The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-28
Literary Notes.


been flooding the land, is likely to have break
water erected to check its overwhelming devas-
tations. Our young people especially, need to
have the unsubstantial pabulum afforded by
Halt Hour Series, and Idle Hour Series and
Shilling Series and Select Novel Series-aA OF
them more or less injurious to the moral dlges-
tion-supplemented by something that shall fur
nish stamina for their intellectual nature, If we
do not want the next generation to be one of
moral dyspeptics. We are glad therefore, to see
such books called for as those which owe their
existence to the Challenger" Expedition, and
such as Prof. Wrights Arimal Life and Briart's
Young Naturalist, and Elliott's Wild animals,
and Edwards Butterflies Of North America, and
many others that might name. Before us
lies charming volume of hundred pages,
which ought to interest sensible boy or girl in
fntely more than Jules Verne's monstrosities,
or George MacDonald's Sir Gib6ie, or Thomas
Hardy's Blue Eyes. It's title is-Insect Lives
or, Bor1. in Prison. By Mrs Julia P. Ballard
Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. Price S1O
Externally its appearance is quite captivating,
with its brilliant green-and-gold binding, its
bread, ample pages, its clear, well-leaded text
and its very many, and very creditable illustra
tons. 1t is not written merely to anuse. as
seems to be the uppermost idea now, in prepar-
ing books for the young. Not even a volume
OF exploration or travels can be gotten up now
a-days for readers under eighteen, without its
taking the form of story Simple, straight
forward narration, into which high-spiced ad-
venture or romance does not enter, is like un
disguised bread and-milk to the appetite accus-
II J. L. i
or a Soyer concoct
But Mrs. Ballard makes her bread and milk
of Natural History uncommonly sweet and at
tractive. The questions asked by the Young
Naturalist, are such as give personal interest
to her teaching She does not state general facts
IN dog-natic way she rather takes the Young
student by the hand, and helps him, in the gar
den and field and wood, to hunt up his subjects
OF study, and she then leads him to investigate
for himself She gives her own experience and
relates facts in regard to her own findings"
See how suggestive of pleasure and entertain
ment the captions of some of her chapters are
The Green House NTH Gold Nails, is an account
OF the DanGls Caterpillar, and her description of
the building of this green house" is full of
charm. a Hundred to One, describes the .Ich-
neunons. How Caught a Bear, is "a pretty
account of the alternating yellow bear cater
pillar.
How shall l catch my butterflies ?" Asks
the young Naturalist" With net?" Oh not
with net, if-you care anything for their beau
tyi" and then the boy-hunter is instructed in
the mysteries of trapping such small game
There are some specimens of splendid moths and
butterflies given which no doubt could be over
matched among our Virginia forests and noun
talns. What a vast field of research is before
our students of Nature, in these unexplored val
lies and ridges! 1t is not necessary to 90 to the
country of the Amazons, or to Japan. or to the
Islands of the Pacific for areas of observation
they are in sight of our very eyes Tborean
the Poet-Naturalist of New England, used to
say" What do I want with the great West
with It's Sierras, and its Cordileras, and its un-
measured Prairies, and its 70 Semites? An area
OF four miles around Walden Pond holds more
Tor my investigation than l can accomplish in
life-t time"
We hope this little volume of Mrs. Billiards.
will fall into many young hand, and be the
means Of creating taste among our Young
people, that shall give zest to every mountain
ramble
And now, having said our say in regard to
the deluge of fiction of which we have com
planned, shall we manifest our inconsistency bv
taking up and commencing ]. Moyr Smiths
Tales Of old Hulei-(J. B Lippincott & Co.
price Sl.25) Such volume as this does not
come into the categoryo Of which we have spoken.
1t 10 collection Of the early Norseland Legends
or Fairy Lore, which has significance for ms
Anglo-Saxons, as being part Of the mythology
OF our remotest ancestors. 1t has become the
fashion to study Scandinavian literature of late
years, and some of our leading poets GO tbitber
Tor themes to stimulate their muses. William
MOTIFS has treated many a Morse Legend in his
Edrthty Paradise; Matthew Arnold has fonnd
his inspiration among them; and almost every
modern English Poet has dug in this mine for
hid treasure. 1t is Just as well for us to hear
some Of the old stories Of Thor, as of jupiter
OF Rollo, as Of MerCury,-of Chryseia as of Di
ana. These pretty Morse tales which answer n
the beauty and the Beast stories of later era
are, every one Of them, pointed with decided
moral and while it might startle young nerves
to hear them read with dramatic effect on Soma
wild night we do not think the "delicions
shudder' could do any harm There must he
fairy-lore till the end Of tme-or so lone at
least tlforo orr Mill. q. a.