The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-16
LITERATURE.
REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

Philadelphia Agents ClaxtOn, Remsen x
Hafel6nger
This reprint of the latest English edition Of
Mr.. Smiles important work should have an
extensive circulation in the United States,
where perhaps more than in any other country
the genius and labors of the Stephensons,
father and son. ought to be known and appre-
ciated. We have in this volume a complete
and satisfactory record of the lives and the
accomplished work of two of the great, II not
the greatest, men OF our time. We live in
century when the engineer has superseded the
knight errant as the hero of romance, and
were It not that we have grown up amidst
and are accustomed to the great inven-
tions which make modern civilization
what IL is, the "fairy tales OF science
would be more wonderful, more absorbingly
interesting, more truly poetical, than anything
the romancers can tell us Of Charlemagne and
his paladins or Arthur and his knights. We
are accustomed to talk in large, general way
about the railroads and the telegraph and the
printing press, but how many possess any def
mite information about what has been really
done by these appliances for the promotion OF
knowledge and the bringing Of the ends of the
earth near togetheri How many know any
thing about the experiments, the failures, the
study and the labor of mind and body that
have preceded the perfection to which these
things have been brought? For, as Robert
Stephenson said, "The locomotive is not the
invention of one man, but of nation of me-
ohanical engineers" The present, and proba.
bly, the final, edition of Mr.. Smiles biography
Of the stephensons may almost be considered
new work.
1t contains history of the railway and the
locomotive in its earlier stages, and also a
memoir of Richard Trevithick more complete
than any notice of that distinguished engineer
which has yet appeared; and in the preface is
given brief but interesting sketch of the
progress of railway construction in all parts
Of the world up to the present time, with a
number of curious and important statistics.
The biographies of the Messrs. Stephenson
have been carefully revised, corrected, and
new facts in regard to them which have come
to light since the last edition of the
work was issued have been added. The
book Is handsomely illustrated and the
epgravings and descriptions of the early
locomotive models will be found particularly
interesting to the general reader as well as to
engineers. Mr.. Smiles has made industrial
biography specially, and there is perhaps no
living writer who is able to treat such sub
ject as the one at present under consideration
In more satisfactory and able manner. His
style is lucid and concise, and he writes with
. clear and thorough understanding of his
subject. His book is deserving of a place in
every library, and it should be perused by
every intelligent workman.
From G.. w. Pitcher, No. s0S Chestnut
street, we have received "Friendly Counsel for
Girls" by Sydney Cox. The title Of this
work indicates its general purport. The
author treats of youth and youthful tempers,
talents and ambition, pleasures and amuse-
ments, idleness and WEAKNESS, truthfulness,
manners and courtesy, love, punctuality,
jealousy, neatness, extravaganza and econo-
my, prosperity and adversely, gentleness and
bitterness, friendship pride, intellectual occu.
pations, beauty, fashion, and personal religion.
Some of her themes are illustrated by short
stories, and the general aim of the author is
to combine sound advice with amusement.
There are but few ideas in the book that most
persons will not admit to be essentially cor
rect; but they are set forth in such a common
place manner, and with 30 little regard to
elegsncies of style, that they will not be likely
to make the impression that they ought. The
author is entitled to credit for her desire to do
good, and to benefit the young people of her
SEE, but she is not gifted, apparently, with the
ability to treat her subject in such a way as
will most efectually accomplish the object she
has in view.
-G. w. Pitcher also sends us "Baron Leo
Won Oborg, M. d." from the German Of
Joseph A. sigmund. This is one of Loring's
series Of "Tales Of the Day." and, like those
that have been previously published, it is
much above the average in merit The story
is singular one, decidedly Germanesque, and
at times somewhat Jean Paulish in style, and
10 worthy of the attention OF those who desire
10 while away an hour or two with really in
tsresting and well-written novelette,.
Prom the same house we have also re-
osived "How to Furnish and Adorn House
on Small Means" This little work is by Mrs.
Warren, the author Of several other books of
similar character, which show how house
keeping may be carried on 80 as to give the
greatest amount of real comfort for the least
expenditure Of money, and it contains many
valuable and practical ideas and items of in
formation which are worthy of attention.
Although written more particularly for English
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