The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-16
Literary Notes.
New Books for Young People.

Sun, it will not be the fault of the manv books
that have been written for their enlightenment
Before us is the very latest-a large handsome
ly bound and printed square volume of nearly
400 pages, prepared specially for young read ,rs
but crammed with such details of information
as may interest and instruct grown people as
well. 1t is from the press of Messrs. Lee C Shep-
ard al Franklin street. Boston SOY and is
really quite superb in its appointments, from
the strange looking Japanese paper cover, the
hy-leaves sprinkled all over with tiny pictures
setting forth the trades of Japan, the 10 full
page illustrations that bring the whole life of
this singular people before the eye, the fine large
type, the skillfully woven narrative that gives
just the sort of information we want and the
originality and unique novelty of the whole
book. How anything so generous and hand
some can be sold for $3.50 is a mystery that lies
between the author and his publishers The
title of the work is Young americans in Japan,
and the author is Edward Greey who was with
the first expedition that went to the isolated
Empire twenty years ago. and who has
resided there so much since, that he has grown
as familiar with the country as if he had been
born there. No one could be better furnished
for giving us the best sort of book on Japan.
He modestly addresses himself to an audience Of
young folks, and they will be hypercritical if
they are not as much delighted with his efforts
to please them as their elders are with Miss
Birds Unbedten Tracks. He carries them all
through the islands and shows them everything.
The illustrations are in excellent style of wood
cut and all new, being specially designed
NJ L. VI ~
will be any thing attractive as this volume,
offered to young readers this season, and we can
only wish any number of them the happiness of
becoming possessed of it.
Thorncl6e Hail. By DR.. Daniel Wise ISL O0>
is good story that needs to be read by such
boys as have a mortal fear of being considered
goody- goody." 1t works facts out to their
proper conclusion, and shows that the boy who
is afraid to tell lie, or do mean action, or re-
sst rightful authority is not one of the "goody.
goody" sort-as the slang word is contemptu-
ously ussd-is not milk sop"-but has the
true pluck, the sure sort of courage, the brave
manliness, that must compel the respect even of
those who shirk his principles. The hero of the
story has many hard knocks before he gets the
cowardice of evil-doing beaten out of him. lice
&c Shepard.)
These same publishers bring out the Ol.uer
Optic Series and the latest of these is called Up
the RiOer. Why it should have this title, hard
ly appears: the story processes to describe
yacht-voyage on the Mississippi, and yet three
fourths of it is told before the great river is
reached at ALL The voyagers set sail from Jack
sonville, Florida. in two yachts, and as there is
story of robbery, run a. way, detective
chase, criminal trial, and crevasse, before
the voyage up the Mississippi begins, there is
not much space left for any full account of the
sail up the river" But opportunity is taken
to describe many points of interest-Baton
Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg, Balize, and other
places-the party going as far North as Mackl-
nav. The gist of the book lies in chase after
the robbers who stole certain 1000 in the
first chapter, and are never come up with till
near the close of the volume. The story is well
enough told; but it is rather an obiectess one
1t is full of sea faring terms and directions about
the management of a vessel, which will please
all boy readers who have sailor propensities. 1t
is not written with purpose" as 7Aornclife
Hall is; nor is it for juveniles exactly; but its
movement is rapid and sprightly, and it abounds
in animated conversations. price $1.5O.)
-Four Footed Lovers. By Frank ALbertSon
price $D is brightly bound square volume
that will be sure to charm all youngsters who
are addicted to pets. BoSsy and B,snny-.Sq1tir.
refs MischieEBunn's Adventures, and Sqafir
refs Wooing will read like fairy stories, and
little eyes will laugh and cry by turns over
them. The text is singularly large and clear
just the thing for readers who are not SO perfect
but that they stumble little now and then.
Miss Humphreys many illustrations are in her
usually graceful style. We like books of this
sort better than the mere story book, for it has
much to say about the ways of furry pets, though
for that matter, there is story enough too. The
little people cannot help wanting such pretty
innocent tales and will not be apt to grow tired
of them
The Young Folks Robinson Cr1tsoe price
$l.25) was written fifty years ago, by Mrs. Far
rar, wife of Professor Farrar Of Harvard, and so
popular has it been, that new edition is called
for. Mrs. Farrar thought that De Foes Robin
son Cr1Soe contained many things not suitable
for the young so she weeded it of all profanity
and vulgarity and introduced such religious
sentiments as might make it book of morals as
well as adventure. Of late the old Classics are
being treated in some such manner. Our South
ern writer, Sidney Laner, whose untimely
death, we are lust now lamentinp has done this