guise it how we may-the fall to a lower position in the social scale than that which by nature and education they were fitted to adorn. Young ladies, too, who do not aspire to a large establishment "to begin with," might study these "Home Truths" with advantagethough really what sort of young ladies most require the enforcement of certain doctrines, we will not take upon ourselves to decide. We have known an arrant flirt, one who seemed born only to be the life of a pic-nic and the belle of a ball-room, who spent a revenue of pinmoney in kid gloves and white satin shoes, settle down-we beg pardon, expand-into the discreet, managing, methodical, economical young wife, as lively as ever, only with her liveliness like a light under a glass bell, all the brighter for being concentrated--at home; and we have known the "untidy puss" grow suddenly careful in the matter of " buttons," and wonderfully particular about the neatness and brightness of her own rooms. To every gaged" young lady, however, the following hints may be worth receiving. Speaking of house-hunting, our author says— "en And how pretty and inviting they do look-those newly-finished suburban villas-with their light, elegant verandahs, flower-filled balconies, ornamented stuccoed fronts, and stained-glass windows! What tasteful entrances! What fairy lawns! How pleasant to step out into the garden from the low window of the cheerful sitting-room, and to have tea beneath the shade of the lilacs and laburnums! "Can you imagine anything more charming in summer or in summer weather, than such a residence?" No, certainly; and we look in the summer faces of the intended housekeepers, and we feel with their summer feelings, and are so dazzled by the pervading "couleur de rose" in us and around us, that we nearly forget to ask them what it is only too natural they should never ask themselves "If you take a house, so peculiarly adapted to summer, where do you intend to live in winter, that is to say, eight or nine months of every year in England!" Do not then defer your visit to your intended dwelling until the fine season, beneath the beautifying sunbeams of which, all shines with borrowed lustre; but, choosing a dark and dreary day, after a heavy storm, or a period of continued wet, order a well-aired carriage, and let it convey you to the examination of the abodes that had looked so tempting in your fair-day peregrinations. If they are tolerable in bad weather, you may confidently expect them to be charming when it is fine; whilst any deficiency that rain and wind may bring to light, can be pointed out to their landlords, with a much better prospect of being remedied before you have taken possession, than if only discovered and complained of afterwards. Go house-hunting, therefore, in fine-weather, and walk my way, if possible; but go house-examining in bad weather, and I will answer for the coach-hire "paying itself." And do not suppose, from such prosaic considerations, that I begrudge you the poetry of your young existence; far from it, it is my joy and rejoicing; but you know not as well as I do, how much the poetry of life depends on common-place matters of fact, the neglect of which must leave you in constant warfare with petty household miseries, and render anything approaching to elegance and refinement impossible. In your choice of a house, then, let it be pretty, if in other respects advantageous; but let no degree of beauty induce you to overlook the following requirements: That its rent and taxes be such as you can pay without inconvenience, and its size proportioned to your means of furnishing, &c. ; That its situation be healthy, respectable, and convenient; That it have good water and good drainage; That the chimneys do not smoke, and that doors and windows shut as well as open'; That it be not infested with mice or noxious insects; and fit for winter habitation. That it be light and airy, but weather-tight, Furthermore, that it have a pantry, cupboards, bells, wash-house, sink, cellar, &c., and not like too many modern cottages, little besides pretty papers, windows down to the ground, and plenty of" obligato" thorough draughts. I am quite aware that you will not meet with anything combining all that you could wish; but, on that very account, you should abide by what is most essential, and not sacrifice real, solid comfort to shewy and unsatisfactory appearance. Whatever else you may have in common with the birds, remember that, their oily feathers being denied you, you cannot altogether live upon grass-plots or in shrubberies; and you may believe the assurances of more experienced housekeepers than yourselves, that the dwelling the most comfortable to live in, will ever be the best to love in. The next thing, after taking a house, is to appropriate and furnish its apartments; and here it will be chiefly necessary to consider The contents of your purse; The service you will be able to command; The wear and tear to which your furniture may be exposed, and your own happiness and comfort, rather than any fancied obligation of copying the fashion of other persons, whose constitutions, views, and circumstances may be different from yours. Not new all this, yet worth reconsidering nevertheless-and the following of the show miniature boudoir drawing-room of the wouldbe" genteel": Accordingly, as soon as the wedding-visits have been received in it, and its various treasures have been sufficiently displayed, admired, and envied, it will be closely bagged and druggeted, or, perhaps, shut up altogether, excepting on those particular occasions, when the temptation of incurring extra trouble and expense, in order to entertain other genteel people in the neighbourhood, may become too powerful to be resisted. Then, covers are once more taken off, and albums and elegancies taken out, the gilding shines beneath unusual light, the carpet glows unconscious of a drugget, embroidered cats are let out of their bags, and India chessmen stand forth from their boxes; the costly china joins company with the well-whitened silver; and full of admiration at her various possessions, and agitation as to what may happen to them, the hostess expects and welcomes her invited guests. These take their seats and colds in the seldom-inhabited boudoir, the ladies talk of crotchet, the gentlemen of stocks; all pretty things are at a premium, all pretty faces at a discount; a flushed maid-servant hands coffee to the gentlemen and spills tea upon the ladies; the guests who would make room for her before them, do terrible mischief to what stands behind; every body's chair is on everybody's dress, everybody sits in everybody's pocket; and, whatever liberty of speech and thought may exist in this select circle of free-born Britons, no one is corporeally free to move. The inviters and invited naturally become fidgetty in proportion, and the hour of separation is hailed as a deliverance from heat, bondage, and inexpressible discomfort, not lightly to be incurred again; and, on the morrow, the miniature state drawingroom is covered up once more, as useless and as close as ever. A contrast with this, and we have done : Here, though no unsuitable extravagance puts everyday dress to shame-though chairs and sofa are evidently meant to sit upon, and tables, strong enough to lean against, are free for common purposes and common inmates; some of the luxuries or elegancies of life, keepsakes, or curiosities, pleasant to heart or sight, may find a fitting corner, or give a beauty and a language to the neatly papered walls. Here, though children may walk about in peace, or drop a bit of cake without ruining the carpet, they may receive their first lessons in the salutary restraints imposed by civilised society, whilst certain pretty things are shewn to their delighted gaze, on condition that they do not touch. Here, their own more costly toys may be trusted to their own more tender handling, and here they will regularly expect to receive some extra pleasure connected with their best endeavour, and their cleanest, if not always their best dresses. Here, also, the piano, which, never being exposed to the damp of an unaired atmosphere, stands wonderfully in tune, will invite Mamma to exercise her fingers that her darlings may dance around her; and when, after their happiest hour, the little ones are saf and still in bed, and husband and wife are left together when the modest but ample curtains are snugly drawn, and the fire burns cheerily and bright, and present certain love and happiness contrasts with former doubts and fears-here, whilst habitual order and refinement restore the exhausted spirits after daily toil and care, old tales will be related, old songs will be sung; and, should any friend drop in to pass away an hour, or valued acquaintances accept a cordial invitation to form a larger party, the room, if rather crowded, will be full of happy people, fearless of injuring anything or anybody, and, when they must go home, it will be to add to their pleasantest remembrances " a most delightful evening." ITS | THE COMPULSORY MARRIAGE AND CONSEQUENCES. A Novel.-(3 vols. Bentley.) -Such "heaps" of novels now-a-day proceed from the press, that it would be a vain effort to let any one reader keep pace with the writing of them. Seldom, therefore, do we go out of our way to notice one; never unless it appear to have some mark of individuality to distinguish it from the throng. "The Compulsory Marriage"-not a taking title to our inind-is one of these exceptions. There is no author's name upon the title page, and we are inclined to think. from internal evidence that it is a first work; that there is a new novelist in the field, from whom much may be expected. The book is not without some faults of inexperience; but then it also possesses the freshness of an unhackneyed writer. It might perhaps be most briefly described by saying it is a book that cannot be laid down, so exceedingly and continuously interesting is the story. A story which is never interrupted by dull episodes or needless verbosity, though the plot is far too intricate for us to attempt giving an outline of it. The character of Henriette-whose personal description, with her light hazel eyes of "bronzed brightness," is among the most graphic we know-is a very beautiful and womanly delineation. Never, certainly, had peerless heroine a string of darker calamities befall her, and yet they arise so naturally, grow so completely out of the circumstances of the story, that we never feel them improbable. Her aunt, the Comtesse de Cressy, the selfish, heartless, worldly woman of society, breathing only its atmosphere, shunning a lonely evening as one might a pestilence, and utterly without resources against solitude and approaching old age, is drawn in a masterly manner; reminding us, without being an imitation, of some of Thackeray's sketches. The erring, repentant, heart-broken Baroness is also carefully delineated, and we grow lenient to her apostasy in consideration of her sorrows, her weakness, and the influences around her. We wish, however, she had found a purer refuge at last than the bosom of the Romish church. There is another apostate in the book, of a very different stamp, and, despite his one misdeed, of a loftier character; but we shrink from controversial subjects, and hence indeed one reason why we do not try to enter more fully into the details of the story, which might possibly provoke discussion. There is at any rate a Christian spirit evident in the work, even though the form of Christianity sometimes lauded is not that to which we lovingly, reverently, and firmly eling. To say thus much, and to warn our readers from admiration_of monastic vows, is but justice to them, after having commended this novel as what it is, clever and interesting. But if there be a grain of poison, there is also its antidote in the very circumstances of the plot, and in the faint ar guments which are an opponent's strongest weapons. AGABUS; OR THE LAST OF THE DRUIDS, An Historical Poem. By Esther Le Hardy.(Pickering.)-The dry bones of historical fore, laid bare by antiquarian research, not unfrequently suggest to the poet the clothing of fanciful imagery; and so adorned by the hands of a master have, as it were, a new and immortal vitality breathed into them; but such subjects are a severe trial of power to even an accomplished prentice hand." The present is a case in point. Nevertheless, Miss Le Hardy's is a very readable work, and with the addition of her very valuable explanatory notes, throws much light on the remote and little understood period of which it treats. AMUSEMENTS OF THE HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A season which commenced early has only terminated with the last nights of August; and moreover, so many extra nights and soirées ex-| traordinaires have been given, that we may confidently say such a number of "opera nights were never before crowded into a year. In the exceptional circumstances of the year 1851, we find abundant reasons why this should have been; yet independently of them, we are glad to believe that the taste for the lyric drama, and for fine music generally, is steadily advancing among the middle classes to supersede coarser entertainments. The mere desire to follow the fashion, or to stare at royalty and the " great folks," may lead the parvenu to pay a large sum for box or stalls on a subscription night; but the soirées extraordinaires are supported, we may be very sure, by the genuine lovers of music of all classes. The rentrée of Mademoiselle Cruvelli appears to us to have been the most noticeable event of the season-her début one might almost say; for though the few recognized her as an artiste of no ordinary promise three years ago, her genius is only now thoroughly triumphant and generally acknowledged. No one could witness her Fidelio without being impressed with the difference between mere talent, and that inspiration of genius whose expression is one of the phases of poetry. The richness of her voice, its cultivation, and the purity of her singing, are things more easily described than the earnestness which gives them force, the grace, yet power, the naturalness of her emotion, yet still idealized by art, and the thorough womanliness of her entire delineation. Her wonderfully expressive countenance, and her easy, slight, but most eloquent gesticulation, complete the charm; and to say that she realizes Beethoven's divine conception is, while the simplest form of praise, the greatest and the truest. Mr. Sims Reeves has been an excellent Florestano, and the subordinate characters of Fidelio" have been most ably sustained. "Don Giovanni," Anna Bolena,' 33 66 La Somnambula," and other grand operas, with Mesdames Sontag and Barbieri Nini, Lablache, and the whole strength of the company to support them, have been recently given-some at playhouse prices-with Mademoiselles Rosati and Ferraris in the ballet department. Mademoiselle Cerito also appeared on the two last of the subscription nights. HAYMARKET. The performances at this favourite theatre have been very varied during the past month. Sterling plays and farces have been sometimes given; we believe, however, the chief attractions have rested with the English operatic company, who have been employed here lately. Miss Louisa Pyne has within the last twelvemonth taken high rank as an English singer, and a ballad MONTH. opera, composed by Mr. Edward Fitzwilliam, her the occasion of a new success. Speaking of and called "The Queen of a Day," has been to this work and its author, a clever contemporary says- This young composer, the son of the celebrated actress, has already distinguished himself as a writer of a variety of songs, apropos to certain dramatic pieces produced at the Lyceum and elsewhere; and once upon a time the public were invited to the hearing of a Stabat Mater bearing his name, bethe promise of considerable ability. His present sides other ecclesiastical attempts, which betokened effort does not take a very high ground; scarcely any of the pieces contained in the Queen of a Day rising above the ordinary ballad level; though as ballads-as pieces of vocal music for chamber usethey are of a very superior order, and surely calculated to become popular. The two acts comprise an extensive variety of these simplicities, pretending to no specific dramatic character, but exceedingly Mr. Fitzwilliam possesses an pleasant to listen to. agreeable vein of melody, and in the present case he has demonstrated it very advantageously, while the instrumentation of the several morceaux betrays a more than ordinary knowledge of orchestral resources, as well as a laudable ambition to desert hackneyed roads for others less familiar and less trodden. The house was disposed to give a friendly acceptance to all they heard, and encores were enforced with a vehemence which admitted of no denial. The opera was very neatly played and sung by the artists who were concerned in it. We never heard Miss Louisa Pyne, who personated the exWednesday night, and the composer no doubt was tempore Queen, sing more prettily than she did on indebted to her for no small portion of the success which his effusions met with. Mr. W. Harrison was also a coadjutor of value, as the encores he received plainly testified. Mr. Weiss represented the innkeeper, who, like the prudent vicar, votes on either side according to the policy of the moment, with the dryness peculiar to himself; while Mr. Stuart, Mrs. Stanley, and Mrs. Caulfield filled the remaining parts with all the histrionic vivacity that was required. We need hardly say the story of this little opera is not a new one, it having been adapted from a translation of the libretto of Adolph Adam's well-known "La Reine d'un Jour.” ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. The long-talked of "Saffo," of M. Gounod, has been produced within the last month-too late in the season, perhaps, to have full justice done to its merits. Many regular opera-goers must have left town; and the rest, perhaps, were already a little satiated with music-for this case is a possibility even with the dearest lovers of it. Even the sense of enjoyment may be too highly wrought. The story of Saffo every school-girl knows; and this opera has been so much talked of, that perhaps our readers are weary of the subject. We will therefore only quote a paragraph or two from the Athenæum, premising crepancy, too, Miss Glyn managed not only to reconcile, but to convert into a commodity. Even in the whirl of the passion with which she has to deal, the melody of the versification came clearly outnot as by any attempt on the actress's part to mark it, which must have impaired the passion; but while following the latter, we were yet made sensible of it, like a low accompaniment of music running through the storm. These are master-gifts; and if Miss Glyn can learn to command them at her will, they should give her a great place in the history of her art. MADAME CLARA NOVELLO. that there are not two opinions about Madame Viardot's grand impersonation of the heroineThroughout the whole of "Saffo" the treatment of the recitative is thoughtful; excellent, too, as furnishing scope for vocal declamation. The orchestra, again, is admirable; of a rich and pompous sonority when the scene demands it-and, in the last act, picturesque in its variety and impressiveness. There are few stronger effects in music than the heightening of the second strophe of the last lament of Saffo by the addition of new instrumental combinations. In its passion--and that there is no reserve of passion the first finale, the duet and trio in the second act, and the tenor scena in the third sufficiently attest-there is rarely, if ever, spasm or exaggeration. The opera, too, is throughout vocalThis most accomplished vocalist has appa written for the best part of every one of the voices rently become tired of a life of inaction, and of the quartet. This might be felt, not only in the recent political events in Italy have urged her rare perfection and obvious enjoyment with which once more to leave the seclusion of her refined the music was interpreted by Mesdames Castellan home to enter again upon a glorious public ca and Viardot, Signors Tamberlik and Tamburinireer. She has been singing at Exeter Hall in but by the manner in which the fresh and legitimate the Oratorios of "The Messiah" and "Elijah" beauty of the goatherd's lay asserted itself. In with great power, purity, and effect. 66 The spite of the inferior singing of Herr Stigelli, the Athenæum" thus comments upon her capti "Chanson de Pâtre" produced the same surprise vating performances:-" A new attraction was and delight here as it did in Paris, where it was more sympathetically sung by M. Aymés. Of the imparted to The Messiah,' by the return of two defects to be noted in "Saffo," the first is not Madame Clara Novello as principal soprano. M. Gounod's fault so much as that of the coupe of This lady's voice may be said to have gained French opera. This is the too frequent use of the rather than lost during her absence from Loncouplet form; which has rendered in several cases don. It is, of the two, more powerful than the omission of the second verse necessary to avoid formerly, without its former compass, sweetness, tediousness; thus allowing melodies to pass un- and purity, being in the least impaired her noticed which by repetition must have arrested the articulation, too, appears to us bolder and clearer ear. The other fault belongs to the solicitude of h an it used to be, and her execution is neater youth and inexperience-being an over-care as to in mentioning the reproduction of Mendelssohn's in some points, the shake especially."-Again, details; by which, in more than one portion of the opera interest is retarded, and a certain heaviness produced detrimental to dramatic effect. This must be inevitable to every conscientious writer who is untried; and if it may not be excused or allowed for by the public, it claims the best construction of every competent witness. SADLER'S WELLS. Mrs. Warner has been acting here a few nights, after an absence-if our memory serves us correctly-of some two or three years' duration. She is one of the most sterling reliable actresses on the stage, never sinking to mediocrity, and often rising above it; and no wonder the Islingtonians thronged to welcome their old favourite. Sadler's Wells, however, has patrons far beyond its own neighbourhood, as might be expected under Mr. Phelps's able management, not to speak of his own excellent acting. Miss Glynn-the protegée of Charles Kemble-has been engaged here, and playing Bianca in Milman's tragedy of "Fazio," with marked success. The Athenæum, writing of her, says very truly 66 : Elijah," the critic remarks-"The text of the composer was scrupulously respected by her; and her voice told with great purity and lustre, the part lying thoroughly within the compass of her register." Nothing could be more gratifying to the public than the reappearance of such an artiste. CREMORNE GARDENS. Mr. T. B. Simpson is the able and successful caterer for the public entertainment at these gardens, in which more varied amusement is provided than in any other place of resort in London. There are balloon ascents, concerts, theatricals, tableaux vivants, Naval fêtes, Spanish galas, fireworks, illuminations, Ethiopean serenaders, panoramas, cosmoramas, horsemanship, and lectures on the Bosjesmans and Cantelo's egg-hatching apparatus, all to be seen or heard in rapid succession; even the bare enumeration of such a catalogue of attractions is something quite incredible, and yet it is nothing but a prosaic and literal record of the every-day proceedings at There is one other quality by which we were par- this place. Mr. Simpson appears to have gone ticularly struck during the progress of this part-to all parts of the world to collect the materials and it is of more value than on the first mention for his fetes; Paris and the Cape have contrimay appear amid such other elements of excellence buted their share of marvels, and the thousands as we have been referring to. In this play of "Fazio," the lines, musical throughout, flow at times into a strain of cadenced melody, very pleasant to the ear, but not generally most appropriate to the expression of hurried or agitated feeling. This dis of visitors which throng these gardens are a sufficient proof that the people will always patronise efforts which are made in a really spirited manner for their amusement. THE GREAT EXHIBITION. At a recent meeting of the Royal Commission at the Building in Hyde Park, the following conclusions were arrived at and announced:"The Royal Commissioners have fixed Saturday, the 11th of October, as the day for closing the Exhibition to the public. It is their intention to hold a meeting in the Building on Wednesday, the 15th of October, at 12 o'clock, to receive the reports of the several juries, and to take leave of the foreign commissioners. On this occasion they intend to request the presence of the exhibitors, the jurors, the foreign and local commissioners, and the members of the local committees. Immediately after the close of their proceedings, permission will be given to the exhibitors to remove their goods, subject to such regulations as may be made by the Executive Committee. The reports of the juries, and the names of the persons to whom prizes shall have been awarded, will afterwards be published in the London Gazette. It is the desire of the Royal Commissioners not only to present medals to the individuals to whom the juries may have awarded them, but to mark their sense of the great exertions of all the exhibitors, and also of the jurors, the foreign and local commissioners, the chairmen, treasurers, and secretaries of local committees, and other persons who have rendered services in promoting the Exhibition, and to present them with a permanent memorial of the undertaking, by distributing medals to each, accompanied by a certificate and a copy of the reports of the juries. "The three medals of which the designs were originally approved are intended to be applied as follows:-That by Mr. Leonard Wyon will be distributed to the prizemen selected by the juries; that by M. Bonnardel will be given in certain cases recommended by the Council of Chairmen, not as a mark of excellence in degree on the part of those who receive it, but for reasons which the Council of Chairmen have been requested to state specially in their reports. The medal designed by Mr. Adams will be given to the jurors. "In addition, the Commissioners propose to cause two other inedals to be struck, which will be presented respectively to the exhibitors, and to those who have rendered other services to the Exhibition. "The great number of the medals, books, and certificates which will thus be presented, obviously renders the distribution of them on a single occasion a physical impossibility. "On the other hand, the Commissioners feel that it would be invidious to select any persons to receive their medals at one time, and to omit others. "And further, it is clearly desirable that the medals, the certificates, and the reports should be presented simultaneously: and the length of time which must necessarily elapse before the whole of them can be prepared, makes it difficult to fix any precise day on which the distribution could be effected. "Under these circumstances, the Royal Commissioners have come to the conclusion that it will be most desirable to fix a limited period within which each individual may make such arrangements for receiving medals, books, and certificates from the Commission as may best suit his personal convenience. Due notice will be given on this point as soon as the Commissioners are able to fix a time for the distribution to commence." FASHIONS FOR SEPTEMBER. It is to the spas and the sea-side that we must look for promenade dresses at present; with a glance, however, at the châteaux and villas, where some of our élégantes who prefer their own homes are passing the remainder of the summer. My notice of these will be brief, for the style of promenade dress has not changed since I described it in the beginning of the season, with the exception of the Capuchon having replaced the straw chapeau for the early morning or the late evening promenade. It may be either very plain or very elegant, according to the material; but the form is always the same. The first are generally adopted for the early morning walk it may be either of poussière, or, if the robe is of white or printed per kale, it may correspond. My readers will recollect that the form is that of a large hood, sustained by slight whalebone runners: it completely envelopes the coiffure, ties under the chin, and is terminated by a bavolet descending to the shoulders. The Capuchon may be adopted at the : bathing-places for bathers; but the chapeaux most in vogue for the sea-side promenade, are those of black and yellow straw mingled: they aer trimmed with knots of black velvet, which ahrmonize well with coquelicots, grenades, and, above all, with bouquets of blue-bells. I may cite as a decided novelty, some chapeaux very fashionable at the spas, of paille à jour, mingled black and yellow. A little tuft of tétes de plumes jaspées, black and yellow, is placed on each side of the exterior. The interior is trimmed with coques of yellow ribbon, intermingled with a light foliage in bugles, and broad brides of black and yellow plaided ribbon. The great variety and beauty of fancy straw keeps it still in favour, I may cite, as perhaps the prettiest, those toute à jour; they nearly resemble lace, and are almost as light as it: they are lined with rose-coloured crape, and decorated with sprigs of jasmine, acacia, different kinds of creepers, and white lilac, or chutes of moss rosebuds, or small fruit-blossoms. |