New-York tribune., 1872-10-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

have been with very considerable success for
lne contents of this 1t bears the characteristic
marks OF his prolific pen. rambling ehatty nconclusive,
and often entertaining. but not to be accepted
without caution historical authority. One
Of the most readable chapters treats OF the
Virginia legend of Pocahontas and Captain John
Smith, which the writer sets forth with the most
brilliant cOlors Of romance unaffected by the serupes
modern skepticsm which have attempted TO resolve
the whole history into myth. Some curious
details given in the chapter on Town
Names" In regard TO the wonderful nomenclature
IN which American local geography mas such
a bad pregmnence. No traveller in the State OF New
York" remarks author, "can well repress feeling
Of inpatience when, after leaving Carthage in the
morning. be is made TO dine Leyden, and sups, II so
inclined, Denmark; il he should choose another
route reaches Russia by and Norway before night
Nothing but darkest ignorance or Grossest indifference
can such proceeding although Incidence
has gone even farther and bodily transferred
whole county from the State OF New
York 20 that of Wisconsin, every name OF town,
village and hamlet being faithfully reproduced"
this not the worst OF IT, 1T cannot be but that
influence is exercised by the OF place over
its inhabitants 1t need not be the somewhat painful
effect which Pousve has on its citizens, who open
20 the suspicion Of being pous vilans but how can the
man who lives in Drttown tGal, Robtown Va), Gin
Henry Mo), Smallpox Gl), preserve his selirespect
through lfei Can confess that he lives at LOnga
coming FuddletOwn, Bugaboo, and expect TO be
looked upon like any other respectable gentleman
Kickaboo, wegee, Maxnkuckee would seem to be in-
nnitey preferable names. though startling enough at
first sight" The tendency TO corrupt the old French
is fertile source Of whimsical appel
lations in those parts Of the country occupied by
the early French settlers. Thus "the Bay OF
Fundy has marked feature in tall mountain, which is
almost constantly oyerhung with huge masses OF
cloud, and was hence, called by the early
missionaries Chapeau Dieu GODS Hat; it is
shepOdy Mountain. At the other end
Of the Northern Continent lies the Bay, once known
as Anse jes Cousins (MosQuO Bay sailors and settlers
alike now speak Of it only as Nancy Cousins Bay.
beautiful in ST. Lawrence County, NewYork, flow
Ing through fertile lands and enrchng the soil by perl
odcal Overaows was called La Grasse Rivere he Fertile
Rve by the French Canadians, who lived at the mouth,
near the head Regis Island. Falling into English
hands it promptly naturalized as Grass River.
sadder that Of the low, dismal stream which
the Of Gaena is situated When first discovered in
400 by lie seuer It obtained Rviere des
Feves (Bean River, from the immense masses Of wild
beans which were found growing on its banks. The
beans disappeared when the country settled and
with them the meaning Of the name but as the river
had in the meantime established unenviabe notori
ETY. for fever and ague it naturally transformed
Ia Riyere de la Fievre Fever River and such it
remained till in the year 1854 the Legislature OF Illinois,
by special act ordered it 70 be called Galena River
State early explored by French missionaries and
rich in French names, abOunds hence also in curious
cOTupuOns Of this kind. Thus the Marais dOg6e
has become Meredosa; ilreputed creek
known Mauvaise Terre, is now Movistar
Creek; out-otthe-way passage Cheual Ecart6
Tejoces in the euphonious name of sncarty; Aukas
IS now Okau and Bon Pas Prairie has degenerated into
BOmparc, and viii probably end, like Bon Pere, in
vulgar Bumper. The further West go the
striking become these corrupdons cape the Upper
Mississippi called by the early French voyagers Cap
Ta Garlic Cape, is now known as Capote Lewis and
Clark found rivers TheratOn already in their day
changed into Charaton la Rviere qui court had be-
come Quicurre River; and a branch OF the Red
River of Lake Winnipeg, originally called Riviere
Cheyenne, from the Cheyenne Indians living
its borders had gradually changed into Riviere
Chen, and was then translated into Dog Riverl"
II Mr. schele de We're cannot be wholly acquitted of the
charge OF book making IN this desuOry collection Of
the odds and ends OF our national history he may plead
in extenuaton Of his Office that lie has attempted
furnish his readers with Of harmless recreation,
aud has succeeded in the attempt
BoARDiNGscHOoI DAYS By yEgI MOrsTAcHs l2mO 2si.
The freshness of juvenile recOllectiOns is COM
blned in this admirable volume with vein Of smiling
wisdom and tender sentiment that will deservedy make
favorite with parents search Of good reading
their children while the juvenile seekers Of entertain
will be attracted by its lively narrative and natural
dialogue The writer is fun Of boysh sympathies and
has thorough knowledge Of bOylife. His story places
strong light the Of his early experience. 1t is
the old schoOldays again, much Tom Brown
Rugby. quiet humor pervades the volume although
there IS attempt 10 be funny all occasions The
related with all the naturalness Of the most
familiar talk, with straining after effect, and
pretensiOn in the Of language. Take
the little sketch Of an old French teacher as
specimen Of the writer's skill in portrature.
at was the recess Of hour at MONDAY, and Mon
seur Alphonse stood IN the large sudyha taking with
a group Of boys. Monsieur AlphoDse was our French
teacher. His hair aud whskers coarse curly, and
1zzy his eyes small round and black and like
the handle Of dusteaten dOOrknocker. His eyebrows
were heavy, and much more gray than his hair. Not
pleasant countenance, you think perhaps and yet it
not unpleasant. There kindness and
tenderness and much vyacity in It, though the short
brst hairs growing without any regard right pro-
pIiety, the nose the cheeks on the forehead
hardly permitted discover the good traits marked
the face. suppose the old Frenchman was about 55
and for every year he bad this country to teach
boys the French language, he had only learned to
speak bad and English and to be more
and Of a kindhearted, irritable, pedantic
old Frenchman. His clothes were tight aud
black, his pantalOOns pulled close down with
straps his sharpponted thin boots and prodgious
roll Of black silk wrapped his neck collar about IN
dusty folds He always well sprinked with snuff
hash with pepper and slight odOr OF garlic diff
fused itself from his presence" We do not often see
for young readers, old, so entirely free from
anectation this and its positive qualities Of lively
and graphic recital will give it high place In juvenile
literature
CoMMISSONERS TO THB ORIENTAL CHURCHES BY
RrTus ANDERSON d. D. yOls limo. Congregational Pub
hhng Society.
No attempt is made in these volumes to
write philosophical history missions. for which, in
the opinion the author the time has get At
present there not the necessary materials for
work, DOR have those who engaged in the missionary