The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-17 00:00:00

LITE_RATURE.

Alpine Byways ; or, Light Leaves gathered in 1859
and 1860. By a Lady. Longman.
This is a pleasing little volume that records some
wandering in foreign lands, and its fresh style and
animated descriptions cannot prove otherwise than
acceptable to the reader. There is hardly any
country more suitable for being the constant theme
of travellers than that which boasts those grand old
mountains, and is encircled by those everlasting
snows. In introducing the book the authoress
truly observes, that " the higher region of the
Swiss Alps has been, not inaptly, called the play-
ground" of England, where the energy, enterprise,
and endurance of her grown up sons find ample
scope for exercise amidst " peaks, passes, and gla-
ciers," the pursuit of health and manly amusement
being, in many well known instances, combined
with a true appreciation of the beauties of nature
and an enthusiastic devotion to scientific re-
search, in the study and development of the
long unexplored mysteries of creation which pre
sent themselves in the world of eternal ice andsnow ;
and, without aspiring to exploits which may be
deemed unfeminine, or entailing undue care arid re-
sponsibility upon their companions, ladies irray now
enjoy the wildest scenes of mountain grandeur with
comparative ease." It is also most just what is said.
further on, that " suchscenes exercise a most health-
ful influence on the mind, aiding us to put aside,
for a time, the everyday cares and engrossing inte-
rests of life, and filling it

Not with the works of man,
But with high objects with enduring things,
With life and nature, purifying thus
The elements of feeling and of thought.'
In youth especially the tone of character is elevated,
and the perception of beauty is strengthened by
being thus led to recognise the presence of the
Creator in His glorious works." There are several
illustrations to this book, some of which are very
pretty, and convey a good idea of the mingled
grandeur and beauty of those wonderful localities.
The sketch of Sixt is one of the best and most
striking. This valley is one of the most noticeable
environs of Switzerland, from its peculiarity and
the magnificence of its views: The description of
the several spots is conveyed in graceful and flow-
ing language, while the mind of the narrator is
evidently fully impressed with the subject, and
hence there is that appropriate appreciation
without which no one can rightly discuss this
topic Those ladies who wish to accompany their
adventurous relatives, but are deterred on ac;count
of thn supposed obstacles, may find pleas-ing and
profitable information in these pages, and glean
from them the welcome tidings that such an ex-
pedition may be safely and successfially performed.
On the other hand, those whom unpropitious cir-
cumstances prevent from taking that delightful
excursion may derive from this animated and at-
tractive little volume a fair idea of the objects of
interest that await the traveller, and in many
cases an acquaintance will be made with what
are here called " The Byeways and Higher Passes
Jf the Alps." There is some reason for the hope
expressed by the authoress in the concluding pas-
sage :—" Another link has been added to the chain
which has drawn us, summer after summer, to
seek enjoyment amidst the grandest scenes of
nature. I can only hope that the pleasure which
I have had in recalling some of the incidents
of our rambles may be realised by the experience
of those who may be induced to follow in the track
which I have ventured to indicate, and that others
may thus gather a store of those pleasant memories
which are recalled with renewed enjoyment long
after the first excitement of such mountain wan-
derings has passed away. It has been truly said—
" Remembered joys are never past."
This is an agreeable addition to the accumulated;
store of Alpine travels, and it will no doubt be ad-
mired by many of that numerous class of readers who
delight to dwell on all that concerns those distant
countries, from which we are divided by interven-
ing lands, and separated by seas and oceans, but of
which we have an accurate knowledge, and with,
whose peculiarities we seem intimately acquainted
in consequence of the numerous records that have
appeared of the exploits and adventures of energetic.
travellers. " Alpine Byways" may be fairly re-
commended to notice, and its perusal will, well re-
pay the reader, alike from its lively sketches and
its interesting subjects.

Uphill Work. By Mrs. Clara Lucas Balfour, author
of " Moral Heroism," &c. Iloulsten and Wright.
This is a short and simple tale with a very ex-
cellent moral,:showing hrJw patience, industry, and
integrity can surmount the most formidable obsta-
cles and obtain success under the most unpromising
circumstances. The hero, Philip Welmore, is
introduced to us in a very unfortunate position.
His mother, a weak and foolish woman, had married
a man of inferior station, violent temper, and in-
temperate habits. Poor Philip is looked upon as
an encumbrance by his step-father, whz) treats him
with alternate harshness and neglegi ; his mother,
grown peevish and indolent under the pressure of
many cares, makes him the drudge of the household.
He has no regular education sa•ve what he obtains
irom the waning or his good angel, aunt Matty.
This lady is the aunt of his mother, and had sup-
ported her in her younger days. She had lived
with her after her first marriage, and would not
desert her when she found how much she needed
her help in her ill-assorted second union. For the
sake of her unfortunate niece, and still more of
Philip, she remained an inmate of the miserable
home, notwithstanding the owner's insults. To her
Philip was indebted for all he knew, and still more
for the excellent moral training, which was the real
secret of his success. When Philip had passed the years
of boyhood a dispute arose which ended in his step-
father's expelling both him and Annt Matty from
the house. They started for London, where they
obtained employment—Philip, as an office boy, at
four shillings a week. From this humble beginning,
with his slender means of improvement, it took
him some years to rise to competence and reputa-
tion, but at length the " uphill work " was
havingan dColl7llleereldeaTh eis him
happily independent, having conquered his cir-
cum cir-
cumstances. We could have wished to make
successfullyhapp ily a c com pi s accomplished,
the moral more forcible as well as more natural, that
Philip had worked his way by the application of
ordinary abilities instead of doing so by the dis-
covery of
.an unusual artistic talent. Nevertheless
the moral's of universal application, and we heartily
commend it to all young people who are discouraged
by their circumstances, and inclined to abandon
effort because the onward path is steep and rugged
instead of smooth and pleasant.

Sunbeams for all Seasons. New edition. Edited
and enlarged by Mrs. Clara L. Balfour, author
of " Moral Heroism," &c., &c. Houlston and
Wright.
This little volume consists of a collection of
" Precepts, counsels, and cautions relating to the
hopes, pleasures, and sorrows of life." The extracts
are selected from a wide range of authors and
speakers of our own and other times and coun-
tries. They include prose and poetry, fun, phi-
losophy, advice, sentiment, and reflection. The
subjects are arranged alphabetically, and thus form
an intellectual dictionary. The work is admirably.
adapted for a gift book for young persons, who
may derive both pleasure and profit from its con-
tents, since, although the name of the editress is
sufficient guarantee for its high moral tone, there
are sufficient variety and brevity in the selections
to render them agreeable instead of wearisome to
those least studiously inclined.