New-York tribune., 1870-12-20

i've soldiers at her disposal; her navy eouio
not cope with the puny notlla OF the Noi'"
German Confcder tion; and her civil administrator
with the sole exception OF the American, is the
rupt in the world. Her only hope for the I'." ,ie
the populous Old barbarisms of the gorgeous
the sealoyng Greek. with Constant'hopV :, n,a two
and the isles of Greece, with " oi'Sos oi ,,,,oral
Egean shores for empire WIZ ,o, pio
ar,ior oqyo T,ln 10 Dahomy" "SerDnles aoo"' i'o,
, -, ,,aotecnjne in Rome" are very readable
-, -, ,be "Recolections OF Thackeray IN 'ne
,,.,1 ossp is a sngulary interesting account vi III
st IN me social life Of the great ethical hunoIlsl
r-ba variety and excellence OF the pictorial
embellishments in HGrpers MGqd-,n6 for January make
II one OF the most attractive numbers OF tue season IL
opeus with an illustrated Old "Christmas Carol OF
ouaint yersiacaon followed 10y series Of unoommony
natural engavings which represent different scenes In
Swedish home-lfe, although in the sketch OF farmers
cottage, with the usual bucoc surroundings 10 'ne p'
OF our knowledge and belief, the demure mk-mmd is
placed the wrong side Of the cow Then comes lu
exhibition of the Oberammergau PassonPay' setchg
forth the characters and tabeaux OF the sacred urhn
with excellent eject, after which, in the "V0ice OF
Christmas Past" selection Of scenes from the Writings
Of Dickens are copousy Illustrated forming picture gal
ery of rare interest with appropriate descriptions sew
eral other illustrated articles follow, whe at the hdno
me to say the least the reading matter does not Ia
below its accustomed standard. Ihe allowance
of fiction is rather large for those who habtuay pass
over the Magazine stories, but there are not wanting
good store of materials for readers with taste Tor more
solid intellectual fare. An especially valuable paper IL
The Seventh Decade Of the Nineteenth Century"
by Charles C. Hazewell in which that accom-
plishcd historical scholar presents an adiniraoe
review Of the great public events which nave
occurred during the last ten years leaving that
period unrivaled for deeds OF pregnant import " in
4iv His e urffgT
and instructive digest will form more authoritative
reference for history OF the than he found else
where in current literature. "The Easy Chair dis
courses with its usual sweet and cheerful wisdom, ON
Nlsscn singing and the cynical headshakine OF polt'
cal crbakers. The original poetry in the number by L. H.
soddard and Phoebe Cary in the happest vein OF the
respective authors.
Without any bats of pictorial illustration, or
appeal 10 the prevailing public taste, the cd0tc Hor7d
brings up its heavy brigade Of theology and philosophy
with pTomptneSs and energy which always command
the attention Of the spectator although they may not
win his interest in the objects OF its aim The first article
in the new number opens brisk fire on "Beecherm and
its Tendencies aprOpOs Of the recent work OF the Rev
Thomas X. Beecher "Our Seven Churches" Brother
| Tom," as he is afectOnaly called, IA compared
| with Brother Henry" and set down " as
more frank and outSpokcn than his cunninscr, more
cautious and more timd brother" whose statements
]
stretched so as to take in the highest and broadest
Protestant orthodoxy, or contracted to exclude
every thing but the most shallow, meacer, and marrow
rationa,ism. They are Indlarubbor band. You see
clearly enough what he is driving at but you cannot
catch and hold him. This comes not from ca
culation OF design, hut from his loose manner
of thinking. and from his total want Of
fixed and defnte principles His mind is uncertain, n-
peuOus and confused" apart from these incOnvenent
personalities the article has many significant sugges
ons with regard to the tendencies of Cavinsm Evan
eccalism Becchersm although the friends o. The last
named phase of religion VIII regard most Of the writer's
statements examples of reckless assertion, and with
out the slightest basis in fact Merry Christmas is
toohsome account of the festivities Of the in
olden times when crane was the bird Of the season
as turkey is with us" and artistic dccacv composed
Of almond milk the Drawn of capons, and spices,
chickens parboied and chopped fine" crowned the dain
ties Of the board. With the drinks that held in
honor at Christmas time by the thirsty Christians Of
ancient English day hippccras ae mead and prep
arations OF wine with honey and spices The informa-
tion in this succuent article will be Of interest 10 many
readers, especially in NewEngland in which section
Of the country the grim spirit of the Purtans" prevailed
| so long, that, the writer informs from his
own experience, some people even now do not know
| what Christmas means" Mr.. Froude's "History Of
England is again tackled by his unreenting critic,
who up his charges with the declaration that Mt.
Froude docs not approve Of the humdrum ploddng
honesty Of the conscientious historian and Is dsgused
with the mprudent weakness of telling all the truth
with the silly hesitation 20 be unscrupulOus where point
Is 10 be made and with the slow pace Of "a style
adorned by fancy sketches and sensational pictures"
solid philosophical paper is devoted TO Cathocity and
Pantheism." forming the tenth number OF the series
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