The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-29
VOL. XII.
is eminently qualified to do justice to its merits,

| has its merits but Is quite too Tree IN the reu.
dering to satisfy the present taste IN transla-
tons. Subsequently appeared metrical yer.
sion, by Mr.. Black, Scotchman, we think,
more close to the original, but preserving little
of the poetic spirit.
"The late Mr. McCracken, Of this city, trans
lated, in verse, large portions of Faust, with de-
cided cleverness, which more than twenty years
since were published in magazine in this city,
conducted BY C. +. Hoffman. The fragment
of a translation of Faust by Shelley is well known
to readers of poetry as one OF the finest things
of the kind in our language. If he had COM
| pleted the work, we are not sure that We should
not prefer Shelley's Faust to Goethe's. Some
writer in a New England journal has lately
pointed out certain mistakes Of the meaning
made by Shelley but, for our part, we are will
ing to forgive the mistakes for the sake Of tie
poetry. The catalogue of metrical versions
which we have read is closed by that of Brooks,
recently published, which is the only complete
reproduction of the original, in all its variations
of metre, which we have, and to the execution
of which the translator has brought great art
talent, and diligence"
THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE: Its History Mode Cuuare
Manufacture OF the Sugar &c, with reports OF us sue.
in differen, portions OF the United States and H
ters from distinguished Written and conptr eddy
James +. c. Hyde of Walnut Grove Nursery N.,lon
| Centre, Massachusetts. Boston: John z. Jcueu 4
Co. 1867.
We should be sorry if the publication OF this
little pamphlet had any influence to prevent
the repeal of the duty on sugar Indeed. We
hardly think it likely to do so, any more than
would treatise contributing to the extension
of the manufacture of maple sugar. The OBJ
ject of the introduction Of the Chinese sugar
cane is to enable farmers to make their own
sugar or molasses. 1t seems to be demonstra-
ted that the plant can be successfully cultivated
as far north as 4lo or 420 of north latitude, and
possibly further. 1t possesses, also, the advan-
tage of being raised yearly from the seed. and
is fodder plant Of no common excellence.
The compiler of this small work has brought
together a number of statements by different
persons, who have experimental on the plant
in different portions of the country, as he has
also done in Massachusetts. These are intro
duced by various statistics respecting the con-
sumption as well as production of sugar, and
quite detailed account of the introduction Of
this new sugar plant into France, with a de-
scrption of its character and peculiarities. AS
there seems to be a very general disposition to
try it, and large supplies of the seed are dis
tributed in different directions from the Patent
Office and other sources, the publication Of
little manual on the character Of the plant,
mode of raising it, uses, and method of manu-,
facture, is timely, and will be a valuable guide
to the farmers and planters who may engage in
these experiments. With the further prosecu-
ton Of the culture, of course larger works will
be forthcoming.
WoRDs FOR THE Hour. BY III. author Of PassoA Flow
ers." Boston: Ticknor q Fields. t-55. For tale by
Taylor Maury, Washington, d c.
harp that strikes for Freedom womans
hand that tunes its words for the hour" TO
pass down through weeks and years, and tell
that gentler bosoms may with unselish praise
respond to manly efforts that would save our
country from the curse of Heavens Judging
day. The Passion Flowers " claimed for no
ones name their welcome nor does this vol
ume Oh its titlepage but the publisher or
binder has told the secret, If it were not known
before, as it doubtless was to many friend,
that we owe the pleasure OF our reading Of
these pages to the poetical taste and chastened
fancy of Mrs. Howe. There are some very
beautiful things in this book, and we hardly
Baby the parting from it, and /" it's return"
rather seems to assert the strongest claim, for
its sweet tenderness, and the pictured thoughts
that image out the object of the mothers hal.
lowed love.
With the eyes that speak ,or the unIricd Gps
And the liule samnetinc tongue.
And the arms, like amulet Of price
Ger the mothers shoulders flung;
And the curls tlat ring Exc silver bells
With the voices silvcry chime.
Each counted aud comb "a. not broken vet
In the weary tangle Of time
Thy beauty shall train IT'S blossom wreath
Der the homcly letters of care.
While the household angels that cling round Inv path
Shall tighten the burden ofprayern
There, we have quoted three full stanzas:
but how. could we help it, bearing us az they
do back into the visions of the Past, and break
ing over the heart with once-beheld forms and
features, never to be seen on earth again?
Mrs. Howe also has not shrunk from trying
her skill with Tennyson, in his battle elegy.
Hers is no mean effort, and some may think it
the better of the two. We could dwell on many
of these pages, and fix here and there our
marks of admiration, or quotation of numerous
lines fraught with rich conceits all the more
welcome for their deeper meaning or the fond.
ness that lies enwrapped within them but It'll
needless-and we should perchance be beguiled
beyond our limited space One word ONLY. in
closing, we might say to the authoress-AGAx!
rurr pAurur Ar c,,,o,