The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-31 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Saint Alice. By Edward Campbell Tainsh. Three
Vols. Hurst and Blackett.
The title-page of this wurk ii.forms us that Saint
Alice, who gives her name to the book, is, how-
ever, no saint, but
" A creature not too bright or good,
For human nature's daily food," ttc.
However her friends or flatterers may have styled
her, Alice Campbell, the heroine of this tale, is repre-
sented as the most charming and loveable of dam-
sels. Her character certainly reflects credit upon
her preceptor, who is also her guardian and her
biographer. Fifteen years before the narration of
this history, the narrator, being then a bachelor of
the mature age of thirty-two, took upon himself
the care of the orphan daughter of a friend, Alice
Campbell, a little damsel of four years old. The
situation is somewhat improbable, and the romantic
admiration of the guardian for his adopted " niece,"
as he styles her, is certainly extravagant. He
devotes himself to the education of Alice, and his
educational theories, which are many, have the merit,
which few theories have, of being practical withal.
The first volume lingers lovingly over the details of
Alice's childhood, and if her biographer and guar-
dian is a little too rapturous in his enthusiasm for
his protogee he certainly has a fair excuse, for the
little Alice is very charming in her childhood and
in her girlhood. The story throughout is a simple
biography. The interest lies in the development of
character, that is, as regards the heroine. The
narrator of the story is merely the narrator, and
possesses little individual interest for the reader.
As a specimen of his opinions and qualifications as
the narrator of a woman's history, let us take his
description of

TILE ERAS OF A WOMAN'S LIFE.
The " seven ages of man," have become proverbial. I
do not think anybody has pointed out the ages or stages
through which a woman passes. I shall try, making one
remark first. We men glide from one stage into the next;
women leap from stage to stage. If a man gets married,
for instance, he may be awkward and uncomfortable
amongst his fellows for a few days, but after that he is
much as he was before—or if any change takes place, it
is gradual, almost insensible. But, as I eay, a woman
leaps from stage to stage, and those following, as I think,
are her stages.
There is first the girl—shy, bold, saucy, sensitive, affec-
tionate, fond of pleasure and change, intelligent, somewhat
vain, given to enthusiasm and hero-worship. The plea-
sure that girls give us is akin to the pleasure that chil-
dren give us, and this again is akin to the pleasure that
kittens give us. lam quite prepared for a storm here, but
I have said nothing slighting—nothing that the girls or
their mothers need be angry at. Lot us analyse the plea-
sure we get from kittens (of course I am assuming that the
reader has sufficient good taste to be fond of kittens).
There is first, admiration of their grace. There is second,
the pleased surprise at unexpected manifestations of intel-
ligence ; and there is third, very great pleasure at the dis-
play of affection, even though we may be conscious that
the affection is not at all special to ourselves. I think
any candid person will confess that these are the three
chief elements in the pleasure we derive not only from
kittens, but also from children and girls. I know that
there are girls of another stamp, who have the thought-
fulness and depth of feeling that usua]iy belong to ma-
turity, but these are the exception.
The next stage is the woman. proper—which is bounded
by no year, but by a great event. The day that a girl
knows that she loves she becomes a woman ; but con-
cerning this stage, the reader will remember that my ideas
have already been expressed in a previous chapter of the
present history.
Then there comes the stage wife. The girl carries
nothing upon her shoulders, the woman takes up the full
burden and meaning of the inner life, while the wife takes
up also the responsibility of the outer life. The girl lives
for the hour, the woman lives for the ideal, the wife lives
for the ideal made actual and practical. Hence the woman
is more stable and more intense than the girl, while the
wife, not less intense, is yet more ]ightsome than the
woman who loves and is not married, for high thought
and intense feeling weigh upon us less when they can
take expression in action. It scarcely ever happens that
a-girl who has entered into the depth of love fails to be-
come more playful and gay when she is married.
Some of the other individuals introduced are
sufficiently attractive, but every interest is sub-
ordinated to that of the chief figure, who is
throughout the perfect heroine.

Select Biography connected with European History
during the Sixteenth Century. By James Murray,
author of " Sketches of. Ancient History." Two
vols. John Camden HGtten.

Three very important and interesting historical
characters form the subjects of these biographies.
The first volume is devoted to the history of Charles
V., the great Emperor of Germany, and the second
contains the lives of two very dissimilar individuals,
Pope Leo X. and Erasmus. A very momentous period
of history is considered on in these volumes, and
the careers and characters of the three heroes of the
narratives, the Emperor, Pope, and Author are each in
their way romantic and remarkable. The biographies
are written in a.calm dispassionate spirit, and the two
volumes form a welcome addition to the rich stores
Df historical romance.

The Good Child's Coloured Picture Book, with
twenty-four large plates. Routledge and Sons.
This is indeed a boon for " the good child!" A
large handsome volume, containing twenty-four
beautifully coloured pictures, divided into four
series, each one likely to prove to the little beholder
" more excellent than the other." First we have
" Domestic Animals," comprising " The Horse,"
The Cow," " The Ass," " The Dog," " The
Cat," and " The Sheep ;" then follow the " Wild
Animals," viz., " The Lion," " The Elephant,"
" The Tiger," " The Bear," " The Camel," and
last, but not least attraction for the nursery, "The
Monkey." All these pictures are accompanied by
brief but interesting descriptions of the various
animals. Having arrived at the conclusion of the
zoological series we come upon a delightful set
of Nursery Games, such as " Blind Man's Buff,"
"Nine Pins," "Punch and Judy," "Guy Fawkes,"
" Battledore and Shuttlecock," Scc. In the letter-
press descriptions of these games the. young scholar
may learn much important information ; as for ex-
ample, in the elaborate directions for an amateur
Punch and Judy to be performed in the nursery.
" The House that Jack built," concludes the volume
with true and accurate portraits of " Jack" and his
world-famed " House," and his " inAlt" and his
rat," and his " cat" and his " dog," and his
" cow" with the "crumpled horn," and the " for-
lorn" milk-maid, and the " tattered" man and the
" shaven" priest, and the crowing " cock," and the
juvial " farmer" who sowed the " corn," which
is the beginning and the end of the whole veri-
table history.

Our Children: Sketched from Nature in Pencil and

Verse. Dean and Son.

' These very charming pictures were, we are
told, taken from the life for the amuse-
ment of one particular set of children by
two (evidently) very skilful and very loving
aunts. For the pleasure of other children
the artists have been induced to give them to the
public, and very attractive they are likely to prove.
The pictures are pencil drawings, and by some
curious process of engraving:they still, in the printed
volume, appear as pencil drawings with the gloss of
the black-lead still shining upon them. First we
have " Contented Nellie" playing with her toys, and
" The Little Brother" playing with his dear baby,
and the adventurous young rifleman, and a'charming
group of all ages " reading aloud," and the " Railway
Train," where six little ones, " small by,degrees and
beautifully less," are holding on by each other's
skirts and jackets, and proceeding in a graduated
line of march. Some twenty or thirty subjects in
all, capitally sketched, and illustrated with simple
and amusing verses.

The Adventures of Diletto ; a little exiled Prince. A
Fairy tale. By S. T. Emery. Dean and Son.

This little story possesses a threefold excellence.
It is in the first place a charming fairy tale, full of
transformations and vicissitudes, and is likely to
engross the little readers' attention from first to
last. Secondly, it has a better moral than most fairy
tales. The selfish, spoiled little Prince Diletto is
banished from the indulgences of home by the
inexorable fairy Benevolence, until he shall have
learned better behaviour. Thirdly, in the course
of his exile, the unfortunate Diletto endures all the
varieties of climate (and his little readers gain a
pleasant acquaintance with many lands), now freezing
in the 8110W8 Of Greenland, and shrinking with die-

, .."--

gust from a proffered draught of oil, and now act
companyinga caravan through the sands of the sultry
desert. The story
ir3 most ingeniously contrived,
and i 8 written in the most simple and pleasant man-
ner irtrvinah!e.

Musings about Men. By Henry Southgate, with
illustrations by Gilbert and Birket Foster. One
vol., pp. 312. Ward, Lock, and Tyler.
This is a very curious and interesting collection of
the opinions and sayings of various authors regard-
ing man in the abstract and in the individual. The
volume is beautifully got up and charmingly illus-
trated, and contains in its very carefully collected
contents extracts from the best authors, living and
dead, with many choice specimens of our happiest
household words.

Fairy Tales. By Henry Morley, with illustrations
by C. H. Bennett. New and Revised Edition.
George Routledge and Son.

All who may happen to have read the very
and delightful " Adventures in Skitzland," which
appeared in a periodical some few years back, will
require no recommendation to tak eup a volume which
contains that amazing history, with other extriva-
ganzas by the same delightful author. We can-
not say, however, that we consider the other tales
equal to that first favorite. clever

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HER MAJESTY, &c•

OsBoRNE, Jan. 30.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
walked and drove yesterday afternoon, attended
by Lady Waterpark ; and her Majesty walked in
the grounds this morning, accompanied by Princess
Louise and Princess Beatrice.

The other members of the royal family went out
also.

Dr. Robertson arrived at Osborne yesterday, and
had the honour of dining with the Queen and the
royal family.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO SHROPSHIRE.—In accord-
ance with the plan of the Prince of Wales's visit to Shrop-
shire, as originally sketched, special arrangements were
made by the railway authorities for the journey of his
royal highness from Trentham to Newport, via Stafford,
yesterday. On Tuesday evening, however, a telegram
was received by Mr. Wood, the district superintendent of
the London and North Western Railway, stationed at
Shrewsbury, stating that the Prince of Wales had ex'
pressed his intention of delaying his departure for Lillesball
for another day. His royal highness was to leaveTreuthain
at 11 30 this morning, reaching Stafford at noon, and
travel thence by special train to Newport.
The Marchioness of Salisbury and family leave
Hatfield House, Herts, in a few days for town for the sea-
son. The noble marquis will be among the guests of Lora
Derby on the 4th Feb.
The Earl and Countess Granville have arrived
in town from visiting the Duke and Duchess of Manchester
at Kimbolton Castle, Hunts.
The Earl and Countess of Clarendon have ar-
rived in town from The Grove, near Watford, Herts.
The Earl and Countess Grey arrived yesterday
at their house on Carlton House-terrace, from the nortb,
for the season.

FOOTBALL.—CIVIL SERVICE V. CHARTERIIOI
SenooL.--A match was played at Charterhouse yesterdef
afternoon between the above clubs, which resulted in
victory for Charterhouse by three goals to none. In sPit:
of the rain which fell prior to the commencement of an
continued throughout the match, both sides were repre-
sented by full teams. For the School, E. E. VenableS,
W. L. Boreham, and Y. A. Foote played well ; for the
Civil Service, A. F. Kinnaird and C. G. Wandby. The
goals for the School were obtained by A, S. 31ammatb
W. Wallace, and E. E. Venables.
SHOCKING CALAMITY NEAR HULL.—On Tues-
day morning a shocking occurrence took place at
the village of Sproatley, seven miles from Hull. About
six o'clock the domestic servants at Sproatley Graug°
Farm, occupied by Mr. Henry Robinson, discovered that
the premises were on fire. The male servants, who were
then in the stable, heard the alarm of fire, and on rushing
outside they saw that their sleeping room in the north-
West corner of the building was in flames. The foreman,
John Jackson, at once got out a ladder, and reared it
against the room in which he knew his master and mis-
tress slept. On ascending he found the apartment filled
with dense smoke, but he smashed open the window* and
called upon the old people to come towards him. At first
the only reply were the groans of the unfortunate farmer
and his wife, but in about a minute, Mrs. Robinson, wb°
was rather stout, made her appearance at the windevt:
Jackson tried to pull her out, but owing to her grit"
weight and her helpless condition he could not succeed'
and the smoke began to pour out with such violence that
Jackson was obliged to relinquish his hold. The poor old
lady then fell down on the floor, and Jackson, who W 35
ahnoFt blinded, descended the ladder. Shortly afterwara
Superintendent Watson, of the East Riding Consta-
bulary, arrived from Sproatley, with several of the in"
habitants of that village, and the attempt to rescue
the old people was renewed. A young bricklayer!
named Thomas Johnson, ascended the ladder, and
he had a rope composed of men's scarves attache"
to him in case he should become overpowered. 11°
entered the room, and after groping about for some 610
he found the dead bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and
their youngest daughter Clara, who it was supposed was
safe. She had, with her elder sister, got out of the burn-
ing building, but had, it appears, returned to try and saVe
her father and mother, and there lost her own Lfe. N°11:
of the bodies were burnt, with the exception of al,
Clara, who was slightly scorched on her right cheek. 31r.
Robinson, who was 78 years of age, appeared to have been
.
dressing when overpowered by the smoke. The wife bad
on her night-dress, her stockings, and one of her boots'
and Miss Clara had most of her clothes on. •A melancholy
interest attaches to the death of this young lady, as silt'
had been far some time preparing for her marriage. The
wedding was to have taken place in about a fortnight. To
farm, which is the property of Sir Clifford Constable, Was
about 400 acres in extent, and the house in which the fire
originated was a vory old-fashioned building Mr. Robin-
son had occupied it for about 50 years, and was about to
retiro at Lady-day. Tho furniture was nearly all saved'
and none of the cattle or farm buildings were injured.
LIMITED LIABILITY AND THEATRICAL
Kan.—The limited liability principle as applied to theatri-
cal. business appears to result iu loss ; and theatricals
under
pti
uu supervisionrtaheecalm
en, of a board of management, cowl/use
are not successful. The report of tlio
New Priuce of Wales Theatre Company, Liverpool, has Pet
.
been issued. The theatre, which is one of the most mogul-
licent in England, has cost about £40,000. The paid"
up
is £27,000; and at the present time there is e
amount of £15,000 to the debit of the company at their
bankers. The bankers are willing to allow this amount k n
remain at the debit for the present at 5 per cent. intones
per annum, on the understanding that the sum is t°
cleared off, if required, by mortgage, h further call, or
th
issue of new shares.
A RAILWAY GUARD AND POINTSMAN CONY-lOW.
—At Macclesfield, on Tuesday, Thomas Rhodes'
guard, and Wm. Smith, ground pointsman, were charge f
with wilfully neglecting their duty, whereby the lives of
several persons were imperilled. On Friday evening last
an accident occurred on the North Staffordshire Ettilo:3',
.when the 5 30 train from Macclesfield ran into four Oleo
ral waggons found standing on the up-line of rails. 'Jio
shock was very violent, and many of the passengers wiee
rr
much shaken and bruised. Mr. J. Rowson, tea deg be
London, had his teeth knocked out, and was obliged to ro
taken back to Macclesfield ; and other passengers Wee,
more or less hurt. Both lines were blocked with the rut
ral stone from the waggons, and in consequence of 50-861
of the carriages being thrown off the rails the trgae
impeded two or three hours. It appeared that two o'l%
gons had been left on a siding to be taken up by the
gage train of which the defendant Rhodes was the gn3;1110
When the train was shunted into the siding, two ef:st
trucks broke loose and ran with considerable force agal:3oii
the two waggons waiting to bo taken up. linfortur'
the defendant Smith (who was the pointsman on the sPtc;jo
had, as he admitted, removed the "stop block" frublitios
siding, to facilitate, he said, though iu a very irrebfor
way, the shunting; and the consequence was that o°oo,o
waggons wero propelled from the siding across the d L,.r
and on to the up-line, at the very moment the pas6el37o
train was due on the same line of rails. Owing °or
darkness of the evening neither the driver of the Passe-ne-ot
train nor the signalman in his box on the embank°
could see that the line was not clear, and before theldl3.l3o
fondants could.give warning the collision took place* ~,lock
defendant Smith admitted having removed the stel) "ci I-
to expedite the shunting, as the trains were late, an ;a
lodged that the stop block was so imperfect that be
the
known waggons shunted on the siding with more thaneo
usual impetus to pass over the stop block and run
dti to
on the main line before stopping ; so that (he argue/been
accident might have happened if the stop block h'solf
in its place. The do,eudant Rhodes sheltered lin' to
under the plea that if the stop block had been dewu.,„-As
waggons could nor have left the siding, and that :eget
not his duty, but the signalman's, to stop tho Pas A xlO
train coming on. The defendants were each hued
and costs, or two month' hard labour.