The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-02

VIEW OF NEW B0OKS.

the following new publications.
''Other Worlds Than Ours, by Richard 4.
Proctor, B. A., F. r.. A. s., published by d.
Appleton & Co., is discussion of the pro-
liabilities that the sun aud other planets OF
our system besides the earth, are Inhabited.
The latest results of scientific inquiry are
brought to bear upon this interesting ques-
ton. and the work is q brief review of some
Of the most important facts that have been
brought to light by recent investigation. The
author has number of new theories of his
own TO put forth, but his work is mainly a
popular review of such facts as are
positively known, and his arguments
for or against the probabilities that
the other planets contain inhabitants like the
earth are stated with great impartiality.
The discussion of this question is, however,
not the most interesting or valuable feature
of the work, and to the Majority of intelli-
gent readers it will be best appreciated as a
very excellent resume Of the present condi-
tion of astronomical science. 1t gives within
the limits of moderate-sized volume the re-
suits that have been achieved by telescopic
observation and by spectral analysis, and
although necessarily brief it is a compre-
hensive statement of the most important facts
now known in regard to the heavenly bodies.
The author occasionally enters upon the dis
cussion of abstruse points that are beyond the
range of any but strictly scientific readers,
but the greater part of the book is not above
the comprehension of the non-scientfic
public, and readers of all classes will find in
it much interesting information. The chap
ters on "Mars, the miniature of our Earth"
and ''Meteors and Comets" are particularly
entertaining.
M"Suburban Sketches" by w. D. Howells,
published by Hurd & HoIghton, is a series of
essays that will be perused with pleasure by
those who have enjoyed the Venetian Life"
and the 'Italian Journeys" of the same
author Mr.. Howells is an acute observer as
we'll as a sympathetic writer, and in the nine
essays that make up the volume before us he
describes the common incidents of New Eng
land life with the same graceful touch and
genial humor that made his works on Venice
and Italy so fascinating. We commend these
Suburban Sketches" as very pleasant read
ing.
''Fifteen Years, by ''Salvi" (AIrs. Therese
Robinson) published by D. Appleton q Co.,
is story of German life in the last century,
in which Frederick the Great and a number OF
other historical personages figure promi-
nently. The plot is based upon historical
facts, and the author has endeavored, not uu.
successfully, to give that local color to the
story that will make it what it processes tc
be, q picture complete in all its details of an
important period in German history.
'"The Poison of Asps," by Florence Mar
z.x7aE fOI1bl iSh ha1 hN
Appleton & Co., is a novelette, descriptive of
certain phase of English society at the pre-
sent day. The title is rather far-fetched, but
the story itself has considerable interest
although it is not equal to other perform.
ances of the same pen.
From Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfnger We
have received "Poems" by Bret Harte, pub
Hshed by Fields, Osgood & Co. Most of the
poems included in this little volume have
gone the rounds of the newspapers, and are
already established in popular favor. Those
who have enjoyed Jim" ''Dow's Flat" III
the Tunnel, ''Plain Language from Truthful
James, and other of Mr.. Hartes compost
tions, will be glad to see them collected an(
given to the world in permanent shape, al
we'll on account of their own great merit Al
both in their pathos and their humor, ant
because they are so essentially poetical il
spite of their grotesqueness. Mr.. Harte i
too often classed with such humorists as Mari
Twain and Artenus Ward whereas the gul
between them is the impossible one tina
separates true genius from mediocrity, tina
has its day of popularity and is thel
forgotten. Both the prose and poetica
writings of Mr.. Harte have a genuine rim
about them, and since Hawthorne's pen fel
from his grasp there has been nothing s
fresh, bright, and so purely America
added to our literature. Such a poem a
"Jim," for instance, is perfect work of al
in its way, and its subject is, in the bes
sense of the word, poetioal in spite of it
rough exterior The humor and the patho
in this piece are wonderfully blended am
it deserves all the popularity it has achieved
for it touches some of the finest chords O
human nature. Although this poem has bee
often published, there are many who will nc
be displeased to see it again, and we there
fore quote it from the volume before us
an excellent specimen of Mr.. Hartes style;-
jim.
Say there Praps
Some on you chaps
Might know Jim Wild !
Well-nO OHense:
Thar amt no sense
In gettin' riled