The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-13
LTTERATuRE.
VIEW OF VIEW Bo0Ks

There is an apparently increasing taste for
German literature in this country that is
eminently gratifying. Despite tendency to
ranscendentalism-whi by-the-way, has
been greatly over -estlmated-it is purer and
healthier in tone than most of the literature
of France, which has hitherto been more
popular, and it is destined to exert more
refining and elevating influence Every
Translation of good German work is a posi-
tive benefit to the very large class of readers
who can appreciate good literature, but who
are careless about how they indulge their
tastes so long as they have something to read
Those who may be called the minor German
poets, in particular deserve to be better
known than they are, aud it is matter for
surprise that some of them have not been
more frequently translated.
With all the important works of Goethe,
Schiller, and Heine, the public are familiar,
with the exception, it may be- of the second
part of Faust We are only aware of one
rendering Of this very important portion of
Goethe's great work, which is 50 scarce that
it is practically unknown to the majority of
readers. And yet the second part of Faust
is the most characteristic part of the poem
and it is essential that it should be read and
studied if the real purport of the work is to
be understood. 1t would be a matter for sin
cere congratulation if some competent person
would undertake the task of transating it;
and it is to be hoped that ere many years it
will be done.
In the work before us Mr.. Wireman has
given selections from Rueckert, Lenau, Cha
misso, Freiligrath, and others of the less
known German poets. In his preface he
states that these TRANSACTIONS were made for
his own amusement in the course of his Ger
man studies, and that he had no idea of pub
hcation. Finding them, however, accumu-
lating on his hands, he deci led upon submit
ting them to the public as a contribution to
literature. The selections are mostly short
pieces and they are generally characterized
by rare delicacy and grace that sufficiently
account for their popularity in Germany.
Mr.. Wireman has performed his task as a
translator creditably; and while he has adj
hered as literally as was, perhaps, possible to
his originals, he has also succeeded in retain
ing much of their spirit. A few inequalities
are at times, observable, but for the most part
the versiication is easy and graceful. OF
course, poetry and especially such ine-cut
gems of song as those of Lenau, Chamisso,
and others in this collection, lose much in the
process of translation; but, making all due
allowances, Mr.. Wireman has succeeded re-
markably well. The German originals and
the translations are printed on opposite pages,
which will be an advantage to students of
German, and the work is issued in a neat and
OF cbo,,a Inv tha DuhliSharS
From ClaSton, Remsen Haffelfnger
we have also received cord and Creese," an
exciting and entertaining novel by the author
of ''The Dodge Club" and the cheap paper
edition of ''The Adventures of Philip" by w.
M. Thackeray, with all the original ilustra-
tions.
ID. Ashmead sends us "The Yellowplush
Papers, being the first of cheap series of
Thackeray's minor works, which will be COM
pleted in twelve volumes.
From Turner Brothers 4 Co. we have
received the ''Sinbad the Sailor" trick book,
which introduces eight changes. This magi-
cal little volume will afford an infinite deal of
amusement to the youngsters. Also, Our Boys
and Girls for July II, and De01Orests Monthly
for August, which contains full descriptions
of all the latest fashions, together with an in
teresting variety of reading matter original
and selected.
We have received Parts 20 and 80 Of
''Zells Popular Encyclopedia which is
brought down to the title ''Batrachus." The
excellent character of this work becomes more
apparent as it progresses. 1t contains an
immense amount of valuable information in
q compressed shape, and it is issued at a
price that leaves no one with an excuse for
not possessing copy.
From j. @. Garrigues Il Go. we have re-
ceived the Photographic Report of the Third
National Sunday School Convention, which
assembled at Newark, N. j., April 2S, 20, and
80, 1869. This is the most extensive publ
cation of the kind that has yet been made.
1t contains the addresses of Rev. Stephen H.
Tying, d. D., Rev. John Hall, D. D., Rev. j.
II. Vincent, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev.
Edward Eggleston, Rev. A. Sutherland, Rev.
II. Clay Trumbull, George II. Stuart, ESD,
and others prominently interested in Sunday
School work, with other valuable information
The reprint is embellished with a fine por
trait of the late R. G. Pardee, of whom {
biographical sketch is given
From 7. b. Peterson & Bros. we have
received ''French Without a Master, in Sit
Easy Lessons" by A. H. Monteith, Esq. Thi
manual is valuable as far as it goes, but an!
q one expecting to learn all the ms and outs OF
the French language by reading it through
like novel, will be sadly disappointed
Old HickOrV,a Rrandv RottIe