New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-23
COURp CIRCLES OF THE REPUBLI

COURT Or HE
FHE COURT CIRCLES OF THE REPUBLICS Or. THE
BEAUTIES AND CELEBRITiEs OF the NATION, by
Mrs h. + ELEr Win sketches oy MIS- H. L. SiA'N
The service which Mrs. Ellet once performed for
the queens of American society IN general, and the
uncrowned thousands who glitter in the brilliancy
of their Republican courts she has now undertaken
for the exclusive and consequently more illus
trious aristocracy which has adorned the national
eapital from the days of Washington to Grant
Rightly thinking that the schemes of the cabinet are
often made or married in the drawng-roOm and the
reignng belle is often powerful than the Secre
tary or the Congressman, she has divided
Washington society INTO political epochs
marked by the beginning and close of each
successive administration; that she has been able
to illustrate the characteristics of life and society
under all our Presidents. and to show the
dangers and delights of official position at all periods
of national history. She has collected, with the
aid Of Mrs Mack. from a variety of sources-ln-
Gluding, as she assures us, valuable family papers
many anecdotes Of prominent statesmen, fashiona-
bic ladies, and distinguished visitors she has rescued
from oblivion the record of balls, dinners,
and receptions, with the names of the principal
guests and an inventory of their clothes; she has
found out who in good society. and what were
the prevailing styles in dress and etiquette, both in
ancient and modern times; aud she describes the
manners, appearance. ana VI NuO,
by the accident of birth or the official position OF
their fathers husbands brothers, uncles belonged
10 that submated and snper-reiincd, aristocracy
which can only be fOund in the dazzling halls Of our
proud capital the nursery of Republican simplicity,
and the chosen home of the American eagle. All
these things are highly interesting both to men and
women all over the United States. Those who have
had the precious privilege Of mingling in scenes of
HpleudOr, like TO read about themselves and the
glorIes of which they part: and those who
have not take pleasure not unmxed with pain in
reading about tbOse who have.
The attractions Of the book are enhanced by fifteen
portraits Of fashionable celebrities, including Mrs.
eprague Mrs, Randall, Mrs. Ellet, Mrs Gen. Gaines,
Mrs. j. I. Thomas Mrs. John Tyler, Mrs. Fillmore,
the Hon. T. Carroll Brewster, and Mrs. Grant.
ANCIENT STATES AND EMPIRES. By JoHS LORD, LID
lZmO. 6S. Charles Seubuer Gu.
This volume makes no pretension to original
ety. but merely TO present the most important events
and Of four Thousand years in connected
narrative emitting buTdeDsOne details, and throwing
salient points into relief The ground trayersed is extern
save The ancient Oriental nations occupy the first book
The second devoted the Greeian states until the
death Of Alexander Great The third book recounts
the history Of Roman Empire from the foundation OF
BOme 10 the fall Of Western Empire after the invasion
Of Atta and Huns The authors labor consisted In
Gnplfylng abridgiDg, and c0ndensing the standard
RaWlinsOn, GrOte. Thrwa, Nebuhr, Merivale,
and MOmmsen-no slight labor, and in this instance
Outed with cOnscentOusness. Tho book will be found
useful and valuable for reference and IN schools.
peculiarly Ia the authors plan consists IN the intro
duetiOn Scripture story part of the historical
sketch 10 is inserted from the sacred text as II sands,
abbreviated Of course 10 nero digest, but without
criticism comment, and without ausOn to the
notes criticisms or comments Of others. II 10 dehcately
done the whole aud mOdesty. Here and there
precision reveals the writer's theological opinions but
there discussion Tho miraculous story OF Genesis.
frOm the creation Of ADAM including the Flood Is told
SIMPLY any In modern history might be- There
for discussion Of critical theories, and the
adoption Of the conclusions Of the sOcalled "bstOrca"
ssAOOl would have outraged the sentiment Of orthodox
ehrstendOm STILL as II ~ the innovation must be cOnsid
cred Of doubtful prOprie Devout bbnciss may be scan
aaized by the close association Of sacred with prOane lis
tofy ana scientific historians Will take Oense the ad
nnissiou into historical work Of considerable por
ton 10 which the historical method Is applied There
90 ineohgruity between the chapters done by Niebu
orote. heryae. and Momnsen, and the chapters copied
as they sand Ia the Hebrew annals, mention being
made OF Ewad or the host scholars who have applied
70 the Ola Testament the laws, the application whereof
70 Greek aud Latin traditions has earned for Gfote
Asebuhf heTiyae, ANA M1nmsen their fame.
IL should be SAID however that the theory OF Mr. LORD
b not pressed to extremes, does inrude upon his
secular chapters in "a way TO their value.
BHB ALBUM OF LANGUAGE nuar.t.a br N, Io,r, p,,v.,
On ha1q'rs L iss, ~ " SA'hEsT HD. An FohO
This sumptuOusly printed volume must he
Segaried less scientific work than literary curios
" and the skill aud taste of Phiad.nbIa
printers DIR. Eaphegyi has, Indeed preExed 10 his one
hundred specimens Of the principal anguages of fine
world more less learned account Of each tonyue
AEH general philosophical introduction. lie does not
lay claim however II rightly understand him Ia the
boBOs Of an original investigator. aud his introduction