The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-01

REVIEW OF VIEW BooKS

-Charle8 DICKENS, .OnarleS heade, ana
Wilkie Collins have much to answer for in
establishing what may be called the reforma-
tory school of fiction, in which all manner of
moral social, political, legal, and other
abuses of modern society are exposed and
denounced under the guise of highly spiced
imaginative narrative. That such works have
done good and are likely to d. good cannot
be disputed, but the prospect of a host of
inferior writers entering upon the same field
for the extinction of real and imaginary
grievances of all descriptions cannot be
viewed with any great degree of satisfaction.
One of the evil consequences of the
example set by the distinguished novelists
above named we have before us in the shape
of a novel entitled "Tekel, or Cora Glen
coe," by Braganza. Published by j. B.
Lippincott q Co. The lady author of this
story has managed to work herself into a
frenzy of excitement over the insufficiency of
the punishment decreed by the laws of most
of the States for persons guilty of the crime
of rape, and her views, which may be sum-
marily stated to be that death is the only
proper punishment for such criminals, are
set forth with great vehemence, if not with
much logical force. 1t is obvious that such
subject as this, even admitting that it is
suitable one for popular novel,
must be treated with dignity, discretion,
and dispassionate judgment, if it is expected
that it will make the impression on the mass
of readers that is desired. 1t is not too much
to say that the author of 'Tekel, or Cora
Glencoe" has not single qualification for
the task she has undertaken. Her story
telling abilities are exceedingly mediocre,
and she continually mistakes invective for
argument. Every page of the book is plenti-
fully sprinkled with italics, mostly in the
unemphatic words, after the manner of
females who are disposed to ''gush" rather
than argue, and the whole performan ,e bears
evidence to the want of natural ability as
well as of literary skill. We pass this judg-
ment with some reluctance, as, to a certain
extent at least, we sympathize with the OBJ
jects of the book, while we doubt whether
that object will be accomplished by the
means that have been brought to bear for
the purpose.
From J b. Lippincott & Co. we have also
received the September numbers of the Sun
day Magazine, Good Words, and Good Words
for the Young, all of which are up to the
usual high standard of excellence both as
regards their literary contents and the artistic
merit of their illustrations.
-'The New Timothy, by VIM. NJ. Baker,
published by Harper & Brothers, is clerical
novel in which what is called, for want of
better name, muscular Christianity is ad-
yocated with considerable force. Mr.. Baker
will best be remembered by the majority of
readers as the author of that curiously minute
description of Southern village society during
the Rebellion entitled ''Insde; or, Chroni-
Gle of Secession" which was published in
Hd9per'S Weekly few years ago. Those who
read that work with pleasure will be gratifed
by the perusal of ''The New Timothy, which,
while it lacks the interest of a well-developed
plot, is remarkably accurate and vivid pic
ture of Southern life and Southern character
''The Genial Snowman" by Edward p
Kingston, published by Harper & Brothers,
is a series of entertaining "reminiscences of
the late Artemus Ward, interspersed with
anecdotes of showman's life.
Both of the above works have been sent
us by Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfnger
-"Only Fiddler" is the sixth
volume of Hurd q Houghtons uniform edi-
tion of Hans Christian Andersen's works.
1t is one of the most pleasing of Andersen s
longer stories, and as a graceful and poetical
description of Danish life and manners it will
be appreciated by the authors multitude of
admirers. Received from Turner & Co.
From L. B. Peterson & Brothers we have
received 'Indiana," the fourth volume of
their new edition of George Sands writings
This is one of the novels that brought George
Sand into disrepute that the unobjection-
able character of her later works has not been
able to remove. 1t is bold and passionate
plea for the right of a woman who is not
happy in her married relations to seek new
''afinity," and it does not alter the objec-
tionable nature of the story that the author
manages to preserve the personal purity of
her heroine. ''Indiana" is without doubt a
powerful novel, such as no writer of the pre-
sent day but George Sand could have written
but it is not good book to be placed in the
hands of thoughtless and inexperienced
readers
Tile Philadelphia Photographer for Sep
tember gives as its specimen" fine print
from neGatiyeof the famous Adam Saloman,
of Paris. The number contains many items
of information interesting to photographers
and all who are interested in the Photographic