The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-18
SOME NEW BOOKS.

RopMAN, THE KEEPER: Southern Sketches.
By Constance FaDimora 1ilSon. New
York. d. Appleton a. Do. 1880 New Or
leans: Geo. Ellis II Brother. 81 Camp
street. 81 %.
In this volume, Miss Woolson has collected
the sketches OF Southern life which have ap-
psared over her name 10 the Atlantic, Scrib-
uer's, Apptefon's journal and the Gdtafy
during the past five or six years. They are
the result OF actual experience among the
people to whom they relate, and. as the
author says, "they record real Impressions"
While Miss Wooson ls full OF the cultured
prejudice of New England, she nevertheless
gives what are without doubt truthful pic
lures OF Southern life aud Southern opiDi ms.
In those sketches which are uuasl-politicai In
their nature dealing with the RESULTS OF the
war and soei II relations during the recon-
structlon period, the author shows o rare In
sight into the feelings of the men and women
of the South. Such sketches "a Rodnat 4
the Keeper: Old Gdrdiston, IN the Obtton
Country. and Kmg Dduid exhibit keen
poll ical discernment Combined with rare
and delicate sympathy which should earn for
where. but especially here in the South, where
raacor. prejudice and suite have caused 30
much bitterness and suffering.
The last named sketch, King Dduid is, In
just now creating such a sensation at the
North, A F5Ots Errdnd. David King goes
South after the war to take charge Of a col
ored school In little negro settlement re-
joictng In the name OF Jubilee town. The
oarelessness and improvdence OF the negro
character Is drawn with consumate skill.
How at first the Ignorant blacks. attracted by
the novelty OF the thing, were willing to learn.
How the labors OF the honest schoolmaster
promised to bring forth good fruit, and how
md. trcf frvrnt i'm INN
to be made. But one day there came among
them lone Of that class which has gone down
on the page of American history, knlghted
with the Initials @. b. The captain, the me-
groes called him; and he was highly popular
already, three hours OF the captain being
worth three weeks Of David, so far as famili-
arity went" The individual is familiar
enough Ito us here In Louisiana. No epaee
need be wasted on description OF him. The
good work OF the schoolmaster was rapidly
undone He remained for some time longer
In Jubilee: but the negroes, under the lead OF
the Captain. went on from bad to worse, until
David, becoming dlsheartened and doubtful
OF his fitness for, the work In which he was
engaged. gave up the school and returned to
hs New Hampshire home
In the Blue Ridge is, perhaps, the most
flushed of the berries. 1t also deals with q
product of the late unpleasantuess-the Moon
tains. The slight thread Of romance which
runs through 1t lends IL an additional In
terest.
The scenes OF the remainder OF these charm
ing sketches are laid In that dreamy, peace
full section OF the country comprising North
eastern Georgia and Florida. Sister 81. Luke,
Bro. Fetipa, Mss Elisabeth and The South
Devil, are full of the soft blue OF the sky, the
scarlet swamp-blossoms, and the green and
gold Of the orange grove. OF these the sem
yet half-sad picture OF the contentment pro-
duced by convent life; one expects momen-
tarily a romantic denouement; yet the ro-
nance falls to develop, and at the end one Is
glad OF the disappointment.
There are few books recently published
that will give more pleasure In the reading
than this.
A STROKE OF DIPLOMACY. From the French
of Victor Cherbuliez New York: ID. Ap-
pleton & %. Handy Volume Series). New
Orleans: George Ellis Il Brother, No. so
Camp street. Paper, 80 cents.
A racy, piquant novelette,. possessing con-
siderable originality OF plot. The character
of the odd and ptquant old Marquis. who SO
cleverly rescues his neuhew from disas-
trous marriage, is admirable drawn. The In
trigung young widow and the managing
mamma was also skillfully painted.
The mock seriousness with which the anti
quarian researches Of the young love-lorn
Egyptologist are introduced Is very enjoy
able.
One watches with regret the railway car
riage bearing the uncle and nephew away
from Lausanne, or their return to Paris.
Two hours have been pleasantly spent In
their company, without perplexing surmises
about the denouement. The story Is so charm
ingly told that one does not desire to hasten
the end. The translation is excellent. The
lightness and spirit OF the original are very
we'll rendered.
The RETURN OF THE PRINCESS. By Jacques
Vincent. New York: ID. Appleton IL Co.
(Handy Volume Series.) New Orleans:
Geo. Ellis Il Bro, 50 Camp street. Price,
20 cents.
An excellent story of modern Egyptian life.
The Princess Is the daughter OF a prominent
official OF the Khedives government. She
had been sent to France when q child, and
had there received modern European edu-
cation. At the date of the opening OF the
story, which is told entirely by herself In
series of letters, she has been sent for by her
father and returns to Cairo. The contrast
between her strange, new existence at the
Egyptian capital aud her former life ln Paris
Is charmingly recounted In her letters.
marriage Is arranged between the
Princess aud certain Mohammed Pasha,
OF great influence at the court to which she
accedes. But In the meanwhile she falls In
love with another: The denouement i5 some
what unusual, and Is led up to very ceverly.
incidentally, the book gives, In q pleasant
way, correct account of the position of
women in the East This seems to have
been, at bottom, the motive for It's writing,
BOOKS RECEIVED.
We have received the following new books
T ;at, 1ot~