The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-21
LITERATURE.
The Holiday Books.

THE GREAT NovELIsIs. New YORK: Virtue n
forstoN.
THIS handsome volume wiz stand high ON the list
OF holiday books. Its binding OF white with green
aud gold, presents very elegant and dainty
exterior. The printing is admirably executed on
super1ne colored paper, thus making the mechani-
cal parts OF the book equal to anything that has
appeared this season. The contents comprise bio
graphical sketches Of noted authors with extracts
from their writings including De Foe Richardson,
Others Much judgment and good taste has been
displayed IN the selections and In their arrange
ment. The illustrations are numerous and excel
lent the engravngs OF them being executed by some
OF our ablest artists
OLD TESTAMENT SHADOWS OF NEW TESTAMENT
TRUTHS by Lyman ADDoTD New York: Harper
Il Brothers.
We have here fourteen Scripture sketches, begin
ming with the destruction of the Cities OF the Plain
(Sodom and G0morrah), and ending with the story
OF Queen Esther's saving Mordecai and the Jewish
people from the bloodtnirsty Hannah. OF course
these sketches, which are interesting enough, are
written in the usua style OF Mr.. Abbott-a style, by
the way, that distinguishes the writings OF all the
Anboits But leaving that consideration alone, this
volume Is not unworthy to take Its place with the
other holiday books. It e handsomely printed aud
bound, and admirably Illustrated with designs oy
Dore, Delaroche, Durham aud Parsons.
TIE Round TABLE By william Hazlits. New
York: Scnbner, MILFORD 4 Co. Mn
The essays Of Hazlitt deserve TO be moro widely
and generally read than they They are full OF
graceful, tender thoughts expressed with unsur
passed purity OF language. As published here III the
handsome Bayard Series the writings OF the un-
happy essayist never looked to greater ADVANTAGE.
Down THE RHINE; or, YOUNG AMERICA IN GER
MANY. A Story OF Travel and Adventure. By
Oliver Optic. Boston: Lee Shepard.
This lie the sixth and last volume OF the frst series
OF young America Abroad" and we have no
doubt that 1t Will afford as much entertainment to
the youthful reader as the volumes that have gone
before IT. The conclusion OF the history OF the
United States Naval Academy squadron on Its first
sion OF the students and their friends into Ger
many and down the Rnine The geographical ap-
Of ns y asseSsa and ss
voyage 10 Europe is given. This includes an excur
referred 70. AS Christmas present for boys this
book deserves large circulation.
PUCK. His yisissitudes Adventures Observations
Conclusions. Friendships and PHILOSOPHERS Re.
lated by himself ana edited by Ouida. Phiade
ph,n: J. u. Lippincott h 90.
This Is one OF Jhe few works OF fiction recently
published that VIC can unreservedly praise. 1t Is
almost painfully interesting, the story being one OF
those thar describe Innovations upon the customs OF
society and end sadly. As narrative or fierce, pas
sonate love and impiacable hate It might appear
an cxaggeration OF reality; ana yet there are many
such women a. Avice Dare. though we doubt II the
Gladys OF real life exist In considerable numbers.
Still The latter IL splendid conception. q warm,
living character, and her love though ideal ex-
is that thrills the reader with 1ts intensity
1T is impossible to read the character without feel
Ing more than ordinary sympathy for 1t. Even
tho outwardiy cold and beartlcss lover and some
lime husband, becomes utterly insignificant OF
the noble woman that loved him with the widest or
passions. There Is something sefsacrIlcln9 about
her, something 30 more than human, something 80
sublime In the excess Of her love and In its purity,
that while we admit that probability demands her
outrage Is perperated upon the Iar young creature
to cut her or the world In the supreme moment OF
ner llfc. ana tnas too at an hour when vile
woman, who cannot appreciate pure afecii0n, has
turned ner happiness to misery. We repeat that this
human ana are 81 pauea IN I'm + may
be, exaggerated colors hut which are none the less
TO be recognized as AKIN TO nature.
PICTURES AND PAINTERS. A Selection OF Gems OF
Modern Art Engraved IN Line by Eminent
Artists With Descriptive Text by r. Addison
Richards. New York: Virtue Il Y0rston.
We have here really magnificent work, in which
artistic skill and mechanical excellence have com.
biDed with the bappiest results The contents COM
prise seventy full page plates engraved on steel by
artists Of established reputation after the most cee-
brated works by such men as Landseer, Dor6, Leslie,
Leip. Websier and other distinguished painters or
the Enelisn, French and Belgian schools. Tue de-
scriptive text IL the work OF 7. Addison Richards,
AMI consequently be relied upon for It's fidelity
to the subject whether considered for the splendid
engravIngs the superb paper printing and bind.
ing Of The work the massive volume before us must
be regarded as one Of the iaest books Of the kind
published here.
NANNY'S CHRISTMAS. A Sf0rv Tor children. Plila-
delphia: Claxton, Rensen h Halielnger.
This is childs story which ne can recommend a.
being well ana entertainingly written. The scene,
as the title indicates is laid In Christmas aud bevy
OF charming children take part In the festivities at
tendaut upon the holidays. The author enters with
zest upon the subject and makes the little pratt
tie their thoughts and fances and demonstrate their
delight with the good things they obtain In very
agreeable manner.
THE Boy FARMERS OF ELM ISLAND. BY the Rev.
Elijah Kellogg. Boston: Lee l. Shepard.
Mr.. Kellogg's elm Island Stories,u OF which this
Is the last out, have deservedy no small reputa-
ton among the class Of readers for which they are
written. The morals these stories nculcate are ex-
celIen Their tone is very pure and Trustworthy In
the present volume many OF the scenes described
are drawn with bold hand and are graphic and
striking enough to interest "Children OF q larger
growthn than the boys and girls for whom the book
Is written.
GREAT MEN OF EUROPEAN History From the Be-
By DAVID PR PRIDE A. New YorE Fes V1,n e
Yorston.
The author Of this book thinks that 1t IL not posi-
bio to learn European history accurately because OF
the vast number and length Of the works on the
subject lie has, therefore, written this work to
supply want long felt-something that win give
all the important events In few words Certainly no
brsvty can require. The volume IL SIN al, but con-
talDs al OF importance that trAnspired in Europe
IRON tue beginning Of the Christian era to the pre-
sent ume.n For boys especially we recommend the
book. 1t IL handsomely printed on excellent paper,
and the crimson and gold bindng ID quite attractive.
PLANTING THE WnpKRsEssi OR, THE PIONEER
Boys. 4 Story Of Frontier Life. BY James ID. Nc
Cabe, Jr. Boston; Lee Shepard.
The CABIN on THF PRArRrEs. BY Rev. Q. II. Pear
son. Boston: Lee d Shepard.
Both these stories belong to what Is known As
"the Frontier Seres,n which have been appearing
at intervals for some time past. They are intended
for grown boys and girls. who VIII be delighted
with the literary treat in store for them In these
books planting the Wilderness Is the best OF tho
two, the author writing in caster andmore agree
able style than the author OF "Tbe Cabin on the
Praircs." Nevertheless the last named work ia not
without decided merit, and win be read with in
terest or course both works are full or exciting
dents; Nights with Indians and oil the wild adventu re
or NE In the Tar West are Included In the stories,
which also breathe quite Christian tone. 1t miti.
gates the seriousness OF the act when tomanawks