New-York tribune., 1874-12-01
BOSTON,. n.
LITrrRARY NOTES.

fPRON A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRfBUrE'I
BosToN. Nov. 29.-Roberts Brothers are about
to publish the Fletcher Prize Essay, by the Rev. d. W.
Faunce, entitled "The Christian In the World" Ihis
essay received the prize of Owhch the Will o: the late
Hon. Vim. Fletcher OF Boston, by which Dartmouth Col
lece Is made his resduary egatee directs the trustees
of that institution to Offer biennialy for the best essay
on Christian living.
j. T. Osgood & Co., have just ready for publication
Mr. Howellss tale OF the past year. "A FOregonc Coh
clusion" spoken OF this story from time 10 ne
as its charming chapters appeared In me AHd''"o
Monthly; but the book whole, seems Sill nher tnan
in parts. Mr.. Howes, however. can better bear the
ordeal Of being read seray than most authors since SO
much OF his hold upon the reader is In the tender grace
of his stye In his prose he is always a poet ana MS
Imagination coOrs whatever 1t touches HIS thfeau vi
incident is usually rather slender than oherwse-thats
to sayhe deals not with trapdoors and mysterious mur
ders but with the lives OF puremlnded we[Died' "e-
ntentioned men and women, and hnds III their nopcs
and fears their failures and successes their loves and
despars the sufficient material for his story "A Fore
gone Conclusion perhaps the most romantic ana the
most intense OF all the tales with which Mr. owes has
delighted his large and constantly increasing audience
The characters are skilfuy drawn, all OF them; put
the most original and the most remarkable OF the htte
group Is Don IppolitO the priest He was Dut na'i-
hearted priest; scarcely priest at all, 1t sometimes
seemed with his genius for unsuccessful Intentions ana
fatally.
Nothing could be touching than the story OF TINS
DLstarred love. 1t was wonder that he cared Tor
Florida Vervan; she captivating creature, despite
that hot temper OF hers. She was so generous, so u-
selfish. she had such proud frankness, and was so
yomanly even in her caprces. that the mans heart
must have been cold indeed that did not warm to her
You know all tho time that Don Ippolitos love must be
IN yan vet YOU can hardly bear to witness his pain
wnen the end at ds-in the dusky garden, whoro
the foolish fountain babbng and clpering as II there
were no pain in the world You know how desperate he
was when he stretched out his hands toward her. and
cried:
"Oh, my hope my trust my iife II 1t were 20" that
what shuddered the girl, reeoilins, with almost
shrek. "Youi priest"
Don IppOlito gave low cry, half sob
Ills words, his words! 1t Is true cannot escape
am doomed, must die rs nave hVed!'
Years aferward when the poor priest had long been
at rest-having slipped back into the plying bosom of
Mother Church. and died there-Forda talked him over
with her husband. Ferris was little hard on Lin, as
men are apt be on other men who have loved their
wives while Florida remembered him tenderly, as wives
do the men who ouce loved them.
"As TO his caring for yOu, Ferris said, II seems to
me there must have been great share OF Imagined
sentiment in It; it was not passion; 1t was gentle
natures dream of passion"
" lie didn't die OF DREAM" said the WIFE,
No, he died of fever"
" lie had got well OF the fever"
Taus. the year passed on, Don Ippohto apsed Into
problem.
1t was Foregone Conclusion" after all the tender
hearted girls wrote Mr. Howes scolding letters about
A Chance Acquaint ntance," that his next book should
end the satisfaction OF all fair readers and on this
occasion they Will have nothing Of which to complain
The whole storyis exquisely told and 1t acquires an
additional charm from its locality since the scene is
LAID IN Venice wcbfootei. melancholy. princey" and
beautiful with the beauty of dream.
Among the gifts which Boston publishers are prepar-
ing for the holidays one Of the prettest is portfolio
full of photographs which Estes Llurat are about to
publish, with the title OF Leaves from Summer
Sketch. Book" The drawings were made by Frederick
B. Allen, and they have been so beautifully photo
graphcd by H. g. Smith as TO lose none Of their value.
The views ten in number, and sketched,
Of them in West Campon. n. H., others I'm John Browns
Tract n. Y. and still others in Mount Desert Among
the bes-where all are gOod-are West Branch Brook.
West CamptOn, and a Roadside View at the foot OF
squam Mountain, Holderness. N H. 1t is rarely that
good portfolio Of sketches Is put within the reach and
the means Of the ordinary buyer OF holiday gifts.
Two volumes which it is no exaggeraton to call su-
perb about to be published by Estes Laurlat-l
refer to first aud second volumes OF GuzJts Pop
uar History of France from the rliest Times" trans
lated into English by Robert Black, NJ A. BY special
arrangement with the European publishers, Messrs.
Estes & Liuriat have secured eecrOypes OF all the
original wood cuts by de Neuville thereby obtaining
Impressions fully equal the originals OF these wood
cuts-than which finer have been printed IN America
there are be three hundred and In addition to them
forty steel line engrayings by celebrated artists The
paper and printing sumptuous. and. exter-
nay, this Is the finest edition OF historical work
which have issued from an American press. AS
to les literary merits less authority than The Lon
don Times speaks OF NJ. Guizot possessing preGmi-
nenty the historic faculty Says The Times: For the
past there few guides Trustworthy aud who
interpret history faithfully than the illustrous
author OF The History Of Civilization He lifts the
mind to nights OF history. He unotds it as q drama,
which Interests young and old. The careful study of
such a work as Guizots France is important
element in cuture and training Equally high authori
ties Iu this country have Joined in commencing this
work. Charles Sumner, who had read 1t in French
earnest in praise. Robert c. Winthrop is another
enthusiastic admirer, aud Wendell Phillips has
nounced the best book extant for the OF who
wishes to understand France, past aud present Thus
heralded tho book must be OF audience among
the best readers. To such authorities will not add
verdict which must mpernent because hasty, since
have had time for no thorough reading Of the
first two volumes. and the six which are still to come
entirely unknown to me; but to become completely
familiar with the whole noble work Of the future
euioymcnts which propose to myself.
1t needs only the most cursory glance to see that IL
possesses eminent degree the quality Of readable
ness-the narrative spirited and vvacous that
will willingly lay aside II thus bids fair
ceed admirably in becoming, its author intended,
popular history. 81 Quot nclnes more to the Carlyle
than the Buckle theory OF history. To him
largely the OF the great who have figured in
It. "Great events" he said, aud great men the
fixed points and the peaks OF history; and it is thence
observe 1t In It's totty and follow along
its high ways"
Tho first volume commences far back. with ancient
Gaul, and ends at the Crusades. The second closes
with the Hundred Years War and Charles ", and tie
volumes yet to Will bring the work down to
own tme Lev.