The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-29
LITERATURE.


man: His Elevation to the Presidency; Hi
Dastardly Assassination. BY John Clark Rid
path, LID. Published by Jones Brothers y
Co., Cincinnati, Chicago, Philadelphia, Kan
sas City.
Next to Abraham Lincoln. the life, public ser
vices and tragic death OF Garfield furnish rec
ord OF more interest than any chapter OF cores
ponding length in American history. Under
treatment OF mastery pen, it expands to mar
rative in which the career OF the student, Tho
scholar, the philosopher, the soldier, the statas
man and the executive, form panorama OF the
most instructive word pictures known TO our lit
erature--a narrativ that will command the study
and admiration OF the world for evermore.
The author OF the work hereby announced ID
one OF the most eminent OF living historians; q
ripe scholar, thorough Investigator, and charm
ing writer His histories are known and priced
wherever English is the prevailing tongue. He
approaches this biography with more eloquent
pen than any heretofore used by him, because
the subject is an inspiration to eloquence, to
truth to reverence, to all that is admirable in
humanity A nobler IT, enc for the modern writer
can not be found.
1t is indeed fortunate for the community that
an author 80 well endowed with every qualitca.
ton for the work has engaged In its preparation
His name is guarantee Of faithful performance
His Garfield is that which occupies the inmost
sanctuary OF the American heart and appeals to
its tenderest sympathies that teaches the bravest
lessons to our youth and the noblest to our man.
hood; that rradiates from our national glory a
brighter halo than ever illumcs the memories of
kings and potentates, or makes illustrious the
conquerors Of States.
There are other works which pretend TO re-
count the same history. Most Of them are re-
vamped from cheap biographies which were
made to influence the Presidential Campaign Of
$780, and are not of permanent value. Others
are still more valucless, having been hastily com
piled from articles in the newspapers and maya
zines, withoutrcgard to proper yerilcation or ar
rangemcnt. Dr. Ridpath's book is thoroughly
authentic. It's facts are derived from undoubted
authority and, as rule, from original sources
OF information. II should, and doubtless will
suppant most of the trashy publications which
have made Garfield their subject in PROCLAMATION
OF his fame and for merchandise of his memory
THE GREAT VIoLiNIsTs AND PIANIsTs. BY George
T. Ferris. ID. Appleton ~ Co, New York :;
Jansen, McClurg & Co., Chicago; Osman IL
Hapeman, Ottawa. 40 cts.
There have OF late appeared IN the magazines
and in book form a number and some very
acknowledgements sketches Of the great sculp.
tors, painters and composers, but none that we
can recall OF the great violnsts and pianists yet
there is no art that can claim q higher and d.
yiner inspiration Of true genius than that which
endued the great masters OF the bow and ivory
keys. The omission is in part supplied by the
pleasant volume before us. Being intended
mainly for popular use, there Is no attempt to
cover the immense field Of executive music by
including all who have won fame in that domain,
but cnly a few are selected, who are universally
recognized as occupying the most exalted places
in the art OF violin and pianoforte playing, who
stand as landmarks In the history Of music. The
list embraces, OF the great violinists, Viotti,
Spohr, Paganini, De Bcriot and Ole Bull; aud of
the great pianists, Clement, Moscheles, the
Schumanns, Chopin, Thaberg, Gottschaik and
List Most Of these rose from the lower ranks and
the story OF their labors, trials aud struggles I'M
I'll they attained the giddy height of fortune and
fame reads in many cases like exaggerated 70.
mance.-The volume appears in the attractive
clear, beautiful print, and contains 32s pages
LOUKIs LARAs. "reminiscences of Chiotc Mcr-
chant During the Greek War of Independence
BY d, Bikelas. New York: ID. Appleton Il Co.
Chicago: Jansen, McClurg Il Co. Ottawa:
Osman " Hapeman. 30cents.
Another OF the convenient and handsome
"Handy Volume Series The story is written
by modern Greek, and 1t sounds strange to find
his translator commencing as something re-
markable simply creditable literary production
by descendant OF a race, who, as well in litera-
ture in science and all the higher arts in their
day stood peerless among the nations and in all
left models which the ages have recognized as
standards that may be equaled but never excelled
Yet the story before US in its simplicity and purity
ofstyle, is mean reminder OF the classic models
0. his illustrious ancestors. and though written
as novel, reads so much like a true history as
TO Afford proof that 1t is more actual record Of
personal experiences than OF imaginary occur
rences
Periodicals.