The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-20

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS

-"Camors, Octave Feuillets latest novel,
q translation of which has just been issued by
T. b. Peterson & Brothers, is a painfully
powerful story that is likely to do more harm
than good to any but experienced and
thoughtful readers. Elaborate and artistic
disseotions of the moral diseases of French
society may perhaps be studied with profit by
men and women old enough to understand
what they study and philosophical enough
not to be fascinated by highly wrought de-
scriptions of vice, but for the young and in
experienced they are in every way objec-
t,onab @. Our advice, therefore, to the
fathers and mothers of families is to keep
e'Camors, If possible, out of the hands of
their children, as they are likely to learn
nothing from it that will be of any benefit to
them. We pass such judgment as this with
regret, as the story is evidently written with
high moral aim by thoroughly earnest
man. Decent people in making their way
through the world are frequently of necessity
brought in contact with much depravity. but
there is no necessity for those who are not
called upon to take an active part in reform
ing the world to seek out the hidden wicked
nesses of mankind for the sake of amusement,
and those who do so are much more apt to be
attracted than repelled by the contemplation
Of such vices as are exposed by Octave Feuil-
let in this novel.
stCsmors" is picture of Partisan society
under the Second Empire, and, read in the
light of the downfall of Napoleonism and
the great desolation that has bowed France
to the dust, it is an evidence that in the cor
ruptiop which has been bred by the Empire
is contained the secret of defeat even more
than in the superior numbers and superior
generalship of the Prussians, and that some
such terrible national calamity was needed to
clear the moral atmosphere. AS a work of
art the work is unimpeachable, if we admit
the subject. 1t is as subtle as it is strong
and as vigorous as it is profound. The con-
duct of the story and the delineation of the
characters are masterlyi in the extreme, and at
every point it glitters with refined irony
that stabs like a rapier. In such a sentence
as the following Feuillet sums up completely
the character of certain class of fashionable
French women, and that class is one that has
had no small influence in moulding the Pari-
sian society of to-day
"Although she boasted of being skeptic,
sometimes in the merning she went out,
concealed by thick veil, and entered st.
Sulpice, whore she confessed and put herself
on good terms with God, IN case he should
exist. She was rich and we'll connected, and
in spite of the Irregularities of her youth the
best people visited her house"
1t is mistake to say that such a novel as
tCamors' is immoral as it is to make SINH
lar allegation with regard to such plays as
Camille or Fernando, but, like them, it is
certainly Objectionable on the ground that
such pictures of social rottenness as it pre-
sents are calculated to injure rather than
benefit the majority of those who will proba-
bly, inspect them.
Turner & Co. send US the following new
books from the press of Careton:-
R''Chris and Ohio, by Mrs. Julie P Smith,
is continuation of "The Widow Goldsmith's
Daughter, clever story that attracted con-
siderable attention some months ago! Mrs.
Smith sketches character with skill and
''Chris and Ohio" like the story of which
it is a Sc quel, is bright, fresh, and readable
book.
''Ginger snaps" by "Fanny Fern" is the
rather vulgar title of a collection of short
essays which are as superficial and as vulgar
as 'Fanny Ferns" pen-sketches usually are
-Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfnger send us
t'First Lessons in Greek, by James r. Boise,
Phi. D., Professor in the University of Chi
cago. This little book is intended as an in
PRODUCTION to Hadleys "Greek Grammar"
and to the study of Xenophons "Anabasis. "
1t is clear and concise, and is skilfully ar
ranged to assist and stimulate the student in
overcoming the first difficulties in the way of
mastering the Greek language.
The second index volume to the Prince
ton ReDieC, which we have received from the
publisher, Peter Walker, No. s21 Chestnut
street, contains great number of interesting
biographical sketches of the most prominent
Presbyterian clergymen and laymen of the
United States. To those who possess COM
plete sets of the Princeton Recielo these index
volumes will be invalua BILE, while they have a
decided interest of their own apart from
their connection with the series which they
Implement.