National Republican., 1881-10-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS..

SOUTH SEA SKETCHES. BY Mrs MADELEINE |
VtsToN DAnLdREN. Bosion James Il. Osgood |
4 Co
The authoress ofthese sketches has long
been considered rs one ofthe most brilliant women |
in society," and at her receptions during the winter
season the chief attraction is not the elegant ap
pointmenis OF her home nor tho distinguished
company, but the sparkling conversation of the
charming hostess Mrs. Dahlgrens principal
literary work up to this time has been her volume
on Etiquette" which has served as an authority
In all matters of social intercourse In the volume
Of sketches which IS Just going through the press
Mrs. Dahlgren has shown oil the sprghtliness, the
charming anecdote, aud the accuracy Of desorip-
ton that 20 to make works OF travel readable. The
sketches were originally embodied IN letters ad-
dressed by her while accompanying her husband,
Admiral Dahlgren, who was In command OF the
had remained IN the United States, and hence the
use Of the present tense. Ifthe intelligentand OBJ
servant author had used the singular pronoun a."
instead Of employing the plural "weH Il would have
added, IN the judgment of the writer, to the
effect of her graphic and vivid descriptions The
following picture OF the unhealthiness of the 18TH
mus Is but specimen OF many similar bits of word
painting that are scattered through the volume
The air Is dark heavy and surehsrged with nals @
fierce, scorchng, p,ess gaze and ut the next o..
grows dull and ieaden, nnd rain fniisi heavy tor
rents, accompanied by hideous crashes OF deniening
III the brain feels scared and be@deTcd IN this great
pendemonium Of nature For the nonce the storm I'm
lows as In our own heaven.hlest climate The
and We csnhoi breathe the heavily laden, the soggy
nr. Our babes lie IN AN almost comatose state, aud
Sey Is f SGS oppcse 81 e Us
yawns the mouth Of the Chagres River where so
but we know It's exhalatlons TO be fatal.
Two other extracts will be given, and first the
following which shows that Mrs. Dahlgren has
keen appreciation Of some needed reforms in the
government of our navy, by which its morale and
It's effectiveness would be greatly enhanced
way any attempt Of he fmSs q oecrs Ss % Teman
near the cruising ground of those near and dear 70
provide comfortably for The families Of officers sent
nsgy as in Case @ law rg %Ge we have
Just alluded. To our apprehension oil this Is mis-
ce and soSS SGG All St thG Non
can employ. This Is one Of the functions our
country Our piSsi' ieets are sent on Tong long cruises
tpo 70 port as crcusanees may % regnre from or POn al
times they are at sea- In order TO perfect themselves
Of their crews The iiss, ship Is ordinarily stationed
a. some central point Of Inspec;ion for longer or
Gspyernnent had pleasant quarters erected at some
10 be- oSd @ReraP 6e mes G ose cond Sre m
temporary home as they have at our nayyyards the
nnd BEST over rheS s"gGn S ar sc or 9 e ye
shs sailors would look with R'f ho%s-eyeS @ yg% 70
proudly wave, while the native society. would hold
friendly relations more fuly with US When an ad-
shore, and also others of the eet ship have homes
OIL tiliL port NeicO'ue tnc1r return. Thcy
no longer think, This Is n mnn.ofwar come TO spy
out the land,' but they receive them messengers
ofpeace whose olive branches are placed with them
Tor safe keeping when they shall again float or
the wide waters.
The other extract indicates the deep chagrin OF
the author at the degradation Of American COM
merce. The Nation which should command the
commerce of the world has scarcely any vessels
nfioat and her citizen officers, who would be proud
TO command native ships, are forced to take ser
vice under the British flag. Speaking of her
homewatd trip, Mrs. Dalhgren says:
When fairly under way bluff captain presents
himself, and we discover nj almost first glance that
he In one ofus He Is no "Britisher" but a regular
Yankee. He Is well pleased to have charge or the
family of an American officer, and we are somewhat
us, that after all It ls handled by an American.
service to England? Why not command an Aineri-
can steamer2'
"Why notg" growls our indignant mariner.
"Where Is the commerce of the United States TO be
found2 Are not driven from of this coast? What
steamer could command out here except one under
the English nag7"
"True, most irue," we reply, shading our burning
nee TO repress the unbidden tears. England has
quircd undsputed sway In the South Seas; we have
seen that this Is day by day. since behed this
vast ocean, and Mt every step reminded of
.countrys Unfortunate loss OF commerce and here
weare adding one more 10 the national humila-
ton, for while the family Of the British admiral Is
protected by their own flag that of one of the senior
ndmras OF our service and OF ofts best patriots
Ms WELL floats ndrit under the same potent banner.