The New York herald., 1869-05-24
LITERATURE.
Reviews of New Books.

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Reviews of New Books.
MEN, WOMEN AND GHOSTS. By Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps. Boston: Fields, OsgoOd Il Co. 1864
The author OF this collection OF stories ls by no
means an orthodox Christian. Indeed, after duo
consideration, we have come to the conclusion thas
she has quite little religion OF her own and mono
the worse for her possession. STILL 1t must be
fessed that we nave been more Interested in these
stories as stories than IN Their theological leanings.
'Men, Women and Ghosts' is very pleasant reading
Each story contains o moral worthy OF study.
There is much Of pathOs and not little Of hunOr N
the collection. "The Day OF My Death" would pat
a misanthrope in good humor with mankind. "No
News" and ''rhe Tenth OF January" are tender,
sentimental sketches. Altogether, we regard this
book as in every way worthy OF the author of
"The Gates Ajar." Unlike the great majority Of
American authoresses, Miss Phelps Is something
more than q well read clever woman. and, as U con-
sequence OF possessing genius, all she writos 10
marked by freshness aud originality, Us wei a' BY
vigOr of expression. which render her works ever
acceptable 10 the reader.
OLDTOwN FOLKS. BY Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Boston: Fields OsgoOd Co.
Mrs. Stowe is not the only author whom blo2ra-
pliers must record as having written one great work
and ever after failed 70 produce another OF equ1i
merit There have been many such cases in the pase
and there PROBABLY will be many more in the future.
"Uncle Toms Cabin" was an inspiration; "OldtOwu
Folks' Is merely the work OF the novelist We namo
the two books In connection. because o comparison
between them has been invited. And yet cOmpari-
son must be damaging to both. We have carefully
read "Oldtown Foks"-read 1t at times with Interest
and al other times with an impatient disapp0int-
ment. 1t is written in Mrs. Stoves familiar STYLE
Now and then flashes out aspark OF humor; here and
there depth of tenderness and a touch OF pathOs
are perceptibe. On the other hand the plot If 1t can
be called such, Is une ual and faulty. Too much y
atemi ted, and the n ural consequence IS partial
failure. The characters, too, are unequay drawn.
hiss Asphyxia Is an admirable conception, and Is
described with compactness and felicity Of express
sion worthy Of praise. Horace H0lyoke IL not 30
well drawn, although he IL the principal character
IN the work and is made narrate the story. Tina
is kind OF modified Eva, but lar INFERIOR to that
splendid conception of Mrs stowe. MISS Mehltsble
Is another OF the happily conceived characters The
great fault OF tins novel lies In the large
part in It. PSs excess Of 0 characters makes
the plot clumsy and almost unmanageabe, and, as
Voted to nIro iactlons. Another fault. and one to
which nearly ali OF our nOveliss are prone Is that Of
The writer describing her characters, instead OF
making them describe themselves And IN this re-
spect our literary position Is the same as that OF
Great Britain in the time OF George III. Sir
novelists who discarded the Old style and made
living realities Of his characters. AT the present dag
all the English nOvests, including Dickens, Reade,
Collins, iiobinson, aud even MISS Braddon and Mrs.
Wood, sink their own individuality into tnat OF each
character they conceive. Thus their books are full
Having thus briefly reviewed the merits and de-
merits OF "Oldtown Folks" we must accord to the
work the greatest praise tnat be bestowed upon
II. We have no hesitation in saying that It Is the
best purely domestic American novel that has been
published for several years. 10 the advanced stu
dent OF our romantic literature this may not seem
praise OF a high order; but when we consider how
wolully trashy ana unrleaning Q majority OF our
novels are, book with clear and well defined Idea
expressed In language calculated to impart to the
reader interest IN Its development, must be we
coined as an evidence OF literary progress aud ss .
promise Of better things IN the future.
ur.u..a.. N~ssc..
Ho,pe,'s New Monthly Magazine for June is, on
the whole, an excellent number. "Tho Aurora
Boreals Polar Light" Is the initial article, and
s well written. "wnter on the Rhine" Is tolera.
bly interesting, but the subject Is becoming worn
out. "Mintary Pyrotcchnlcs Of Former Days" gives
some curious aud instructive Information regarding
the combustibe materials used In warfare before
the invention OF gunpowder. These three papers
are all admirably illustrated. "Said Pacha Of
Egypt" IL very readable contribution from the pen
Of Mr. DE Leon. "Leo and Luther' IS about the
most garbed history OF these distinguished person
ages that could he written. Whatever may have
been the faults OF Leo, it Is quite certain that ne was
no devil, and whatever may nave been the virtues OF
Luther, II Is equally certain he was no SAINT. Mr..
Justin McCarthy's novel, "My Enemy's Daughter"
IL continued, and improves In quality. al Brave
Lady" by Miss Muloch, is also continued The
other papers are quite entertaining reading and the
"Editor's Easy Chair" converses pleasantly,
wisely and spclly as ever to the readers OF the mag
azine.
Ihe Ou GhuTu I0r the coming month contains
several ably written articles. the most noticeable
among which are "a New Party Surely Forming"
"Letter 10 Wibcrforcc," "The Bible In Egypt" "Phi-
locgical Burglary" and "Some Reflections OF u Free
Trader" Except IN the proposition to virtually re-
store negro slavery tan idea worthy OF the ghost OF
CAlhoun) The Otd Guard for June Is decided i'm
pxovenens upon the previous numbers, and exhibits
much life and activity
our Young FOtks Is full OF good things for tho
children. The pleasant ''Story Of Bad Boy" 10
continued. Lawrence at the Coal SHAFT Garden
ing for Girls" ''rhe spray Sprte, "Thc World We
Live In,v Candy Making" 'The Last Voyage OF
Rene Menard," "Ab0ut the Crow" and several
other papers, contribute to retain Tor this magazine
the reputation II has deservedv won.
The Eclectic Mu1dztne Q} Foreign Lf8rfdure for
June ts O nne number. The selections are admirable,
evincing discriminating TASTE on the part Of the
editor nne steel engraving Of Alexander H., En-
psror OF Russia, adds 10 the value OF the magazine.
The most noteworthy articles are On tne Physical
Bass or Liie," 'fergusons Tree aud Scrpens
Worship" "0ther Inhabited worlds,r 'Banirey's
Napoleon l." and physical Education.v
MISCELLANEOUS.
We have received from Messrs. Dexter, Refnsen d
uanelnnger, OF Philadelphia, the June number or
1hS drCh,tecturut ReUieB ana American Bnuusrs..
journal. The contents are quite entertaining All
Instructive and the illustrations admiraDie IhiA
magazine IL one Oh the best Of It's xind'
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BosroN FISH MARKEr.--The market for Goldfish 10
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even pfices There is q hriner feeling among the
trade I'm view OF light stocks. There have been
further smail sales Gloucester OF Georges ish ut
nrcvious rates aud also small JobbIng trade from
Inc West. Dry and picked nsh VI all kinda