'The Wrongs of Woman.'—'The forsaken Home' is the sub-title of the second part of this series by Charlotte Elizabeth, whose English fame is not greater than her reputation in America. Here now is a picture of domestic struggles and privations; of female suffering and sorrow; of a deserted home and hopeless, ill-requited toil; which bears incontestable evidence of being but too faithful to its original; and it is so affecting, we may add revolting, that we marvel somewhat that those doughty philanthropists who manifest so much sympathy for the 'neglected and the down-trodden' on this side the Atlantic do not lessen the radius of their humane telescopes, and 'take a short look about home' for objects of commiseration and charity. That our readers may see how much this is needed, we commend them to a perusal of the volume before us, which may be found at M. W. Dodd's book-store, Brick-church Chapel.
The 'Mysteries of Paris.'—We little thought, when we presented the first English translation of a scene from this remarkable work, that in less than two months it would be borne on the wings of rival American presses into every nook and corner of this vast republic. But so it is. The MS. of Mr. Charles H. Town, from which we quoted, was seized with such avidity by the Brothers Harper that the translator was left without leisure to smooth over and soften the too literal features of his work, having quite enough to do to finish it in time for the printers. The 'New-World' edition, translated by Mr. Demming, now near its completion, is executed with fidelity and good taste, is well printed, and has been favorably received at the hands of the public. The rival editions will each be entirely exhausted by the current demand; and in view of their cheapness, few will be disposed to invoke 'a plague on both the houses' whence they proceed.
Elements of Natural Philosophy: Silk Culture.—Messrs. Greely and M'Elrath have published, in a cheap but substantial form, for the use of schools and academies, the tenth edition of Gales's 'Elements of Natural Philosophy.' The general plan of Blair's work is preserved in the volume, which embraces the principles of mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, acoustics, optics, electricity, galvanism, magnetism, and astronomy, and is illustrated by several hundred wood-engravings. The same publishers have put forth an illustrated pamphlet upon the culture of silk, with historical sketches of the silk business, in Europe and the United States; the natural history of the silk-worm, mulberry-tree, etc.; a useful work, and one which supplies an important desideratum to silk-growers.
New Publications of the Brothers Harper.—'Woman an Enigma, or Life and its Revelations,' a new production of the author of 'Conquest and Self-Conquest,' is much affected of the ladies; to which fact we are indebted for our inability to speak more at large of its merits. 'The Banker's Wife,' or 'Court and City,' a novel by Mrs. Gore, is also warmly commended by the public press, but we have not found a moment's leisure to devote to its perusal. In the way of Anti-Puseyism, we have 'The True Churchman Warned against the Errors of the Time,' with notes by Dr. Anthon, and 'The True Issue Sustained, or an Exhibit of the Views and Spirit of the Episcopal Press in relation to the recent Ordination of Mr. Cary.' All these publications are characterized by the usual neatness of works from the Harpers' press.
'Nature and Revelation.'—The object of this work is to show the present condition of the churches, and the change now to come upon the world, by the Second Advent, in Spirit, of the Messiah, with interpretations of the Prophecies in Daniel and the Book of Revelation. The different states of the church, under the Apostolic, Roman, Vandal, Reformed, and present eras, are considered, as well as the new order and era of things which is now to succeed, in which the old churches and nations are to pass away, under the influence of the true gospel. The volume is from the pen of H. N. Van Amringe, author of 'The Seals Opened, or a Voice to the Jews,' and is published by R. P. Bixby and Company, Park-Row.
Publications of Messrs. Burgess and Stringer.—These gentlemen are doing good service to the public in the series of useful little books which they are placing before their countrymen. We find on our table neat yet cheap editions of Mrs. Ellis's 'House-Keeping Made Easy,' adapted to our own meridian by an American Lady; a book on 'Knitting, Netting, and Crotchet Work,' revised and enlarged; Abernethy's 'Family Physician, or Ready Prescriber,' an excellent little volume; and a 'Lecture on the Oregon Territory,' by Peter A. Browne, LL. D., of Philadelphia.
FOOTNOTES
[1] Some animals are self-taught. The mocking-bird whistles for the dog; Cæsar starts up and runs to meet his master. He squeaks out like a hurt chicken, and the hen hurries about with hanging wings and bristling feathers, clucking to protect her injured brood. The barking of the dog, the mewing of the cat, the creaking of the passing wheel-barrow, follow with great truth and rapidity. He repeats the tune taught him by his master, though of considerable length, fully and faithfully. He runs over the quiverings of the Canary and the clear whistlings of the Virginia nightingale, or red-bird, with such superior execution and effect, that the mortified songsters feel their own inferiority, and become silent, while he seems to triumph in their defeat by redoubling his exertions.—Wilson.
[2] Buff. II., 188.
[3] Ibid. II., 185.