The Old Barracks: Or, Seeking the Light. By 
Caroline E. Kelly. ISmo. —pp. 344. Boston • 
Henry Hoyt. 1865. 
The art of writing for children is a difficult one, and 
is very little understood as yet in our country. True, 
the “ Voting Folk’s” magazine is calling public atten¬ 
tion to the importance of this branch of literature, 
and some or our writers who have already won laurels 
in other fields, are trying their powers in this with 
good promise of success. But the att with us is still 
in its infancy, and its first principles are but just be¬ 
ginning to be understood. The task has hitherto 
devolved too much on the poorest class of writers, 
upon those who saw no other way of gelling into 
print. The result has been that Sunday-School books 
and works of that class have been written without 
taste or discrimination. Keeping only in view the 
moral to he inculcated, ttie author? have neglected the 
graces of language and illustration which alone conld 
make it attractive aud readily understood. The book 
before us has avoided this fault, and is upon the whole 
well and pleasantly written. Its only blemish Is the 
manifestation of a sectarian spirit. This is not coarse¬ 
ly exprcBEed. and indeed is rather implied than en¬ 
forced. It is dangerous, however, and should never 
be permitted In bonks of this class. No doubt the little 
ones will wrangle over religions tenets when they get 
older, without being instructed in casuistry from their 
in&ncy. For sale by E. Dabbow & Bro. 
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OFlTHE 
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER. 
Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorke 
A LESSON IN SELF-DENIAL, 
The career of the University of Rochester has 
truly been a prosperous one. Although it is 
scarcely more than fifteen years 3ince the institu¬ 
tion was founded, it has already by wise man¬ 
agement gained a wide reputation for enterprise 
and sound scholarship, and its material success, 
to-day, might well be envied by many of the 
best and oldest collegee in our laud. Its Alumni 
number over three hundred ; its Professors are 
gentlemen eminent for exalted character.'and 
scholarly attainments, and enthusiastically de¬ 
voted to their profession; its buildings are 
ample and elegant; its cabinets — Geological, 
Mlneralogleal and Zoological—are hardly second 
to any in our country; and large additions are 
constantly being made to its libraries and philo¬ 
sophical apparatus. Its President is not only a 
profound scholar, but also a man of indefatigable 
business activity; and no effort will be spared 
by him and by a board of trustees, composed of 
men of wealth, culture and standing, to make 
this institution meet, in every respect, the 
highest educational needs of American young 
men. The rebellion which has had so fatal an 
effect upon many colleges in oar land, ha* not 
in the least diminished the enterprise and use¬ 
fulness of this one, although It has lessen¬ 
ed the number of its students. It is emphati¬ 
cally a live and vigorous institution, aiming to 
ET SOPHIA C. GARRETT, 
Jane Warren was washing potatoes for 
dinner, one pleasant forenoon, and seeing a 
carriage passing, ran to the window to discover 
who were in it. 
There are Mart and Harriet Gray soinff to 
the ple-nic with their brother.” she saidT “ Oh, 
dear. It’s too bad I cannot so ! Such a pleasant 
day, too, and I here in this hateful kitchen 
working so hard ! I do think mother is reaL 
mean to make me do so much work. I don’t 
believe she used to work so when she was a girl; 
and if sne did, such is not the fashion in these 
days. There * not a girl in our school that has 
snch red hand* as mine; and I don’t believe 
they 11 ever be any whiter if I go on at. this rate. 
I wish these dirty potatoes were in the ocean ! 
If they only crew on trees, like apples. It would 
save all this trouble of washine them.” 
Jane spoke so loud that her brother Charles, 
while at work in the garden near the open win¬ 
dow, heard her. He looked in and asked if she 
were talking to him. 
“ No, I like to talk to more sensible people.” 
“ Talking to yourself, eh? Well, proceed', and 
I II listen attenrivelv.” 
"Go to work and don’t stand there like a 
scarecrow. You are the most provoking fellow 
I ever saw. Always on band to‘ hear evervthlno- 
and then making fun of it! ’’ 
Jans was dally in the habit of speaking un¬ 
kindly to her brothers and sisters. She resolved 
many times never to do so again, but hers was a 
quick temper, and when angry, her good resolu¬ 
tions were forgotten. 
Tears came, but were quleklv wiped away, for 
fear some one would see them. Her arm hit the 
table as she was going to put the potatoes into 
the kettle, which knacked the plate out of 
her hand. Tears started afresh at this new mia- 
some gigantic power, had rent the hills asunder 
to a great depth, find caused the concealed 
spring* to flow from the rock* that bound them, 
into the rude channel thus formed, where leap¬ 
ing over precipices and bounding through nar¬ 
row ravines, they make a multitude of the most 
beautiful cascades ever formed by her hand. 
Moreover she ha* cunningly concealed her ec¬ 
centric work from the outer world by curtains 
of foliage and an arch-work of forest kings. At 
first sight these glens seem hopelessly inaccessi¬ 
ble, and indeed the exploration of some of them 
is still difficult and dangerous enough to snake 
it exciting even to the most reckless adventurer. 
But some of the most beautiful are opened and 
easily accessible even for ladies. 
About half a mile above the village of Watkins 
lies the entrance to the celebrated Watkins 
Glen. This is the most extensive of the glen9, 
(being considerably over a mile in length) and 
presents the greatest variety of the grand and 
the picturesque which can anywhere be found 
in this peculiar gien scenery. It may not be out 
of place here to state that at the Jefferson j 
House in Watkins, and the Montour in Havana, 
the mo6t fastidious tourist can lind every com¬ 
fort and attention required. 
Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
AMONG- THE CASCADES,— NO. I. 
Miss Mackenzie. A Novel. By Antitony Trollope, 
Author of “Rachel Ray," "Doctor Thorne," •'Or- 
ley Farm,” "The Small Houec ar Allington," &c , 
&c„ Ac. 8vo.-pp, 139. New York : Harper & 
Brothers. 1365. H 
Anthony Trollope is one of the most popular nov¬ 
elists of the day, Every new novel from hie pen is 
welcomed by thousands of admiring readers on both 
sides of the Atlantic. It would be superfluous to en¬ 
large on his characteristics as a writer, for they are 
quite as well known and appreciated »\y the public 
generally as by ourselves. HIb most decided “hit" 
thus far is that graceful fiction entitled “The Small 
House at AJlington." The characters or that tale arc 
eo life-like, the scenes so natural, and the catastrophe, 
perhaps, so common, that it struck home to the heart* 
of many that are beyond the influence of the ordinary 
novel. In "Miss Mackenzie" the author has attempt¬ 
ed a no less hazardous feat, commonly speaking, than 
to create an interest in the fortunes of a maiden of 
thirty-five summers, who like “Jane Eyre," has seen 
nothing of the world, and unlike that lady, has no 
intellectual attractions. Whether he will succeed In 
this undertaking our readers may decide. For sale by 
Steele & Avert. 
BY GEORGE M. BLWOOD, 
It is a popular idea with pleasure-seekers, who 
desire to spend a little summer vacation among 
the beauties of nature, that on leaving the 
crowded and dusty thoroughfares of the city, 
they must at once turn their steps toward some 
“ fashionable watering place.” If they carry 
this idea Into practice, they usually find, unless 
their experience has been entirely different from 
mine, that they have been suddenly plunged 
“ from the frying-pan Into the fire." They dis¬ 
cover that they have exchanged the spacious 
apartments and many comforts of home for close 
and uncomfortable quarters; that they have 
quadrupled their expenses for fare partaking far 
more of “style” than substance; and, unless 
blindly devoted to that relentless queen, Fash¬ 
ion, are in an exceedingly uncomfortable and 
unenviable position. 
To such as are disposed to look upon Nature 
in her wildest and most attractive forms, in a 
quiet, rational, and comfortable manner, I would 
recommend a sojourn among the picturesque 
glens and mountains that are situated around 
the head of 8eneea Labe. 
We left Geneva at ten o’clock in the morning, 
on the little steamer McGee, Capt. Dbt, fully 
prepared to enjoy to the utmost the beautiful 
scenery of that gem of American lakes, which 
Ttt ?“'^ Elori ^ ANo T, e! A^nte Thomas. Author 
of “Denis Donne." New York: Harper A Broth- 
ers. 18G5. 
On Guard. A Novel. By the same Author. I 860 . 
Miss Thomas is a new light in that field of lexers 
which she has chosen, and though but recently intro¬ 
duced to the American public, has already established 
an enviable reputation in her native England. Her 
novels are emphatically novels or Society; and togeth¬ 
er with a keen insight into the character of the times, 
its ambitions and us follies, she combines a woaderfhl 
synthetic and dramatic power by which she places her 
characters in perfectly natnral relations to each other, 
and then makes them act as human beings would in 
similar situations. There Is no straining after effect 
either in the style or subject matter ot her works: 
the former is lively and piquant, a little dashed with 
slang—as is natnral in our Taut age-and the latter Is 
the ever old and ever new story of “ life as it is.” Oi 
the novels mentioned above, “On Guard’’ is the latest, 
and is said to be the ripest of her productions. For 
sale by Dewey. 
reaper. Again, high clrTs of rock rise to a 
dizzy height, their rugged and scarred faces re¬ 
flected In the placid bosom of the waters at their 
feet. In the sheltered vales, or far back on the 
hillsides, peering from tlieir setting of brilliant 
green, can be seen some village church, or 
neatly painted farm-house with its surroundings 
of fine buildings and Us lawn, ornamented with 
groves and hedges, sweeping down to the 
gravelly beach, with a back-ground formed by 
richly laden orchards and vineyards —all speak¬ 
ing volumes for the thrift and taste of the 
inhabitants. 
The voyage up the lake is by no means a rapid 
one. The little steamer is continually crossing 
and re-crossing from one lauding to another, the 
course very much resembling a rail fence or the 
homeward walk of a “member of the club.” 
But time is not supposed to be an object, and 
the change from the merciless clatter and whirl 
of a railway train is a most agreeable one. Leav¬ 
ing the wharf, a most charming panoramic view 
is obtained of that beautiful little city Geneva, 
most appropriately named from its Alpine sister. 
Its shaded avenues, elegan residences and spa¬ 
cious College buildings seem held up for the 
admiration of the visitor. 
Passing Dresden, and Ovid, nestling in its 
cozy little nook among tie hills, and North 
Hector with its level beach and drive shaded by 
a colonnade of willows aud poplars, we reached 
Jefferson, or as it is now called, "Watkins, about 
3 o'clock in the afternoon. Watkins lies in the 
form of a crescent around he head of the lake, 
and extends back upon the dlls. It is a beauti¬ 
ful village aud contains m.ny fine residences. 
From the head of the lake here stretches away 
to the south one of the loveliest valley in the 
land. In this valley, three miles above the lake, 
shut iu by wild and precipitous hills, lies 
Havana, the county seat of bchnyler county. 
The carriage road connecting these two vil¬ 
lages claims especial attention. It winds along 
the level bottom land in the valley, under the 
edge of a range of steep hills and rocky preci¬ 
pices ; and at every turn some new and striking 
picture is presented, either looking down across 
A Son of the Soil. A Novel. Svo.—pp. 241. Now 
\ ork; Harper & Brothers. 1365. 
This is a plain and homely tale of the struggles aud 
trials or a Scotch peasant from the farm to the church. 
The fletiou is so well mauaged as to make it read at 
times like a veritable biography. It contains passages 
of great natural force and beauty, but the plot is not 
well sustained throughout. The author’s energy seems 
to have given out towards the close of the story, aud 
consequently the reader’s interest flags sadly.’ The 
book illustrates well the temper and spirit of the 
Scotch Presbytery, that dogmatic body of clergy which 
has recently purged its places of worship of organs 
and all other musical instruments. Much of the rich 
Scotch dialect is mingled in with the conversations in 
this tale, but It is uot the sometimes formidable Scotch 
of Scott and Burns, and needs no glossary. The 
moral of this tale is unquestionably pure, and we 
warmly recommend the volume to our readers. For 
sale by Dewey, and by Steele & Avery. 
of Rochester, N. Y.; third prize, Giorgh 0. Em¬ 
erson, of Riga, N. Y. The first prize for Math¬ 
ematics, in the Freshman class, was awarded to 
James M. Taylor, the second to Emtl Kuich- 
lixg; honorable mention being made of S. B. 
Collins and Frank Huntington. The Sopho¬ 
more Latin prize was awarded to J. B. Perkins. 
The first prize for Senior Prize Essay was secured 
by J. R. Doolittle, Jr., and the second by 
William H, Allen ; P. L. Jones being honor¬ 
ably mentioned. 
The graduating class numbered twenty-seven, 
all of whom received the degree of A. B. The 
degrees of B. 3., and A. M. were conferred upon 
several other gentlemen. 
After these exercises were concluded, the 
Alumni and their friends set down to a sumptu¬ 
ous dinner prepared for them at the Brackett 
House. Three long tables In the large and 
elegant dining hall of this hotel were filled, and 
toasts and congratulatory speeches concluded 
the incidents of the College day. Among the 
guests of the Alumni we noticed Rev. J. P. 
Chown D. D., England; Dr. Loomis, Rev. Dr. 
Bright, of the Examiner, Hon. War. Kelly, 
Gen. Patrick, Dr. Armitagk, and others, sev¬ 
eral of whom were called out and made most 
eloquent addresses. Thus closed the most agree¬ 
able commencement we ever attended. 
Demorkst’s Illustrated Monthly.— The July 
number of this excellent ladies' magazine has been 
prepared with special reference to our grand national 
jubilee, and possesses more than ordinary attractions. 
It abounds in beautiful illustrations aud elaborate 
fashion plates, aud its miscellaneous reading-matter 
is of a very choice quality. It can be obtained at all 
the bookstores. 
Consciences. — There are five kinds of con¬ 
sciences in the world. First — th<e ignorant 
conscience, which neither sees nor says any¬ 
thing, neither beholds the sin In a soul nor 
reproves it. Second—the flattering conscience, 
whose speech is worse thau silence Itself, which, 
though seeing sin, soothes men iu the committing 
thereof. Third — the seared conscience, which 
hath neither sight, speech, nor sense in men 
that are past feeling. Fourth — a wounded con¬ 
science, frighted with sin. The last and best 
is a quiet and clear conscience, pacified in 
Christ Jesus. Of these the fourth la Incompar¬ 
ably belter than the three former, so that a wise 
man would not take a world to change with 
them. Yea, a wounded conscience is rather 
paiuful than sinful; an affliction, no offense; 
and is the ready way, at the next remove, to be 
turned into a quiet conscience.— Fuller. 
Correction.— In our Issue of June 2-tth will be 
found a poem entitled “June,” which we published 
with the editorial comment that we had received “ no 
Intimation of its authorship.” Myrta Mat, an old 
and highly valued contributor, has written us a uote 
which she claim* the poem as her own production, 
v cheerfully make the necessary correction, and take 
this occasion to express our sincere regret at the oc¬ 
currence. it is too late now to inquire into the cause 
of this mistake, but in order that a similar error may 
not again happen. i e[ 0 nr contributors bear in mind 
that u i* not atone sufficient to send us their names, 
and leave u* to judge wliother their articles are origi¬ 
nal or selected, but if origiual, they should explicitly 
atatc that fact. t»y writing over the captiou “ Written 
or , arc * Rural New-Yorker," or in some other 
uniuimkable ux&xuier 
While the crowd were pressing tor ward to 
shake hands with General Sheridan at the depot 
iu Erie the other night, the General observed a 
small boy making tremendous exertions to reach 
him. The crowd was so dense that the little 
fellow did not make much progress, so the Gen¬ 
eral stepped off the ear into the crowd, and 
making way to the boy, held out his his Laud, 
saying with a smile, “ come on, young America.” 
The boy grappled the hand he had sought for, 
and seemed to quiver with delight over the fact 
of Sheridau’s eonferringupou him saeli a marked 
distinction. 
The mau who is perplexed by religious doubts 
should be advised to cure himself, not by the 
physic of reading and controversy, but by the 
diet of holy living.— Kablt. 
<* 
