The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-05


occurred. vi one thing We feel certain-the US
OF grapes, as In many portions of Europe, as
part OF food and luxury of the table, no mat
ter how common, would be most salutary. /
mas been SAID that, to any one who is accus
toned to rely on his daily dram, fruit prove
no sufficient stimulus. So long, therefore, a
the love OF iruit continues strong, as an elemen
OF natural appetite, and the stomach finds in i
that gentle stimulus, well as the palate tn,
relish 1t imparts, there is less danger that :
craving should arise from Intoxicating bever
ages Were grapes among our most common
and universally enjoyed fruits, children anC
youth, growing up with such relish, and ever
elder persons, might find in the natural, unfer
mented juice the beverage that was most CRATE
tul and conducive to health. The thirst il
slaked, the taste RECALLED, and a healthful slim
ulus enjoyed.
Of late years, more attention has been direct
ed to the culture of this delicious fruit. The
great want, however, has been felt, of popular
simple manuals, which, discarding the scientific
terms, might give all the necessary instruction
for planting and rearing vines, and managing
the preservation of the fruit. Most valuable
treatises on these subjects exist in the German
and French, but they are accessible to few,
and the occasional notices of this culture In
our agricultural periodicals, often useful so far
as they go, yet do not supply the deficiency.
The book before us seems to be we'll adapted, in
part, for the purpose. The author is known by
former volume and, within the compass of
less than 200 pages, he has given clear ac-
count of the cultivation, and much useful in
formation on the varieties, knowledge of the
diseases, insects, &c, that may help the grape
grower in his endeavors to raise choice fruit.
He describes the mode of preparing and venti-
lating lighthouses, borders, or beds; the plant
ing and management during the first year
management the second year; permanent cul-
ture; pruning and training propagation and
raising of new kinds; and also the vineyard and
outdoor culture. Accompanying his directions
are numerous illustrations, well fitted to simpli-
fly the instruction, and thus render it more easy
of comprehension. Though perhaps its i'm
mediate object is better adapted for indoor cul-
ture, yet there are many hints through the
whole volume that may prove valuable to those
who have no such facilities, but must confne
themselves to the outdoor cultivation We be-
lieve the raising Of grapes may be made very
profitable, especially where there Is q ready
market for them in the vicinity of our cities
CHRISTINE; or Woman's Trials and Trmphs. BY Laura
J. Curtis. New York De Witt & Davenport.
A young girl, disappointed in love prisoned
by her father and kindred, to stop her from
featuring on Womans Rights; rescued, and
devoting herself TO her fanced mission; adopt
ing an orphan, TO train her as her successor;
disappointed again, that her pupil is not proof
against the tender passion, and her fondest hope
By nst he years re1ve 81 ct
membered loved one the dream of life broken,
and herself bound in the silken ties of a welded
home-such, in nutshell, is the kernel of this
book. Other episodes, or side pieces, the usual
incidents of unhappy love, deserted affection,
withered prospects, come in to diversity the
story, and brighten the interest by the varying
characters depicted. There is nothing very
striking in the conduct of the tale-generally,
it is pretty well sustained, and there is no
strained effort at fine writing. The moral is
good, many Of the sentiments expressed valu-
able; and, while the authoress has evidently
belief that woman has not all that she may
claim, she still does not seem TO accord with
the idea that her place is in the chair of the
public lecturer, or amid the din Of popular or
Il ha 70
inouicate kind and gentler treatment of those
who do not accord with the wishes of their
friends, and to illustrate the truth that God
shapes our ends and aims, rough hew them
as we will" For this purpose, she has chosen
as her motto on her title-page-
"ifwhal We long for may no, be portion,
Our ongings stiil will lead 10 nobier life"
And, after having conducted her heroine
through varied scene Of discipline, she closes
the VOLUME with the words on her lips, "No! l
could none peasanter (air-castles) than the re-
ality-I am very happy.
cover rough ways God hath led me,
To the path OF perfect peace"
Portions of the book are finely conceived;
and there are touching scenes, that the writer
understands how to strike upon the chords that
vibrate quickly to the griefs and sorrows of a
human heart. We are glad to see that she
speaks her own sentiments, as suppose, in
the language of her heroine, in vindicating re-
ligion, the Bible, morality, and the Church of
Christ, from the accusations and license of GER
tain jealous champions of Woman's Rights,
who boast of their hatred to the word of God,
and glory in their shame. Hers Is not such
an advocacy of change in the condition of her
sex, as would lead her to discard the wiser
teachings of God himself. The mission of
woman is sufficiently indicated, but without
any apparent wish to give It ? holder range.
The contrast of the timid Rosa to the sterner
Christine, is designed to present both kinds of
elements in the character; and by making US
admire traits so dissimiiar, as yet aim ct the
same object, she points her moral to the thought
that the better possession still would be a COM
bination, in which the diverse excellences might
be harmoniously blended. Such result only
could be attained in the gentle, yet decided and
selfdenying, Christian woman.
MEMORIALS OF tfEDLEl WEARS, SItn Regiment.
BY the author of "The Victory Won" New York
Rober, Carter & Brothers 1856. For sale by Gray &
Ballantyne, Washington D. c.
1t is not to the battlefield, and amid the tn
mults of war; we often look to receive the tes-
timonies of faith in Christ. That peace-speak-
ing Gospel would rather choose its trophies
amid the walks of humber and more quiet life.
Here, however, even from the midst of the