New-York tribune., 1871-08-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


mon Of renius 10 clothe his visions of social i'm
movement in the form Of an imaginative description
cf some ideal community. If the Republic" OF
Plato was intended by that illustrious philosopher
as scientific exposition Of the principles which lie
at the basis Of sound social organization, rather
than as a fauciiul sketch of the possibilities OF
human nature the celebrated Utopia OF sH
Thomas More was certainly poetical expression oI
Naguc MYSTERIOUS longing fora bctterstate oil society
without any distinct hopes ofts practical reahzatloh'
To this class of writings though separated 10y
wide interval both in felicity OF design ana power VI
execution belongs the present work wmch aPpe''S
TO have excited degree Of attention IN Euglnu Gu
trolv ont of proportion TO its merits At the utmost
St can be REGARDED only tolera6y ingenious Jea
desprn. written with a certain arlhclal Ngoi oI
styIe but with no proportion or symmetry OF detail
showing no fine or subtle exercise of the imaginative
facutv enforcing no specific social political, or hn-
mapitarian doctrine. and aiming at no clearly con-
ceiyed purpose whether viewed as a production OF
philosophy. or Of purely literary art Indeed II
labors undcr the almost fatal fault OF leaving the
reader at loss 10 decide between jest and earnest;
the irony Of the writer is ambiguous as easily TO
he mistaken for serious discussion; ana ms nigh
wrought descriptions may he taken either as a
mischcyous satire on the present or the utterance
Of visionary longinrs for the future
The work IS in the form Of personal narrative IN
which the author relates a series of prcposterous adj
ventures among people with whom he was brought
IN contact by strange accident. He processes in
the outset TO be a native of the United States OF
English extraction, and no doubt he shows a GER
tain familiarity with the workings Of our political
machinery. HIS father. who was a man of wealth
and high social position, ran for Con-
crcss hut was defeated by his tailor. After
that lie left the field Of politics, and amused
himself with books. while the son was sent TO In
gland with a view to commercial training ina Liver
pool firm. The death of the old gentleman left the
author in easy circumstances and he gave mp the
pursuit Of the almighty dollar to become desutory
wandercr over the face of the earth Having made
the acquaintance Of professional engineer they VS.
tied together a famous mine, in which they soon be-
came deeply interested and confined their eXTloIa
tion of its wonders for several weeks. One day in
piercing new shaft they came upon chasm which
appeared to have been torn asunder at some distant
period by volcanic fires. The engineer was lowered
down this chasm in cage, having first tested
the atmosphere by safety lamp and after
remaining nearly an hour III the abyss,
returned with scared and bewidered
expression of face, as if he had seen a ghost but
maintained q provoked silence as 20 the nature OF
ls discoveries At last, after indulgng III coplous
drauchts out Of bIaudy-iask, his reserve began to
melt away and the whole story gradually dropped
from his lips His account was that when the cage
stopped be found himself upon a ridge of rock; the
chasm shot down 10 n great depth; but through the
darkness there streamed up steady, brilliant hght
He left the cage. and clambered down the descent,
but as he drew nearer TO the light, the chasm became
wider, and at length he saw a broad level road at
the bottom Of the abyss. This was lighted as far as
the eve could reach 10y what seemed artificial gas
laps placed at regular intervals in the thorough
fare Of a great city: and he heard at a distance
confused sound Of human voices. The curiosity OF
his companion was, of course, excited to the highest
mitch and they resolved 20 attempt another descent
together. The experiment proved disastrous to the
engineer who after the other had safely reached the
bottom was precipitated down The whole distance
by the crumbng OF the rock, and fell at his feet
lfeless corpse.
The adventures of our author properly commence
from this point. He found himself alone IN thi
strange world amidst the bowels Of the earth
Cautiously descending the road which seemed like
n great Alpine pass, he saw vast valley deep below
which presented evidences of art and culture The
fields were covered with a strange vegetation, the
color Of il not green but Of dull eaden hue, or OF
a golden red. There were lakes and riyulets curved
into artificial banks Of pure water Others that
shone like pools of naphtha. The trees resembIed
gigantic ferns, with exquisite varieties of 1eatAely
whole scene was brilliant with innmmerable lamps.
The world without sun was bright and warm as
all italian landscape at noon but the air was less
opprcssivc the heat softer. He could see at dis
taucc inhclGed amidst the vegetation, buildings
that looked like the homes Of men. He cOuld even
discover afal of forms that seemed 10 be human
moving amidst the landscape. Directly above him
there was no sky. but only cayernous roof. This
grew higher and higher till it was lost TO sight, as
an atmosphere Of haze formed itself beneath.
Continuing p walk, he finally came ia ful view Of
tic building. i had evidently been made by hands,
aud followed partly out OF a great rock. Ii was
fronted by huge columns, tapering upward from
massive pliuth, and with capitals that initiated the
foliage Of the surrounding vegetation, some aloe
like some faru-like. human form came out
of the building. Il stood on the broad way, looked
around behe.d the stranger, and approached him.
Aslt came within afew yards lie was seized with an
Undesirable awe and terror and his feet were
rooted 70 the ground. The weird form reminded him
of the images Of demons that seen on the walls
Of Oriental sepulc hers with the outlines OF man. and
vet Of another race II tall, but not gigantic,
tall Is ;le taest men below the hight Of giants. Its
chief covering was composed Of large wings folded
over the breast and reaching 20 the knees 1t wore On
it, head kind Of tiara tnat sloue with jewels, and
carried in the right hand slender staff Of bright
metal ike polished steel. The face the face OF
nan. but Of distinct type from any known race
TIE nearest approach TO is the face Of the sphinx
IN its calm intellectual mysterious beauty. There
was something in tie aspect that aroused the in
stinct Of danger. The intruder felt that this mau-
like image was endowed with forces inimical TO man
As IT drew near a cold shudder came over him, he
fell upon b. Knees and covered his face with his
hands.
The form aocoeted him in a quiet and musical tone
Of voice which served TO dspel his fear. He uncov-
eIed hs face and looked mp. The strange being sur