The New York herald., 1874-12-27
NEW BOOKS.
Pleasant Chats About the
--latest Novels.
PROSE AND POETRY.

The Doctor had just finished the last chapter OF
patricia Kemball, q. b. Lippsncott Col, anu
still held copy OF the book IN his hand. The girls
knew that he enjoyed the book, for he read ~
during every spare moment he could snatch
through the day, and they waited impatiently 10
hear his opinion OF that much talked OF novel;
The DocroR-lt Is an amusing TACT that whenever
a novel appears that contains more force and
subtiliy than the average three volumed story, IT
either att ributed George Eliot said to COM
pare favorably with that great writer's books. l
had seen this story OF MRS. Linton's spoken Of In
the same line with .Middlemarch," and was con-
sequenty prepared 10 dislike IT.; but careful
perusai has proved that the comparison Is not so
odous after all. or course patricia Kemball"
lacks the dramatic strength and philosophy OF
"Mlddlemarch," but 1t suggests tnat wonderful
story to certain degree. Mrs. Linton says
great many sharp and wise things in her novel.
and there IS no fault to find with the plot or the
manner IN which 1. is worked out.
Miss RAcHEL-Didn,t Mrs. Linton write those
"Gir OF the Period" papers which appeared in the
London Saturday Reu,eD ? Yes-I thought she
did. 1t is too bad that the author OF .'Patricia
Kemball" should have written such articles. They
are as vulgar as the women about whom they are
written.
FELIcIA-Let US hope that she will confine her.
self to story writing hereafter, Tor she certainly
does herself great credit in that line.
Miss RACHEL suppose that 'sPatricia Kemball"
may be looked upon as Mrs. LintOns model
woman. She IS fine character, although I think
that she overdid her devotion to truth at times.
She might have vindcated herself without having
broken her promise to Dora and have saved
forward girls are exasperating, and Patricia often
tried my patience.
FELICIA-She did have considerable spunk too.
for ner attempt to stab her uncle with the silver
fruit knlIe showed that the camels back held
more straws than 1t could well bear. Notwith-
standing the TACT that her aunt's house was her
only home. cannot imagine how she could have
stayed there as long as she did. An American girl
would have left before she had been there three
weeks. What with Mrs. Hamey's nerves and SEN
sitiveness, and Mr.. Hamley's coarseness and
the cruelty OF both, lie must have been burden.
And Dora, she was the finishing stroke.
Miss RA0EL-It Is hard to imagine such q cha
racter as DUra respectfully brought up extremely
dainty about some things, her utter want OF feel
ing and hardness OF heart were unheard OF. 1t
seems to me impossible that any woman could sit
calmly by and hear an innocent girl, and one VINO
loved her dearly, accused OF q crime she herself
had committed and. never raise her voice to save
her.
The DoCroR-Dora Is the worst woman know
OF in modern fiction. She could smile and smile
and be a villain. Her very beauty and soft, pur-
ring ways only made her the more repusive How
clevery she tried to reason Patricia into keeping
her secret Do you remember what she said
"My opinion is, Patricia that nothing is so selfish.
nothing cruel, as that thing you choose TO call
sincerity. am sure II was always thinking OF
my dirty little soul as you are Of yours l should
90 mad ~ Isn't that funny?
fELIcIA-How coolly Dora went about her wicked
ness, her secret marriage, her THEFT, forgery ana
disgusting Irritation with her old cousin, her
templated bigamy, and all with never change OF
countenance. sydney Low was just the man for
her.
Miss RAcHELeI take 1t that Mrs. Linton herself
is something such q woman as Miss Fletcher, sne
dotes on that lady 80. don't blame her, for Miss
Fletcher is one in o thousand. That is very true
what Mrs. Linton says about lords and commoners:
that noble ladies will often be on terms Of init
macy with men belonging to common families,
while they would not think Of speaking to their
wives. "They will nirt to shamelessness with
Dick, but they will not know Mrs. Dick. The men
might pass, but it Is those badly dressed women
who are so dreadful"
FELICIA-The book ends Unexpectedly, for vice
trumphs over virtue and the two worst charac.
ters In the story carry out their plans and end
their days in luxury, II nor In happiness. l must
say that ike 1t for a change. but it would have
been more satisfactory If Patrlcia's aunt and un-
Gle might have known her worth before they died.
UGLY GIRL PAPERS.
s'If the Ugly Girl Papers, (Harper Il Brothers)
to be believed" said Felicia, "there no rea
son why every woman should not be Venus In
form and face This book says that the worst face
may be softenened by wearing q mask OF quilted
cotton In cold water at night, but 1t takes six
weeks to accomplish the desired result The milky
Juice from coarse garden lettuce rubbed over the
face Is said to work miracles a night wash, to
be removed by q solution oil ammonia IN the m 0rn-
ing. The book tells o! ayoung lady, az boarding
school, whose mother forbade her to eat anything
but brown bread and syrup, Tor which hard fare
the girl was rewarded With 'casnina lips and
magnolia brow.'"
Miss RAcHEL-Don't you remember the Knight
girls we went 10 school with? They were never
allowed to eat butter or anything greasy and their
compile xlons were almost too beautiful.
FELICIA-Let girls with thin hair rejoice for this
wonderful book gives dozen infalllDle receipts
for increasing and retaining woman's crowninS
glory, the simplest OF which Is to cut the ends
every new moon. Lasten TO this. "Pale hair shows
q want OF iron in the system this is to be sup.
piled by free use OF beefsteaks, soups, pure beef
gravies and red vines" Here ID omething all
wrong; 1t says, "To dry the hair IN draught Of
wind after washing it." know q lady who
caught cold in her eyes and become stone blind
from dong that. These papers must have been
written some time ago before broad, squar e
shoulders became the rage, for the author says
that nothing is more-pneminlne than the straight
line OF shoulder. "some, mothers make their young
iolks walk the moor with pail OF water in each
hand to give their shoulders graceful droop."
Miss RAcHEL-How dreadful. woman accord
ing to that SHOULD be about theshape OF triangle
FELIcIA-Tnere are few secrets.Of the toilet that
are not divuged In this remarkable book. IL gives
the best processes or painting the face and black
ing the eyes, and seems to take IL for granted
that paint and powder are among every ady's
household gods. Among the unusual things the
book tells OF are thimbles reaching away down to