The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-06

umphs" Of Irish girls. The scene OF the narrative
opens In ireland aud ends In the United Statss 70
which the principal characters In due process
OF time Irish wretchedaess and Irish happiness are
depicted In warm colors; we are given glimpse Of
the "famine period,n the sunsrings OF the people
tnerefrOm ana the consequent exodus from the
"Ould country" or course, the moral underlying
the story - Of religious character IL teaches the
eartniy Iencty arising from q stcadlAse faith in the
teneu OF the Catholic Church, and the plot 90 ar
ranged that the .'lOss rosary" bears conspicuous
acters.
GREAT MYSTERIES AND LITTLE PLAQUES. BY John
Neal. Boston: Roberts Brothers.
We doubt If there Is an AmericanVauthor Of the
present day who can write more interestingly Of and
to children than Mr. Neal. In this neatly printed
and bound volume ne addresses the parents and little
In style that cannot fail receive the serious
consideration OF the rst and the ardent attention OF
rhe last. There rs nothing 30 conducive to happi-
ness as the presence OF children the family circle.
These "great mysteries and little playues,n to
whatever extent they may try the patience OF
mother and the affection Of father. are 80 bound
much Tor them. Sucn works - that before us tend
directly to pand the MINDS OF the little prattlers
and to strengthen that moral intuition with which
all are invested by nature. Taking tnls view Of Mr..
Meals work we heartily commend It 90 the public.
PIEMIE's TEMPTATION. A novel. BY Marion Har-
land. New YORK: Carleton publisher.
The only feature In this novel that redeems 1t from
y dreary mediocrity Ia It's support Of "womans
rights" doctrines and its implied defence Of .
wOman's disregard OF her husbands wishes and ex.
ercse Of her own Will. Luckily for the writer she
was wise enough to not carry her doctrine 10 it,
logical conclusion by making some other man
10Y the claws Of afnnity ~ fail IN love
with Picnic and marry her, quite regard.
less Of her lawful husbands claims. Such
a character as bliss Darcy may exist-tnat rs. there
may be q woman clamorlng for "woman's rights''
who Is at the time good, vrtuous kind-hearted
and generous We must be pardoned for un-
gallantly doubling II many such dwell upon
this earth. Even as 1t Is she IL . rude,
impairment creature, whose language to Robert
Hart and whose interior nee with his domestic
anairs are barely redeanei by h,r after protec-
ton to the abandoned wife, As i0r Pnene, abe Is
we cannot possibly sympathze she does nothing
and SAYS nothing throughout the book 10 prove her
the genius her creator claims her 70 be- strong onv
IN her oDstlnacy In thwartng the viii oil her nus
band; learned only IN the expression OF those cheap
parases regarding womans duty toward man
which we doubt not wives who attend strong
minded women's conventions hurl a. their
husbands on occasions; cherishlny ludicrously
maudlln affection Tor Hart until his conduct compelD
her to seek divorce, we nave in tli5 heroine the
most contemptDie OF conceptions. the man LOO. II
bad enough ne is IN fact, too bad fpr the wrilers
evident idea OF Pneme. But the lruth ID that Marion
Hariand attempts III toe book to deeld aud advocate
q school Of moral philosophy to the unquesuonlng
belief in which she Is not yet Thoroughly educated.
Thus she exaggerates every character drawn mere.
jealous convert 10 reAHlOn, 10 AIlll 60me
what bewidcred and finds 1t dilhcult tO understand
the dogmas he has prolessed iaiin In, aud whose
definition Of theology Is more Conspicuous Tor what
II does not affirm tnan FOR what IL u0es, the writer
OF this book has given us thousand arguments
against her social philosophy and nos one plea In It's
favor.
LAMPS PITCHERS AND TRUMPErs. Lectures on shs
Vocation OF the Preacher by Edwin Paxton Hood.
New York: NJ w. DOdd.
more readable and enjoyable series OF lectures
than this 1t would be difficult to write The volume
gem in It's way. All are thoroughly Interesting.
Anecdotes enlven the naturally dry theological
arguments-"pulplt monographs" OF Frederick,
Robertson. Pussy Manning. Newman. spurgeon.
the Able Lacordaire and Thomas Binney, written In
the most entertaining STYLE The sketch of Spur
geon Is especially good but does equal that OF
Lacordaire, which think the best In the book It
IL graphic ana almost BRILL mt review Of the re-
markape NE OF remarkable man. Tho essays
which directly treat OF ''tho vocation Of the
preacher contain much valuable advice. In them
we perceive the authors extensive acquaintance
noted clergymen In Anerica no less than IN Europe.
A large number OF works and large number Of
names are quoted and referred 70 IN connection with
the subjects discussed, tue whole showing much
diligence and. we may add, good Judgment IN the
composition OF the work. which we do not nest tate
to recommend to the public as well worth reading.
HAypN,s DICTIONARY OF DATES. Relating TO all
Ages and Nations. For Universal Reference. Ed
ted by Benjamin Vincent. New YORK: Harper
Brothers.
The valuable character OF this book will DO appa
rent ct glance to ali who observe lts contents We
doubt II 1t would be found possible convey larger
amount OF Information in smaller extent OF space
than IL here DONE 1t Is really Q chronological record
OF the worlds progress from the earliest ascertaned
period to the present day. No event which has trans
pired IN the political social world Is here omitted
The utility OF dictionary compiled In This manner
requires no argument to prove Toe present edition
has been enlarged. In accordance VITA the demands
OF the tunes. and revised for the use OF American
readers.D II IS very neatly and SUBSTANTIALLY pub
ished by the Messrs. Harper.
MARY AND MI-KA: A Tale OF the Holv Childhood.
With an account of the institution. Boston: Pat
rick Donon0e
This little work is intended to describe the merits
Of one OF the most praiseworhy Of Catholic lnstitu.
tlons. 1t Is somewhat crudey written and contains
some slurs on Protestant missions which are un-
called for The scene OF the story Is uray laid IN
China and the narrative records the struggles Of the
priests sisters and other Catholics TO convert the
Chinese TO Christianity. But the most interesting
part or the book Is tue appendix, which gives briet
history OF the origin, progress and aDors OF "Th0
Holy Chdhood.n From II we learn what gratifying
success has attended this institution In rs efforts TO
rescue the children OF holalrous parents from the
errors OF pagansm during the ten years ending ~
1868 25i5,542 infants were baptized and 25o,sv8
raised" When II Is rememDered .nas mere ulc
lands. this exhibit viii show with wnat ardor the
missionaries OF this association nave performed
their pious work.
The Annals.
APPirroSS' ILLUSTRATED ALMANAC FOR 1871. new
YORK: ID. Appleton co.
THIS is decidedly the best annual for 1870 that
has been published so far It's contents. edited
10y MISS Susan Fsnimore Cooper, are far above the
ordinary run OF almanac literature. For each month
there is an appropriate article. Bros and Mowers,
woods and fields rain and sunshine, snow and ice
are discussed and talked about IN . very agreeable
and entertaining stylc. But whns viii especially
be noticed are the Illustrations, which are really
splendid Both covers are illuminated, the designs
being very tasteful aud the work admirably exc
cuted. Inc engravings in the inside o. tne work
all deserving OF praise as much for their happy
delineation Of the subjects they are intended TO
represent Tor the artistic ability displayed IN their
execution.