The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-28

RE VIEW OF NEW BOOKS

Il Co. The author, who wrote under the
Nom de plume of 'rLeo," was Lieutenant-Colo-
mel Pemberton, of the British army, who was
killed at Sedan, while acting as a correspon-
dent of the London Times, and the story be-
fore us presents many evidences of being
record of things that have passed under his
own observation. reviewer in Ltppjncotcs
EagGziae makes very just comparison be-
tween it and "Camors" for while it is not a
polished work of art like that novel, it is
nearly if not quite as valuable as a picture of
society. The difference between
the French and the English social
systems is decidedly marked in
ahese TWO works, for while each treats of the
vices and temptations of modern society,
there is no such atmosphere of vice in g The
Scapegoat' as there is in ''Camors, and it is
book that can be much more judiciously
entrusted to the perusal of inexperienced
xeaders. "Lionel Davenport" falls from
virtue and is punished for his sins, but he is
not inherently vicious, but on the contrary is
man whose aspirations are virtuous, but
who is too weak to resist temptation, while
s'Camors" is one who has been trained in
school of vice from his infancy, and is living
in a society that offers few if any inducements
to virtue. "Lionel Davenport has his
liqis0ns, but he does not mediate an attack
upon the virtue of every attractive female he
meets, as does "Camors," and we are conse-
suently spared some of the Objectionable fea-
lures of the French novel.
''The Scapegoat" has many crudities, but
it is story of indsputable interest and
merit. There is, of course, the horse racing,
fox hunting, and dinner eating that are in
separable from English novels of this class;
but there are also many things of more inte-
rest, and while the plot is not very clearly
defined some of the situations are highly dra-
raatic, and the story makes an exhibit of
aristocratic London society that is in high
degree edifying. In this connection we can
not omit to notice the tendency towards
snobbery that characterizes even the works
of the most cultivated British writer's.
Octave Feuillet does not presume to doubt
that the reader will accept "Camors' as
polished gentleman, in all outward respects
at least but the Englishman thinks it neces-
sary, after relating some disgusting trait of
hlackguardism in one of his characters,
to anxiously insist that he is never
theless high-toned English gentle
man, evincing sensitiveness upon
the subject that the French author
would be the last to understand The fact of
Englishmen of high social position insisting
as they do upon gentility is proof that
there is thick stratum of intense vulgarity
running through their whole social system
that they are uneasily conscious of, and that
the Englishmen, no matter how high their
social status may be, or how great their cul-
he bxn md
From Claxton, Remsen & Haffelhnger
we have received the following recent issues
from their press
"The Adventures of Big-Foot Wallace"
by John @. Duval, is a narrative Of the ad-
ventures of a noted Texan ranger and hunter,
which the author, who is himself frontiers
man, assures us is strict record of facts.
The book is full of marvellous adventures
and hair-breadth escapes, and is as entertain
ing as anything in the same line that we have
met with for long time. 'Big- Foot Wal
lace" belongs to a class of men who have
played an important part in the history of
this country, but who are fast disappearing
before advancing civilization; and such q
work as the one before US will be as useful to
the future historian as it will be amusing to
the ereaders-particularly the juvenile readers
of the present day. The illustrations,
which include a full-length portrait of Wal
lace, are numerous and spirited.
Opinions Concerning the Bible Law of
Marriage" by zone of the People" is an
argument in favor of monogamy that is
worth reading on its own account, although
few will share in the authors apprehensions
of spread of Mormon principles. The evil
dent heat with which the book is written
somewhat detracts from its value, as simple
assertions are too often given instead of
arguments and facts, and the author is
stronger when he reasons from general
principles than when he eRdeavors to
twist the wording of the Scriptures
to suit his peculiar ideas. Outside
of the Mormon community, there are very few
advocates of polygamy in this country, and
surely when the monogamists are SO largely
in the ascendant the opponents of polygamy
can well afford to discuss the subject with
GOODNESS and impartiality. The author of the
book before us has pretty hard time of il
with the Old Testament patriarchs and kings
but it is only justice to say that he makes ou
pretty good case against them, and his boob
is strong argument in proof that polygamy
is crime even if some otherwise respectable
biblical characters did practise 1T.
From Dufield Ashmead we have received
''Palace and Hovel; or, Phases of Londor
Life" by Daniel Joseph Kirwan. Published
M