REVIEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3498, 9 May 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

REVIEWS.

The Family Herald, Part 369. Joseph Braithvvaite, Bookseller, corner of Fleet street and High street, Dunedin. This excellent periodical contains much valuable instruction in a popular, form, in addition to the light reading. The leading articles for the month of January 'are well worthy of. study, especially one on proventibiG dis6&B6 j si subject on wliioh. vcry Gironeous and crude notions, prevail. It was only, yesterday that we heard disease of all classes proclaimed from ; the pulpit to be a , visitation by God’s appointment, instead of most commonly being the. natural reaMt of . breaking material laws by the sufferer?- 1 The study of such articles as that to which we allude will tend much to dissipate this Goddishonbring notion, and shew that if men persist ignorantly or knowingly in breaking physical laws, they bring punishment upon themselves in the form of disease. In such a case, it becomes a beneficent warning, rather _ than a punishment. The full apprehension of this truth , applied to ■ all the Maker’s laws, moral and physical, would tend to truer notions of Deity than unfortunately now prevail. Men would, learn that true worship consists in inoral likeness to God. There is much useful scientific information in the number, applicable. to everyday life, recipes for savoury dishes, statistics, ami correspondence ■ on social and political: subjects of: immediate interest, facetim, and exercise for the reasoning powers in the, form of riddles and mathematical questions, in addition.to very readable tales. The Young Ladled Journal, for March. Harrison, London; Joseph Braithwaite, corner of Fleet street and High street, Dunedin. The stories already commenced are continued in the March number ; and “ Stella,” a new one; by a new author, ■ described as i being of “ powerful and absorbing interest,” is introduced. The initial chapters are well written, and give promise of an interesting, novel as the plot is unfolded. On the title page is a notice that will prove attractive to ladies. “ The Latest Improvement in Berlin Woolwork Designs” are continued in this part, and very pretty designs some of them are; The original music comprises dauces well-arranged and easy of execution. The fashion plates, as usual, are accompanied by patterns for catting out dresses. The London JouvnoU, . Joseph jßraithwaite, corner of Fleet street and High street, Dunedin. . ’ ‘The London, Journal’ continues the varibus novels in course of narration. .We need say nothing of J their merits, for the work is well known. A new story, with the attractive title “Married, for. LoVe,” is begun in-this part. ’ Among the* descriptive

and historical notices fare papers oh the Marriage of the .Duke of Edinburgh, Bazaiiie in Prison, Westminster Hall, and. the usual varieties. The illustrations are" well-'eke-: cuted. The usual fashion plate, patterns, descriptions, and instructions accompany the parts. Bow Bella for March. J. Dicks, London'; J. Braithwaite, corner; of Fleet street and High street, Dunedin. , part contains some excellent reading. 1 . ustra tions., Harrison Ainsworth's Merrie England” is continued, and contains a graphic description of the state of England at the period of Wat Tyler’s insurrection. Harrison Ainsworth draws a picture of the tune of the minority of Richard the Second that supplies what historians too frequently ; leave untouched-the state of society of the period. accustomed are we to apeak of England as “ Merrie England', ” that many arA apt to imagine “the former days were better than these.” But what is the truth ? Three contending forces were striving for thb mastery. The Crown and aristocracy, the House of Commons, then an infant ihstitu- : turn,, and the body of the copulation. Of 1 the latter a large majority were engaged i n agriculture, and were “in a state of villeinage or servitude, bound to the soil, arid so 1 confounded in some sort with the cattle and chattels of the landlord, and counted, Or at least treated as, things not as persons, at any rate in so far as all rights of a political character were concerned.” In conseT ueace °f the imposition of a capitation tax, rendered necessary by the.orusade of Bichard 1. and the subsequent wars with France, the insurrection in which Wat Tyler - took a conspicuous part broke out. They marched to London, sacked the Archbishop’s palace at .Lambeth, destroyed prisons, set fire to palaces, and massacred some of the leading men of the kingdom. From these pleasant features of ‘ ‘ Memo. England, ” Harrison Ainsworth has woven a story which will be read with increased interest when it is aothere is for its foundation. Little Blue Bell” and “ Self-exi!ed” are continued. The part contains some very clever essays, papers on the Ashantee war, witn explanatory engravings, music by Maillot, Bellini, and others. The fashion p ate is accompanied by three supplements, ?< a^’ C u- tS of which on the wrapper are—lst, fashions and needlework for the month;” 2nd “a full-sized pattern for cutting out baby a clothes;” and thirdly, “ the largest and most elegant fashion plate in the world, colored by Parisian artists.” We leave the ladies to judge whether this is true or not ; tor our own parts we do not profess to be cunning about such matters.