Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-25
RECENT LITERATURE.

RECENT LITERATURE.
cYCLopEDrA OF PoErRY-rIGERs AND
TRAIToRs-occI SKETCHES.
The Amszon-Emerson- Maya
zines-The Navy.
H.sPERs C5cLorEDr. OF BRrrrsn AND AMERICAN
Harper & Brothers San Francisco: A l.. Ban
croft l. Co. One large royal Svo; PIP. 95s. 81 Sc.
This is superb volume, and credit to the
publishers fof exceeding beauty and finish.
The concluding pages of this volume were put
in type only few DAYS before the genial and
cultured editor passed away from the scene
of his lahors 1t was the browning work of a
life devoted to literature. Projected several
wears ago, it engrossed MIR. Sargent's
thoughts and time almost to the very last
dav of his life, and every page passed under
his careful supervision. Although he did not
live to see it published, he had the pleasure
of putting the final touches to it, and of
knowing that his work was finished. Mr..
Sargent was eminently fitted for the prepare.
ton of work of this kind. Few men pos
sessed wider or more profound knowledge
of English literature, and his judgment was
clear, acute and discriminating. He designed
this volume especially for household use and
he could have desired no kindlier remem-
brance than that associated with the inno-
| cent pleasure and refining influence it
will carry to many domestic Preside.
The title Of the work quite fully explains
| it, but we may add, IN the words of Sargent ::
"There are many minor poets who, by some
| felicity of subject or of treatment, have pro.
duced one successful piece, but never repeated
the achievement. Like the boy who shot an
arrow through ring, but would not make a
second trial lest he should fail they have been
constrained to rest their fame on the one lit
tie wait by which they have been made
known. This class, and such anonymous
writers as have produced pieces that the
world does not allow to become obsolete, are
! largely represented in the present volume /;
and our Index of First Lines will be found
a convenient concordance for the discovery of
many a poem which everybody remembers,
| but few know where to find. In the intro.
ductory notices of poets, in reference to the
most distinguished, the aim has been to con-
dense, or sum up briefly, the most interesting
incidents of their lives, and the choicest char
acteristics of their writings"
| STORIES OF rHs SEA TOLD BY SAILORS. By Z. z.
Hale Boston Roberts Bros. Sacramento W..
| A. & c. S. Houghton. One vol, Svo, muslin
This volume is an admirable enc for youths.
| II is the second volume in series of which
the first was called "Stories of War Told by
Soldiers" 1t is proposed to continue the
series with "Stories of Discovery" and Sto-
ries of Adventure" Mr.. Hale has not at
tempted to embelish these stories, as the ac-
| complished writer knows so well how to do /;
his object has been to show intelligent
young people how they may seek for them
I selves for the best original narra-
tives, and the best historical reading.
| He says that the plan was suggested at the
Librarians Convention in Boston In 1879.
Every one of the distinguished gentlemen
and ladies, engaged in the administration OF
| libraries, who met there made the same COM
plaint-that young people are fed on story
books, and do not easily find their way to
more reliable narrative. | urged, as best
could, the preparation, by some OF the
Younger literary men, of books which should
| lead the way from story-books to history, by
showing to the young reader how to pass
! from one to the other, and giving them a
taste of the original narratives"
From Trubner & Co, London, we have
{" A Grammar of the Old Friesic Language,
| by Adley H. Cummins of San Francisco. Mr..
Cummins was formerly resident OF Sacra-
mento. He is known to be a devoted classical
student. In this work he has given striking
example OF his perseverance and deep study.
The Fresar, or, as the Romans called them,
the Frisii, were tribe of Germans dwelling
on the northwest coast OF Germany, be-
tween the mouth of the Rhine and of the
Ems. They are referred to by Pliny, Tacti-
tus and Ptolmey. They were con-
ouered by the Romans at an early
period. They have ever retained as a
nation their primitive location. Their
language has been equally enduring,
though now spoken by but small number of
persons. The language is one of the Low
German family, very similar to Apglo-Saxon
| The Friesic literature consists almost exclu-
| siyelv of law books. Friesland at present is
divided into the East and West provinces en-
braced respectively in Hanover and Holland.
Mr.. Cummins intends this volume to aid in
speedy and thorough acquisition of the Ian
guage by those who interest themselves IN
the study of the old Germanic Languages.
Sand " and "Big Jack Small are the
titles of two stories in one volume by J: w.
| Gally. 1t is from the press of Bedford,
Clarke 4 Co.. Chicago, and is for sale by A.
L. Bancroft 4 Co., San Francisco. Mr..
Gallv is writer well known upon the Pacific
coast by reason of many short newspaper and
MAGAZINES sketches he has presented to the
general reader. Both the sketches are witty,
natural and presented with peculiar vigor.
Gally does not pad his stories. He evil
dsntly thoroughly considers what he proposes
To tell. and than tells it with condolences of
effort that is refreshing. The first story,
Sand" is perhaps open to the objection that
his pen is quite too near to perfection In his
square dealing, but it is true that these occl-
dental shores have given birth to many such
brave, fearless loving natures, and that . Nor
man" represents that class, and Is a strong
character in it, the reader must admit. The
story is we'll told, and though read some time
ago in local magazine, in its book form bears
the second reading well, and perhaps there is
no better test of well-told and well-written
story. Big Jack Small lisa less effottfulpaper.
1t is a sketch of a character readily recogniza-
bic by people of this coast 1t is quite as
vigorous as any of Mr.. Gally's sketches, and
full bf huno, Mr. Gally's book will take
a good place in the Literature of California.
"Ths Story of the United States Navy, "
by Benson }. Tossing. is from the press OF
Harper Bros. New York, and is for sale by
A. L. Bancroft & Co., San Francisco. It is
book for adults and youths alike. There
are few books that will be read with equal
ease and interest by men and boys-this is
one The work was prepared at the sugges'
ton Of Captain S. B. Luce, u. s. N, the
commander of the training-ship Minnesota.
DESTROYS of having it correct in every par
ticulsr, Mr.. Losing submitted the manu-
script to the Navy Department. 1t was re.
turned to him with letter from Commo-
dore Earl English, U. S. N, chief of the
Bureau of Equipment and Recruits. to
whom it was referred, in which he wrote
:" am much pleased with your beautiful and
instructive Story of the Navy and con-
graduate you on having performed labor
which will contribute so much to the pleasure
and instruction of the youth of cur country.
Such a bright-spirited work will refresh the
memory of the noble deeds of our departed
naval heroes in the minds of the people" The
book is very fully illustrated. It is a valu-
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