The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-08

REVIE or VIEW BOOKS

LIFE OF MARY RUssEnL MILFORD. Edited by
Rev. A. G. X. LEstrange. Two volumes.
Published by Harper & Brothers, Phila-
delphia agents: Claxton, Remsen & Haffel-
finger.
Miss Milford is remembered at tho present
day only by her charming series of sketches
entitled "Our Village" which in spite of the
mutations of taste still retain their place in
the regards of a select circle of readers. Her
poems, tragedies, novels, and multifarious
contributions TO the magazines during long
and honorable literary career are forgotten,
and il is in the least pretentious of her works
that her memory is preserved. Miss Milford,
although she achieved a great popularity in
her day, was not such prominent literary
character that there would seem to be any
very decided call for biography of her, and
vet the two volumes before us are such plea
SAINT reading that we are ready to excuse what
seems TO have been the over-zealousness of
personal friends. The work is made up almost
exclusively of the letters of Miss Milford, with
only such comments by the editor as will
serve to explain them and make a connected
story; and the record is at once most interest
ing to the reader and most honorable to the
subject. Miss Milford was compelled to use
her pen from necessity, not choice, and she
labored earnestly for many years to support
herself her mother, and a worthless spend
thrift father, who contrived to run through
with two fortunes and to reduce his family to
poverty. The affection which the daughter
always manifested for this scamp is one of
the traits that will commend her to the
regards of those who peruse the story of her
life, and her perpetual cheerfulness and
earnest effort to rise superior to every dis
couraqement reveal most of the secret of her
literary success Miss Milford was intimate
with many of the most celebrated men
of her day, and her letters are full
of lively gossip about poets, politicians, novel
ists and actors who came under her notice.
Her critical judgement was singularly acute,
and although she sometimes, after the manner
of women, jumped at conclusions, it is sur
prising to find how often her estimates of some
of the literary lions of the day have been
confirmed by the verdict Of posterity. In
her private letters she expressed her opinions
about men and books, her likes and dislikes,
with q freedom and candor that were MOTTO be
expected in any of her published writings,
and it is this quality that gives these autobio-
graphical epistles their chief value. Miss
Milford was discriminating admirer of the
United States, and her judgment of American
writers was remarkably free from the tradi-
tional British prejudices. She considered
America as the legitimate successor of the
glories of British literature, and evinced a
particular interest in our most prominent
writer's To all who are interested in literary
matters these volumes will have particular
charm, and they will find their appropriate
place on the library shelf beside "Our
Village"
From j. b. Lppincott & Co. we have re-
eeived the second part of 'Lippincott's Uni
versal Pronouncing Dictionary of Biography
and Mythology" DIR. Thomas has bestowed
many years of labor on this valuable work,
which is undoubtedly the most important
publication of its class that has ever been
issued in this country Indeed, in some Of
its features this Dictionary" is unique, ant
it presents in compact shape information
that otherwise could only be obtained by
tedious research through many volumes
For literary men, and in fact all who hav,
occasion to use work of reference, tn
labors of DR.. Thomas will have the highes
value, and the Dictionary" will take its plac
as one of the standard works of reference o
the English language. 1t will be sold only t.
subscribers and the publishers engage t.
complete it in forty-fve parts at so cents each
or if it should be necessary to exceed tha
number, to furnish the supplementary part
free of charge. AS specimen of typograph
the work is in the highest degree creditable t
the publishers. Part brings the 'Diction
airy" down to the title "Ariadne."
The same house sends us ''True Love" b
Laly Di Beauclerk. This is story of Enl
lisl high and low life, which, without develop
ing any incidents of very exciting characte
is pleasantly written, and will repay perusa
From J. P. Skelly & Co. we have r.
ceived Dainty Maurice" by Rena Ray, II
ligious story for children.