The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-28 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Cousin Stella ; or, Conflict. By the author of
" Violet Bank and its Inmates." Three vols.
Smith and Elder.

This is a peculiar work, which will be welcome
to some for its unusual style. The heroine, Stella,
is a very interesting character, and her varied ad-
ventures form an entertaining subject for our atten-
tion. She is first met with when in her girlhood.
She is living with her grandmother, who is a very
strange old lady, and one nu way calculated to
train a young mind, or render a home happy for a
girl like Stella. She early discovered that some
mystery•vas attached to her life, but she was not
able at that time to fathom it. After her grand-
mother's death she resided for some time in the
family of her aunt, Mrs. Dashwood, who %N as the
very opposite to her mother. This lively and pleas-
ing lady contrived to fascinate her niece at first,
but soon Stella discovered that she had found no
home even here. While manifesting delight at
having her domiciled under her roof, Mrs. Dash-
wood privately wrote to her father to have her
removed from her care. As Mr. Joddrell had just
married again, he arranged that his daughter
should remain under the care of some friends till
she had completed her education, and then join
him in Jamaica. Another era of Stella's life was
passed among strangers, and then she once more
bade adieu to all familiar faces, and departed to a
strange country. She found much to try her in
this new existence. Her father, whom she had
forgotten, proved in every way undesirable ; her
stepmother was very unlike what Stella had ex-
pected from the members of the family she had
seen in England. She found only one object of
interest in her cousii, Louis Gualtier, whom she
had seen before, and whose acquaintance she gladly
renewed. Even here, however, misfortunes in-
truded. There was a sister of her mother's staying
in the house of Madame Gualtier and her son, and the
devotion of both to this strange woman was absurd
and scarcely credible, except when Louis' excited
nature is taken into consideration. On account of
his Quixotic devotion to the cause of the injured
Madame Olympia, he forgot the claims of his
cousin, to whom he was really attached, and even
resolved on sending her to England to satisfy the
wishes of Olympia. This was after the death of
Mr. Joddrell had rendered him one of Stella's
guardians. Before the ship sailed on its homeward
voyage many events occurred, some of a most pain-
ful nature, which finally occasioned the postpone-
ment of Stella's journey. The period to which the
story refers was prior to the abolition of slavery in
our colonies, and therefore ample scope is given for
the relation of some of those horrors which were
only of too frequent occurrence at that time. Cer-
tainly the families here mentioned were witnesses
of its evils, for Mr. Joddrell and his two sons
perished, victims to the revenge of a cook, whom
the irate master had ill-used. Louis Gualtier him-
self became a cripple for life. It is very unsatis-
factory to reflect that this misery was occasioned
by the actions of Olympia, who was truly the evil
spirit of the home that had sheltered her. It is
some relief to find that this designing woman was
at last induced to leave the unfortunate victims of
her manoeuvres, and that what peace could exist
for such afilicted, individuals was then the portion
of Stella and Louis. Notwithstanding some points
in the story that are rather exaggerated, the reader,
will find much to attract in its vivid sketches and
powerful delineations. There are scenes of pas-
sionate feeling and vehement action, that are de-
tailed in a vigorous and glowing style, and there
certainly cannot be laid to the charge of the author
that he has produced a spiritless ' narrative.
" Cousin Stella" can be recommended to those
who seek in works of fiction for excitement and
variety.

Millicent Neville. A Novel. By Julia Tilt;
Author of " May Hamilton," " The Old Palace,
&c. 2 volA. Booth.
This is a very interesting story, and one whieh
is gracefully described. Millicent, the heroine, "
one of those unfortunate beings who make an IA"
happy marriage, and •the sad scenes of suffering
through which she has to pass outweigh in miser,'
the fitful passages which attend the loves of all'
tracted maidens in the old style of romance. 34';
licent's character is a fine one ; at first she does Or
appear to much advantage, but gradually as her
dangers threaten and hertrials multiply, the innate
force of her disposition becomes developed, and her
remarkable self-control is strikingly displayed. Shae
had not to complain of ill-usage, and her husbao,
was not what is called a badman, but there remained
ample scope for intense sufferings in one of MiT;
cent's loving heart, and keen susceptibility.
add to the complication of her trials, her mother►.
who was well-meaning, but not of her daughter;
refined nature, perceived that something was aali6,
and persisted in interfering till Millicent insisted
on being left to herself, rightly judging that as she
had been mistaken in marrying Neville before she
was certain of his character, domestic interference
could not rectify matters. Eustace Neville is we'
depicted, as a man who was rather weak than
wicked, and who, had he been subject
elb
good influences, would have done
He was, unhappily for himself,- thrown
among undesirable associates, and the connections
thus formed clung to him through life, and exerted
a baneful impression on his career. He really' love
Millicent, and regarded her with very thfrerent
i
sentiments to those which animated him in regal'
to former objects of attachment. His pride, how'
ever, forbade him to own himself in the wrong, ~,"e
to make the least advances towards one whom
had so deeply injured. The best part of the Fite%
is the passage which relates the ruin which eilrfa
with a sudden blow upon the prosperous man, an
reduced him in a day, with no word of warning;
and no shadow of preparation, to a condition worse
than that of a beggar. In this dark hour ther
was one light in the alicted mansion ; those who
in the days of sunshine held aloof from each other
in sullen pride and offended dignity, came togetwir
at the sound of the storm which uprooted the,:
stronghold and scattered far and wide their
sures. Millicent, haughty in her just indignatleol
would not desert in peril one whom she had nio
left in wealth. For the sake of appearances sto
remained in her joyless home, and she refused a,
desert it in poverty. The succeeding events prov,„er.
however, that people cannot make their own 1..,"0
tunes and arrange their lives after their An
fashion. Eustace and Millicent retired into
obscurity, but there the avenger follovied
them. His character, which had been sufferent
to pass in the halo of prosperity, could 11,
withstand the evil day, which tries as with a 14;
finer's fire, the deeds and words of ;he distresseu.
His sad death was through a mistaken identitfi
but had his previous course been clearer he w°ll a
not have been deserted in the hour of need, and
shunned by all around him. Millicent was fate
to be in sorrow. She grieved over her desertion,
till she lamented at their disastrous wreck df
tune, and hardly had she accommodated herSeJ.,
to altered circumstances when she had to mourP,
over her husband's death-bed. Her subsequent
marriage with her cousin Hermann is not so irrelf;
vant as such unions so often•are in stories for 11'
attaching herself to Neville it was more the ide7
than the real character she loved, and in be a
her
anguish at the last it was more the sorrowol, a
kind nature at suffering, than the sympathy cuii,
kindred spirit which influenced her. The deserw-
tion of Mrs. Vere is a good one. She is fairly ri:
presented as a vain, officious woman, who is ari
mated by feelings of revenge into actions that are
apparently incompatible with
_her dispositifet
There is something almost ludicrous in .`l9
retaliating upon Mr. Barton the injuries ome.
imagined she had received from Eusta.
Could many in his position overhear convpeitrs
sations as he did, it is probable the resu jo
might be equally enlightening. The little that is
said of Norman Austin is satisfactory, and thereco
something noble in the manner in which he rellciia
himself, after his bitter disappointment. He d,cl
not waste in idly regrets the time which w°,-itt
never return, but he made for himself a name
the world, and a position which was afterwards a,
signal service to those to whom he was attacilece
He entertained no jealousy towards Enstnre-
,
and had he not been abroad at the time of hisoi-is
verse he would have willingly assisted him.
story may be considered successful in its endeany,
ttwootiotpho
oftenuevr terrayt yr
ho ado
psbea
by many
fmp aatnhy in
happiness
wholif
anantndedr onwhich new
cess. The varying scenes of trial through yvbior
Millicent passed impart a sombre tinge to the the t,
native, but a mournful interest attaches itself te "ilf r
record of the struggles bravely borne, and the ix
sui f
Tei
rit•
eNievnrtogeorsstipheneydor nobly
eac endured.cnseyos
ms
novel
eor vpteoi
lc
rows will be pleased with the appearance °I
attractived
s
novel.
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sire 171;
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It is said that the forthcoming dividend o.cethift
London and North-Western Railway Company will TAW
the rate of 41 to 4i per cent. per annum ; that of the ior
cashire and Yorkshire Company 4/ to 41 per cente'ot.
annum ; and that of the Great Western 2 to 21 per
-
per annum. re"
The French Telegraph Administration hasatioo
ported the re-establishment of telegraphic communie to
with Lombardy. For a long time past despatches •
ba posted at certain points for the chief Lombard cities' an
ACCIDENT TO THE EARL OF PORTSMOUTO.,
Friday morning, as the Earl of Portsmouth was driclnetto
company with some other gentlemen, at Hurstbournle_4ljelt
Horses became ungovernable, overturning the vehicle, f rtg
vas shattered to pieces, and seriously injuring some °we'
wcupants. The noble earl, we are happy to say, es
cmparatively un.higt.—Salisbury Journal.