The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-02
xxTHRATuRr.
REVIE or VIEW BooKs.

Sargent relates the story of woman who
dared to pop the question, and incidentally
he enters upon the discussion of the various
phases of the women's rights questionable
poor question that has suffered more from
the discussions of its friends than all the
abuse of its enemies. Mr.. Sargent never was
and never will be poet. In the work before
us he has made the not uncommon mistake of
supposing that lines of even syllablos must
necessarily be verse without regard to such
matters as melody and rhyme, and very
large proportion of his blank verse is simply
prose, and very prosy prose at that Here is
fair specimen of the whole work.
'Here dwelt three beings, who the neighbors said
Were husband, wife and daughter and indeed
Iei, mere was was no a sign that tney were otoerwse
Saw no society," except some poor
Old pensioners who came for food and help;
tn Though, when fair days invited, they would take
At opera concert; then, in summer
A visit to the seaside or the hills
Would OFT entce them"
Which is not poetry either in style or sub
stance, and yet we might quote the entire
book without finding anything much nearer
to the standard of reasonably good poetry or
reasonably good blank verse. Even grant
ingthatth woman's rights question is a suit
able one for poetical treatment, it might
well be objected that such performance as
this of Mr.. Sargent will be more likely to
increase the prejudice that already exists than
to do much service to the cause it processes
to advocate There is already too much pla-
titudinarianism and too much mere vitu-
peration among the womens advocates,
Nand too little brains and sound argument.
Such Tupperian effort as the one before us
vi not make great many converts and as
my effect it will have on public opinion, it
Aht as welLn6t have been written.
h V same house sends us German Tales,
BY Berthold Auerbach, translated by Charles
g. Shackford. This is the seventh volume of
Roberts Brothers neat and attractive ''Handy
Volume Series, and the merits of the stories
ought to secure them a large circle of read
ers. The stories are christian Gellert's Last
Christmas" 'Ihe Stepmother" 'Benigna;"
Rudolph and Elizabeth, and ''Erdmutha.
These are distinguished by that subtle insight
into character for which this authors works
are celebrated, and brief as they are, each
story is as finely finished as the more elabo-
rate tales that have made Auerhqch's reputa-
ton. The high moral and religious tone that
pervades these stories induces us to recon-
mend them as eminently fit for Sunday y-school
libraries. Their literary merit is far above
that of the majority of the works put forth as
religious reading for young people, and this
is very great merit in the connection we
suggest The translator has prefxed brief
sketch of Auerbaeh and his writings that will
be read with interest
--Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfnger send
us s'Romola," the fifth and concluding vol
ume of Harpers edition of George Eliots
works. This novel is a great work of art,
that already has an assured reputation in
literary circles, but that well deserves to be
much better known than it is among the
mass of readers.
The same house sends us ga Beggar on
Horseback" by the author of '''Carlyon's
Year" ''Lest Sir Massingberd ETC. This is
an interesting story by popular writer
Published by Harper Brothers.
j b. Lippincott & Co. send us ''The
Pilgrim Progress" and 'From the Crib to
the Cross in words of one syllable. Pub
lished by George A. Leavitt. We noticed
these very excellent books for children few
days ago. but we again commend them to thu
notice of those who wish to provide thei
youngsters with good, wholesome reading.
Messrs. Lippincott & Co. also send as tn
November number of the Sunday MdgdZ5ne
which is, as usual, full of excellent religion
articles by some of the best English writers
From L. B. Peterson & Brothers we hav
received "Linda; or, the Young Pilot of tn
Belle Creole" This is the first volume of a.
entirely new edition of Mrs. Caroline LIE
Hentz's works. 1t is prefaced by a biogrf
ephcal sketch of the author, which will pleas
r the many admirers of her writings. 9Th
Young Pilot is one of the most popular c
Mrs. Hentzs stories, and in some particular
it is doubtful whether she has ever SUI
passed it.
The November number of THE Phtta1e
p1aa Photographer has an excellent series {
articles on practical and artistic photograph.
and it presents a complete record of phott
graphic transactions in the United States an
Europe This publication is of course il
tended particularly for photographers, but i
articles may be read with interest by all WI
are interested in the fine arts, The MONTH
s'specimen' is a very fine picture of the Y
Semitic Valley, taken by ''Helios, of I'll
Cosmopolitan Art Gallery San Francisco.
We have received reprint of the Fire
mans Journal of October 81, 1891, whc
gives the full particulars of the surrender {
Lord CORVALLIS, with the letters transmitte
by Washington to Congress, giving the fu
particuars of the siege of Yorktown and I'll