The latest volume of the Epochs of History Series is called The Early Plantagenets," and is the work of W. Stubbs, M.A., who is a good writer. It begins with the disastrous reign of Stephen, under whose rule feudal power had its heyday. In the next reign, that of Henry II., it was demolished. The state of England on Stephen's accession was confused and sorrowful. Several claimants of the crown were constantly fighting, and the dominion ended in bloodshed and horrors. He, alone, of all the kings of England who had preceded him, ventured to disregard the superstition which forbade a king to wear his crown in Lincoln. For Henry II. the author cherishes a profound admiration, and eulogizes him at what seems unnecessary length. Accused of treachery, he declared that his enemies had deceived themselves. He banished the Flemish and other foreign mercenaries from the realm, and demolished a vast number of baronial castles, variously estimated at from three hundred and seventy-five to eleven hundred and fifteen. The volume treats of the reigns of Stephen and Matilda, Henry II., Richard Cœur de Lion, John, Henry III., Edward I. and II., and includes full though concise accounts of the loss of Normandy, the quarrel with the Church, and submission to the Pope; the Great Charter; Simon de Montford's career; Two Crusades; Banishment of the Jews; the War of Scottish Independence. It is a useful book, really multum in parvo. [Scribner, Armstrong, & Co.] -"A Book of Poems," by Rev. J. W. Chadwick, is very beautiful in externals, and not inferior in literary charms. It will have fuller notice in our next number. [Roberts Brothers.] "The Pearl Fountain" reached us too O land of the morn-bright mountains And rivers of waters sweet; And the cataract's sounding roar, With the pine-woods whispering o'er, ; is tennial. Miss Herrick's article on SingleCelled Plants, like all her kindred papers, very valuable. The college paper in this number is by Donald G. Mitchell, and is of course well written. The college is Lafayette, at Easton, Pa., and its President is Dr. Junkin, Ah! naught but my lord, my lover, could lure me from thy who, in 1861, held the same office at Wash green shore! Sweet is it in Daro's valley To list to the falling rill, To the breeze in the woodland alley And the goshawk's note from the hill, His mate with a joyous cry, ington College, Va. His prompt action in pulling down a Confederate flag caused great excitement. If the illustrations of this sketch tell the truth, Easton must be a Dutch Paradise. Mr. James T. Fields favors the thankful public with one of his many Peculiar 66 And the throstle's song in the thicket, and the lark's from Cases," and enriches the language with a word the morning sky! Under the summer arbor By the fresh sea-breezes fanned, And the ocean meeting the heaven We've watched the seabirds play, In the distance far away, entirely new. It is "exprobation," which has no place in the dictionary. There is an "exprobration," and Mr. Fields should be made to suffer it for his blunder. This from the bosomfriend of Tennyson! HARPER'S. We often wonder whether this And the gleam of the white-sailed galleys, and the flash of magazine will ever reach its Ultima Thule of exthe sunlit spray! In Masan the green, the blooming, How happy our days did pass; Many its flowers perfuming, And studding like gems the grass: And the Iris flaunted its gold, cellence. We thought it had done so years ago; but it keeps moving on. There are nearly a dozen first-class articles in the number, with many others of moderate excellence. The Home of Columbus" is one of the first, being finely written and rich in novel information. One gets from it larger and clearer ideas of with the Hyacinth blue and the Primrose, laught in the Columbus than are attainable from ordinary sources. Porte Crayon's "Boys and Girls" is quite amusing in its text, and more so in its illustrations. The Knickerbockers of New York Two Centuries Ago" is one of the regular Centennial articles, of which we have had a surfeit. Scientists will find many curious So-called Pygmy Soared o'er the dusky pine-woods out from the realm of and useful facts in the late to receive the attention it deserves; but "Pique" is too old for a thorough notice; 66 Graves in Tennessee." "My Neighbor in 66 This is a very good number, Both of them are profusely and finely illus- though some readers may complain of its lack trated, elegantly printed and bound, and will of lightness and brightness. The opening give delight to many young hearts at Christ-article, "Bay Shooting," though deeply interesting to the sportsman, must be "caviare to THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY. - This is one of the general" reader. We hardly know what the best numbers of this beginning-to-be venerthere is something ludicrous in it, but on the are there in it several articles of exceptional to say about "Mr. Quatty's Great Speech: "able magazine that we ever read. Not only whole it is coarse and improbable. A born and inveterate fool, such as Mr. Quatty seems to have been, could hardly have maintained a re- merit, it has also a very high average of excellence. Mr. Parkman is brilliant and graphic, as always, in his admirable account of Sir William Phips's Attack on Quebec." His sportrait of that valiant but rather sluggish commander is a masterpiece of figure-painting. The narrative abounds in dramatic passages illustrating the undirected energies of the assailants, and the cool efficiency of the besieged; and not a few lovely landscapes soften the vista of battle, such as this: When, after his protracted voyage, Phips sailed into the basin of Quebec, one of the grandest - Several volumes of Schoolcraft's "Archives of Aboriginal Knowledge" have long been out of print: Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co. have undertaken to supply this deficiency, and are now in a condition to furnish the complete work. This masterpiece would seem to be indispensable to every American Library. The same house has in preparation a new edition of Jonathan Elliot's Debates in the several State Conventions, on the adoption of the Federal Constitution. This too, highly valuable as it is, has long been unattainable. that there is in existence The Boston Blue blooded Bostonians. In a paper on "The Bogies of Bulgarian Song," in MacMillan's Magazine, John Oxenford incorporates the following beautfuli Christian ballad : "A mother had a daughter, scenes on the western continent opened million American girls can find due expression, self nobly in all relations. But the grandest upon his sight: the wide expanse of waters; we are sure that the coup d'œil to be wit- service to be credited to his memory is his the lofty promontory beyond, and the opposing nessed at the coming Fair will be brilliant tender beneficence to the blind, who have heights of Levi; the cataract of Montmorency; beyond the power of description. The dolls reason ever to cherish his honored name. the distant range of the Laurentian mountains; are expected to arrive in this city prior to The biography is unusually well written and the warlike rock, with its diadem of walls and December 1, and ample preparations will be effective. towers; the roofs of the Lower Town cluster-made for their hospitable reception. ing on the strand beneath; the Château St. Louis perched at the brink of the cliff; and over all the white banner, spangled with fleurs de lis, flaunting defiance in the clear autumnal air." A more beautiful specimen of Mr. Parkman's pictorial style we do not recall. "The American" continues to deserve the encomia we have passed on it. The author contributes to this number one of the most acute and exhaustive criticisms on "Daniel Deronda" that we have seen. It also embodies casual criticisms on "Romola," "Middlemarch," and George Eliot's other novels. Pulcheria's enthusiasm about Deronda " could not have been very fervent, as, by her own confession, she spent six months in reading it: no wonder she found it "protracted, pretentious, pedantic." Mr. James, or, rather, Theodora, does injustice to George Sand, when she says: -In Harper's Weekly of Nov. 4, the inimi"George Eliot is pure, and George Sand is table Nast has surpassed himself. His contriimpure.' If rumor be true, each of them bution is a drawing of "Adam's Fall." It lived in a glass house in her earlier life. In represents the Democratic candidate for govT. B. Aldrich's "Interludes" are some very ernor of Massachusetts sitting at the foot of pretty and feeling little poems. Charles Hale a tree, around whose trunk a serpent twines contributes an instructive paper on "Munici-his slimy folds. At his side sits Mr. Tilden in pal Indebtedness." Bret Harte seems to be feminine attire, with face half averted, and a getting into his dotage, if we may judge by fan hiding his blushing face. With his right The Canvasser's Tale," and his other re- hand he extends to the hesitating Adam a cent contributions. H. H." writes brightly, plethoric purse, marked " Democratic nominaas usual of "A Colorado Road." J. W. De For- tion for governor." The expressions of the est's Crumbs of Travel" is very sprightly two faces defy the power of descriptive lanand entertaining. The instalment of "An Old Woman's Gossip" is as good as its predecessors. · Characteristics of the International Fair" is full of readable matter. Mr. Lowell's ode, though rather late in the season, is one of his finest poems. It breathes a sentiment rather different from that which animated his Nation couplets. The review of “Deirdrè" is sufficiently generous; though, as a rule, it is not fitting for one poet to review the work of another. 64 LITERARY NEWS. guage. -The commonest participial form of the verb "swell," is "swollen." This is wrong; it should be "swelled." "Swollen" became long ago obsolete. The literary editor of the Boston Advertiser is kind and just enough to say of this paper: A daughter named lanka; Also gave them this command: And her mother left the chamber There lanka tends the flow'rs, And they bloom the more she tends them. Never, child, since thou wast born The November number of the Literary World is an excellent one. It contains reviews of seven or eight freshly-published books, and minor notices of twenty or thirty more, all written in that strain of intelligent criticism which is characteristic of its editor. We are glad to learn that so valuable and helpful a publication is winning the appreciation its merit should command. The number contains a long extract from the new poem, tributes a marine poem, filling two pages, with Deirdre,' with what seems to be extravagant praise. It is a fine poem, no doubt. beautiful illustrations; Miss Mary E. Bradand can never be surpassed, is a bold judg-trated. There will be an instructive paper on But to say that it is the poem of the century, ley,The Prince's Feather," and Mrs. Clara Doty Bates, · Cinderella," both finely illus The accomplished editor of the Wide Awake has originated a charitable enterprise, which seems to deserve the fullest encourageShe proposes to hold, durment and success. ing the ensuing autumn, a Doll's Fair. We hope it will prove an affair of many doll-ars, beyond infancy she extends an invitation to as well as of dolls. To all little girls of years take a share in this scheme of beneficence, by ment." attiring dolls and forwarding them for exhibition at the Fair. This Fair will not be a centennial; but its delights will undoubtedly be perennial. Its object will be the establishment and maintenance of an institution for the Behaving" at a party, and a story about Miss initials are probably B. T.," speaks of the Farman, the accomplished editor, furnishes a A writer in the New York Tribune whose street children, by Madge Elliot. Literary World as "the crockery paper." Did story called "What Happened to Kathie and he recall the story of the bull in the china- Lu," which is very amusing. The pages deshop? He will get lacerated, if he isn't care- voted to smaller children are rich in attracan ful. He shows his ignorance by inquiring tions. is. Evidently, his classical See lorica, a leather shelter and care of destitute children, object of unusual significance just now, when Protestant denominations are squandering millions on gaudy churches for the rich, who persistently close their pew-doors to the poor. The style of the doll's dresses will be left entirely to the discretion of the fabricators, who may give their imagination free range in the conception of novel and effective costumes. Those who have visited the Centennial will have enjoyed a special advantage in beholding the great array of national dresses, and must find in it fruitful and beautiful suggestions. We crave for this well-meant enterprise the fullest success; and, if all the warm hearts of a The Memoir of the late Dr. S. G. Howe, prepared by Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, has been published in a pamphlet by the Howe Memorial Committee. It comprises a full and interesting biography, addresses delivered at his obsequies in January, 1876, &c. His life was eventful as well as eminently useful. He early espoused the cause of the struggling Greeks, Student Life at Harvard" is said to be and later that of the Cretans. He participated the work of George H. Tripp, a Boston in the St. Domingo mission, acquitting him- lawyer. reason to -We stated some time ago, that, accord-tened to a more charming lecture; and such own opinion, to learn that, in an autograph ing to the Countess of Caithness, in her Old seemed to be the judgment of all who heard it. letter I received from the Rt. Hon. W. E Truths in a New Light," "Vestiges of Crea- Mr. Benjamin's voice is pleasantly sonorous, Gladstone, he speaks of the little book in tion" was written by a lady. We have since his articulation markedly distinct, and his ora- terms which are similar to your own. Dr. John learned that this lady was Lady Lovelace, tory admirable, save in the single error of Brown, of Edinburgh [author of Rab and daughter of Lord Byron. over-rapid utterance. Not a word was lost; his Friends'], has also given me but in the speedy flow of his language one had thank him for his opinion." to think with lightning quickness to catch his - John Skelton (1460-1529) was the first idea, and be ready for the next one. Poet-laureate of England. He was tutor to polished and forcible writer, and it was a the Duke of York, afterward Henry VIII. positive pleasure to listen to his smooth and He wrote "Colin Clout," and "The Book of rounded sentences. His account of the lovely the Sparrow." tower of Notre Dame de Krusker, at St. Pol A London correspondent of the Tribune tells a queer story about George Eliot. She began her career as a writer for Blackwood; meeting George H. Lewes, a Platonic affection sprang up between them, and finally they were married. Just prior to the issue of Middlemarch," Lewes reviewed it anony 66 He is a and fifty illustrations. Macmillan & Co. are preparing for the mously in the Fortnight and the Saturday Re- de León, in Brittany, is one of the finest view, praising it without stint. In Deronda," descriptive passages in literature. We wel- holidays a book called "Ancient Streets and he wrote every line of the chapter which come this opportunity of paying a deserved Homesteads of England," by Mr. Alfred describes the discussion at the club to which compliment to Mr. Benjamin's fine artistic Rimmer. It will contain about one hundred Mordecai introduced Daniel. The admir- genius, and to his talents in literary composiers of Mrs. Lewes are not pleased with tion. Many readers of the magazines have this literary partnership, and they say that the been delighted with his picturesque sketches critical philosopher has destroyed the classical of travel, and hardly less with his effective marine sketches. We trust he will appeal to purity of the lady's English. a larger audience, while he remains in Boston. We can safely promise all who hear him a most remunerative and charming entertainment. Messrs. Lockwood, Brooks, & Co. show fine taste and enterprise in catering to the literary appetites of the young. For the approaching holidays they are preparing several dainty novelties. Conspicuous among these is, "In the Sky Garden," by Lizzie W. Champney, with illustrations by " Champ; "Long Ago: A Year of Child Life," by Ellis Gray, with illustrations by Susan Hale, Ellen D. Hale, and Julia P. Dabney; "The Bridal Souvenir," a manual of the wedding service, by Rev. Samuel Cutler; new editions of "Silhouettes and Songs," with illustrations by Helen Maria Hines; and " Apples of Gold," with pictures on every page. Lucky the magazine which can get such poems as the following, which we find in the November Wide-Awake: GRANDMOTHER GRAY. Faded and fair, in her old arm-chair, I see, as I look from the window-seat, -Fortunate were those who had the privilege of hearing, on the evening of the 18th, at the hall of the Artists' Club, the lecture of Mr. S. G. W. Benjamin, the author and marine painter. His subject was, the Theory and Practice of Art; and never was it more skilfully and effectively handled. Beginning with a concise but comprehensive history of Art in this country, he assumed that the ideal is the soul of Art, and proceeded from this startingpoint. The best painters develop with equal touch the three constituents of this ideal, the true, the beautiful, and the good; while the mediocre artist shows a leaning to only one. The two sections of Art, the plastic and that of design, were clearly defined, and its components, form, light and shade, and chiaro oscuro, were set in order. Color is the element of emotion in painting. Brilliant colors are the favorites of women, and scarlet is the bugbear of many animals. It is also emblematic of scenes of wrath and blood, as witness Turner's picture of a slave-ship. Perspective is linear and ærial. The old Egyptian artists, and those of contemporary nations, knew nothing of it. What is called value in colors, is the relative power of giving light. The last process of the artist is the complete application of the principles. promulgated. The lecturer's remarks as to the modern use of ultramarine, which is pounded lapis lazuli, were exceedingly interesting, as were those on the omission of in color the development of great ideas in art. The lecturer's allusions to the great painters of Greece and Rome were highly intelligent and pertinent, and some of his ascriptions and apostrophes, as those to the architect of the Parthenon, and Appeles, the painter, were -In our last issue we noticed at some very eloquent. His ideas about the study length, and with strong approval, "The Leand growth of Art were sound and impres- gend of the Roses," a volume of poems by sive. The most serious defect in American Samuel D. Watson, of Toronto, Librarian of artists is their failure to master the art of the Ontario Parliament. He now writes his painting ab initio, thoroughly to educate them- acknowledgments, and adds: "I have no selves in all its details. We have never lis- doubt it will interest you, as confirming your 66 And getting and going are done with, dear, A finer one we do not know, musical, -The most important literary event of the past month was the sale in New York of the ber of very rare and costly books. The prices Menzies Library, which contained a vast numobtained were high, and over several prizes there was heated competition. A beautiful Chrysostom printed in 1647, by Ulric Zell, the first Cologne printer, and a workman for Schoiffer, $85; the fine copy of Cicero's "Cato Major," from B. Franklin's press, 1744, $168; "Ill News from New England," London, 1652, a quarto of ninety-six pages, $105; Clarke's "Impartial Narrative of the Battle on Bunker's Hill," $34; Coleman's "History of the Five Nations," from William Bradford's press, $210; "A Confession of Faith," the first book printed in Connecticut, $60; "The Sotweed Factor," $70; Dibdin's 66 Bibliomanie," $26, and the remaining volumes of the set, fifty-two in number, $2,028. A superb set of " Dunlap's History of the Arts of Design in the United States," extended, with fine illustrations, from four volumes to six, brought $318; and the fine copy of Mr. Eliot's Indian Bible, sold for the fourth time by Sabin, after a good deal of competition, was knocked at $900 to Mr. Cook of Providence. Thomas Aquinas's Summa de Articulis," &c., an example of early printing by John Gutenberg, 1460, brought $162; another work by the same author, printed by Peter Schoeffer, 1471, $75; Ash's "Description of Carolina," $46; a volume of autograph letters of the Presidents, from Washington to Lincoln, inclusive, $105; Bishop's New England Judged," $130; Bond's Public Trval of the Quakers, Boston, 1682," $52.50; "The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America," a volume of poems by Mrs. Anne Bradstreet, $77.50; Bullock's "Virginia Impartially Examined," $80; a rare volume by John Bulwer, bound by Roger Payne, $40; and Burk's "History of Virginia," $25. The different editions of Robert Burns's poems brought high prices. The first, or Kilmarnock edition of 1786, sold for $155; the first Edinburgh, 1787, for $27: the first London, 1787, $12; the first New York, 1788, for $15; and the first Philadelphia, 1788, for $21. Nineteen volumes, relating to Aaron Burr, brought $10.50 each; Calef's "Wonders of the Invisible World, London, 1700," $145; “A Brief Description of Carolina," $70; Case's Angelical Guide," bound by Roger Payne, with his curious bill for the work, $50; Castell's Short Discoverie of America," $57.50; Champlain's Voyages, Paris, 1613," $58. observation, her vivacity, good temper, and simplicity; but he soon grows tired of the small range of sentiments upon which she loves to dwell. The same may be said of all the little school of American authoresses to which the writer of Theophilus' belongs. The similarity in style between Miss Alcott, Miss Phelps, Mrs. Whitney, and Miss Dodge may be due to a sort of irrepressible briskness of diction, and their common use of a certain set of vulgarisms; but their ideas all seem to run in the same groove. Their chief characteristic is, perhaps, best expressed by the word homeliness; a quality, which, as a sort of minor virtue, is good enough in its way, but very insufficient as an aid to the imagination. Miss Dodge, we fully admit, tries to make girls contented and good; but she shows a tendency to foster the passion for aimless information which good girls are apt to feel strongly enough. The want of an object is the great drawback even to the most conscientious girls in their reading, and most women's books appear to do very little to remove it." ous assault on the ridiculous new fashion of 66 " Washington, a Drama," by M. F. Tupper; Three volumes of "Poems of Places" will be devoted to Scotland. What a mine of The Teachings of Providence; or New Lessons on Old Talleyrand, on his death-bed, declaring The Village School. J. R. OSGOOD & CO., BOSTON. In and Out of Doors with Charles Dickens. By James T. Fields. 32mno. 50c. That New World, and other Poems. Mrs. S. M. B. Piatt. New Edition. 16mo. $1.50. The Titian Gallery. Containing 24 heliotypes of the best of Titian's paintings. With full sketch of Titian and his Works. Large 4to. $10.00. Songs of Three Centuries. Edited by John G. Whittrations. $5.00. ROBERTS BROTHERS, BOSTON. Wenderholme. A Novel. By Philip Gilbert Hamerton. $2.00. -"C. M.," Woodbridge, Cal., writes: "I wish to know what would aid me in the tier. Illustrated Library Edition. 32 full-page illusstudy of the several theories of transmigration or re-incarnation. I'm specially anxious to follow out the views advanced by Reynaud, in his Terre et Ciel. Do you know of any translations of this work? Can you tell me $2.00. where I can get translations of the works of Fourier, the Socialist ?" Wit, Humor, and Shakspeare. By John Weiss. Selections from the Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius $1.50. 16mo. Our respect for Hon. W. M. Evarts was materially enhanced, on learning of his vigor-mation he desires to Rev. W. R. Alger's We refer our correspondent for the inforwork pronouncing Latin. He was ably supported works have not been translated into English; on "The Future Life." Reynaud's by Prof. William Everett, recently Latin Pro- the fourth edition of "Terre et Ciel " bears date of 1864. Of Fourier's works, you can get a translation of only "The Passions of the Human Soul." We cannot tell you of translations of Figuier's and Flammarion's of Gems. Translated from the French of Louis Dieubooks, except those you name. fessor at Harvard. He announced that the new fashion is entirely incorrect. [God bless him!] He had abandoned in disgust his attempt to teach the new, which is so vastly inferior to the Latin that he learned at the Latin School." President Eliot took the opposite side of the question. We trust that this expression of opinion will convince the educated classes of America that culture is not confined to Harvard College, and that the light of these great examples may lead these classical ritualists back into the old way. We would rather endure a feline symphony at 2 A.M., than the reading of Latin in its new clownish guise. -The new one volume edition of "Plutarch's Lives of Illustrious Men" has just been published by Little, Brown, & Co. It is a beautiful book, in the highest style of typography, and with its full Index, comprises 769 pages. We need hardly commend it for reading by the young; its educational capacity was established years ago, and we recently heard a distinguished author remark that in its influence on the young mind it was superior to our school system. We are glad to know that it has been adopted as a text-book in our High and Latin Schools, and anticipate the best results from its study. In no other work is there sounder philosophy or wiser teaching for the young. -James Miller, of New York, has sent us the following books, which come too late for notice in this number: "The Belief of the First Three Centuries Concerning Christ's Mission to the Underworld," by Frederic Huidekoper; "The Complete American Trapper, or The Tricks of Trapping and Trap-Making," by William H. Gibson; "Gems of Prose and Poetry from the MSS. of James R. Aiken of S. C.; a new edition of Miss Sedgwick's "Home; Simple Susan and Other Stories," by Miss Edgeworth; 99 66 66 SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG, & CO., NEW YORK. The Boy Emigrants. By Noah Brooks. Ill'd. 12mo. $1.50. Diamonds and Precious Stones. A Popular Account lefait, by Fanchon Sanford. Ill'd. 12mo. $1.50. The Early Plantagenets. By Wm. Stubbs. Epochs of Modern History. With two Maps. 12mo. $1.00. Anecdotical Biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Edited by R. H. Stoddard. 16mo. $1.50. -To disprove the charge of studied hostility against Mercy Philbrick's Choice," that has been made against us, we quote the opinion of the profound critic of Harper's Monthly: Stephen White, not only in the beginning, but throughout, exhibits qualities which awaken the admiration of the reader." What sharp leges. From the German of Dr. Georg Autenrieth, eyes he must have! 66 NOVEMBER PUBLICATIONS. D. APPLETON & CO., NEW YORK. A Vocabulary of English Rhymes, Arranged on a The Theory of Sound in its Relation to Music. By Contemporary Evolution. An Essay on some Recent Social Changes. By St. George Mivart. 12mo. pp. 254. Joan. A Novel. By Rhoda Broughton. Paper 50c. E. P. DUTTON & CO., NEW YORK. HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. The Life of John Locke. By H. R. Fox Bourne. Two vols. 8vo. Cloth. Uncut. $5.00. A Homeric Dictionary, for Use in Schools and Col Rector of the Gymnasium at Zweibrücken. Translated with additions and corrections by Robert P. Keep, Ph.D. 12mo. Cloth. $1.50. The Arundel Motto. A Novel. By Mary Cecil Hay, author of "Old Myddleton's Money," &c. Paper, $1.00; Cloth, $1.50. The Boys of '76. A History of the Battles of the ESTES & LAURIAT, BOSTON. Half-Hours with Insects. By Prof. A. S. Packard. 8vo. pp. 384. $2.50. Meeting the Sun. A Journey all Round the World, through Egypt, China, Japan, and California, including an account of the marriage ceremonies of the Emperor By W. Simpson, F.R.G.S. 1 vol. 8vo. of China. $4.50. LEE & SHEPARD, BOSTON. The Reading Club and Handy Speaker. Being Selections in Prose and Poetry; Serious, Humorous, Patriotic, and Dramatic, for Readings and Recitations. By Geo. M. Baker. No. 4. 16mo. 50c. The Young Trail-Hunters; or, The Wild Riders of the Plains. By S. W. Cozzens. Ill'd. 16mo. pp. 235. $1.50. Snip and Whip, and some other Boys. By Elizabeth A. Davis. 16mo. pp. 174. Ill'd. $1. Vine and Olive; or Young America in Spain and Portugal. A Story of Travel and Adventure. By William T. Adams (Oliver Optic). I'd. 12mo. pp. 412. $1.50. A. S. BARNES & CO., NEW YORK. S. C. GRIGGS & CO., CHICAGO. Viking Tales of the North. The Sagas of Thorstein, Viking's son, and Fridthjof the Bold. Translated from A History of Liberty. A Paper Read before the New the Icelandic by Prof. R. B. Anderson and Jón Bjarn-York Historical Society, Feb. 6, 1876. By John F. son. 12mo. $2.00. Aiken. With Selected Notes. 16mo. pp. 163. $1. Current Literature. THIS -SO ladies laughing over a spiteful story, she re- France." To her it fell to pay the penalties proved them as guilty of bad taste. She be- for the iniquity of the older courts, came a cordial patron of Gluck, and brought great that the people had come to think that his music into fashion. She won the ardent nothing could be too bad to say or believe of MARIE ANTOINETTE.* admiration of Burke, who wrote: "Surely their kings. Vilest of the plots against the never lighted on this orb, which she hardly queen was that of the Countess de la Motte, HIS is a most melancholy history, yet seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. who devised a plan for robbing Boehmer, the deeply fascinating. To the lovely, but I saw her just above the horizon, decorating jeweller, of a diamond valued at seventy ill-fated, queen, the reader's sympathy goes and cheering the elevated sphere she just be- thousand pounds, and for the purchase of out copiously at the outset of her career, and clings to her till her beautiful body lies life-gan to move in, glittering like the morning which the queen had been negotiating. star; full of life, of splendor, and joy. . . . She In May, 1788, a scene occurred which less on the scaffold. One can hardly read of is a statue and beauty when standing or sit- fairly parallels the attempt of Charles I. to her agonies without tears. And on every ting; grace itself, when she moves." page shine out her virtues, which lift her to Soon after her marriage, English customs a level such as angels occupy. A more amiacame in vogue, the use of tea, horse-racing, ble woman never lived her life-long friend &c. Much is said of Turgot and Maurepas, and confidant testifies that she never saw her familiar to readers of Bancroft's History, in ill-humor. A faithful, loving wife; a ten-though that historian is far more charitable in der, devoted mother; a generous, steadfast his judgment of them than is the present aufriend, she spent her young life in good thor. In the Seven Years' war, General De deeds and the practice of all charities. Soft and Broglie was seized by an advanced party of great power, together with his brave effort feminine as she was, she yet had a strong and the enemy, who threatened him with death to aid and strengthen the king. The future active intellect; and her voice was often para- if he made the slightest noise. Safe as a pris-looked so threatening that the queen decided mount in the family councils: indeed, for years, orer of war, he would have caused the ruin to attempt an escape. Preparations were she guided the policy of the king, her husband, of the French army. He did not hesitate; but carefully made, and the royal family attained who yielded to her superior intelligence. shouted an alarm to his men, and fell bayonetted to death. She declined acquaintance with Voltaire, at the warning of her Brother Joseph, and his opinion was supported by the king. A queen at eighteen, she came to a strange country to sit on its throne. Soon she familiarized herself with French society and manners, and presently became the idol of the people, the bourgeoisie as well as the aristocracy. For a few years her lot was joyful. The author draws her portrait with fine effect, her gentle and winning manners, her dignity, and maternal tenderness. She judged the French character with unerring accuracy; dwelling specially on its fickleness. Though feeling a lively interest in politics, she was reluctant to take action in them. Her modesty was admirable. She wrote to her mother: "Though it pleased God that I should be born in the rank which I now do occupy, still I cannot forbear admiring the bounty of Providence in choosing me, the youngest of your daughters, for the noblest kingdom in Europe." By her influence, impending famine in Paris was averted. She purified the foul court, and established the rule that she would receive no 64 arrest members of Parliament. The French Parliament becoming outrageous in its obduracy, Louis sent an officer to the Parliament to arrest two members. All of the latter took sides with them, and a tumult ensued; but the arrested ones quietly surrendered to the officers. The career of Mirabeau is sketched with a distance of several hundred miles from the capital. In a small town, the king was recognized by the postmaster, who at once notified the authorities. Two or three officers were sent in pursuit. A strong force of the king's Dec. 19th, a princess was born to her, amid friends was close in advance, and he had only general joy. Poor little thing!" she said, to give the word to obtain their protection. you are not what was desired; but you shall But his imbecile obstinacy led him into the not be less dear to me." At the theatre, be- fatal error of refusing to give the order: and, fore the play began, the king of the coal- put under arrest, he was taken with his family beavers and the queen of the fish-wives, attended to Paris, never more to leave it. We shrink by their respective suites, executed a dance, from the recital of the horrors that followed: in evidence of their delight at the good news. of the attempts of his friends to rescue him, Lafayette figures largely in this history, and balked by the overpowering mob; of his dire very much to his own discredit. He is repre- imprisonment; and, last sad scene of all, sented as void of personal courage, as treach- his murder. And the unhappy queen! stricken erous and false, and as practising great cruelty by the news of her husband's death, she is towards the royal family, who were for a time dragged to prison, and subjected to the grossin his custody. A stronger indictment than est indignities. Then relief comes in the summons to the guillotine, and her lovely eyes look the author's against him, it would be hard to devise: it is in direct contradiction of the their last upon a world in which she had tasted so much happiness. eulogies of Bancroft and other writers. The retirement of Necker from the direction of the finances excited a general alarm. The lady who was separated from her husband; riage of Figaro" is made very amusing. The purchase of St. Cloud by the crown, for the use of the queen, elicited a flood of reproach and abuse from the people; one statesman going so far as to say that there was "someCharles Duke Yonge, Prof., &c. 8vo. PP. 462. $2.50. thing not only impolitic but immoral in the idea of any palace belonging to the Queen of The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. By New York: Harper & Brothers. This is one of the most interesting biographies ever written. The exalted position of the chief actors, shining with "the divinity which doth hedge a king;' the sunshine of prosperity which warmed the early wedded days of the royal pair; and the sudden transition from careless happiness to the depths of black despair, all these circumstances combine to shroud this history in dreadful gloom. GERMAN HOME LIFE.* thorne's "Saxon Studies," not only by THIS book reminds us of Julian Hawsimilarity of subject, but by a community of sentiment, -a joint antagonism to people and * German Home Life. 16mo. $1.25. New York: D. Appleton & Co. |