The New York herald., 1871-03-06
LIT E r AT URE
CRITICISMS on Now BcoIss.

Ine OASIS o! tns pook mas been published In the
form OF letters, but these have been thoroughly re-
vised before being offered to the public In the
present volume, and the additions ihat have been
made to them are very considerable.
As whole, Mr.. Rae's book IN an excellent one.
written without prejudice and containing much
valuable information TO those who have never taken
the delightful journey "Westward bv rail.u To
tnose who have Its perusal is equally agreeable, for
none OF these could read 1t without being struck
with his faithrGlness and moderation IN recording
his experiences He bas In respect yielded TO the
temptation which appears TO be TOO strong
TO be overcome by most writers OF books
OF travel-namely that Of coloring too
highly the scenes through which they have passed.
The FIRST chapter Is devoted to the trip the
Atlantic-the authors "prclimnary Journey az he
terms IT, He speaks Ia glowing terms OF the beauty
OF the approach ny sea TO New York. "After sandy
Hook rs passed. he says 'the panorama on either
side is beautiful. The Iuxuriant foliage
and the dark green vegetation remind the English
traveller OF the richest and most charming rising
grounds IN kcnt. In The distance are
Islands covered with verdure, and In the background
are the masses OF redbr,ck buildings which coneti-
tutc the chief city OF the Empire state. Conspicuous
among the various structures Is a towering edlhce,
imposing In outline and white In color. was told
that this was the 0i,ice OF the New Yoax HERALD.
in the fact that tho ofce of Of the most enter
prtsing among American newspapers should be the
most conspicuous object beheld by the stranger who
approaches New York from the sea-" After taxing,
as 1t were, mere glance at New York the book
proceeds TO give an account OF the journey thence
to San Francisco This account is, IL the man,
very accurate. few days passed Chicago has
enabled Mr.. Rae TO give description Of that won.
deru city, where, In the course " few years nu-
merous palaces have replaced a handful OF bats.
His picture or Salt Lake CITY, OF Morinons and Nor.
monis, Ia almost the fret one that mas been
given tho pubic. The impression has been given
by most writer's that Salt Lake is a beautiful city
beautiful city surely requires beautlfai buildings
to render IL such, and these Salt Lake can scarcely
be SAID TO possess, even by the warInest admirers
OF tho "Latter Day Saints.r Mr. Raos remarks
on the inconsistency OF the streets. imposing as
they are both in width and length, with the eharac.
ter of buildings erected upon them are such as any
visitor there would be likely to make. The site OF
the city ana the surrounding scenery are indeed aa
he describes them, beautiful In the extreme. None
who have ever taken the stage ride from Uintah to
Salt Lake can fail TO be struck with the entire accu-
racy OF the account OF t here given. The completion
OF the Urah Central Railway happily renders this tor.
turc thing of the past. The stones and the rute,
the heat and the nies, the utter disregard of the
driver as to The safety or, at any rate.
the soreness OF his passengers bones:
the wayside meal, tue superabundance OF knees
in the crowded vehicle. the utter weariness OF the
hapless traveller when at length sudden turn In
the road presents view of the city to his longing
eyes-any reader who has passed through this or
deal will testify that the description is not an ex.
aggerated one. Nor ia the magnIlcent scenery for.
gotten. On the right OF the road lies the Great Salt
Lake Itself and upon the left the range Of the wan.
tch Mnup IN ma of
these majestic mountains, with their snow capped
peaks are rosy at their base with blossomlng nut
trees, the picture IL exquisite In the extreme.
The author OF ''Westward by RAIL- while eulO.
gizing the splendors Of Echo and Weber cahons In
the terms they so well merit has scarcely given hrs
readers correct idea OF OF the striking iea
lures Of the latter ''The Devils Gaten He merely
mentions 1t as "a narrow space between the gun.
dered rocks.n The road here follows the line OF the
Weber river for some distance giving the passenger
ample opportunity to note the picturesque beauty Of
the stream. Rocks OF immense height rise upon its
opposite side as well as to the right OF the track.
An abrupt turn Of the river itself sends its waters
dashing and foaDing through "The DEVILS Gates
giving this an interest and magni0cence II would
certainly not otherwise possess. As the traveller
gazes first upon the seehng waters at his feet and
tnen up TO the OF rock which wer above MIN
the scene is one diflicuIt to surpass IN grandeur
Other fne points OF scenery Mr.. Rae has entireII
omitted to mention. The palisades beyond Elka are
surely worthy OF note The road curves around these
rocks, which are almost perpendicular and Of great
height Upon the left the Humboldt river follows it
peaceful and does much toward fertilizng an
otherwise arid country. After leaving Cisco-a STA
ton situated the Sierra Nevadas at the summit Of
the road, yet with the pine-clad peaks Of thai
glorious range OF mountains rising far above IT,
some Of the most magnificent scenes of The entire
journey may be enjoyed. One spot where the tracs
has been built upon the mountain side, and whore
the valley upon the left Is 500 feet below the line
OF the road. Is usually called "Cape Horn.n The
road here takes sharp curve, and tho panorama
opened out below IS simply superb. The American
river Is now visible but at SO great distance be-
meath that 1t appears but al Insignificant stream.
Although "Westward by Rail" is certainly writ
ten for the most part with absence OF prejudice
doubiy remarkable and creditable being the work
OF an English tourist the authors usual impartial
ity deserts him In speaking OF San Francisco ana
the San Franciscans. He says that among the
legaces OF the Spaniards TO the Californians lnsn
certy In tlier offers Of hospitality lis He also
declares that "CalirOrnians, while parting ostentar
tiously with their money! cannot be exceled BY
the shrewdess Yankee In Cooking after the main
chance.n Few who have visited San Francisco
will endorse these sentiments OF deny that what
ever the faults OF her citizens may be, hospitality
and Hbera!ity are among the most prominent Of
lheir virtues. Although admitting TO the full the
perfection or the Californian climate the great natu-
raj beauties OF the "Goden State' and the wonder
fu products Of her soi Mr. Rae scarcely disposed
TO make sufficient allowance for the pride felt In
California by her sons.
THE LOVERS LIBRARY ls the title OF a new series OF
volumes, the first OF which has jusl been Issued
by j. 8. RedAeld, Fulton street, New Tork.
The contents Of volume are 1.-The Devirs Poolr
by George Sand; southey's story OF Leonard and
Margaret" Bulwer's touching tale, entitled "rhe
Maid OF Malines,' and "Patty's Revenge whose
author is unknown. AS none OF these are new 10
the public 1t is unnecessary to speak OF their merits
The publishers purpose has been to bring together,
In inexpensive and convenient FORM for the special
benefit Of the young, number OF well selected and