The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-05

VIEW OF VIEW BOOKS.

The following new publications have
been received from Porter & Coates
essays Written in the Intervals of Busi-
ness, etc., by Arthur Helps, published by
Roberts Brothers, is q volume of short papers
on various subj jects, which, to our fancy, are
more attractive than the longer and more
elaborate performances that have proceeded
from the same pen. Somewhat more than
half the book is made up of thoughtful
essay on Organization in Daily Life, and
che rest of short papers under the following
ttes:-"On Practical Wisdom" 'Aids to
Contentment," ION Self-discipline, ''On
our Judgment of Other Men, "On the Exer-
else of Benevolence, Domestic Rule, "Ad-
vice, Secrecy" son the Education of O Man
Of Business, son the Transaction of Busi-
ness" "On the Choice and Management of
Agents" "On the Treatment of Suitors,"
'Interviews," ''Of Councils, Commissions,
and, in general, of Bodies of Men called together
to Counsel and Direct, and ''Party Spirit"
MIR. Helps is a devout admirer of Bacon, and
he has managed to produce curious imita-
tion in these essays of the style of his mas
ter. Both in manner and matter the essays
of Mr. Helps are modelled upon those of
Bacon, but, like all limitations, they are infe-
rior to their great originals. Mr.. Helps is
very far from being O Bacon, but his essays
are nevertheless readable, and they contain
m lch acute observation and practical wisdom
that will commend them to thoughtful
readers.
'"Ten Times One is Ten" by Colonel Frede-
ric Ingaam, published by Roberts Brothers,
10 of fha 1ata ucti ~ ifar
who obtained rather Fictitious reputation
on the strength of a single story that circum-
stances rather than its own intrinsic merits
made successful. The Rev. Edward E. Hale,
otherwise Colonel Frederic Ingham, wrote
the "Man without Country" at time when
it could scarcely fail to make hit, but he
has produced nothing since that is equally
worthy of the public attention, and his sto-
ries are labored, tedious, and often insuffera-
bly, stupid. "Ten Times OnePis Ten" is q
utopian scheme for regenerating the world
by the year 1882, and although the idea upon
which it is based is somewhat quaint and
original, neither the good purpose which the
writer has in view nor the merits of the story
itself make it very entertaining reading.
This is not by any means the dullest of Mr..
Hale's recent performances, but it is far from
being the liveliest book we have ever had the
pleasure of perusiug.
John Whopper, Newsboy, also published
by Roberts Brothers, originally appeared in
Old and NeaO, and although the authors name
is not given, it bears Enthusiastically the i'm
press of Mr.. Hale's style, and is more enter
tanning than most of his productions, because
it is shorter. In this instance at least brevity
is the soul of wit and there may be readers
who will derive entertainment from the
secount of "John Whoppers" wonderful air
line journey to China and what he saw there.
From j. B. Lippincott & Co. we have
received the following new books:-
Episodes and Lyric Pieces" by Robert
Kelley Weeks, published by Leypoldt & Holt,
is a series of verses by student of poetry
rather than poet. Mr.. Weeks has evil
IDENTIFY studied Tennyson, William Morris,
Swinburne, and Browning until he, uncon-
sciously perhaps, is able to initiate their
very different styles with considerable exact
ness. How far mere imitator falls below
real poet is shown in the very first piece in
the present volume, where, under the title of
''The Return of Paris, Mr.. Weeks treats
the same theme as did William Morris in his
death of Paris" which was the opening
story of the last published volume of ''The
Earthly Paradise" Mr.. Weeks poem is not
without merit, but along side of that of Mr..
Morris it is palpably deficient in all the
higher poeticsl qualities. Mr. Weeks is a
graceful verse-writer, and there is nothing in
the volume before us that is not melodious
or that does not show refined poetical senti-
ment, but the best of the pieces lack the one
thing necessary to raise them above the level
of respectable mediocrity- inspiration.
''The Summer in Garden" by Charles
Dudley Warner, is collection of very charm
ing papers that originally appeared in the
columns of a New England rural paper of
which the author is editor. They are quaint
descriptions of rambles in and about a little
garden, where the plants have established
friendly and almost human relations with their
possessor, and are written with such fresh
and hearty appreciation of the good things to
be found even within the smallest ploi of
ground by the earnest student of nature, that
the reader cannot avoid sharing in tie enthu-
siasm of the writer. This is decidedly one OF
the pleasantest books of its class that we have
met with for long time, and it will repay
more than one perusal even from busy
man.
From j. p. Skelly & Co. we have re-
ceived 'Flossy Lee at the Mountains" by
Faith Wynne, an interesting religious st Dry