The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-01-15
I1ERARY.

FAMILIAR TALKs ON ENGLISH lIrEkATUKE.-A
Manual embracing the Great Epochs OF ERE
| fish Literature, from the Conquest OF nv 10 inc
death OF Walter Scott. BY Abby Sage Rcharu
| son. Chicago: Jansen, McClurS " Co.
| The above is the title Of a work OF no ordinary
| importance and interest, now in course oil puoh
cation by the great Chicago book house oil Jan
sen, McClurg IL Co. The work is intended TO De
history Of English Literature from its earliest
beginning to nearly the present time, told IN al
easy and familiar but clear and attractive style
with view especially of interesting young peo
pie who may be repealed by the more stiii and
formal treatises, thus preparing them for the in
telligent appreciation OF the greatest English
writer's, and the enjoyment of their works. In
her introduction the author says:
~ want you TO picture in your Imagination
this stream Of thought like great river, now
ing down through hundreds Of years, bearing In
its bosom so much to fertilze and enrich the age
in which we live, and bearing onward tn the III
ture all that Is noblcst and greatest from our
own time And II you can feel how
interesting to you is the knowledge OF the books
that keep record OF this thought, written In
our English speech from earliest days, and how
important it is for you to know something about
lIt we can begin together, with real interest ana
sympathy, these Talks on English Literature
This extract indicates the strong and almost
loving sympathy Mrs Richardson brings to her
work; and those who have seen the sheets say IL
is view OF English Literature complete, com
prchensive and clear, and well calculated TO sat
isfy those who wish a general knowledge OF this
most interesting subject.
INDICATIONS OF CHARACTER in the Head and
Face By H. s. Drayton, A. VI. illustrated.
N ell Dttp 1Fn
This compact and neatly printed pamphlet
treats in clear and popular style OF an old sub
ject, but discusses it in manner quite different
from what we are accustomed to. 1t takes ply
siognomy out of the realm Of conjecture and
speculation, and gives it scientific character
points us, in fact, to rules and procedures by
which character may be practically diagnosed,
and Trustworthy conclusions obtained in any
given case. One object OF the author appears to
be to show that the craniologists or phrenologists
are by no means alone in the study and dctermi-
nation OF the physical indications OF character,
but that scientists Of prominence In Europe and
America give them the weight Of their authority
and attention As an introduction to the study
OF the physiology Of the mind, II is valuable
treatise and to those who have not the time or
opportunity to pursue the subject in detail it will
be found both interesting and useful To teach
crs and all who have much to do with others,
old or young, it will be especially serviceable.
THE DIAL Gansen, McClurg IL Co., Chicago
$1OO year, The January number, besides a
great deal of valuable Information about current
literature, contains an admirable paper by Mar.
garet +, Sullivan on George Eliot, (Mrs. Lcwcs,
pointing out her leading characteristics as a
woman, thinker and writer, and indicating
her place in English Literature. 1t also contains
a very readable critique by Melville W. Fuller of
Lord BcaconsGeld's novel "Endymon;" and no
doubt the reader will not be surprised 20 find
that the verdict OF the Chicago attorney on the
performance Of the celebrated English statesman
is, that, upon the whole, Earl Beaconsheld
must depend for posthumous fame on something
else than his novels"