Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-09
Books.

Books.
Taylor Maury have sent US, with the pub
Usher s compliments, Arctic Adventure by Sea
and Land, from the earliest date to the last
expeditions in search of Sir John Frank
lin, edited by Epes Sergeant, with maps and
illustrations, Boston {; published by Phillips,
Sampson s& Co, 1857. This compilation Is
of course the result Of the late DR.. Kane gen.
Grafton of SO great public interest in the Arctic
regions. The editor has made brief synopsis
of the interesting and noteworthy features of
all voyages in that quarter of the globe from
that of the CabOts to DR.. Kane's that having
been recorded in print, have fixed themselves
in the memory of the learned. Mr. Sar-
geant has performed his task with ability; for
his style, as displayed in this work, is suecint,
clear and didsctic, and his skill in the selection
Of the points in each voyage to be described, has
been admirable. He has evidently compiled to
hit the taste of the million-to make the book
cell. That it will sell very extensively is GER
tain, because there iscompressed in its 4SO pages
an amount of entertaining, useful and substan-
tial information that must make it a welcome
visitor at every well ordered Preside, and a
permanent resident on the shelf of many thou
sand libraries.
Also, Leonard Scott & Co.'S reprint of the
March number of Blackwood, as repIete as
usual with able and interesting essays from CO.
temporaneous English literary pens. We would
almost as soon dream Of trying to exist without
food, as without the mental provender which we
draw from Scott L Co.'S now so celebrated re-
prints Of the standard English periodicals..
Also, p. D. Orvis's (Sun Buildings, New
York; reprint of the March, 1857, number of
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal-the publica-
ton which Dickens's Household Words was
started TO rival. They are alike in many fea-
lures, the former being usually the most solid
II the latter is the racier, Of the two. The
number before US, though as Light" in the
character Of its pieces any number Of its
rival so far published, will prove an agreeable
companion, indeed, to the desultory reader-to
the man whose soul yearnS for books while his
nerves, and the momentary condition of his
temperament from the preoccupation of his
mind with cares, unfit him to read as all should
read, but az few Cn this country Of universal
strife over the - almighty dollar') do read
leisurely, thoughtfully, and systematically
We return thanks to the publisher, who sends
rs Through Prank Taylorl-'. Hansford: A
Tale of Bscon's Rebellion. By St George
Tucker, Richmond; published by George NJ
West, 1S57-for great treat in more ways
than one
We dream Of the advancement of Southern
literature, as an important means of the olsen
thralment Of our section of the Confederacy
from the incubus Of disabilities resting on it in
part through its Own apathy up to this time
We know well that there is more powerful
nrht he
not to make it subservient to the miserable end
OF earning eiap-trap popularity by pandering
to low tastes and brutal mobocratic passions
than In the North We know. too. that in pro.
portion to pOpulatiOn-of citizenship-there
exists In the South vastly more careful and
thorough scholastic training among men of sniff
Gent leisure to play the author than at the
North The history.of the worlds literature.
as written and appreciated by the really well
read everywhere, is deluson, If the Soutb fin
Europe) has not developed most literary taste.
genius, and inspiration-that is, among writers.
We claim no credit for her in such connection
for this superiority In attributesfs the result of
her institutions, her climate, and the race from
winch her present population sprang OF its
existence, however, we entertain no doubt; and
we, therefore, do dream that in due timecircum-
stances will lead to its development, to the sat
rfaction even Of the jealous literati of the
Northern United States
while the swift working presses of an hum
aIed northern publishing houses are throwing
On hundreds Of thousands of trashy love stories.
ieuu' Fostering debaucheries of popular taste,
ana Panderngs to the prejudices of the i'm.
penectly and enormously educated masses
mere, 'ne lew books published at the South
are " books which are books
NO man ever read bawdy snoyellette,,
from the press of southern publisbin, hon..
or an matchmaking, or a communicate
pamphlet. Their histories are works Of n.,;.ns
labor, prepared with a due sense of rs.nona;
bility to competent criticism, and their VOL.
Of fiction are such as may safely be placed n
the hands of any member Of any man 3 family
We are willing to trust the public iudgmen,
upon the eternal justice upon this our sec.
tional criticism upon this book from Mr.. Tuck.
ers accomplished pen. While it paints in
vivid and unfading colors the history of the
Old Dominion's times, of which il treats. its
style Is model Of competition that may be
studied by all to advantage, and its ineulca-
uens OF morals, are just generous and consci.
entious - 81