The New York herald., 1870-11-26
LIT Err AT U r { .

Brown. New York: Dick 4 Fitzgerald.
Properly speaking this book is not history OF the
American stage, lts contents being made up solely
VI "bographIcal sketches of nearly every member OF
Inc procession that has appeared on the American
stage from 1888 10 lS70n AS biogra phcal dction-
airy IL Is exceedingly valuable, mol only to actors
and editors, but to all intelligent persons VINO
Patronze the drana. Mr. Brown has displayed
marked fasle and must have performed a great
deai OIL labor IN the compilation. II he
mas not written d history OF the American
stage, nc his az eas gathered together ail the ma
'erials ior one most Interesting review OF the
rise ana progress of the drama in tAis country can
pc MADE RON the biographical sk etches OF the many
hieh anu Wome1 wlo have figured on the stage dur
ing the past one hundred and forty years. Aud a
curious story II would make 100. SingularIy
enough, II was not nntil long after the establish
ment OF the republic that professionals of emnencc
appeared upon the American stage, although we
had. as early Is lSoO cities With populations large
enough 10 tempy Visit from distinguished English
actors We regret that want OF space prevents our
reviewing this hook as fully the "reminiscences it
provoSes admit Of We however recommend 1t
a. valuable acquisition to tue literature ol the
American stage.
WINTER ~ FLORIDA By Ledyard Bill. New
1ofk: Wood tDloro1k.
| II has been rullfuly saii that Americans are
better acquainted win othcr countries taan with
their own They VIII read every work descriptive
of foreign couutries which they can get hold OF,
while negecting very excellent books Illustrative OF
their own country. such being the case, IL II par
ticulariy worthy OF notice that this book has passed
through four editions Florida has never bee pro.
perry understood. 10 it is a kind OF paradise;
to IN great majority II vast extent OF territory
almost submerged In wafer and inhabited prnci.
pally Oy allgators and BEARS Of course both ideas
are exaggerarions. fne state undoubtedly labors
under many disadvantages, bur. on the whole, we
think IT more favorable to liie, liberty and The pur.
suit OF happiness tlan three-ourths or the West
| crn States. Mr.. Ledyard Bill, who IL the CORES.
pondng Secretary OF the Wisconsin state Historical
Society, and also OF the New England Historical and
Genealogical Society, spent winter in Florida ana
has given the result OF his observations in these
pages. lie writes in clear, impartial style all
\ subjects save politics In which nc now and then
permits Partlsanship 10 lead him into papabe
errors Bgt these instances are exceedingly few.
lie frankly tell. OF the difficulties which settlers
must encounter, and be also points out the benefits
/ wlicn must accrue TO all who make Florida their
home. The exhibit Is. on the whole, most favorable
70 the State Persons medltating seeking their for
Iunes in the Sonin wl do well TO read this book.
| EXPLOSIONS or SrEAN BOILERS. by j. X. Robin
son. Bostoa Iittle Brown j. co.
THIS Is an admirable ESSAY, written by steam
engineer, on a most important subject. Mr. Robin
| son shows how explosions Of steam boilers are
caused ana low they may be prevented. Through
series OF experiments made by him. he has de-
monstrated The existence Of radical Imperiections in
/ tho style ana manrrr Of construction or boilers,
! which Responsible in most cases for tho ex-
| ploslons which yearly sccur ana which often
| fatai to life and property. improvements III con-
struction suggested ana avoidance or explosions
pointed out. Not least IN the merit Of the essay Ia
Its hrevity, WATCH, however, does not prevent a
thorough ana eveu m,nntc treatment OF subject.
THE STUrENT'S MYTHOLOGY. Arranged for the Ise
OF Schools ma Academies. i:y c. a. White. New
York: W. J. Middleton.
Madame White, The author or this admirable
school book il one of the principals Of the Academy
OF the Sacred Heart. Catholic institution OF learn
ing IN this city. which holds deserysdiy high rank
among the schools Of the United States. The value
Of her work Is apparent Ut glance. n Is "a
pcndiun OF Greek, RoIan, Egyptian, Assyran, Per-
sian Hindor Chinese, TnibctiaH, scandinavian,
Celiic, Az,ec aud Peruvian mythoogies." The
several superstition, OF the ancients are stated
briefly and snccnctly Everything that l. necessary
to gige youth knowe1ge Of Pagan religion Is
| embodied IN tho book, divesfed OF the gross.
ness which surrounds the Original rccords ana
which are s.ten relaincd In the works OF
( III
are benefited by knowledge OF Pagan corruption;
but mere be doubt rnat II IS better for oar
g'is and young women co be kept ignorant OF these
| Impurities We heartily recommend the book.
lltE WouAS AND HER AcrUsEos II the title OF a
lecture delivered by DR.. w. A. Munlenbcra pastor
and supcrinicp lent of ST. Luke Hospital, IN seye-
raj OF the churches OF New York ana BrooKlyn. II
is . plen for the Midnight Mlsson,r and is an
handsomely printed aud hound, is published by
Puy F. smith, OF this Guy, and IS sod Tor the bene.
ft OF the Midnight Mssion.r We ne.pelk Tor it
a large circulatlon.
a little volume Of poetry, entitled '.TIe Crowned
Cross and Other Poems New YORK: y. Tibbas &
SOM lies before us. NJ. Elva Wood is The author.
Many OF the poems possess decided merits. Al are.
more Or less, Of religious cast Of thought, here
! and there trine too somDrc, perhaps bat, the
| whole, rather pleasing than otherwise. Mr.. WOOD
! Is evidently gentleman or cullnre and ability. We
commend his poems 10 the public.
We have been somewhat dis-usfea ar the dedicl-
tlon TO small volume or verses wrltten ~ Robert
! Burton Rodney, United States Navy The author
dedicates his cnnsioas as "a memorial by his rc-
mote son, to william Rodney, OF Rodney Stoke in
The county OF Somerset England. Died June 10,
1863. md buried In Hnntspl cnurch--tnat snire. A
poet; his mother csusin.gernan TO Edward VI; his
family ancient and memorial: It's Norman name
spoken with praise and trust by kings and presi-
dents and Identified with English glory and Ameri-
can liberty" II is dldcult for 10 decide which is
worsethe fuukeyiam or The poetry
Another volume OF poor poetry Il entitled
esther" rhadephm: Claxton Remsen & Harc
nngsr). The tl,le page informsns that il written
"by Nobody Nothing, of Nowhere We hope for
the sake Of American poetry, thaL the title page
tells the truth.
I LIGHT AT EvRSrtDE Is B. handsomely printed asd
bsuad volume containing compilation OF religious
bypuls ana poem Mr.. David Estes, the editor, has
displayed marked good taste and Judgment IN his
selections We commend the book. 1t Is published
I by Lee d Shepard, OF Boston.