New-York tribune., 1873-02-18

Her death, which took place al the ago OF 73, was
the signal for general recognition from the most
conspicuous lights OF French literature. Even whiie
vet living she was crowned with the loftest honors
by her cotempotaries Alfred dc Vigny said that
hers was tho finest female mind of our time"
B6ranger wrote TO herself, An exquisite sensibity
marks your productions, and is revealed IN your
every worlD Brireux called her Sweet spirit
with the golden voice" Victor Hugo wrote to her,
Yon are womanhood itself; you are poetry itself.
Yours is charming talent, the most moving know
in woman NJ Sainte- Beuve himself sums up his
impressions with the words, " Hers was the most
courageous tender, and compassionate OF feminine
souls"
The execution Of this volume by the American
translator shows that il has been performed with IN
telligent sympathy both with the author ana the
subject 1t betrays the marks OF loving diligence IN
every line Nothing but a womanly admiration OF
the character of Nine Valmore and of the genius of
NJ sainte-Beuve could have inspired the almost
caressing devotion with which she has accomplished
her aectionate task II she has not entirely over
come the difficulty Of rendering the poetical selec-
tions from Nine. Valmore into faultess English, she
has faithfully caught their spirit, while her prose,
for the most part is model of graceful and elegant
expression.
C. AREoH- svo. Pp b2s j. h Siuon
Tho comnilation of this work exhibits the
evident tokens OF digent research ana CONSCIENTIOUS
labor "a well as an enthusiastic interest In the subject
IL has occupied the writer during several years ana
presents the fruits Of original investigation Which are
now for first time placed 10 possession OF the public
Tho history extends from the carly settlement OF Penn
svvana under the Dutch rule, period, according TO
the author from 1909 to 6Ss although tho former date
IS five years previous TO the entrance OF the hrst whle
man into the territory, TO the administration OF Gov
Geary from 1867 TO 1873. In preparing tho volume Mr.
Armor has aimed TO present succnct narrative OF the
history of Pennsylvania, in connection with the bo-
sketches OF its Governors without reference TO
potical distinctions partisan preiudces IL is writ
ten with canness and moderation, aiming at perspeuty
OF statement rather than at elegance OF style, and
condensng good deal Of rare and valuable informa-
ton within convenient limits. This WORK. although
destitute of the charms of mastery historical compo
s,tion throws fresh light on the colonial annals Of
Pennsylvania and the subsequent progress Of the
State.
A HANDBOOK oP ENGLISH LITERATURE - tAsERIcAS
AurHoRs) By FRANCIS II. UNDERWOOD, A d. limo pp.
64e. Lee Shepard.
The design of this volume, like the preced-
ing portion the devoted to English authors is to
present select anthology from the most eminent writ
ora rather than 10 furnish an exhaustive survey Of the
literature which they represent. on this account
although 1t can cm less historical value, 1t possesses
greater degree of popular interest 1t consists mainly
OF choice specimens from the productions OF the most
distinguished American authors, without attempting to
illustrate the progress OF intellectual development In
this country The selections have been made with dis
elimination and good taste, aordng faithful specimen
OF the style characteristic thought OF the respective
writer's The extracts are introduced by brief critical
and biographical notices that are often marked by acute
ness Of thought and pquancy Of expression though not
by any superGuous respect for traditional regulations
A large space in LippincOH is devoted TO in
structye matterofact articles Of more solid character
than usually figure in the pages OF the Magazines
Among these are "The ROumi in Kabyla," " The Ma
tional Trans-Alleghany Water Way" "New Washing
ton" and CUBA" which will attract the attention OF
many readers. The paper Washington presents some
OF the features Of the national metropolis IN
striking light and shows among other things. that
the prosaic political city Is not without elements
that appeal tolhe Imagination. This scene from the
nights is fascinating one the daydreamer. Every
thing is in harmony with the past character OF the
capital. Everything is misty, vast, uncertain, grand
and idefned. One does not see clearly the boundaries
the city country Every street we trace
the distance, almost every building almost every foot
OF ground has gathered something OF tradition from the
lives Of the statesmen generals jurists dipomaes who
have lived and wrought here three-quarters OF
century The Visions that passed before the eyes OF
Washington he stood the Observatory Hill there
subaltcrn under BraddOck,
about him and imagining the future the pictures that
filed the fancy Of the intractable LEnfant as
he defined the great mall and thought OF the gardens be-
tween the Tueres and the Chamber Of Deputies; An
drew j. Downing giving his last days TO such an arrange
ment Of the and grass would be werthy Of the
design President Madison and his cabinet with use
less little army at their heels flying In despair from
yonder bloody hillside Admiral Cockburn derisiyely
riding an oldl mare up Peunsyyania-ave the burning
Capitol and White House lighting up tho gloom Of that
hdeous night Stephen Decatur shot 70 death just round
the bend Of the Anacosa there the conflicts by tongue
and pen that have again and again gone on here till the
whole country swayed Gamaliel Bailey silencing mob
at his door the histories that lie buried under the 10000
headboards that CLEAN like OF ghosts among the
trees Of Arlington; Abraham Lincoln gasping his
life away in that little Tenth-st house; his
assassin dashDg in darkness the bridge at
feet, which we have just passed and squirting al
most into the shadow OF the parapet where we sand
all these things and hundred more as tempting TO the
dreamer, come crowdng the mind at every glance
Yet who stops TO cali Washington a romantic city
When the White House. just visible from those treetops
shall have ceased, soon must do TO be the home OF
the chief magistrate what future magician shall
down cheeress starways the ghosty procession OF
dead Presidents, as first literary necrOmancer
marshaled the shades Of royal governors across
the threshold Of the Province House -
The honeer phases OF life in Washington far from
cheerful and afford little advantage over those Of
provincial New-Yorks and Phiadelphias There are
few in Washington whoare as enlightened,
liberal, trustworthy any In the country; and
abundant is their reward. There are few who deal
only in good wares, who always sell them at reason
able profit who believe that any kind OF deception is
bunder who manage their establishments with economy
who are aware that the money they permit their
customers to make the they will ultimately make
themselves,-who, in short, have learned the prin-
cples Of business and have the character to
stand by Them But so many fall short