By

SYLVESTRE ENDERBY, THE POET. Louis Sand. (Joseph Masters, London.)-We should have liked this tale much better had it been less morbid in its tone, and less polemical in its tendencies; for although the author deprecates in the preface the intention to advocate religious controversy, if the argumentative portion of the volume be taken away from it, the heart of the book is gone. The story is of two brothers, the eldest of whom is a hard man of business, with an apparent, but wholly unaccounted-for dislike to his brother, who loves nature better than his office, and life in the country more than that of the town. The one as a matter of course succeeds; the other, restless and dissatisfied, fails to fulfil his clerkly duties, and is dismissed his office. From a boy he has felt the aspirations of a poet, and being free to follow his own impulses, he is soon heard of as one. He even hears "Mary"-the rich merchant's daughter, who has befriended him and his brother in their orphaned condition, and whom he loves-" singing one of his own songs." But his great work is unfinished. His successful brother threatens to be his rival, and is talked of as the intended husband of Mary: and this new and sudden trial changes the spirit of the poet: the virtues of submission and trust are replaced by a spirit of rebellion:

and the highest punishment which sacred and | other, and thus, without absolutely comhuman laws have awarded to the deepest crimes mingling,diffusing, we hope, a mutual tolerance. (that of death) bestowed as the visible judgment of a retributive God, for the venial sin of a natural vanity on the part of a young and pretty girl, in the surreptitious wearing of a bunch of artificial flowers. Had the story aimed simply at moral teaching, the events would all be natural enough, but there is something terrible to us in these stories, which affect to detail the judgment of the Almighty, and attribute trials and sorrows of our own making to HIM whose eyes, we are told, are too pure to behold iniquity, and who maketh the sun to shine on the just and on the unjust. Apart from what we conceive to be a doctrinal error, though a popular one, we are much pleased with this sad but pretty story, which is very sweetly and tenderly written. The plot is natural, and sustains the readers' interest throughout-nay, in the deathbed scene, and the management of the previous bouleversment between poor Mary and her sweetheart (honest, manly Tom Dawker) the author evidences talent for much higher writing. The present story is one of humble life, and the events and characters such as spontaneously occur in it. The latter are honestly drawn, from the weak, almost colourless one of Mary's mother (Mrs. Elwes) to the headstrong, generous, thoughtless Mr. Dunn. And her husband, "who crept through life in the shadow of his wife's portly person, and was rarely seen outside his workshop, unless it were when summoned by his missus's loud tones he appeared inch-tape and ruler in hand, and dropped on the ground before his customers to take the dimensions of their feet and ankles." Rough, kindly Hannah Carlton, too, is well delineated; but, with the exception of Ellen Woodhouse, whose quiet picture is a very pleasing one, we confess that the good people of the book are the least interesting characters in it: they keep the even tenour of their way with such faultless decorum that we know very little of Aunt Susan, except from reputation, or of her namesake niece, to whom we confess to having taken a dislike from the first, for the anxiety she evinces (by prying into her sister's box, &c., in her absence) to bring home the fact of her disobedience to her mother's wishes in wearing thin boots and the fatal artificials-in fact we cannot help regarding Mary as the victim of circumstances throughout flattered by her mother, petted by her other relatives, and placed under the influence of her weak and worldly godmother, we do not, as we before said, recognize the justice of the severity with which she is punished, nor of the principle in a religious point of view, which her punishment is intended to illustrate. We shall hope to meet this writer again on less debateable ground. We learn from the work, that volunteer balls are doing in country places what the good chancellor of Lichfield has so vainly endeavoured at in his vicinity-helping to fuse the various grades of society by bringing them in contact with each

he

He wrote, and a new power was in his pen, a stern bitterness which it had not before. He was no longer the poet, seeking in all the simplicity of a loving faith for the beautiful and good and holy. The then must the beautiful be also dead. good-where was that? and if the good were dead, Poetry no longer satisfies him, though he is growing rich in writing it; he craves more work, desires some abstract idea to follow up, a problem to solve; goes beyond his depth, and grows sceptical-no, not quite that, but was floundering about in a dreary waste, out of which he saw no road." His gift of genius, because he had trusted to his own strength, had become a temptation to him: his motto, no longer "Gloria in excelsis Deo," but a simple and earthly "Excelsior." In the midst of his trials he becomes ill, humbled, and repentant. His oldest and most loving friend, the merchant's wife, and the merchant himself, visits him. Mary will marry no one else; and in the end all turns out happily. We have no doubt that the little tale will find readers and admirers. The author is not without power, and her earnestness acquits her work of the sin, too common in many of our current admixtures of religion and fiction—that of having written, not from conscientious motives, but to a publisher's order. The late period of its receipt has obliged us to forego a longer

notice.

THE ENGLISHWOMAN'S JOURNAL. (19, Langham Place, Regent Street: Kent and Co., Paternoster-row). The January number of this journal is more than usually interesting,

Newlyn and its Fishwomen," by L. N., is a, BRAVEST? By L. A. Hall. THE STRAYED readable and pleasant paper, with a fair amount of local information. Miss Parke's article, "Madame Marie Pape-Carpentier"-one of those active and clever women who have done so much for education and literature connected with it, and whose daily life as directrice of the Cours Pratique de Salles d'Asile-presents a very interesting account of her efforts. Isa Craig contributes some very sweet verses entitled "Never to know," and Mrs. Bodichon entertains and informs us upon the subject of painted windows as women's work. "The Black Country" might be made more attractive in a literary point of view. The usual other matters discussed in these pages possess more than usual interest.*

MAGNET STORIES: WHICH WAS THE

* In our next "The Severn Valley," a series of sketches, descriptive and pictorial, of the course of

FALCON. By the author of "The Heir of Redclyffe." (London: Groombridge and Sons, 5, Paternoster-row).-The want of space has pressed out our notices of these pretty greencoated storytellers, for the past two months. Now, however, we beg to recall our young friends' attention to them, for the tales maintain their interest as the series progresses, and we scarcely know which of the two before us to call the best. Boys and girls are equally catered for in both stories, and those who visit Anemoe and the Bowen family, join with them in their boating parties on the Shannon, and pleasant evenings at home, will just as much enjoy the interior of the Scotch Farm-house at Cramond, and more romantic story of "The Strayed Falcon."

the Severn.-(London, J. S. Virtue, City-road and Ivy-lane.)

AMUSEMENTS OF THE MONTH.

At DRURY LANE the pantomime of "The House that Jack built" has been "a palpable hit." The opening is witty, the scenery magnificent, the masks the most comical, and the clowns and pantaloons all that can be desired. The vast theatre is nightly crowded to overflowing, and that is a pretty good proof of the success and estimation in people's minds of the Christmas piece, in which, by the way, there is one scene the building of Jack's house-which deservedly calls forth the loudest approbation.

At the

the faction fight are two scenes worth going to see alone.

THE OLYMPIC

Has a burlesque, "The King of the Merrows," in which Mr. Robson's genius displays itself brilliantly; but as regards the piece itself we cannot say much in laudation, though "chacun à son goût;" and it has met with fair success. An adaptation from the French, "Slowtop's Engagements," has been produced. The plot amounts to this: A man finds a coat, with a note-book in the pocket, containing certain engagements;" these he proceeds to carry out, and meets with all kinds of improbable adventures. The acting was admirable, for the piece has a very strong "cast;" the success of the piece on its own merits, equivocal. On the stage of the

ST. JAMES's

The burlesque of "Perseus and Andromeda," in our humble opinion the best one of the season, has been graced with Miss Herbert's charming acting and appearance as Andromeda, and enlivened by Mr. F. Mathews' drollery as Polydectes. The scenery is excellent; and a bit of stage-business, the sudden petrifaction of a group of guards by the disclosure of the Gorgon's head, is one of the most striking and beautiful hits we have ever seen on the stage. To all who wish to see an extravaganza really like what such a piece should be (and not a mere succession of puns and parodies strung together by an absurd plot, as now seems

BURFORD'S PANORAMA,

LEICESTER SQUARE,

fashionable), we say, "Go and see Mr. Brough's sterner scenes. Miss Herbert was, as the 'Perseus and Andromeda." " Mr. G. Vining Comtesse (as she always is), full of grace and (under whose management the theatre now is) | fascination. A cotillon was danced in the bas produced a three-act drama from the second act by the characters, presenting a beauFrench, "Self-made," which deservedly received tiful picture, and the piece was received with unanimous applause. Briefly this is the plot: unanimous acclamation by a crowded house. M. de Boulonne (Mr. Stephens) is very anxious to accomplish a marriage between the charming Comtesse de Presle (Miss Herbert) and his son. The Comtesse has, however, a tender recollection of a young Creole lover whom she has not seen since she quitted St. Domingo for France. There is at the Court at this time a most accomplished Mulatto, the Chevalier St. Georges (Mr. Vining), a perfect "Admirable Crichton," who is, in fact, the young Creole. He and the Countess love each other. She frees him, and refuses to marry De Boulonne's son. Thereupon the son declares the truth about St. Georges, and a challenge ensues. They do not fight, as M. de Boulonne at last declares St. Georges to be his own son, by a slave-mother; everyone is reconciled, and the piece ends happily. Mr. Vining's acting as the "self-made" man was graceful, dashing, and energetic in the

Is well worth a visit now. The beautiful views of Rome, Messina, and Switzerland afford endless food for contemplation to those who like to see the portraiture of some of earth's loveliest places. The splendid perspective of these paintings, allowing the eye to rove as it were miles seaward, is most remarkable. By the way, the price of admission having been lowered to a shilling is a further inducement to a visit.

W. R.

LADIES' PAGE.

The designs for the late Work-table department having been found to occupy more space than the growing exigencies of our journal as a literary organ can afford, we have resolved for the future to give such patterns as can be easily worked without the aid of the graver's art.

LAMP SHADE IN GREEN TULLE, TRIMMED WITH ROSES.

This is a new and elegant design, and has the | advantage of being easily and quickly made. Have a light frame of iron-wire made to order, the size of your lamp. This should be tulipshaped, with eight petals, contracted like the natural flower towards the top. Cover this frame with green tulle-three thicknesses will be found most effective. When it is firmly and

neatly covered, edge it with a narrow ruching of rose-coloured ribbon, carrying a row down each rib of the frame, and then either wreathe it diagonally with sprays of miniature artificial flowers, or scatter it over with little bouquets of roses and leaves, the latter of a lighter tint than the lamp-shade.

TOILET D'OYLEY.

MATERIALS:-The Boar's Head Crochet Cotton of Messrs. Walter Evans and Co., of Derby, No. 8.

Tie a small ring, and in it work 18 long crochet stitches.

2nd ROW.-Two long stitches between every stitch.

3rd-Three long stitches in every bunch of two stitches.

4th.-Three long stitches between the first and second stitch of every bunch.

5th.-Four long stitches between the first and second stitch of every bunch, and so on, increasing one stitch every row, until you have the mat the size you desire. The one before me is increased to ten stitches in every bunch. The last two rows are done in colours, and form the border.

A BORDERED NET FOR SLEEPING IN.

MATERIALS:➡Nos. 16 and 20 of the Boar's Head Crochet Cotton of Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.,

of Derby.

Two meshes one flat, three-eighths of an inch in width; the other round, of the same size when measured with a piece of string passed round it.

LARGEST mesh, 16 cotton; net on a foundation of 16 stitches, 32 rows or 16 diamonds counted perpendicularly; cut the foundation away, do not cut off the end of cotton; tie a piece of string in the centre of this square of netting; now net all round the square, being careful not to net two stitches into any corner loop; net twelve rounds or 6 diamonds; do not

fasten off.

FOR THE BORDER.-With 20 cotton and

large mesh net three loops in every stitch.
Small mesh, 3 rows.

Small mesh, 6 stitches in each alternate loop.
Small mesh, 2 rows.

Small mesh, net 5 stitches, miss the connecting loop between the two groups of stitches, net 5, miss the loop again; repeat.

NEXT ROW.-Net 4 stitches, miss the loop over the same loop as in last row, and repeat. NEXT ROW.-Net 3, miss the loop as before. LAST ROW.-Net 2, miss the loop as before; there will now be one diamond over each group of stitches.

THE TOILET.
(Specially from Paris.)

BALL TOILETS.

FIRST FIGURE.-Dress of green watered silk. Corsage pointed. The trimming consists of several small flounces pinked at the edges, and surrounded by a plaiting of green crape, which goes round behind to form a bertha. Short sleeves composed of two silk flounces, and a puff of tulle illusion. The plaiting on the body in front, gradually narrowing from the shoulders to the waist, again widens, and is continued down the sides of the skirt, and at bottom turns round behind also. In the middle of the front of the skirt fourteen narrow pinked flounces are set on en tablier. The head-dress consists of a torsade of green velvet, almost covered with roses, and near the top is a white feather which droops down the side. Necklace of brilliants, setting rather close. A bracelet to match on one arm, and on the other one of amethysts and pearls. Green boots, with a rose in front instead of ribbon.

SECOND MODEL.-A white silk dress, covered with tarlatane; at the bottom three deep double flounces, surmounted by a puffing, in which a ribbon is run. A long tunic, also of tarlatan, covers the first skirt, and is looped up in front and at the sides with cordons of nasturtium flowers of various tints. The body of this dress is pointed in front, and trimmed with two flounces surmounted by narrow puffing, in which a ribbon is run. The sleeves, composed of two flounces, are trimmed with nasturtium flowers. Head-dress tufts of these flowers, connected by a gold cord or row of beads.

THIRD MODEL.-Dress of mauve moire antique, lappels of moire, bordered by a broad velvet and a with a body round at the waist, and trimmed with middle of this body, which is very open in front, is row of Chantilly lace, which serves as a bertha. The fastened by two cross-bands of velvet. Tarlatan chemisette, plaited in the Swiss fashion, with a purl edging and a velvet run in it, and surmounted by a narrow Mechlin lace. Medici waistband of velvet, with long ends hanging down on the skirt. Headdress of mauve china-asters, with brilliants in the cup of the flower. Tortoiseshell combs, with a row of pearls in those worn at the sides of the head. Emerald bracelet with pearls and brilliants.

FOURTH MODEL.-Silk dress, ornamented with puffings of tulle illusion, placed slanting on each side of the skirt. Tufts of white wild-roses are placed at intervals in the puffings. Body round at the waist, and decorated with puffings studded with white fastened by a buckle set with brilliants. Head-dress wild-roses. Waistband of white grogram silk, of wild white roses, and an ostrich feather placed on feather at the side. Ball cloak of blue Cashmere, one side; a jewelled ornament fastens the ostrich braided and ornamented at bottom, with an insertion of Chantilly lace between narrow rows of white blond.

Of course the good sense and good taste of your lady- aders will suggest many modifications in the and walking-dresses are composed of velvet, silk, ornaments and materials of these toilets. Indoors reps, and various other woollen and mixed materials,

་ ཎྜ

A very charming indoors toilet I have just seen, is | bracelets. On the hair a pretty net of mauve, or composed of grey silk trimmed with a ruche of blue velvet. mauve silk pinked at the edges. The body is round at the waist, and quite plain and high. Three ruches are put on the front, one on each waist-plait and the other in the middle. The sleeve is narrow at the top but very wide at the bottom: it is lined with white sarsenet, and edged with a white satin ruche. The trimming consists of three ruches, and towards the bottom about six inches of the stuff is gathered up under each ruche. The collar and under-sleeves are bordered with a narrow lace insertion, placed just above a narrow hem. Velvet cravat. Brooch and

PASSING EVENTS RE-EDITED.