The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-26

ries, vols, 1862; 1.-The Young Elector, VOLS,
vols, 1865; Joseph as Emperor, 1859; ''Empe-
ror Joseph and Marie Antonette," 1864; "Empe-
ror Leopold and His Time," 8 vols. in one, 1861;
Empress Josephine" vols, 1861; "Queen Hor-
tense y 1861; King Henry the Eighth and His
Court" no date; ''rhe Court of Empress Catharino
H., 1893; MARIA Theresa and Trcnck, vols,
| 1862; Napoleon in Germany" vols, 1860-G3;
| Daughter of an Empress" vols, 1860; "Prince
| Eugene and His Time" s vols, 1864; 'sRastadt
aud jena 1868; ''rhe Great Elector and His
| Children vols. 1866.
| Miss Muhbach was born in 1914, and was mar
ricd to her late husband in 1885, and is ity-threo
years OF age. She has herself related the method
which she pursues preparatory to writing an his
torlcal romance. She says: Il have never written
a book without having strded beforehand the
theatre of events. must get acquainted with the
land and people, must know the country, its in
| l.abitants and cites exactly, i'll order that may
represent Nvidly and correctly"
The materials thus obtained Of the career of
those great characters who figure so prominently
in her works have doubtless been ample for several
works relative to each. The field in which she has
| wrought has been rich in great and stirring
dramatic incidents, that it has required mastery
hand to use them.
The works of LOUISA MUHLBAcH, so well trans
lated, elegantly printed and widely read in this
country, although no better than hundreds Of
other books annually thrown OIL by the German
press indeed not one tithe as good as many We
could name-are nevertheless, productive of good,
IN that they introduce The American reader to vast
repositories of historical knowledge, which would
otherwise perhaps remain forever q scaled book to
him. The general idea about German history, if
we are not mistaken, among the Independent citi-
zens of this free republic is that all is shrouded
in darkness before the time OF julius Caesar, and
again during the long period that succeeded the
fall of the Roman empire and the commencement
of the Reformation.
From Martin Luther to Frederick the Great we
have another hiatus although SCHILLER has shed
some light on the Thirty Years War; and set
Wallenstein in strong relief on that dark ground.
Frederick is known somewhat, thanks largely to
MAcAuLAys brilliant essay, and moro recently to
C.RLYLE's voluminous work. After him, the only
other fact connected with Germany, usually re-
membered by Americans. is the lIessian contin-
gent of the Royal British Army against the
American colonies. BLUcHER, METTERNICH and
BISMARCK, are the landmarks OF German history of
the present century. With tho exception OF these,
all was darkness. Our thanks are due, therefore,
to Mrs. MUNDT, for peoplinS these vast and dreary
wastes of history with men and women, who occu-
pied great positions in their day, were entrusted
with command and exercised great influence upon
the people of their day and generation. Our in
terest for those heroes of history is very much
enhanced by having them presented under Mrs.
MUnLBAcH's stereoscope, in flesh and blood with
the virtues and the faings much like those of
the men and women of our present day. Our
young folks who would not be likely to go to the
sources" arc thus beguiled into considerable
amount OF historical reading.
1t is the moro to be regretted, therefore. that,
while these novels possess so much to recommend
them, there should be much also we cannot ap-
prove. Our objections are not upon moral
grounds however, but purely upon the question
of art. There is 4 constant proneness, so common
in all third rate German novels, to spin out chap
ters upon chapters with the details of The scandal
of petty court. Another objection we have is the
King Cambysses vein of her herocs-they are al
WAYS on stills. They are, every one Of them too
sentimental quality which not untrequently
sits very anonymously upon thom and Ere To-
rick, Kaunitz, Joseph, or Napoleon every now and
then are brought on tho stage In character half
Timon of Athens and half Claude Molnotte, with
spice sometimes of CuARLoTTE's Werther, ii. c., if
so insipid a creature rs Werther could be said to
have any spice.)
However, such rs they are VIC accept them thank
fully, knowing that many worthy persons derive
pleasure and some also instruction, from their
perusal.
TIE OLD GUARp.-We nave received the Novem-
her number of thi~ magazine, and glance at the
table of contents proves that its title, "a maga-
zine devoted to literature, science and art, is not
q msnomor
l. Votes or Bayonets which? BY the Editor.
ii. Tantula. (Poctry.) BY Vim. +. Sanford. Ill:
The Battles of Virginia. including Sharpsbnrg and
aud Gettysbnre By John Esien Cooke ~. ~, The n,
the Revolution. BY W. Gilmore Simms, Esq vi.
Silence. Qoctry:) VII. Naples and its Envlrons
VIII. Lincoln and Davis. BY Dr. j. Ii. Van Eyri
IX Monsieur de Fontane's Story. y. The Little
White Glove. poetry BY Paul Il; HayIe. Xl
Love in Maturity. (Poetrv.) MI. The Old Por-
traits (From the French of Souyestre.) Kill
Stand Firm. (Poetry.)
The Old Guard is ably edited by C. CHAUNcEY
BURR, Esq. and is in every respect sterling
magazine The subscr ipton Is three dollars.