The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-19
LITERARY REVIEWS,

per 81 Bros, New York
Since the lamcnted Elisha Kent Kane pub.
lished his voluminous work recounung the in
cidcuts and result of his sol oluru In tho Eriyid
Zone, no work Of Importance has been ltd before
the public. The Land OF the distant North, Of
tie aurora and Office has long been surrounded
by fascination for the inhabitants of our more
genial clmcs. Its picturesque grandeur; It's
irigid temperature; the ecceutrisities Of It's in-s
habiants; the sterility Of its soil; AID the mys-
tJry with which It is envelO1ed all combined to
diaw the adventurous OF civilized lands tD
SEEK excitement among its icy mountains ald
It's unknown shores. The naturalist can reYcl in
the oddities of natures fancy.
The bOanst, although cut oa from the rich
vegCtHtiun OF the Tropics, has It's place supplied
Wi h the curious ferns and liChenS, which are
possessed of mysterious medicinal properties.
The Whole wild desert OF rocks and SHOWS is
its attraction, and narrative of the adventures
incident upon journey INTO its heart caunJt bat
prove most interesting aud instructive 10 our
TtgOirg population The large and prOliN work
of DR.. Kane was eagerly perusrd by nj, the Ame-
ri an literaH but is interest has pissed away
later discoveries have been made, aud consist
eut narration Of the laest information from the
Poar sea is demanded by our people
Captain Hall has presented Us with such q
work. For three years he ha, been shut out from
civilization, living among the EsquimAuX like
ui OF them, !uuting, fishing, exploring Living
WIN tUClll, T. Q has lODGO lltli leeilNgS, studied
their language and habits, and has returned 10 us
with q sN stJmatiC review OF their life and man.
uCrS. The last pages Of his work were written on
tue eve OF his departure for the ice-clad home Of
his adoption, and ere now he must be bren hing
the bTct zes OF the iceberg and the glacier.
lie has made r most useful work out OF his
journals and has done much towards deciding
the veXCd question Of the existence of a Polar
passage. While living IN the heart Of the ice, he
found many traces of Fraukliu's and ErObisher's
ga. .Tol- n
any one unacluainted with tue ESquimGux Ian
EuaEe. AL the most interesting incidents or acci-
dents, Of which there are quite number, are mar
rated with skill,
OF the birds which arc indigenous to the Frgid
zone, or the flora and fauna, he treats thoroughly
The domestic habits Of the inhabitants, their
food and way Of living, are discussed ut large
and while he gives much valuable inform alton
it IS done in style which precludes the possi-
blity Of the accusation OF dryneSs.
IL is not written IN the style of journal which
was adopted by DR.. Kane, but as narrative
which admits Of much greater freedom Of both
thought aDd expression
II Is emOelshed with one hundred iue en-.
cravings, many of them of great beauty, aud all
OF them most accurate representations of the OBJ
ie,ts which they intend to portray. II is work
Of rare value, and, with its correct map, gives
the re9dtr an understanding review Of the course
OF not only his own, but also OF all the preceding
expeditions.
TuR LOST Low. By the author Of John
DraytOn." L. b. Peterson & Brothers. Phila-
delpha.
There are several styles in which q novel can
be written. The usual narrative style is most
common. The plan Of making extracts from
the private journals Of the characters is one that
has been adopted with great success by Wilkie
Collins, while the autobiograph is one OF the
most pleasing, and has taken a standard position
since the publication OF "Jsne Eyre" and "Itut-
ledge" The author OF the Lost Love" has
/ adopted this style, and has woven out of ii a
very pleasing tale. 1t has no depth, II has none
of the nice dissernments which characterized
the productions of Scott or Fielding. We will not
call It 4 second "Waverley," nor yet Count of
Monte CrstO," but we content ourselves by pro-
nonncing Il good novel.
/ It displays originality enough to please the
/ reader, depth of plot sufficient to excite him
during its perusal, and being written in al auto
/ biographical style, cOmpels him TO take per-
| sonsl interest in the fate Of the leading charsc-
/ ter. II will have a large circulation, and who
ever reads 1t will rise from It's perusa with con-
sCiousuess that his time COuld not be more plea
sanity spent. Messrs. Peterson have got it out
in their usual neat style, and IL will add both TO
/ the value and the beauty Of any library shelf.
LION. HEARTED. BY Mrs. Grey. 7. b. Peterson
Brothers, Philadelphia.
This cntCrprising publishing house has made
to its edition Of cheap and popular novels most
valuable addition. Mrs. Grey is well known TO
our reading public as an able and original
au,horess. Her "Passon and Principle" and
"The Flirt," have gained her a reputation, and
her latest work will not detrsct from the laurelt
already earned. We do no. admire the title, bu
| the contents are all that the lovers of exciting
| literature could demand. Her characters are
drawn from English lGe, and are unfamiliar to
our American public. Her clergyman hero hT.
Fielding, is unique, the only word which Is aopli-
| cable, and his wife is well portrayed. Tue other
characters are original, and the whole plot is
wrought up with great depth, and deserves 10
| rank among one Of the best conceived, although
not best executed, plots in our popular literature
IL is not q sensational work, nor yet one Of those
cbaste hgh-life ofTusiOns whose herOines are
eternally surrounded by q halo Of ethereal eiful
gency, but il is a practical and will shortly be Q
popular work, one which the generality OF people
will read, and which will have a circulation, lik,
most Of PeieTSOns' publications, beyond the selec
circle Of the literat.
JoussoNs New ATLAS is gaining groant
daily. Those Of our lawyers, merchants, or edi
tors who have procured a copy have found it Sc
useful in following the progress OF our armies
that they have recommended It to their friends
and the demand for IL Is rapidly increasing
Complimentary letters have been received from
MessTs. Caleb Cope I. S. Arthur, Prof. Hart, ant
many others Of our most respectable citizens
and all unite in declaring il the most cOplous
exact, and generally valuable work Of the kln'
ever Issued.