The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-01-13
Harper & Brothers.

Harper & Brothers.
The history of this firm is almost the
history of American publishing. When
they began to publish, more than half a
century ago, we produced no book that q
gentleman cared to have in his library.
Paper, typography and binding were so in
ferior to what came tc us from abroad,
that to call a book an American one, was
enough to condemn it at once. This
great publishing house, beginning with
the day of small things, and advancing
step by step, has gone on until it has pro-
duced a large library, which every one is
glad to nave andwhich is in no way Inferior
to what comes to US from abroad. And
the best of it is that the books of this Ii
brary are not at all limitations of foreign
publishers. They are all distinctive in
appearance, never confounded for Il mo-
ment with English books, but with a
beauty and excellence peculiar to them.
selves. Besides, during their long career,
while the Harpers have always been
prompt to secure for publications the
latest works of the best English authors,
paying the latter liberal prices for the
privilege of reproducing them here, al
though not legally obliged to Go so-while
doing this, they have always been wide
awake to get hold of good works by
American authors, and to the Harpers is
due not a little gratitude for having, in
spite of the want of an international
copyright, done a great deal to foster
American literature.
Tuke, for instance, their finest holiday
productions for the seasons. They are
distinctivcly American inside and out.
The beautiful "Catskill Fairies" n of
the finest gift books of the year, is writ
ten by an American lady, the scene is laid
among the Cutskill Mountains, one might
almost say the fairies are American fair
les. The dainty Illustrations are all done
here, and all this exquisi,ely printed and
bound has for the eyes and ear n charm
which derives nothing from foreign sourc-
es. So with two other handsome holiday
books, Will Cartoons Farm Ballads" and
Farm Legends" The author is a
Western man. All the scenes he depicts
are American to their core. The illust-
rations are as national as the lines.
"Nooks and Corners of the New England
Coast" is not only a handsome gift book,
but one welcome at all times, delightful
realing and excellent as a summer guide,
and q finer specimen of printing and il
lustration could not be desired. The
story of Forts Sumter and Moultric"
will never lose its interest, and the just
issued "reminiscences of them by General
Doubleday, with its handsome paper,
type, and true blue binding is some thing
to be proud Of in the shape of a book.
Still, if any one insists on a gift book by
some foreign hand, the Harper's can
oblige him with Songs of Our Youth"
by the author of John Halifax" with
music and words, delightful inside and
out. Joseph VOLTS "Wild Animals
their Life and Habits" is to be commend
ed in every way, with designs which were
evidently a labor of love to the veteran
artist.
But, making only passing mention of a
number of capital fairy books, by Miss Mu-
loch, the droll acknowledgement, and
the like, let US turn to the splendid libra
airy of historical works and books of
travel issued by the Harpers. From their
press has issued the several histories of
Motley, now almost classical, Ticknor's
History of Spanish Literature, Hallam's
great works, the Invaluable Students
Series and a host more of the same kind.
What a mass of great books of travel we
WI TO them. Baker's"Ismailia Ouch Ill
LUIS entertaining accounts of Africa Liv-
ingston's "South Africa )" Voyage up
the Zambesi," and Last Journals" Mac
Gahan's Campaigning on the Oxus." OF
another class of great works is the re-
Gently issued Van-Lenneps's "Bible
Lands" a most important and valuable
work with a wealth of illustrations which
doubles its value.
Time would fail us to speak of the
Classical Library of the Harpers, in which
the series Of educational works by tie late
Prof. Anthem shines out conspicuous.
But we should be thought recreant to our
duty if we failed to allude to their Iii
brary of Select Novels" now comprising
453 novels, which includes all the best
works of modern fiction, and is IN in
exlaustible supply of amusement. From
Bulwcr's pelham" which heads the list,
down to "Of the Roll" by Katharine
King. the latest one, there is hardly a
dull one among them, so carefully has
the wheat been winnowcd from the chaff.
Here we must stay our hand. To men
ton all their publications worthy of men
ton would fill our entire issue of to-day,
supplement and all. Let our readers go
to the immense establishment in Franklin
Square and judge for themselves, and
they will see that we have told them about
the hundredth part of what is worth tell.
ing. And if the great mandatory of
books could be transported bodily to
Philadelphia, and the whole of it, with all
its busy workers, exposed to view at once,
the visitors 10 the Centennial would see
no more imposing evidence of cur nation
al progress during the last hundred years,
and no monument of American industry
and enterprise which can be a more legili-
mate subject of national pride.-N. Y.
Eccnilly Nml.
A New Work by j. Il. Wood.
TDPSpASSERS Showing how the Inhabitants