The New York herald., 1870-09-17
LITERATURE.
Criticisms of New Books.

CrftscisBuS oil New hooks.
| A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON SOLUBLE OR wATEF
| GLASS. BY DR.. Lewis Feuchtwanger. New YORK
| L. ]. w. Feuchtwanger.
| II Is much to be regretted that Dr. Feuchtwangel
| did not get some prominent publisher to bring 0u
this book. 1t Is q work OF real value to science
being the first treating on all the applications o.
water glass published IN the English language Tht
author has, with much skill. compiled everything
that he could find relating the various uses OF thi
| new agent In manufactures, &o, and has also giver
minute description of the manner in which 1t IL
made But few persons are aware OF the numerous
uses to which the soluble water glass is applied
1t is used by calico printers and cotton manufactur
ers, and for many purposes which we have not the
space to particularize In addition the book con-
tains several essays on the origin and functions oil
carbonic acid, lmesOnes, aKalies and SILICA, and a
complete guide for manufacturing plain and colored
glass, together with much other important nforma-
ton relating TO chemistry and mlneralogy.
SIX ETcHEs OF ST. DOMINGO. BY Deb. Randolph
Kem. Philadelphia: ClaxtOn, Remsen a Hariel-
finger
At the present moment, when patriotic efforts are
making to extend the sovereignty OF the United
States over the republic OF st. Domingo any infor-
nation tending to show the natural advantages of
the country cannot fail to prove welcome. Mr..
Keim has written very agreeable book In June
Of last year ne made a tour to and through the
island, during which he collected numerous facts,
which are now published In book form. He gives Q
clear and animated picture OF st. Domingo. its
resources and people, and brief summary OF It's
history from its discovery by Columbus to the pre-
sent time. The work makes volume Of nearly
three hundred ana hfty pages, neatly printed and
bound. and dedicated, Dy permission to the Presi-
dent. We commend 1t as interesting and instruc-
tive.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS: From st. Patrick Down
to st. Laurence 0'Toole. BY ID. p. COnyngham
New York: d. d J. Sadier Go.
In the history Of the Catholic Church there moth
ing recorded, after the apostles had died, OF more
touching interest than the lives Of the who
can0nzed for their devotion to the cause Of their re-
llgiOn IN Ireland. These Irish saints were unsur-
passed In all those qualities which give to men pre-
eminence In piety. There is hardly Catholic and
out few Protesrants In the world unacquainted with
the wonderful career Of st. Patrick, which, II we
divest 1t Of much that may appear to the scep
tcal mind as doubtful impossible, yet remains an
immortal monument Of devotion to and great works
for Catholicism. The life Of st. Bridget Is also more
or less familiar to the reader. and OF the remaining
sxtyfour saints whose biographies are given in this
book there are several with whom the public are in
timately acquainted. Mr.. Conyngham's work is in
Catholic for Catholics but at the Same time there is
nothing in the pages Of this volume which viii not
prove Of decided interest 70 persons Of all faiths
TEKEL, OR CORA GLENCOE, Is very well written
novel, written by "Braganza,n and published by J.
B. Lppincott & Co., Of Philadelphia. 1t is story
with moral, opens with murder for revenge on
villain. and ends In the good old-fashioned style,
with marriage and all the virtuous people happy
and prosperous. OF course 1t contains no particu-
lsrly startling ideas, but 1t is really an nte
resting story. and as such we recommend 1t.
The last work OF George Sand that has appeared,
In the uniform edition Of her writings Messrs B.
Peterson Brothers publishing, is Indiana one
ofthe best other novels II not Of the pures It is
OF course invested with all the charms Of style which
have made the pen Of the author famous wherever
light literature is read. The hero and heroine are
matchless characters, and all the lesser beings who
take part in the story are portrayed with an artistic
skill which makes the book most interesting.
Some time ago We noticed q novel called 'sThe
Widow Goldsmth's Daughter" by Julie P. Smith.
We now have tho sequel to 1t by tho same author
entitled ssChns and Otho'' New York: Carleton pub
lisher), and which possesses the Same merits and
faults that we observed in the previous work. It is
distinguished by vivaci0us style and an exuberant
imagery; but these praseworthy features marred
by the dialogues being often aimiess and tiresome
and by the extreme length Of the book. AS we re-
marked before, II the author will only carefully
revise and remodel her writings she will assuredly
produce novel Of signal merit.
In spite Of much nippancy in her composition
there is always something IN the short articles writ
ten by Fanny Fern to make them enjoyable. Plenty
of char Is in them but tho grain Of wheat is also
there and to those who willing to submit to the
first for the sake OF the latter we recommend
"Ginger Snaps" volume containing a new collec-
ton of her writings. The book Is published by
Carleton OF this CITY, and Is very neatly printed and
bound,