The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-04
LITERATURE.
REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

ING TO ST. LUKE. By Alfred Nevin, ID. ID.
Published by William Flint, No. rs South
Seventh street.
This Commentary is the first of
series by the same author on the books
Of the Old and New Testaments. 1t is in
tended mainly for Bible classes and
Sabbath schools, but the author expresses
hope that it will prove useful to ministers,
theological students, and private Christians.
The general arrangement and design of the
Commentary we think is excellent the text
is given with parallel passages, and the expo
sition Of the Gospel is clear and comprehen-
sive, without entering into needless discus
sions or statements of conflicting opinions.
The Gospel is divided into lessons of proper
length, with appropriate questions to each,
and there is added table of'the harmony of
the four go-pelsi chronological table, giving
be leading events in the Saviour's life, and
an appendix, with more minute explanations
Of persons, places, and things referred to in
the text than would be proper in the notes.
The work is illustrated with a number of Gu
cravings of biblical scenes, a map of Pales-
tine, and explanatory cuts; and we think thai
it will become both popular and useful, as it
ID III u RI6aL uled5uT6 COuDludIlOu VI q OOh-
coIdance, question-book, and Bible dictionary.
THE GoRDIAE KNOT; Story of Good and Evil
BY Shirley Brooks. Published by Harper u
Brothers. Philadelphia Agents Claxton,
Remsen 4 Hafelfnger.
This novel was commenced serially in one
Of the English magazines some nine years ago.
but its publication was interrupted, we believe
on account Of quarrel between the author
and the conductors of the periodical in which
it appeared. Mr.. Brooks has revised and
remodelled it to some extent, and it is now
issued complete, with such improvements as
his mature judgment could suggest. The
"Gordian Knott cannot be called pleasant
story, but it is certainly a fascinating one
The plot is skilfully carried out, and the char
acters, although somewhat sketchy, are life
like, and those of "Alban Cheriton' and
'Maris Prescott in, particular, are described
in a mastery manner. Some of the scenes are
exceedingly effective, and the d6noRemem is
dramatic in the best sense of the word. In
deed, were the story itself of less merit, it
would be worth reading for the sake of that
chapter in which is described the reconcilia-
tion of the husband and wife by the death-bed
of the forsaken mistress.
No LOVE LOST: Romance of Travel. By
w. d. Howells Published by 6. p. Put
nam x Son. Philadelphia Agents: ClaXton,
Remsen q Hafelfnger.
Mr.. Howells, the author of one of the most
charming books of the day, "Venstian
Life," now comes before the public as
poet, and the scene of his little metrical
romance is laid in the city of his love, Venice.
The crippled measure which we call hexa-
meter, for want of better name, will, we
fear, prevent Mr.. Howells' poem from obtain
ing the popularity it deserves on account OF
its intrinsic merits. There are a number of
fine passages in it, however, that lovers Of
poetry will be sure to appreciate, as this
Venetian night scene, for instance
All the sunset had paled, and the campanli
of Venice
Rose like the masts of mighty fleet Inoored
there in the water.
Lights flashed furtively to and fro through
the deepening twilight.
Massed in one thick shade lay the Gardens;
the numberless islands
Lay like shadows upon the lagoons. And on
us as we lotered
BY their enchanted coasts, a spell of inefable
sweetness
Fell and made us at one with them; and silent
and bissful
Shadows we seemed that drifted on through a
being of shadow,
Vague, indstinct to ourselves, unbounded by
hope or remembrance.
Yet, we knew the beautiful night as it grew
from the evening"
Far beneath us and far above us the vault OF
the heavens
Glittered and darkened and now the moon
that had haunted the daylight
Thin and pallid, dimmed the stars with her
fulness of splendor,
And over all the lsgoons fell the silvery rain
of the moonbeams
As in the chanson the young girls sang while
their gondolas passed us
Sang in the JOY of love, or youths desire OF
loving.
This poem was first published in the De-
cember number of PutnGm'S lLagazine and it
is now issued in handsome little volume
illustrated with one or two rather indifferent
designs which might have been omitted with
advantage.
From Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co. We
have received "Geneva's Shield" by Rev. w.
NJ. Blackburn; "Paul and Margaret, the Ine-
briate's Children" and "The Orphans
Triumphs," by H. X. P. Published by NJ.
W. Dodd New York. "Geneva's Shield" is
a story of the Swiss Reformation, and the
author has endeavored to portray the rise of
the Reformation in Geneva previous to Cal
yf,n1g r,,a a. -, -. Al.