The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-09
LITERATURE.


Reviews Of New Books.
The DESERT WORLD. From the French OF Arthur
Mangln. Edited and enlarged by the translator Of
The Bird OF Michelet. With $50 illustrations by
w. Freeman Foalquier and Van Dargent Lon.
don, Edinourg and New York: I. Nelson Sons.
Lest the title OF this book should mislead the
reader we would state that Its contents not con-
lined TO the uninhabted parts OF our globe, as the
words desert World" would imply. Mr.. Mangin
embraces in the title the Icy regions or the poles the
parched sands OF Africa, broad prairies OF America
together with the living creatures thereof His
work Is really history OF those parts OF the world
which civilized man has, thus far failed to make
habtable Thus we are given q very graphic &C.
count Of the Indians or the American Cont.
nent, the savage tribes OF Africa and the
aoorlgines OF Australia, as well US OF the wild
into i've books entitled respectively 1.-The Deserts OF
Europe and Asia-the Landes, the Dunes anl the
Steppes;' "Iae Deserts OF SaAd-the Deserts Of Eu
rope and Africa - ''Prairle5 Savauna5, PumpaS
and L4anos,n "rae Forests ana .'lne Polar Des-
erts-the MountaiIs.n Every subject treated In
thoroughly exhaustive manner anu III thoroughly
entertaining style. 10 the original work the transla
tor has made numerous additions. which are Tor the
most part OF value TO the WHOLE furnishing. they
10, tAe very latest information that mas been OBJ
| tanned u the various subjects. me study
could be engaged IN. and we therefore recommend
The Desert World' to all who are in the slightest
degree curious 10 become better acquainted with
those portions OF the ORD which the great
Jority OF people almost as obscure as irnumerous adj
venturous men had not travelled over them.and alter
wards published very ponderous DOCKS descriptive
OF their experiences books read, we fear. by
lamentably small class OF persons.
AS holiday present "Ihe Desert WorldN deserves
to rank high. Its mechanical execution Is admirable.
The Illustrations numbering 100, are splendid specl.
and gold edged, the type large and clear. inc
binding OF green and gold Is quite elegant. The VOL
ume is, In fact IN all respects valuable publication
NOTES IN ENGLAND AND ITALY. BY Mrs. Hawthorne.
New York: &. =. Putnam 4 Son.
Some OF these "Notes,, we read IN PLrndn,s MdoQ-
gne others we have seen in this volume for the first
time. AS collected here they form neat volume,
plain board, and printed IN Clear large type, on ex
cellent paper. The contents embrace notes In Eng
land, Scotland and Italy, OF which those relating to
the two first named places are quite interesting.
'Old Boston and St. Batolph's" Is quite
paper %o bhSy "a an it
at the time OF the writer's visit. There
Is very little new in the notes In Scotland, although
which comprise the greater part OF the volume, are
quite ordinary. we notice rather ludicrous iliI-
rather regarding the effect OF its nsalubrious eli
mate upon human life. Referring to the fact that
the malaria prevents the owners Of certain superb
months the writer adds patheticaly, "What q
strange and mysterious retriDution upon the En-
said to be increasing and encroaching, SO
that Rome will finally be lelt desoate, q
page we are told tnat ''Deatn Is chasing all that
remains Of Life from these regions" Now, the TACT
is that the population OF Rome has increased from
10000 Ia the first quarter of the present century to
over 20o 000 at the present day, while the average
death rate Is greater there than in any other city
OF Europe.
These notes, II not particularly fresh, or original,
or striking IN their ideas, are, nevertheless. not
wlthoutvaue. They can be read with some inter-
est, especially those relating TO England Mrs. Haw
thornes style OF writing Is very agreeable, which Is
more than Que can say Tor most books descriptive OF
European travel published within tho past six
years.
LETTERS or PEaEGRlNE PICKLE. BY George p.
Upton Chicago: Western News Company.
The contents OF this volume originally appeared in
the columns OF o Chicago paper, ana have been col
lected ana published In book FORM We have per.
used them for the first time, and have been agree
ably disappointed with their merit, which is far
greater than we had supposed. Mr.. Upton writes IN
very Clear clever style, smacklng somewhat OF
Dickens and Thackeray, but without anything Of
servilify in the imitation. The only objection we
offer Is 10 be found In an occasional indulgence
In slang, such as pausing IN the argument to ex-
press disapproval in the paragraph, mot much"
which Is vulgarlsm that, with other like phrases
ana expressions, seems inseparabe II ON the tera-
ture OF Western States. 1t would hardly be Just,
though, TO object TO the book the ground OF these
errors OF good taste ana OF style. Mr.. Upton has
succeeded IN producing large number OF really
Interesting papers, on numerous popular subjects,
the perusal or watch will while away one's leisure
he ."'3Si acceatapiy.