The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-30

Criticisms Of New Books.

welcome the excellent choice which has been made
IN the selection OF this volume OF M. Droz.
In well regulated minds. accustomed to the decor
Gus passion of most English and American novels,
there has long existed not unfounded prejudice
against French novels too many OF which nave
treated OF only sort OF love- and that in no deli
cate terms. But while they have mad that glazing
fault, on the other hand they have so excelled In
regard to execution their style has been so polished
their deneation OF character keen their analysis
OF human feelings subtle, that the reader in spite
OF himself, could not restrain his admiration. We
regard the selection of this book as particularly for
tunate, because is free from the prominent faults
and adorned with the merits OF the best of
recent French novels. The author Is young man,
whose nrst appearance in literature was as the
author OF a series Of little sketches in paper called
La Vie Parisiensse, which were afterwards collected
in two vOumes-"Monsieur. Madame and Bebe,n
and Entire nous. They hardly suitable Tor trans
laon, both on account OF their faults and merits;
for the decacy and grace OF their wit would be lost
In translation, and the freedom OF great deal had
better be LEFT for one who Is more hardened by q
course Of French reading. They little OF
society and OF domestic e full OF the most
satire OF the fvolties OF the time. In these
works he Is never gross although Free and never
bitter In his most satircal Sketches and he abounds
with the most charming humor. While writing these
half ago he published this novel in the Rerss des
Deuc Mondes is story Of modern French society.
The scene is laid in the provinces. A wealthy
manufacturer, who has just made his money,
marries young and noble wife, buys place in the
country and goes there to live. Besides this pair
the persons OF the story the priest OF the village
who 49, in fact the hero OF the tale and the various
relations OF the proprietor and his wife. We hope
we do not terrify our readers by saving that the
priest falls In love with the rich mans wife, She is
taken as q representative Of the modern French
man OF society, and 80 as the ideal OF all other
men OF society," and is drawn with SKILL all her
pretty graces, her innocence beneath her frvOlity
In word, her womanliness, with all its petty
faults aud dwarfed good qualtes-are set before us
in picture that Is natural, because it is so care
fully done. Her husband finds spring upon his
property, which hls money-making instinct turns to
the enlargement OF his wealth by claiming for 1t
Bealth-gving properties and a pretended miracle.
which the priest alone can eXplain out since that
would compromise the lady he holds his peace
and retires into exile in partial disgrace. This is but
rude outline Of this interesting novel; the cupdity
Of the proprietor the manliness and warm hearted
ness Of the priest, in spite OF his vulgar surround
ings the frivolity OF the young Partisan, are most
charmingy represented. The author unites to
the delicate humor his earlier works had shown
more sustained power OF narration and Skill In
the serious treatment OF his subject which at once
gives him prominent place among French
noveists. The last story by the same author, "Le
Cahier beu de Mademoisele Cibot" Is hardly suited
for the greater plainness OF the English tongue,
although It is wonderful story: the same might
also be said OF the two volumes we have mentioned.
The grace OF the French could not be given in any
English translation, however careful. We hope
soon to be able to announce another novel from
N. Droz. Now that peace has been declared we
trust that his pen will not be idle.
PRIMITIVE CULTURE. BY E. B. Tylor. vols. Lon
don, 1871.
We can heartily recommend this work to the
reader; for 1t is one winch, BY the fairness OF its
spirit and the thoroughness OF Its treatment may
be taken most satisfactory representative Of the
spirit Of the day. Science ia its proper ground
when 1t deals with the facts which 1t discovers with
finding necessary to vindcate itself either by
nIppant appeal to the vulgar or by timtd EFFORT
to conciatc the preudiced. This book is on q sub.
ject OF the greatest interest to mankind. being an
effort to unravel the vague history OF the earlier
times Of the human race, and while in this attempt
it must bring much to our knowledge that Will sur
prise those opinions had formed in ignorance
and must tear the veil from much that we had re-
garded with q sort OF supsrstltous awe, yet
the author never wanton, never wilful in
means OF his Investigations, and enables US to
draw conclusions for ourselves. The
amount OF material that he has gathered and
judged is simply enormous The book IS a treasure
house OF facts, besides being model Of their intel.
ngent treatment. Out Of the early histories, from
the reports OF travellers, from the games OF chill
dren, which last contain some OF the Oldest me-
MORALS OF the childhood Of mankind he gives us
vivid picture OF the lives Of our savage forefahers
He interprets the sports OF boys and girls In fas
cinating way. The use of the bow and arrow may
serve example. AT first they were used as a
deadly weapon, then alone for sport, and now they
have sunk simply into toy for children, whi CHI
they will, doubtless, remain for centuries. His
conclusions In regard to the earliest condition of
savage races agrees with those OF Sir John Lub-
bock IN supposng that mankind has risen from
state OF abect ignorance therein differing from the
Duke OF Argyle and Others who hold that en-
were first endowed with gentle medlocritv, from
which the savages have degraded. A very con-
siderable part OF the whole book Is devoted to an in
vestgaton OF the religions Of savage races OF their
opinions about the existence OF God and the immor.
tally OF the soul. Nowhere has there been COL
lected such q various mass OF evidence upon these
subjects; many OF the forms OF pagan worship,
many heather formulas, are shown to be still as
familiar to US as to the tattooed savage, whose
cropping, awe-strcken heart first invented them.
But brier notice give adequate idea OF the
various merits OF this book. which is itself brief
compendium OF an enormous mass OF information.
But while 1t is this 1t is In no respect dry. The
style Is entertaining and at times rising into elO.
quence. Moreover the subject does not demand
special Information for It's intelligent understand
Ing Is the with the works OF Mr.. Darwin, IN
spite Of the simplicity with which they written.
This book OF Mr. Tylors has almost the interest to
us that our own biography would have, from our
very familiarity with the facts OF which he treats;
but he, nevertheless, perpetuay convicts our fami
lisrity OF the greatest ignorance. We earnestly
hope that some publisher may soon give us the
reprint OF this most able work, for the price OF
the English edition will keep 1t out OF the reach OF
a Inn