The New York herald., 1871-01-08
LIT E r A T u r z.
Criticisms or New Books.


name. 1t has undergone revision and emendation,
ana the publisher thought, probably, this improve.
ment deserved another title Apart, however, from
the typographical errors which were IN the first
edition, and which have now been corrected, the
novel has uncommon merits. IL gives faithful
picture OF American society under different phases.
ana Is entirely devoid OF the false views OF life
false sentiment and maudlin caricatures OF most or
the novels OF the time. Yet 1t is touching romance
that profoundly moves the heart. The verisimiude
to life and nature is 80 perfect that the reader Is
impressed all the time that the story real his
tory. 1t Is replete with information, and no one
can read IT without being instructed. As to the
style ana language OF the writer IL would be dicult
TO mud work OF the time Astounding in more classic
English and more eloquent passages. Then there
is a healthful moral tone throughout, so that the
book can be reaa with profit by The purest-minded
young girl as well by the old or experienced.
Perhaps the pictures OF life are too true to suit a
large class who have acquired a morbid taste for
the unnatural and exciting yellow.covered literature
OF the day. TO the educated and refined, however,
this novel VIII always prove Interesting
FERNYHuRsT COURT. BY the author OF "Stone
Edge" j. B. Lippincott ~ Co., Philadelphia.
Upon the whole very readable book, improving
greatly in style the story advances. There are
many good ana some beautiful thoughts to be found
mencement especially Is marred by GER
tain Gnevenness of style and some un-
usual ana incorrect expressions. The
plot Is weak and Of the characters rather IN
consistently drawn. We are led to expect more OF
the Squire in the opening description than the Sc
quence jusl1es, and May, whose debut is that OF a
rather romantic and inpulsve heroine, afterwards
surprises by stcadIness and calmness in all the
trying situations In which she is placed. These de-
fects, however, although considerable, do not out
weigh the correct and earnest thoughts offered US
by the author OF ''Fernyhucs5 Court"
WHICH rs THE HEROINE Harper & Brothers.
This novel Is both interesting and well written.
SO admirably does the writer (whom we judge to be
LADY, succeed IN keeping up our interest In both
the leading female characters that can only echo
her well chosen title, (Which ls the HeroineYn The
plot IS good, If not very powerful, OF the
descriptions very lifelike. The authoress mas OBJ
viously seen fair share OF the world, and pronted
by IL tor the observanees OF human nature. She
shows her ability to move either to laughter or
to tears. "heart," she tells US 'is woman's pro-
vince feeling her true world; with heart she con.
quers; with feeling she Will win the day. even
though she combat man himself-man with mind
and man with might; aye, and keep her own place
OF true and noble woman all the while.r Tnis is a
welcome sentiment in these days, when we are SO
often baset and sckened With the cant OF "woman's
rights.n
BY THE SEA. BY Mrs. sophronia Currier, author Of
"Alice Tracy" l.. 7. Dutton a. Co.
This Is religious novel, and assuredly one of the
of that class Of books which has ever fallen into
our hands. The plot Is entirely original Dut, , H.
must be confessed somewhat improbable. The
scenes however vivid, the characters drawn with
consistency, ana the interest OF the story whilst II
never flags, is rescued from the sensational through
the calm and peaceful tone Of religion which per-
vadesit, There are so many beautiful passages In
this work tnat is IS matter or dinl-
Guilty to select few for special notice.
One, however, which struck as peculiarly touch.
ing, is the description OF the mothers watch for her
sons boat. 1t came. A storm was arising
"A terrible tempest had wrapped Itself up in that
dark sheet that stretched along the Southern hori-
zon. twas slowly enough now opening It's heavy
folds, bu5 the wind would shake out lis plait-
ings, and hang 1t ike dark pall over the sky. The
wind was rom the north. Luke's boat
would glide swiftly over the water When he came
near the cr he would be sure to turn his
pleasant face upward to see If his mother
were watching for him. = Dear Luke she
wished he would come 1t was little strange his
boat was not In sight yet but Of course he would be
there soon. How cheerful her room would
look when he came In The table was al
on IL the viands cooked exactly to his liking. How
very still it was The wind had ceased. The tide
was washing the ledge now, but the water whis-
pered in strangely soft, melancholy cadences How
. like the whispering seemed to q smothered
wall AMI what was tnat sound vibrating
through the still air? One, two, three
Was IL ST. Mary's bell counting the years Of life
just ended? Mrs. Maitland found herself numbering
the hrobs which seemed to her SO like the beat lngs
OF an anguished human heart. Twenty-one Her
own heart stood still when that distant tolling
ceased.n " The charcter OF greatest
interest decidedly that Of Brendice au Bos. From
the time she 10 first brought before us, ragged
child, neglected and unloved, growing up with no
teaching, save the one word "Revanche,n till the
very waters seem to whisper to her that fearful
lessOn aftcrward. as the hour comes
when she listens for that wOrd and the ocean
seems to give her back IN its stead, vengeance Is
mine l Will repay saith the Lord" Brendce
commands our interest, and finally our respect az
well. Her struggles against the evil teaching OF her
early years, rather than against her own nature;
the impression slowly yet surely produced upon that
nature through intimate association with SO lovely
a character as her saintlike benefacress her vic
tory herself when she saves instead OF destroy
ing, the life OF the man whom she believes to be her
mothers murderer; her yet grander victory when
she sacrifices her love- she has done her hate at
the command Of her God-each and all these stages
OF her life and her character most faithfully and
beautifully described.
The CHURCH CATEcHIsM. BROKEN INTO QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS AND SOMEWHAT EXTENDED.
CATEoHIsM or THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
EXPLAINED BY QUESTION AND ANSWER.
HELP TO THE CATECHIsT.
The above Il rm series OF progressive text books,
as the title pages indicate, ION the Church Cate
chism, desi2 ned for use In Sunday schools lii the
instruction of children OF various capacities IN the
same parts OF the Caechsm at the same tine.n
They are prepared by member OF ST. Peters
Church, in this city, and are approved by the
rector, the Rv. Alfred b. Beach, d. d.; printed and
published by Pott h Amery, No. Cooper Union.
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