The New York herald., 1874-12-06

| looked through the book to hnd where the title
comes from. but have not yet discovered the place
where IL hides ITSELF To be sure, title is very
telling thing. and every publisher knows It's eneot
on the sale OF work. but It is hardly fair 20 make
one open his eyes in surprise when he reads the
title page, expecting to find In every chapter
novel and startling treatment Of given subjects,
and then 60 on to the word "Finis" with
the ordinary methods and language OF Q
| common book reviewer. In this instance, the
title Ii bigger than the book itself, and
| has no more relation to 1t than tho tabled
| sermon had to the text when IL was said that II
| the one had the smallpox the other would not
| catch it. Mr.. wilkinson first introduces rs TO an
iaolatrous worship OF George Eliot. Such is his
admiration OF this amiable and gifted lady that he
is compelled to reclassify our writer's OF nction
that he may make an honorable place In which
she shall stand alone. Mrs. Browning has 'svlriie
arectations." Mme de Stael Is '.strong distinc-
lively as men are strong" but George Enot carries
the feminine quality to its height. The literary
style OF this essay is not beyond criticism. The
vocabulary OF the author Is exceedingly cumber-
some, He uses great many words OF Latin and
Greek origin, words OF four lve syilables, which
rather confuse the reader. To our mind no good
essayist has any right to use under ordinary CTR
cumstances, words more than two syllables long.
he gets excited, he may once In q whie-mark
asm in a word or TWO OF four sylabies; but when
he habitually pours out polysylabic expressions
hts mania has become uncomfortable and he needs
o strait Jacket The last essay OF the book, on
.Erasmus," is full OF painstaking and Is more than
well worth reading. Its positions are taken with
candor and flrmness and the subject Is handled In
q skniu and scholarly manner. The other articles,
on .Loweiu and "The Christian Commission" are
only the ordinary productions OF magazine
writer.
HEBREW HISTORY. BY Rev. Henry Cowles. D. D.
ID. Appleton co.
This is wen made book and does credit to the
publisher Like most OF the books which come
from the hands OF this house, It is well printed
and bound, and 1T to occupy place on the stu
dents shelves Mr.. Cowles Is from Oberlin, Ohio,
and is one OF the many Western scholars who are
proving their right to the attention and INTEL
lectual respect Of the American people. The
Western colleges, which twenty years ago were
either IN existence, or, If just born, were COM
PEELED to be satisfied with very ordinary talent IN
the professors chairs have grown ambitious
OF late, and by prudently expended funds
have secured the services OF some OF the
best minds OF the nation. 1t requires no
gift OF prophecy TO assert that within the
next two or three decades, the abundant wealth
OF the West win enable II to command for its pro-
fessorsnips the finest culture and the profoundest
scholarship OF the country. 'Hebrew history' Is
a well planned book. Beginning with the death
of Moses, Mr.. Cowles leads the reader through
every stage OF development that marked the prog
ress OF the most remarkable race on the earth,
and then draws the green curtain at the end OF
the last act, when the old dlspensatlon dies. His
style is clear and vigorous, and his treatment OF
the various complicated questions which arise is,
on the whole, very fair. His volume should be
o0d pntn npv hv tha atn nf 0nst
sacred history but by every one who lays claim to
the title OF scholar.
THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF EUsEBIUs Ed
tied by +. A. March, LII. d. With an inlroduc-
BY W. B. owen. A. NJ Harper and Brothers. .'''
This book consists Of selections from Eusebius
relating TO the lives Of the apostles and other per-
sons mentioned IN the Bible, to the history OF
apostolic ana other inspired writings, the fate OF
Jerusalem, the great prosecutions, the acts OF
4 martyrs and the life and manners OF the early
ages 1t is splendidly printed In Greek text and is
part OF series which owes its origin to an endow
ment by Mr.. BENJAMIN Douglass, for the study or
early authors In Lafayette College. Since there Is
hardly word OF English in the volume we hesi-
tate aoout commencing 1t to the general reader.
To the lawyer and the clergyman, who have kept
up their love OF the classics ana who retain
knowledge OF the difference between Alpha and
omega, 1t will be invaluable. The whole series, OF
which this volume Is . small part, VIII be a CRATE
iul contribution to the dusty shelves OF our col.
lege libraries.
DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL. By William N. Taylor,
d. d. Harper Brothers.
All our readers are acquainted with the author
OF this somewhat bulky, but very readable volume
He is one Of the very best clerical importatons
that have been brought to this country-a man
whose chief charm in preaching Is his evident
honesty and deep earnestness AS pulpit orator
he is peculiarly devoid OF that dd cdptdndun
me tnOd which secures notoriety rather than re-
spect and solid fame No clergyman In the city Is
more slmple in style or more effective in utter
ance than DR.. Taylor. The present volume was
written, every chapter OF 1t, CON amore. 1t is ev-
dently work OF q student in love with his sub
ject He begins at the beginning, and, as it were,
loiters through the life OF David, commenting as
be goes on the various phases or the character OF
that little understood man, who exchanged the
shepherds crook for the sceptre OF the king; who
was at once lmpClsive and cautious; who
at times rose to power OF anathema which
makes the blood curdle and at times sung so
sweetly that his Psalms become the lullaby of the
SOUL The work viii undoubtedly have large sale
and cannot fail to add TO the general admiration
and respect for Its author.
DAVID FRIEDRICH STRAUSS. BY Eduard Zeller.
London smith, Elder 60.
This little volume Will be interesting only to
small class OF readers, but to them it will be ex-
ceedingy interesting. Strauss has stirred the
theological world more than any other writer OF
this century. Beginning his career as roman
cist, believing In somnambuism. mesmerism and
sprituahsm, he swung round to the opposite ex-
treme In middle life and found satisfaction in de-
nouncing these things as frauds. 1t Is curious
fact, and one very significant to the student, that
the lectures OF Schleiermacher, whose conserva-
tism ruled North Germany, created so much oppo-
stion in strauss mind, that he set about writing
the 'Life OF Jesus,n and proving tnat all super
naturalsm IL mythical. The book Is very sug-
gesnve, and well worth reading. Its account OF
German student life will attract the attention
OF scholars. The number OF hours which the
contemplative Teutonic race can give to severe
mental labor Is almplY prOdiQlous. To work with