The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-20
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.


BIRDS AND PoETs. By John Burroughs, author
of Wake Robin" &c. Hurd u Houghton,
New York.
American literature-one so peculiarly his own
that it is not invaded by any other writer. Like
the recently imported English sparrow, he has his
field all to himself, though unlike it, not because
be so chooses it, but for the simple reason that be
does his kind Of work better than others His
choice Of srbieats.and me.hod of treatment remind
one little OF Gilbert White of Selborne, Of old
Isaac Walton, or Of the Concord naturalist, Tho
reau and yet he follows in the wake of none OF
these. He finds his studies all out of doors: he is
not naturalist, as was White of Selborne, nor an
angler like Walton, nor a poetic rhapsodist like
Thoreau: but he is all by turns, and nothing,
long" He matches any naturalist in his ardent
love of Nature, and while he does not fail to furn
ish many facts which have come under his own OBJ
servation in regard to birds and their habits, ami
mails and their natural characteristics fora as
we'll as the fauna of the regions of country with
which he is most familiar, he is not the least tech
meal, nor are his books in any respect, Natural
Histories. 1t is not so much to teach as to inter
est and amuse that he let's his reader share his
morning rambles and his evening wanderings-his
outdoor spirit and his lessons drawn from earth
and air. He is thoroughly saturated with that In
stinotive love for Nature which leads him to nves-
tigate her secrets and watch her workings, without
counting the cost, A pelting rain will not drive
him in doors, if he is in search of some fact nor
81, 1 fbor y1,t 70
forest tramp In the present volume we have
breezy, suggestive Essay on Birds as linking them
selves with all our literature. The spirit of the
paper is charming, only we take exception to the
long quotation from Walt Whitman. Touches Of
Nature takes one out among the mowers, and to
the brook side: Our Rural Divinity is the most
original paper in the book, being glOrifcation Of
the Con-. We do not like to see Mr.. Burroughs
turn aside from the path his peculiar bent Of mind
is so fitted to illustrate, to indulge in such literary
criticism as occupies the concluding pages of his
book Let him leave that to others who cannot
write as he can about Nature in all her phases
and moods His business is to foster this beauti-
full and we hope, growing spirit among us. This
book is gotten up in the best style of the Messrs
Hurd & HoughtOn's fine mechanical execution.
PoEus OF PLACEs-ITALY. Three volumes. Edi-
ted by Henry w. Longtellow. Osgood & Go.
These form parts of series of Selections Of
Poems out of all European languages that have re-
ference to place; ard the collection will be-, when
it is finished, most full and perfect one under its
Limitations, that has been made, owing mainly to
the hand that has done the gathering When our
truest American Poet sets himself to such work as
this and shows US what is best among the writings
of the generations of the poets, it behooves US to
LET so cultivated taste be in measure, guide to
us. This series will largely take the place of the
old collections, such as we recall in our childhood;
and will be of much value for libraries of schools,
academies and colleges. In this series on Italy, it
would seem as if that entire sunny CLINE was illus
trated and illuminated by the poets There is
hardly spot enriched with classic or historic or
artistic association, that does not come in for no
tice-so that these volumes become as it we're,
poetic guide-books that embrace everything that is
from Lombardy to Postum. The
range of subject and the wide-apart sources from
which these poems are drawn, give great variety |
and curious charm to this portion Of the Series.
THE LITTLE SANCTUARY, AND OTHER MEDIA
TIoNs. By Alexander Raleigh, D. D.
This is one of those delightful English reprints
with which the press of Randolph & Co., of New
York, is continually enriching religious reading
This is a book somewhat after the style of Arch
deacon Thorold's Presence Of Christ, Zone of the
most valuable of all the reprints of Randolph
though it has not the depth and force Of that book
The title is taken from the first Meditation or Ser
mon for it is evident that these papers we're writ
ten for the pulpit: and very devout, and instruc-
tive, and practical they all in their teachings.
Among the best of them is the one on Doubling,