The New York herald., 1869-12-13
LITERATURE.
Reviews or New Books.

SCATTERED VERSES AND LETTERS GATHERED AGAIN
BY Jenny Perkins Williams.
A glance only at this little book Will satisfy any
one that the writer has genius humor and the power
Of fOrcibe expression Indeed the intellectual char
acter OF her mind and style OF writing in strength
and force are masculine rather than feminine, and
very dinerent from what Is seen in the literary pro-
ducuons generally OF female writers. Still there is
vein OF deep womanly feeling. fue sentiment ana
poetry running through the whole OF these re-
gathered fugitive pieces. Miss Williams has moro
genius than she ls conscious OF perhaps, and more
than her insnfficently studied compositions would
indicate to superficial reader. Her faults are that
she Is too independent or negectful Of the rules OF
good taste in grammar and composition, though It
Is evident she understands these; that she negec.s
the mental discipline necessary TO become a great
writer, and that sne permits her really comprehen-
slve and active mind to dwell within narrow circle
OF Objects There are flashes OF genius through all
her compositions, but tue effect upon the reader IL
damaged from the want or higher cultivation and
more care In writing 1t has been said by soma
old poet that
or all the arts in which mankind excel,
Natures chief master piece Is writing well
I But this can be attained only by much study and
practice Miss Williams has the natural quaiinca-
tions In a high degree, as well as the necessary
foundation of good education, and all she wants,
as was SAID, Is to study and to be more careful IN
writing.
Not the least interesting part OF her book Is the
preface and particularly where she speaks OF her
Of New York-a girl earning her EXISTENCE when
she might nave lived comfortably at home with ner
hel heroic Struggle in the effort are both inter-
estlng and highly credltabe. Referring to her sue.
% cess In the occupatOns Of teacher Wrter amanusa.
vice the advertising columns OF the NEW YORK
HERALD have been to her. ut has ever been," she
writes, Through that channel that has flowed In
upon her every good and perfect glft;' 80 much SO
that she feels that the only legacy she is capable Of
leaving TO the world will be in the shape OF an
in the HERALD. Undoubtedly Miss Williams displays
her good sense and sound Judgment In thus express
Ing herself and for our part we are gratied by the
knowledge that she has found the HERALD 80 great
an aid TO her efforts at earning livelihood.
The asToEY 20 OF RqMs By TheodVr Mommsen %
Preface by Dr. Leonhard Schmltz Volume l.
New York: Charles Scribner h Co.
The publication OF this history Of Rome will uu-
doubtedly be welcomed by every student of history
in the United States 1t ls, 80 far as we can see In
this volume, far superior to Niebuhr's whose work
has hitherto been regarded the pest on the SUBJ
ject. 1t Is true, as DR.. Schmitz observes IN hts
preface that DIR. Mommsen has possessed the great
advantages arising from half century of research
since Niebuhr; but even taking these into cOnsdera
ton we still hold the present work every respect
the best. 1t seems to that DR.. Mommsen's
Investigations were conducted IN o more catholic
spirit than those OF Niebuhr, who belonged to
school OF thinkers tnat delighted In overturnng and
demolishing Old records OF the past whether founded
upon the misty, doubtful whisperngs OF traditions
or the exaggerated records OF facts. And this
school, which included such great minds as Me-
buhr and Strauss, with many others Of equal promi
nence, did not hesitate AT sopnlsm where positive
argument failed 1t. But not only IN It's greater con-
servatlsm does DR.. MOmmsens history excel Its
merits over oil others that aspire to recognition as
minute and exhaustive histories resulting from
patient research and investigation, are unmistak-
ably apparent IN every chapter. Whle agreeing, IN
ancient Of his
OF them is 80 clear, so simple, and at the same
time vivid, that there Is nothing left for conjec-
ture and nothing requiring patlent study to arrive
at correct understanding OF the views held. SO
also the very exhaustive account OF the political
and social condition Of the peopie-the development
OF the constitution, law, religion agriculture, COM
merce, the arts and scenceswe are furnished with
a narrative OF unsurpassed cearness. Dr. Momm-
sen, indeed possesses literary virtue which few Ger
man writer's can lay claim to, however learned ana
perspicuous they maybe While neglecung nothing
that III the slightest degree add TO the historical
value OF the work he has arranged his materials
with remarkable SKILL framing with them narra-
tive at once 30 animated and 80 Interesting That
the intellgent reader can enjoy it with ali tue
enthusiasm or young sentimental girl p0rng
over the latest love ssory we @ 40 not III 70
yet written. The publication OF the remaining three
volumes will not. we trust, be long delayed.
THE LIVING WRITER'S OF THE SOUTH. by James
Wood Davidson. New York: Carleton, publisher.
While we think Mr. Davidson lacking In judgment
In including in this book the names OF large num-
ber OF very obscure writer's OF decidedly mediocre
ebility we nevertheless recognize the value OF his
work and its merit as a literary production. 1t
makes far fattering exhibit Of Southern It,
erature than most persons would have supposed
possible. The total number Of writers named ts
PAL, OF which seventyfve are women. Precisely
one half Of these writers OF poetry, the most
conspicuous names being Hayne, Flash, sims, Re-
quier. Randall and few Others well known 10 the
people OF the North In fiction there are Madame
tctayia lie Vert. Augusta Evans, Mrs. South worth
ana Others History is represented by such names
as Gayane, Campbell ana Pollard. Altogether This
hnAy turn N
South possesses. Numerous extracts from the writ
ngs OF those referred to enable the reader to form
himself says ''some OF THESE specimens poor
enough, In all conscience, but each in Its way and
an nave er s use en M Tue hs genera p
pete and accurate OF all the works on the subject
| That have heretofore appeared.
| RAssELAs, PRINCE OF ABYssINIA. BY Samuel John
son. LII D., with on Introduction by the Rev.
William West, B. A. New YORK: Scribner, We'll
ford h Co.
II is hardly necessary for to refer to the merits
OF this book Not to have read "Rasselas" at least
| once during lifetime is something difficult to
imagine OF an educated person. The present edition
| Is one OF the charming "Bayard Seres to which we
| lave made reference In former notices. Like the
| 0spers In the series, the little volume ia neatly
DsNe aaa aad yeps SSuaE q size os
| EVENINGS WITH THE SACRED POETS series OF
| Quiet Talks about the Singers and their Songs.
| BY the author Of "FestIval OF Song" New YORK:
Ans0n u. F. Randolph Co.
To the thoughtful, meditatlve mind this book Will
be source Of great pleasure pnd instruction. 1t is
| really an admirably written review Of the sacred
poets and their poetry beginning with the Biblical
| Greek and early Latin and ending with the modern
| English and American. The author displays an
| intimate acquaintance with all the poets. lie has
arranged hs materials with skill, grouping each age
and class OF poetry under their appropriate heads
and whatever calls for critt-
csm. AL Of the quotations are fehcitous. To con-
cude this notice. the book is in all respects deserv
ing OF large circulation. 1t Is neatly printed and
bound. gsys sn.-as4t as--
| In Both WORLDS. BY VIM. II. Holcomne, NJ. q.
Philadelphia: j. B. Lippincott d Co.
1t Is impossible to 1x limit 10 the number OF
works describing the world to come which will be
published before change et us hone for the better,