New-York tribune., 1874-05-16
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.

"p.ssAGTs FROM A WORhiNG LIFE M"
BOOKS AT osGooDs - ,
,x,ox . REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oF THE TRIBUNE
posroN. NAV 14-The Atlantic Monthly for
- onens with "a Chapter Of Autobiography" by
pon.rt Dale owen in which he dscOurses Of earth
,rotes and King Ferdinand III. OF Napes-klndred
subjects the Kings enemies would have been hkelyt
asscrt; the about destructive as the other In
ls when Minister TO Naples, Mr.. owen had the pleas
nre Of seeing Vesuvus in eruption. and Lie gives the
most vivid description Of this phenomenon which re-
member TO have seen. Conceive, he saws one OF the
widest and lofest of Swiss waterfalls, with every ac
eessory of mountain scenery then imagine the ce""e
from the Alps suddenly converted by some magcian
wand into liquid gold, and you may fainty rt"%o '
ASPECT OF the lava stream in its descent from the no
tain as seen from the lower valley The vast mass was
moving on toward hamlet near by which u threacneu
10 oyerwhelm with destruction. But what thihK you
was the italian method OF trying TO avert TINS doom
Says Mr owen;
As gazed. my attention was attracted by strange,
nsIanf sound as persons In distress. Turning, saw
n religious procession just issuing from La DeICouai,
of a mile away. In front was borne, on mems
shoulders an image Of the patron saint Of the Vlaee
brought there as an nteTcess0T 70 aT' re- c n rheir
robes OF ceremony, and behind crowd, emery Oh W.
men In the intervals OF the prayers thst the pIIeSs
intoped these women burst forth simultaneous wall
which coming hundreds OF voices, produced the
most lugubrious chorus 1t ever my lot TO hear IL
gave one vivid idea OF the weeping OF multitude ana
of a multitude readily stirred 10 frantic expressionss s
the mourners and the terrible reality OF the approacng
danger It might have seemed groesluTi A The lava
advanced but rod or two farther; and Ee hAe' was
saved
The sarhouakes excite vet more intense feeling; and
Mr. owen thinks that the devotional sentiment OF the
Neapoitans may have owed both its earnestness ana
IFS superstition such startling phenomena as these
which might easily be considered as direct express
sions of the resentment OF an angry God. MI owen
found King BOmba'-as his enemies liked to call nm
very and not at all so black as he
had been painted though unfortunately OF his cruelty
toward political offenders there could be no doubt.
This Chapter" ends with promise 10 tell the readers
of The Atlantic how the author came to investigate the
phenomena Of spritualism; and there are many who
will await this disclosure with eager interest
thought was tired. long Of stories of the war
but James r. Mckay has reconciled me 70 them airesh
by writing "Larcom's Little Chap"-a sketch that nds
out where your are in spite OF yourself
Taking Of stories the two serials, Prudence Pal
frey" and "Mose Evans" both concluded in this
number aud prudence" will Immediately make her
DEBUT under the auspices Of J. Il. Osgood & Co., and
'Mose under those OF Hurd & Houghton. The con-
ruson OF Mr. Aldrichs story is little Disappointing
II Is all right that Prudence should marry John Dent
hut that the young minister, whom at one time She
seemed almost love, should turn out such terrible
black sheepis not quite agreeable. 1t gives You
dreadful sense Of insecurity. lie had seemed all right
His spiritual consultations had been acceptable, his
teachings orthodox and satisfactory. And all
the time he a thief and robber and worse. Can
VT ever after this that when the minister calls
he won't steal the spoonsl 1t is really painful
10 hear such doubts about ono's spiritual shepherd.
with the denOuemen of Nose Evans" there is fault
90 find. Evans is a true hero man whom Il woman
can be forgiven for adorng: and that is more than can
SAID for the heroes Of most novels He is very clearly
a. well strongly ydrawn character; and Agnes ThOop
If his true mate As have said from the first, Mr..
Baker has quite surpassed his previous productions in
this story. By the way, he Is now neighbor Two or
three Sundays ago he installed an orthodox
church in South Boston. I should like TO hear him
preach; could have converted odd Archer"
this tale, who lad not the faith that removes noun
1ans and the earuestuess that wins hearts.
Henry James IT,, writes with his accustomed grace of
"Scna," and G Z. LathrOp discusses The Growth OF
the Move" in such wise TO prove himself familiar
Slth his subject. He gives Dickens small credittoo
email In my opnionfor his power OF truthfuliy por-
traying character at was his Wit that charmed US.
and not the with which he dealtG' says
MI LathrOp. But think too many people have laughed
and cried the varying fortunes Of DickensS men
aud women be satisfied with this verdict To be sure,
he csricatured very often he drew both faults and
virtues galeryslze; but have all met his people
some Of them walking about among u.s. and we are not
10 be persuaded, now, that they were mere puppets
cked out by the fancy Of their creator. OF course MI
Lahrop praises Turgenie, ii is very meet and right
and bounden duty TO do. one can hardly praise the
Great Russian too much They say he is coming here,
by and by; and have been wondering what we could
do to him according TO his deserts. OF course the
Clubs would receive him; but they nave bestowed thal
honor upon lesser tai it is hackneyed. We SHAH will
Iingly show him the State House, dome and all; and
Bunker Hill Monument and the Collector. and Gen.
Butler Franklin statue. and all the other lions
Boston, but will he dance TO our pipinS' We have
made compliments so cheap and so commonplace what
should receive the next great man who comes with
q magnificent silence2
a paper which Will BE read with deep interest is
"Morphine James Coulter Layard's account of his
experience opium eater, aud his lons-contnued
struggles against the habit and his final victory George
Cary Eggeston begins giving "a Rebels Recol-
Iectons," and j. ". De Forest has very readable
soreed upon Modern Cats" There besides the
usual excellent book reviews; the notes Art Music
and Education; and you have thus goodly variety OF
prose AS for poetry, Mr. Howells himself has some
tender stanzas The Long Days." Mr. BOyesen one
Of his always charming Norwegian legends, entitled
.The Ravens Of Odin :; Mr. Cranch and L. W. both have
poems. and Hiram Rich contributes strong and sur
ring ballad.
Bret Hares poems ought 10 be good for they very
expensive uxuriesas dear Strawberries in January
In the July Atlantic will also be commenced Mr..
owe!ls's new story. 1t f. to he entitled "A Foregone
Conclusion" The characters Will be Americans, but the
Italy. Can you not imagine the softly bright
unts OF the picturei
Estes 4 Iauriat have nearly ready Passages from
the Life of Charles Knight" the !AuhOr OF knights
History of England" OF which Estes & Lauriat
also the publishers. The Passages OF Working Life"
agreeable book 10 read although ii is evidently
the work OF a. old man garTulous. 1T Is simple and
plain almost commonplace in STYLE and full of innO
cent egotsm; but it reveals 10 you straightforward,
honest. aud kindly character In Mr. Knight himself;
and gives many pleasant ghmpses of distinguished
teDporsres OF the present poet laureate he says, In
familiar intercourse such that Of Mr.. table,
Mr. cordial and unaffected exhibitinc