The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-11
LITERATURE.
Reviews Of New Books.

CORD AND CREEsE. BY the author OF "The Dodge
Club" With Illustrations. New York: Harper Il
Brothers. 1862
After reading "The Dodge Club" we really be-
ieved that the next work written by the author
would be at least fresh, original and full OF
humOr; but we have been disappointed 'COrd and
Creese'' Is . glaring imitation Of Charles Reade's
Foul Play" containing all the faults Of that work,
without possessing single one OF its merits. Such
a tissue OF Improbabuities as this book Is we have
seldom seen in print. The plot is wretched bungle
from beginning to end. The characters are most
commonplace, the villains being very ordinary VII
lains and the mora! and virtuous individuals being
very undressing mOrtals. The adventures Of
Louis Brandon would do first rate il told in "Boys'
own Book" but to tell it for the delecaton Of sensl
BILE and women Will not do In borrowing his idea
from "Foul Play" 1--WE hope the author will not sue
us for libeD, Mr.. De Mile has not even had the
grace to preserve the very artistic construction
which makes that book 80 popular. However i'm
probable might be the Incidents narrated occur
ring on the island in che Pacific they are by no
the discovery OF the vishuu with Colonel Despards
skeleton on board, ana the submarine visit to the
skeleton, are as nearly akin to the Impossible as
anything can be- The art OF the novelist is to bring
Of to Be- Of
firm that once made the house OF Rothscnild trembe
is nonsense; for We know well that no such thing
ever occurred. Then, again, fancy y man who talks
fully, BY the way, for she is married. We admit that
s De s sa0n CHARLES ap Esads s
his narration Of Louis Brandon's adventures
on ne a De xers IN
pagiarist because If We did so there is telling but
what he might feel inclined to further borrow Mr.
Reade's ideas by suing us for damages; but we do
sOlemnly assert that II the reader desires originality
he will not find 1t in this book II he seeks for skill
the construction of plot he need not look here: II
0eneated
he must get some other work. But II any person
can feel interested in tissue Of absurdities he or
worst thing about the work Is that MIR. DE Mile
should have written II, when he il undoubtedly
capable Of producing something infinitely superior.
PATTY GRAY's JOURNEY FROM BOSTON TO BALTI-
MORE. BY Caroline H. Dali. Boston, Lee
Shepard 1859.
This is by means undressing book for
children, though written III a somewhat too serious
vein. The preface also, is entirely too long, COW
erng not less than forty nine pages, one-fth OF
the entire book, and containing great deal OF
to the negroes. We do hope the rising generation
will not be educated to such ideas as the author
gives expression to in this preface. The story itself
Is very well told. 1t Is written In plain simple
STYLE without any long words and win be easily
understood by the most youthful reader.
FAMOUS LONDON MERCHANTS Book for Boys. BY
III. X. Fox Bourne. With twenty-five Illustrations.
New York; Harper Brothers. 1869.
These sketches Of famous London merchants will
prove entertaining and instructive reading for
boys. They comprise biographies OF Sir Richard
Wilmington, Sir Thomas Gresham, Sir Ed
ward osborne, Sir william Herrck, sir
Thomas smythe. Sir Henry Garway, Sir
Henry Thornton. Nathan Never kothschild, Samuel
Quincy FOUNDER Of the celebrated house Of Overend
Peaboay They are All admirably Written is Il VIII
probably dsappont the boys to Learn that far from
being a beggar boy, Dick Wilmington was the
Youngest Of Sir william Wilmington who was
descended from an old Warwickshire 1smiIy.v The
"reminiscences OF the great Rothschild are quite In
teresting. Numerous anecdotes are told about him.
but the spirit in which the sketch is written Ia not
altogether impartial me biography OF Mr. Pea
Isndatory ana does full Justice to the great Am as
can philanthropist who has shown himself pubic
benefactor. The book Is handsomely printed and
bound.
nymns AnOpymus Mundus. published BY Cadmus
Faustus. 5874 We
IL Is lucky for the author OF this that he pub
shed Il anonymously. II his name was known IL
would be instantly placed among the names OF those
who figure in Byron's English Bards and Scotch
Reviewers Shades of Parnassus We have seldom
glanced over greater medley Of nonsense. The
author was evidently not 'cut out Tor poct.r al
though what nus profession n should be cannot be de-
AN AMERICAN WOMAN IN EUROPE. BY Mrs. 8. r,
Urbino. Boston: Lee q Shepard. 1869.
As a matter Of course II was impossible for an
American to visit Europe without writing book
about what he and she saw there, albeit everybody
has seen or read the same things thousand times.
Mrs. Urbno proved no exception to the general
rule. We cannot zee where she has given to the
world anything more than can be found in numerous
other books. and repeating the same old story OF
European splendor and misery In the main. But
there n q feature about her work which makes II
worth reading. She writes IN pleasant chstty
style, tells US that on the 10Th OF December 1885, she
had q dress altered, which "took the dressnaaker
nearly day to do H." and paid only twenty-five
cents for the work; found pleasure In looking at
fields OF pumpkins and squashes,p and felt ''ener-
waited, In Naples She winds up by eating how
glad she was to get home, and express6 her belief
that there IL no country like America which we
agree to, and mo city so good as our on Boston,"
which Is merely matter OF opinion. Bat seriously
this book IN worth reading for the sake n ia gossip
It's description OF places and things visited and seem
cathedrais palaces, paintings, &C., are not worth
much. but the confidential chitchat man1er IN when
the autiOress narrate her adventures Us quite pl
| quaint ana entertaluln