The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-22
LITNRATURA.
view or VIEW BooKA

Phelps. Published by Fields, Osgood d
Co. The publication of "Gates Ajar"
brought Miss Phelps prominently into
notice That work created sensa-
ton, and it was honored by being fol
lowed by host of limitations, and as imita-
tion is the sncerest form of hattery the ad- |
miration may be considered both as wide |
spread and sincere. The literary style of |
+'Gates Ajar" is excellent, but otherwise we |
are unable to commend it. 1t gave promise, |
however, that Miss Phelps would produce
something that would be more to the taste of
those who did not admire the peculiar
religious philosophy of her first effort. This
promise is partially kept in the work before
us, which is q story with moral. The de-
sign is to show how fallen woman may be
reclaimed and started anew in a path of vir-
tue by being 'hedged in" by good influences
It cannot but be said that the intention of
the author is a worthy one, or that there is a
necessity for a more compassionate interest
in the class for which she pleads. 1t is
doubtful, however, whether such a subject
should be made the prominent feature of a
work of fiction, to the disregard of the artis-
tic purpose. AS general rule, works of art
carry their moral with them in proportion as
they are faithfully executed, and novels
written for the express purpose of showing
up some wrong, or intoxicating new ideas of
right, are rarely successful with those for
whose benefit they are specially designed.
There are exceptions to this, of course, but
the exceptions prove the rule Miss Phelps
shows much talent as a story-writer, and her
characters are drawn with skill that indicates
a keen and discriminating study of human
nature.
The same house sends us the second num-
Der of the Journal Of Social Science, contain
ing the transactions of the American Associa-
tion. The Journal contains a number of
valuable papers, prominent among which are
the following: Immigration" by Frederick
Knapp; ''The American Census" by James
A. Garfield; ''The Mode Of Procedure in Cases
of Contested Election" by Henry l.. Dawes;
''The Public Libraries of the United States,
by Ainsworth r. Spofford; "The Science of
Transportation, by Joseph D. Potts; "vacci-
nation" report presented by Francis Bacon,
William A. Hammond, and David F. Lincoln;
s'The Election of Presidents" by Charles
Francis Adams, Jr.; Life Insurance" by
Sheppard Homans; "The Administration of
Criminal Justice" by George @. Barrett;
t'Health Laws and Their Administration, by
Elisha Harris; ''An International Code," by
D. D. Field. Published by Leypoldt & Holt.
From Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfnger we
have received journal of Visit to Egypt
Constantinople, the Crimea, Greece, ETC., "
by Hon. Mrs. William Gray. Published by
Harper & Brothers. The author of this book
was in the suite of the Prince and Princess
of Wales during their visit to the East in
1868. and iotted down in her journal all the
haps and mishaps that befell their Royal
Highnesses during the trip. In her preface
she explains that the journal was not written
for publication, and that it was given to the
public without her knowledge during an alb
sence from England. 1t contains nothing OF
a very exciting nature, but is such book as
awell-educatedla lady might be expected to write
under such circumstances, and it will interest
those who wish to see how royalty appears
when on it's travels.
From the same house we have received
tsThe Rule of the Monk; or, Rome in the
Nineteenth Century," by General Garibaldi
also published by Harper Il Brothers. The
enemies of the distinguished author of this
novel could not have wished him to perform
greater piece of folly than to write and pub
lish such a sorry mess of trash. Garibaldi II
certainly one of the last men in the world tt
whom the world would look for novel tina
would have any claims to consideration as
literary work, and it is perfect description
of ''The Rule of the Monk" to say that it i
quite as bad as might have been expecte
under the circumstances Garibaldi hates tn
italian priesthood, and he has good reaso
for his hatred, but he will scarcely benefit hi
cause or damage his enemies by piece c
clap-trap that would disgrace the worst of tn
Aash-story papers. All his indignation at tn
wrongs Italy has suffered from tn
rule of the monk boils over in thes
pages, and in dealing with his imaginar
personages he puts all sober argument at d.
fiance by the wild extravaganza of the inc
dents he relates, for the purpose of shown
how utterly odious the monks are. Gar
baldi is entitled to the sincere regards of @
lovers of liberty throughout the world, and
is to be regretted that he should in his o
age make himself ridiculous by attemptir
that for which he is in every way unite
The most valuable and interesting portion
the work is the appendix, which contains {
account of the family of Garibaldi, pap
on the campaign of Montana by Ricciot
Garibaldi, and an account of the differenc
between Garibaldi and the Italian Cover
ment.