The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-05
LrTHRATUAH.
REV1E woF VIEW BooKs.


'oThe Sunset Land; or, The Great Pacific
Slope bv Rev. John Todd, d. d. This is
the gentleman, we believe, who was so effec-
tually used up few years ago by Gail Hamil-
ton because of an indiscreet publication on
the subject of woman's rights Mr.. Todd
before that time was known principally as the
author of several religious books for children,
and if he had kept strictly to that line of
authorship he might have achieved modest
renown without subiecting himself to dis
paraging criticism. He trespassed upon for
hidden ground, however, and came to grief
in consequence. Since then we have heard
nothing of him, but it seems that Gail Hamil-
tons biting sarcasms drove him across the
continent, and now he appears as an explorer
of the Pacific slope. The book gives quite
an entertaining and readable description Of
the western edge of the continent. 1t is
written in a rather gushing style, and the OBJ
servations which the author occasionally lets
fall are not always the most profound. To
many persons, however, it will be more
entertaining than a work Of greater elabora-
ton.
''The Boy Farmers" is the fourth of the
''Elm Island Stories, by Rev. Elijah Kellogg,
and it gives a continuation of the adventures
of Lion Ben, Fred Williams, Charles, and
John. The story is written in attractive
style, and it will please a multitude Of boy
readers.
''The Young Detective" by Rosa Abbott,
is the fifth of the ''Rosa Abbott" series, and,
like its predecessors, it has good moral
purpose in showing, under the guise of an
entertaining fiction, how virtue is its own
reward.
From Alfred Marticn we have received
"John Ploughmans Talk" by Rev. G. H.
Spurgeon. This is series of plains talk for
plain people, and the author has endeavored
to express him self in plain and homely Ian
guage. He says truly, ''That I have written
in a semi-humorous vein needs no apology, if
thereby sound moral teaching wins hearing
from the million. There is no particular
virtue in being seriously unreadable." These
little essays will be found to be very readable
by many besides those of the particular
classes to whom they are more especially
addressed, and we commend them as giving
good advice on many topics in pleasant and
straightforward way.
ingman's Way to Wealth, by Edmund Wrig-
ley. This is practical treatise on Building
Associations, which endeavors to explain in a
clear and Ineligible manner their proper
organization and management under the ex-
isting laws of Pennsylvania. The work con-
tains many useful hints, although it will be
well for workingmen not to be deluded by
the title-page into imagining that short and
easy road to riches has been discovered.
From j. B. Lippincott Co. we have re-
ceived the November number of Good Words
for tie Young. This is q reprint in facsimile
of the English edition of this deservedly
popular Juvenile magazine, and it will here
after be regularly issued by Lippincotts.
transferred by DIR. Norman Macleod to George
Macdonald, LII. D., the author of "Alic
Forbes ''Annals of Quiet Neighborhood, -
etc., and it has upon its staff some of the
most popular English writers of the day. The
November number which commences a new
volume, presents very attractive list of con-
tents, and the illustrations are up to high
mark of excellence. Good Words for til
Young may be described as a juvenile sup
plement to Good Words, the editorship of
which is still in the hands of Dr. Macleod.
1t is one of the best magazines for young
people published, and it ought to have an
extensive circulation in the United States.
Turner, Brothers & Co. send us apple
TOMS Journal for November 13.
-Messrs Parmelee q Co. send us the pros
pectus and specimen pages of a new work by
Olive Logan, 'actress, lecturer, and author.
The title is 'Before the Footlights ant
Behind the Scenes" and its merits are Sc
forth in the following style:-
''It embraces in its scope the whole range o
the opera, theatre, lecture, concert, minstrelsy
circus. caravan fairs, museum, jugglery, panto
mime side-shoWs, 5treet-sceneS, serious and sen
timental, humorous and comic, and, in word
the entire show business, in its most comprehen
sve sense or everything which includes an ad
mission fee an audience, and performance.
'The secrets of the green-room and the dress
ing-room, in all of their heterogeneous variety
are fully discussed. All the clap-trap, the gauz
aud the tinsel the feathers and the paint, the II
swords and pasteboard hams, the pads and tn
wigs the burnt cork and benzined gloves ar
shown up in their true light, with mlcros eopi
Yiyidness.
'iIt tells how the parts are assigned, rehearsal
conducted, ugly forms made beautiful and beau
tiful forms made ugly. How old age Is turne
to youth, and children seduced to the stage. HOY
American and foreign theatres are conducted
from cldquerS to managers. 1t contrasts tn
indecencies of the modern drama with the old
time stage
'"The mimic stage, en- desbdbiUe, is displayed
in the blazing light of the sum- revealing tn,
ludicrous blundeTs and stupid ignorance of star
and supes, their piques, jealousies, and quar-
rels, their shams and frailtes, which are 81
carefully concealed by the profession, while hu
search 1muspnpnt ati ion