The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-03
ENGLISH BOOKS.

his blographer claims the titles or
sculptor, painter and architect, but not
those Of poet and soldier, which were surely as
much his duel, though much superior TO the Life
OF Leonardo da Vinc." which was published by
the same firm tMacmillans) last year, leaves a
great deal TO be desired and is full and pre-
else as the lie OF the matchless artist, pin
cache mortal Gngiol dtcfno winch Miss Bennett
(Nno died lew weeks ago. translated from the
German some years since The book, ike the
Life OF Da vinci," is beautifully gotten up,
marvel or typography and arrangement, but it is
rather vague and speculative. The illustrations
photograph are remarkably nne, ana the work
derives an accidental Increase o! interest
from the circumstance OF the late investI-
cation into the identity or the remains
deposited In the sarcophagus which is sur
mounted by the famous figures OF Dawn and
Twilight In the Medici chapel at florence. This
Investigation has placed 1t beyond a doubt that
the bodies are those or El Moro and the Duke or
Urpini, 50 that the German speculatlons on the
subject are wrong, ana the general belief founded
on tradition is correct. CoincIdeut with this
confirmation is the discovery In an old paazzo
at Florence OF statue. that 0. fawn, which is
unhesitatlngly assigned by the most competent
critics 10 Michael Angelo. 1t is rather remark
able shat Immediately after the ellie OF Leonardo
IA yincin was published last year the long missing
skull OF tile painter OF La Jocunde was found.
MR. MARKHAM.
Mr. Clement Markham IS an industrious writer
on out OF the way subJectg other than tire Arctic
regions. and the history, past, present and pros
pcctive OF discovery and enterprise in those I'M
genial chimes. His latest work Is a queer spec-
men OF catechism as regards It's subject while its
style is an attractive combination OF learning and
gossip OF the grave actualites OF history and the
of M N Ia a AN II IoAr Ana
de OsorlO, Countess OF ChInchon ana Vice queen
OF Peru,n and IL magazines The chincnona tree
Whose bark Is the raw material OF qulnlue, and
whose successful culture In ln0la Is cHIeny due To
Mr.. Clement Marknaml with much earnestness.
IL appears that ihe countess u Chlnchon was
remarkable and interesting parsonage, ana the
FIRST important individual who was cured Of
tertlan lever I'm 1859 ~ tue use OF Peruvian bark.
whlcn she subsequently introduced lnto Spain.
Mr.. MarKham's book - pleasant and skiiui
broderte upon the supposed SUBJECT, anu sucn
readers do not care Tor the story OF the Lille OF
the beautiful Dona Ana Will md pleasant reading
IN his description Of Chncou, IN Catalonia, and
his account OF MS journey tnither
TRAVELS IN ASIA.
travel book OF a different klad is Mr.. Thomp-
sons "Malacca, emma and lndoCnina.n Though
this work goes over very mucn the same ground
as that narrated By Mrs. uongWurth) Yelverton
IN her really amusing uook, winch she called by
the silly ana anected name OF "feresina Perl
grine,n IL Is quite new. because the journey was
Undertaken aud recorded III a very ulnereut
spirit. Mr.. TuompsOn's great WORK on China rs
one OF the most valuable and beautiful books
ever published but much too yoluminOus ana
pensIye ever 10 enter luto the category Of general
literature, or even 20 be relegated TO thai whIcn
Is enlarglng us BOUNDARIES day By day-oI he
books when no gentleman's library ought 10 De
wlthOut-and the present voume Is a very
useful and acceptable corollary It, wnicn,
while IL treats OF subjects not alluded to IN the
larger work the mysterious political and social
systems OF the kingdom oG siam are rendered
more easily nlelilglble 20 the western intellect
oy Mr.. thompson tnan by ans writer within our
nowIedge wno mas attempted 10 elucidate them
In q popular lOrm. The pny scal features OF tue
countries described are maue very VIVID. and the
cnapfers on the court and tae administrations
throw lignt upon the intricacies anu tue I'm.
pOrtance OF the late quarrel and reconciliation OF
me TWO Kings Wnch we SnouIG esa'slnis nave
son gives more cheerful ana attractive Idea
Than we had hitherto gained from any mrlter,
mote region was that OF the general traveller,
aud the previous books written on the same sub
JecJ have been mostly written ny specialists.
ITALY
Among the sound sober ana yet readable books
Is 'fne pilgrimage OF tue nDer,u oy Mr.. William
Davies. lis title sufficiently describes IT. purpose.
winch Is most admirably fulfilled. Inc traveller
IN Italy VINO would truly, thoroughly and pronta-
reckon among neccssarles OF HE Tor tue occasion
Mr.. Augustus Harris walks IN itOmem and "Days
Near RUneu anu tins aehgatul 'PIgrimage.r In
the OF last year very general attention was
excited ny a series OF papers Nhicn we're contrib
uteu TO MdcmatdfS Magazine unucr the title or
''Sketches VI spanish Lie ana CharaCtef'
Their spirit, novelty, sympathetic tone and
the little known regions ~ tue l0eran PENN
Eula IN wi men the scenes o. these Kctcnes
we're selected. set them apart from all preceding
works OF . similar KIND. Enese sketches have
been puonshed IN book form. with the addition ~
several chapters descriptive OF mines anu miners
IN the spanish "0lack county, Linarcs anu Ada.
luta generally, lheY are written ~ the Rev.
Hugh Rose, VINO lives al Lnares, In the somewhat
dreary capacity ~ chaplain ID tne German and
English mInlug companies there. Mr.. Hose IS
conscientious clergy man, rare sportsman, an
ardent traveller, anu man eYidendN endowed
win much power Ol observation aud analysl a
picturesque iahcy, strotg taste lor the romahtc
gilt 81 ready aud VIVID symOathies. ahd tie prac-
Teal result o. the combination q these quatites Is
book whicn Is ~ surprising ia lts matter as ~
Is captivating ~ It's manner. The acile generall-
zatlons IN when otner writers are content
10 SINK the inaivdualities III spanish caarac-
ter do no; content Nj. Rose, VINO mas
studied IL under exceptional circumstances
ana ia dtstttcls lar removed rom tue path
Of the Ordinary tourist, where lite Is rode inderd
and It's conditions are Oneruus, but where one
sees the natvc character N aii ~ pccuiariues,
pie or the mOuntaIneers. The book - very
curious one. ana nfecn more attractive than am
volumes on spain WITH wuicn we are acquainted.
Its active, vita sympathy aud spontaneous appre-
clau0n contrast strongly WITH the GRetdHte
criticism ana languid estrangement 81 spirit
from the people, anu their thoughts, aims needs
aua purposes winch mafred the beauty anu sat
is,actOrness ol MIR. harr's exceedingly ceyer
s'WanderIngs in SpAin,h while the classes 81 peO-
pie aud the species Of Industry OF wniCn Dir. kUsc
treats are enIreiy out Oh tie way Oh the general
traveller. His descriptions OF Tue scenery OF
Spatn are verg peau,lful ana he gives a most
VIVID and he-like representation Of the JDiTdS. or
aifs, wulch are among tue caiei national features,
their general resemblance,
SPRING NOVELS.
number or novels nave been published for tho
Easter mondays season ana many more are an.
nounced. with the exception OF "lhe Law and
the Lady" ~ Mr.. wikie collins there + no
work Oh great Importance among them.
MRS Ohphant's valentine ana his Brotnefu
is reprinted from BltckwO0d's Magazine and
is by no means one Of the authors most
remarkable works ~ - not ceyer; It ~
not natural. . nc style lacks the straightforward
simplicity which distinguished mat oi me Ing
line Ol WORKS by Wnlcn mis-. Ulipnants fame as
writer OF ncuGn was established; aDove 81, u ~
not interesting. NO the cares what becomes VI
the lawful her or ms gypsy mother, ana the noble
grandparents are aristOcratlc pores 81 ths dryest
type. mrs. Oapnant Is wrltinv novel called
~ nite LADIES' IA ntile, by the way, rather too
wen worn, this Is he third time u mas been used
wlinIn our knOwedQel, Whicn ~ appearing siGc
Dy side with one by Jean lngeloW. IA o0O9 W0jds.
ID IS an Improvements on "Nalentiue and llis
Brother aud It bears contrast aud comparison
with .Fated TO 90 Frce.n but badly. So lar as
IL mas as yet gone MISS lngelows second DOCK -
mucn superior ia vitality " interest aud SSH IN
construction 10 ner 1rsL few oi the personages