New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


GERMANY, PRESENT AND PAST. Ry s B S,l NO
GouLpM A.. author Of Curious ~ tbs u ne Mtiaie
Ages" etc, svc PIP 1872. New-Aofk' hei's H0"
aud Co. 1882.
MIR. Baring. Goulds large volume is readable.
somewhat cosby and not very profound book.
yarietvof interesting and valuable statistics arc
mixed in with mass Of somewhat trivial anecGote
and pbilosophizng. No one of experience would 20
to Mr. Barring Gould for any acute analysis. but he
gives in pleasant and diduse way good deal OF
information on a subject which grows more imPor-
tant and interesting every day.
The author takes up first the upper and lower
mobility and comments with proper English ScoTn
on tho rule which foT5ds meinher Of the former
class TO marry, except MOI eauaiicay, with anyone
under sovereign rank, and on the complete sever
ance that hes taken place between all ranks OK
nobility and the rocple-a severance kept ahVe ny
the habit Of all the sous Of count or baron taking
their fathers title. chapter is devoted TO the
avs of succession. and TO tie peasant piopilc-
tors aud in this connection it is noted that the eN-
cessive subdivision of land is BEGINNING to tel
seriously on the interests of agriculture the farms
being now reduced to such small limits that tic
owners cannot afford to cultivate their land except
in superficial and makeshift way.
In his description Of the laws OF marriage, Mr.
Barring Gould argues that since marriage has been
made purely civil contract greater laxity IN
=
has largely increased, especially in Protestant Ger
many. The chapter on women, with even more
than usual discursiveness and proliXity, succeeds
very well in oharacterizing the German woman.
with her strange mixture of attraction and Tepul-
siyencss. The author strongly condemns the Gus
tonnary separation Of husband and wife, the hus-
band spending his time regularly AZ his club or
tavern, while the wife stays at home knitting.
In what MIR Barring Gould has to say on Educa-
zion ana the Army" he gives mere facts and less
theorizing. Tho admirable system OF secondary
education provided under the supervision OF the
State Is fully explained II is pointed ont that
German university is no school for acquiring good
manners. and that while for training men in
speciaties it is unsurpassed this very excellence
tends to narrow their minds, TO prevent their attain
ing to general culture and TO deprive them OF the
advantages Of liberal education. The main feature
Of interest in the discussion Of the army Is the de-
tailed account oil the duties and studies OF the
officers and the system of criticism of subordinate
officers by their commanders which renders their
field manGuvrcs SO excellent a training
Passing the chapter on the stage, the kul-
turkampI Professionalism, and the Labor Question.
We come TO the authors obser' atoms on Social
Democracy. which should be the most impor
tant perhaps of all but lie mars it by his not over
profound philosophy and bis ineradicable diiluse-
ness He denies that Socialism is anti-Chrstlan,
or that il breaches community of goods. COmmu-
nifty of profits is its teachngfCr those who care TO
make the distinction He denies also that it seeks
the destruction of the right OF inheritance, that it
advocates free love class antagonisn. but asserts
that it is AIMED against the present commercial
system. 1t asks the State to organize Labor, to
regulate production and Distribute profits.
The confessed lack of culture among Germans is
ascribed to the disastrous wars that for so many
years devastated Germany. to the multiplication OF
petty courts and to tho consequent disappearance
of gentlemen. A long account of court life in differ
cnt German States is gwen by way Of I'M
savory illustration, and the practical separation OF
the sexes is again alluded to as producing an I'M
fortunate effect on the national manners.
THE UNIVERSE; OR, THE INFINITELY GREAT AND
THE INFINITELY LITTLE. BY +. A. PONc1iET,
NJ. D., Corresponding Member Of the Institute of
Rouen Illustrated Large $40. pp. 564. New-Y OK
G.. Z. Putnhms sons. 1857
This work was written, as the author tells rs, by
way Of a relaxation from severer labor during
vacation ly the sea- The Universe Is spacious
subject for vacation treatment, and yet The table
of contents proves that the title is significant The
whole cycle of physical science, the worlds of
animal and vegetable life the earth and the stars,
the entire sweep of geological time and astro
nomical space.-all creation, in short, is here
sketched in twenty-five books and seventy-eght
eh apters. and illustrated by go excellent engrav-
ings OF course the method of the work not
rigidly scientific, although it is the avowed pur-
pose of the author ito inspire and extend taste
for natural science" Whether he has adopted the
best plan for the attainment of this end is debat
ibe question, but there can be no doubt that he has
produced q volume which viii interest the boys
md girls in the family circle. and perhaps afford
their fathers and mothers instruction.
glance at the numerous engravings shows that the
author has chosen to deal almost exclusively with
the marvels of natural history, and marvellous
is a favorite adjective III the text The entire sur
face of the globe is searched to discover eccentrci
ties of animal and vegetable life. The cataclysms,
upheavals and monsters of geologic time. and the
wonders of the sky are depicted with exuberance
of fancy which will no doult prove more attractive
10 the young han the sober history of the rocks
and the mathematical rigors Of systematic astron-
omy The book is remote in its spirit from other
treatiscs called popular which aim to invest with
scientific interest the objects Immediately about
and with which we come in daily contact.
Such works, when properly constructed, do more to
stimulate investigation and awaken the faculties
of observation, which are too often benumbed by
artificial systems of education DR.. Ponchets va
cation labors will not be likely to make many
naturalists but they will furnish much entertain
Inent, and a bright boy open the book any
where ana READ WIN pleasure WITHOUT heeuihB 10
turn back TO get hold of loose end Of the thread
of the story Every page brlstles with loose ends.
MISS BECK. novel. BY TIDURY BOLT 12nO
New-York q W. Carleton 1 Co.
book full of merit and full OF faults; full,
deed that it not for the isolated passages of
interest scattered freely through it. it might be
called one great fault. The purpose of the book is
entirely and appeals to the sympathies of every
humane soul. Its central thought and motive
power is the cruelty and the revolving nature Of the