The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-13
LITERATURE.
REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

tWoOdburn Grange" is a novel of decided
orioinality. and written with force and elegance
Il is tale of English country life, partly de-
scriptive of scenery, but principally pleasing
because of its vivid delineations of character.
Opening with picture of the last of a long
line of baronets, it presents with vivid con-
arast the opposite of aristocratic imbecilty, and
q moor man. the descendant of a race of beggars
selfmade, and rising in the worlds esteem,
The character of Sir Roger de Rockville is
sapital one. 1t is skilfully conceived, and is
in no respect unnatural
TO such a condition was now reduced the
,ost Of the long line of Rockville The spirit
- n policeman had taken possession of him;
he had keepers and watchmen out on all
sides but that did not satisfy him; He was
ppoachers were after mis- game that trespassers
were in his woods. His whole life was now
snent in strolling to and fro in his fields and
plantations and in prowling along his river.
ToT long hours under forest trees. If any one
had curiosity to see Sir Roger, they had only
fo enter his fields by the wood-side. and wander
n few wards from the path, and he was almost
sure to spring out over the hedge, and in hur-
ried and angry, almost stammerlng tones,
ant of the chivalrous and steel-clad De Rock
vile was sunk into a restless spy on his own
ample property. There was but one idea in his
mind-encroachmen 1t was destitute Of all
other furniture but the musty technicalities of
"A
steaifhy and skulking manner in everything
he did. He went to church on Sunday, but 1T
TO his houseIthat stood generally with a large
spider's web woven over the lock, and several
others in the corners sol OF the the nne iron tracery;
been opened. How different to the time when
Sir Roger and Lady Rockville had had these
gates thrown wide on Sunday morning, and
with all their train of household servants at
their back, with true antique dignity marched
with much proud humility, into the house of
God Now Sir Roger-the solitary, suspicious
undignifed Sir Roger, the keeper and police
man of his own property-stole in at little
side-gate from his paddock, and back the same
way, wondering all the time whether there was
not somebody in his pheasant preserves, or
Sunday trepassers in his grove.
If you entered his house. it gave you as
eheeTless a feeling as its owner. There was a
conservatory, so splendid with rich plants and
flowers in his mothers time, now q dusty re-
ceptacle of hampers, broken hand-glasses, and
garden tools. These tools could never be used,
1or the gardens had grown wild Tall grass
grew in the walks, and the huge unpruned
shrubs disputed the passage with you. In the
wood above The garden, reached by several
nights of fine, but new moSs-grown steps, there
stood pavilion, once clearly very beautiful.
1t was now damp and ruinous its walls
covered with greenness and crawling insects.
1t was great lurking place Of Sir Roger, when
The line of the Rockvilles was evidently
running fast ont. Ithad reached the extremity
Of imbeSility and contempt-it must soon reach
its close.
Sir Roger used to make his regular annual
visit to town; but of late, when there, he had
wandered restlessly about the streets, peeping
into the shop windows; and if it raIned, he
would stand under an entry for hours waiting
omnibus. The habit of lurking and peering
about was become fixed, and his feet bore him
alieys where swarm the poachers of the city
The trespassers and anglers In the game pre-
serves and streams of humanity. He had lost
All pleasure in his club; the most exciting
themes of political life retained no ptqqancy
pleasure in him. He was becoming the driest
Of all dry wells. Poachers and anglers, and
Methodists haunted the wretched purneus OF
his fast fading-out mind, and he resolved to go
10 town no moIe His whole nature was CEN
tired in his woods. He was foreyer on tns wa!tcn.
clap when in bed, he Thought IL gun IN MS
woods; and was up and out with ms Keepers, -
OF what value was that magnlncenL estate 10
him these superb woods; those finely hanging
cliffs; that clear and rtant river curving, travel
window: that glorious expanse of most yerdant
meadows stretching almost to Castleborough,
and enlvened by numerous herds OF the most
beautiful cattle; those old farms and shady lanes
Oyerhung with hazel and wild rose Lhe gilICer-
what were they to that old man, that victim to
the delusive doctrine of blood, of the man-trap
of an hereditary name?
The opposite, in every respect, to this type O
fossilized aristocracy appears Simon Degge-a
plebeian, reformer, liberal, an English Radi
cal. His character, well painted, is one o
sterling integrity, of undying energy; in every
respect what we of America would call a rising
man. Continually interfering in behalf of the
people, he rises to high place in the popula
regard, and the war between him and Si
Roger is a good illustration of how such a con
test is carried on. The following extract show
a passage of arms, and the result
A laborer and his son, a boy about ten year
OF age, was returning from the fields towards
Hillmartin village, and were following tn
tootpath through copse, Wnen tne laa saw
thrush's nest on one of the lowest boughs OF
spruce-fir, temptingly nestled close to the stem
not more than yard from the ground. AVA.
on the path. Arrived near the tree, the LAD a
he ran struck his foot against something ant
fell, but jumping up, said:- go
"Oh father, here is great chain"
He was STOPPING to lift 1t up, when the fathe
"Let il alone! let 1t alone! it is a man-trap!"
The boy stood terrified at the dreaded nam
of man-trap. The father advanced carefully
polKing the ground, which was covered VIII
dead leaves, with long pole which he picke
up. When he came to the spot where the DO
stood, he saw part OF strong chain laid Dar'
and, lifting it up, discovered close to his feet
ground and thus confined the chain, Tellin
the boy not to move, he gradually lifted th
chain till he felt it again fast.
"There," he said, "it's the trap"
He looked round, and discovering lare
stone he fetched IL, and discharged il into I'll
place where he supposed the centre OF the ira
10 he At once with horrid snap and clam
the laws of the huge trap sprang out of the COZ
sealing leaves and clasneo Iogetnes WIN q otr' ~
ful shock Father and son stood rooted IA
with terror There was revealed the great ire
engine in a half circle OF at least haiI o yal
Eieh with it's hideous iron teetn closed, al
eaTheTep' said the father-"take care, Ton
now won 90 n bird nesting into woods. II th