The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-21
Tbs Ssbith.

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN GIRLS. A Story of Vermont. BY
Blythe White, jr. New York: Derby & Jackson. 1885.
For sale by Franck Taylor Washington, ID. C.
We doubt not the good intentions with which
this tale of former times has been written, but
we do doubt much its usefulness. We presume
the aim is to show, among other things, the
evils of intemperance, and the author says it is
designed to illustrate the character of Vermont
men, and of the Green Mountain girls. If it
gives a true picture of the state of things in
northern Vermont some forty years ago, and
during the war of 1872, there must have been
sad want of morality, indeed, among all
classes, the professedly religious as well as
others. Even some whom the author intends
to commend to his readers sympathy, as among
the worthiest, are described as practicing tricks
and low cunning, which are utterly inconsistent
with the high rules of Scripture morals while
intemperance, proaigacy, treachery, villany,
cruelty, bigamy, and crime of all sorts, make
up large portion of the book. Virtuous pow
erty suffers persecution; and when the scenes
shift to different States, the same dark features
scowl out from the picture, with hardly here
and there something better to relieve them.
Facts may have been wrought into the story,
but the writer, too, it would seem, must have
borrowed largely on his imagination, or at
least have given a backer shading to incidents
than belonged to them.
The affection of the two sisters in their trials,
and the love and kindness of one or two of the
better characters, forms almost the whole of
what there is to mitigate the disgust and alb
horrence with which we turn away from the
greater portion of the pereons with whom the
reader is brought in contact. Misplaced affec-
ton, with its unhappy results-bitter repent
ance, loss of comfort, povery, and abuse-form
the staple of the story, and its accessories
scarcely give to the dark cloud silver lining.
We question much if the nature of the impress
sion which the book leaves on the heart is
salutary one, though it exhibits considerable
might, we think, have wrought up his materials
to better advantage; at least, could have made
better selection for q more healthful if not
so exciting a story.
published by William Elizabeth NJ F. Denton, Day
ton, Ohio. 1856
The author of this book is no poet, and of
this he seems conscious, as his first piece is en-
titled, / may not be a poet" Some of his
verses might be regarded, perhaps, on par
with much that is published in the public jour-
mails, and of the most ephemeral kind. he
claims, however, to be friend to Human Pro.
gress, and writes against Slavery and Intemper-
ance. So far, so good. But he ignores and
sets at nought the greatest of all remedies for
the wants and woes of man, The Gospel as it
is in Jesus In his poem, What is Religion 4"
in that What once thought" and especially
the one called "The Freeman's Hymn" he
avows himself boldly disbeliever of the Bible,
and disciple of the so-called religion of nature
All through the volume runs the same senti
ment. We cannot yet accept the blessings Inf
deity would give US, for the faith Of our fathers
The Millennium it promises rests too much
on the mere unaided exhibitions of that human
heart, which without divine grace we believe to
be deceitful and desperately wicked" to tempt
US to forsake the promises of q God who made,
governs, and has revealed himself to man, as
best knowing in what his highest welfare con-
sists. When the author tells us that "nature
knows no Sabbath day" and the birds are Gods
heralds, free to preach the Gospel" he makes
us understand what kind of state he would see
realized and how soon such a state, without
Bible, prayer, or worship, unrestrained, would
become state OF barbarism, our readers can
Judge from the history of mankind.
NENoiRs OF JOHN Krro D. D., F. s. A, author Of Daily
Bible Illustrations, &c Compiled chiefly from his let
tiers and journals. BY J. E. Ryland, NJ. A, &c. With
Critical Estimate of DIR. kit,e's Lifs and Writings,
by Professor Eadie, d. d. LII. d., of Glasgow. Two
vols. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. For
sale by Gray Ballantyne. Washington, D. C.
DIR. kitto is 9 remarkable example of the
struggles of genius. Born Of poor parents,
and by his fathers intemperance deprived vet
further of the privileges of a common educa-
ton at home, early forced to spend nearly all
his time in labor, and, added to this, the calam-
ity Of becoming permanently deaf, he succeed.
ed in gathering knowledge. and training him.
self for eminent. usefulness. After having
been for years the inmate of parish work.
house, he rose to literary distinction, travelled
in the East, edited the Pictorial Bible, the Bib
lical Encyclopedia, and Journal of Sacred
Science, besides being the author Of various
works, which are among the most popular among
the Christian reading public. The sutobiog-
raphy of such q man must be interesting.
Such, in no small part, are the contents Of this
volume. DR.. Kitto tells his own story-his
diseonragements and efforts, his trials and
success. He was . man of great energy and
perseverance, and it was bis lot to pass through
scenes in which the stoutest heart might have
quailed. The account he gives of the plague