The New York herald., 1874-11-01

wide the beautiful art objects made exclusively
for them. formerly consecrated to their order by
sumptuary laws, aud as precious as the two
swords and the dragon standard to the hearts OF
their forelatners.
The novel season Is commencing. but nothing Of
mark has yet appeared. translation from the
Swedish, under the title "Elvira, Lady Casteton.w
Is tolerably interesting and has claim on atten.
tion as the nrst Swedish novel which has reached
US since the death OF Frederka Bremen Mr..
Wilkie Collins novel, "The Law and the Lady"
has commenced in the Graphic. IL begins in
his usual architectural style, and Is very
well illustrated. The latest work OF the
famous French ooIGo0rateurs. Erckmann. Chat
rian. "L'Histoire du Plebiscitc," has been
translated into English. 1t is unintercsting
and Incorporate. being virulent attack upon tho
late Emperor OF the French, and II Is deficient In
the quaint freshness hitherto characteristic OF the
twin writer's. The scene Is laid, as usual In Al
sace but the actors are not the honest, hard and
hsrrow, people OF the unhappy province-the co.,
lab0ratelrS always inculcate, as much as they de-
scribe, narrow sefinterest-but thoroughly low
and sordtd persons, especially the women, who
are most unattractive. The book Is in every re-
spect decided falling OF, ana quite unworthy 60
take Its place among the romans natt0nGur.
MEMOIRS OF PALMERsroN.
The third volume OF 'The Life and Letters or
Henry Temple, yscount Palmerston," is the NEST
important contribution OF the month to biography.
1t is said that much Of the intended contents Of
this volume have been suppressed In Difference to
the wishes OF the Queen, who desires that tho
political matters IN which the late Prince ConsOrt
was concerned should be explained in the memoir
OF the Prince, which Ia being very leisurely) pre-
pared under the superintendence OF Her Majesty,
by Mr. Theodore Martin. The death OF Lord Wal
ling. before his work was completed. has neces-
stated the editing OF this third volume by another
person. MIR. Evelyn Ashley has been intrusted
with the task, q and has done 1t we'll IL
was supposed at first that M. Guizot's "History OF
France would have to be added to the list Of works
lett incomplete at the death OF their authors but
this Is not the case. The publishers Messrs Samp-
son, Low Co. announce the conclusion OF the old
statesmans great book to be forthcoming shortly.
1t is great work, no doubt though 1t Is dry
didactic and doctrnaire, and it is impressive In q
way the author as little intended as he could have
expected 1t to be Tor the state OF France present
is as perfect an Illustration Of the utility or his
schemes and the erroneousness OF his calculations
as could be offered by the bitterest irony of late.
ILLUSTRATED BOOKS.
An immense NUMBER Of illustrated books are I'm
preparation for publication before Christmas Tie
st. James Magazine has changed hands and III
starting on new career. 1t Is Intended to be the
organ Of colonial interests and Is very ably edited
in that sense. Several new serial novels are an.
nounced. Mrs. Edwards commences one next
month in Temple Bar. The leading serial begun
this month, In All the Year Round is by Mr. Ed.
mund Yates. Mrs. Ophant is writing in BIacH.
soood "The Story OF Valentine and His Brosher,n
and the serial in Chambers Journal, called "Ths
Bossoming Of an Aloe" is by Mrs. Cashel Hoey
Frazer is very much brisked up under the auspices
OF Mr.. Allingham, and the Ne,o quarterly offers an
ATTRACTIVE bill OF fare.
Brassey's Life and Laborx. BY Arthur
Helps. Tho French Humorists. BY
Walter Besaur. Boston, Roberts
Brothers, 1874.
We have received from Roberts Brothers two
notable books. Their external appearance Is very
attractive ana their typography is the nandiwork
OF the old firm OF John Wilson Il Son, OF Cam.
bridge, Mass, which is sufficient guarantee OF
excellence.
The arst Is entitled "Brassey's Life and Labors,u
and Its author is Arthur Helps, who is SO favor
ably known to the American public as q success
ful laborer in the field Of biography. He had only
the ordinary materials which almost any business
mans record would afford out OF which to build q
readable life; but he has handled them with sucn
skill and care that we are very much mistaken II
his work does not have an extended sale. There
poor boys rising to eminence and wealth. and the
book does not strike US as such novelty as is
must appear in Great Britain. where sudden
ascents are rare; but for that very reason It will
be useful as still further incentive to those who
come to town with the traditional bandana and
the canOnical ten cent scrip.
Mr.. Brassey was born In 1906 and died In 1870.
When young man he came into intimate rela.
tionship with George Stephenson. whose friend.
ship had marked influence ON his after life. He
got his first contract when he was TWEEN ty nine
years old, and built ten miles OF railroad SO
honestly and so well that from the hour OF its COM
pletion he had his hands full In the course OF his
long life he was directly or indirectly engaged in
building roads, in nearly every part Of the world.
He had the contract for the Great Northern Rail-
road OF Canada, which Is q fair specimen OF his
work. He built the road from Paris to R0uen.
which gained for him such favor that he was In
vited to the table Of the Emperor at the Tueries,
VINO, IN 1885, conferred on him the Cross OF tho
Legion Of Honor He afterwards built railroads
In Austria ana won the Cross OF the Iron Crown.
Altogether he took contracts for something over
q hundred railroads in England, France. Denmark,
Austria, Italy, CaDada Australia, Bombay and
South America. He may well be called the railroad
king OF the world; and withal he seems to have
been man OF sterling integrity; not s0rdid, but
generous, true nobleman, OF whom any country
might we'll be proud. The volume should be read
as an incentive and an Inspiration.
The other work from the same firm Is entitled
"The French Humorists,n and its author, Waiter
Besaur, Is not unknown to the scholars OF this
country. He has contrib uted articles on Kindred
subjects in the various English reviews which
have attracted attention. The book Is gotten up
in fine style. and IL also from the press OF john
Wilson son. 1t carries US through pleasant
neds OF literature which are not very extenstvelv
known. Although French is the fashionable Ian
gnage OF the day, and no one has right to con-
slider himself with education who is not able to
read 1t with ease, we doubt II one In ten has ever
come into anything like intimacy with many OF
the humorists who have made France laugh for
six centuries. We have long been familiar with
ew OF these writer's, but the great majority nave