The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-08

There are very few characters IN the
book. but these lew ara drawn by an artisteis
hand. Ralph Wilton is. OF course, the hero He
| 10 colonel In Her MaJestY's service and mao
who, though OF the world, sowed but a small crop
OF wild oats and had little to regret IN his past
life. He Is heir to the title OF Lord St George ana
TO the old mans money H. wnen he marries, he
VIII chose bride from among the fower OF the
arlstocracy. Wilton makes no rash promises for
he Is very much OF the opinion that he will end
his days an old bachelor. Lh0n9Dle propose et Dieu
Gtsposei In the first chapter he meets his fate in
a railroad carriage. The young lady, whom ne
alterward learns Is Miss Ella Rivers,
Is the sole occupant OF MS compartment, and
he lends her his plaid to sleep in. They
have little or no conversation until q smash
up occurs ana then The gallant Colonel
can do no less than take the unprotected girl
under his care he ascertains tnat she Is going TO
the same part OF Scotland In winch his shooting
box is situated.
Ella Is the drawing teacher to the heir OF Sir
Peter FERGUSON poor deformed boy, who Is de-
/ pendent for his happiness upon her society.
| Wilton Ii INVITED to Sir Peters ana goes there
hoping to meet Ella, not that he cares for her at
ALL on, mol only she Is pretty and interested him.
| Sir Peters family Is not one to be 100 friendly
with person in Elias position. so 1t is a long
| time before Wilton meets her. Alter O while he
| manages TO throw himself In her way occasionally
and finds, TO his surprise, that he is In love with
/ the girl. He reasons with himself about IL, but
/ 20 purpose. She, the other hand,
| feels nothing but friendship for him, and
when he tells his tale OF love she is completely
taken by surprise. Even then she has TO confess
that she Is not touched by the divine passion She
talks to him with the most charming natUete that
only fans the fire In his breast to an unquench-
able name In the end-but why should we tell
what Mrs. Alexander tells much better2 The
plot Of this delightful story IS very slight, 1t is the
well chosen language and perfect naturalness OF
the book that gives the charm.
''ruE RAINBOW oREED.u
"The Rainbow Creedn twlliam +. GIL a Coz
has made the GROWER himself again. "Ycu call
this novel 9' he Misses In our ear. "Wnat an
idea. Ihe Anxious Inquirer would not be a bad
| title for 1t. There Is very little sugar coating
| about tails book ana one does not have to read far
to get the drit.u 1t Is useless to interrupt this
irasciDle gentleman when he is relieving HIS mind,
SO we held our peace till he had done and then
quietly suggested that II he mad read the preface
he would have at once seen the aim OF the book
| and save himself an uncalledfor growl
| "The Rainbow Creedn calls itself "a story OF the
! times" 1t is hardly novel, for it has about
Inucn plot as a tract. Ii is just what it processes
! 10 be-s means OF showing to the world the va
rious creeds OF Christian denominations and their
| unchristian representatives Some Of the minis
tiers described are said TO be drawn from the lile
and as Huberton evidently means Boston IL must
be interesting to the people OF that city 10 guess
which Is which. The principal character OF the
book Malcolm Lawson, Is a doubling divinity stu
dent, VINO becomes reconcied 70 his calling in the
end but he goes through The valley OF tribulation
before he sees the light The author OF this vol.
ume has taken great preca ution to keen MS name
hidden from public knowledge, and specula-
rio fo pffa aubf In fha ma ma fha
book is widely read and varously commented
upon In general outline It IL similar to "VIetor
Latourette," but 1t has not the literary ability OF
that book. Ii Is not, however, without a certain
onnandedness that always insures popularity.
''soNGs or OUR YOUTH
Our talented Young friend, Miss Sorto Voice. il
quite enthusiastic over Miss Muloch's del art
IRE. she kept us by the plano for whole even
ing while sung through the Songs OF Our
Youthi Harper Il Bros.). MISS yoce said that
Miss Clara Louise Kellogg had sung Summer
Wind" "Tne sky at Might" 'ro the North Wind"
and "Pretty Polly Oliver" and pronounced them
superior music. Our young friend was fortunate
enough to hear the distinguished prlma donna in
private, privilege only accorded 10 select lew.
The songs mentioned are all Swedish, except
"Pretty Poly oliver,n which IS OLD English. The
collection is selected with great TASTE far as the
music goes, but the words are often very orui-
nary 'rhe SKY at Night 10 almost equal to
scnumann. The music Il simple ana passionate,
out II Is hard 10 sing with the right expression
for the words do not mean anything. Taken as q
whole the volume IL a treasure. Tnc songs are or
a vastly higher order than is apt to ind in
song books. Those from the swedish the besr
They are quaint and original, ana VIII DO vaiua-
Die acquisition TO the music Of sue day
ERICH MIDWAY"
erich Medwayn "a. W. Carleton 4 COZ Is q tale
| OF American life among everyday sort OF people.
The scene u laid partly In New York and partly
10 Connecticut. Rlcn Midway Is the nero and
pretty nice sort or fellow. popular among his own
as well a. the iairer sex. He Is rather DIVIDED in
his mind between TWO young ladies'. Miss vesta
\ Heath ana Miss Shattuck Not knowing which Is
| tue most pleased with his attentions ne IS turned
| by straw and pro- to one, whom he i'm.
| AGNES rejects him. Tnen he tries No. q and she
tells bin that sic IL already married. 1bs some
| what OF a damper, but he does not break mis-
\ neart about it. No. / In the meantime goes
| 10 Europe, where she stays ior three years.
| There are o number Of characters introduced
| into tho book or more or less interest. JACK Hill
/ ton and Kitty Aedway are Jolly couple, even
4 alter they become man wife. vesta Heath,
the heroine, Is a young lady who travels on her
! inteileoA You should hear her discussing the
i poets. Ricn. who makes no pretenslOns % liter.
airy tastes asks her ia an of-nand way n sue likes
4 Tcnnyson, to which she replies that she does not;
"many people ike an author who happens
to be famous, and ne being Poet Laureate
and, having attained to Inc highest round OF the
ladder OF fame, finds plenty to fail down and wor-
snip nIm. These considerations do not weigh with
me al all.n Her lover IL said to nave expressed
great admiration for the honesty and indepen.
dence OF her opialon. The young lady, eHcour-
aged BY her listeners attention, continues 81
do not think he Is TO be compared to Scott. Moore,
Byron, &C., OF the past, or owen Meredith and our
own Longfellow, Bryant or Holland, OF the pres
| ent. have read much poetry, ancient and moo.
ern, and enjoy IL as do no other form OF Iltera-
ture; but there Is nothing 10 Tennyson that Gnds
an answering chOFc m my heart some OF his pest
sentiments are spoiled BY unmuslcaI repetitons,