No More Learning

He showed to demonstration
of the growth of literature to support, that chemical action is purely electrical,
like Taine, for example; and so he en- and that to electricity the atoms of mat-
joys what the Yankee calls a "good ter owe those properties which constitute
time," as he moves with careless but as- them elements in nature. In language
sured step whither he will through the of lofty prophetic conception he more than
field of letters. He is very sensible and suggested that the physical secret of liv-
clear-headed; he knows why one should ing things, the animal and the plant, is
dislike or admire any given book; and he electrical. He particularly dwelt on the
gives his reason in simple, direct, and amount of electricity forming the charge
easy speech, as if he were seated in his carried by the oxygen of the air, which
library arm-chair after a comfortable din- is the active agent in combustion and the
ner, an amiable Rhadamanthus, discours- supporter of life in both animals and
ing with a true urbanity upon the merits plants, and only stopped short of defi.
of his friends. He is unflaggingly agree- nitely pronouncing vitality electrical. He
able, often extremely clever, not seldom urged very strongly as a belief, to which
witty, and always well-bred and sensible. no test of experiment could be applied,
He admires Pope, and sets him among that gravitation is by electrical agency,
the great poets, affirming that he is the and that in fact the last word of discovery
incarnation of the literary spirit, with and demonstration in physics will show
his wit, his satirical keenness, his intel- that electricity is the universal agency in
lectual curiosity, and his brilliant art of nature. And among his far-reaching
putting things. In the paper on Haw- applications of thought guided by new
thorne, the essayist makes the subtle knowledge, was his rejection of the idea
suggestion that it was better that that of action at a distance,” in the manner of
delicate genius should have been reared «attraction. If a body is moved, it is
in America, because the more affluent not by a mysterious pull, but by a push.
and romantic environment of Europe The moving force carries it. These ideas
might have dominated his gift.
The es-
outran the power of science to immedi-
say on De Quincey has been called the ately understand and accept. But Max-
best estimate of that extraordinary per- well, Hertz, and Helmholtz have led the
sonality ever made.
But the papers on
way after Faraday, to the extent that his
Macaulay and on George Eliot are hardly electrical explanation of light is now fully
less admirable, a judgment which might accepted. Fifteen years after his death,
fairly include most of the papers.
the greatest of his successors in physics,
Helmholtz of Berlin, said in a « Faraday
Electricity, Experimental Researches Lecture ) in London, that the later ad-
in, by Michael Faraday. (3 vols. , vances in electrical science had more than
1839-1855. ) A monumental work in the confirmed Faraday's conclusions, and that
literature of science; not merely record- English science had made a mistake in
ing the results of experiment in what not accepting them as its point of depart-
Tyndall called “a career of discovery un- ure for new research. To the same effect
paralleled in the history of pure experi- President Armstrong of the Chemical
mental science,” but enriching the record Society, to which Helmholtz spoke, has
with thoughts, and clothing it in many recently declared his conviction that Fara-
passages in a style worthy of exceptional day's explanation of chemical action as
recognition. In devising and executing electrically caused should have been ac-
experiments for passing beyond the limits cepted long since.


## p. 129 (#165) ############################################

SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
I 29
In delicacy of character as well as
rugged strength, in warmth and purity of
emotion, in grace, earnestness, and refine-
ment of manner, in the magnetism of his
presence, and in masterly clearness in
explanation, especially to his Christmas
audiences of children (annual courses of
six lectures), Faraday was as remarkable
as he was in intellectual power and in
discoveries. He was connected with the
Royal Institution for fifty-five years, first
as Sir Humphrey Davy's assistant, 1812-
29, and then as his successor, 1829-67.
Evolutional Ethics and Animal Psy:
chology, by E. P. Evans. (1897. )
An exceedingly readable book on the or-
igin of ideas of right and wrong through
evolutionary development of mind, and
the approach made by the lower animals
to possession of such ideas through a de-
gree of mental development like that of
The author seeks to trace the ear-
liest ethical ideas in human society, the
working of such ideas in tribal society,
and the influence of religious beliefs in
modifying ethical laws of conduct. He
discusses also man's ethical relation to
the animals below him, and devotes the
last chapter of his first part to a consider-
ation of the doctrine of metempsychosis,
or change of the animal form of souls in
successive states of existence.
The sec-
ond part of the work treats of mental de.
velopment in the lower animals compared
with that in man; considers how far they
can form ideas, and their disadvantage
with us in lacking the power of speech;
and urges the rights of animals as subor-
dinate only to the rights of our fellow-
variations may be estimated, and throws
much light on the kindred languages of
Germany. The Gothic version contains a
number of words borrowed from Finnish,
Burgundian, Slavic, Dacian, and other
barbarous languages; but those taken
from the Greek far exceed all others.
The translator uses the Greek orthogra-
phy. He employs the double gamma,
EE, to express the nasal n followed by
g: thus, we have tuggo for tungo, the
tongue; figgr for finger; dragg for
drank; and so on. The similarity of most
of the characters to Greek letters, and
the exact conformity of the Gothic Script-
ures to the original Greek text, prove
that the version must have been made
under Greek influence. Strabo, the author
of an ecclesiastical history in the early
part of the ninth century, says that the
Goths on the borders of the Greek em-
pire had an old translation of the Script-
ures. The language of the Codex) differs
in many respects from mediæval and mod.
ern German. Thus the verb haben is
never used to express past time, while it is
employed to denote future time; and the
passive voice is represented by inflected
forms, forms utterly foreign to other Teu-
tonic dialects. The Codex) does not
contain the entire Bible, but only frag-
ments of the Gospels and Epistles of St.
Paul, some Psalms, and several passages
from Esdras and Nehemiah. It was dis-
covered by some Swedish soldiers in the
monastery of Werden in Westphalia, in
1648; then deposited in Prague; after-
ward presented to Queen Christina, who
placed it in the library of Upsala; next
carried off by Vossius; and finally re-
stored to the University of Upsala, which
regards it as its most precious posses-
sion.
man.
men.
Codex Argenteus, a Gothic translation
of parts of the Bible, attributed to
Ulfilas, bishop of the Dacian Goths in
the fourth century.
It is written on
vellum, the leaves of which are stained
with a violet color; and on this ground,
the letters, all uncials or capitals, are
painted in silver, except the initials,
which are gold. The book, however, gets
its name from its elaborately wrought
silver cover, and not from its lettering.
Ulfilas may in a certain sense be con-
sidered the founder of all Teutonic liter-
ature, as he was the first to raise a
barbarous Teutonic dialect to the dignity
of a literary language. Although the lan-
guage of the (Codex) is very different
from that of later Teutonic nations, it
serves as a standard by which subsequent
City of God, The, by St. Augustine.
This work, the most important of
all his writings, was begun in 413, three
years after the capture and pillage of
Rome by the Visigoths under Alaric.
The pagans had endeavored to show
that this calamity was the natural conse-
quence of the spread of the Christian
religion, and the main purpose of Augus-
tine is to refute them. The work, which
was finished about 426, is divided into
twenty-two books. The first five deal
with the arguments of those who seek
to prove that the worship of the gods is
necessary to the welfare of the world,
and that the recent catastrophe was
XXX-9


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130
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
1
caused by its abolition; the five follow- and fruitful epoch. The disproportion
ing are addressed to those who claim between the length of the chapters, and
that the worship of the divinities of pa- their occasional want of connection, are
ganism is useful for the attainment of accounted for by the interruptions in his
happiness in the next life; and in the literary labors which his absorption in
last ten we have an elaborate discussion public affairs rendered inevitable. When
of the subject that gives its title to the he could snatch only an hour from his
whole work, — the contrast to be drawn duties as pope, he wrote a short chapter.
between two cities, the City of God and When he had more leisure, he wrote a
the city of the world, and their progress long one. The first book, which treats
and respective ends. It would obviously of his early career and his elevation to
be impossible to give in this space any- the pontificate, was evidently composed
thing like a satisfactory résumé of this with more care and attention to style
vast monument of genius, piety, and eru- than those which succeed. In general,
dition. Notwithstanding its learning, pro- he wrote or dictated on a given day the
found philosophy, and subtle reasoning, facts that had come to his knowledge
it can be still read with ease and pleas- on the day before. Sometimes an inci-
ure, owing to the variety, multiplicity, dent is preceded by a historical or geo-
and interest of its details. Augustine graphical notice, or is an apology for
bases many of his arguments on the introducing an episode in the author's life.
opinions held by profane authors; and his The book has thus some of the intimate
numerous and extensive quotations, some and confidential qualities of a diary. It
of them of the greatest value, from writ- wants precision, is not always impartial,
ers whose works have been long since and in a word, has the defects common
lost, would alone suffice to entitle the au- to all the historians of the time. But it
thor to the gratitude of modern scholars. is full of color and exuberant life, and its
Few books contain so many curious par- value as a historic source is inestimable.
ticulars with regard to ancient manners It gives a vivid idea not only of the
and philosophical systems. In the City Pope's extraordinary and almost univer-
of God) a vivid comparison is instituted sal erudition and exalted intelligence, but
between the two civilizations that pre- of the charm exercised by his affability,
ceded the Middle Ages; and the untiring gentleness, and simple manners on every
efforts of ambition and the vain achieve- one who came within reach. The classi-
ments of conquerors are judged accord- cal, the Christian, and the modern spirit
ing to the maxims of Christian humility are intermingled in the Commentaries. )
and self-denial. The City of God) is No earlier writer has so sympathetically
the death-warrant of ancient society; and described scenes that have a classical sug-
in spite of its occasional mystic extrava- gestiveness: the grotto of Diana on the
gance and excessive subtlety of argument, opal waters of Lake Nemi; the villa of
the ardent conviction that animates it Virgil; the palace of Adrian near Tivoli,
throughout will make it one of the last- “where serpents have made their lair in
ing possessions of humanity.
the apartments of queens. ” But he avoids
anything that might hint of too great
Cºmmentaries by Pius II. (Æneas fondness for paganism. If the name of
Sylvius). The great humanist Pope a god drops from his pen, he at once
devoted all his spare moments to the adds that he was an idol or a demon;
composition of this work, which is a if he quotes an idea from a pagan phi-
mine of information on the literature, losopher, he immediately rectifies it in
history, and politics of his age. Part of a Christian sense. « The work,” says K.
it was written by his own hand, the rest R. Hagenbach, a Protestant writer, is
dictated. He was not only in the habit the finest demonstration of this Pope for
of taking notes on every subject, import- the sciences and arts and for the noblest
ant or trivial, but, even during the storm- enjoyments of life. Shortly before his
iest periods of a life that was full of death in 1464, Pius II. charged his poet-
variety, he was always eager to glean friend Campano to correct its faults, --
information from the distinguished men which of course Campano did not do.
of every country, with whom he was
Profane
)
The. () By Thomas
ography and the history of a momentous Fuller. These books by the famous
constantly brought into contact; so that Hºly State, The (1642. )


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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
131
(Old Fuller, » author of
many
favorite lection, the seat of meditation, the rest
works in practical divinity and history, of our cares, and the calm of our tem-
appeared during the stormy days of the pest. ”
English Revolution, and at once attained The second section, Holy Dying,' con-
wide popularity. Both contained many siders all the phases of preparation for
characters drawn with great force and «a holy and blessed death,” dwelling
freedom, held up as examples to be imi- upon the vanity and brevity of life, vis-
tated or execrated, - such as The Good itation of the sick, and conduct during
Master, The Good Father, The Good sickness. The sentences are usually long
Soldier, etc. , etc. There is no story, and and involved — many containing upwards
the works are noted for their admirable of one hundred and fifty words — and
sayings rather than for their interest the style is heavily figurative; though
as a whole. In whatever he did, Fuller there are many beautiful phrases. It is
was full of a quaint humor; and his com- still read, and has furnished suggestions
parisons are as pointed and effective to many modern religious writers.
as those of Hudibras. Charles Lamb
found his pages “deeply steeped in Groti
rotius, De Jure Belli et Pacis. ) With
human feeling and passion”; and in all
Translation and Notes, by Dr. Will-
iam Whewell.
his books, these pages bear, thickly
(3 vols. , 1853. Trans-
lation alone, I vol. ) — One of the most
strewed over them, such familiar sayings
as: «The Pyramids themselves, doting
interesting, most significant, and most
with age, have forgotten the names of
permanently important of books. Its im-
their founders; » or «Our captain counts
portance, to the present day as in the
the image of God — nevertheless his
past, is that of the earliest and greatest
image-cut in ebony, as done in ivory:)
work designed to apply the principles of
or, again, « To smell to a turf of fresh
humanity, not only to the conduct of
earth is wholesome for the body; no less
war but to the whole conduct of nations,
are thoughts of mortality cordial to the
on the plan of finding these principles in
soul;) or «Overburden not thy memory
human nature and human social action.
The works of Albericus Gentilis (1588),
to make so faithful a servant a slave.
Remember Atlas was a-weary.
and Ayala (1597), had already dealt with
the laws of war. To Grotius belongs
Memory, like a purse, if it be over-full
the honor of founder of the law of nature
that it cannot shut, all will drop out
of it. ”
and of nations. The significance of the
original work, published at Frankfort in
1625, when the Thirty Years' War was
Holy Living and Dying, by Bishop
Jeremy Taylor, was published about
making a carnival of blood and terror in
1650, and is the work by which the author
Europe, is the application of Christian
is most widely known to the Christian
humanity to the conduct of war, and to
world.
the intercourse of nations, which Grotius
It was composed at the desire
of Lady Carberry, his patron and friend,
proposed. The work is one of immense
and is inscribed to the Earl her husband.
learning, in Roman law especially; and
The introductory chapters consider the
although executed in one year, with his
(General Instruments and Means Serv-
brother's aid in the large number of quo.
ing to a Holy Life); emphasizing par-
tations, it in fact represented the studies
ticularly care of time, purity of intention,
of twenty years, and filled out an outline
and the practice of realizing the presence
first written in 1604. The whole history
of God. The main topics, of Sobriety
of the author is of exceptional interest.
(which he subdivides into soberness,
A most versatile scholar at an early age,
temperance, chastity, humility, modesty,
a translator of Greek poetry into Latin
and contentedness), Justice (in which
verse of high poetic quality, a Dutch his.
he includes duties to superiors and in-
torian in a Latin style worthy of Tacitus,
feriors, civil contracts, and restitution),
and a Christian commentator and apolo-
and Religion (which he treats under
gist of broadly humanist enlightenment,
ten subdivisions), are then taken up and
superior even to Erasmus, he was also
discussed with great minuteness.
one of the most attractive characters of
For
his time.
all conditions life there are copious
rubrics for prayer, which he describes
Eco1
conomic Interpretation of History,
as the peace of our spirit, the stillness by J. E. Thorold Rog 1888. A
of our thoughts, the evenness of recol- volume of Oxford lectures, covering a wide


## p. 132 (#168) ############################################

132
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
sesses
a
as
an
range of important topics, with the gen- protégé after his many relapses into dis-
eral aim of showing how economic ques- sipation, Mr. Bright, after reading him a
tions have come up in English history, lesson in self-reliance, finally buys him a
and have powerfully influenced its devel- ticket for as distant a town as can be
opment. The questions of labor, money, reached for ten dollars; and, refusing to
protection, distribution of wealth, social know where it is, places him in charge of
effect of religious movements, pauperism, the conductor. Upon a Christmas morn-
and taxation, are among those which are ing ten years later he is delighted to re-
carefully dealt with. In a posthumously ceive a grateful letter from his prodigal
published volume, The Industrial and pupil, inclosing a check for past indebted-
Commercial History of England, 1892, ness, and announcing that he is now a
another series of Professor Rogers's Ox- successful artist. Dodd's evolution affirms
ford lectures appeared, completing the that many of our teachers are incapable
author's view both of the historical facts of teaching, and that no system can be
and of method of study.
capably administered which does not ex-
ercise a wise and interested adaptation to
Evolution of
· Dodd,” The, IN His individual needs.
STRUGGLE FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE
Fittest in HIMSELF, by William Hawley Charlotte Temple, by Susanna Has-
Smith, is a psychological study of child well Rowson. This (Tale of Truth)
life, and also an exposition of our public-
was written about 1790. It was, if not
school system. Doddridge Watts Weaver, the first, one of the first works of fiction
the first-born child of young parents, pos-
written in America; 25,000 copies were
more turbulent nature and a sold within a few years; and it has
stronger individuality than his brothers been republished again and again. It
and sisters. His father, a young Method- was written by an English woman who
ist minister, and his mother, a household came to America with her husband, the
drudge, rejoice when the troublesome baby leader of the band attached to a Brit-
is six years old, and can be turned over ish regiment. She was for some years
to the public schools. His first teacher is favorably known
actress, and
Miss Elmira Stone, a prim spinster, who then opened a boarding-school which for
has studied Froebel's method, but whose twenty-five years ranked first among
application of it is entirely mechanical and such institutions in New England. Her
unintelligent. Dodd rebels against the other writings were numerous, but were
stupidity of her school-room and there es- soon forgotten, while (Charlotte Temple)
tablishes a reputation as bad boy, which still sells. It is a true story, the hero-
he maintains in many different schools ine's real name being Stanley. She was
as his father is transferred from place to granddaughter to the Earl of Derby:
place. At nine he experiences his first and her betrayer, Col. John Montressor
moral awakening as the result of a mer- of the English army, was a relative of
ited thrashing from his grandfather, who Mrs. Rowson herself.
Charlotte's grave
henceforth is the one person whom he re- in Trinity Churchyard, New York, but a
spects. His family move to Embury when few feet away from Broadway, is marked
Dodd is an uncouth, unruly lad of nearly by a stone sunk in the grass. Mrs. Dall,
seventeen. With the exception of Amy
in her (Romance of the Association,' tells
Kelly, an Irish girl of eighteen, who, ig- us that Charlotte's daughter was adopted
norant of systems, governs her district by a rich man, and in after years met
school capably through the exercise of the son of her true father, Montressor, or
mother-wit, his teachers have all been in- Montrevale as the book has it. They fell
competent. But at Embury he is placed in love, and the young man showed his
in charge of Mr. Charles Bright, a wise dying father a miniature of his sweet-
teacher, who studies the individual needs heart's mother (the wretched Charlotte),
of his pupils. His calm resolution conquers to whom she bore a striking likeness, and
Dodd's insolence and rebellion; and is thus the truth was made known. The
slowly reforming him, when Mr. Weaver story in brief is this: Charlotte Temple,
moves to a city where the country-bred a girl of fifteen, elopes from school with
Dodd succumbs to temptation. He becomes Montrevale, an army officer; they come
a drunkard, and goes from bad to worse i to America, where he deserts her and
for a few years, when he is rescued by his marries an heiress. She gives birth to a
old teacher, Mr. Bright. Despairing of his daughter, and dies of want. The style


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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
133
c
(
mama.
and language are strangely old-fashioned,
hysterics and fainting-fits occur on every
page; yet a romantic interest will always
attach to it.
Rose
ose and the Ring, The, by W. M.
Thackeray. (1854. ) In the prelude
to (The Rose and the Ring) the author,
«M. A. Titmarsh, welcomes young and
old to what he calls a «Fireside Panto-
mime. The story grew out of a set of
Twelfth Night pictures that the author
was requested to make for the amuse-
ment of some young English people in
a “foreign city, supposed to be Rome.
The story is a delightful fairy-tale,
with a very quiet satire. It is essentially
a «funny book," not a philosophy in hu-
morous guise.
The Rose is a magic rose belonging
to Prince Bulbo, of Crim Tartary, and
makes its possessor appear always lov-
able. The Ring is a fairy ring given to
Prince Giglio of Paflagonia by his
It also has the property of mak-
ing the wearer seem beautiful to all and
beloved by all.
Prince Giglio and the Princess Ros-
alba, of Crim Tartary, are deprived of
their cightful thrones by their guardian
uncles, who wish to place in power their
own children, Angelica and Bulbo. Ros-
alba is an outcast from her own king-
dom, and reaches the capital of Paflago-
nia, where she becomes maid to the lazy
Angelica, cousin of Giglio.
Giglio and Rosalba are the favorites
of the Fairy Black Stick; although at
their christenings she has given to each,
her best gift, a little misfortune.
This fairy is all-powerful, as is shown
by the terrible fate of old Gruff-a-Nuff,
who, when he refused to admit the fairy
to Angelica's christening, was turned
into a brass knocker on the hall door.
She never forgets Giglio and Rosalba,
nor deserts them in their troubles; but
finally brings a happy issue out of their
misfortunes. This most delightful of
books of its kind was illustrated by the
author's own drawings, which interpret
the story and are an essential part of it.
Great
reat Expectations, Dickens's tenth
novel, was published in 1861, nine
years before his death. As in David
Copperfield,' the hero tells his own story
from boyhood. Yet in several essential
points (Great Expectations) is markedly
different from David Copperfield, and
from Dickens's other novels. Owing to
the simplicity of the plot, and to the
small number of characters, it possesses
greater unity of design. These charac-
ters, each drawn with marvelous distinct-
ness of outline, are subordinated through-
out to the central personage «Pip,” whose
great expectations form the pivot of the
narrative.
But the element that most clearly dis-
tinguishes this novel from the others is
the subtle study of the development of
character through the influence of envi-
ronment and circumstance. In the career
of Pip, a more careful and natural pres-
entation of personality is made than is
usual with Dickens.
He is a village boy who longs to be a
“gentleman. ) His dreams of wealth and
opportunity suddenly come true. He is
supplied with money, and sent to Lon-
don to be educated and to prepare for
his new station in life. Later he discov.
ers that his unknown benefactor is a con-
vict to whom he had once rendered a
service. The convict, returning against
the law to England, is recaptured and
dies in prison, his fortune being forfeited
to the Crown. Pip's great expectations
vanish into thin air.
The changes in Pip's character under
these varying fortunes are most skillfully
depicted. He presents himself first as
a small boy in the house of his dearly
loved brother-in-law, Joe Gargery, the
village blacksmith; having no greater
ambition than to be Joe's apprentice.
After a visit to the house of a Miss
Havisham, the nature of his aspirations
is completely changed. Miss Havisham
is one of the strangest of Dickens's crea-
tions. Jilted by her lover on her wed-
ding night, she resolves to wear her bridal
gown as long as she lives, and to keep
her house as it was when the blow fell
upon her. The candles are always burn-
ing, the moldering banquet is always
spread. In the midst of this desolation
she is bringing up a beautiful little girl,
Estella, as
instrument of revenge,
teaching the child to use her beauty and
her grace to torture men. Estella's first
victim is Pip. She laughs at his rustic
appearance, makes him dissatisfied with
Joe and the life at the forge. When he
finds himself heir to a fortune, it is the
thought of Estella's scorn that keeps him
from returning Joe's honest and faithful
love. As a gentleman ” he plays tricks
with his conscience, seeking always to
excuse his false pride and flimsy ideals
as
an
((


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134
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
of position. The convict's return, and
the consequent revelation of the identity
of his benefactor, humbles Pip. He real-
izes at last the dignity of labor, and the
worth of noble character. He gains a
new and manly serenity after years of
hard work. Estella's pride has also been
humbled and her character purified by
her experiences. The book closes upon
their mutual love.
«I took her hand in mine, and
went out of the ruined place; and as the
morning mists had risen long ago, when
I first left the forge, so the evening mists
were rising now, and in all the broad
expanse of tranquil light they showed to
me, I saw the shadow of no parting from
love with their daughter Fannie; and
when he finds that his suit is hopeless,
he gives up bis position under Mr. Tre-
vanion, and enters Cambridge University,
where his college course is soon closed
by the financial troubles of his father.
A further outline of this story would
give no idea of its charm. The mu-
tual affection of the Caxtons is finely
indicated, and the gradations of light and
shade make a beautiful picture. Never
before had Bulwer written with so light
a touch and so gentle a humor, and this
novel has been called the most brilliant
and attractive of his productions. His
gentle satire of certain phases of politi.
cal life was founded, doubtless, on actual
experience.
we
her. »)
Grania: The Story of an Island,
(Great Expectations) is a delightful
novel, rich in humor and free from false
pathos. The character of Joe Gargery,
simple, tender, quaintly humorous, would
alone give imperishable value to the
book. Scarcely less well-drawn are Pip's
termagant sister, “Mrs. Joe ); the sweet
and wholesome village girl, Biddy, who
becomes Joe's second wife; Uncle Pum-
blechook, obsequious or insolent as the
person he addresses is rich or poor; Pip's
friend and chum in London, the dear
boy Herbert Pocket; the convict with
his wistful love of Pip; bright, imperious
Estella: these are of the immortals in
fiction.
Caxtons, The, by Edward Bulwer, Lord
Lytton. (The Caxtons) was not only
instantly popular in England, but 35,000
copies were sold in America within three
years after its publication in 1850. The
Caxtons are Austin Caxton, a scholar en-
gaged on a great work, «The History of
Human Error;' his wife Kitty, much his
junior; his brother Roland, the Captain,
who has served in the Napoleonic cam-
paigns; the two children of the latter,
Herbert and Blanche; and Austin's son,
Pisistratus, who tells the story. The quiet
country life of the family of Austin Cax-
ton interrupted by a visit to London.
There Pisistratus, who has had a good
school education, though he has not yet
entered the university, is offered the po-
sition of secretary to Mr. Trevanion, a
leader in Parliament. Lady Ellinor, Mr.
Trevanion's wife, was loved as a girl by
Roland and Austin Caxton; but she had
passed them both by to make a marriage
better suited to an ambitious woman. By
a freak of fate Pisistratus now falls in
by the Hon. Emily Lawless. (1892. )
(Grania' has awakened much interest as
the story of a little-understood section
of Ireland, the Arran Isles. The aim of
its author was to produce a picture true
in atmosphere and in detail to all the
characteristics of Irish life; an aim fully
achieved. Grania is first introduced as
a child of twelve, sailing in Galway Bay
with her father, Con O'Malley, in his
"hooker” or fishing smack. Grania, with
her dark skin and hair, show's the strain
of Spanish blood coming to her from her
mother, a Joice, from the Continent,
as the people of Arran call Ireland itself.
Six years later when Con is dead, Grania,
a handsome, high-spirited girl, takes sole
care of her invalid sister Honor. Hum-
ble though their two-roomed, square cabin
is, it is the most comfortable in the
neighborhood; and owning it and the bit
of land around it, Grania is the richest
girl of the place. She is industrious
and independent, gets in her own crops
of potatoes and oats, and fattens her
calves and pigs for the market. Mur-
dough Blake, handsome, vain, and a great
braggart, accepts Grania's affection as a
matter of course, almost feeling that he
is doing her a favor when he condescends
to borrow money from her. There is no
plot, and the incidents serve to show
the noble character of the girl. "Grania)
contains many glimpses of the folk-lore
and customs of the Irish peasants, and
the gloom and sordidness of their life
as it was thirty years ago is vividly pre-
sented. Besides the chief figures of the
story, there are several other interesting
types: Shan Daly, the vagabond, and


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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
135
his neglected family; Peggy O'Dowd and in one of his letters.
In the compan-
other gossips; red-haired Teige O'Shaugh-ionship of the Hermit, and under his
nessey, who adores Grania; and Pete guidance, the adventurer explores Clover-
Durane and his father, with their old- nook, and discourses of it. He learns of
school manners.
the Kingdom of As-you-like, whither the
dwellers in Clovernook repair yearly;
Charles Auchester, a musical novel by
the Land of Turveytop, where men are
Elizabeth Sara Sheppard, an Eng-
lishwoman, was written when she was
purged of their worldliness; the Isle of
Jacks; Honey-Bee Bay; and at the pleas-
sixteen, and published a few years later,
ant inn called “Gratis ) he meets the
in 1853.
The manuscript was first sub-
mitted to Disraeli, who prophesied that
Twenty-Five Club and other gentle phi-
losophers, in whose tales and conversation
the book would become a classic. His
the realities of the crude world outside
enthusiasm may have been owing in part
are refined into the dreams of this realm
to the fact that the hero is of Jewish
of fancy. "Clovernook) charms by its
extraction, and that the author pays the
quiet humor, the grace of its fancies, and
highest tributes to the genius and glory
the benevolence which characterizes even
of the Hebrew race. The novel records
its satire. It is the work to which Mr.
the development of one Charles Auches-
Jerrold referred as, in certain parts, best
ter, who from earliest childhood has his
expressing himself as he wished the
very being in the world of harmony. His
world to understand him. It was writ-
story, told by himself, is a blending of
ten in the prime of his literary career, at
his outer and inner life in one beautiful
the age of forty years, while he was the
web of experience. He introduces him-
self as a child in an old English town,
leading contributor to Punch, with his
living a quiet sequestered life with his
position well established as one of the
mother and sister. Afterwards he goes
popular writers of the day. Appearing
to the Cæcilia School in Germany to carry
serially in that paper, The Chronicles
of Clovernook) was published separately
on his musical education. The guiding
star of his life there is Seraphael, a mar-
in 1846, and has since had its place in
the collected works of its author.
velous young genius, whose very presence
is an inspiration. By Seraphael is meant
Mendelssohn, whose career is followed Put
Yourself in His Place, by Charles
closely throughout. Jenny Lind is sup-
Reade (1870) is a dramatic novel
with a purpose. The scene is laid in
posed to be the original of another of
Auchester's friends, Clara Bennette, a
Hillsborough, an English manufacturing
famous singer. Many musical events are
city; and the story relates the struggles
described with remarkable fidelity to the
of Henry Little, workman and inventor,
spirit as well as to the letter of such oc-
against the jealousy and prejudice of
the trades-unions. Because he is a Lon-
currences. The entire book, fanciful and
doner, because he is better trained and
extravagant though it is in parts, is steeped
in an indescribable golden atmosphere
consequently better paid than the Hills-
borough men, because he invents quicker
of music, and of the spiritual exaltation
which musicians know. As the record
processes and labor-saving devices, he
is subjected to series of persecu-
of spiritual experiences whose source is
tions worthy of the Dark Ages, and is
harmonious sound, Charles Auchester)
ground between the two millstones of
is perhaps unique in the whole range of
Capital and Labor;- for if the workmen
fiction.
are ferocious and relentless, they have
Chro
hronicles of Clovernook, The, by learned their villainy from the masters
Douglas Jerrold. Clovernook is a and bettered the instruction. This stern
(hamlet wherein fancy has loitered away study of social problems, however, is no-
a truant hour,» «the work of some sprite where a tract, but always the story of
that in an idle and extravagant mood Henry Little, who is as devoted a lover
made it a choice country-seat. ” Into as he is honest a workman, as thorough
this land of fantasy the author rides in a social reformer as a clear, practical
the twilight; the sagacity of his ass, thinker, and the hero of as bitter a fight
whose name is Bottom, bringing him against prejudice, worldly ambition, and
through unknown paths to the house of unscrupulous rivalry outside the mills,
the Hermit of Bellyfulle — the very as that which he wages against «The
pope of Hermits," as Dickens styled him Trades. ) Among the notable figures in
a
>)


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136
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
ness.
the book are Squire Raby, Henry's see Paul once more; Scrope travels night
uncle, a gentleman of the old school; and day to bring him, but arrives on
Jael Dence, the country girl, simple, Paul's wedding day, and returns alone
honest, and strong; Grotait, the gentle- to find Lenore dead.
manly president of the Saw-Grinders' The change that love brings in Lenore,
Union, with his suave manners and his the effect Paul has on her intense, pas-
nickname of «Old Smitem"; and Dr. sionate nature, and the clashing of his
Amboyne, philanthropist and peacemaker, will against hers, make interesting char-
who maintains that to get on with any. acter studies.
body you
must understand him, and
when you understand him you will get
,
Rutledge, a novel, by Miriam Coles
Harris, created a veritable sensation
on with him. His favorite motto is the
in its day, for its freshness and bright-
title of the book. Like all of Charles
A peculiarity of the story, sup-
Reade's stories, Put Yourself in His
posed to be told by the heroine, is that
Place) has a wealth of dramatic inci-
the author has achieved the awkward
dent, and moves with dash and vigor.
and uncalled-for feat of not once men-
tioning the young lady's name in the
Good-bye, Sweetheart, by Miss Rhoda
entire course of it. About the year 1854
Broughton, is a bright, amusing
she is brought from school to the house
contemporary love story in three parts,
of Arthur Rutledge, her guardian, for
- Morning,' Noon,' and Night,'— told
whom she conceives a secret admiration.
in the third person by the author, and
Some months later she goes to an aunt
in the first by Jemima Herrick, the hero-
in New York, enters society, and
ine's plain elder sister. In Part i. the
wrongly supposing Rutledge to be inter-
scene is laid in Brittany, where Jemima
ested in her cousin, allows herself to
and Lenore are leading a bohemian life.
become engaged to Victor Viennet, a
Lenore, who is young and beautiful, finds
brilliant youth of doubtful antecedents.
an admirer in Frederick West; but she
During a visit to Rutledge's country
prefers his friend Paul Le Mesurier. A
home, Victor is threatened with expos-
spoilt child, she is accustomed to have
ure by Dr. Hugh, who knows that he is
her own way; and now that she is in
bearing an assumed name; and, goaded
love for the first time, she determines
to desperation, he kills him. While hid-
to win Paul. He is an ugly man with a
den in Rutledge's house, by connivance
bad temper, eighteen years her senior,
of his betrothed, the murderer confesses
but the only person who can conquer her
that he is the nameless son of Rut-
willfulness. Against his better judgment
ledge's sister, led astray in her girlhood
he finally yields to her attractions, and
and long since dead. Then, in despair,
the day before he returns to England
he shoots himself in the secret room,
they become engaged.
once his mother's, and fast closed since
In Part ii. the scene is laid in Eng-
her fight in disgrace.
After a proper
land, where, after absence of six
interval, Rutledge and the young lady
months, Paul and Lenore come together
discover that they have loved each other
again in a country-house. He is jealous
from the first, and all ends happily.
of Charles Scrope, a handsome youth,
Those who enjoy plenty of mystery, and
who has followed Lenore to England;
do not object to unions between middle-
and at a ball where Paul exacts too
aged guardians and their youthful
much, the lovers quarrel, and Paul, mad
wards, will read this once highly popu-
with jealousy, leaves Lenore forever. In
lar tale with pleasure. Its author shows
her desperation she promises to marry
herself to be possessed of religious feel-
Scrope, but on the day of the wedding
ing, and has tried, not too obtrusively,
she finds that she cannot bring herself
to instill a salutary moral lesson.
to become his wife.
In Part iii. Lenore goes to Switzerland
Israel Mort, Overman, by John Saun-
with her sisters, to recover her health, ders, (1876,) is a strong plea for
meets Paul accidentally, is more in love English miners. The author strenuously
with him than ever, but learns that he desires the government to enforce better
is engaged to his cousin. From this sanitary conditions and precautionary
time she grows rapidly worse; Scrope
He traces the formation of
devotes himself to her comfort, but noth- carbon, and finds an intolerable contrast
ing can save her. Her last desire is to between the sunlit tropical forests of
an
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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
137
ever
son
past ages, and the dark loathsome gal- | compelled by his dæmon as Socrates.
leries where men grope for coal in con- He throws away his chances, comes near
stant danger from explosion, suffocation, to shipwrecking his happiness, and ac-
or inundation, He pictures the life of cepts his unpleasant position as a matter
a mining village centring at the black
of course. Contrasted with roughness
mouth of the pit. An atmosphere of and noble intolerance, which are his most
dread hangs over everything. The moth- obtrusive characteristics, is the charming
ers grieve over their baby sons at the daintiness of the exquisite Esther Lyon,
thought of the fate awaiting them. The whom he loves, and who dreads above
boys disappear from school when very all things to be made ridiculous, till a
young. They put on miners' suits and sight grander than many women
fearfully accompany their fathers down see - a man absolutely honest with man
the pit to work, which makes them pre- and God - stirs the depths of her moral
maturely old. The other children see nature. The character of Harold Tran-
their grimy figures from time to time, some, the fine gentleman of the book,
and shudder. The miner cannot hope struck out by the same strong hand that
for great rewards; and his life crushes drew Grandcourt in Daniel Deronda, ' -
out joy and spontaneity. With a gifted a handsome, clever, frank, good-natured
and exceptional man like Israel Mort, egoist. The minor characters stand out
it spurs to a fierce resolution to extri- distinct and vivid. The covetous upstart,
cate himself, and he exemplifies how Jermyn; Esther's father, the rusty old
easily a spirit of cupidity makes light Puritan preacher; Mrs. Transome, well-
of human life. His fiercely determined born, high-bred, splendid in her sumptu-
figure dominates the book as he does ous, fading, anxious beauty, and carry-
his gentle wife and timid imaginative | ing her tragical secret in a hand that
David. For the latter he plans a scarcely trembles, but that may be made
brilliant future; but first he will have to drop the fragile thing by a rude
him serve apprenticeship in all stages of touch; the shadowy squire, her husband;
mining work, and thus expel his weak Mrs. Holt, the eulogist of the priceless
fears of the mine. But David escapes infallible pills; Denner, the butler's hard-
to a more natural life. The long-dreaded headed and faithful wife, the white-faced
catastrophe arrives at last, bringing human monkey, Job; the aristocratic
death and suffering, melting and regen- Debarrys; gipsy-eyed and irrepressible
erating Israel's hard nature, and Harry; the sporting and port-drinking
sulting in a new and better state of
parson, John Lingon, not half a bad fel-
things. The strong and gloomy tale low, with his doctrine, "If the mob can't
shows mining as hard and dangerous be turn back, a man of family must
work at best; and shows, too, the ad- try to head the mob,»— they all live and
visability of legal supervision.
move. «One group succeeds another,
and not a single figure appears in any
Felix Holt, the Radical, by George of them, though it be ever so far in the
Eliot (Mrs. Lewes). (1866. ) As a background, which is not perfectly drawn
picture of upper middle-class and indus-
and perfectly colored. ”
trial English life of the period of the
Reform Bill agitation, this book is unsur-
First Violin, The, a noteworthy mu-
passed. If the critics who set George sical novel by Jessie Fothergill (1877),
Eliot highest as a delineator of character describes the romantic experiences of an
find the story clogged with moralities, English girl, May Wedderburn, while
and hindered by its machinery, the crit- she is studying music in Germany. Al-
ics who value her most for her pictures though the plot is somewhat conven-
of life and nature rank Felix Holt' tional, a certain freshness or enthusiasm .
among her best achievements. It is in the composition of the book endows
bright in tone, it shows little of the it with vitality. The heroine leaves
underlying melancholy of George Eliot's home to avoid marriage with
a Sir
nature, and its humor is rich and per- Peter Le Marchant. She is enabled to
vading. Its hero, Felix Holt, is a young do this through an elderly neighbor,
workman whose capacity might attain Miss Hallam, whose sister has been
anything, if his overpowering conscience the first wife of Sir Peter, and has been
would let him conform to the ways of a cruelly treated by him. As Miss Hal-
comfort-loving world. But he is as much lam's companion, May goes to Elberthal
re-


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138
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
on the Rhine near Cologne, one of those and run away, taking refuge in the de-
little German towns given up to music. serted Dench house (the estate of Sir
On the journey thither, Miss Wedder- Charles Henry Frankland), where they
burn is separated by accident from her are found and returned to the village
traveling companions. A good-looking by Horace's uncle and Sam Lawson,
stranger comes to her assistance. He the village do-nothing, a quaint charac-
proves to be Eugen Courvoisier, first ter whose droll actions and sayings en-
violin in the orchestra, a
man about liven the whole book.
whom is the fascination of mystery. Tina is then adopted by Miss Mehit-
Taking offense at a supposed discourt- able Rossiter, daughter of the former
esy of the beautiful young English girl clergyman of the parish, while Harry is
whom he had protected, he refuses to under the patronage of Lady Lothrop.
recognize her. She, for her part, is al- On Easter Sunday, the children, with
ready in love with him. By the kind- Horace, are taken in her great coach, by
ness of Miss Hallam, she remains in Lady Lothrop, to Boston, where they
Elberthal to have her voice cultivated, attend service at King's Chapel, and
and her lessons in music and in love meet prominent people in the city.
go on until the happy ending of the They make the acquaintance of Ellery
story. Her love is put to the touch by Davenport, a former officer in the Con-
the supposed dishonor of Courvoisier, tinental army whose characteristics closely
but bears the test without failing. "The resemble those of Aaron Burr. He rec-
First Violin) abounds in dramatic de- ognizes the Percivals as belonging to
scriptions of musical life in a small an excellent family, and finally secures
Rhine city, and makes the reader pleas- a valuable English inheritance for the
antly at home in middle-class German children. Henry, after leaving college,
households, where he learns to respect, returns to England to manage his estate,
if he does not admire, middle-class Ger- and finally takes orders in the Church
man respectability and calm content. of England. Tina is married to Ellery
If the book has the sentimentality of Davenport; but immediately after the
youth, its romance is altogether innocent ceremony Emily Rossiter, whose myste-
and pleasing.
rious disappearance some years before
was a cause of intense grief to her fam-
Old Town Folks, by Harriet Beecher ily, returns from Europe, confronts El-
Stowe. This work was published lery, and tells how he allured her from
The scene is Old Town; the home to live with him out of wedlock.
time, a period just succeeding the Revo- Tina adopts Emily's daughter, and goes
lution. A description of Natick, the old abroad with her husband. After their
Indian Mission town, and its famous return to America, Ellery devotes him-
Parson Lothrop, — whose stately bear- self to public affairs, and is eventually
ing, whose sermons in Addisonian Eng- killed in a political duel. Two years
lish, and whose scholarly temperament, later, Horace Holyoke is united to his
marked him as a social and intellectual first love, Tina. The story chiefly lives
leader,– introduces the story.
in the character of Sam Lawson.
« Lady» Lothrop, the parson's wife,
at the time of her marriage stipulated Count Robert of Paris, by Sir Walter
that she should be permitted to attend
Scott The scene is laid in Con-
Episcopal services on Christmas, Easter, stantinople during the reign of Alex-
and other great days of the church. ius Comnenus (1080-1118). The hero
Horace Holyoke, nominally author of the is a French nobleman who with his wife,
book, is left an orphan when a
Brenhilda, has gone on the first Crusade
boy. He tells how the views of Cal- (1196-99). While dining at the palace they
vinists and Arminians, and great ques- are separated by the Emperor's treachery,
tions of freedom and slavery, were freely and the Count is thrown into prison, from
discussed at the village gatherings.
which he releases himself with the assist-
Henry and Tina Percival, English or- ance of the Varangian Hereward the
phans, were consigned respectively to Saxon. Brenhilda, in the mean while, is
old Crab Smith and to Miss Asphyxia exposed to the unwelcome attentions of
Smith, illustrations of the malign influ- the Emperor's son-in-law, Nicephorus Bri-
ence of a misplaced adherence to the ennius, whom she challenges to combat.
old theology. The children are ill-treated When the time for the duel comes, Count
in 1869.
(
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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
139
Robert appears himself; in the absence ! latter had disinherited the father of Con-
of Briennius Hereward engages him and ingsby for marrying an amiable girl of
is overcome, but his life is spared in return less exalted station than his own. Their
for his past services. While the interest orphan son is now entirely dependent on
is centred in the fortunes of the hero and
his grandfather. Lord Monmouth, though
Hereward, these are closely connected with showing little affection for the boy, is gen-
the conspiracy of the false philosopher erous to him. He sends him to Eton and
Agelastes, Briennius, and Achilles Tatius, to Cambridge, and has him often visit
the commander of the Varangian Guard, him at his town-house or his Castle. These
to dethrone the Emperor. The plot is visits bring the boy in contact with many
exposed by Hereward, who refuses all re- interesting persons, such as the fascinat-
wards, and joins Count Robert and Bren- ing Sidonia, in whom Disraeli paints his
hilda, in whose maid he has discovered his ideal Jew; the Princess Colonna, and her
old Saxon love Bertha. Other characters stepdaughter Lucretia, whom the Marquis
introduced are Anna Comnena, daughter marries; the Duke (who has been identi-
of Alexius and author of the Alexiad; fied as the Duke of Rutland), the sub-
the Patriarch of the Greek Church; Ursel, servient Rigby (in whom John Wilson
a former conspirator; Godfrey of Bouillon, Croker is supposed to be portrayed), and
and other leaders of the Crusade. Many a host of personages of high degree with
historical facts are altered for artistic ef- imposing titles.
There are
more than
fect. At the time of the story Anna was threescore characters in the book, and
only fourteen instead of over thirty, and part of its popularity came from people's
was not the heiress to the throne. The interest in identifying them with men
conspiracy anticipates her later attempt to and women prominent in English social
overthrow her brother John, and substitute and political life. Sidonia, the brilliant
her husband. The most striking scene is Jew, is said to be either Disraeli himself
the swearing allegiance by the Crusaders or Baron Alfred de Rothschild. Lucian
to the Emperor as overlord, in which Gay is Theodore Hook, and Oswald Mill-
Count Robert defiantly seats himself on bank is W. E.