The Marble Prophecy, and Other Poems.By J. G. Holland. New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co.
When our holy church, with its venerated head, its divine sacraments and sacred ceremonies, is chosen by a writer of merit as the object upon which he feels himself moved to pour forth his scathing abuse or stinging ridicule, we bear his ponderous strokes or parry his keen thrusts as best we may, confessing to the pardonable weakness of feeling complimented at being called to the lists by an adversary of some strength of arm or sharpness of [pg 432] weapon; but, when one from the common crowd of chance-assembled knights, like our quondam Timothy Titcomb, presumes unchallenged to invite the attention of that respectable audience—the American public—to his little tilt against the giant of centuries, and, in his overeagerness to take a share in the fray, disports himself upon such a sorry steed as the “Marble Prophecy,” laden with “other poems” as a makeweight, we at once look about us to see if we have not a serviceable cane at hand for the use of the same discriminating public, et voila!
Roundabout Rambles in Lands of Fact and Fancy. By Frank R. Stockton. 1 vol. small 4to. New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co.
This is an instructive work, compiled with much judgment and good taste from various authors, and is beautifully illustrated, making it a very desirable holiday present for the young folk.
Niagara: Its History and Geology, Incidents and Poetry. With illustrations. By George W. Holley. New York: Sheldon & Co. 1872.
This is something more than a mere Murray, or guide-book, at the same time that it serves as a valuable reference to the intelligent tourist. Besides some historical and topographical descriptions, for which he draws on the works of Shea, Parkman, Marshall, the Relations of the Early Jesuit Missionaries, and State Documents, in addition to his own observations, he indulges in some geological speculations which will attract the attention of scientific readers. The whole is interspersed with anecdotes, incidents, and poetical scraps which will serve to relieve the tedium of travel, and hotel life.
A Hidden Life, and Other Poems. By George Macdonald, LL.D., Author of “Within and Without,” “Wilfred Cumbermede,”etc. New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co. 1872.
There is true poetry in this volume. The author possesses, in our judgment, powers of a high order. His mind, too, is of a deeply religious cast; and we wonder how he can remain a Protestant after his struggles with doubt on the one hand, as shown in the poem of “The Disciple,” and his attractions to Catholicity on the other, as evinced especially in his poem on “The Gospel Woman,” and most in the opening one, “The Mother Mary.” But then he has a laudatory sonnet “To Garibaldi.”
The “Catholic Publication Society” has in press, and will publish simultaneously with its appearance in England, from advance sheets furnished by the author, a new work, entitled, My Clerical Friends, by the author of The Comedy of Convocation. This will be the only authorized edition published in this country.