The New York herald., 1878-09-30
LITER RATURE.
POETRY AND PROSE.


Messrs. Houghton, Osgood & Co have not d!sap-
pointed the public in their long promised volume OF
"Bri,ish Poetry" edited by James 7. Fields aud
Edwin p Whipple. The book is ali that was expected
OF IT, and in many particulars Is the best selection OF
British poetry have 1t embraccs wide
range Of verse; from Chaucer 10 Swlnburnc, aud the
selections most Instances exceedingly happy.
The editors have been careful to exclude every
thing which might be read with profit as well as
delight by the firesds for the volume is intended as
"iamiiy library OF British poetfy" Tho chroro-
logical arrangement has been adopted, because that
arrangement best enables tho reader 10 survey Eng
ish poetry In connection with English history and
that he may study the poetic expression OF passion
IN the different periods. "a lovor OF the age
Of Chaucer, Of Sponsor, OF Shakespeare, oil
Carew, Of Dryden. OF Pope, OF Thompson," 10
quote from the preface, 'cxprosses what hc
calls his 'aame' very different way from the lover
who, IN the nineteenth century. told the story of
Genevieve' or celebrated sThe Phantom OF DclIght,'
drew the character OF Haidec, or made curiousiy
intellectual generation thrill TO tho description Of
such simple maiden as Maud. AS to the other pas
sions, such as hatred f6vepge, envy, malgnity,
bition avarce and the rest, though true to their
original roots IN human nature, they still alter their
expression, as they alter their objects, with the gen.
eral spirit predominating in any particular age. "
Tho this volume consider that from Cnau-
to Wordsworth have in English literature but
1vs great original poets-namely, Chaucsr Spenser,
Shakespeare, Milton aud Wordsworth. They have
quoted over tour hundred poets "writing under
various conditions of birth, individuality, genius and
external circumstances who have recorded their ex
loitest flights of impassioned imagination TO
tho quaint play OF wit and fancy
OF trivial themes feel assured
that the readers OF this book will acknowledge tho
comprchenslvcness OF It's plan and had poems
swering every transient we'll every perma-
ncnt mood oil their minds" The editors have takon
great pains TO reach the authentic OF
poems selected There Is nothing that gets 50 dis.
torted IN passing down from generation TO generation
as poetry II s SAID, Tor example, that ''rhe Burial
Of Sir John Moore has been correctly printed
in the United States except Chcevers small
OF selections published nearly half century ago.
''Auid Robin Gray" was altered hrst Dy the au.
thoross and aterward by collectors OF songs,
that even Pagravs seemed TO have been
ignorant OF 1t IA originally written. There
are two versions OF Burns "Bannockburn," the
poorer or which is the best known The selections
from Robert Browning are such as the general public
Will ike 10 read and include mis- inimtable "Pied
Piper OF Hams!in" and soul-stirring "Marching
Along" There Is only one selection from William
Morris, and that not in his best Something from
the Earthly Paradise" would havs been moro char.
acteristc. Swinburns is quoted with eye to the
proprieties and SO is William Blake. The loot
by the editors which appear scattered through the
volume are pungent and often amusing. The family
library has had more valuable addition In years
than this volume OF "Brit,sh Poetry"
THE LITTLE GOOD FOR NOTHING.
Alphonse Daudet's "Lttle sed for Nothing" Ia the
latest addition to Estes Lauriat's Cobweb Series Of
IA ho ttutap nf n.u
published in this series The Little Good for Nothing
is such weakng that little his joys or
woea The style which the book is written Is un-
pleasant and tiresomc. Tho hero 10 supposed to be
telling his own story, but he writes, for example,
'The Little Good for Nothing seated In the chimney
corner. He much excited and talks RAPIDLY"
&C. The lite oi the Littie Good Tor Nothing does
absorb the reader until no goes TO Paris
to live with his brother They have
room IN the Latin Quarter. The brother
secretary to marquis the Good for Nothing writes
poetry which Is published at his brothers. expense
The daughter OF china dealer falls in love with the
poet, and he Is fascinated by coquetto who lives
the same house with him. She makes him run away
with her, and the act in n suburban theatre
From this miserable life he is rescued by his brother
Jacques, who dies alter tho good work.
The Little Good for Nothing the china Dealers
daughter and becomes bs partner in trade whie Tho
large edition OF his poem IL used 10 pack away y
cargo OF egg cups Tor Madagascar.
s'Appleton's Handy voiume Series," No. IS, now
out, contains two short stories from the German OF
Rudolph L,ndau, the popular novelist. The first. en-
titled 'Liquldated," Is q powerful and fascinating
sketch which might easily have been spun out
regulation size novel. The scene Is aid the iItle
known territory OF China, in the days OF the Chang
rebellion eighteen years ago, and the principal
characters are two adventurous young Englishmen
aud pretty American girl, with whom both friends
fall IN love. Nothing moro noble DO conceived
than thg self spirit Of each when dscov
the others affections. The bitter cyni-
cal ending of tho story however, leaves the average
reader In doubt whethef he upon the whole pleased
angry with tho author. .'Tho Seer" the other
sketch is called rs Of weird character and develops
life Of endowed with the real or fancied power
OF gazing upon human faces and seeing thsm not
they exist, but thoy be tho dccoass OF the
subjccL Like tale OF ''Gordon Baldwin" already
published by the same firm in another series, tho
present volume has been translated by the authors
brother, Mr. Leopold Lindau, librarian OF the Ameri
Can Geographical Society IN this city. Thoroughly
acquainted with the method aud style of the German
novelist, and a master OF English dicon, he has pro-
served In the translation all tho tcrsencss and vigor
Of the original and has rendered the dialogue into
really idiomatic and coIloquial English.
THE METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL.
We have received from the Hydrographic Bureau
at Washington a motooro ogcal Journal which Is In
tended solely for captains, with "A view Of COL
ecting data that will be OF paramount value In solv