Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-20
LITERARY NOTICES.

DovEcoTE on, The HEART OF THE HOMESTEAD.
by the author Of Cap Sheaf Boston: John r.
Jewett a Go. Sold by Taylor Maury, Washing
ton. vol PIP. soO
pleasant picture Of home-life in the coun-
try--of life among woods and hills and streams
and fields where the sweet influences of Ma
tuIe are free to play around the heart like
summer wind
The story Of Milly, the poor waif Of the
world" which is like silver thread running
through the book, is simple and touching The
author has drawn from full heart, rich in
sweet home affections and dear old memo
ries--a heart that has communed with Nature
in all her varied forms, sought out her green
shady hooks, and fingered in her quiet haunts,
till it has become familiar with every Inca
ment Of her lovely face. It is book to dream
over. AS tho author says in his preface, the
reader will find the quiet dreams at the hearth,
the glowing visions in the woods and on the
hills the sweet memories that swarm in the
old garnet and barns, and the pleasant medi-
tations that flow out Of the heart by the brook
and the river
We, too, have sweet memories Of an old
homestead in the country, girdled by green
hills and smiling fields, where the sun shone
brighter than anywhere else; and we thank
the author Of g Dovecoto for the pleasant
glimpse he has given US, as through mirror,
of the bright days Of our own childhood and
childhood's home. G.
MRS BEN darcy; OR, THE VEAL AND Woe OF So
GAL LIFE. By A. Maria Collins Cincinnati
Moore, Anderson, Wilstach, 4 Keys Sold by
Gray 4 Ballantyne, Washington. 1vol. PIP. 1867.
This is a work Of great power--the best
temperance tale we havo ever read. The pie
lures Of social life are skilfuly drawn, and with
o truth and vividness that stirs the soul. Who
can read Mrs. Ben Darby" and ever again
put the maddening wine-cup to his lips?
There is, as the author has intimated, an
other slavery beside that Of the negro race-a
slavery that is felt in high places, and carries
in its train madness and ruin. The slavery Of
the negro is the slayeryof the body--the sla-
very Of the inebriate is the slavery Of body and
soul
The volume is deserving Of high commenda-
ton, and we hope it may be extensively read.
G.
AN Attic PHILOSOPHER IN PARrs; or, Peep at
the World from Garrett Being the Journal Of
Happy Man. From the French Of Emile Souvestre.
So many unhappy people have written jour-
mails, and they are usually filled with such NOR
bid, egotistical, unhealthy stuff, that few people
of good taste will read them. But this book is
what it purports to be; and there is Q religious
sentiment pervading il, which is by no means
common in popular books, and especially in
French literature
Farnham has it for SALE
LrsNY LOCKWOOD. A Novel By catharine Grove,
author of Susan Hspley," /" Lilly Dawson"
Might Side of Nature" &c. New York: Apple
ton 4 Co.
We cannot speak critically Of this book, for
we have not read it, But turning over it's
pages, we have seen enough to venture the as
sertion that it is clever, spirited sketch Of
English life and manners and will serve as
we'll as another to amuse an idle hour.
For sale by Farnham.
GRAHAM, who produced some sensation by
pronouncing Uncle TOMS Cabin :" n bad book "
in his Magazine, and in seeking defence Of
Southern institutions, is out against Mr.. Doug
lass Nebraska bill He is assured that it will
be the "parent Of endless mischief He adds:
aThe great mass Of the people, North and
South, have q reverence for oompacts. The
heart of the masses is sound. The Compromise
Measures have secured repose, and q general
acauiescenco was manifest Now we have the
old sore torn open, and that rudely. The Mis-
souri Compromise has long been regarded as
Of equal sanctity to the Constitution itself
Once begin to break faith, and we shall soon
see an end Of all peace on the question of Sla-
very New States in the MeslIa and Sonora
will be knocking at tho door hereafter and if
formed by the iQorkers of California, will be
free States undoubtedly. Then comes the other
side Of the question, and the South will be in
arms. Let well enough alone, Mr.. Douglas
Your wisdom is not greater than that Of Clay
and Webster-nor are your dntecedenfs such ~
to inspire confidence As candidate for the
Presidency, you are suspected by some % IN
angler for votes and by many as q demagogue
who would inhame the whole country, that you
might ride into Office upon the whirlwind Of
popular passion. As friend Of the South, we
urge the peoplc--not the politicians--to Yet peH
enough alone This is q wise maxim-Doug-
las has not better in all his culver Of voxa-
tionsn
NUMERICAL Laws OF THE SrxEs.--The
last census develops some curious facts. IL
fixes the numerical law Of tho sexes thus
/. There are more males than females born,
by about per cent
2. At 20 years Of age this preponderance is
entirely lost and there are more females than
males
3. AT 40 years, the balance is again the
other way, and there are moro males than
females.
4. AT 20, the sexes are about even, and the
ultimate age Of the human being is reached,
without any decided advantage to either sex.
Between 20 and 100 years Of age, there are
1871 more white women than there are males
ho,,, ,,,oro thar, xr cant &c Tho x.rholo y,rx,,