The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-01

VIEW OF VIEW B00KS.

tive Condition Of Man." by Sir John Lubbock,
Bart, M. P, f. r. S., is a sequel to the same
authors prehistoric Times" and apart from
its scientific value it is an exceedingly inte-
resting record of the manners, customs,
habits, and mental and religious condition of
She savage tribes. Sir John Lubbock is an
investigator of the school of Darwin and
Huxley, and although his facts and opinions
frequently conflict with the orthodox ideas
of the present day, only very
blind and obstinate bigotry will
deny their importance or refuse to give them
consideration. The work before us treats of
great variety of subjects, but the chapters
upon Marriage and Relationship" ''Reli-
gion, and Character and Morals" are those
which will command the most attention.
These relate many exceedingly curious facts
which have an important relation to the
moral and physical development of the human
race, and whether all readers will agree with
the conclusions that the author draws from
them, or not, there will be few to decline
giving him the credit for an honest endeavor
to arrive at the truth.
'Valerie Aylmer," by Christian Reid, as
the first effort of young American novelist
is entitled to much praise. Mr.. Reid is
Southerner, and his story, the scenes Of which
are laid principally in Louisiana and Balti-
more, has good deal of meaning over the
'lost cause" in it, and a good deal of talk
about 'free lances, pretty pages, and other
pseudo chivalric nonsense that is character
istic of the section of the country to which
Mr.. Reid belongs, and which it is to be hoped
will be done away with by the new influences
that are now remoulding Southern thought
and society. All the women of this story are
perfectly beautiful, and all the men are
Apollos and Adonises, while any such
thing as real character is apparently
beyond the comprehension Of the author.
If these were the only distinguishing features
of the novel, it would not be worthy of more
attention than the thousand and one efforts
of third-class fiction writer's that are annually
issued from the press Mr.. Reid, however,
knows how to tell story; and while his plot
is open to the objection of not being as well
digested as it might, it is highly dramatic,
and some of the more important scenes and
incidents show unmistakable power. AS the
first effort of young writer, "valerie
Aylmer" is certainly story of great promise,
pectations raised by this performance, will
easily obtain high rank among the living
American novelists.
j. B. Lippincott & Co. send us the fol-
lowing new publications of Lee & Shepard:
"Why and How" by Russell H. Conwel,
is the new work on China and the Chinese
of the more important features of which we
published an abstract few weeks ago. Mr..
Conwell was for many years a resident of
China, and this work shows him to have
been an attentive and appreciative student
of the manners, customs, and ideas of the
people. The work is a lively and entertaining
record of incidents of travel and of the innu-
merable objects. in terest that are likely to
come under the observation of wide-awake
American in such a country as China, but
its chief value is in the view it takes of
Chinese emigration, and of the why and
wherefore of the great exodus from the
Flowery Kingdom that is now giving SO much
trouble to American politicians. AS the
Chinese question is now becoming one of the
first importance in this country, the work
before us is well deserving of the thoughtful
attention of those who wish to understand it
in all its bearings, and we cordially recon-
mend it as the best exhibit on the subject of
Chinese emigration that has yet been put
before the public.
'Ietters Everywhere" is the title of a
series of short stories and rhymes for chill
dren which bear the stamp of a French
origin, and which are illustrated by number
of very artistic designs by Theophile Schuler.
This is one of the prettiest books for chill
dren we have seen for long time, and we
predict for it a great popularity with the
young people.
''The Social Stage" by George NJ Baker,
is series of dramas, comedies, burlesques,
and entertainments for parlor theatricals,
schools, and public exhibitions. These little
dramas are well written, and as they are easy
to act, and do not require any great prepara-
ton in the way of scenery and dresses, they
are well deserving of the attention of sta ge-
struck youths and damsels W no are ANXIOUS
to give their friends sample of their his
trionic abilities.
-''Mrs Hales Receipts for the Million u
published by t. B. Peterson & Brothers, con-
tains 4545 receipts, facts, directions, etc., in
the useful, ornamental and domestic arts. Most
of these are sensible and useful, but number
are excessively silly, and have all the appear
ance of having been used simply as padding.
The American Sunday School Union send
us the following religious stories for children
which it has Just published; Afterwards;
or, Janets True Friend" ''Dick and his Don.