The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-15 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Cosas de Espana. By the Author of " Flemish
Interiors." Alexander Strahan, Ludgate-hill,
and New York.
After a long period of total silence on the part of
Spanish tourists (if, indeed, there have been any
during the last ten years) we find the Peninsula
again becoming a subject of interest to the periodical
traveller. lts beauties and attractions are once more
brought before the public in the graphic language
of honest enthusiasm, and the comparative facilities
which now enable even ladies to explore its almost
untrodden paths are commented on in a way which
almost suggests a trial of the opportunity they offer.
Of all the books on Spanish travel which the
literature of the past year has supplied, that which
appeared the first in the field, from the pen of Mrs.
Pitt Byrne, is decidedly the most encouraging, at
the same time that it is the most useful.
The author's past experiences in various countries,
of which none who have perused them will ever forget
the pleasant and detailed recitals, give to her pages a
value which do not belong to the other writers
to whom we have alluded. There is something
absolutely inspiring in these volumes, and the reader
is carried along by the evident truthfulness and ac-
curacy of the descriptions they contain. Fired with
the enthusiasm with which the scenery of the coun-
try and the character of the people are painted, and
with the vivacity with which the bizarre incidents
of Spanish travel are related, he longs to be off to
the sunny South, that he may be judge for himself
of the Cosas de Espana. There is not a page in
which all who are interested in the subject will not
find new and useful information, conveyed in a style
as lively and pleasant as that which distinguishes
the author's other works ; and to those who really
want to know what advantages and disadvantages,
enjoyments, and adventures are to be obtained by
spending their holiday in the remote and antiquated
peninsula, we cannot offer better advice than that
they should read and study these delightful volumes.
The illustrations, by the hand of the author's sister
and fellow-traveller, add greatly to the attractions
as well as to the usefulness of the book.

A CIIILD'S TRADE IN BETHNAL GREEN.

~-

[Besides being admirably-well edited, and very
cleverly (often wittily, always thoughtfully) written
throughout—from the Table of Contents down to
the Advertisements, from the first line to the last—
the Spectator occasionally gives insertion to copies
of verses such as (we are now and then disposed to
fancy) " the world will not willingly let die." Of
this character are the nervous and affecting lines
which we are here tempted to transfer in extenso to
our columns—lines not unworthy of taking their
place by the side of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's
" Cry of the Children." ED. SuN.]
Lucifer-Boxes !—the name suits well
With the stench, and the glare, and grime of Hell !
Thirty a halfpenny—no great waste,
As the small manufacturersfindtheir own paste.
Such a child I took on my knee,
Her life of labour began at three !
The sad and sickly pallid child,
Poor little woman, meek and mild,
Her mother said, encouragement giving,
Since she was three had earn'd a living.
Her Mother, the decent Englishwoman,
Shall we hope or fear that her heart is human ?
Her Father, hard-working Englishman,
Who could grudge him his pipe and can ?
0 God! for Parents what a doom,
That infant the rent of their wretched room
Toiling to earn, and an early tomb !
Never an hour of holiday
Hath it known, nor the sense of the word "to play."
Paste and shavings, paper and paste,
Hundreds of boxes made in haste—
Lucifer-Boxes !—tho name fits well •
With the lurid glare and the grin of Hell,
For the Devil looked on, and inly laughed
To be beaten by Man in his own black craft.
Talk of machinery and its pranks,
Boilers and pistons, wheels and cranks,
All ingenious, but here is seen
A wonderful God-made live machine.
Examine each artery, nerve, and vein,
Valves of the heart, and fulls of brain,
Stomach for food, for breath the lung,
Look at the eye, and ear, and tongue,
And all, of which medical students read
For month and years, yet scarce succeed
Li remembering half their names or uses—
Filaments, tissues, cells, and juices,
And what each part to the whole conduces.
This is the thing that ever in haste
Makes Lucifer-Boxes, finding the paste,
Its life one dull unvarying round
Of Lucifer-Boxes—one hates the sound.
Never those lustreless eyes have seen,
Though she lives in a place called Bethnal Green,
Meadow or bee, or flow'r or tree ;
What are they, little machine, to thee ?
Hundreds like thee have died ere seven,
And gone, as the clergy say, to Heaven ;
And ono, indeed, who could witness bear,
Hath said of such is the Kingdom there.
Sev'n's toe old—wilt bo alive,
Poor little toiler, to date from five ?
Lamb or filly, kitten or kid,
Which of them leads such a life forbid ?
Leveret, rabbit, tiger, calf,
When young can play, if they do not laugh.
Better be cubs of wolves or foxes,
Than babes worked up into Lucifer Boxes ;
Better an animal tame or wild,
Bettor be aught than such a child !
Methinks t'were a change for that sad elf
To make a case that would hold herself ;
Though if that be found at the parish cost,
Of course the trouble and time were lost.
Then a scantling of wood, some nails as well,
Alas, how little will form her shell !
The father and mother may well lament,
As they follow that box, for the payer of rent ;
And with a groan, it may be confost,
The Lucifer-Boxmakcr earn'd her rust.

w. D

her Majesty has graciously signified her inten

- -
tion of publicly opening the Albert Orphan d sylutn, Col-
lingwood Court, Bagshot, Surrey, in June next, and at the
same time of laying the foundation stone of a dining-hall
and chapel —Court Circular.

The ➢iarquis of Sligo left town to-day for Paris.
The Earl and Countess Stanhope entertained at
dinner on Friday, at their residence in Grosvenor-place,
his Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and the Countess
Bernstorff and the Countess Therese Bernstorff, Lord and
Lady Suffield, Lord Warkwortb, Hon. J. Major and Lady
Alice Henniker, Mr. William Arkwright, &c.
The Earl and Countess of Clarendon had a
dinner party on Saturday at their residence in Grosvenor-
crescent. _ _

The Earl and Countess of Bessborough have
arrived at their residence in Charles-street, Berkeley-
square, from their seat in Ireland.
The Earl of Westmorland and the Earl of
Glasgow have arrived at the St. George's Hotel.
'rho Earl of Beetive, M.P., and Ladies Madeline
and Adelaide Taylour left town to-day to spend the
Easter recess at The Lodge, Virginia, Ireland.
ACCIDENT TO MR. C. BUXTON, M.P.—Mr. C.
Buxton, 11. P., for East Surrey, has been prevented attend-
ing at the House of Commons since Tuesday, when he met
with an accident while hunting with the Hon. F. Petre's
staghounds. He unfortunately dislocated his jaw, and has
been confined to his bed over since. The hon. member is
progressing favourably.
ACCIDENT TO COLONEL TAYLOR.—We regret to
state that Colonel Taylor, the Tory whip, met with an
accident while drawing the cork of a soda-water bottle,
which injured his nose and eye, and to his great annoyance
prevented his acting as whip on Friday.—John Bull.
DAMAGE TO TIIE FRUIT TREES.—Much damage
has been done to the fruit trees in the south of England by
the bullfinches and other orchard and garden birds being
driven by thO severe weather to feed on the buds of such
trees. _

PARIS EXIIIIIITION.—The Emperor of
.the French
did Messrs. J. Dofries and Sons, of London and Paris, the
honour of paying a visit to their stall in the glass court
axd purchasing a service of engraved glass.
THE NEW ROYAL ACADEMY.—The work of ex-
cavating for the foundations of the new Royal Academy
building in Burlington Gardens has been begun. The
operations required for the new structure will be prose-
cuted with speed, so that the Academy may take possession
of its new quarters as soon as possible.
" NEW AMERICA."—The Quarterly Review, in
its notice of Mr. Hepworth Dixon's "New America," says,
"We must not close without doing justice to Mr. Dixon's
book, which has furnished the occasion for our article. It
is the work of a keen observer, and it appears at an oppor-
tune season. Those who would pursue all the varied
phenomena, of which we have attempted an outline, will
have reason to be grateful to the intelligent and lively
guide who has given them such a sample of the inquiry.
During his residence at Salt Lake City, Mr. Dixon was
able to gather much valuablo and interesting information
respecting Mormon life and society, and the account of
that singular body. The Shakers, from his observations
during a visit to their chief settlement at Mount Lebanon,
is one of the pea parts of Dir. Dixon's work."