Vestiges of the natural history of creation / ... greatly amended by the author ; an introduction by Rev. George B. Cheever. [Anon].

  • Robert Chambers
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Vestiges of the natural history of creation / ... greatly amended by the author ; an introduction by Rev. George B. Cheever. [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    339/344 (page 303)
    THE POETICAL FORTUNE-TELLER. s A curiously charming hook. | Oracles from the Poets ; a fanciful Diversion for the Draw-! !' mg Room. By Caroline C4ilman. 1 neat volume, beauti-< fully printed, and elegantly bound in extra cloth, gilt. \ $1 50. \ “ A most engaging and admirable work, compiled after a very singular idea, \ <. by the tasteful and talented Mrs. Gilman of South Carolina. It is a playfully- ; 5 contrived series of chance answers to questions, suitable for amusement round j ^ an evening table. We close our long extracts with a. renewed expression of j $ our admiration at the taste of the compiler, and the ingenuity with which it ? ' was originally contrived. The getting up of the book should not be forgotten. ? s It is in the shape of an annual, and the best of gift books.”— Willis's Evening ? s Mirror. !> s “The gifted Mrs. Gilman has hit upon an ingenious amusement, which she < conveys in this volume with characteristic taste. It is made up of selections from i < English and American poets, descriptive of person or character, and classified, 1 ^ so as to form answers to a leading question at the head of each division. As > s ‘ diversion for the drawing room,’ the plan cannot fail to please the young, or ? I those who would feel young. The book is handsomely printed and bound, ? 5 and is a suitable ornament for a centre-table.”—North American. i “This is a beautiful volume, elegantly printed, bound, and embellished, and > \ has been compiled by Mrs. Caroline Gilman. It was intended originally far < 5 the family circle of the author, being destined as well to amuse as to instruct. > \ It consists in a series of chance answers to questions, suitable for amusement l I round an evening table. We predict for the work an unexampled success, ( ) which its pleasing merits eminently entitle it to.”—N. Y. Post. \ “ This very pretty and pleasant volume is designed to be used as a fortune- > $ teller, or a round game for forfeits, or examined as a treasure-house for the > i thoughts of poets on particular subjects, from Chaucer down to the minor poets £ \ of our own time and country. Questions are propounded ; as, ‘ What is the $ < character of him who loves you V ‘What is your destiny?’ and a hundred > l others, and answers given from the poets, which are numbered. The literature > l of the volume is of the highest order, and the most exquisite descriptions and j < sentiments are contained in the answers. It is, altogether, an elegant book, 1 < suitable for a Christmas or New-Year’s present to one’s 1 lady-love.’ ”—Hunt's 1 < Magazine. / l “This book, though partaking in no wise of a religious character, may be ? ’ regarded as an agreeable contribution, not only to the literature of the day, but > < to the cause of human improvement. Some amusement is absolutely neces- ? i sary; and he who contrives one that is at once unexceptionable in its moral i \ tendency, and at the same time fitted to quicken the intellect or refine the > \ taste, is to be regarded as a public benefactor. Such we consider to be the 1 1 character of this book. It consists of various exquisite selections from the ? most popular of the poets, arranged as answers to certain questions, such as \ a youthful fancy might naturally enough suggest. The plan is new and inge- 1 nious, and both the literary and mechanical execution beautiful.”—Albany ^ ^ Religious Spectator. ? | “ Here are various questions supposed to be asked by an individual concern- j < ing his own fortune, and all the gifted poets, not only on the earth, but in the j \ earth, including those who inhabit the ‘Poets’ Corner’ in Westminster Abbey, 5 are put in requisition to answer them. While the book offers a pleasant < 1 amusement to the young, it is full of bright and beautiful things, arranged with 1 } exquisite skill, which render it a welcome offering to a cultivated taste. It is i 5 withal decorated with every grace and charm that mechanical skill and labor \ ' could bestow upon it.”—Daily American. ]