Morning journal and courier., 1880-12-21
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

"A Strong Arm ana a MOCnerS blessing, by Elijah Kellogg, author of 'Elm Island Stories, :" Pheasant Cove Series," Forest l Glen Series. Whispering Pine Series, etc., is book for boys. It is the story of poor boy who started out to make his fortune and by hard work and honesty succeeded. MT. Kellogg makes his narrative very interesting, l and it's moral is excellent Published by Lee
 E Shepard, Boston, and for sale in this city by H. H. Peck.
 ''Stories from the Arabian Nights" edited by Dr. Samuel Eliot recently superintendent of the Boston public schools, comprise ''The Story of the Fisherman ;'' ''The Story of the Three Sisters;'' E'The Story of Prince Ahmed; ;" ''The Story of Aladdin, or the Wonderful Lamp ;'' "The Story of Ali Baba and the Forty Robbers" and 'The Story of Sindbad the Sailor" The book is published in handsome style by Lee & Shepard, Boston, | and is for sale in this city by H. H. Peck. A fine holiday book for children is 'sZigzag 1 Journeys in Classic Lands," by Hezekiah Butterworth, author of ''Zigzag Journeys in Europe" The aim of this volume is to pre- sent in an entertaining manner some of the facts which give interest to ancient Greece and Rome but the reader is kept lounging | in France and Spain some time before he reaches that destination. The book is full of historic incident, woven together with an inn provised narrative, and contains much de- scription and illustration The quality of the paper and press work, well as the handsome binding, adapt it finely for gift. Published by Estes & Lauriat, Boston, and for sale in this city by H.. H. Peck.
 1.-The Silver Medal is the title of a book of stories for young folks by J. T. Trow-
 bridge The stories are all interesting and their tone is good. Published by Lee& Shep- | ard Boston, and for sale in this city by H H. Peck.
 A neat little volume published by Roberts Brothers, Boston, contains two essays read
 by Julia Ward before ''The School of Philos- ophy," held at Concord Mass, last summer. They are entitled Modern Society" and 1 Changes in American Society" and are both bright and readable. For sale in this city by H. H. Peck.
 ''The Head of Medusa," by the author of
 'sKismet" and Mirage" is hardly the equal of either of those works, but it is, neverthe- less, fascinating story. The scene is laid in Rome and Venice, principally in the for mer, and the principal characters are Ameri- can, English and Italian. The heroine, Bar bara, is a girl from South Carolina, who chooses to marry an Italian who makes her unhappy, and then, after it is too late, she | finds out that she loves another man who is worthier of her. A competent critic says :: nIo of PorEo iS vaak | and tender one, rare yet not impossible She was one of those who dared beyond their strength, and hazarded against their judg- ment, and in extremities were of an excellent faith ; their only reward an ardent belief, passionate hope that the sum total of existing good may be greater for all bravely borne an- guish for generous effort, for patience, for self-sacrifice, for all austere devotion to great and unattainable ends. One cannot help wishing that little happiness other than the peace of renunciation had frightened Bar bara's life and relieved the sombreness of the story though aside from it's sad tone there is little to criticise and much to commend. " The descriptions of Roman society, which is severely handled, are excellent, and there is much brightness and wit in the book. Pub lished by Roberts Brothers Boston, and for sale in this city by H. H. Peck.
 eBeaulieu" is very interesting novel, whose chief character is beautiful and spir- tied woman who marries, under the stress of circumstances, man for whom she cares lt- tie, and throws over another for whom she cares much, and by whom she is loved to idolatry As usual in such cases, the mar riage turns out unhappily. She finally leaves her husband under the mistaken idea that he is unfaithful to her, but she does not suffer herself to fall into sin with her lover. The story ends sadly. Published by J. B. Lip pincott E Co.,, Philadelphia and for sale in this city by Judd the bookseller.
 ''Old-Time Child Life," by E. H. Arr, au- thor of that charming book 'sNew England Bygones," tells of New England country life as it was forty or fifty years ago. It describes real people, real villagers and real life, and will delight it's readers. especially those who have forsaken the country for the city. There is nothing artificial in the book from begin ming to end. Published by J. B. Lippincott & Co.,, Philadelphia and for sale in this city by Judd the bookseller:
 | Florida, :" by Oliver Optic, is the fifth volume of 'aThe Great Western Series.' The hero | is western boy, though the scene of his ad- ventures is laid in Florida. The same char acters that have figured in the previous books of the series are introduced. and the boy hero is as piucky and manly as eyer, while the yacht adventures in so interesting re- zion as Florida presents introduce the reader to marvellous tales of shooting aligators, as well as more valuable game, and impress upon his mind the features of natural beauty and the treasures on sea and shore that form the proni- nent features of this part of the sunny South. Published by Lee $ Shepard, Boston, and for sale in this city by O. R. Coan.
 Gems of Genius by Harry ". French,