Litchfield enquirer., 1873-05-22
LIT RARY-

Whether the absurd stories which Mrs.
 Muhlback, and her kind, have palmed of upon too confidiDg public. have had anything to do with this state of things, we cannot presume to decide. But the volumes before Us bear not the slightest
 resemblance to the crude, unnatural, and
 unwholesome productions we have named. Phe Erckmann- Chatrian novels are true both to fact and to nature; and the sto- ries are told with pathos, and a simplic- ity of style, as beautiful as it is rare.
 The InUGsioa describes the brave re- sistence of few noble minded peasants of the Mountains of Alsace and Lorraine, to the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian allies in 1913 after the disastrous Russian campaign of the Great Napoleon. In ad- dition to the vivid interest of the tale, the descriptions of ratural scenery in this vol ume bring the romantic glens and passes before our eyes as effectively as could be done by gallery of pictures painted by master artists.
 In The Blockade tho sufferings of the beseiged residents of Phalsbourg are re- lated by Jewish citizen. This person. age is one of the most wonderfully beau tiful creations ill the range of fiction. We laugh at his unconscious egotism, and despise his selfishness; but we weep at the sorrows, and sympathize with the warm friendships, and family affections. which redeem his character. While "Our Ser geant, - the typical soldier of the Grande ArD'6e, to whom family, coun- try, religion, all that men hold sa- cred, was coYRrised in the magic name of Napoleon-commands at once our pity, soon our admiration.
 In The PleJiscite we have vivid pie ture of life in the disputed provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, both before and during the desolat;ons of the late Franco Prussian war. It should be read by every one desirous of gaining an insight into the actual condition of things among the new andunwiuing subjects of Kaiser Wilteln'.
 These volumes, valuable as histories, and intensely interesting as novels, de- serves place in every library, and might be studied by young writers as models of a beautiful simplicity of style. The fact that they are the joint productions of two men, differing in many respects, but bound to each other by more than broth erly affection, adds to their interest. But we look in vain for distinct traces of either pen. We can no more decide that NJ. Erokmann wrote this portion, and M. Chatrian wrote that, than in looking at 6 blade of grass We can discrinlinate be- tween the blue and yellow rays which have given it its rich green color. We are told, indeed, that when work has been completed neither writer can tell with certainty which portions he has him. self contributed.
 As is the case with many other writers of genius who do not follow in the old. well beaten tracks, it was long ere the works of these literary twins were success ful in finding a publisher. Their first tales were only received by provincial pa pers without compensation, and frequent ly had to be returned to the writer's desk. Their first novel which wass published in Paris, appeared i'll the Revue de Paris in 1856, after it had been carried about for six months in Chatrian's pocket, and of- fered everywhere in vain 1t was not un- til five years after this that their works began to attract that general attention which was their due. Now, their books are known, and highly prized, wherever truth to nature, purity of thought and 8 vigorous simplicity of style are preferred to mawkish sentiment, unnatural plots, and delineations of morbid, or impossible characters.
 HANDY BOOK SERIEs c. ?. Putnam s Sons, N F. In previously noticing one of these books The House-we mention ed the general design of the series, name ly, to afford i'll neat and cheap form, 8 library of reference on every day sub- jects. We have not seen all the books of the series; but of those which we have read, every volume is worth the price of the whole number. 7fU the Doctor comes and how to Help Him, dy George H. Hope,
 IT. D., is complete manual for inc home treatment of nearly every possible acci- dent or sudden disease. StiDaulants aad Narcotics, by George M Beard, M. D., is the mostphilosophical and dispassionate treatise we have ever met upon this i'm portant topic. Eating and Drinking, by the same author, is ga popular manual of food and diet, in health and disease, and will be fonnd invaluable for both the well and the sick, especially the latter, and among the latter, will be of principal use to dyspeptics. Hints on Dress, Or Wha, to ,cear, When to acear tt, aud Hoac to bug it, by Ethel c. Gole, contains an''Out. line history of Costume" through all ages and chapters on ''What We mean by dress ing well:" "Things indispensable" 'Col or, form, and suitability" Estimates o1 l cost" ''How and what to buy; and 'FTastt and Economy" Concerning this book we quote from Harpers Monthly. 'It if really an admirable little treatise, sensi
 ble, practical, and giving details of in.
 formation as to expenditure, as we'll as
 very wise, and perfectly practicable ad
 vice as to taste, habits, and methods oi
 dress. 1t is a real surprise to find SC
 much that is useful, crowded into so few I pages Social Economy, by Prof
 7harold, is a reprint from an English
 work. Though intended chiefly for uss
 in schools, it will be found both interest
 ing and useful to children of larger growtl
 than those for whom it is designed.