The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-22
LTTnRATuRH.
Re- VIEW OF VIEW BO0Ks

\ ANDES MD THE AMAZON DY JHIneb
Orton, NJ A. Published by Harper g.
4 Brothers. Philadelphia Agents, Claxton,
Remsen & Haffelfnger
The magnificent region on the eastern
slope of the Andes and watered by the Amazon
q and its tributaries is, or until very few years
has been, almost terra Sncogntta. The out
side world absolutely knows less about it than
IA it does of the intefior of Africa, and yet the
Y advantages of this great country for the pur-
poses of civilization are described by all who
have visited it as far surprising anything that
the African continent offers, while its flora and
fauna present most attractive fields for the
investigation of science. The work before us
! is the result of scientific expedition to the
y equatorial Andes and the river Amazon, which
was made during the years 1867 and 1868, by
Professor Orton and several companions,
! under the auspices of the Smithsonian Insti-
4 tuition. Professor Orton has contributed the
substance of these pages in a series of papers
to the New York B0ening Post, The AneerS-
can Journal Of Science, and other publi-
cations. They have been revised before
being given to the public in their present
shape, and some new matter has been added
to render the narrative complete. The author
has endeavored to give popular description
of the interesting region traversed by his ex-
Expedition. He has endeavored to present
condensed but faithful picture of the physical
Saspect, the resources, and the inhabitants,
land this work will undoubtedly do more than
{almost any other that has preceded it to ex-
{tend the popular knowledge of the great
regions of Equatorial South America. The
work is one of the most interesting books of
loI arI
vast amount of valuable scientific informa-
ton conveyed in readable and practical
shape to suit the popular taste.
Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfnger also send
us the following recent publications of Har-
per Brothers.
The "Captivi," ''Triummus," and Cru
dens" of Plautus edited by G. S. Harrington,
M. A., deserves to become popular as a Latin
textbook. The comedies of Plautus are not
only amusing in themselves, but they are
valuable to students of Latin style as show
ing phase in the development of the Ian
guage before it reached its perfection. The
IA three comedies included in the work before
81 us are among the most admirable perform
ances of Plautus, and they will make an
agreeable variety in the list of Latin books
notes have been added to illustrate the text
and to stimulate the student to investigate for
himself, and especial attention has been given
to the explanation of the metres of Plautus.
''The Adventures of Caleb Williams" p" by
William Goodwin, is one of the most powerful
and original works of fiction ever written.
Its republication at this time is the only good
thing that has come out of the Byron scandal,
though exactly how or why this novel should
have any connection with Mrs Stoves nasty
story, it is not easy for any one but the pub.
fishers who expect to make money by the
operation to understand. The edition of this
book published by Harper & Brothers has @
life of Goodwin and criticism of his writings
both of which have been reprinted withou
any dates from some early copy of ''Caleb Viii
liams," and any uninformed reader woult
imagine from their perusal that Goodwin wa
still living. This is piece of carelessnes
that ought to be corrected.
'Hirell," by the author of 'Abel Drake
Wife," etc., is a novel of English life, of
\ somewhat higher grade than most of the cur
rent fiction of the day. The story is inter
esting of itself, and the characters are we
described; but the chief merit of the work
its philosophical spirit, and its attempt t
illustrate, if not to solve some of the prob
lens of life.
From j. B. Eppincott & Co. we hav
received the following new publications c
d. Appleton & Co..
cred as a Rose is She" is the twelft
volume of '"The Library of Choice Reading
1t is an English society novel, and is bette
worth reading than would be expected frol
its title.
'Fitz Boobies Confessions" is the fift
volume of the cheap edition Of Thackeray
miscellaneous writings. This is a very CHI
racteristic work, and, like many of Thaclz
rays minor efforts, it is more highly apprec
ated by his warmest admirers than somo
his more elaborate performances.
''The Natural Speaker, by Joseph Aldel
d. D., LID, is series of selections a
ranged with the idea of cultivating natur
manner of speaking, and they appear to
well adapted for the purpose The compil
explains his idea in an anintroductory essay, al
predatory note by DR.. James McCook, Pr
sident of the College of New Jersey, col
rnends the work.
"a Manual for Learning Spanish"
Thomas Pendergast, is one of the Maste
series, that has attained considerable pop
larity with persons who desire to learn
speak foreign languages rapidly and wi