NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. THE most interesting in our opinion, and most valuable, though not at all the bulkiest, of the recent additions to Catholic literature is the Annus Sanctus of Mr. Orby Shipley (Burns & Oates). It is excellently printed by the Ballantyne press, and consists of a very novel and complete collection of the "Hymns of the Church for the ecclesiastical year, translated from the Sacred Offices by various authors, with modern, original, and other hymns, and an appendix of earlier versions." There is nothing here more pleasant than to read on the title "Vol. I.," for this gives us a right to count upon at least one more volume, for which there are rich and ample materials. The present volume is confined to the seasons of the Church, the canonical hours, and hymns of our Lord. The Blessed Virgin, Holy Communion, the Four Last Things, and many miscellaneous spiritual subjects, find no place here. Yet, even within these limitations, we are surprised at not finding a representative poem by the great writer of "Christian Schools and Scholars," though we confess we cannot recall any poem urgently suitable from Mother Raphael Drane's "Songs in the Night." Beyond the Atlantic there are many regions unexplored, such as the "Preludes" of Maurice Egan, and the very devout poems of Benjamin Dionysius Hill (now Father Edmund of the Passionist Order). Miss Eleanor Donnelly will, we hope, have a place in Mr. Shipley's second volume. But let us speak of the volume in our hands. It has cost the compiler many a laborious hour, no matter how delightful the labour may have been to so enthusiastic a hymnologist as the whilom editor of the Lyra Eucharistica and the Lyra Messianica. His very interesting introduction explains the principles of his selecHis code tion, and the many new resources on which he has drawn. of uniform punctuation is but a sample of the minute care with which the Annus Sanctus has been prepared for the press and passed through the press. In the paragraph in the introduction relating to Irish contributors, Mr. Shipley, by mistake, gives Ireland the credit of having produced the late Rev. Thomas J. Potter, who spent many useful years, indeed, at our All Hallows College; but (as a writer in The Nation remarked) similar service does not make Mr. Henry Bedford an Irishman, though we should be glad to claim as a countryman so accomplished a scholar and so good a man. Let us quote the last page of this introduction. The initials "T. E. B." are happily no impene trable enigma for our readers :— "Finally, it may be convenient and will be curious to collect into a focus the names of all who have assisted in this work, at least of all who may be mentioned. Amongst the contributors some desire to be anonymous—the translators of the hymns from St. Alphonsus, and of the hymns in the Roman Breviary and Order of Compline. Some are unknown. Some have affixed to their contributions their initial, or other letters only, e.g., W. M. A., T. E. B., F. A. J., S. J., F. J. P., S., and Σ. Of the rest the following names are arranged in alphabetical order: "Prior Aylward, Rev. G. F. L. Bampfield, J. R. Beste, W. K. Blount, Miss Bowles, Alfred, Lord Braye; Matthew Bridges, Miss Caddell, Robert Campbell of Skerrington, Father Caswall, Father H. Collins, John Dryden, J. C. Earle, Father Faber, Lady Georgiana Fullerton, R. S. Hawker, Provost Husenbeth, Charles Kent, Mrs. F. G. Lee, Howel W. Lloyd, D. Florence Mac Carthy, Robert Monteith, Miss Mulholland, Cardinal Newman, Canon Oakeley, Judge O'Hagan, Rev. H. N. Oxenham, Lady Catherine Petre, Ambrose L. Phillipps, Professor Potter, Miss Procter, Father Rawes, Father Russell, S.J.; Father H. I. D. Ryder, Rev. F. Stanfield, Aubrey de Vere, Rev. A. D. Wackerbarth, Dr. Wallace, R. Dalton Williams ("Shamrock"), W. F. Wingfield." The 4th of November, just gone by, was the third centenary of St. Charles Borromeo's death at the early age of forty-six years. It was a fitting epoch for the publication of the English translation of Giussano's life of the saint. It forms two fine volumes, on which no pains have been spared as regards the mechanical advantages of good paper, good printing, and good binding. A very striking and life-like photographic picture of St. Charles is the frontispiece. Cardinal Manning introduces the work in a beautiful essay of twenty pages. The peculiar mission which the holy Archbishop of Milan discharged in the history of the Church makes his life particularly suitable for the study of priests whose duties lie in the midst of the world. The book here translated was first published in the year 1610. The London Oblates of St. Charles have given a signal proof their filial devotion in the attractive garb in which they present to the English reader the life of their saintly founder. It is brought out with faultless taste by Messrs. Burns & Oates. Father Alphonsus Ratisbonne died on the Cth of May, 1884. A Memorial Sketch of his remarkable career has been introduced to English readers by Lady Herbert (Burns & Oates). It is sold for the benefit of the Orphanages of Notre Dame de Sion at Jerusalem. Three splendid volumes have just traversed the Atlantic for the purpose of being introduced to our readers, namely, a new and enlarged edition (published by Pustet of New York and Cincinnati) of Waterworth's Faith of Catholics, compiled originally by Kirk and Berington. The full title of this great standard work explains its object The Faith of Catholics confirmed by Scripture, and attested by the Fathers of the first five centuries of the Church." The present edition is introduced by a very interesting and useful preface from the pen of Monsignor Capel, who has added an appendix concerning the Immaculate Conception and the Infallibility of the Pope. The work itself is of high character, and of the utmost utility; and this new American edition leaves nothing to be desired as regards excel lent paper, readable type, and solid binding It is one of the most valuable accessions that a priest's library could receive. Three such portly volumes might seem to require a longer notic, especially after travelling so far; but those who are likely to patronise Monsignor Capel's work will understand its special recommendations from this brief notice as well as if we could devote many pages to it. Our next Number will be in the hands of our book-buying clients in time to give some hints for their Christmas and New Year purchases otherwise we should scruple (even more than we do) having again to leave many books unnoticed. We must find room to mention "Lina's Tales" very charmingly told by Mrs. F. Pentrill, and an illustrated volume (published like the preceding, by M. H. Gill & Son), containing four of Miss Rosa Mulholland's exquisite stories. This name affords an excuse for announcing that the Author of "Hester's History," "Eldergowan," and many other beautiful books, will open our volume for 1885 with the first chapters of a new Tale of considerable length. We are thus enabled with more confidence to wish to "THE IRISH MONTHLY" and all its readers (especially its most constant readers) a very happy New Year. THE A. M. SULLIVAN. HE close of our twelfth yearly volume is a fitting place for a very brief but very earnest expression of our affectionate regret and admiration for the good and variously-gifted Irishman who lately passed away from earth. As we have stated earlier in this number of our Magazine (page 620) Alexander Martin Sullivan died on the 17th of last October, assisted by the sacraments and sacred consolations of the holy Catholic Faith, to which he was, throughout his life, sincerely and practically devoted. May he rest in peace! At the page just indicated we have taken care to reproduce the only elegy which has seemed to us worthy of its theme. There is a certain pathos in the circumstance that the last published words of this vigorous prose-writer-a whimsical denunciation of poor Father Prout's "Bells of Shandon," which worried him during the sleeplessness of his last illness on his way to his death-bed at Dartry, near Dublin-should be in a form that he seldom used, leaving it to the ever-welcome initials, T.D.S. He was not a poet, like his brother, the Editor of the Nation. As was said of Curran and Grattan he VOL. XII., No. 138. 49 could speak his poem, but hardly write one. His last printed prose was a fervent letter in the cause of temperance, of which he had been an energetic and unwearying advocate for very many years, and through all his life an edifying example. Mr. Sullivan's death has called forth an extraordinary number and variety of testimonies of esteem and gratitude from many different classes, parties, and countries. Instances of his kindness and largeheartedness are brought forward on every side. This Magazine can bear its personal witness, also; for the great Journal, with which his name will always remain identified, gave to our enterprise, from its commencement, the most generous encouragement. Yet even such an influence as his soon passes away, or seems to pass away. The world quickly forgets. But fortunately his memory has not to trust to the world at large, or even to a grateful country. Mr. T. D. Sullivan, M.P., has already begun in the Nation extremely interesting memoirs, which will, of course, take hereafter the form of a book. We hope that this graceful Récit d'un Frère (to modify the title of Mrs. Craven's famous work) will not overlook the least known of this band of brothers. By this phrase we certainly cannot designate Mr. Denis B. Sullivan, who has devoted all his manhood with such eminent success to the profession to which his elder brother gave his last years. He has his future before him; but we allude to one whose course is already ended-Mr. Richard O'Sullivan, whose literary career was chiefly pursued in Australia and California, and whose Celtic prefix has helped to hinder him from being recognised as a member of this very remarkable family. Ireland's children, and many who are not children of Ireland, are now paying the best and most practical tribute to the memory of this great Irishman. He was the best of sons, the best of brothers, the best of husbands, the best of fathers- a brilliant writer and an eloquent speaker an ardent lover of his country, and a devout practical Catholic. Thus, sooner than men had hoped-but God knows best—a notable career, begun and carried on with few aids from birth, fortune, or circumstances, has come to an end. Of human lives, as of books, the last word is FINIS. M. H. Gill & Son, Printers, Dublin. MAGUIRE'S SANITARY REFORM SYSTEM, For Inspection and Reform of Sanitary Arrangements in Dwellings, Convents, Schools, &c., has been awarded the approval and support of the principal Noblemen, Medical men, Architects, and Sanitarians in the United Kingdom. TARIFF OF SANITARY CHARGES. For thorough Examination of Sanitary Arrangements throughout In the country (according to distance), £2 2 0 £3 3 0 to £5 5 0 From ROBERT RAWLINSON, C.B., Chief Engineering Inspector to the Local Government Board, Chairman of Royal Commission on Dublin Drainage, 1879. "Local Government Board, Whitehall, London. "Mr. W. R. MAGUIRE, Dublin. "DEAR SIR, "The form of Inspection you propose will be most useful when properly carried out, and will be worth to the family far more than the sum proposed to be charged. Houses and premises which have been put into the most perfect order need regular inspection, just as clocks need to be wound with regularity. Bad or defective drains taint with sewerage gases, which produce disease. "ROBERT RAWLINSON, C.B." From THE DUBLIN CITY ANALYST, CHARLES A. CAMERON, Esq., M.D., Diplomate in Sanitary Science, Cambridge University; Fellow and Professor of Chemistry and Hygiene, R.C.S.I.; and Chief Medical Officer of Health for Dublin. 66 Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, "I have much pleasure in stating that I consider the plan of making sanitary inspections of dwellings, introduced by Messrs. MAGUIRE & SON, of Dawson-street, one which deserves to be encouraged by the public. There are few dwellings in this country which are perfect from a sanitary point of view. Badly-constructed or leaky sewers, defective traps, connections between water supplies and places liable to contain foul air, want of ventilation arrangements, damp from the soil, are common evils in houses which the inhabitants often fondly believe are in a perfect sanitary condition. Messrs. MAGUIRE & SON are just the persons to discover and remedy these and similar defects, and from experience of their skill I can cordially recommend them, as indeed I have often done to my friends and others for some years past. "CHARLES A. CAMERON." From Rev. CANON DONNELLY, Three Patrons, Rathgar (now MOST REV. DR. DONNELLY). October 6th, 1883. 66 "The Rev Canon Donnelly has employed MAGUIRE & SON in perfecting and reforming Sanitary Arrangements, and in other house works, and always found them and their employes skilled and punctual tradesmen and thoroughly satisfactory in any work they undertake to do." From Rev. J. M. EBENRICHT, Bursar, French College, Blackrock. "I beg to certify that for over ten years Messrs. MAGUIRE & SON of 10 Dawsonstreet, have on various occasions done work here to our entire satisfaction; both as to the work done and the workmen employed to do it we have never had to make the least complaint. Messrs. MAGUIRE & SON's Estimates are most carefully drawn up, and strictly executed by them. "J. M. EBENRICHT, Bursar. From the Rev. PRIORESS, Sienna Convent, Drogheda. "October 10th, 1883. "The Cooking Apparatus supplied by Messrs. MAGUIRE & SON to Sienna Convert Drogheda, has been found very efficient, and the artizans in their employment were quiet, orderly, and attentive to their business." Also at Convent of Mercy, Sligo, St. Anne's Convent, Milltown, &c. &c. MAGUIRE & SON, HEATING AND COOKING APPARATUS MANUFACTURERS, 6, 7 & 8 SOUTH FREDERICK-STREET, OFFICES:-10 DAWSON STREET, DUBLIN. |