Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-09

WILD woRK: The Story OF the Red River
Tragedy. By Mary Z Bryan Nsw YORK; y
Appleton Co.

Tragedy. By Mary 4 bryan Nsw York: D.
Appleton & Co.
This volume. written while the scenes
were fresh in the memory of the author,
is. as the title implies, romance OF the
South. 1t appeared originally in the
Sunny South, and is now republished.
The author, without appearing to be
bent upon doing so, makes out strong
case of plagiarism against Tourgee
in his Fools Errsnd" in strong
resemblance of his spirited incident,
Race Against Time" to an equally
thrilling passage in "Wild Work" to
which reviewers have called attention
before. wild Work" is admirably
and, we might say, powerfully written,
and will be read with interest 1t had
been better, perhaps, had the author
centered her powers on theme less open
to criticism. The wisdom of such works
as "a Fools Errand" and "Wid Work"
though they prove remunerative to pub
fishers and authors, may be questioned.
When the bitterness of the memory OF
the sway of carpetbaggery shall have
departed, it may be proper to fouad
romances upon the hardships and enormi-
ties it involved.
SUICIDE By Henry MorseIlI, n D. Interna-
tiona Scientific Series. New York: D. APP
pleton & Co.
This is another of the admirable vol
umes of popular science text books which
are steadily gaining in favor. In a com
pass of about four hundred pages is
gathered all that is worth considering in
connection with this fast growing evil.
1t is at once treatise on the genesis of
suicide, together with a wealth of Stats
tical information that, supplemented
with searching analyses, exhausts the
subject so far as it can be handled with
the data obtainable. The many phases
of suicide are sketched with fidelity and
comprehensiveness The volume is de-
cidedly one of the most interesting of
the series.
FORMATION OF VEGETABLE iAhOUdh
ACTION OF WORMS. WITH OBSERVATIONS N
1HKIR HABITS BY Charles Darwin, LID,
FRS Illustrated. New York: D. Apple
ton & Co.
This volume from the pen of the dis
tinguished author of the Descent of
Man" like all that be has written, chal.
lenges attention and leaves the reader in
structed. Chapters and are devoted
to the "Habits of Worms" chapter 3 to
"The Amount of Fine Earth Brought
10 by Worms to the Surface" chapter
4 to ''The part which Worms have played
in the burial of Ancient Buildings"
chapters 5 and 6 to 1.-THE Action of
Worms in the Denudation of Land;
chapter to Summary and Conclu-
sion" of the whole matter.
A THOUSAND FLASHES OF FRENCH WIT. WISDOM
AND WICKEDNEss BY ]. De Finod. New
York: D. Appleton Co.
Under the above suggestive title are
gathered in the compass of small
volume scintillations of the SUGGESTIONS
of galaxies that have adorned the reigns
of the Bourbons. the Revolution, the
First and Second Empires, the Restora-
ton and the Republic. One cannot peruse
it without having his wits sharpened and
his sensibilities charmed, provoked, and
at times startled, to put it mildly. 1t is
admirably cut up, and one may take 1t
all at a sitting, or Gull choice morsels in
detail 1t is book that can be read and
reread, and in which one finds ever some,
thing new.
TIE STUDENTS DREAM: Anonymous: Jansen,
McCIurg & Co., Publishers, III and l19 State
street, Oh cago.
This clever little volume is an oddly
conceived satire on the rationalistic
spirit of the times. The student, a Ia
Rip Van Wrinkle, goes to sleep in the
Catskills and wakes up after fifty years,
and betakes himself to Indiana, where
he falls in with practical devotee to the
por ularized system of Herbert Spencer
and his followers. The dialogue, which
is cleverly managed. exhibits the absurd
ity of latter day metaphysics, and
shows what a fool man can become
when he leaves the sphere of the re-
vealed and the movable in the vain
pursuit of the upfathomable.
A WORLD OF WONDERS New York: D. Apple
ton & Co.
This is a splendid gift b ok, rendered
attractive by a wealth of illustration and
easiness of description. 1t treats Of the
wonders of the marine aud vegetable
world, much that is curious in the rep
tile and insect world, marvels of bird
aud beast life" and the wondrous forces
of nature. A casual glance will satisfy
the reader that vOlun es of its class are
excellent substitutes for the regulation
holiday mementO.
"CAT's CRADLE" Rhymes and Pictures for
Children By Edward Wllet illustrated
by Charles Kendrick New York: Il Worth
ington.
One Of the best childrens books in
colOrs OF this year. The rhymes are
new and just what children appreciate,
simple and direct, and on children sub
jects; and the pictures illustrate the
rhymes in a way which will certainly
take the eyes of the youngsters about
Christmas time. Il is what may be call
ed real child's book.
COFFEE: from Plan alton to Cup. By Francis
b. Thu Der, New York. American Grocer
Publishing Association.
Perhaps none are better fitted than
the author for the work the above title
suggests. The experience of two de-
cades in the trade, and tour of the
world, with a sight of coffee in all its
phases and forms. qualified him for the
task he has so well performed. Every
dealer should have it and every votary
of the fragrant cup will peruse it with
profit.
THG BLOODY CHAsM: Novel. By ]. W. De
Forest New York: D. Appleton Co.
This is Southern novel of decided
merit, entertaining from beginning to
end. Its sketches of character are faith
full, and there is touch of real art per-
vading them all that lends an added
charm. II Processes to portray phases