The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-20
LITERATURE.


Reviews of Now Books.
UNDER Lock AND KEY. Story by r. W.
Speight Phiiadelphia: Turner Brothers Co.
In a brief Introduction to this story the author
declares that the entire plan "was sketched out
and several OF the chapters written before the rss
lines OF Mr. Wikie Collins .MoonstOne' had been
given to the public" He deems this explanation
necessary to prevent the charge being made OF hts
''havlng derived the outline OF his plot from tho
work of another writer" This was quite unneces-
sary. "Under Lock and Key" has only fatnt
resemblance to "The Moonstone," AMI Is certainly
nothing whateverin comparison with the last named
work In point Of construction. We think, therefore.
that the author has been needlessy sensitive the
subject. The novel before is one OF those mposs
bic stories only saved from beng absolutely unpaat
able by the really clever manner IN which the imp0s
amount Of interest that we listen to an lnveterats
braggart narrating IN graphic and exciting style
the performances OF deeds BY him. beside which tho
Staying by samson, with the jawbOne OF an ASS, Of
1000 Pnllistines, sinks into inglorous 0bscurity
A good descriptive writer can always interest
sis. In their respective styles Charles Reads
and Wllke Collins are the masters OF the intense
IS art Of the highest order TO- for there IS nona sna
they write aD0lt which does not como within the
range q sSs anS ns
lead the reader to the very verge or the p0ssbls
but they never go step beyond; and herein Is the
genius-whlch can construct this admirably u
wanting In "Under Lock and Key" 1t Is Q novel
which we can recommend as well worth reading for
the sake Of the manner In which 1t IL written, and
hs only The pilot Is ady ss s
struction Is miseraDiy lacking In artistic skIl.
Nothing can be more transparent than that Sister
Agnes Is the mother OF Janet and that Captain
Dince her father Nor does 1t require the reader
to wait till the confession Is made to learn what re-
OF Mercy. But in spite OF these faults the BOOK u.
as we said before. one tnat win be read with
p sat relates nae 70 S Great Mos pamond the
author Is Intensely graphic and thoroughly enter.
tanning. His dialogues, too are for the most part
readily admit. Still, we repeat, that Of ali thoss
qualities which are essential to investing fiction
with more than transient value and an ephemerat
reputation there Is here absolutely nothing.
A POLITICAL MANUAL FOR 1862 From July Is, 1858,
Washington City: Philip Solomon.
In few pages all OF the important political events
Of the year ending the 18th Of last July given
In fair and impartial manner. The proceedings Of
Congress on the last reconstruction laws decisions
OF the Supreme Court of the United States and Of tho
Supreme Court or Georgia on matters Of public I'M
p0rtance, as well as statement OF the states which
nave taken action, through their Legislatures, and
the vote by States for President at the election last
year. besides numerous other subjects OF ike interest
COMPRISE the contents. AS o book OF reference this
manual is admirable. 1t rs also worth keeping Dy
those who desire to keep the politicians OF the day II
Congress spOtted" so that IN the not far or future
wien some lofty sonlorsaults are made we can
readily ma out how great the acrobatic Feat was,
Seriously however. this Is an excellent manual.
Notes, by Thomas NJ. Chase. Professor IN Haver.
ford College, Philadelphia: Edredge Il Brother.
New York: j. W. Schermerhorn Co.
We have not been able to do more than glance
over the pages OF this new edition Of the works OF
Horace. The explanatory notes are quite full and,
80 far as we can Judge are valuable on account OF
their correctness. Numerous authorities were con-
suited by Professor Chase ana the research has
enabled him to present series Of notes as nearly
free from as possible We need hardly say that
the poems in this book not TRANSACTIONS, but are
the original Latin The necessity for q new edition
OF Horaces writings has long been felt In our schools
sure to state that reputation OF the present edt
tiOn ouch as to warrant us IN recommending TINS
publication 10 the student and others.
Magazine Notices.
On,rard, for October, opens with new sketch
entitled "The Doomed Sappers." "rhree Days ut
CherbQurg" concludes very readable article. In
"a Plebeian Prnce the writer says that Queen Vic
toria was In the habit OF compelling her maids Of
honor to have their riding habits "cut with stint
ing OF the body 80 as not to show contour OF waist
superior to her own Dutch build.'" "Songs OF the
French Revolution" is not q bad paper, but we
must theoretically protest against the new transs
ton OF the Marseilaise Hymn "The Authors OF
America" as we'll as "Lord Byron" we published
in iui In the HERALD some days ago. They are adj
as the champion OF our struggling iiterati and az
such deserves encouragement. shot by sweet.
Yomortr and almost an Amputationi' are all well
written, readable papers. We have read with curl.
GUS interest the paper on umbrellas It y one
of the best articles IN the magazine. II does not,
however, satisfy us that the charge OF anachron.
ISM, wnich gave rise to It's composition, does nor
hold good, Even had umbrellas been introduced
into America IN 176S 1t must be evident that they
were used only by the weathtest Of women and not
by men at all. still we shall not argue the question.
Wa are content with Knowing tho charge Of
anachronsm has resulted In the production OF an
article fun OF quaint and curious quotations. and as
toUa" s'Cnancelloisviile" Changing My Colors'
ana the "Author-Pubsher Question: are Interest,"
ing contributions The remaining contents OF tho
October Is full Of excellent articles, whicn should be
widely read. We must not omit to mention that q
slight change has been made In the appearance OF
the cover, which H. now really handsome We are
Continued determination on the part of CAPTAIN
Reid to leave nothing undone to make his magazine
fayorably with any other Of literary periodicals
aud deserves the support Of large circle OF readers
10 whom we recommends
Fuckard's Monthly has clever paper on 'Tho
Autocrats OF the Press" giving some Interesting
"reminiscences Eleanor Kinks second article on
"Facts About Working Women" has touch Of the
sensational In 1t. We are Informed that newspaper
editors misconstrue the characters Of pretty literary
women and story Is told, by way OF iiiustration
In which an editor makes dlshon0rabie proposal to
poor girl. Well we presume that editors are hui
man, with human passions, and 1t Ii not unlikely
that some OF them are not strictly moral. But doea
1t never strike these women writer's about the perils
OF the working classes OF their own sex that tho
men are not altogether to blame? There Ii never
smoke without fire. IL strikes US forcibly that many
| OF those working women whose characters have
been adversely criticised have not been angels Most
| OF this talk ABOUT men wronging women Is tfash.
To read all that Is wlitten on the subject one would
suppose that ninetynine men out OF every hundred
| could never gaze upon woman without dish0nor-
! able thought entering their minds. However, Flea
nor Kinks paper Is quite spicy and readable. "Wny
| the Peace Jubilee was Musical Failure" "Queen
Victoria in Her Primer Ia well written but t0adyish
| paper), "Humors Of the Departments IA capital
| artlcel, Borrowing as Fine Art" .Ffty-tw0 Good
Reasons for Not Going to Prayer Meeting" Gam
l Womans Rights Manf' IA very sensible paper,
ment comprise the rest of the contents. The maya
zine VIII be enlarged from January, 1870. II Is ono