Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-17
BOOK NOTES.

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k Sss ro Rs: Charles sr0nsrs Sons Washington
Putnamss Sons Washington: J. j. Chapman.
SOUTH SEA SKETCHES. A Narrative. By Mas.
James R. ossood Co. oS washington: T. B. soSa al
Books OF travel will always be widely read
Those who have never travelled want to read
! them to learn something ofthe scenery topog-
raphy and products Of foreign lands.-some-
| thing Of the character, customs and conditions
OF their people; those who have visited the
countries described are sure to read them to see
! they differ from the Impressions and opinions OF
the author. But when to the ordinary events of
| travel are added the spice Of adventure and the
| record Of grave dangers met and passed. the
story has double interest OF the latter class
| Is the narrative OF Lieutenant Schwatkas late
| arctic explorations. As none of all the expe-
ditions to the desolate sunless regions of the
| pole accomplished more of the direct objects
| they had in view than did this so no record of
their struggles and achievements save, perhaps.
| that OF DR.. Kane, possessed more fascination
| Tor the reader. Although the book before us
is the work Of another hand. its substance has
already largely appeared in the newspapers
letters of Lieut.. Schwatka. 1t is. however,
| none the less desirable on that account. Those
who read the narrative In that form will be glad
to have it In the more carefully prepared and
durable shape in which it now appears, while
those to whom 1t is yet unfamiliar will hail this
opportunity to follow without interruption the
| perilOus experiences Of the gallant little band
The value of the book to the general reader is
increased by map, showing the course of the
| expedition, and a number of illustrations.
II less thrilling than the adventures of Lieut.
schwatka's party, De Amici's account of his
journey through Spain is not less charming nor
less interesting in its way. Of modern tourists
we know no one who has quicker or keener
appreciation Of the characteristics of people and
places. nor more delightful way of telling what
ne sees and hears than this rowing and vivacious
Italian. His book on Morocco might fairly be
calied the literary sensation of the year in which
IL appeared; and although this is less elaborate
and pretentious than that it is marked by many
1.-THE qualities which made the other 80 great a
iaVorlte. 1t contains well executed wood cut
of thirteen of the principle cities of
Spain, the peculiarities of each Of which are
admirably protrayed,-the series of pictures
being connected by very delightful thread dis
criptive OF the incidents and experiences of
travel In that romantic country.
While with her late husband, who than CON-
manded the South Pacific Squadron, Mrs. Dahl
gren enjoyed unusual facilities for STUDYING the
social life and manners of the countries she Wis
tied. OF these opportunities she made good
use, and the results were embodied in q series
OF letters written home at the time. some of
Whlch were printed in the newspapers of the
DAY While others were only read by those to
WhOm they were directly addressed. These
nave now been revised and rearranged for pub
ication In more permanent form. While they
first written the facility of style aud freedom of
expression which originally marked them are
stiii largely retained, and the result s spirited
anu ilfe-1ke picture OF what came under the au-
thors observations in Chilli and Peru.
POEMS REots:,. By Oscar WILDE. Boston: Roberts
SO much has Mr.. Wilde been caricatured and
otherwise held up to ridicule that he is COM
monty thought of as perpetually going into
raptures in limp sort Of way over the twang-
ing OF an antique harp in too esthetic drawing
room or sauntering along
wit, on -..PP1i,eadilly.
In his Medieval hand"
He has his affectations and weaknesses to be
sure, and possibly good many of them; but he
Is, alter all, something more than a mere
spooney, as some of the verses in the volume
above named will bear testimony There are
passages in ave Imperatrix," for example,
Wich no living poet need be ashamed to own.
while others, particularly the lines written
at Genoa In Holy Week." and those on ssThe
Grave of Keats" show the true gift of poesy. Of
very many others again there is of course great
deal less to be said and that little not greatly to
the credit Of the author 1.-THE Grave of Keats
Will be found elsewhere in tO-days paper.
F. b. Mohun - -''''A'''' Washing 'on'
The great popularity of "Betsey and I are
Out" and 'Over the Hill to the Poorhouse' is
sure to command readers for anything else Mr.
Carleton may write in ballad FORM The con-
tents OF the handsomely illustrated volume
Oe!Ore us are III the same vein as those fayOrites
and portions of them are hardly less attractive
Some of the sketches of farm life and rural
character are wonderfully life like. and the
collection makes very attractive book.
Under the general title of 'Appleton's Home
Books" Messrs. D. Appleton are engaged in
publishing series of volumes on some of the
minor subjects that are just now attracting
good deal of deserved attention, and which, We
may add, very well meet the end in view. We
have on our table four of the set. viz: ''Ameni-
ties of Home" Household Hints" by Emma
Nhitc0mb Babcock; "Home Amusements." by
NJ r. W. s.; and Home Decoration" by Janet
but the guise Ofhints, suggestions and illustra
ton. convey, in pleasant way, much useful
Information touching the economies of daly
lite. For sale by F. B. MOhun.
In the ''Cruise of the Ghost" and sSToby
Tyler or Ten Weeks in Circus,' from Har-
per Brothers. through +. B. MOhun, will be
recognized the favOrite stories which have been
running as serials in young People" during
the year, and which the boys and girls in every
uouy IainIy Will Uc klatl 10 get In the SuDStan-
tial and attractive form in which they now ap-
pear.
book of very pretty and very daintily
Illustrated shymes for the nursery is .'The Glad
Year Round" by A. G. Plympton, received from
James r. OsgOod l. Co., through J. D. Free. It
is one Of the most attractive volumes of its
class. of which there have been great numbers
in the past few years.
The bound volume of Harper's "Young
People" received through Mohun. furnishes
enough interesting and useful reading matter to
last family of little folks for a year It will
also make very appropriate and acceptable
holiday present.
In the "Franklin Square Song Collection"
published BY Harper 4 Brothers, and for sale
by F. B. MOhun, one may get the well printed
words and music of two hundred fayorite songs
and hymns at the rate of one-flfth of q cent
each.
A Rough Time at Sea-Telnpess-T0ssed
Canariex.
Among the passengers on the steamer .'HOl-
land. which lately arrived at New York, was a
brd-dealer with 800 canaries in Charge The |