ontrol are insufficient, would it not have been possible
to indicate better? Since Woodbury does not think abstinence to be the
cure of intemperance, could he not justify his practice by a higher
principle than self-indulgence, lay it on a deeper foundation than
dilettanteism?

We regret, also, that in a book by Bayard Taylor there should have been
found room for such a paragraph as this:--

"The churches in the village undertook their periodical
'revivals,' which absorbed the interest of the community while
they lasted. It was not the usual season in Ptolemy for such
agitations of the religious atmosphere,--but the Methodist
clergyman, a very zealous and impassioned speaker, having
initiated the movement with great success, the other sects became
alarmed lest he should sweep all the repentant sinners of the
place into his own fold. As soon as they could obtain help from
Tiberius, the Baptists followed, and the Rev. Lemuel Styles was
constrained to do likewise. For a few days the latter regained the
ground he had lost, and seemed about to distance his competitors.
Luckily for him,... the material for conversion, drawn upon from
so many different quarters, was soon exhausted; but the rival
churches stoutly held out, until convinced that neither had any
further advantage to gain over the other."

No one who has given to the religious phenomena of the day the smallest
degree of intellectual and sympathetic attention can fail to pronounce
this a gross and ill-bred caricature. Ridicule is the legitimate weapon
of Truth; but ridicule that strikes rudely and indiscriminately,
wounding without benefiting, is not found in the hands of Christian
courtesy. We regret these blemishes, and such as these, the more because
we are persuaded that the effects produced were not intended by the
author. We believe, not only from his previous reputation, but from the
spirit of the book, which warms, deepens, and clarifies itself as it
goes on, that he aimed only at results pure, healthful, and desirable.
It is by no design of his, that young feet, already wavering downward,
will not be strengthened to pause, to turn, to steady themselves, but
will rather be lured on by his words. It is no purpose of his to make
the crusts of Materialism harden still more hopelessly above the stifled
soul. He designs to ridicule only that which is ridiculous. There are
evidences of a purpose to rel