The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-26
LITERATURE.
Reviews Of New Books.

Reviews Of New Books.
THE POLAR WORLD: Popular Description Oh
Man and Nature in the Arctic and Antartlc
YORK: Harper Brothers.
In this handsomely gotten up book we have most
reliable and interesting account or the Polar World,
written In an agreeable and popular style. There II
graphic picture drawn OF the struggles OF man,
animals and vegetation for existence In these bleak
and icy regions, combined with scientific descrip-
ton OF the character OF the soil, the nature and
causes OF the severity OF the climate, and the man
ner in which the rigorous winters arc supported.
Numerous tales OF adventure, some OF them most
exciting narratives add TO she entertainment
which all readers will undoubtedly derive from tho
volume The thirteenth chapter contains q bio
graphical sketch OF Matthias Alexander Castren, the
Finn phhologlst whose works and travels are hardly
as well they deserve 10 BE- The Conquest Of
siberia by the Russians" s a8o well told chapter
TO our judgment however the value OF the work
OF the Polar regions OF the people inhabltng them,
their customs habits. manner oil living, and the de-
velopment among them OF what must be termed the
highest for selfpreservation Ia humanity
All The peoples living at the poles are described In
races and tribes. Or the numerous tales OF adven-
ture We need not speak. OFT told ~ many OF them
have been, the interest In them never a0ates Like
Q thing OF beauty, they remain - JOY foreyer.n
SO far . not over careful perusal OF the book
could form Judgment we think that the editor has
addlt0ns he has made to the volume, - written By
Or Harting are full Of Instruction. HIS selection
are 1873 admirable ones display careful and consci-
entious study or the subject
ANCIENT STATES AND EAPIRES for Colleges ana
Schools. By John Lord, LII. D. New York: Charles
Scrlbner Co.
We have here q work which purperts to describe
an .'Ancient States and Empires.n commencing
with the creation OF the world and ending with the
fall OF the Western empire. or course, 1t was imp0s
sble for Or. Lord to do more than give outlines OF
the history Of the world extending over 30 vast
period OF time. He has. however, succeeded By
careful condensation preserving oil the noteworthy
events handed down TO US either In writings or By
traditions. This makes the work OF value an ele-
mentary history. We doubt the wisdom displayed
In combining with a book mainly descriptive Of
secular evenIs the contents OF the Scripture. Not
regard the BiDie o. Of divine origin it should DO
treated bv itself aud not associated with other sub
jects which bear no relation or but little relation,
with It's contenJs. In offering this objection 1t ID not
our purpose TO condemn the work, OF the execution
Of wnon, on the WHOLE we are inclined TO speak
WELL IL ID compiled from the best authors Is reliable
ana Is written In clear, agreeable style. We know
OF WORK from which q knowledge OF ancient
history can be more readily acquired tnan rom TINS
and hence we do not hesitate 10 recommend IL To the
public.
LIFE OF GERARD HALLooK New York: OAKLEY.
Mason d Co.
biography OF Gerard Hallock must always be
read with more than ordinary interest BY all
acquainted With tuo pTOXIcsS VI JouIuaiisu la ZIG
Unitsd States. During his career Of over thirty
seven years editor. the events tnat transpired,
the marvellous rapidty with which the republic de-
veoped into one OF the most powerful OF civilized
nations aud the social as well political changes
which took place-some almost imperceptibly and
others abruptly and with q shock-combne 70 In
vest In life peculiar interest," which Ia added to
by the knowledge that he was conspicuous actor
observer IN such events and scenes and cnanges
afrra nn fnhf 4
BILE biography than the one before Us has not been
written. We excuse the poor style OF literature
which the contentB oil this book presents. put we
cannot conceive what apology be offered for the
| careless manner In which the Few facts gwen
| are arranged. The greater part Of the vol
haiiock's political career from the secession
OF south Carolina, while his career Of thirty years
previous ia hurried over in few pages IL ID not as
here done that the leading events IN the lie OF Ger
i ard Hallock deserve TO De recorded. me author
made mistake in not handing his material 70 some
competent editor, VINO would, doubriess. have pro-
duced o work worthy OF the subject That Mr. w.
u. Aallock should nave given 20 the public anything
50 crude and unsatisfactory as u contained IN THIS
volume surprising fact as lie certainty possesses
| all the experience and, we should have supposed,
| ability. to write really interesting biography.
Z CHRIsTABKL, AND THE LYRICAL AND IMAGINATIVE
| Poems o s. \. CoLRRID1R Arranged and Intro
duced BY Algernon Charles swmburns New
| York: Scrtbner. wexford IL Co.
This Is another Of the "Bayard Series" and IL In
vested with additional value BY rhaDsodioai essay
on Coleridge written by swinburne, which. In spite
OF its extravaaant praise, very mastery analysis
OF the poets genius Aside from this the poems, OF
course. will be welcome for their own sake. and.
published In their present form, are well worth
having
MaYaxine Notices.
Ltpptncops Magazine contains another install
| ment Of 1.-THE Vicar Of Bullhampron." THE Coming
Crisis in Canada' is quite interesting "Incompau-
ben Il . clever story. 'with tns Yam Eaters" has
| no point and has some mahoe. "fhe East; How
Entered and How l Lett It," and '"The Seventy
Thousand" are both good the latter being the best
Tobacco" contains Q snarl ~ the weed. zone
q sRs IN Ss
niger to the reader. Certainly let him be educated.
We not the slightest objection, 30 long a. the
United States government IL NOS requested con.
| tinue purchasing grammar books and biographies.
| and TO continue paying pnianfnropie scnoolmarms
pay Tor the education Of his son. IAN Actuarys
| story" u very good. 100 Late,n The Banned
| Priest" and tine Indian Summer" comprise the
poetry which Is al very good. Altogether this num-
Der Of Ltpplnc0trs Is fun OF light pleasant articles,
| winch FULLY sustain the reputation the magazine has
gained for being live, well conducted periodical.
Onpard closes the nrst year OF Its existence under
the most favorable auspices The December number
very interesting one .Songs OF the French Revou-
tom is well writtea article. General de- Peyster re-
views the battle Of Chanceorville and. the WHOLE
does 1t well. We must, however, express surprise
his claiming for Massachusetts, regiment the credit
OF killing Stonewa JACKSON, when there Is hardly
TACT in the history OF rebellion clearly proven
as that he received his death wounds from the rifles
OF his own men. We note this error because the
critical reviews OF battles fought during the rebellion
have been o distinguished feature la Oncdrd, ana
have been mar&ed Dy an imparuaiiIy accuracy OF
statement and general ability which made them
peculiarly valuable .srhe Land OF the Maay,n Loo
and IL little Hunting Extraordinary" "A Re
viewer Reviewed. "Greek Pratesn "Street cars, -
"Ine Storming Of Monterey Tariff Taxation"
"Grace DeIamonde'' aud '.rhsssaly Clarenontn
are all very readable ana interesting. Tue poetry
is unusually good. Two OF the poems illustrated
and admirably 80. Things Worth Thinking Ofn
and "Trnes" complete the contents Of the magazine.
PucSdrd's Monthly opens with an entertaining ar
tice on Tne Elbows Of tue Mincio and other News.
paper Curiosties." 1.-THE Mutually OF Love" Is
discussed In an agreeable style. "vistors at Gov
eminent Headquarters'' gives some amusing facts
iria nf