each other,
yet each in a different way illustrating the same
truth. "John Bowerbank's wife " and " The
Parson's Daughter" record the histories of " Two
Marriages," each in its way unfortunate, because
each is deficient in the true elements of a rightful
union. This is the lesson which the author endea-
vours, and very effectively, to inculcate. John
Bowerbank's wife, the gentle, loving, but meek and
submissive Emily Kendal, marries at her father's
desire, to the sacrifice of her own fond affection.
Very forcibly does the biographer of her history
denounce the fatal influence of such arbitrary in-
terference.

People do not recognise half clearly enough the truth
that God would not have created such a thing as mutual
love, ending in marriage, had He not meant it to be the
one thing needful. Not absolutely to the salvation of a
human soul, though it is that, or the contrary, oftener than
we suspect, but to its perfect development, and, above all,
to its happiness. Those who interfere with what is called
"a love affair " are doing what they never can undo ; de-
stroying what is impossible to rebuild ; taking away from
two human beings that which no substitute, be it family
affection, wealth, worldly honour, or success, can avail to
restore. All aro valueless, when love is not there.
The sod lay green over Mr. Kendal's bones ; his life
was over; but he had blighted two other lives,—lives
which might have blossomed into beauty, and carried their
perfectness down into coming generations, when his poor
selfish existence was forgotten in the dust. He had done
it, and it never could be undone.

Truthful as may be these remarks in the main, they
may become somewhat dangerous in the application.
The evil having been done (as it ought not to have
been done, most assuredly), it would have been wiser
and better for Emily Bowerbank to have emulated
the example of the Emilia Wyndham, well known
in story, and have found happiness in the perform-
ance of duty—

" Not once or twice in our rough island story;
Tho path of duty is the path of glory."

Before turning to the second tale we must extract
the following capital definition of a man of busi-
ness :

A MAN OF BUSINESS.

The most obvious description of him, and almost
universal criticism upon him, was the common phrase,
"He was a thorough man of business ;" a character which,
out of business circles, it is a little the fashion to decry, or
at least, to mention with a condescending apology. Hard
to say why, since any acute reasoner may perceive that it
takes some of the very finest qualities of real manhood to
make a "thorough man of business." A man exact, per-
severing, shrewd, enterprising ; with a strong perception
of his own rights, and an equally fair judgment, and honest
admission of the rights of his neighbour : who from con-
science, common sense, and prudence, takes care ever to do
to others as ho would be done by : who has firmness
enough to strike the clear balance between justice and
generosity : who is honest before he is benevolent, and
righteous before he is compassionate : who will defraud
no man, nor, if he can help it, suffer any man to defraud
ulna : who is careful in order to be liberal, and accurate
that he may compel accuracy in those about him : who,
though annoyed by the waste or misappropriation of a
pound, would nut grudge thousands, spent in a lawful,
wise, and creditable way. A man, of whom his enemies
may say sarcastically, that he is a " near" man, a " sharp"
man, a man who " can push his way in the world ;" yet
half the world's work and good work, too—is done by
him, and the like of him. Done far more successfully, far
more nobly, than by your great geniuses, who aim at
everything and effect little or nothing : your grand incom-
pletenesses, who only sadden one by the hopelessness of
their failures. Better than to be a poet, whose ignoble lifo
lags haltingly behind his noble poetry ; a statesman, who
tries to mend the world and forgets that the first thing to
be mended is himself ; or a philanthropist, who loves all
mankind, but neglects his own family ;—better far than
these, in the long run, is the thorough man of business,
the secret of whose career is the ono simple maxim,
"Anything worth doing at all is worth doing well."
Whatever else people might say of John Bowerbank,—
and they had said much, both bad and good, during his
life of nearly sixty years—they always said of him this--
that he had never shuffled out of an undertaking, nor
broken a promise ; never begged, borrowed, nor stolen—
cheating is stealing—ono shilling from an) man: and
though his aims might not be lofty, and his daily lifo was
far removed from the heroic, still he was a good, honest
man, and (as I repeat., with exceeding respect for the
epithet) a thorough man of business.

" The Parson's Daughter," although founded upon
an incident the introduction of which, to say the
least of it, we may style objectionable, is the more
interesting story of the two, and possesses at least
the merit of making the best of a bad business.
Parson Garland, the old gentleman of the old
school, the lonely widower devoted to a somewhat
unworthy son, is a beautiful character very tenderly
depicted. Disappointed in his hopes of a daughter,
he looks forward to the day when his son's wife
shall fill the vacant place in his home and his heart,
and realise his ideas, founded on a remembrance of
his lost wife, not only of a perfect woman but of a
perfect gentlewoman. How cruelly and abruptly
those tender aspirations are set aside, how different
is the reality from the exp
here particularise. ectation, we shall not
We do. not wish to spoil
the interest of a very Suffice interesting story.
resolute though half-broken heart, takes up his
cross and conscientiously devotes himself to the ful-
filment of a self-imposed duty, and in the fulfilment
of that duty finds a recompense that more than
realises his fondest hopes and expectations. The
worthy
unostentatious self-denial exhibited by the parson is portrayed with exceeding simplic
and tenderness. The character of Charlotte Dean
is also admirably well drawn ,
e reader fol-
n
and th
lows her painful history with great interest. A
melancholy atmosphere pervades both the tales in
these volumes. It could not, be otherwise, perhaps,
seeing that each of the " Two Marriages" is an
illustration of the evil consequences of a union not
founded upon right principles.

Two Centuries of Song; with Critical and Biogra-
phical Notes. By Walter Thornbury. One vol.
Illustrated. Sampson Low, Son, and Marston.
This very magnificent volume, with its gorgeous
binding, and its many illustrations, and its dainty
coloured flower-wreaths encircling every page,
makes its appearance very appropriately with the
Christmas gift-books. It presents to us, gracefully
and artistically arranged, a choice bouquet of sweets,
not culled from the broad expanse of our poetical
flower-garden, but selected from those exclusive par-
terres, dedicated during the last two centuries to the
charming vers de society --Lyrics, Madrigals, Son-
nets, and other Occasional Verses. " It is difficult,"
says Mr. Thornbury in his preface, "precisely to
define what vers de societe: really are. We have
presumed them to be poems written for refined
circles of educated people, and composed for friends,
often on personal occasions." The collection com-
mences with three poems by George Wither.
" The date of the death of that amiable poet,"
says the editor, " takes us back to within
a very few years of the restoration. Nor," he adds,
" was the frontier line drawn across the year
1660 at a mere venture ; for our vers de socie'te were
mainly derived from the French, and introduced
into England by those exiles who returned with
Charles from Breda. With so much less genius
than the Elizabethan writers, the gentlemen poets
circa 1660-1670 wrote symmetrical lines and studied
harmony and euphony, even if they neglected
strength. Waller and his successors did not plant
oaks nor pile pyramids; but it cannot be denied
that they had taste and elegance. The Eliza-
bethan dramatists spent their time toiling at
the forges of thought; courtiers like Waller
amused themselves with the mere coloured
subtleties of fancy's marqucterie. Cowley and his
confiires did not write verses more courtly, airy, or
elegant than those of Suckling or Lovelace. The
poets of the Restoration stand foremost in our selec-
tion merely because they mark a literary era and a
special style." Three poems of George Wither are
thus the first in this collection, and the three last are
the "Ivy Green." of Charles Dickens, " My Dog's Epi-
taph," by Rev. G. Gleig, and "Everlasting Flowers,"
by Walter Thornbury. Everlasting flowers of
various kinds and character he has indeed presented
to us iu this very beautiful volume! Many of the
poems are prefaced by critical and biographical notes
on their respective authors, and if here and there
we trace evidences of haste in the gathering to-

gether, or meant of care in the arrangement of the
materials, those blemishes are soon forgotten in tho
abundant beauties of the entire collection.

WILLIAM CORBETT'S "HISTORY OF THE PROTEST-
ANT REFORMATION”-a complete edition in a pocket
volume of 288 well-printed pages—has just been
issued from the press by James Duffy, of Dublin
and Loudon, at the marvellous price of sixpence !
Remembering what Cobbett's " History of the
Protestant Reformation" is—namely, one of the
most vigorously and idiomatically written books in
the English language—a perfect masterpiece of rhe-
torical composition—a history that speaks of spades
as spades, allowing of no eupheuisms or circumlo-
cution whatever—an argument irresistibly logical
throughout— always proving its various statements
clause by clause, paragraph by paragraph, with the
clearness of a series of syllogisms—the fact of the
publication of such a work as this, of a work an-
swering any such description (and, viewed dispas-
sionately, it will be found to answer it to a T, to
the minutest tittle)—the fact, we say, of the publica-
tion of such a masterpiece for the " ridiculously
small amount" of sixpence, is of itself one of the
most notable achievements on the part of any of our
publishers in the furtherance of the great enter-
prise of cheap and sterling literature.

SOONER on LATER.---13y Shirley Brooks, has
reached its third number with the magazines of
January. As cleverly written as either 44 The
Silver Cord" or " Aspen Court," and in the
conversational parts of it almost as humorously
written as " The Naggletons," this new story of
the ablest writer now on the Punch staff—now,
that is to say, that both Jerrold and Thackeray
have long since passed from the scene, improves
upon acquaintance, with this one drawback,
however, that there seems to us to be a rather
alarming prospect of the readers, one and all
(readers both young and fair, no less, of course, than
those who are both old and dark) being introduced
sooner or later to the demi-monde, and by (of all
creatures in the world) those two darling little
toddles, Mopes and Dormouse.

_
Curt •
to In
bx:

HER MAJESTY, &c.

OSBORNE, Jan. 9.
The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon,
accompanied by Princess Louise, and her Majesty
walked in the grounds this morning with her Royal
Highness.

Prince and Princess Christian drove out yester-
day afternoon, and the Princess walked in the
grounds this morning, attended by the Duchess of
Athole. The other members of the Royal family
went out also.

Prince Christian, attended by Colonel Ponsoubh
drove to Parkhurst Barracks to-day, where his
Royal Highness was received by Col. Jeffreys, C. 13.1
Commanding the Depot Battalion.
His Royal Highness inspected the battalion, and
afterwards visited the Female Prison at Parkhurst.
The Judge Advocate-General had an audience of
the Queen yesterday.

The Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer
and Sir Thomas and the Hon. Lady Biddulph had
the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal
family in the evening.
Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. Charles Grey has succeeded
11Iajor-Gen. F. H. Seymour as Equerry in Waiting•

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge i$
laid up with an attack of gout, at Gloucester House, and
was unable yesterday to attend at the Horse Guards.

His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and
the Countess Bernstorff and the Countess Therese Baru"
storff left town yesterday to join the circle visiting Frances
Countess Waldegrave and the Right Hon. Chichester For-
tescue, M.P., at Strawberry-hill, Twickenham.
The Duke of Rutland is entertaining a select
party at Belvoir Castle.

, The Earl and Countess of Derby arrived at their
residence in St. James's-square, on Tuesday evening, fro'
Knowsley.

The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon hav°
arrived at their house in Grosvenor-street, from High"
clere Castle, near Newbury.
The Earl and Countess de Grey have arrived in
town from the Dowager Countess of Ripon's house, at
Putney Heath, for the season.
The Earl and Countess Vane are entertaining a
distinguished circle at Seaham Hall, Sunderland.
The Earl of Mahnesbury has arrived at his resi'
deuce in Stratford-place, from Heron Court, near Chriiit-
church.

The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor and
family have arrived at Calverley-park, Cheshire, from
visiting the Duchess (Dowager)of Sutherland at Cliefdelh
near Maidenhead.

The Countess Cowper and Lady Amabel Cowper
have passed through town from Panshanger, on their lvd
to visit Viscountess Palmerston at Broadlands, Hants.
The Countess (Dowager) of Sefton and Laq
Cecilia Molyneux leave town to-morrow for Paris, on their
way to Cannes.

Lord Brabazou has left town on a visit to FrauCe°
Countess Waldegrave and the Right Hon. Chicbcat°f
Fortescue, at Strawberry-hill.

Mr. Lowe and the Reform League.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—Mr. Beales says, " I deny that the Reform
League has accused Mr. Lowe of charging the ea"
tire working class of this country with venality
drunkenness, or other misconduct."
The following resolution was moved and carried
at almost all the meetings held by the League :--
" That this meeting desires to enter a solemn protest
against and a denial of the charges of venality, ignorancei
drunkenness, and indifference to Reform, brought agail°
the working classes in the last session of Parliament."
No one can doubt that this is pointed at me; and
every one who has read the quotation in Mr. Beale °
letter knows that these words referred to the 101 l
part of the constituencies in which venality all
other misconduct exist, and not, as the resolution
says, to the working classes.
First, the meaning Of the passage was perverted
by leaving out all reference to the constituencies'
For this Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Bright had to ape'
logise in the face of the House of Commons. Tbel:l
the device was adopted of protesting against wor,o
,"0
which were never used in the connexion which 0
protest assumes. The Reform League might lA:6
1
stated what I really said, and the inference I dr°_,
from it. They preferred to protest against what 000
well knew I did not say. They had a choice betvieep
truth and falsehood ; for the purpose of working
the minds of the people they preferred falsehoods
they must abide by their choice, and endure .
exposure they have deserved.—l am, sir, your ob'
dient servant,
ROBERT LOO'

Drayton Manor, Jan. 9.

SPECIAL PROVIDENCES.—reopIe talk 313°11:
special providences. I believe in the providence 10
but not in the speciality. Ido not believe that God lets
the thread of my affairs go for six days, and on toci
seventh takes it up for a moment. The so-called spoe,l.,
providences are no exception to the rule : they are
mon to all men at all moments. But it is a fact that G°
to
care is more evident in some instances than in otherSoo
the dim and often bewildered vision of humanity. UP
such instances men seize and call them providences.
jt
well that they can, but it would be gloriously betted
they could believe that the whole matter is ono
providcnce.—Annals a Quiet Neighbourhood.
ept
PARLOUR STEAM ENGINE.—TIIC most r eC"
novelty published by the London Stereoscopic C01n131°.,0
and one which bids fair to equal, if not surpass, in inter 0
the Pharaoh's serpents of a season or two since,
parlour steam engine, for a shilling, just issued. 17
genious little scientific toy goes with extraordinary sPeeit
and by employing scent for the boiler, in lieu of w3tef,..trt'
disseminates a most fragrant perfume through the 0-0,0
ment. We agree with Professor Pepper that toys 0f eff
scientific character for boys are calculated to have 3

beneficial effect.
O'
PROPOSED SUSPENSION OF RIDING TO I 10TT--S
e•
--The farmers of Surrey and West Kent have 1330
morialised masters of hounds to suspend drawia
coverts and riding over the land during its present :190
and rotten condition as being highly injurious to the Y°l,o
wheat crops ; and the members of the coursing clubs
set the initiative by going on foot and following ov'9l:
land until it is fit to carry horses over it The fosi,°°
have hunted twice since the breaking up of the frost,
the Surrey atagiwund4 v,re in full exercise.

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