The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-26
The Daily N ews.
LITERATURE.
In TRusT or Dr. BERrRANps HOUSEHOLD by Aman-
da MI. DOuRlase. BoRton Iha & ahenard. =.

In TRgsT OR, DIR. BERrnAfps HOUSEHOLD. BY Aman. |
da NJ Douglass Boston Lee Shepard.
GRAY considered 1t the height OF earthly felicity
to lilo on sofa all dag long, and read novels, and
there arc, perhaps, few persons who can plead |
not guilty to the "soft impeachment" Of having. |
Tt some tme OF their lives, devoured novels with
more qagerness. than any othor works of litera- |
tnre we are afraid to guoss how many n1athe- |
haaticians have been beguiled from tho problems |
OF EUCLID by the romances OF sCoTT; and it would
be like attempting to count tho sands on the sea-
shore to enumorate the school misses who have
IYept themselves blind over the "Sorrows OF Wor-
ther." Presses have groaned, pupits have fulmi-
mated against this passion for novel reading, but
all to no purpose; for novelists have found and
viii continue to find, twenty times aa many read
ers as historians or essaysts. This love Of hcti-
tioust tales is not local temporary passion; for
centuries ago the bearded Oriental listened with
grave delight to Ithe romance of tho itinerant
Htory-tellersfs che does this day in the coffee
houses Of STEAMBOAT! isi e.,..r srr.,- - 4
20 But it is only of late years that novels have
exerted apotential 'inhuence--thatr sound moral
lists, instead ofuseiesay arguing against popular
taste, have wisely turned it to ACCOUNT. Great
novelsts are great teachers Of their race. Truths
which PRESENTED uhclad and unadorned would fail
70 Command attention, when psrsonifed or speak
ing from the lips Of imaginary personages are re!
ceived directly in the popular heart, We can be
furnished with no better evidence Of tho populari-
ty whicfrnovels have obtained than the fact that
some of our ablest writer's adopt the novel as tho
best means Of securing the popular ear; and in
uthe present day read novels Of the historical,
philosophical, polemical, didaotic, military and
Nautical eorder-tin,a word, every theme that hui
inteleaS PuFsues has has been treated of in novel
rsforpn- 70, .,,si.,no,, '', = "a
.e.rsThe work, before us is from The: pom Of ono
aHhumfwe believe, has Just made, her debut in the
literary arena-and, without belonging to The
2tttsepsationaP order, we predict for 1t a decided
success. IT is quietly intense representation Of
>: deep,Y simple feeling and sentiment possesses
- lofty moral tone, and in tho thread of romance
4 which s skfuly woven with the story, We are won
by the noble character oil Richard Bertrand and the
i touching pictures of woman's love, in the life OF
Daisy. Much originality cannot be claimed for
the plot: but the charm of the book lies in the
life-lke manner in. which her characters are
drawn. 1t is difficult to bring ones self to believe
that they have no real existence; they do not ap-
pear like dim images in the picture gallery of
Il. Jnemory, but host Of friends whom we have met
and known. If any fault can be detocted in this
novel, it must be in the introduction of minor
characters that do mot assist in the working of
4, the plot. But not disposed to critioise
., rigidly the efforts Of females as those Of the
sterner sex the authoress needs at first the smiles
''of an encouraging public to urge her to renewed
efforts land, in addition, they have go many bar
riers Of prejudice to overcome. It is LoNaEELLow
mas says .uH sHi2are J -. a.
90, s,:what.we Admire IN woman s.
'' ''' '1s her affection, Mother intellect,'ru:..
This sentiment is, unworthy poet; the mind as
we'll as the heart claims sympathy, and there is
., no sympathy but In equality We needin woman
the completion of our OWN natures, town us by
{ba tbfa ;,,t
immortal is. deserving great ambition; We need
her purer vision to pierce for us tho mysteries
!, that ere hidden from our senses, strengthened
but drilled in the rude shocks of the outdoor
world, from which she is screened by her pursuits.
Il We care little for any Of the mathematicians meta
physicians or politicians, who, as shamelessly aB
" HELEN, quit their sphere Intellect in woman go
directed, we do not admire, and Of affection such
women are incapable. She whose true vocation it is
to write, has some sort Of inspiration which re-
ieyes her from the processes and accidents of
knowledge, to display only wisdom in all the range
or gentleness and all the forms OF grace! The
~ equality of the sexes is one OF the absurd ques-
lions which has arisen from denial Of the dis.
tinctions Of their faculties and dutiesof tho mas.
culine energy from the feminine refinement. The
rude sort of women cannot comprehend that there
1s distinction, not of dignity, but OF kind, and
j. casting aside their own eminenee for which they
are too base, and seeking after ours, for which
they are too weak, they are hermaphroditish dis
turbers Of the peace OF both. 80
In the main, American women are fee from this
reproaph; they seem to know their mission, and
have carried the threads OF ovility through the
years 80 strained that they have been melodious-
1ly vocal with every breath OF passion from the
common oheart. lave turn from the jar of SEN
ates, from politics, philosophers and all forms Of
Intellectual trial and conflict to that portion of
our literature which they have given us; coming
like dews and flowers after glaciers and rocks the
hush OF music after the tragedy BiIence.and rest
after turmoil Of, action. We predict that Miss
Douaiisa will be classed before the lapse Of many
:; years with the BRoNTE sisters and ""dEoRaE Ell
LIoT," and we heartily commend her novel to our
readers. iT,l5g.ts, .r,rer....,, .--.-. Z, ,r
b, It can be procured at hfessrss.' E. J. DAWSON &
Co., Hayne street, to whom we are indebted for.
handsomely bound copy.s.g ,..r,.r. saas.
BORDER AND BAsr1LE; BY the author of Guy Living.
The correspondent of the London Morning. Post
has written very readable book, with the above
title. The aim of the author was to CROSS the
Potomac and offer his services as volunteer aid
to the Confederate cause, either with his nan or
his sword. He has. drawn q graphic picture of
his movements to attain this object, and sketched
with vigorous pen his "hair breadth aospes" and
moving accidents" The comments OF the author
Oh mon and manners are tersely and truthfuly