The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-08

| ton and the simple narrative OF the Scrip
tures. The style nud substance Of this sem
sation novel-for it is nothing else--are
| puerie in the extreme, and the total lack Of
dignity and appreciation of the awful inn
portance of the theme are among the worst
features OF the book. 1t appears to as that
the author .pronounces his own condemna-
ton when he puts these words in the mouth
| OF the father Of Lazarus when instructing his
son on his entrance into the spirit world
To seek to penetrate the veil which separates the
spiritual from the natural realm to invite an open
eaSV ssrs w P na % the erroe crimes Se
nounced and forbidden in Scripture. 1t is the secret
source OF the power ana l mysteries Is % 1i magS % as 1
welfare Therefore It is that consulting with fam-
liar spirits s forbidden in the Word. 1t Is forbidden
| for mans own good'
We do not dispute the devout intentions Of
the author of 'In Two Worlds" but il should
be borne in mind that more harm is done to
the cause of religion by perverted enthusiasm
than by open scofing. The investigation of
spiritual mysteries is apparently monomania
with DIR. Holcomb, and he neither has the
mental capacity to treat his subject in the
dignifed style that it demands, nor the fine
sense of propriety that would keep him
from making it ridiculous. Such books as
this writer turns out ought never to be writ
ten or published, and if put before the world
it is the plain duty of those to whose judg-
ment they are submitted to condemn them Sfe
toto. We do condemn I'm Two Worlds
as utter trash, and as proclamation of a
sacred theme, such as is calculated to do great
injury to religion and to exercise a most un-
healthy influence on the minds of excitable
readers.
j. B. Lppincott & Co. also send us
'Erlng the Bold, tale of the Morse Sea
Kings, by II. M. Ballantyne. This story is
founded on historical information contained
in the 'Heimskrinigla, or Chronicles of the
Kings of Norway" by an Icelandic author.
1t is bold and stirring tale of the old Morse
rovers who conquered and settled in Eng
land at various times between the fifth and
eleventh centuries The narrative is interest
ing of itself, and it gives an excellent descrip-
ton of the manners and customs of the rugged
race who inhabited the north of Europe at
the dawn of modern history.
From Claxton, Remsen q Haffelfnger
we have received the following of Harper &
Brothers recent publications.
Lost in the Jungle" by Paul Du Chaillu,
is description Of the adventures of that
traveller in equatorial Africa, and it may be
considered as a supplement to his 'Stories of
the Gorilla Country" and wild Life Under
the Equator" Mr.. Du Chaillu is a pleasant
writer, and the worst we have to say of this
book is that he undertakes the capacity of his
young readers, and often descends to unne-
cessary trivialities of style. The work is one,
however, that any boy will enjoy thoroughly.
1t is profusely illustrated and bound in
attractive style.
My Enemys Daughter" by Justin Nc
Carthy, is a novel of much power that has
just been concluded in Hdrpers Magazine,
and is now published complete. Mr.. Mccarthy
is well known as an able essayist, and in this
story he proves himself capable of doing
good work in the more important field of
fiction. ~ ..s
From Turner Brothers & Co. we have re-
ceived ''The Trotty Book" by Elizabeth
Stuart Phelps. Published by Fields, Osgood
& Co. This is an amusing narrative of the
adventures of young humorist, and it will
doubtless find plenty of appreciative readers
among the young folks, who will be able to
sympathize fully with Trotty's sayings and
doings The book is nicely printed and
bound, and it is illustrated with number OF
clever designs by Eytinge.
The same house sends us christmas Day:
the Night Before and the Night After This
gaily- -colored brochure contains the ever
popular might Before Christmas of Gle
ment G. Moore, which always reappears in
some shape or other about this time of the
year. A continuation by ]. w. Watson, in
the same strain, entitled christmas Day,
and parody by ''Punch, called ''The Night
After Christmas" make up an excellent col,
lection of holiday verses.
Turner Brothers & Co. also send us our
: Boys and Girls Margarine for December II
From T. b. Peterson Il Brothers We
: have received ''Petersons' New Cook Book,
which contains receipts for preparing all man
ner of eatables.
1.-THE Old Franklin Almanac for 1870,
published by A. Winch, No. 505 Chesnu
street, is, as usual, full of carefully prepared
: and valuable statistics. The record of events
foreign and American; the neurology, foreign
and American; the lists of civil and military
officers of the United States; the railroad
disasters, executions in the United States
the governments of the world, ETC., are yer,
complete making this one of the most con
venient works for ready reference now pub
! ished.
J Vda NOstrGads Eclectic 1KdgG2jne TO
= December has an able paper on ''The Lat
| nrdn i1aY,f tfaY, l,