The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-20
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
WENDERHoLME: A STORY OF LANCASHIRE AM
YORKSHIRE. By Philip Gilbert Hamerton
Roberis Brothers

WENDERHoLME: A STORY OF LANCASHIRE AND
YORKSHIRE. By Philip Gilbert Hamerton.
Roberts Brothers.
We have long known that Mr.. Hamerton was 9
very accomplished man, and a most instructive
writer. Primarily, he was best known and recog.
nized as landscape artist of force and mark, q
writer on Art, and Art critic for one of the first
London journals Bat his range has become very
wide one and he seems to be an exception to the
general rule, that no one man can distinguish him.
self greatly at more than one kind of work. Here
We have this many-sided Englisbman, painting
iue PICTURES laying down the laws of Art with his
oeu, putting forth most admirable essays on al
sorts of sui ects, which he includes under the title
of The Intellectual Life issuing learned technica
work or Etching Illustrating provincial life in
France in his recent books, Round My House, and
A ,Syl0an Tear-vriting boys book, Harry
Blount-and now finally showing us what he car
do in the way of regular story.
We are not in the habit, in these columns, Of re
viewing novels, they being kind Of literature
with which the religious press does not NEEDLE
much but we must make an exception in Mr.
Aamerton' S case. RendGholme is something de-
lightfully different from the modern story. The
truth is, it was written many years ago. and is only
now being republished 10 America, where its au
thor has become so popular that everything from
his pen is caught up with avidity. 1t is mos
vivid piece of landscape drawing, illustrative Of
Yorkshire and its kindred county, Lancashire
thirty FIVE years ego, and abouuds in such realistic
character painting as would do credit to George
Eliot. We have never read anything that gave US
so tangible conception Of those peculiar and in
tenSely provincial people of the West Riding, as
does Wenderholme. Nor have we ever known
what Mr.. Hawerton, himself Yorkshire born
drunkenness used to prevail in those Northern
shires, especially in the manufacturing districts
If We should be asked what the special motive Of
this story is, we should say, that it is powerful
protest against strong drink. aud the mania Of
money getting, than which there are just now nc
topics more timely. The Ogdeas are all very
original characters: they would seem to have
been drawn from the life so very realistic and in
dividual are they. Mrs Ogden desires q place
alongside Mrs Poyser." and many Of her sayings
are so proverb like and raCy. There is nothing
over drawn in the book, hardly even the drunken
abuse of little Jacob" by his father Mr.. Cough
could not do better than read that chapter in one
of his Temperance Lectures. The manner in which
poetic Justice is melted out to the rich nill-owner
whose maxim was, that " if a man means to be
rich, he must be pitiless, is wonderfully we'll con-
ceived aud at the same time, perfectly natural
Altogether, this is literary work that will widen
Mr. Hamertons reputation, and win for him IT,
tie as an ethical writer, as we'll as an intellectual
and artistic one. The volume is large one of
over 400 pages. price, 81 NJ. j. p.