The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-26
LITERATURE.


CONFERENCES held in connection with the Special Loan
Collection Of Scientific Apparatus, 1879, at South
Kensnston Museum. New York. Scribner, Wellord
Armstrong
The volume Of science conferences before us,
told, originated in a suggestion from the Right Hon.
Viscount Sandon, M. r., Vice President Of the Com
mtce OF Council on Education, London, to tho pres.
dents OF the various learned societies, In which His
Lordshp stated that tho utility of the approaching
loan collection Of scientific apparatus would be much
enhanced II arrangements made for explaining
and demonstrating the method OF using the various
struments as well as for reading papers on ana dis
cussng scientific subjects The conferences were
begun on the 10th OF Nay, 1870. and continued
throughout the month. In this collection was
gathered together from all parts of tho world, tho
most remarkable instruments ever socn inside o. ono
building, the most of which arc explained In this
volume and by the famous scientists or tho day.
To that man or woman who aims keep posted In tho
advancemcnts of science this volume will be rare
fund OF interesting data.
The GREAT March AND OTHER MATCHES. Boston:
Roberts Bros
The next volume in the No Name series will bo
'The Great Match and Other Matches, by whom we
can only guess. The authors name will probably be.
come an open secret before the work has been pub
lisned long All the other books in the series have
been attributed TO their righu authors and there Is
no reason that this should not be- 'srhe Great Match
is story Of lito In New England village and might
almost BIO called book for boys, although girls Will
ind it highly entertaining Tho scene opens with n
tete in honor OF well Baseball match. One OF
tho heroes arrives from Europe just in time to attend
the festivities He (Erncs. Grandhurs) is u blase
young man Of twenty-six, who has spent ton years
abroad and finds himself Intensely bored by America
and Amercanisms Another hero, Nod Hack the
captain OF the baseball nine is intended to be a manly
good fellow but inclined to doubt both his
muniness and goodness when he weakens IN his aFec.
tion for Rose Snevel, beautiful lovely GIRL to whom
no Is engaged be married, because he happened to
see her tho for liquor once II tho father
had been Eccles one night pardon the repugnance
TO him, not to tho girl, but he was a fine
old gentleman except for this failing The
first heroine. Molly Milton, is jolly, wholcsouled
girl, ashamed to catch ball or her handker-
Chief to the victorious nnc Black who starts out as
u manly, good fellow, is ruined by too much baseball
and proves that while he had manly he was
a white sepulchrc. Dick Softly, who begins as fool
develops into nno man. He must have gone through
u patient training process, however, Tor from being
puny fellow with muscles at all he developed In tho
course of a few weeks into the most muscular man in
tho village could whip tho biggest lighters and catch
ground ball that would have knocked him cooked
hat only short before Tho interest OF the book
contres in tho last game played between tho Mill
towners and the Downtowners in which the latter won
the victory after much trbuation. This rather anus
ing incident In the tory:-Thc town
was all agog with tho excitement OF tho
match, and just before II was played friend called
upon Mr.. Milton and told him that Ned Black had sold
tho gamo and was rascal generally. This the pres
enco OF Miss Milton. who was supposed to be very
much In love with the sturdy basebaIst Miss Milton
listened to tho tale of her possible lovers shame
.swhie the color and went rapidly upon her DIS
tressed iacc:' but enthusiasm In the game got tho
better of tenderness and she jumped TO her feet
claiming "Dick shall be put In as pchcr!' There Is
a girl who did not neglect business for plcasurc Wo
arc inclined 10 think that she had money game
This is tho OF the No Name series 1t reads
like tho work Of beginner and wants finish and
interest
TRoUBADoURs AND TROUvEREs
Those who have read Miss Harriet W. Preston's adj.
mrablc translation of 'Mireio" will need no other
recommendation OF her latest work the field of
Provenca poetry. Those who have not read "Mreio''
will certainly do alter finishing "Troubadours and
Trouvercs, at least il they IT with half the
enjoyment which It's perusal has gwen tho reviewer
The opening chapter in the latter work to
criticism and partial translation OF Frederic Misras
s.Calcndan," poem which followed .Mireio," after
interval OF about nlnc years. ana won reception
second only to that which accorded his earlier
production. This is followed by Interesting article
on Theodore Aubanel-the lieutenant of that little band
of Provencai poets OF which Mstral Is the acknowl
edged chief But perhaps the most enjoyable chapters
OF the book those containing critical and bio
graphical sketch OF Jacques Jasmn, the celebrated
poet barber of tho Agen In Gascony, whose 'Souvenrs
and "Franconctte illustrated by copious trans
laons. Tho latter portion OF tho work is devoted to
discussion OF the famous old troubadours, many of
whose quaint and beautiful songs have been translated
and added to the sketches OF their lie and exploits
and tho book brought to 1tng close by address
on tho Arthuriad, Arhuran legends, showing tho
source from which Tcnnyson has drawn the material
for his "ldyls" Miss Preston has shown pootcal
feeling and ability In rendering the songs OF the trou
badours poems Of the Provencals English verse;
FRIEND FRITZ, a tale of the Banks of the Sautcr
translated from the French OF Erckman- Chairman
Scrbncr, Armstrong Co.
This volume Is which has como In somewhat
rapid succession from the Scribners II one Is 10
judge Of the value of tho story by its appearance rs
judges sometimes of by his dress, he will
be impressed by tho good opinion In which the pub
fishers hold the author. They have given us well
bound, neatly printed, and very attractive book The
narrative in which tho reader becomes Interested from
the very start. differs In many particulars from tho
American novel. Its word painting IL excellent, Its
plot Ia simple. and its political hits are sometimes