The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Thrice His. A Tale. Two Vols. Richard

Bentley.

Thrice his—" to guard, to serve, and to save,"
as explained on the title-page,—such is the rela-
tionship of Ethel Carr to Lawrence Amyott.
Lawrence Amyott is one of nature's gentlemen, a
chivalrous, true-hearted, self-sacrificing hero, who
indeed overacts his part in following out that
noble maxim of the poet-philosopher—

"In *good or ill leave casuists on the shelf,
lie never errs who sacrifices self."
Ile scene opens with a clever description of a
summer evening at a fashionable watering-place, a
sudden storm, an accident with a pleasure boat, the
death of Sir John Carr, and the rescuing of his
orphan daughter Ethel. Ethel Carr, the heroine of
the tale, in early girlhood is left to the careless com-
panionship of a vulgar young stepmother, who (the
widow of a Baronet) assumes the style and title of
Lady (John) Carr. Little sympathy exists between
the ladies, and Ethel's chief interest is vested in her
guardian Lawrence-Amyott. Lawrence Amyott,
wishing to enact the part of a judicious guardian,
gives the young lady as a chaperon, a Mrs. Ellersly
Barrington, a lady of fashion, who willingly initiates
the young debutante into the mysteries of high life.
Taking her young charge for a drive in the park at
the right hour during the season, Lady Barrington
favours her with a running commentary on the
characters and careers of the various occupants
of the other vehicles, and such a dose does Ethel get
of social immorality and indecorum as might well
make her shrink to enter such a world with such a
chaperbn. So much for Lawrence Amyott, with
all his good intentions, in his endeavour to " guard."
His attempts to " serve" are not-more successful.
Death having deprived him of the bride of his first
selection, his young ward wins her way into his
heart, but a chivalrous feeling keeps him silent
until the inexperienced Ethel, who is an heiress,
has gained some knowledge of the world and some
acquaintance with society. Ethel " comes out"
with due eclat under the auspices of Mrs. Barring-
ton, and soon becomes familiarised with fashion and
frivolity. With all the author's evident partiality
for his heroine, we must confess that Ethel Carr,
excepting, perhaps, in her girlish sorrow and deso-
lation, does not so much attract our sympathies.
The manner in which her affections are engaged
and her choice for life is made is utterly at variance
with the ordinary ideas of feminine delicacy and
refinement. At a ball she first meets Captain
Wilmer just returned from India, accustomed to
the " stereotyped devotion" of the gentlemen of
her acquaintance ; Ethel takes for something fresh
and genuine the vehement and demonstrative ad-
miration of the rough soldier. At last Lawrence
Amyott proposes to his ward, and will not take
her immediate answer, but insists upon a little de-
lay that she may choose deliberately. The delay
is over, and she is about to accept the offer, when
Captain Wilmer calls and makes a similar
proposal, and is refused, but he will take no
refusal. Novel-writers are fond of favouring their
readers with love scenes and declarations, but hap-
pily we are not favoured with many like this wooing
and winning of Ethel Carr. Lawrence Amyott,
true to his vocation, in order to " serve" his be-
loved according to her own wayward fancies, con-
sents to her marriage with one in no way fitted to
be her husband. Ethel goes out to India.. The
second volume records the heroine's adventures in
the new land, and they are only such as may be
surmised from the antecedents. Indian officers do
not appear to great advantage in this record. Mrs.
Wilmer meets with plenty admirers, and although
to the author she is irreproachable throughout, she
certainly receives this adulation with a coolness only
to be expected from the pupil of Mrs. Barrington
and the choice of Captain Wilmer. While others
are vehement and outspoken in their sudden devo-
tion to Mrs. Wilmer, Major Marsden is represented
as a Mephistopheles. The author is evidently
proud of this character, upon which he has be -
stowed some pains. We do not prop ose to follow
the intrica,ciea .; of this domes-
tic fiend. ..L'he, book, we presume, is iiatexittect to
be a moral one, bat it teaches morality (if such be
its intention) as a physician might demonstrate
health by conducting us through a fever hospital !
In one respect we must award a commendation to
the conclusion of the story. Ethel does not become
a widow and ultimately the wife of Lawrence
Amyott, as is too often the favourite ending of
similar tales.

The Life of Alarchesa Falletti. By Silvio Pellico.
Translated by Lady G. Fullerton.' One vol. Pp.
231. Richard Bentley.
Very dissimilar in style and theme to the
novel above mentioned is the little work now claim-
ing our attention. To turn from the one to the
other is as if we had turned from the heated atmo-
sphere of the dancing-room to the calm serenity of
the cloister. A new work by Silvio Pellico is suffi-
cient of itself to attract attention. Le mie Pregioni
has long since assumed a classic reputation. The
very threshold of Italian literature is occupied by
that gloomy fortress where Silvio Pellico languished.
The records of his confinement have been to him a
monument of fame. It appears only fitting that
his hand should have been the one to trace the re-
cords of the noble life and heroic charity of one who
was justly renowned as the Reformer of the Turin
Prisons. Somewhat similar to the Christian labours
of Mrs. Fry in this country were the unostentatious
efforts of the Marchesa Giulia Falletti di Barolo in
Turin. Passing through the hands of Lady
G-eorgiana Fullerton, it is unnecessary to say this
little record has only gained in gracefulness of style
and charity of thought. In her very charming in-
troduction the translator likens the gentle mar-
chioness to the " valiant woman" of the Bible.
It may be literally said of the Marchioness of Barolo that
her husband praised her, and that the numerous children
whom her charity adopted—God having in Ins divine
Providence denied her any of her own—rose up and called
her blessed. In the intimacy of domestic life, the gentle
author of one of the most touching records ever written of
Patient suffering watched this valiant woman, whose sym-
pathy had consoled, and whose generosity befriended him
in the hour of need with more than a mother or a sister's
kindness. Silvio Pellico drew up a few notes which were
to form the materials of a future history of his friend —but
he died first, and these pages remain in all their simplicity
—a plain affecting memorial of her virtues and of his
gratitude. At a period when the wants, tho sufferings, and
the sins of men, if not greater than in past times, are at any
rate brought into prominent notice, it must be interesting
to see what one strong will directed to the relief and im-
provement of the outcasts of society, one life spent in such
efforts, one soul moved by the love of God to dedicate itself
to the service of His most desolate creatures, can effect—
what footsteps a woman can leave behind her in the track
of time.

Arduous as were the labours and hercu-
lean the achievements of the Marchesa, her
strength appears to have been in gentleness. In the
midst of the wild and stormy subjects of her charity
she never lost her own serenity or peace. " The
sweetness of her own words and manner operated
wonderfully upon them. It awoke in even the wildest
and most disorderly a latent feeling of the beauty of
goodness, some desire to repent, and to make the
first step in the path of virtue." Besides ameliorat-
ing the character of the prisoner, and effecting great
improvements in the prison arrangements, this cha-
ritable lady founded, or caused to be founded, hos-
pitals, infant schools, and houses of refuge. Her
charity was universal and singularly unostentatious.
Ilek biographer remarks that " Giulietta never de-
parted from her rule, which was to carry on her
good works as quietly as possible." Her labours,
therefore, were not as generally well known as they
deserved. This touching tribute from one who knew
and appreciated her goodness will, we doubt not,
win for the memory of the noble Marchesa many
admirers in this country. It is a story well worthy
of perusal, and the names of Silvio Pellico and
Lady Georgiana Fullerton are sufficient to attest the
interesting manner and graceful style in which these
truthful memoirs are recorded.

Sketches o:f Russian Life. Edited by Henry Morley.

One vol. Pp. 298. Chapman and Hall.

These very interesting, and some of them roman-
tic sketches of Russian life before and during the
emancipation of the serfs, are for the most part re-
printed from the pages of All the Year Round. Tra-
velling in Russia through the snow and by the dili-
gence, adventures with natives and Kith huntsmen,