The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-15
LITERATURE.


Professor Pumpely II one OF the few Americans
who write really first class work descriptive OF
scenes aud incidents In foreign lands. The hand
somely printed ana bound volume in which ne tells
his adventures is really one or the most valuable
and interesting OF contributions to literature devoted
to China ana Japan. II opens in the United States
the first four chapters containing graphic and at
times highly exciting sketch OF life In Arizona.
At San Francisco the author entered into the service
OF the Japanese government as mining engineer,
his duty being to explore certain parts Of Japan In
the nth chapter the voyage to Yokohama Is
narrated, and includes glimpses of the
Sandwich Islands, with brief sketch OF
them. Nine succeeding chapters, covering 1875
pages, are devoted TO Japan, and we do
not hesitate to say that from these pages we have
obtained real Information regarding the Japan.
csc, their government religion, society ana charac
ter than can be found In oil the works on Japan that
have been previously published. Professor Pun
pelly, In clear and SIMPLE yet quite animated and
graphic STYLE introduces to this strange people In
habltng group Of islands in the Pacific Ocean, and
places at once on terms OF familiarity with them
On retiring from the OF the Japanese govern
ment the author proceeded to China and his account
OF that country Ii fully equal In merit to that OF
japan. From CHINA he passed through to Siberia,
thence TO ST. Petersburg ana the Continent OF Europe
and returned homo, having made complete circuit
Of the globe.
we udu marked numerous pages OF the volume TOT
purposes Of quotation but their number precludes
the possibility or their use. We shall therefore,
nne tlls article 10 brief and general review OF tile
contents. The narrative OF life in Arizona, though
deeply interesting, calls for no special notice. nor
does the tour through Siberia. IL Is OF Japan aud
emma that Professor Pnmpey writes most
acceptably and best. These countries are spoken OF
WIN a fairness ana importantly that impress
r the reader az Il, farcular attention T. paid to The
good subjects for CHRISTIAN missionaries to work
on with view to conversion. the social life OF
with death, yet b0n sexes battle III common s'wiLll
out the refinement adopted a. Newport and Brgn-
ton ana tue pracsice OF parents selling their Gull
common. These facts most readers OF works on
Japan are acquainted with, but Professor Pumpeliy
differs with otner writer's IN his opinion OF the moral
ity OF the people. He thinks there IS q modesty
and refnemenG extending tar into the lower classes
ana accompanying these qualities far greater
gard for truth than Is generally found among Orien-
tails" He further says 1t 10 prettycertaln that
female virtue STANDS quite as nigh among that peo-
pie as among any other, ana higher taaa III some
western countries" In neatness ana cleanliness
the Japanese are unsurpassed by any other people.
DRUNKENNESS, however, ID ruling vice With the
men, ana on a festival OF the third day of the third
month the women are allowed great license
Inc chapter on politics contains q broad and COM
prenensiye review OF the situation. The author thinks
tnat western arrogance has d0ne much towards
Strengthening the people IN their hostility TO foreign
crs and expresses grave doubt as 10 the policy
adopted By REPRESENTATIVES OF foreign Powers III
tneing the recent overthrow OF the Tycoon, or Tai
koOn, as lie writes the word. The geological and
geographical sketch Of Japan will Do read with deep
interest," as also the chapter devoted TO Japanese
arr winch latter, by the way, furnishes in small
space vast amount OF Information.
In emma Professor Pumpely's Investigations were
extensive, ana The results OF them are gwen at
siderable length. he refers sharply to the course
pursued by foreigners and foreign governments to-
wards the empire, and on the whole expresses tue
Deief that the Chinese are not alone responsible for
their intense animoSIty to outside Darbarians Many
OF MS adventures on his journey up the Yangtz kang
We're quite exciting and fun Of danger, though nos
without many ludIcrOus features, which are de<aed
with great gustO. The mineral resources or the
country receive considerable attention. but we think
that little said the social life OF the
people. Indeed IN view OF the evident knowledge
The author possesses, as evlnCed IN this volume
We would recommend hlm TO write another
view oil society among the japanese ana
Cnlnese Sucn book is greatly needed. Most OF tie
WORKS on this subject nave Deen written by
sioDares, VINO seem lamentaby defcient III breadth
OF view and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. But even us the
WorA stanaSWe repeat our convection oi its great
value to literature. The knowledge 1t gives us OF
Japan and CHINA In geographical, geological, POI
litlcal and social sense is greater than be oo
tanned from tnreeoutla OF tue ponderouS volumes
winch have hitherto been published.
The UNIVERSE: Or. THE INFINITELY LITTLE AND
THE INFINITELY GREAT. BY +. A. Ponchet, NJ. D.
Translated from the French. New YORK: Charles
Scribner Il Go.
Never before did natural history appear In more
fascinating garb than 1t does in this book. DR.. Pou-
chet modesty dlsclalms having written learned
treatise aud says that 1t Ii "but . simple eiemen-
tary study, conceived with the idea of inducing the
reader to seek in other works OF far extensive
and more profound knowledge" But In spite Of this
seli-deprecation we doubt II there Is any single
work on natural history now In print which fur-
nisbes 50 much Information In 80 delightful and
captivating STYLE the volume opens with an
account OF the invisible world. The latest discove
ries OF science as regards microscopic anlniacules
given numerous curious facts recorded for
some OF which the world Is indebted 70 Or. Pouchet
who Is one OF the most distinguished or European
naturalsts IN connection with antcdiiuvian infu-
soria; the exploded theory OF the resurrection of
the iardiafade rotifera, angulusa aud certain other
kinds OF animaculcs, whose vitality exceeds that or
any other specie OF the animal creation. together
with chapter on sponges and nints, add 10 onf
knowledge or most interesting SUBJECTS ''Ihe
Architects or the Sea- include the coral builders,
stone and wood oorers and mountain builders. the
chapters devoted TO these are quite lnstractiyo.
Greater attention IL paid to deails la the dcc0ung
given or insects, AMI, as consequence, The know
ledge obtain OF their organization and habits Is
proportonabiy great. Conslderaoe sSiil Is dis
which are humorousy classified under such general
designations as ..slaye-lpakers and wariise uibes
architects and devoufers OF towns" grave
diggcrs and ninersr snphosterorS and
penJers," "clotn cutters and lead eaters,o pal
hydraulic engineers ana weayers.n The injurg
to agriculture inflicted by come kof these
insects aad the protection afforded TO fields ami
forests by others are set forth IN two admirable
chapters "fhe Architecture OF Birds'' and .'The
Mgratoas OF Animasu form subjects for two books,
occupying over 100 pages OF the volume Both these
are treated IN tie same entertaining style as the
others. Perhaps the most valuable part OF the WORK
Is that devoted to the vegetable Kingdom. Here
science has demonstrated numerous facts which Or.
Poucnet mas collected under their appropriate heads,
ana very abs ana clearly discussed them. The chap
ters on "1he Anatomy of Pantsh and on "lhe my
sology OF Plansn can hardly be termed elementary,
unless one applies that word TO perspieuity. Taey
teach everything that the general reader can posi-
bly, desire TO about the structve and hfe OF the
vegetable word, rs also OF the means WHEREBY they
germinae and exist. The extremes IN the vegetable
Kingdom, as exempiibel Ia she ltchen rock and the
virgin forests, with their giant trees, and the mi
CITATIONS OF Pantsu appropriately conclude t1is part
OF the work.
Under the general head OF "Geoogyn there To-
given an able review or the formation OF the globe,
accounts OF fossils. descriptions Of the mountains,
including, or course the volcanoes together y tn
the conclusions arrived at by geoio9ists regarding
their creation through the agency of cataclyss ana
uphcavala Of the globe "Nocailoe3 auu earth
quakcs,r "gacers and eternal slowa,n ''clyerns
Ia