The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-23
Current Literature.


Current Literature.
EDaAR's STRUGGLE. A STORY OF TEMPTATION.
Mccarthy & Ellyson, Richmond, Va. 1870.
This little work, an excellent one tor Spn-
day-school scholars, is written, illustrated and
published by Richmond men, and Is ON en-
couraging evidence of Southern taste and
skill. The publishers of Edgar's Struggle have
other works In press, and 1t Ia their Intention
to get them up as we'll and as cheaply as can
be done anywhere in the country.
ELEMENTS OF ASTRONOMY. BY J. Norman
Lockyer. F. r. A. S. American Edition.
New York: D. appleton & Co. 1870.
The author believes, and rightly, that these
elementary lessons in Astronomy, although in
tended In the main for use In schools, will be
found useful to ''children Of q larger growth"
who wish to keep mp with the latest discoveries
In one OF the most fascinating of the sciences.
It is Intended by Professor Lockyer to give o
connected view of the whole subject, rather
than to discuss any particular parts OF 1t, and
to supply facts and ideas which may serve as
basis for subsequent study and discussion.
Spectrum-aualysis and Its results are 1ully
dealt with. and the American editor, besides
extending the practical directions Ior finding
interesting objects In the heavens on different
evenings throughout the year, has appended
celestial charts taken from Arago's Popular
Astronomy. We cordially recommend Lock-
yer's Elements of Astronomy to the favorable
consideration OF schools and.the public.
For sale by John Russell, King street.
WITH FATE AGAINST Hun. BY Amanda NJ
Douglas, author of In Trust. Claudia, &c.
New York: Sheldon & Co. 1870.
This novel is sufficiently stirring without
being sensational, aud has for It's apparent
purpose the developement of the idea that
when q mau has learned ''the grand secret OF
''life, and comprehends its sacred duties, labor
sis enuobled in his eyes for oil timc." The
hero, Victor Hurst, model Of ''manly beauty"
serves his time in factory, where CRIME dust
and coarse companions fill him with supreme
disgust. His general priggishness causes hlm
to be handsomely detesled by his fellow-work-
men, and the ,"lurkiug demon" In his soul
prompts him 10 drop the shop, and carve out
new career In company with an itlnerant
vlolinist, in comparison with whom Paganini
must have been u musical Ounce. The sudden
Illness OF Victor'S father worthy clerSymen,
upseLs this pretty plan, and the young Apollo
-loathlng his work the while, as one OF no
lures noblemen should-hammers and files
until an unsuccessful strike, In which he Is
leader, throws him out of employment, and
bars against him the opening factory doors.
By degrees he convinces himself that he can
not become great painter, but distant con-
ncctIou of his mother turns up In the nick OF
time, and his arrest for murder of which, OF
course, he is Innocent brings to light the fact
that be Is not the son of John Hurst, but OF
one Kirke Gilllatt, the list of proud, exclu-
sye family, which had never been lacking ''in
ssgrace. refinement or beauty" This Kirke
GilllaLt, in spite Of his blue blood, is precious
rascal and Victor, scornlng to accept rank
and wealth, (now that one Is rlghtfully his
own, and the other is supplied BY the distant
connection aforesaid,) marrles the sweet
young patrician whom he loves comprehends
the nobility Of labor, and lays out for himself
plan of life in which are "towns to build,
ssprosperity to evolve, human lives to watch,
'.human souls to feed" This, it seems to US,
destroys the didactlcal value Of the whole
story. VICTOR as long aS he is poor and hum
BILE in station, Is fretful, moody, selfish and un-
grateful. Publication of spirit, and elevation
of purpose, do not come to hinas the crown
of his sorrows and the fruit of his wrestling
with self. The accidents Of birth and relation
ship give him what, to be consistent, should
have come from his own nature, victorious
and triumphant, though fate was against him.
And we undertake TO say that man OF his
temper-leavlns Kirke GilliaLt and the distant
connection out of sight-would have gone
rapidly to the bad. and ended his career in
jail or mad-houSe. The story, however, as
we remarked at the outset, is lively aud agree
able, and the different characters, If only out
lines, are carefully and pleasantly drawn.
Miss Douglas never writes repulslvely, and,
without pretending to any striking novelty OF
thought or plot, is usually fresh and attrac-
tive.
Our copy of "With Fate Against Him" comes
from Lippincott & Co., of Philadelphia,
through Mr.. John Russell, of King street, in
this city.