The New York herald., 1869-05-15
LITERATURE.


LITERATURE.
Reviews of New Books.
THE GATES WIDE OPEN; OR, SCENES IN ANOTHER
WORLD. by George Wood. Boston Lee
Shepard.
Tbis is a queer book. It pretends to give an ac-
count OF 'scenes in another world" In which the
redeemed from earth take part in the most earthly
manner imaginable. Our ideas OF the hereafter be-
come sadly demoraized after reading this book.
Even scriptural teachings are natly contradicted.
The beings that float Sin the atmosphere OF loveliness
and grandeur" and are "arrayed in robes OF light"
speak and act in SO unspiritual q manner that we
are not surprised when they sit down to substan-
tial meal We must confess to some wonder when,
after being emphacally told in the Bible tat there
are no marriages or giving in marriage in heaven.
we find that in this other world OF the authors i'm
agining people make and marry very much the
manner as do we sinful mortals OF this terres
ences OF opinion In the land OF Immortality described
Is altogether consistent with the very material ele
ments which surround the redeemed. Thus we have
the tyranny OF Rome and OF the priesthood rOundly
abused by pious Episcopalians, and every now and
then New England transcendentalism gets sly nit
book Is capital satire on New England transcen-
dentalism. it Is not, and II we are to accept Mr.
that the hour Of earthly death may be at hand
as possible. sublime world and q Jolly IRE are
60 % s Re
vast size" whose domes .'rise like gold and silver
capped couds palaces OF all kinds OF architecture
lakes or unrlvsiled beauty-in word, just
Imagine they a can Il Is not to denied
that TO the aesthetic Mton's conception of heaven
Spiritual paradise % We ' We're not him
pretty marble villas on emerald tinted Islands stu.
s e
CATHOLIC Church in heaven and wondering why the
Massachusetts, Legislature on earth did not take the
pleasure OF listening to Mozart and the other great
masters is not referred to in 'Paradse Lost" Alto
gether Mr.. Woods future world is just the place for
mankind to wish to go to after quitting old Mother
Earth. There, where there is no sin; there, where
majors costume 1t s TO be hopedl; there, where we
have aristOcratic board and lodging for ourselves
and our families free OF all charge-there. we repeat
let US all prepare to float to upon wings OF right
eOusness and love.
But, seriously, Mr. woods book is worth reading
II only for the sake OF the curious idea OF another
world as conveyed therein. The author appears to
be well read in all the written speculatons OF the
to Milton. to Dante, ana to The late Arch
bishop Whatey; but he is quite original and enter
taining.
IMPRESSIONS OF SPAIN. BY Lady Herbert With
fifteen Illustrations. New York: The Catholic
Publication Society.
This Is very interesting book in its way. II gives
q charming picture OF spain, and its account and
description Of the religious edifices are well and
SrapnlCaly Written lJ Is, Oh course, strongly
Catholic In sentiment; but aside from this feature,
which may he Objectionable to many people, it is
book worth reading. The authoress particularly adj
mred the people as they were when she visited the
whole, very favorable. She does not think it
VIII benefit the Spaniards. to JOIN in 'the SO.
is beautiful, simple and characteristic OF this peo-
pie" Will be destroyed II they do. We have no
reading % public generally mpFessons Of "p SPAIN"
Will be widely read. 1t Is timely publication,
spain & being ti Of special interest AZ the present time
Englishwoman possessed OF an intense faith in Ca
tholiclsm.
JESUS on THE Holy MOUNT. BY Joseph Sander
ciety. '''' ~ N' INV '''"" ''"'' ''''
To the members OF that influential and respectable
Christian Church which the American Tract Society
represents "Jesus on the Holy Mount" will doubt
less be very welcome DR.. Sanderson writes with
much vIgor and originality Of thought ana ap-
pears to have thoroughly studied his subject which
he treats IN an exhaustive and entertaining
manner. We have but one fault to find with the
book end 1t lies in proneness 20 indulge in
italics This, however, IL but small matter and
Is scarcely deserving OF notice where the work. as
whole Is so good and so little open to adverse critl
Is very graphically aud mnutely told, while many
ligous ideas and reflections springing therelrom add
to the merits OF the narration.
THE WHITE ROSE. A Novel. by O.. whyte Mel
Vile. Philadelphia: J. b. Lippncott Il Co.
II we needed book OF sufficient interest to while
away an idle hour. without leaving an impression
upon the mind, we could scarcely find another bet
ter adapted to that purpose than the "white Rose
1t Is novel OF admirable conception, and Is written
1n very interesting style; but the plot and the
characters are badly managed. Fannie Ainslie Is q
modified Lady Isabel, without the adylike behavior
and accomplishments OF that creation OF Miss Brad
don. That she should have married Gerard Ainslie
Is not unnatural but the manner In which the mar
rage Is made 10 take place is wretchedly unartisc.
The book is too full Of sensational surprises. None
Of the characters are possessed OF more than neg
alive qualities. Still, badly told 1t is it IL
interesting. After all we doubt n many novel
writers care whether their productions are con.
sdered artistic or not so long a. peop,e real and
feel interested IN them.