The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-25
THE BOOK TABLE.

Niles rcpeIs
For instance, who would care to read THE Hem
lock Swamp" till after somebody else hau "a"eu
through 1t and found it goodf the DOCK ID ny
Elsie Leigh Whittesey ana the publishers are
Claxton. Remsep 4 Hanel1nger. IL is such DOCK
rs anybody could write.
Again, who is likely to be attracted py "PartinR-
tonian Patchwork, though they iound "sniiiaper"
IN the title mage In the biggest Of capital lettersP
Lee A Shepard are the publishers. The collection
a. duh and the work below medocrity.
Nor is "Bits of Talk" though pretty enough as
title likely to bring readers simply for the favor OF
the bits. True 1t has become the fashion to praise
everything H. II. writes, but these "Bts oil Talk,"
OF which Roberts Brothers are the publishers, are
exceedingly commonplace in spite OF flavor
which is their own and which is sometimes de-
hcious.
"Rouge ct Noir' (Clayton, Remsen Hanie-
ancer) is q title that is repulsive, even with M.
Edmond Abouts name on the title page. 1t was
hardly werth while to translate and publish it.
Sometimes what would be stupid title for
novel is an excellent one for book which Is partly
an essay and partly philosophical treatise.
An example Of this is the work of the Rev. Fred
erick Arnold Turning Points in Lie, ~ published by
Harper and Brothers. The book is written In a
clear and manly style and is rich in suggestlveness
and illustration.
American readers Is the "Life OF Demetrius Angus
tine Gallitzin, by Sarah NJ. Brownson, and published
by Pastel Co., Of Barclay street. The princes Of
the Galitzin family have frequently turned to other
pursuits than those which usually occupy the time
Of the great. 1t is not long since Prince George
GallitZin recently deceased visited this country as
. strOlling musician. Three quarters OF century
before Prince Demetrius Augustine Gallitzln,
who had become Catholic priest, settled ON
the highest point in the Allegheny Mountains,
where he founded the village OF Loretto. For
nearly fifty years Prince GallitzA labored and
taught among the mountains of Maryland. Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania. No more remarkable
region can be found anywhere in the country. To
great extent the people are descended either from
German Protestants or Scotch and Irish Presbyte-
rians. When GallitZin went among them the first
generation had not disappeared, ana their bigotry
and prejudice were inne Xible. Catholics were not
only prosecuted for their religion, but a wall OF
social ostracism was built around them,
and to be Catholic was to be slow"
In Protestant eyes. According to Miss
Brownson, "In Pennsylvania, especially in
the neighborhood Of Chambersburg, the greatest
ignorance prevailed, accompanied. as usual, by
prejudice, bigotry and persecution, :" and at that
place at one time Mr.. Brosins priest, was CON-
PEELED to take refuge in the house Of Mr.. Michael
Stlinger from party Of pursuing bigots, in order
TO save his life. Chambersburg is to-day more re-
markable than any other town in the country for
the social ostracism Of Catholics. Miss Brownson's
book is valuable contribution to history as well
as an excellent memorial Of the life Of good man.
1t IL seldom, however, that book OF this kind
surprises us by Its exceptional excellence.
Generally works of great value are announced
and talked about months before they appear.
As rule we have read the new books of we'll
known writer's In the magazines before they appear
In book FORM
Hdrper's Magazine at this time contains three
serials-"Old Kensington," by MISS Thackeray; "a
Elmpeton," by Charles Reade, and "The New Mag
tlalen," by Wlkie Collins. Their Weekly has In
course Of publication "Strangers and Pilgrims"
by Miss Braddon, has just begun Lord Lyttons last
novel, 1.-THE Parisians." and printed during the
year number Of works which afterward came to
Ms in book form. LfppfncOttS Magazine for April
has the first instalment Of q new novel called
'Berrytoun," by Mrs. Rebecca Harding Davis.
DR.. J. G. Hollands new story, arthur Bonni-
CASTLE, has reached Its ninth chapter in Scrtoner's
kontilv Appleton's Journal, the atlantic and
other periodicals all have their serials.
The consequence Of this 10 that when they come
TO the editors table for review they are stale crusts
Cemented into whole loaf
And the books which reach us unheralded are
either new editions OF old works or books which
ought never to have been printed at all.
We find a number OF new editions OF books pre-
viously printed among the publications OF the
week
O'Shea sends us another volume of his edition of
Cardinal Wisemans works, this one containing
two dramas-'The Hidden Gem" and 'The Witch
Of Rosenberg" They are only valuable because
they are Wiseman's
J. r. Iinnlncott A. Co have renuhlished N ono
volume Miss ''wide, Wide World" Warmers story
entitled Daisy
From T. d. Peterson h Brothers, Philadelphia
We have very long list Mysteries of the Back
woods" by I. b. Thorpe; warwick Woodlands"
by Frank Forester; Frank Forester's Shooting
Box" "western Scenes or Life on the Prairie :"
"Quarter Race in Kentucky and other Sketches;r
"Big Bear of Arkansas and other Sketches;, Lou
tsiana swamp Doctor" by Madison Tensas, M. d. !;
''New Orleans Sketch Book" "Quomdon Hounds
Sketches Of English Fox Hunting by Frank For.
ester; captain Simon Snuggs," "Stray Subjects
'Charcoal Sketches: Life Scenes in q Metropolis
by Joseph G. Neal; Frank Foresters "Deer Stalk
ers, "Major jones' Chronicles of Pinevie ~ "Major
jones' Sketches OF Travel" "Pickings from the
Portfolio Of the Reporter of the New Orleans Plea
yune."
We begin to suspect that ''new editions" fre-
quently mean duh sales instead Of great demand.
And sometimes books come TO hand SO long after
l:er publication thatwe can only look upon them
~ III need of little generous or ungenerous crti.
Cism.
One Of these is "Pay Day at Babel" by Robert Y.
Rodney, United States Navy, pubishd by ID. Van
Nostrand Co. IT Is a very little book. IL Ia in
dramatic form, and c most wretched example OF
literary imbecility.
Then come the customary announcements.
We like to put them IN their usual form sometimes
70 show how much they look like advertisements,
rs, Tor example,
j. b. Lippncott Co. announce for speedy pub
lication new novel by John Esten Cook, entitled
s'Her Majesty the Queen"
The subject and title OF Mark Twain's promised
new book are said to be "John Bull"
new poem may shortly be expected from Mr..
Trio