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78(| The Saturday Analyst' and Leader. [...
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RECENT NOVELS.* T HE writings of Judge H...
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The Old Judge: or, life in « Colony. By ...
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FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. SPECIAL. Hanover...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Drawing-Room Sokrow&* We Are Indobtocl F...
truly mortifying , and very ¦ " exciting to irritable feeling : * . ¦; As . feeding , a false'ideal , the author considers the constant ¦ reading- oi novels a fatal occupation for a married woman . No qpality of the mind requires such wise guardianship as- ' that of the imagination . Among- the vagaries of the fancy , begetting ; a false faith , as well as a false ideal , the writer includes spirit-rapping , 'table-turning-, and the rabble-rout of contrivances by which cunning- impostors trade upon a deep spiritual-instinct iu human nature . " On the subject oi prayer , too , she has some sensible observations . Her own views on these topics , it may be stated , are somewhat mystical . to and draws
The writer , however , condescends common things , on the experience of a long life for particular directions on particular occasions . She is , for instance , decidedly against crinoline , and has a word or two with Punch about that important article ot modern female dress . The satirists of the day , in her opinion , deal with the prominent follies of the female sex in a way exceedingly wrono-. The errors of the sensible part are likely to correct themselves " , and it is only the vain and foolish that are the butts of criticism . ' The latter ^ women of shallow , minds , are ambitious of distinction .- hence " the being held up to notice for their extremes in crinoline , or any other foolish fashion , is quite a sufficient stimulus to <* o on with such extravagant doings . "' Our authoress thinks little of Punch laughing at them , so long as he does not pass them by unobserved , andbelieves that if nothing- were said about crinoline , it would fade away with other absurdities , and , like them , would soon die a natural death . We commend this little , wellrwritten book to the perusal of every lady , as one of the best manuals for female conduct extant .
78(| The Saturday Analyst' And Leader. [...
78 (| The Saturday Analyst' and Leader . [ Sept . 8 , 1860
Recent Novels.* T He Writings Of Judge H...
RECENT NOVELS . * T HE writings of Judge Halliburton , so celebrated for their drollery , raciness , and inexhaustible humour , will , as long as there are free hearts capable of appreciating and enjoying a good , sound , unobjectionable joke , told with ail the gusto and embellishment of a lively and unrivalled fancy , retain their place in public estimation . ' Few modern -writers have been able to excel , or . even to equal , our redoubtable Sam Slick in power , ingeniousness , and variety of incident and character . He enters into his subject with a ' bonhomrnie and . hearty good-will , which carries us alone : in . the current of his quaint and ludicrous
asseverations , and that with a force which makes resistance on our part not an assumed , but a real , impossibility . The pungency of his wit is all the more remarkable that he iievcr allows it to degenerate into coarse , personal satire on individual weaknesses and peculiarities ; through . all his brilliant sallies , and keen , truth-speaking observations on human nature in genei-al , he preserves a purity of thought , and a delicacy of feeling-, which completely redeems his works from the acousation ( too often brought with justice against writers of his class ) of bitter , acrimonious , and biting railleiy ; he never oftehds against the good taste or wholesome prejudices of his reader , ; but contrives both to instruct
and entertain xiim with racy , humourous , good-natured anecdotes of men and manners , always handling his subject in such a manner as is best calculated to cause either irritation or annoyance , and thus his works have become universally and deservedly popular . Perhaps one of the best of this author ' s productions , the pages of which lie open on our table as we write , is « ' The Old Judge ; or , Life in a Colony , " being a scries of chapters illustrative of the author ' s experiences in iNova Scotia , redolent of that genuine mirth ., real knowledge of life , and fascinating volatility of feeling , for which Judge Halliburton is so justly celebrated . We aro here introduced into the midst of the most stirring and uproarious scenes , and presented to an almost endless variety of fabulous personages , nil of whom are severally types of t with which rhe tmthor
some eooentrie ge nus of human naure , has at different periods of his lifo inado himsolf familinrly acquainted . The narrative is well sustained from , the commencement to the end of the volume , the merriment of tho reader novor being allowed to flag by any dull , uninteresting disaertationa upon , dry subjeots . The anecdotes , which are freely dispersed throughout the hook , are told with the greatest smartness , liveliness , and ingenuity . Among those may bo notocl the manner in which tho lawyer floored tho " adversary of his client , a conceited fisherman , standing up horoicall y as the champion of his trade , and adroitly mndo him falsify his own testimony , by putting to him tho simple question " ftow many tins has a cod ? " Tho pleasantries of Sam Slick , howeyer , nro so well known to tho public , that it is not necessary for us to go mbro speoiiioally into
the details of tho present volume . «« A Wife to Order ; " a tale translated from tho Gorman , must bo considered as a work of considerable merit , though tho characters and inoidonta arp somewhat too muoh ooufused and huddled together to render tho story as efl ' ootivo as it might doubtless have proved under some more simple mode of treatment . This is , however , no fault of tho translator , being rather a blemish in the co nstruction of the original production , nud is therefore attributable to i ' rederiok Gorstaoolcor , and not to Mr . lidmund jRoutlodgo . Tho story , notwithstanding tho dofect abovo nioationed , possesses muoli to interest and oven to oxoito the reader , being 1 full of strong driimatio situations , and exhibiting ovory now andi then oonsklernblo skiH in tho delineation of character ; the language is , moreover , easy « ud graceful , and adapted both to illustrato and onlivon the incidents of tho uovol .
The following is a brief outline . of the plot . A rich merchant , by name Van Rocken , a resident of Java , being in want of a wife , and not finding any lady native to the place in whom he can take a ' fitting- interest , despatches an order to a friend , in Germany to procure for him that very necessary article of domestic comfort , and to remit the . same as speedily as possible to his home in the above-mentioned Dutch colony . A young lady , Dora Bernold , deprived of the necessary means of subsistence by the death of her parents , and the desertion of her lover , in , a moment accepts the invitation and proceeds forthwith to the _ place appointed . During the period of the young lady ' s transit from one country to another , which is necessarily a long one , our capricious hero ' injudiciously falls in love and marries , and , consequently ,
upon the arrival of his first-bespoken German bride , finds himself in a somewhat awkward position . The ex-intended bridegroom , however , being somewhat of a cowardly and vacillating disposition , throws all the responsibility of breaking the disastrous tidings to the disappointed maiden upon his friend and partner-Wagner . The latter gentleman , who is represented to us through , out the volume as a very model of honour , rectitude , and conscientious principle , deprecates in no very honied terms the folly of his friend , but at the same time does all in his power to retrieve him from , the consequences of his error . Ultimately Wagner , being deserted by the fail- one on whom he had previously bestowed his affections , consoles himself for his loss by ottering his hand to the victim of his friend ' s inconsiderate rashness , and the
book closes tipon the dramatis persona m a manner most satisfactory to all parties , including the reader . In this slight analysis , we have made no mention of a most skilful and interesting underplot , which is , perhaps , the most exciting portion of the book ; but it is too complicated to admit of anv mere outline of its leading characteristics . We have also upon our table the tenth volume of " Tales from Blackwood . " This number is equal to the preeeeding ones , and contains several startling and effective stories , told in language at once powerful and vigorous , and the incidents of which are all wrought up to the very highest pitch of . excitement . " Antonio di Carara " the " Vision of Cagliostro , ' and " The Haunted and ieces of
the Haunters , " are severally perfect masterp ingenious construction , and it would be impossible for any reader , having once plunged into the midst of one of these exciting fictitious narratives , to withdraw his eyes from the pages before arriving at its conclusion . " Antonio di Carara , ' which , is placed at the commencement of the present volume , is a tale of Padua , laid m the time of the Emperor Francis , in which the chief characteristic of the Italians , revenge , and the lengths to which they will go . in order to gain their darling object , is subtly and vividly delineated . " The Haunted and the Haunters" is a tale of such intense , thrilling and ghostly interest , that wo will not anticipate the reader ' s ° enjoyment of " it . These tales have already become popular , and bid ' fair from their , continued and increasing merit to retain their place in public estimation .
The Old Judge: Or, Life In « Colony. By ...
The Old Judge : or , life in « Colony . By Uw AuiUor of " Sum Sllc * , " <&< V London i Burit kSh Bluokott . A H'tf * to Qnter . By Frederick aubtneckor . Trqmlutod by « 4 wMd « ouUQdBO . lAnflooi Houtlodge , Wiimo , « nrt Routlodgo . Wcs / rom flfoc * . SwTvX 10 ^ EUtaburgUan * JU > mlon i WUUoim Blnckwooa mid Sons .
Foreign Correspondence. Special. Hanover...
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE . SPECIAL . Hanover , Sept . 4 , 1860 . THE Federal Diet being about to prorogue , some of ite members have brought forward a number of questions which appear to be intended , according to the review of the U achen Schrift to prevent the nation , during the recess , from becoming oblivious to the existence of the august assembly . Prospects are held out of the federal fortresses being armed upon a regularly concerted system ; and that the rifle guns which are to be adopted by the army of the Confederation , will be constructed of one and the same calibre . Praiseworthy intentions , which , carried into effect , will obtain the applause of the whole nation . At present
the calibre of the firearms of the several states is as various as are the coins . A motion has been made by the Middle States and their adherents for the issue of a general law of patents . This question is of itself worthy of attention ; hut at the present tune the discussion of it mates a similar impression , us if a man , m expectation of an earthquake , were to make provision for the safety ot his tea-cups . While , owing to the most glaring evils and denciencies in the Federal Constitution , the independence ot the whole nation is at stake , it is simply ridiculous to imagine that tho Diet can hoodwink the people by such petty legislation , the Diet is
the more as all the world is aware that , constituted as , it is powerless for good ; for , not to mention the difficulties arising from the feudal principles , which , animate it as a body , it is a vital aim of some members , particularly of Denmark , to thwart every measure that might lead to unity of action . The resolution of the Danish Government announced bo early as last May to levy tho taxes in the Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg , in defiance of the decision of the Diet , given on the 8 th of lost March , to the effect that the Danish Government was not to levy any taxes without the consent of the Provincial Assembly , has been carried out : for the budget of J 860-01 was publishedj \ nd
acted upon in both Duohies in the course ot last uioutii . yus bold proceeding , to which the Danish authorities have doubtless been encouraged by the silence of the Federal Diet during the three months which have elapsed since the declaration of the intention and its execution , has met with some opposition now , not from the presiding Power in tho Diet Austria , nor from the leader pf Germany , par-excellence , Prussia , but from quiet and modest Aldenbwrg . Whether the threatening motion of so petty
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 8, 1860, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_08091860/page/10/
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