The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-22
LITERARY NOTICES.

tonsl Era.
We have not here the space in which to say
all we think and feel regarding this wonderful
work 1t was n noble etfort-it is splendid
success. The God of Freedom inspired the
thought-the spirit of his love and wisdom
guided the pen of the writer so her words
shall sink into the softened and repentant heart
of the wrong-doer, and spring up into harvest
of good, for the poor and the oppressed
This beautiful new evahgel of freedom-tor
40 the book seems to us-dOes not suddenly
flash the intolerable light of Gods truth upon
souls benighted in error but softly drops veil
after veil till they stand in midday brightness,
wondering and remorseful.
There are two characters in this work which
will live as long as our literature-IOm and
little Eua-the ebony statue Of Christlike pa
tience-the rose of love poisoning with i'm
mortal sweetness at its base. No human heart
can receive these two yisitants, and none can
refuse them when they come without taking
in with them the pleading, Borrowing Spirit OF
humanity and the stern Angel Of justice.
We have undertaken nothing like critique
of this book; but we must be allowed to say,
even in this circumscribed notice, that the
work to US gives evidence of greater power, of
deeper and more various resources, than any
other novel OF the time. 1t displays rare dra-
matte genius, its characters are strongly
drawn, refreshingly peculiar and original, yet
wondrously true to nature and to many read
ers experience of life 1t abounds alike with
quaint, delicious humor, and the most heart
searching pathos; with the widest word paint
ing, in the way of description, with argu-
ment, philosophy, eloquence, and poetry. And
straight and pure through although char
acterization, conversation, description, and mar
ratve, sweeps the continuous mOral-the one
one deep thought, flowing ceaselessly from the
soul of the writer, and fed by under-springs
of silent deity
So great and good a thing has Mrs. Stowe
here accomplished for humanity, for freedom,
for God, that we cannot refrain from applying
to her sacred words, and exclaiming, Blessed
art thou among women"
IsA A PILGRIMAGE. By Caroline Chesebro' New
York Redfcld. For sale by Taylor Maury,
Penn. avenue, Washington, d. G.
This is philosophical and psychological
story, with little Of plot or incident, but dis
playing much earnest thought and analytical
power. 1t is a book about which many contra
dictory things are already Said, for it is one
liable to be misunderstood by the careless and
hasty reader and to be misconstrued by dull
ness or malice. The authoress, herself consc-
entious and high-souled, kept her true purpose
clear before her own mind, but she has not in
all places made it so clear to the eye of all her
readers The silver thread of her pure intent
does not shine always on the surface of this
work, but it is woven into the whole texture
and every now and then flashes into the light
Perhaps Miss Chesebro' would have been
more worldly wise if she had shown less faith
in the trust and charity of the general reader ;
if she had more sharply defined her own posi-
ton on the questions of morality and religion
discussed in her book il she had made every
thing so clear that che who runs might read"
for nobody sits dopn to read now-a-days-that
even an "unco guide" reviewer, though fool,
need not err" But hers was the error Of
generous heart, and she will yet live down all
misapprehension and Misrepresentation.
SARTArN's MAGAZINE. May, 1852.
Among the many good articles in this num-
Der, we notice particularly a sweet, POLITICALLY.
told SKETCH by Caroline Chesebro, and poems
by Stoddard, Hirst and George s. Burleigh
"Puck's Portfolio" contains a witty and mirth-
provoking critique on pictures in has Acade-
N.Y. very humorously burlesquing Notices of
the Fine Arts"
The KNicKERBocKER. April. 1852
In the present number of this favorite peri
odical, we find the first of series of articles,
which promise to be of much interest, entitled,
Sketches of Authors, Painters, and Players
by the well-known author of 81 Pen and Ink
Sketches also, chapter fifth of TX Maryers
Fudge Papers a short article on Charles Lamb,
with several other papers of interest In the
Editors Table we notice some exquisite
lines by VIM d. Gallagher, the sweetest poem
we have read for months
THE MAIDEN AND MARRIED LIFE OF MARY POWELL,
afterwards Mistress Milton. New York D. Ap.
pleton Co For sale by r. Farnham, Pcnnsylva-
MIA avenue, Washington, d. C.
This quaint and beautiful diary was for some
months the chief attraction of "Littelrs Living
Age" and 80 is at least partially known to
most of our readers We are confident that
no one at all familiar with it can want the de-
sire to possesSit in the present fair and pre-
servable form
IxIoN, AND OTHER POEMS. By Harvey Hubbard
Boston Ticknor, Reed, 4 Fields For sale by
Taylor 4 Maury Washington.
The fact of this volume being brought out
by the house of Ticknor would Of itself warmly
commend it to U.S. But it has merits Of its
own, on which it can well rely. We have been
able to read but few Of the poems, but with
those have been much pleased. The one emit
tied "The Two Graves" is especially touching
aud beautiful.
STATIONS RURAL HAND Books. For sale by Franck
Taylor, Pennsylvania avenue.
A series of carefully written, well illustrated
works, quite invaluable to the agriculturist. A
friend has kindly furnished us with notice of
the poultry book to which We gladly give
place. q. u.
DOMESTIC Fowl, or ORNAMENTAL POULTRY BY
II. d. Richardson, author of Horses Hogs,
Bees F" I" Pests of tho Farm" New York: q. NJ,
Saxton, Agricultural Book Publisher.
Among Saxton's Rural Hand-Books we find
much to interest in the one devoted to the sub