The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-14
LITERATURE.


TIE ISLAND NEGHBoRs. Novel OF Americas
Life. By Antolnette Brown Blackwell. illus
trated New york; Harper Brothers. lS7E
Sv0. PIP. lad.
quiet, good na'ured, easy narrative Of country
life on the sea coast OF Marha's vineyard such I'd
Mrs. Blackwel's first attempt in fiction. There Id
enough OF che picturesque IN that little island I'd
have drawn yet more upon the authors descriptive
powers; but 1t Is difficult to resist being devOureu
by ennui &C any resort SO quiet and 'lonesome' a.
this little island lying between Nantucket and the
main. There Is not enough Of incident IN the booE
to hold any OF the readers Of the modern high pres
sure novel. but those who like realism and modest
endeavor TO mirror nature IN domestic tale Will
not regret spending few hours in making the ac-
qualntance Of "Our Island Neighbours"
GUIDE BOOK FOR THE EASTERN COAST OF NEW ENG.
LAND. COnc0rd: f. q. Eastman d Co. New
York: Lee. Shepard Dillingham;. 1871. 1omo.,
PIP. 220.
Good local guide books are things which our
country and seaside resorts stand mucn In need Of
This one gives succnct account Of each resort FOX
summer visitors on the New England coast, from
Newport to Mount Desert. II Is prepared from fresa
materials, and he who seeks health and comfort bH
the salt sea waves OF any point out Of the beaten
track cannot do better than to consult its pages.
Two excellent maps illustrate the work.
HEsPERIA. by Cora L. " Tappan. 1871.
This prettiiy printed volume OF poetry is one that
would give the SATURDAY Repie,C an excellent text
for at least two pages Of sarcastic abuse Of Amer
can literature. The poems have certain jingle: the
adectves are OF the latest STYLE lush and sonOrOus
and to the very young, or very sleepy, or tOS
foreigner very ignorant Of English, they might seem
extremely beautiful. but the stern law OF criticisms
demands OF US TO condemn them. The long lay.
Hesperia might, PERHAPS please the enth usiasts IN
England who hail Walt Whitman as the first poet Of
America and Joaquin Miller as the second. Thd
patriotism OF the poem Is undeniabe and 1t Is NOT
easy Of comprehension, an especially attractive
quality for those base critics. but whatever may I'd
its fate in that country between tue conservative
Saturday and these patronlzing seekers after
novelty we cannot recommend II here. Mrs. rappai2
has certain poecal gilt; she is sensitive to the
charm of words. but she Is too much so. Sonor0us.
Is but charm OF poetry and, Of course, only
an auxiliary We might as we'll have horse ALI
name because his name Is handsome. Mystical Is y
nattering term for most Of the poems. The volama
IL hardly worth preserving even as q curiosity.
Literary Chit.Chnt.
THE SECOND SERIES OF Mr.. FRoUDEs ''ShOrt
Studies on Great Subjects" is keenly dissecled b.
the SATURDAY Rerter, which observes that NJ.
Froude cannot tell the simplest story without mis-
representing the meaning OF his author. 1t is NOT
so much that he wilfullv despises truth OF state
ment, as that he cannot be made to understand
what truth OF statement is.
The ATHENRUM, IN REVIEWING the "Life and
Writings OF Alexander James Dallas" says:-"Tha
appearance Of this memoir OF a gentleman who was
nobody particular some sixty years snce and whose
strongest claims to consideration have been utterly
destroyed by time, indicates that social and literary
conditions In the great republic are still favorable
to dealers in proftless Biographies" Alter few
wellexpressed sneers at our 'second.rae politicians
and insignificant placement" the reviewer chargea
us with having produced ian appalling mass Of
unreliable literature in the shape Of memoirs Of
men and women who differed from ordinary
mankind In being rather richer, or noisier,
or fortunate than the average Of common. place
people," 1t then descsnds to particulars by styling
Mr.. A. Dallas "a very respectable and unlnterest-
ing man," and his son, George Mifiin Dallas, as q
man who, "achieving success dsproportionate ~
his natural endOwments, represented the govern-
ment of the United States for some years at tho
Court OF ST. james,