EDITORIAL. Gushed those affections all in vain, His lot he reckless cast; Now in the lady's lonely bower, Flows forth the scalding tear; "How could I deem his courtship false, Whose words seemed all sincere? Too late, it comes-the bitter sense, 'Twas with deceitful tone, He breathed love's music in my ear, Then left me sadly lone." MRS. MARY BANCROFT. Answer to Enigma of SIR FLORICE, in February No. of "Sartain." The bow Sir Florice stood upon, Of the bark that bore to sea, A string it was Sir Florice tuned, In a cave beside the sea, When with his love he thus communed,- The bow-string wrought the warrior's death; JUAN. THE ART UNIONS OF AMERICA, AND THE LATE POSTPONEMENTS.-In times of monetary difficulty, the first branch of industry that feels its blighting effects, is what we are accustomed to term "the fine arts." The gratification of an elegant taste being the least urgent of our many desires, is naturally the first to suffer restraint; the means which furnish the artist remunerative employment, being chiefly the overflowings of prosperity, he is peculiarly liable to neglect and disappointment. Fortunately for Art, this is much less the case now than formerly, when few except the wealthy ever thought of purchasing an original work. That the condition of authors in England, was as precarious as that of artists, before the increasing intelligence of the masses of the people rendered the booksellers the true Mæcenases, is very evident. Hence the fulsome adulation we find in the dedications to the grandee who condescended to patronise genius, by furnishing money to print, or influence to procure a subscription list. With the growth and diffusion of knowledge and taste, and the increase of means among the people generally, the position of the artist became more independent; still it is only of late years that his labours have been in extensive demand. The great English Landscape painter, recently deceased (the greatest, probably, of any age or country), found so little encouragement in the commencement of his career, that he and the lamented Girtin cast lots to decide which of the two should leave the country, because the patronage to be found was not sufficient for both. The money spent by the aristocracy, bankers, or wealthy merchants, on art, was bestowed as fashion dictated, on smoked painted panels, which dealers Under these baneful imposed on them as MASTERS. i znfluences the living artist languishes no longer, and York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Cincinnati, are the seats The four institutions just named were each expected "He that fights and runs away, may live to fight another day," says one Falstaff, and the Philadelphia Art Union (to which we are more especially desirous to direct attention just now), by the postponement of their annual disrtibution, has proved most conclusively that discretion was the better part of valour. The receipts for the year 1851 not being equal to the expenditure, and the artists fearing the dissolution of the institution in consequence, have in the noblest manner come to the rescue, and presented gratuitously, pictures to be distributed amongst the subscribers;-up to this date no less than forty-three works are pledged. At least three of these are five hundred dollar pictures, and the rest range in value from that amount down to fifty dollars each. In addition to the artists, some other gentlemen not artists, have contributed works in their possession, and the number is expected to be still further increased. The fire that destroyed Hart's Building in Philadelphia, on the 26th of December, consumed the two steel plates of the Art Union, costing $3000, and from which the subscribers were entitled to impressions; those for 1851, who were not already furnished, will receive the engraving by Alfred Jones, after Rothermel's fine historical picture of "Patrick Henry delivering his celebrated speech in the House of Burgesses of Virginia," in progress for the members for 1852. The members for the past year, who renew their subscription for the new year, will obtain the and the prints for both years. The distribution will advantage of two chances in the coming distribution, consist of Rothermel's superb picture of Patrick Henry, before alluded to, which cost one thousand dollars, all the pictures presented by the artists and others, and all the surplus funds there may be in the treasury, divided into suitable amounts for the purchase of works of art by the prizeholders themselves. With such ample returns as must be made in any event, to the subscribers for 1852, it would appear that the institution cannot fail in obtaining a large list. If the contrary should be it another year. proved, it were useless to make further effort to continue In general plan, all the Art Unions of Europe and America bear a certain resemblance. The members pay five dollars for a year's membership, and receive in return, an engraving and a chance in the distribution of funds. The extremes of difference in the detail of meprizes in works of art, which absorbs the balance of the thod of the several associations, are to be found between the "American Art Union," located in New York city, and the Art Union of Philadelphia, which is local to Philadelphia, only so far as it appears so because the managers reside in that city. The plan of the New York association is that of centralization: in it all the purchases are made by the directors, and not by the individuals who hold the prizes, as in that of Philadelphia. An artist, to sell a picture to the American Art Union, must box and send it to New York for inspection of the managers-on the Philadelphia plan, no such trouble or expense is required. In the one institution, a Board of Managers steps in between the artist and purchaser, possibly to the detriment of the interests of both, while the other system is constructed expressly to bring them in contact, and results, in numerous instances, in orders for pictures that never would be given but for such intercourse. The Philadelphia plan leaves the purchase to the prizeholder himself, restricting him only to the selection of an AMERICAN work, and the property of the artist who produced it; thus securing the money to the encou ragement of living American talent, which might otherwise find its way into the pockets of dealers or speculators. A director of the Philadelphia institution is very properly divested of all patronage in the selection of prizes, as in the London Art Union; but here, again, is this distinctive difference,-the latter compels all purchases in London alone, and from particular exhibitions even there; while that of Philadelphia permits the selection in any part of the United States or territories. We regard the plan of the Philadelphia Art Union for the encouragement of artists the most perfect that has yet been put in operation, embracing, as it does, the best features of all others;-and trust that the patriotism no less than the interests of the people, will induce a liberal support, especially since it involves so small an outlay on the part of each individual subscriber. OUR LIBRARY TABLE. A FAGOT OF FRENCH STICKS; or, Paris in 1851. By SIR FRANCIS HEAD. New York: GEORGE P. PUTNAM. Whoever has read "Bubbles from a Brunnen," will have retained a pleasant recollection of the curious and observant old gentleman, who gave us the benefit of his experience, while sojourning at a German wateringplace. The same clever Englishman now presents his records of a visit to the French metropolis, in 1851, after an absence of some forty years. As the book-making was a predetermined scheme, Sir Francis wisely commenced by guarding against all unnecessary interruptions of his time, through the claims of social intercourse ;-returned, unpresented, his letters of introduction, and trusted entirely to the hospitalities of the public authorities at Paris. He says, "I dined and breakfasted by myself. I never entered a theatre; only once a café. I neither paid nor received visits. In short, I totally abstained from any other society than that which I had the happiness to enjoy in the public streets. My amusement solely consisted in collecting literary sticks, picked up exactly in the order and state in which I chanced to find them." The sketches are principally of the French institutions, incidentally of the people. For instance, the "Jardin des Plantes," "Versailles," "the National Railway," the Barracks, the different Hospitals, the "Halle aux Vins," the "Hotel des Monnaies," &c., &c., form the several topics of the chapters. The statistics of description, are occasionally interlarded with scraps of conversation, held on the spot, with the different officials en attendance. The chief attraction of the volume is in the subject. The style of narration is neither brilliant nor witty, but clear and intelligent, and good-humoured, if not humorous, and interests just in proportion to the reader's interest in things Parisian:-the particularity and seeming accuracy of detail, promising a large amount of satisfactory information. Imbued with rather a superfluity of national prejudice, our author, writing to profit his own countrymen, somewhat reluctantly admits the various points of superiority observable among their Gallic neighbours, and which he is too keen-sighted entirely to overlook. From a chapter on "The Poor of Paris," we extract the following glimpse of life in la belle Republique. "In the principal streets, and especially in the Avenne of the Champs Elysées, are to be seen during the hours of fashionable resort, every description of carriage, from fonr-in-hand chariots, and barouches, driven by coachmen in wigs with two tiers of curls, and bearing coronets of different ranks, down to the citadine containing a whole family, who have probably hired it to enjoy the luxury of an hour's drive. In rumbies behind I often saw two footmen in splendid liveries, with bouquets of flowers in their breasts, sitting à l'Anglaise,' in mute silence, with folded arms, terminating in milk-white gloves. "On nearly every barouche-box is to be seen, beside the coachman, a servant, more or less gaudy, in a simicarriages, following each other in line, parade or vibrate lar attitude-the favourite folly of the day. As these from one end of the avenue to the other, down the middle and up again,' they pass or are passed by equestrians in every known costume. Some are so padded and stuffed. -so ornamented with fine frills in their bosoms, and beattiful flowers at their breasts,-have such little feet and such small fingers,-in short, are altogether so fashionably dressed, that one hardly knows whether they are big girls or great men. Some are dressed as cavaliers a complete riding costume, others in shooting coats, a few in uniform, many in blouses. "On the boulevards are to be seen at all times, and especially in hot weather, enormous crowds of people seated on chairs, or slowly lounging about, apparently with so business to perform, or other object to look forward to than to get rid of sultry weather, by means of little cups of coffee, little glasses of brandy, tobacco-smoke, and repose. Of this crowd, a proportion are men who, having nourished no natural attachments, have sold the parmony they inherited for a small annuity, and, like the candles at a Dutch auction, are living it out. Among the mass are a vast number of people who, according to the custom of Paris, have got off their two or three children. -not one half of the mothers suckle their own infantsby sending them as soon as they have become three or four years old, for eight or ten years to pensions' in the country, where, entirely weaned from parental solicitude, they naturally become all socialists. "In Paris a very large number of poor people assoer ate as man and wife without being married; and whÆ° rality of them live together very happily. is particularly demoralizing to the community, the gene "Now, although all these various grades of society and different modes of existence form a striking contrast to the words 'Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality, which on every public building, and on most of the churches of Paris, are to be seen inscribed in the coarsest, cheapest description of black paint, so bad that it must evidendy in a very few years peel off, crack off, or by rain or revobis tions be washed off; yet, in the midst of varnished estriages with coronets, equestrians, pedestrians, chairs, little tables, coffee, brandy, and tobacco-smoke. I was constantly asking myself this important question, · Where are the poor?" " With Lord Ashley, who was actuated by similar carosity, and a Dr. M'Carty, who appeared acquainted with the locale of the class they were in quest of, Sir Franes started on an exploring expedition,—and his questio. of "Where are the Poor?" is satisfactorily answered. The condition of the people surprise him. In truth, the cleanness, cheerfulness, and decency of deportment every where recognisable among the humblest inhabitants of the district, evidence a natural superiority in humantary science,-in the knowledge of how to live. Take his own admission, and certainly he was not disposed to be a partial judge, of their contrast with the poverty at bor "But although I summoned these statistics into my mind to prevent it being led astray by appearances which might be deceitful, yet I must own it was my inapresSÞJÓL and I believe that of Lord Ashley, that the poverty we had come to witness bore no comparison whatever to that recklessness of personal appearance, that abject wretchedness, that squalid misery, which-dressed a the east-off tattered garments of our aristocracy and wealthy classes, and in clothes perforated with holes not EDITORIAL. to be seen among the most savage tribes-Ireland annually pours out upon England, and which, in the crowded courts and alleys of London I have so often visited, produce among our own people, as it were by infection which no moral remedy has yet been able to cure, scenes not only revolting as well as discreditable to human nature, but which are to be witnessed in no other portion, civilized or uncivilized, of the globe." Sir Francis's speculations, when he indulges in any, are by no means distinguished for their profundity; but to do him justice, very little space is so unprofitably occupied. His character of Louis Napoleon, "the most inglorious of all usurpers," in the concluding chapter, which is principally devoted to French politics, may serve as a specimen of his sagacity;-our author, we opine, in these days, is not likely to become a popular oracle. "Now, strange to say, while the whole French nation, grouped into factions, with a hurricane brewing up to windward, are at this moment occupied in searching, as intently as a man looks for a lost needle in a haystack, for the very thing in creation which, on the 21st January, 1793 (fifty-nine years ago), they cut off and chucked away, namely, the head of their Constitution, it has pleased Almighty God to place at the helm of their affairs a pilot possessing very nearly all the qualifications necessary for restoring to France that tranquillity and commercial prosperity she so ardently desires to attain. "From every person whose opinion was worthy of respect, I heard, during my short residence in Paris. Prince Louis Napoleon described as 'honest, wise, silent and independent. During the severe trial to which he has been subjected, he has firmly defended religion against atheism, the rights of property against plunderers, order against revolutionists. His life, it has quaintly been said, is altogether internal; his words do not indicate his inspiration; his gesture does not show his audacity; his glance does not intimate his ardour; his demeanour does not reveal his resolution. All his moral nature is in a certain manner kept under by his physical nature. He thinks, and does not discuss; he decides, and does not deliberate; he acts, and does not make much movement; he pronounces, and does not assign his reasons. On the whole I am firmly of opinion that, under a mild exterior, with gentle manners and a benevolent heart. Louis Napoleon is an honest, bold, high-minded statesman-whose object is to maintain the peace of Europe and the real glory and honour of France. I believe that no clamour could force him, without necessity, to declare war against any nation on earth; and, on the other hand, that no combination of forces that could be devised, would induce him to submit to any insult offered to his country." Those who seek may find, divers other equally wise reflections and opinions in close companionship with the foregoing. NORMAN MAURICE; or, the Man of the People. An American drama in five acts. By W. GILMORE SIMMS. J. R. THOMPSON. ever, The plot of this drama is simple but effective, and the language distinguished as much for terseness of expression as poetic harmony. There are broad defects, howThe opening as conspicuous as the beauties. scenes are laid in Philadelphia-an unpromising locality; for, in the heroic tableau, no less than in the landscape, "distance lends enchantment to the view;" but at the close of the first act we get rid of the conventionalities of town life, and are transported to the more romantic semicultivated wilds of Missouri. Less than semi cultivated, by the way, if, as in the case of Mr. Simms's heroine, the ladies of United States Senators elect, wear daggers in their girdles as customary ornamental appendages. Norman Maurice, the hero and lover of the piece, self-banished from the city of his birth, through unfortunate circumstances, removes with his bride to the West, there to commence life anew;-the only misfortune of the past having, as he believes, been previously for ever cancelled. This misfortune, originating in an act of boyish folly, was turned to evil account by Warren, a subtle, persevering, his cousin, and a rejected suitor of unscrupulous enemy, his wife. Norman reveals his own share in the transaction to Clarice prior to their marriage: "Thou knowst the cruel story; I told thee all,-suppressed no syllable, I gave him power for practice which he seized on, I write the record of my happiness! Darts forth upon the prairie's waste of empire, Unfortunately they were but copies that were burnt, and in the height of Norman's after success, his evil genius tracks him out, and threatens Clarice with the achievement of her husband's disgrace. The gentle, affectionate wife, in agony, to shield him from this dread peril, resolves on murdering, with her own hand, the cruel kinsman, who insidiously offers only one other mode of escape, in a sacrifice still more repugnant to her nature. We give her speech while pondering on the meditated crime. "Clarice. If I err, I that am feeble, and though feeble, loving,- With all our detestation of the villany of the man, and regret for the ill-starred pair, we have little sympathy, but great disgust at this deliberated scheme of bloodshed. Indeed there is a ghastly hideousness in the appeal to heaven for pardon of a crime ranked guiltiest in the catalogue of human offences, committed to preserve an unsullied reputation, and continuance of the world's applause to the husband of her choice;-that he should be "Among the great in the high place of power, Ranked with the men most eminent." After consummating her purpose, Clarice becomes insane, and in the hour of Norman's triumph dies. "She would have listened once How gladly-and found music in the triumph That now can bring me none." The speech of "The Man of the People" when chosen candidate for Senator, we presume to be an exposition of the author's political creed; we transcribe the principal portion of it. "Government, We hold to be the creature of our need, Or wrong of either. These, sir, are my doctrines! That threatens to dissever, in the tempest We like this plausible oratory better than the partial defence of duelling made by this same popular champion, in an earlier portion of the drama. We are sorry to have our poets authorize this silly and destructive practice of the ancien regime under any shade of circum THE ISLAND HOME; Or, The Young Castaways. Edited by CHRISTOPHER ROMAUNT. Boston: GOULD & LINCOLN. 16mo., 461 pp. From DANIELS & SMITH. A story that bids fair to rival the far-famed Robinson Crusoe in the estimation of youthdom. The adventurous sojourn of an exceedingly pleasant party of youngsters on an island otherwise uninhabited, told with considerable skill. We become as much interested in the Max, Johnny, Arthur, and the rest of the goodly company, as in the Swiss Family Robinson; the latter book our heroes appear perfectly familiar with, and they-of course acting out a real history-philosophically compare their contrivances and resources with those of the fictitious personages in that volume, who in some sort were their illustrious predecessors. The MS. was said to be discovered safely stowed away, in a miniature ship picked up far out at sea. Well, we don't want to cavil at its origin, come whence it may, judged by its own merits alone, we pronounce it good, and expect to have our opinion extensively endorsed. If there is a vein of Munchausenism in the story, if the wonders of the deep do seem passing wonderful, remember that by right of precedent; unusual happenings may occur on desert islands consistently; and if you wish to contradict this veritable chronicle, take a journey to this out-of-the-way place yourself, give us your relation of its bearings, otherwise there will be no counter-statement till the end of time; for, if dead men tell no tales, still more discreet witnesses are mortals never existing. That a midshipman amused himself by writing this account extraordinary,- a possibility intimated by the editor, is negatived by the fact that, appended to this marvellous scroll, was the signatures of the Christian denizens of the "Island Home," vouching its authenticity, their place of birth, &c., attached; and by way of clenching the argument, the mark of a native South Seas Prince, Euilo. NOVELTIES OF THE NEW WORLD; or, The Adventures and Discoveries of the First Explorers of Norta America. By JOSEPH BANVARD. Boston: GOLD & LINCOLN. 16mo., 324 pp. From LINDSAY & BLAKISTON A large proportion of the really good books of the season, are those that have been written especially for the entertainment and instruction of youthful readers; not juveniles of toy and sugar-plum days, but for the intelligent young people growing up around us, studying their Mitchell's Geography and Hart's Grammar, and daily preparing their school exercises. We have already noticed divers admirable productions in the several departments of fiction, biography, travels, &c., and now add to the list, this excellent series of American histories, by the Rev. Mr. Banvard, in course of publication;-the second volume of which we have just received. The adventures of the early colonists and discoverers, their conflicts and nego tiations with the natives, the peculiarities of character. the development of their institutions, and sketches of prominent personages in their number, are related in a pleasant, story-telling style, and with strict adherence to truth. The present volume commences with a brief account of Columbus, and comprises the experience of the most distinguished of his first successors, in exploring the New World. The brothers John and Sebastian Cabot-Pance de Leon, the wanderer in search of the chimerical fourtain of perpetual yonth,-Cartier, the discoverer of the St. Lawrence,-De Soto, La Salle, &c. The next volume, in preparation, is devoted to the incidents of Virginian colonization, and the courtly Raleigh remarkable Captain Smith, and heroic Pocahontas, earnot fail to prove interesting actors in the scenes of the romantic historic drama then and there enacted. A number of engravings on wood, illustrate the work. EXAMPLES OF LIFE AND DEATH. By. MRS. L. H. SIGOUR A handsome volume of biographical sketches, written in Mrs. Sigourney's usual chaste and elegant style. We can best convey to the reader an idea of the purpose of the book by transcribing a paragraph from the preface. "The individuals whose lineaments of character are sketched in this volume, comprise a period of thirteen centuries, and exhibit almost every variety of station. from the wilderness to the throne. They differ in ag and sex, in intellect and attainment, in clime, profession and tenet, yet in one respect they are alike. Statesman or divines, poets or philosophers, in poverty or in wealth one possession was common to all. The favourite of genius and the child of obscurity, derived from the same source, that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation.' Divided as widely as the eagle soaring among the stars, from the lowliest mother-bird upon its grassy nest, to one single, simple hope they came at last." Hale, Lord Bacon, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Lady Jane Queen Katharine Parr, William Penn, Sir Matthew Grey, are among the most celebrated of the men a...d women, whose moral and religious excellence has been illustrated by the talented authoress. An original poem. of much beauty, is given in connexion with the portra ture of Lady Jane Grey. YOUNG AMERICANS ABROAD; or, Vacation in Europe Three intelligent lads, who knew how to use the The book is embellished with a number of appropriate Since their return, these letters have been prepared in engravings. publication in book form, and our young authors ma EDITORIAL. their debut in the literary world. The pencillings are SALANDER AND THE DRAGON. A Romance of the Hartz A skilfully-executed allegory, intended to illustrate, in quaint parlance and humorous incident, that most insidious of social vices, the spirit of detraction. The moral purpose is sufficiently clear throughout to arrest the attention of the simplest child, while the actuality of the different personages introduced is so ingeniously main. tained as to make the readers half forgetful of their emblematical character. Omit but a letter from the name of the miserable little monster Salander, and he stands revealed a familiar abhorrence, "at whose every word a reputation dies." And as slightly disguised, spite of your virtuous indignation at the thought, reader, you may have admitted the dangerous guest to your own bosom. Were the deformity of Slander recognisable at a glance, it were comparatively harmless: the covert insinuation, the whispered intimation, as effectually do their work of defamation as the more direct and open attack. "The Romance of the Hartz Prison" represents the malign sprite with all its imperfections on its head, and will do more good than a half score of didactic discourses. The story is embellished with a number of engravings on wood, from fanciful and fantastic designs. SELECT POETRY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH; With an A volume of very beautiful poetry, collected from various sources, based upon an English selection of similar kind, but materially altered in arrangement by the American editor, both by way of omission and addition; its usefulness being considerably augmented by his careful revision. It is commended to parents and teachers for its adaptation to the tastes of children from six to twelve years of age; but it must be understood, that while many of the poems might be enjoyed by such youthful readers, their interest is by no means limited to the days of juvenility. It would be a pity for any of us to grow too old to admire the ballads of Mary and William Howitt; Longfellow's "Old Clock on the Stairs;" Cowper's famous "John Gilpin;" Mrs. Norton's " Arab to his Favourite Steed," &c., &c., all the way through. Heber, Bernard Barton, Mrs. Hemans, and Joanna Baillie, may be mentioned among the principal contributors. From THE SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. BY ELIZA R. STEELE. This history of the Kings of Israel, is embellished with a number of engravings on wood, and an ornamented title-page, printed in colours, by Sinclair. The memoirs are collected from the books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and Prophets, and comprises accounts of all the Sovereigns of the Bible, from Saul to Hosea. The author, in a very modestly-written preface, quotes Scripture for her purpose:-"If I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired; but if slenderly and meanly, it is all I could attain to." We leave the decision to the religious community. INKLINGS OF SONG: A Memento of my Leisure Hours. By C. JILLSON. 16mo. 159 pp. Worcester: FREDE- The publisher tells us that a desire to promote the THE FIRST WOMAN. BY GARDINER SPRING, D. D. New A discourse principally devoted to that most prolific and oft-debated theme, the sphere of woman. Her manifold perfections and peculiarities, the duties that lie around her path, the great good designed in her creation, in turn comprehensively descanted upon. To those interested in learning the reverend author's views on the subject, a favourable opportunity is presented, as this "First Woman" is comprised in a very little book of some sixty or seventy pages; well printed, and tastefully bound in cloth. By S. H. DE KROFT. New 16mo., 191 pp. A PLACE IN THY MEMORY. We wish our readers could hear Mrs. De Kroft speak eyes, THE RIFLE RANGERS. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. New This story, like the "Scalp-Hunter," of the same author, from first to last, enchains the fascinated attention of the reader, the exciting interest being main-tained throughout, by a series of startling incidents, that rapidly succeed each other, without pause for intermediate relapse, into dullness or even repose. So apt, indeed, is Captain Reid's delineation of the Ranger's life of wild |