The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-23

VIEW OF VIEW BOOKS.

ton, is an exhaustive account OF one OF the
most curious religious epidemics of the Mid
die Ages. When crusade after crusade had been
organized for the rescue of the holy sepul-
ehre from the hands of the Saracens, aud re-
peated failures had cooled the ardor of the
warriors of Europe, the children of France
aud Germany became suddenly inspired with
the idea that they we're destined to accom-
plish what the armies of Christendom had
failed to perform. The accounts that have
come down to us of this remarkable move
ment are SO few and so obscure that the chill
lren's crusade has generally been regarded as
one of the myths of the Middle Ages. There
appears to be substantial evidence, however,
that such a movement did actually occur
about the commencement of the thirteenth
century, and the volume before us is the re-
suit of careful search for facts in the pages
of old chroniclers who have set down, with
various additions from their own imagina-
tion, what they had seen or heard with regard
10 it. Mr.. Gray appears to have performed
his work thoroughly, to have as far as pos
sible separated fact from fiction, and ia fact
to have exhausted the subj ect. He gives
complete sketches of the organization of the
two German and one French army of children
who set out under different leaders, conf
dent in the expectation that the sea would
open before them and offer them a pathway
TO Palestine, where their hymns and
spiritual songs would produce
vastly different effect upon the inf
dels than the swords of the warriors were
able to do. Mr.. Gray traces the march Of the
three armies, their discontinue, disorganiza-
tion, and return, with great exactness, aud he
combines with the main features of his narrative
much information about the condition of
Europe in the thirteenth century that will
enable the reader to understand how such an
episode as the children's crusade was possible.
With the exception of a tendency at times to
mere sermonizing, the work is written in
attractive style-the author evidently being
In hearty sympathy with his subject, and we
commend it to the notice of our readers as
most curious and interesting record. The
book is handsomely printed, and is bound in
elegant and appropriate style suitable for the
holiday season.
''At Last, by Marion Harland, published
by Carleton, is a new novel by a popular
writer, who has large circle of admirers.
''At Last" is an interesting story, with we'll
characters. 1t will be found fully as enter
tanning as any of the authors previous works.
"Adrift with Vengeance" by Kinahan
CORVALLIS, also from the press of Carleton, is
a story of adventure which contains many
exciting incidents, and some highly graphic
descriptions of scenery and life in all parts of
the world. Mr.. CORVALLIS, who is we'll
known as the editor of the New York Albion,
is an able writer, and in 'Adrift with Ven
geance" he has produced a very interesting
story, that is full of life and animation from
first to last.
From j. B. Lippincott & Co. We have
received the following OF Lee & Shepard's
recent publications.
Double Play; or, How Joe Hardy Chose
His Friends, by William Everett is story
for boys written in the style that boys ad-
mire. II is interesting in itself, and is full
Of that hearty appreciation of boyish tastes
and feelings that will appeal in the strongest
manner to the sympathies of the rising
generation of American citizens.
The second volume of the series entitled
"The Tone Masters" by Charles Barnard,
contains biographical sketches of Handel
and Haydn, which are written especially with
view Of engaging the attention of young
readers and inspiring them with a love for
musical art. Handel and Haydn are two
great names in the annals of music, and
young people will be all the reader to listen
appreciatively to their compositions after
reading such interesting summaries of their
lives as are contained in the volume be-
fore us.
i. Kohler, No. POP North Fourth street,
sends us very beautiful little volume con-
tanning the original text of Burgers famous
ballad of ''Lenore" and translation by
Henry d. Wireman. The version is in the
same metre as the original, but while ad-
mitting the force of the arguments advanced
by Mr.. Wireman is his preface for such treat
ment, we are forced to confess that his trans
lation, while it retains the form, has less of the
spirit of Burgers poem than some that have
taken greater liberties with its outward
shape. This translation possesses many
merits, however, and the beautiful manner
in which it is printed and bound makes it a
very elegant gift book for the holiday season.
From A. H. Hubbard, No. 400 Chestnut
street, We have received "Belden, the White
Chief" edited by General James 8. Brisbin,
u. S. A. Published by @. F. Vent, Cincin-
natl and New York. This work is a record OF
twelve years of adventure among the Indians
of the Plains-from 1858 to 1870-and is
Belden's own narrative, rewritten and put
into shane by General Brisbin without m ata-