LITERATURE.
Seen Homo. Boston : Roberta Brothers. Phila
delphia Agent, (J. W. Pitcher, No. 808 Cbcsniit
Mreet, and T. U. Peterson A Brothers, No. 300
UDesnut street.
The appearance of Re nun's "Life of Jesus,''
some two years since, startled the orthodox
world with the skepticism of its tone, while It
delighted the critical by the beauty ol Us style
and the wonderful consistency of its argument,
It pictured our Saviour as a man, it denied to
him all the attributes of Divinity, but made him
a model tor human imitation, a pattern, an cvl
dence of what our race should be. Being brought
before the deistical population of France, glit
tering as It did with the proofs ot originality
and geuius.it preserved that which secured it
far greater success than any truth could have ac
quired a new style of treating a novel and in
teresting subjoct. It was addressed to the tastes
of Frenchmen, and therefore in France it won
Its greatest success.
"Kcce Homo," a rather disrespectful title as
applied to our Lord, is an American reprint.cover
in? the ground which Renan tirst discovered, but
Tohlied ot many of the most objectionablo fea
tures ot the productions of this celebrated
foreigner.
The object oi the work is clcurly expressed in
Ihe preface. "Xbose who feel dissatisfied with
the current conception oi Christ, if they cannot
xest content without a definite opinion, may feci
it necessary to do what, to persons not so dis
satisfied, it seems audacious and perilous to do.
They may be obliged to reconsider the whole
subject trom the beginning, and, placing them
selves in imagination at the time when he whom
we call Christ bore no such name, but was
Bimply, as St. Luke describes him, a young man
cf promise, trace his biography from point to
poiut, and accept those cnnclusiona about him,
not what Church doctrines or even apostles
Jiave sealed with their authority, but which the
facts themselves, critically weighed, appear to
warrant. This is what the present wi iter has un
dertaken to do." And what the unknown author
pet out to do, he has accomplished.
His work is far sounder than Renan's, because,
although going over the same ground, the
one sought atier truth by the light of Divine
Tevelatijn, while the other sought to prove
that revelation was Divine, but tound truth,
and then compares it with the facts revealed
ly the word ot (iod. One set forth to explore
an uukuown country in the dark, the other took
the light in his bund, and walked as it showed
the way. "Ecce Homo" is a production which,
to a speculative and doubting mind, would act
SW a mighty argument in favor of Christianity.
It is one of the most profound works which has
fallen under our notice for years, and cannot
J)ut prove satislactory to the candid soarcher
for truth.
Sjme of its Ideas being new, may be termed
"by many dangerous; but, when ideas only tend
to prpvc the groundwork ol our faith to be firm,
Why should they be rejected or feared, because
they had not been already worn out by the
Tatbera? Every day brings us mare light, and
the day will come when the perfect harmony
between science and Christianity shall be evi
denced; and, believing that, why should we
seek to estrange tuem by clinging to exploded
theories, or hanging on to doctrines whose only
C'aim is cuhtom, and whose birth was in the
darkest day ot niediieval superstition r Holding
these views, therefore, we are well pleased with
"cce Homo." It does not deny or doubt the
perfect divinity of Christ, but merely goes be
yond what is written, and imagines him as he
probably wan. The wonderful formation ot the
Clirwtiau Church is examined, and a compari
bjii instituted between it and its co-eval repub
lics. It is a powerful, logical work, true in
spirit, and if a little too daring, does not invade
the bounds of sacred morality.
' Occasionally the author rises with his sub
ject and gives us a glowing sentence, eloquent
and lofty. The following brief extract will
mIiow his style, and conclude our notice:
'The Christian Commonwealth has already
lar outlasted all the States that were existing at
the time ol its foundation; it numbers lar more
citizens than any ot the States which it has
seen spring up niir it. It subverts without the
help oi armaments: resting on no accidental aid
or physical support, but ou an inherent immor
tality, it defied the enmity of ancient civiliza
tion, the brutality of ni ed ue val barbarism, and
under the present universal empire of public
opinion it is so secure that even thoe part
seem indestructible which deserve to die. It
lias added a new chapter to the science of
politics; it has passed through every change ot
lorui which a State can know; it has been demo
crutical, aristocratical; it has made some essays
towards constitutional monarchy, and it has
furnished the mot enereettic and scientific
tyranny of which history makes mention. "
Thr Queen's Favoritb; or, Tub Price ok a
1'kown. A Historical Romance ot the Fit
teeutb Century. T. B. Peterson & Brothers,
No. 1106 Chcsnut street.
The work before us has been out of print for
fifteen year.-, and is to all intents and purposes
a new book to the reading public. Probably
there is uo other kind of romance which par
takes of that peculiar fascination which en
velops a novel with characters drawn from his
tory.. What is truth and what is fiction, where
the boundary line divides the real and the ima
ginary, and whether the parties painted did
really thus suffer, adventure, and love, are
questions which, while they may perplex, yet
add a thousand-iold to the reader's interest. The
"Queen's Favorite" is one or those strange yet
thrilling mixtures, partaking of the spirit 'of
Eugene Sue (to whom the authorship has been
ascribed) and the dramatic power of (J. P. R.
James. The scene is laid in Spain, in the mid
dle of the fifteenth century. The Don Quixotes
had not then all disappeared. Chivalry and
leudalism were yet dominant features in the poli
tical world. Romance was not a thing to be
read of, and the licentiousness of seaii-baroarism
jet rioted unrestrained in the warm climate
of the hot-blooded Castillau.
With such materials we would be surprised
did the author not weave an interesting narra
tive. He had all the pieces at his control, and
all that was needed was to put them together.
Jle haa done so in a way which, if not the most
symmetrical, is at all events ol absorbing power.
It does not possess too much prating about
morality, but does abound by fur too fully in
sentimental and maudlin protections of affec
tion. Yet it Is, as a whole, as good as any sensa
tional novel we have seen, and will compare
most favorably with any of the Messrs. Peter
sons' publications. It was issued this morning,
tti.d will meet with an undoubtedly large sale.
The same house have also in press, and are
about to issue, a number of works, among which
ftr.: "Self-Love," "The Admiral's Daughter,"
'The Toimg Heiress," by Mrs. Trollopo; "The
THE PAIL EVENING TELEGRAHI. PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY,
Freebooters," "White Scalper" and "Trappers,"
by Oustave Atmard; and "The Great Van Brock
Property," by J. A. Ma'tland.
Six Months at th Whitb Houm. The First
Reading of the emancipation Proclamation.
Hurd A Houghton will publish early in May,
"Six Months at the White House," by F. B. Car
penter, the artist.
Mr. Carpenter, one of our well-known New
Yoik artist, an enthusiastic admirer and sup
portcrlof Frrsld-nt Lincoln, conceived the Idea,
in the latter pait of 1803, ot painting a picture
commemorating "the first reading of the Eman
cipation Proclamation before the Cabinet."
Through the late Owen Lovcloy, Speaker Col
fax, and two or three New Yoik friends, Mr.
Lincoln became Interested in the project, and
invited Mr. Carpenter to theWhite House, for the
purpose of affording him every facility In study
ing his subjects from life. The painting of the
picture, comprising a life-size group of the
President and Cabinet, occupied six months,
from February to August, 1804, during which
period Mr. Carpenter enjoyed constant inter
course with the President, as well as the various
members of the Cabinet. The subiect of the
picture, together with the circumstances at
tending the execution of the work, and the
death of President Lincoln so soon after its com
pletion, congpiied to give to it an extraordinary
degree of Interest, manifested by the crowds
who thronged to sec it during the time it was on
exhibition In different parts of the country. Mr.
Carpenter has written out In detail the history
of his connection with Mr. Lincoln, with which
are Interwoven various "reminiscences" and
personal relation, collected and given to the
author from time to time by different indi
viduals, making a volume ot over three hundred
pages.
The name "People's Edition," given by
Messrs Ilurd & Houghton to a new and conve
nient isrue of "Hood's Poems," complete In one
volume, is warranted by its double significance;
for Hood ranged himself on the side of the peo
ple, making their life the inspiration of his
noblest poetry, and the people have enthusiasti
cally adopted him as their poet; and if there
were a Congress ot poets on Parnassus, Hood
would be found elected by a vast majority from
the ranks of working men and women. There
is something very touching in the affectionate
regard with which he is held by rough
men both in bngland and America ! they
see in him a true champion, who whs
one with them in sympathy and suffering.
and adhered to the cause of humanity not
to further any petty ends of his own. but because
his nature was identified with their. For the
people, as distinct from privileged classes, Hood
always must bp the representative poet. He has
made the wrongs of those suffering from class
oppression to sing themselves where no formal
petition could get entrance; and we arc con
vinced that his "Song of the . Shirt," which has
become a sort of rallying cry, has effected more
of a change in the condition of working women
than all other direct appeals combined. There
is no one, whose instincts of humanity have not
been crushed by social privileges, that does not
respond to Hood's fervent words. We weep with
him; we laugh. He has built up a democracy
to the sound of his enchanting lyre. It is the
people who are finally to prevail in the world.
The poets of class will go down with class but
Hood, will be elevated to a higher place than he
holds even now.
A Beautiful Engraving. The readers of The
Telegraph will remember that some months
ago we published a minute description of the
splendid national painting by Mr. Carpenter of
the "Firt Reading of the Emancipation Procla
mation by President Lincoln." For the purpose
oi giving it wine circulation it Has been en
graved by A. II. Ritchie, of New York, aud will
be sold only to subscriber.'. Mr. T. B. Pugh, at
Sixth and Chesnut streets, is the sole agent for
this city, and he has now on exhibition at his
store a very fine proof below letters which is
well worth seeing.
The engraviDg is 21 by 32 inches, and is sold
at the following rates: Artists Proofs, $50;
India Proofs, $25; Plain Proofs, $10. Tue
picture represents a meeting of the Cabinet ex
pressly for the consideration of the great ques
tion. Mr. Lincoln occupies the cent re of the pic
ture, w ith the immortal document in his hand.
It isevidciitly a moment of suspense. The reading
has just concluded. The vast subiect fills all
minds. Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State, is
speaking, and all give an attentive ear. And
these are the words he is uttering:
"This matter is of so much importance, that I
fear its effect at this iuneture: it mav he con-
sidered the lust effort of an exhausted Govern
menta cry for help 'the Government stretch
ing forth its hand to Ethiopia, instead of
Ethiopia stretching forth its hands to the Gov
ernment.' Therefore, Mr. President. I susreest
that you postpone the issue ot the Proclamation
until it cao be given to the countrv uoon Union
success rather than dtfiut."
The positions of the figures are Btiggesiive. Our
dead President occupies an arm-chair in the
foreground. He grasps the Proclamation in
his left hand, which has dropped upon the table
at his side; the old lines of humor are ail gone
from his face, and in their stead is a strange
blending of firmness aud auxiety. Slightly in
the rear of Mr. Liucoln is the Secretary of
the Treasury, Mr. Chase, standing with arms
closely folded over his breast. The President
is supported on each hand by the Secretaries
of War and the Navy, Mr. Stanton on the right
and Mr. Welles ou the left, both of whom,
together with Mr. Chase, are looking, with
varying shades ot expression, towards the
speaker, Mr. Seward. At the end of the table,
cipposite the President, leaning forward upon
his arms, is Judge Bates, the Attorney-General.
Immediately at his right, standing, as if having
but recently entered the room, is Montgomery
Blair, the Postmaster-General. In the back
ground, also standing, is the late Caleb B.
Smith, then Secretary of the Interior.
Mr. Carpenter painted the picture in the East
Room of the "White House," and all the distin
guished subjects generously furnished bim with
frequent sittings. There is no doubt of their
being undoubted portraits. As a historical re
membrancer of the most critical period of the
war, it will be of permanent interest. The ub
scription books are already opened in the various
cities of the Union, and an immense number of
signers have been secured. Mr. Pugh is ready
to receive subscriptions, and those who desiie
to have the engraving should go early aud secure
good copies.
Custave Dore and M. Nadar have joined the
committee of subscribers to the testimonial to
George Cruikshank, while E. Fournier and F.
Michel represent French literature in the same
body.
THE HOME OF VICTOR HUGO.
fmm the New York Galaxy.
To the northwest of Frauce, bidden in the
mystic vapors of the ocean, lien a fortunate
archipelago. The gulf stream there brintrs
out a flora worthy of the fairest isles of the
Adriatic and Mediterranean. Geologists tell us
what tevolution detached this Norman soil
from the Norman coast, and relate ho the sea,
invsditg the immense bay which separates
Cherbourg from Brest, onlv mffered those rocks
to remain which were Huh aud firm enough t
defend themselves, as on Mount Saint Michael,
against its wrath. Without need of science,
the traveller easily fin is the law lor these con
vulsions of nature, aud their traces. Jer?ey and
Guernsey are only to be reached by a line of
small inlands ana rocks, almost on a level with
the water, and scattered about, sometime near
each other, and sometimes parted, like links of
a riven chain. As the traveller draws near, val
leys of gcrpeous green appear cottages, flowers,
and meadows. This is Jersey.
JpMPt tt T) riiinmaAV urn tr. 4lta niiiniia
- - - ...... "" j , v vi.v viuiwh. err,
two gardens which tho rocks hold suspended
above the sea; to the thinker they are two
woilds, two microcosms. Has not each of them,
like the proudest continent, its Bhores that look
upon the whole circle ot the horizon! Coasts,
pons, plains, mountains, and valleys are all as
sembled in a space that can bo visited in one
dav, fiom one end to the other. The climate is
delightful, the vegetation fatry-like, the sky Is a
harmonious marriage of light with the sea,
whose pearly hues seem to tell uj the secret
pplendors of ocean treasure. Life there is a bliss
ful dream.
If you advance a few steps in this fair realm
of Guernsey you will eo manors that are created
by Protestant emigration, its pious, ever-living
souvenirs. In returning towards the city, you
will see a superb walk through trees now secu
lar, a legacy made to the city of Saint Pierre by
a Frenchman, in 1783. If you dscond towards
the sea a large bouse will attract your eye, and
yen will see inscribed upon it the now famous
name: "Hauteviile House." And there, grouped
round the same thought, are Liberty, Exile, and
Poetry. Exile! exile I ihe only grief that time
can never soiten. Ifvou auk me how it is en
dured, 1 will reply, through duty.
Victor Hugo's home is situated in the most
lovely spot that ever landscape painter dreamed
of. Placed upon a heighc, it overlooks the city,
the fort, and the immense horizon of the sea,
w here nothing seems to trammel the flight of
even genius it-elf. The house is celebrated m
Gueiusey, where it excites lively curiosity.
Wondeis are related ot it, enhanced by the mys
tery overhanging a threshold till now never
crossed by the Guernsey world; it Is said to
contain furniture worthy of an enchanter's
palace.
The apartments and galleries havp been en
tirely constructed Iroin uesmns bv Victor Hugo;
he passed three years in drawing them. The
rarest curiosities, such as carved oak, belonging
to the middle apes raid the Renaissance, with
enamels, rorcelnin gathered together and
arranged in the most masterly manner, mingle
with Venetian aud Florentine wonders. The
house within for externally it presents the
is a iripid aspect peculinr to English houses
work of art, the materials of which are
masterpieces also. I will describe the house,
which is to reveal the master, who, Indeed, re
veals himstlf by the mottoes and devices traced
upon the walls and furniture. Victor Hugo.
who loves to live in the past, has a mania for
antique furniture. If we now raise ruins and
rebuild edifices according to the laws of their
primitive construction, if we lel'rame inscrip
tions, restore statuary and basso-relievo, we
should remember that "Noire Dame de Paris"
and "Voyage surlosBords du Riiin" helped us
to do so by giving us the rudiments of our
science.
Victor Hugo's house is entered by a vestibule,
the construction of which immediately arrests
the eye. On the upper lintel Is a basso-re'ievo,
representing the pr'ncipal subject of "Notre
Dame de Paris," which is gilded and painted.
The effect is charming; beautv seems to wel
come you at the verv entrance. The basso
rtlttvo is accompanied by gla-is windows with
embossed panes, such as are to be found in
the cottages ol the Black Forest. On the right
and left, in carved oak, are two medallion--,
left by David, after Victor Hugo and his second
daughter. A column in the purest style of the
Renaissance supports this entire miss,' and adds
still moie to the tranquil simplicity aud severitv
which mark the entrance.
This vestibule Is lighted by the softened ravs
which penetrate the small squares of glass,
forming a chiar' oscnro, such as Rembrandt
loved. In this soft light a monumental door
is visible, that ot the dining-room. On a
panel is written: "Love and Believe." Above
one of the doors, and below a statuette ot the
Virgin, is a woid that promises hospitality to
the visitor: "Ave."
Let us accept our welcome and enter the bil
liard saloon, where we shall see many interest
ing pictures belonging to the family, with geogra
phical charts, and the poet's designs, framed in
borders of varnished tir. The strangeness of
these ink designs strikes the visitor immediately.
They form ten lauta'tic piiges, and are
heightened with sepia and touches of gold-leat'.
It is impossible to convpy any idea of them.
There, as in all he undertakes, Hugo is power
ful. Many will remember the sales of his sketches
in 1852 ("Rue do la Tour d'Auverene' ), at the
time wheu his furniture was also sold.
These ten designs hanging upon the wall are
views of Spain, Brittany, the Rhine, Jersey, and
Guernsey. On one is written : "Burg of Ilugo-eagle-hsad,"
and one rememuers the verses of
the "Lcgeude des Siecles,"
"He set tho cities free: he came alone
To Hugo-t ar lu-bead in cavern Home."
The frames, equally wonderful in execution,
are by the poet also. Among the pictures is the
crowning of the deud Inez de Castro. Upon the
Irame is inscribed, "The Duke ami Duchess of
Orleans to Victor Hup o."
11AUTKVILLB HOUSE.
From the Lilliard-rooin, thp tapestry parlor is
entered. Here, us in the other rooms', the man-tie-pier
e has been the pruicipul object ot atten
tion and should not the tamily hearth be so?
Imagine a cathedral of carved oak, which rising
vigorously from the floor, springs up to the ceil
ing where its upper curving touched the tapes
try. The doorway corresponds to the fireplace;
the rosace is a convex mirror, placed above the
mantel-piece: the central gable is a tirm entabla
ture covered with fantastic foliage, and deco
rated by arches of exquisite taste, in which the
Byzantine mingles with ;he rococo: the two
towers are two counterforts whi?b repeat all the
ornamentation ol the entire mass. The coping,
very imposing in its etlect, recalls Ihe fronts
of the houses in Antwerp aud Bruges,
A face appears amid the woodwork, vigor
ously thrown out. It is that ot a Bishop whose
crosier alone is gilded. On each side of it is a
shield, with the w itty mottor
"Crosier of wood, bishop of gold."
"Crosier ot gold, bishop of wood."
On two scrolls, representing rolled psrclitncut,
lire inscribed ihe names of those whom Victor
Hugo looks upon as the principal pucts or hu
manity: "Job, lsainh, Homer. Eschylus,
Lurreiius, Danle, fchukspeare, Moliere." fin
the opposite sides are the names of "Moses.
Socrates, Christ, Columbus, Luther, Wash
ington." Upon the double entablature of the chimney
piece two oaken statues lean one is Saint
l'anl, reading, with this inscription on the pe
destal: "The Book." The other is tnat ot a
Monk in ecstac.y, with raised eyef. on the
pedestal is the word "Heaven."
In a rconi called the working-room is another
truly monumental work which, as In the tapes
try parlor, mounts from floor to ceiling. His
inscribed: "Ad augusta per angusta," a motto
borrowed from the lourth act of LYruini.
The walls of the dining-room are covered with
magnificent dell'. This is the delf of Holland in
the seventeenth century. An immense mosaic
represents large bunches of flowers puintod with
minute care and thrown into vases ot fanciful
form, and odd animals, all mingled together.
The groundwork is white and blue, aud has an
oaken foundation which forms three massive
divisions, embellished with old paintings upon
panels, causing the dming-room to resemble
certain conventuul rooms. A basilled mirror,
surmounted by a slceplntr child chiselled in
copper, an'mates this apartment, llghte I by two
larg windows or enina upon the pai den. Add
to this a mantelpiece such as our ancestors
looked upon, and Gobelin tapestry upon the
w all, on which the riches of summer are spread
forth. r
Vases and statuettes of porcelain and delf are
everywhere. The sixteentn and seventeenth
centuries oiler nothing more curious. A statu
ette, A'orrr Dame de Bnn-Secoun, oaTyin the
f hild-Jesus, whose little hand grasps a globe
representing .the world, U above the super
structure of the mantle piece. Below It Is this
verse, to be fouud in the "Chanaans des Rues
des Bois:
"The people are little, bat shall be great,
Within th Mcred arms, oh! moihor blest,
Ob! bol" Liberty, with tonqnnring step,
1 he child who bears the world doth rest."
Variou legends complete tho aspect of the
place. Here n one sHe is the word "Man" ia
fro.it of the ord "God;" further on the plain
tive words, "My Country;" again a melancholy
line, "Life is exile," and near that this pious
ct tinsel :
' Tnlmbi'ant of ladinir londi,
Ttiink ot eternal homo."
And o little healthful axiom:
"Post prandium ttabix
Scu passu mille mesbis.
Vale I"
An arm-chair of carved oak Is placed against
the wall at the tinner end or thn tnhln Vint
Hugo looks upon it as the ancestral seat at his '
table. A chain closes it, hearing among other
inscriptions the words. "The absent are then." i
the in.plest apartments are used by the
family and the galleries spread forth all their
riches to the guest. The gallery in the tirst
story is divided into two portions. Hangings of
Indian oemH!-k, of crimson hue, cover the walls
of tho red pirlor, and serve as a frame work to
Ihe great Norwegian tapestries, which formerly
belonged to tho bed-room of Queen Christina,
ut Fontainebleau. The panels, of let, six feet
long and five feet broad, in design aud work
manship, and through the gold-work mingled
with the let, are treasures such as do Dot exist
elsewhere.
The subjects arc fanciful. Golden cocks and
eagles gleam upon trees of a porphyry red, the
leaves of which are thrown out upon the glit
tering sky. Uold, silk, velvet, glass, and span
gles of silver sparkle upon a foundation of
w hite jet. Four of these panels decorafe the
red parlor, two being on the walls and two upon
the ceiling. We Lave mentioned this parlor be
fore, but return to it. Imagine a chimney-piece
with four statues gilded with Venice gold which
appear to peruse these words of Lucretius:
"Juvenum simtt'acra per a)des, '
Lampados uimleras mambus retioentia doxtris."
They support the canopy, which is the chimney-piece,
and represent negroes, with flat pro
files, shaven head, and athletic forms, with
their busts scarcely covered with slighi drapery,
or en upon the breat, and fastened to the shoul
ders, leaving the lower limbs nude. Each is iu
a different attitude, and all form part of the same
gioup. They seem to be darting lorward and
obeying an order. Behind them, a glass, which
mounts to the ceiling, reflects them with line
etlect.
In the embrasures left on each side by the pro
jection of. the general construction, two old
Japanese monsters grimace and look at them
selves in two mirrors with grot-work Irames.
The cauopy is of Chiueie silk, ornamented
with laces and birds.
Six pedestals with golden brocade cartouches
support the statue" and monsters.
A small Louis XIII clock, representing the
Samaritan woman, rests upon the slab of the
man ted-piece.
Two tables, one in Renaissance ebony, in
crusted with tin, which formerly belonged to
the Duke of Orleans, the other in marquetry, of
the Louis XIV style, with massive feet, are dis
jda cd here. The latter is a pertect gem. There
is, besides, a marvellous screen, which looks as
if it had escaped from M.idame de Pompadour's
boudoir; a handsome China vasque, and a
Japanese perfume stand made of bronze, which
w as given to Victor Hugo by Alexandre Dumas,
complete the furnishing of this room.
The blue parlor, which is next in order, is no
less sumptuous in another oruer of decoration.
The gallery in the secoud story opens with a
folding door, and is formed of carved and
chiselled cedar, a master-piece found by Victor
Hugo. This gallery is called tho "Oak Gallery;"
it is a sort of guest chamber, in fact. Six win
dows, looking out upon Fort St. George, distri
bute the light through a perfect forest ot carved
oak.
Occupying double the depth
the parlors on the first story,
Gallery" is divided into two
a skilful arrangement of the
taken for
the "Oak
parts by
turnmire,
and a nuiiaonie doorway with spiral
columns in the Renaissauce style, painted aud
Mm. an uii5 hisc uiYi.uoii :s tue manici-picce; lit
the second is seen a magnificent bed, so vast
that it seems to have been built, rather than
put up.
The mantel-piece, whie-h is wide, low, and
massive, is enriched with the most delicate
workmanship. It represent the "Sacrifice of
Isaac." which is placed in au oaken frame, em
bellished with two demi-bdlusters entwined.
Four caryatides, two feet high, hold up this
charming pediment. They represent repeatedly,
Svlvanus with Dryads. Ail the figure are crown
ed with floweis and truits, and their bodies are
partly concealed under a scabellum ornamented
with tine arabeques. Behind these exquisite
statuettes is a large glass placed on a level with
a construction m Holland delf; in the middle is
a pedestal which, supports a Celadon drinking
opium, an exquisiie face, such as would please
the most fastidious untlqunry. The two lateral
wings are formed of very rich panels, upon
which the ecabelluni ol the caryatides rests. It
would be vuiu to attempt to describe the wilder
ness ot Biblical, Pagan,' and Chinese figures, in
which art has blended baboons' heads with
dryads' faces.
The bed fronts the mantel-pioee, the head of
it resting against the wall and the feet directed
towards the spectator. The canopy is formed
of au assemblage ol Renaissance panels; the
head of the bed holds forward two mytho
logical subjects, aeeumpiinied with small
colcniiis aud spirals, surmounted by a bracket
pedestal in ebony, crowned by a death's head in
ivory, with this 'inscription : "Nov, mors, lint."
The body of tho bed has a tmsso-rtlievo upon the
iront, a curious specimen of the carvings of the
Mulnlc Ages. A lamhrequm, embroidered in a
thousand colors with silk, and a spread iu tap-'s-trv.
serve to garnish this girantic bed. Li which
no one has evr slept, and which could ouly
nave neon rquuiieu iu leuciai sleeping rooms.
A candelabra in oak, with forty canities, is
placed between the two columns which divide
the gallery. It was entirely executed upon
designs by Victor Hugo, who modelled uad
carved the crowning figure in wood. It is a
colossal girandole, spreading like a tiara, and
bearing upon its summit a cluster of branches,
to which the candles appear to attach flowers of
light.
The door of entrance, seen from tLe interior.
is as brilliant us a church window. Two spiral
columnk sustain a pediment ot oak, with
lienai'saiif e grotesques, surrounded
I by ara
with two
besqiies and monsters; it advances
1 )1hb. which are resplendent with paintings,
among winch are eight larae figures ot the mar
tyrs, attired in gold aud purple, the principal
being Saint refer. Upon the lintel l inscribed,
"Mrif, perye," and near it the words of Lucau:
"The conquerors have the gods, with the con
quered Cato remains." There are maxims be
sides: "Gloria I'wtis Ym tumiiii,"
" "Mind breathoth where It hstetli.
Honor goes Where duty cahs,"
find below a clock, which sounds a merry chime
as the hours po by:
"All leave their trace upon tbe frame and mtud,
All wound, a'al tho last one boaloth."
Isolated by their situation in the midst of tbe
sea, the inhabitants ot Guernsey are sailors, and
seek their life and its relations without. Each
house bears an. indispensable signal-mast, aud
has a "look-out." As soon as a ship appears, the
oriflammes ot tho port signal it, and on the
instant signals repeated from house to house
tell of the departure, or return, throughout the
Island.
Victor Hugo has chosen the look-out at Haute
viile House tor his owu room, n 1H R little bel
vedcia, open in all directions, where the soul
MAY 12, 1866.
can exbai.d, though the space Is as limited for
ir i
the body as a captain's cabin. There stands the
poet's table, his paper upon it, with ink and
i M with Ifilr and
pen. It contains an Iron bed -an hard as a
soldios coucb. ' i - J
The garden is but a half acre of flowers and
lawo, and contains a pretty bit of water sur
rounded by a rrassy margin; two honest dueks
perform the part of swans as well aa they can,
near a terra-cotta fountain, at the base of which
are dolphins' heads, throwing miniature cascade
into the air. On lifting the ivy around the foun
tain, I found on one side the inscription:
' Where hope is, there is peace." On the other
side, this verse, from the "Contemplations:"
"Imtriensity is being, eternity the soul."
The poet sits iu the garden, and looks to
wards France 1
TIIE NEW YORK PRESS.
FD1T0RIAL OPINIONS OF LEADING
JOURNALS UPON CURRENT TOPIC'S.
COMPILED IVgUT DAT FOB KVKNINO TKLRORAPH.
Tbe Memphis Riots,
f rom the Tribune.
There is no longer any question as to the
character of what were at fir&t called the negro
riots at Memphis. They were negro riota in tho
same sense in which the outbreak in July, 18(i3,
in New York, was a negro riot that is, the
negroes were the victims of both. Just what
disturbance occasioned the conflict in Memphis
will not probably be known, nor is it of much
consequence. But it is plain from all accounts
that a disturbance, originally trifling, was made
the pretext for a general assault upon the negro
population of the city, which was continued tor
two days and nights. In this assault, the police,
the firemen, the city authorities, and the unor
ganized mob acted in concert, and were animated
with the single purpose to do the greatest
amount of damage to the negro population and
to their dwellings and churches and school
houses. The atrocifies of the mob were not unworthy
of iu great New York prototype, which was,
perhaps, the mo-t savage yet heard ot in a civi
lized city. Most of the negroes who were shot
were buichered on the second day, when thero
was no longer any resistance, and when th
negroes were seeking safety in concealment au i
flight. We select a lew specimens of the plea
santries in which the mob indulged:
"Robert Jones (colored) had just come fn from tho
country, and was gtaumng at tne corner of Ileal aud
Cansey streots, in the forenoon A man, appearing
to be a policeman, took hii pistol and 829 in monov,
and as be turned to leave, thrust a knlle into his
buck, under the ghouldor blndn. Another, standing
by, known to be a policeman, made no arret ol tho
lobbr."
Which shows that the police, unlike our
police in 1863, were on the side of the mob.
"A necro was shot in the knoe near the corner of
Howard's Row and the levoe. This was dono by a
well-known individual for the sake ot amusement,
and was laughed at by tho oitizous woo saw it."
The individual Is so well known that the
paper trom which we quote does not think it
worth while, or does not dare, to give his name.
But these instances are nothing to the elaborate
ingenuity of other cruelties.
"A larpe number of houses in South Memphis,
occupied by the blacks, and some In other pans ot
tbe citr, wore burned. No eflort was made to stay
the flames. In one case, four negroes were fastonud
up in a housu and tbe house set on Are.
"A colored man on Alabama street Informs us
that his bouse was broken into, and about two bun.
dred do.iars in money taken, aud he beaten over
the head ; and the same party oroke into his neigh
bor's bouse, killed bim, locked the wife and chil
dren in the house, set it ou lire, and burned it
down."
Thai is almost as good as burning a Colored
Orphan Asylum.
"A houso near air. Rankin's school-homo, which
was burnt on Tuesday, was fired during tho night.
A colored plrl, 17 years ol ago, named Rachel Hat
cheu, who bad been a scholar ot Air. Raukin, was
sick in this house, and on runninr out was knocked
down, shot, and thrown into tbe fire. Iter body lay
in the ashes yesterday morning, burnt to a criBp,
excepting hor head and shoulders. Some one had
kinuly thrown a shawl over this horrid spectacle."
The reign of terror w as complete throughout
the city, and the violence or threats of the mob
extended beyond tbe negroes, and reached to all
who were their friends:
"l.oud and repeated threats wore made by the
rioters that when they had destroyed the colored
school-houses tney woulu kill the teachers, fho
throats were so violent, aud the rioters having shown
themiielvoscapabloot anybrutality.it was deemed
piudout that they should go North. They ail lelt
lor Cairo on the St. Louis packet. Many of tlie
olricors on duty beie sent thoir wives away with
these ladies."
What destruction was actually wrought on
the property ot the negroes themselves is thus
summed up:
"'Ihe riot was kept up all Wednesday night.
Crowds ot armed citizens were gathered at tho cor
ners. Many were hall drunk. The great teat ol the
roughs was the burning of the colored school houcs,
churches, and homes. They seem 10 have acted in
concert, and to have carried out a programme which
had been previously arranged. This is shown by
tho clean sweep which was mado 01 every building
used lor a colored school or place ot worship by tho
colored people, but most strougly by the conduct of
therioteis on the burning 01 tho Collins Chupcl.
Ibis colored church stands on Washington stroot.
and cost $7000."
The extracts we have given are from tho Mem
phis I'ost, a paper which the Copperheads may
discredit because it is loyal. They are abun
dantly continued by the admissions and apolo
gies of the Rebel sheets. Tho Bulletin says:
"The testimony in regard to all these particulars
is most contlictiug, but ail agree on the one thing,
tout those who enp&ped in the riot wero persons 01'
irresponsible cliaiacter, and it will be unlair to
churjre these untoward disturbances to the good,
law-abiding citizens of the city 01 Memphis."
Which is criuivalent to saying. We have no
demise to offer for the mob exept thut we did
not belong to it. The Avalanche far more ex
plicitly declares:
"The rioter who claimed to belong to the '154th'
sought to shield himsolf from culpability bcbluu tho
:uir name ot an honorable bodv ot men ; and had be
Leeu a member, ho would have esteemed its lamo
loo highly to couft ss connection with a mob guilty
ot so many excesses.
"We have beard many ex-soldicrs of the South
ili clare that tne-y wou d preler a military adminis
tration 01 municipal authority to that which dis
graces the city and State, and by U utter incapa
city, gross mismanagement, and prejudices ot its
aont", bus brought uuou euiphia lusting evils,
Ihe true remedy lor all misfortunes, now con
teuip ate-d, cou.ists in the relormaiiou ol the city
clmiter."
We might continue both quotations and com
ments to any extent, but we leave the case to tne
jury on a traction of the evidence and without
any argument at all. Against the city of
Memphis the verdict will be guilty ot murder
and arson without an effort by an organized
authority to prevent or ro punish either crime.
The Indnstilal Problem in the South.
From the 3 imes.
An English gentleman, writing to a religious
contemporury, makes the following Instructive
remarks:
"I am imireBed with tho conviction that it will
be greatly to tne advantage of America to studv the
tm-toryoi the West Indian Colonies, and to take
warning from our experience.
"The planter ol Jamaica received compensation
for the nominal abolition of ilavery ; bug under the
RuiBvu. apHivuuvCTuiii, moy luiputtuu restrictions
and iufliott-U punishments even more galling than
thoae which were In existence in the previous state
ol aervitude. The negroes wero irritated and re
tinted the oppress on. Tbe ay-iem was changed : but
Diurnal estrangement existed betvi ecu masters and
laborer. The planter would aequlesoe in no term
lor mutual accommodation. They would not sell
ti e r outlying land near to the planlatioua The
nrgroea were driven to the mountain. A foreign
apply ot labor wa sourht at great oobI aud with
heavy taxation. A coustant hostility between tbe
races was kept up. and a most luxuriant aoil waa
lelt 111 conqueiiee. uucleaied aud uuoultivatefl.
apital wan Umuubhtd, aud gradually a oouutry
that mljrtit tiae yielded abnndanoe Mnk into decay.
I roiden opportunitf lor Mwnrlng the gradual
9- ,' uTi-nirui ui inir uniiun wma uafflRGTM. AIM.
improvement ot the nnirroM u netleeted. Mm-
sionsrv locieiins, anxious to ps on to other fleirtj
"i inuur, ouiiciunea too numf inn mmr work in
urnaiw au finished, and tne people degenerated ta
BTiiry respect."
we have often labored In these columns t
bring the warning from Jamaica before the
eyes of our Houthcrn readers. Here is an island
with natural resources quite equal to those of
Georgia or Louisiana, able to support millions
ot inhabitants, reduced almost to the condition
Of a rabbit-warren, the crops falling off, land
deteriorating, poverty coming like an armed
man on great masses of the people, so that
their drcsj Is said to be almost made up of rag,
and they are boiling over with discontent,
while class ia pitted against class In fierce and
bitter haired.
Only recently matters have fairly come to
head, and produced an explosion which must
still more derai.ge the island, separate em
ployers and employed, and keep capital away.
All these evils go ou while other islands of
less natural wealth are peaceful, prosperous,
and happy, Increasing in production and ad
vancing in education and morals.
As most students of tbe subject now admit,
the diilereuce between Jamaica and the Rar
badoes, and the Leeward aud Windward
Islands is due not ouly to emancipation, but
to the unhappy gap created at the outset be
tween capital and labor by tho injudicious
measures of the planters. The English writer
above has well characterized them la a few
words.
In the new organization of labor at the South,
it is of Immense importance 1o the interests of
both blacks and whites for coming years, that
nopeimanent estrangement should arise be
tween the class employing labor and the labor
ing class. The former owners will na urally feel
tore aud bitter, and the freedmen will be suspi
cious. Any oppression, or overreaching, or
wrong-dealing by the whites will produce on the
blacks the impression which Buch acts always
do on any ignorant cla-s: they will exaggerate
them, and In-come entirely faithless ot Ihe honor
or good wishes of the employers, and will with
draw themselves, either to ihelr own plots ot
ground, as thoy d;d in Jamaica, or to tho Gov
ernment lands offered them, or to other Statos.
In either case, the separation of labor and capi
tal will be entire and most disastrous. The pro
ducts of the South will immediately fall off; the
land-owners will become poorer; the shop
keepers and the city population, which depend
on the exchanges connected with a large pro
duction, will at once feel the ill effects; many
estates will deteriorate or be abandoned; and,
what is worse than all, the millions of peasantry
would be in a position of hate and distrust to
wards their former masters, and liable always
either to outbreak and revolution, or, lrom their
relations with the whites, exposed to the conse
quences of a fearful war of races as much
worse than anything Jamaica or San Domingo
has seen, as the Anglo-Saxon w hite U more in
tense tban the French Creole, or the American
negro and mulatto is superior to tho West
Indian.
Whatever may be tho prejudices or bitter feel
ings of some ot the Southern population, the
leaders (who arc shrewd aud able men) must
remember that the chief wealth of the South is
in labor, and that black labor, by the laws of
climate, must be their great resource. They
have already discovered in the experience ot
this war how weak is a community when the
peasantry are hostile to the upper classes.
Let them not increase this weakness for the
future. The leading object now ot all public
men, and wise and sensible citizens, in our
Southern States should be to gain the confidence
and goodwill ot the blncks, and to steadily ele
vate them in the moral and educational scale.
They have even a greater obligation of interest
and duty upon them to improve their ignorant
mases and laborers than we have here to raise
up the lowest classes of our cities: lor the sepa
ration of the rich and poor at the North will not
necessarily deprive us of labor, and lessen
production, or increase the chance of a war of
races, while ot the South it brings all these dan
gers. 80 far from the teachers of the Frecd
men's Bureau and the Northern missionary
societies being regarded with suspicion and
hostility south of Mason and Dixon's line, they
ought to bo looked upon as messengers of pros
perity, peace, and improvement. The South
could well afford to pay them all, and many
more, to remain aud lanor. The present desire
of the blacks lor education and advancement
is the most hopeful sign iu their condition;
and yet it is important to remember that this
may not last; it may be only a temporary fruit
of this great revolution. If the ignorant, de
graded whites bum their school Louses, or for
bid their building, or throw various and many
obstacles in the way of the negro's improve
ment, they may themselves finally become dis
couraged and tired of such a difficult pursuit
ot knowledge, aud sink down into a perma
nently ignorant, aud therefore lazy and vicious
class.
hen the lnboring class of the South is this,
capital will inevitably avoid it; industry wiil
languish, commotion and crime will be rife,
black and white will be in perpetual contest,
and white immigration w ill seek safer and more
profitable fields.
The Southern statesmen, journalists, ami
clergy, who guide the iauorant masses, have
almost the choice to make the Soii'h a Jamaica,
desolate, poor, and riotous, or a country where
the white brain shall guide millions of contented
and industrious la borers themselves having
.,l,tn.nn .1. 1. i ,-1. . . . 1 . .1 . J . .. .
uiiiiunii-iy mi- muuai pieuge oi tueir satcty,
and the greatest stimulus to their self-improvement,
a suffrage based on intelligence, a country
in which all classes are iu relations of good will,
and wealth and prosperity are increasing day
by day.
Public Executions Necessity lor Reform.
from the Ihrald.
The more w e rend the accounts of public exe
cutions in this country, the more we are con
vinced of the necessity of some improvement
upon fhe system now in vogue. We aro deci
dedly behind the age iu the manner of punishing
criminals by the eleuth penalty, aud it would be
well for us to tale a lesson from some of the
European Governments in such matters. Iu
France, the mo-t civilized, perhaps, of all
nations, the culprit is senceuced to death with
out the day being made public. If his applica
tion to the Emperor for a reprieve is unsuccess
tul, he is only notified ot the fact half an hour
betore ihe time seen tly set apart for hi execu
tion, so that he is not permitted to reuiain long
In suspense alter hearing tho fatal news. At
the end ot thirty minutes he is quietly led out to
the guillotine, and in less than two minutes
thereafter he has fully expiated his guilt, and
the body Is on tho wny to the cemetery.
Now, this Is what we call a humane and civi
lized way of disposing ol criminals who have
been unfortunate enough to incur the death
penalty. The h.pe of being reprieved, which
he can indulge in to the last, as it were, renders
his condition comfortable compared with that
of our malefactor, who Is acquainted with the
day of his departure tor the "unknown bourne"
for weeks aud sometimes months beforehand.
In Frauce there is no suspense, no ridiculous
seechmaking at the scaffold, no taking leave ot
relatives and frb-nds, but judgment, swift, un
erring, and mcrcitul. Here be is constantly re
minded of his approaching doom by the daily
visits of bis relatives and friends. Strangers,
too, flora the most morbid motives, are allowed
access to his cell, aud permitted to converse
with him upon the most trivial aud wordly sub
jects, w hen he should be dev oting tho last hours
of his life to religious duties. And then when
the execution does come off does not the pri
soner sutler the most excruciuting torture for
the twenty-four hours preceding? What sleep
or rest can he obtain the night before execution (
Sore. His brain is one continual whirl of
painful excitement, and no one but the con
demned himself can realize the horror of such a
situation.
After suffering Ihese long hours of agony the
culprit is led to ihe icatlold at the head ol an
uniueuniug proe'ession of deputv sheriffs, doc
tors, clergymeu, wlnd'u.g up with the uunece
saiy appendage ot a )ury. Then there is a
pitii'e, and the cn'piit, with natural curUwitv,