The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-01

VIEW or NEW BoOKS.

VIEW or NEW BOOKS.
From J. B. Lippincott & Co. we have
received "Old Songs and New" by Margaret
j. Preston The poems in this haudsome
volume are classified as fo.lows:-''From
Hebrew Story, 'From Greek Story" Bal
lads and other Verse" "Sonnets," and "De-
votional Pieces" OF these the Greek sub
jeots, some of the ballads and some of the
sonnets bear the most decided evidences of
genuine poetical inspiration The religious
poems are above the average of that kind of
verse, but, as is apt to be the case, religious
fervor has in numerous instances been mis-
taken for afflatus of the muses. AS thoughts
on religious subjects the verses in question
are open to no objection, but as poems they
are not distinguished by any remarkable
qualities. The Greek subjects are very
gracefully treated, although the version of
the story of ''Meleager," which is given un-
der the title of ''The Quenched Brand, is
by no means as effective as the better-known
one which Swinburne has worked up SO
finely in his "Atalanta in Caydon."
Many of the ballads, too, are poems of real
merit, and the book altogether is one that is
in very many respects superior to most of the
volumes of verse that are annually issued
from the press. The following graceful
''Apology" will give our readers a taste of the
poetical quality of the volume:-
What right hast thou to chirp?' asked bird,
Whose slender trill caught among the trees
Where thousands of full-throated harmonies
Pulsated on the undulant air, and stirred
The conscious forest-coverts, till heard
The leaves kiss in their gladness while the breeze
Broadened its wings to watt the melodies
Far up the west. The twitterer, at my word,
Paused Net missed no note). within the va'e
Scars with his song too distant, yet who love
My quiet cooling in the leafy dark:
For thcm-not thee-I fill the nested grove;
Keep thou thine ear for lark and nightingale"
j. B. Lippincott & Co. send us part 8 of
Universal Pronouncing Dictionary of Bio
graphy and Mythology" which brings the
work down to the title "Cinq- Mars"
From the same house we have received
t'Days in North India, by Norman Macleod,
d. d. This very interesting book is made up
of series of papers which appeared in Good
Words, and it gives very graphic descrip-
tion of some of the scenes of the great Sepoy
mutiny, with "reminiscences of the fearful
days when the English women and children
were made to suffer for the crimes that had
characterized the British rule in India from
the days of Give. The work is profusely il
lustrated with views, most of which are from
photographs.
From Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfnger
we have received the following recent publi-
cations of Harper & Brothers: Wilson's
intermediate Fifth Reader" is arranged with
the view of introducing the elementary
classes in our common schools to the study of
rhetoric, criticism, eloquence, and oratory,
as applied to 10th prose and poetry. Will
sons "Readers" have been before the public
for number of years, and the high esteem
in which they are held by teachers in all
parts of the country is sufficient guarantee
of the merits of the plan on which they are
arranged.
ga Dangerous Guest, by the author of
sGilbert Rugge," etc., is an entertaining
novel, with well-constructed plot, and som Q
good character sketches.
Porter & Coates send us the following
works from the press of D. Appleton & Co.:
"The Young Duke" is one of Appleton s
cheap reprints of Disraeli's early novels, and
it is quite as well worthy of a perusal as any
of the series.
''The Three Brothers, by Mrs Oliphant,
is an interesting story from the pen of a
clever writer, whose merits, if not of very
positive cast, are such as commend her novels
to the regards of large number of intelli-
gent readers.
The Iechnologist for October, which has
been sent us by Morris Frank, No. 619 Wal
nut street, has an excellent series of articles
on practical and scientific subjects.
Tile american Sunday. School Worker
for September presents variety of subjects
which will interest those who are engaged in
Sunday-school work.
The Central News Company, No. sos
Chestnut street, send us the latest numbers of
Punch and Fan.
From Turner & Co. we have received
EVery Saturday, AppletOn'S Journal, and
Our Boys and Girls.