The Sun. — 1863-12-21 (London, England)

MAGDALENE-MAGNIFICENT. Magdalene (so called from the place of her birth), the Magnificent.  Is there no lesson in her name F In the pride of her beauty—for the power of beauty is very great—Magdalene might once have gloried in her name —Magnificent as a stately tower. But the tower whose foundations are on the shifting sands of time, shall it not crumble away ? The magnificence which is of earth, shall it not yield to decay ? It was in her other name that Magdalene's safety Wag found—Mary, which in Hebrew means bitterness. Mary, or Miriam, a name first given to the daughter of Jochebed. The mother's name signified " whose glory ,s Jehovah," but her child was born in the bitterness of Egyptian bondage, and she thence derived her sorrowful name—bitterness as of the sea, waters of affliction, of which they drank from a full cup. But the bondage of Mary Magdalene was the bondage °f sin, and when once its bitterness was felt the hour of her freedom was at hand : " loving much," to her " much Was forgiven." Strangely still sounds the name of Magdalene, the Magnificent, applied to the sorrowing daughters of shame. • How gloriously from her other name has its sorrowful meaning been rolled away. In every Christian land ;Mary is the name that most women love best to bear. 'Much sorrow had the mother of our Lord, and the sweet Marys °f Gospel history, like Miriam of old, were barn while their countrymen were in bondage, but they lived to see a far more glorious ransom accomplished. Of the waters of Mara? they indeed also drank, but He of whom the tree was tYP'" cal was himself with them, and by Him was the bitter mad° sweet.  Many interesting fragments of history or romance we might cull from these graceful pages, but we have said enough to demonstrate the very excel lent purpose of the work, and the very felicitous manner in which that purpose has been fulfilled.  The Moors and the Fens. By F. G. Trafford, author of " City and Suburb," with illustrations•  One Vol. Pp. 381. Smith and Elder. This story principally relates to a dreary abode, misnamed Paradise, situated " among the fens of Lincolnshire—in the dreariest portion of that nai°erable county," and tenanted by Sir Ernest Ivrahlet " the miser-descendant of along line of contemptible ancestors." This delightful old gentleman has tWu sons, whom ho maintains in the most penurious man" ner till the younger Henry can endure it no longor9 but departs to seek his fortune in India. The elder Ernest, fearful of losing his inheritance, continues to drag on a miserable existence beneath 11,Ig father's roof, and even brings a young wife' a bright damsel from the Scottish moors, to share the dismal monotony of the miser's abode. Mlt constantly happens, in real life, the good and evil influences struggle for the mastery in this dreary "Paradise." Mina Fraser, however, has NO.. sufficient love and courage to enable her to overcome the gloomy depression of her new homeSee 'lades and droops uncomplainingly, more espe" cially when her evil genius, Cecilia Warmend, " brews mischief," and infuses doubts into her husband's heart. The story concludes, however, under happier auspices. Henry returns from India with his bright-hearted, peace-making wife, and sorrow and trouble open the eyes and the hearts of Ernest and Mina to a better appreciation of each other. The tale is clever and ably written, and various other interesting characters take their part on the scene; but the influence of the fens is depressing, and we are glad when occasionally we are indulged with a fresh breath of the breeze from the moors.  Keeping Afloat ; or the Meeting at the Morgue A Novel. 1 Vol. Skeet. This is a most wild and extravagant story about a noble family—that of the Earl of Besso, and 111°' son, Lord Uawkscurl, and his daughter, Ladr Bertha—which endeavours by every means, fair o't foul, to " keep afloat," and maintain appearanees the eyes of the world. Suffice it to say, that Lcir'l Hawkscurl does not hesitate to commit murder' that Lady Bertha almost "proposes" to a wealtbi plebian, and that the Earl connives at the duplicitl of his interesting offspring—and all to " ke:P afloat." The dead body of Lady Bertha who, ."(3; graded and disgraced, commits suicide, is recognis6 at the Morgue by her brother and her lover, °ri this incident gives its second title to the tale—'3 taie of greater improbability than any yet irriagiae,d, a supplement to the " Romance of the Peerage'  Knowledge for the lime. By John Timbs, F.SnO author of " Curiosities of London," &c. ° Vol. Pp. 288. Lockwood. llfu/tum in parvo should be the motto of gr. Timbs' marvellous treasures of compilation. 111 little volume now before us professes to be a roaet of reading, reference, and conversation on subj2c" of living interest, useful curiosity, and Lanesil3s research :—Histories—political information-4-„ gress of civilizstion—aignities and distillations f change in laws—measure and value—progreeB science—life and health—and, finally, rellgi°ll,o thought. All these multitudinous and me ittorabi, matters are illustrated from "the beat arid lates: authorities," conspicuous among which are til,, principal organs of the daily and weekly Pr°l.7 Turning over the pages at random, we glean infc"; mation on most various topics—" How 011°43 spoils enjoyment," from Arthur Helps' Ese3j2:, " Expense of Baronetcy and Knighthood," " See of London," " Irregular Marriages," " Tiel° of-leave Men," " The Ancestors of Washingto3 &c.—subjects of all kinds and characterM  ranging-'' From grave to gay, from lively to severe."  BOOKS RECEIVE Sir Goodwin's Folly: A Story of theD. Year 1796. BY Arthur Looker. 3 vols. Chapman and flail. Very Hard Cash. By Charles Reade. 3 vols. SaillPS°s Low, Son, and Marston. The Old House in Crosby-square. By the author of The: King's Mail. 2 vols. Sampson Low, Son, and Marston. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile. 131 Captain Speke. William Blackwood It. an I‘l. d the Rev. B Sons.: Sport in Norway, and Where to Find y H. Barnard. Chapman and Hall. The Wars of Wapsifurg. 33y the author of The Heir 01 Redcliffe. ,Groombridge and Sons. IC'sle Life fay : Essays. Sampson Los', s°l3' 31'4 irichandra, the Martyr of Truth : A Tamil Dramas rains' lated into English. By Mute Comm Swaney. Elder, an Bell. Richard Henry Stoddard. Piekerial The o. The 6inengt Helen. S. W. Partridge. Marston. Try and Try Again. or, A flay at Upland. By By Old Jonathan. W. Macintosh, The Children's Party ;