New-York tribune., 1878-12-03


tions and well executed pictorial Illustrations variety
OF interesting historical and personal sketches enVen
the narrative presenting rich store OF instruction DIS
well as entertainment The volume is brought out Win
great typographical beauty, and forms highly orna-
mental glft-book for the holidays
A new illustrated edition of Mother Gooses
Melodies is issued by Houghton, osgood * Company
which will delight little folks in the nursery as much
as Thanks wing turkey Christmas pie The text Is
from an old COPY OF the original discovered several years
since in the library Of the Worcester Antiquarian society,"
which was after reprinted as literary CURIOSITY
with notes and sketch OF the memorable matroh W
whom the authorship OF the work Is ascrlDed' Inc
happy juvenile who receives copy of this volume as
holiday gift will be sure that he has tue nanusomes'
edition in the market. .
Mother PldU and Nursery Songs, with Notes
to Mothers by Friedrich Froebel dec shepard), Is
now issued the first time IN this country, under the
auspices OF the distinguished friend OF children MISS
Elizabeth Peabody Of Boston. The purpose OF the
work is higher than that Of amusement aiming at
true insight into the nature and tendencies OF the
child by observing his unconscious play which suggests
the laws of order that govern his natural instincts NOT
is it intended complete system Of education, or
manual early lessons for children, so much as moral
whole pervaded by a fundamental idea. arouslng the
dormant inclination to good, and exciting the worest
ton OF mothers by its apt and original suggestions, nor
an its scope be easily cOmprehended prior to personal
examination. large proportion OF the contents Is maze
I'D OF songs which have gracefully translated by
Miss Fanny Dwight.
A Practical Treatise on China Painting IN
Ameriea by Camille PitOn John Wiley Sons), Is
brief with simple, practical directions for the
different processes OF painting, accompanied
with numerous and excellent pictorial Illustrations,
Hon TO Read, by Ameie V. Petit Is. r.
Wells Col contains series OF hints IN regard to the
choice of books with q list OF works in the principal
branches Of literature. The volume Ia agreeably writ
ten botraying enthusiastic love of literature, am
lar acquaintance with books, though perhaps not the
soundest Judgment In all with regard to their
relative merits, Of which the author appears to be not
unconscious, in quoting the important criticisms
from previous authorities instead OF relying on her
own She divides the great authors OF the world
into five classes, placing only Shakespeare,
Homer, and Plato In the first class; the
second class includes Dante. Milton Virgil SOphoces,
Euripdes, Horace, Goethe, Racine, Chaucer TassO.
spenser, Dryden, Schiller, and Wordsworth, poets;
while Victor Hugo, Robert Browning, Mrs. Browning
Coleridge Thompson (ie) and Whittier (sie. Popo and
Young placed in the fifth rank. In the fifth class OF
ossayists find the names OF Do Quincy, Ruskn,
Taine, Montaigue lD, Lamb; Emerson Is fourth rate
essaylst; is Herbert Spencer is Stuart Mil Tyn
dali, Huxley, and Darwin are fourth rate scientific
writers; Burns. Tennyson, Longfellow. fourth rate
poets; Dickens and Scott fourth class nOvelss;
Bunyan, Hawthorne, George Sand, and Charlotte
BrontG all fifth Glass; while Bayard Taylor, r. II
stoddard, Julia Ward Howe, Dinah Muock, Professor
James G. Dana, Professor Lye. Auerbach, TurgenleR,
MgernOn swinburue, r. A Proctor, Nelson sizcr, and
DR.. Trail consigned TO promiscuOus limbo OF
pleasing and instructive writer's" with attempt
discrimination. Lowell stedman, aud T. B Aldrich
ha At Of rppo ed IN
readers may be consulted 70 advantage.
On the Right Use of Books (ROberts Brothers)
i the title Of lecture by Professor William Atkinson.
full OF good sense sound taste. and quiet humor The
ist OF the volume is put In few words toward the end
in which the author remarks that II Is the thing
the world to time books, which arc merely
tools Of knowledge like any other tools. II Is
and no less difficult TO be great scholar great writer
than II IA 10 be great merchant great captain To
write good book requires the Investment Of time
and thought 10 build bridge navigate a vessel.
The majority OF books not miraculous perform
ances, but the product OF brain and work. II
is the same with the reading OF books with
the making, matter OF time and patient
labor. IL Ia not so important what we read
and how read It, "a what We think and
how We think IT. The mind that is not awake and
alive will find a library only a barren wilderness.
Studied n the right spirit the value of good books those
ships thought voyaging through the OF time with
precious freight from 10 age scarcely be rated
too highly. Here are the finest minds giving us tho
best wisdom OF present and all past ages here In
teects gifted far beyond ours, ready 10 give the
suits OF hfctlmes OF patient thought imaginatOns
open the beauty OF the universe far beyond what
given TO behold; characters whom only yainy
hope TO initiate but whom is OF tue highest prv
lcRes TO know" These last sentences supply, In
degree, what must be deemed want in Mr. AtkinsOn's
conception Of the value Of book, which he often places
IN its power vehicle OF facts. But IL Is the function
OF good book only TO fuctify, but 60 inspire, not
only to I'll tho memory with evanescent treasures, but
TO enrich the Imagination with forms Of beauty and
goodness which leave lasting impression the char
acier.
The fifth llvraisOn of Racinet's lie Costume
HistOriue is issued by Frmn Ddot Co., in Paris
]. W. BOutOn In NewYOrk containing notices of the
costumes OF the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
in France and other European nations OF different
countries in Asia and Africa and OF the ancient Romans
The principal interest OF the work is in its excellent
ored Autographs but little valuable Antiquarian
historical and chronological information is presented in
the letterpress descriptions.
The Portfolio for November (J. w. Bouton),
continues the Interesting serials OF Etchngs From Con-
temporary Artists" Notes Edinburgh" "Modern
Art in Germany" and Turner" The illustrations com
prise "Etchngs of ST. George" by i. ]. Gregory "Ad
NOcates ClOsc, Ny W. f' bochihr EcceHno III IflsOn,
by X L. Lessing, and "Duddlngson, Edinburgh,
by Hector Chalmers Mr.. Hamerton quotes the crt-
csm OF ian intelligent and accomplished American
artist" Turner'S 5ave Ship, as "nteresting for its
frankness:" Turner's Slave Snip is tho most Internal
piece OF caD-trap painted There ia nothing IT,
1t has much 10 do with human affections thought
as ghost 1t is not fine bouquet of color. The
color s harsh dsagreeabe, and discOrdant" OF this
charming efIsion, Mr.. Hamerton remarks, that its
severity is partly due reaction against Mr. Ruskn's
eloquent praises. The warm controversy In Boston
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