The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-20
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Th~ HANNAH Books,

have not been numerous they nave been unusually
good. They have been somethine more than very
elegantly printed and bound volum - pretty TO look
at on parior table. Such works sIhe UNIVERSE
tScEibner Cob ''The Desert WoElA )" 1.-The Ays.
tertes OF Ocean" (rhomas Nelson + 9. ,ns. "Lady
Gersldine's Courtship'' lscribner Coz. and some
few others, possess great literary merit addition
to elegance OF mechanical execution. In a no Unit
verse" Pouchet teaches natural history IN cnA rming
style. AZ o holiday book this Is undoubteA y the
pest mat we have seen thus year. Almost quai
IN llterary merit are the two works or Nam III,
published by Thomas Nelson h sons; their mecnA u
tsm Is superb. AS worka or art The ILLUSTRATOR .
praise. II may be objected that Mr.. Hennessey'A
conceptions are 100 c0ldly realsLic but then tho
poem though an Intensely passlona one Sings Of
real love aud love quite Invested OF the IDEAL The
other holiday works that have already noticed do
ing little .'Bayard Serlesn published by Scrlbner.
Wexford Co., and comprising several exqu,slteiy
gotten up little volumes, which, II not even IN
tended specially for the purpose make most
acceptable present From these we turn to the
others winch we have not yet nouiced.
BIBLE ANIMALS. Being Description OF Every Law
Ing Creature MentiOned IN the Scriptures, from tho
Ape to the Coral. BY the key. J. q. Wood, "a. A.,
+. L. s.. &c. New YORK.: Charles Scribner i Go.
Properly speaking this can hardly be called nol-
day book. yet It's publication at thus time and the
admirable manner which Is printed. Illustrated
and bound compel US to place In the category Of
such. The literary value OF the work is decidedly
high. 1t Is not as the title would indicate tneo-
logical book It Is properly work on natural his
tory, IN which every living creature spoken OF IN tho
Bible Is described With accuracy. The idea was 10
say tne least most original one. The volume opsns
new Held Tor the literature OF the Bible, which
holy book we would have supposed 80 thoroughly
commented on that therc was nothing lerG for
another to say. Mr. Wood mas invested his
subject with all the charms OF popular interest g.,
ginning with the mamniaia ne describes the various
snc q nv
them a. extensive research could OBTAIN. The same
minuteness IN detail 10 bestowed upon The birds, rop
Giles, hSaeS ana invertebrates. wItn which laSc the
volume concludes. Numerous anecdotes illustra-
tive OF the animals described add TO the value OF tue
work. giving to quito the style OF french writer's,
whose happy faculty Of pOpularlzing science aud
history Mr.. Wood seems to have caught. In the 64d
pages OF this volume we have not come across dull
sentence 1t IL not unlikely that some OF the authors
statements anu conclusions Will be questioned and
few sharply criticised as he wrtos with great
ti0nabe assertions. as, for instance some III
those REGARDING me pelican ana the crocodile; but
But the work, as whole, deserves the highest
praise. 1t aids materially Ia popuarzing Dasura!
history, and also adds largely TO our noYledgo OF
the Bible. The illustrations. which number SON.
loo are the designs OF hagllsh artists Of note, and
ranks high as q literary production and we heartily
ent OF work combining Inc iiveest entertainments
with the prvf0undest instruction.
LOST IN THE JUNGLE. Narrated for Young People,
BY Paul du Chaillu. New York: Harper n Brothers.
Ii Paul du Chaiiiu does not tire OF recording hls
adventures in Africa until people grow tired or
reading them his writings are destined to number
very many volumes. 'Lost in the Jungle" is his
latest contribution and although ne assures that
the narrative is intended for young people. we must
CONFESS to having read It through witch the deepest
interest from beginning to end. The work Is
simply worded but graphic and exciting narrative
OF the authors adventures when he was lost In the
Wids Of Africa All OF the contents are new. The
scenes and incidents described are given 70 tue
public for the rst time and they are widely diversi
OF writing the author RES the reader quite along
with him. One shares with him The excitement
oor s es Mn m me nSed o.
emulation and profound regret For MS savage
friends, too, we also conceive deep liking With real
emotion we near Of Querla0uenS death. Ever dear
to our hearts must his sable majesty King Quengueza
be. May his shadow never grow less Ia fine, N.
du Chaillu has written Q most fascinating work.
which will be read with real pleasure by old aud
young. Every page OF the 2bs 10 full OF the most en-
moment lie leaves the village OF Goum 70 the time
he Is made king OF the Aping with the deepest inter
est, and close the book rearettlng that there IL
nothing more OF the sort to read. However, N. du
Challlu promises something more, and white he Ia
engaged IN writing It we recommend to all the OBJ
tanning OF this volume.
RUssEr LEAVES. by James PummLl. Philadelphia:
J. b. Ltppincott Go.
The author OF the poems aud prose sketches Ia
this dantiy gotten up volume Is evidently gentle
man OF culture and ability. His poetry, though by
no means perfect, Is quite pleasant to read, Is orlg
nal In thought and abounds In poetic imagery.
Some OF them seem to lack In flush, and are, q,
least but half expressed ,noughts still there Is very
little In the volume that can be pronounced post
ali It is az the frequency IN whicn the
Lyric" ..rnirsS" the Silver River" LA Bells
Rlyiere," lode to the Beloved Spring" &C., winch
are OF An ordinary character and might have been
omitted without injury 70 the book. They are II OF
badly written, but they display less evidences OF
ttnra n
which latter we repeat, Is promising and deserves
encouraging. As holiday book the volume IL very
handsome and does credit 70 the publisher. Nearly oil
OF the ILLUSTRATIONS are admirably executed and are
engraved from really arrstic designs. The paper.
print and binding are excellent.
THE OVERTURE OF ANGELS. BY Henry Ward
Beecher. New York: !. u. Ford Co.
This handsome little volume VIII attract particular
attention, both because oil its authorship and be-
cause OF ils being portion OF the yet unpublished
life OF Christ" by Mr. Beecher. II depicts the
scenes aud events Immediately preceding the birth
OF our Saviour ana will undoubtedly be read with
particular interest ut the present moment. As re-
CARDS Its merits as a literary production we do not
about writing at present prelerrng to wait un
be recommended as holiday book. The illustra-
tions which are IRON designs by Fenn are very hne
and the general mechanical execution Oh The book
exceedingly good.
SHAKsPEAREs MIDSUMMER NiGHP5 DREAM. B0s-
tons Roberts Brothers.
IL seems to that the idea was an original ono
that Influenced the publication Of TINS poem In It's
present form. 1t IS prof9soy illustrated by engray-
ings en- silhouette, the designs by r. Knewka. Sin
guiar as this style OF illustration may appear Its
eject is admirable when well executed a. is the
case here. The artist has succeeded IN impartinG
power aud expression 70 the figures which enable
the reader az understand ana appreci ate
design. Az We intimaed~ before, the effect Is quite
pretty and agreeable. In all otner raspocss the vol
ume deserving OF praise 1t Is one OF the holiday
books THAT we most heartily recommend TO tue
public
SONGS OF LIFE. Selected from many sources New
York: Charles Scrbner Co.
Many OF our readers Will remember the magnia-
cent volume, published by Messrs. ScriDner d co.
some years since, emitted Folk Song" which was
subsequently revised and enlarged for 4 second
adittnn OF tho work nraxanfin0