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 ? In the pride of her beauty—for the power of beauty i 5 very great—Magdalene might once have gloried in her name —Magnificent as a stately tower. But the tower whose foundations not are on the shifting sands of time, shall i shall crumble away? The magnificence which is of earth,  it not yield to decay ? It was in her other name that Magdalene's safety Was found—Mary, which in Hebrew means bitterness. Mary, or Miriam, a name first given to the daughter of J-ochebed. The mother's name signified " whose glory it Jehovah," but her child was born in the bitterness 01 Egyptian bondage, and she thence derived her sorrowful name—bitterness as of the sea, waters of affliction, of whiell they drank from a full cup. of But the bondage of Mary Magdalene was the bondage 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 Magdale--.09 ffhters the Magnificent, applied to the sorrowing a Lt  shame. How gloriously from her other name has its sorrowful meaning been rolled away. In every Christian land 01 is the name that most women love best to bear. I\l°ll sorrow ttad the mother of our Lord, and the sweet Marys, Gospel history, like Miriam of old, were born while their countrymen were in bondage, but they lived to see a far more glorious ransom accomplished. Of the waters of Natal' they indeed also drank, but He of whom the tree was typical. was himself with them, and by Him was the bitter glade 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 felicitece manner in which that purpose has been fulfilled'  The Moors and the Fens. By F. G. Trafford' author of " City and Suburb," with illustrationo•  One Vol. Pp. 381. Smith and Elder. This story principally relates to a dreary üb°dei misnamed Paradise, situated " among the fens ° Lincolashire—in the dreariest portion of that miserable county," and tenanted by Sir Ernest Ivrains' " the miser-descendant of a long line of contemptible ancestors." This delightful old gentleman has two sons, whom he maintains in the most penurious 033°ner till the younger Henry can endure it no longer' but departs to seek his fortune in India. The elder Ernest, fearful of losing his inheritance, continues to drag on a miserable existence beneath 11.15 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. As .1t , constantly happer.s, in real life, the good and evil. influences struggle for the mastery in this draft*: " Paradise." Mina Fraser, however, has 11°' sufficient love and courage to enable her to overcome the gloomy depression of her new home' Sae lades and droops uncomplainingly, more eeried. cially when her evil genius, Cecilia Warmon " brews mischief," and infuses doubts into her husband's heart. The story concludes, however, under happier auspices. Henry returns from India with his bright•learted, 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 his son, Lord Hawkscurl, and his daughter, Lady Bertha—which endeavours by every means, fair or foul, to " keep afloat," and maintain appearanees iu the eyes of the world. Suffice it to say, that Lora Hawkscurl does not hesitate to commit murder? that Lady Bertha almost "proposes" to a wealth,' plebian, and that the Earl connives at the duplicity' of his interesting offspring—and all to " ke:P afloat." The dead body of Lady Bertha who, .uedgraded and disgraced, commits suicide, is recogois6d at the Morgue by her brother and her lover, ahle this incident gives its second title to the tale—'s I°o of greater improbability than any yet iniagiociu a supplement to the " Romance of the Peerage'  A., Knowledge for the gime. By John Titnbs, S°1:1 0 author of " Curiosities of London," &c'  Vol. Pp. 288. Lockwood. Ataßune en parvo should be the motto of rrl'lhr; Timbs' marvellous treasures of compilation. ."""i little volume now before us professes to be a man° of reading, reference, and conversation on sbect° of living interest, useful curiosity, and au'u6l33s research : Histories—political information---P°gress of civilization—dignities and distinctions change in laws—measure and value---progress tic); science—life and health—and, finally,re"gible thought. All these multitudinous and In em "a t matters are illustrated from " the best are thes authorities," conspicuous among which principal organs of the daily and weekly P 4 r;° Turning over the pages at random, we glean 'n-csr; ,hynes9 motion on most various topics—" How spoils enjoyment," from Arthur Helps' 69,siTiit; "Expense of Baronetcy and Knighthood," 0 t. See of London," " Irregular Marriages," " Tike Washingtoll, of-leave Men," " The Ancestors of and lates &c.—subjects of all kinds and ranging— " From grave to gay, from lively to severe." characteto,