The New York herald., 1875-06-07


BY the figures or this interesting book. From
table prepared by M. Dlpuv, formerly director OF
the Administration o. prisons. II appears thar tue
number OF crimes against property rises
and falls with unfailing regularity accord
ing tho price OF the heotalitre or
wheat increases or dimlnisnes Talk OF
the influence OF education or repression In pres
ence ol such q fact as thati As 10 the effect Of
education. NJ. dHaussonvilie furnishes some
curious statistics which, fear win rather disturb
the equanmtv or the advocates OF "moral
suason.u He gives a list or ten departments which
occupy the nrst rank In the category OF legal mo.
rallty, ana he shows that the Departments
which furnish the lowest percentage OF GRIM
iuas precisely those which stand lowest in
The scale OF elementary instructioD-in other
words, that the most ignorant are the most vir.
tuous, or at all events the least given TO infrac.
tons or the law. From these and other facts Of
similar character NJ d'Haussonville arrives at the
conclusion that Ignorancs exercises over crime
only secondary influence relatively 20 the gen.
eral conditions OF existence or which 10 is more
especially the index. IL would require more
space tnan l can devote to the subject to enable
me 10 40 iull justice TO the merits OF this romark.
able work. have said enough nowever TO give
. general idea OF its character, ana sufncient,
hope, 10 induce some American publisher TO 70.
produce 1t IN a form which viii render II accept
able 10 all classes or fea0erS at your Slu0.
ART PUBLICATIONS.
This period OF the year usually prolino In art
publications. The opening OF me Salon ana tns
great picture sales which are reserved for tne
month OF May naturally dispose people to pur'
works Of this character. When every one
Is talking ART the books on your table should as
least attest that you bestow some attention on
the subject. / know several profcssed dflettdnh
who make 1t point to purchase every new work
which appears in relation TO II, but who nevcR
read a line OF their contents. To use Sterne's
malicious description or a similar class or pre-.
tenders in his time, 'rrhey use books as they use
lords-lcarn their titles and tnen boast OF theis
acquaintance Therefore It is that the pub.
lishers wisely select this season for the issue Of
art publications. Among the best OF the recent
issues OF this class that published by the housa
OF Germer Bailliere under the title OF "L'Art es
Ia Crluque en- France Depuis ls72.n
NJ Petroz, its author. like M. Paul de
ST. Victor, NJ. Charles Bgot and . host OF other
publicisss that could name, only ventured into
the field OF criticism after qualifying himself
for 1t by-labor1ous and conscientious studies:
therefore, everything they publish on the subject
OF art is sure to command attention from all whe
are desirous OF watching ana studying its tran
sitions and manifestations. lhe work OF M. Pc
troz covers a period which Will always be
tsemed eyentful In French art; for 1t has dts
turbed IL not revolutionized, many OF the old
theories OF the classicists ana started Others
which were destined to exercise an ascendancyIn
the schools. am rejoiced to that the house OF
Michel Levy Freres has brought out q new and
cheap edition OF Prosper Merimees 'sEtudes sur
les Arts au Moyen Age.r Ine work is too well
known for TO be necessary for TO describe t.
Is is sufficient TO say that student can dis
pense with It,
sMEMoIRs OF oDLoN BARRor.u
The memoirs OF the old chief OF the Dynastis
Lett which has just made It's appearance with .
preface from the pen OF NJ. Duvergier d'Haurnnne,
has disappointed the anticpatons formed OF II.
1t was TO be expected that man VINO had PLAYED
such prominent part In the political events OF
his time, who nad been brought into personal con-
tact with most OF the prominent men OF mis- day
ana who had access sources OF Information
which are enjoyed by but few would have some
thing 10 tell US which would, at least have the
interest OF novelty. so far Is this from being the
case that we md ourselves In company with Q
mere political rddoteur, a narrator OF facts with
which every one is acquainted. and which hsHs
been better and more amusIngly related oy otaer
writers. And n regards the historical person
ages introduced in mis- pages, they seem 20 have
lost all color OF individuality, so uniform ID
the light in which they are presented
10 us. Like wadswortn's Peter Bell, who could
nnd mo- hing 10 admire In the primrose, the au-
tnor OF these memoirs seems to have lacked that
faculty or observation which renders the study OF
the human character one OF the most instructive
and interesting to which tae mind can apply IL
self Had ne possessed but In an infnitesmN
degree the qualities which have impaired sues
spicy interest 10 the works OF Horace walpole and
NJ. Greville. his opportunities would have en-
abled him 10 bequeath TO us . book mat would "a
least have been readable As 10 II, the Impression
lett py his memoirs the minds OF those who
have nau no other means OF forming opinion
or him. must De that he was dull, pretcntious
man. more favored py fortune than oy capacity.
THEATRICAL PUBLICATIONS.
Notwithstanding the fact that tue French stags
supplies. either In the original form or In that OF
adaptations. most or the pieces performed In the
theatres or other countries, IL Is remarkable that
up 70 quite a recent period there has been no pub
llcation which recorded regularly Its events. or
which furnished details regarding the careers Of
eminent artists. For these the nes OF the news
papers could alone be consulted-a work ef consid-
cradle labor and diniculty. | am gIae 20 say
shat the want OF a regular record or this Kind has
at last been supplied by a work entitled "L'Annee
Theatrale,r edited by the well known critic. NJ.
Georges Duval and published by Tresse OF the
Palais RoJal. IL win be continued yearly. and
viii oe found indispensable as q work or refer
ence By all who take an interest In theatrical
matters The same publisher Is also issuing -
anecdocsl history or the Paris theatres. whicB