The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-14

RE VIEW OF VIEW BOOKS

ALFRED the Great, by Thomas Hughes,
M. p, published by James r. Osgood & Co.,
is the least successful of the works that have
proceeded from the pen of this deservedly
pop ular author. Mr.. Hughes is liberal, but
he beholds with ill-concealed anxiety the
rapid progress of democratic opinions in
England, and he sees much evil as likely to
result from the total overthrow of the old
order of things that promises to take place
in the not far distant future. He loves free
dom, but he also loves law, and, bad as mat
ters now are, he trembles lest they shall be
worse when the great change comes. In his
perplexity Mr.. Hughes sighs for king, and
finds his ideal set forth in the language of
Carlyle:-"We now come to the last form of
heroism, that which we call 'kingship.' The
commander over men, he to whose viii our
wills are to be subordinated, and Loyalty sur
render themselves, and find their welfare in
so doing, may be reckoned as the most i'm
portant of great men. Ia all sections of
English life the God-made king is needed; is
pressingly demanded in most, in some cannot
longer without peril as of confagration be
dispensed with" Unfortunately for Mr..
Carlyle, Mr.. Hughes, and some others who
are perplexed at the signs Of the times, God
does not appear to be making kings of this
sort Just at present, but seems to expect that
the advantages of education, culture, rapid
means of INSTRUMENTATION, and other
features of nineteenth century civilization
will enable each citizen to be in
o great measure his own king. It
would, perhaps, be very convenient
thing to have king of the Carlylei kind to
do all our governing for us, and relieve us of
all care and responsibility in the matter, but
if none such is forthcoming we must perforce
try and make out the best we can without,
UnluckiIy, too, it is impossible in this dege-
nerate world to rely upon succession of wise
and skilfal rulers, for kingly lines have a
tendency to diminish in mental capacity in
the same proportion that they become i'm
pressed with exaggerated ideas of their
own importance, and even where kings are
elective it is not always possible to get the
best man seated upon the throne, as we the
people of the United States have more than
once discovered to our cost. Mr.. Hughes,
indeed, appears to be pretty well convinced
himself that his ideal king is not obtaiuable,
and in his concluding chapter he gives the
excellent advice for each citizen to accept
God as his king, and to live virtuously and
uprightly in His sight If Mr.
Hughes can only persuade every
citizen to do this, all further con
troversy about the best form oi
government may we'll be dis
pened with. With regard tc
the nominal theme of the work before us, we
may say that the events of Alfred's life are
set forth in very readable shape, and it is
shown how he laid broad and deep the foun
dations of good government in England. The
book is strongly colored by the religious and
political opinions of the author, which on this
side of the Atlantic will not be likely tC
diminish its popularity, but we cannot helI
thinking that the work would have been more
valuable as well as more interesting if Mr.
Hughes had been less anxious to draw mora
from his tale. For sale in this city by Clax
ton, Remsen & Haffelfnger.
-'Ralph the Heir" by Anthony Troliope
is distinguished by the usual placid style ant
the usual minute dissection of very common
place characters that find favor with so man,
AOouOASs LAS 6IoIy 10 perhaps u IHluo nOI
ingenious in the conduct of its plot than il
usual with Mr.. Trollope, while the moral en-
forced is certainly salutary. Published b.
Harper & Brothers and for sale by Claxton
Remsen q Haffelhnger.
-'"The American Cardinal, published b
Dodd a. Mead, is story of an American VIII
was converted to the faith of Rome, and, afte
rising to the dignity of Cardinal, wished t
change his religion again, and was in const
quence made the victim of various Jesuitict
plots. AS an attack upon the Church @
Rome the novel is too weak both in idea an
execution to accomplish a great deal, Will
its essential vulgarity of style will scarcel
make it popular outside of kitchen and stab
circles, where it may possibly be read to
mathematical. For sale by Claxton, Remse
a. Haffelfnger.
why did he not Die?" from the Germa
of Ad. Won Volckhausen, is an attractive add
ton to the excellent list of translations fro
the German by Mrs. A. L. Wister which hay
obtained SO much and such well-deservt
popularity during the past few years III
present story is charming in its graceful sir