The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-06-18
LITERATURE.



Howard & Hubert, publishers, New York
Ottawa: Osman u Hapeman. Price, sl5O.
The book seems to have a twofold object
First, to present, in reliable and authoritative
way the attractions Southern California holds on
to the devotees of the gun and rod; and second
w. the advantages II offers in that connection t
those who, ia that delightful climate, seek res
toration OF health. To make it the more attract
i've, the writer has cast it in the form of novel
setting down in that sunny land merry party
from the east, in charge Of valetudlnarian IL
whom all their anxieties are centered, and in
whose behalf under the guidance OF a skillfu
chaperon as well as physician, their daily little
hunting and fishing excursions are prosecuted
in such a way as to give the writer full scope to
Intervene with many pleasing, sometimes thrill
ing, sometimes ludicrOus, but always interesting
adventures, charming descriptions Of scenery,
and full information in regard to the vegetation,
and striking geological features Of the country,
and to 'all the leaoing and swimming and flying
creatures that the sportsman delights to pursue"
Astounding in such generous profuson in that
favored land Bat while the author has thus
made his romance subordinate to his more prac-
teal serious object, the book is the less at
tractivc for that 1t prevents all sense Of mono.
ony in the consideration Of the successive hunt.
ing scenes, or rather it adds to their zest and
spirit as the genial, heathful. souled man enjoys
his pursuits all the more from their being fol-
lowed in good company. There is pleasant
favor of merry buresque and humor pervading
the whole tale, and the reader is alternately
amused with his companions, charmed with the
"a unaffected and graphic descriptions Of scenery,
intensely interested in the zeal Of the chase AMI
instructed in the multifarous habits of game and
arts of the sportsman. 1t is, in a word, whole
some, breezy, racy book. $.
PLouGmED UNDER: The Story OF an Indian Chief
Told by Himself. With an Introduction by
Inshta Theamba Outright Eyes, OF the Pom
cas- Fords, Howard 81 Hubert, Publishers,
New York Ottawa: Osman Il Hapeman.
Price, 81 90.
The title "Poughed Under" is significant and
forcibe in connection with the subtitle "TheI
Story Of an Indian Chief" as indicating the
steady and irresistible advance of the plough
share of civilization, turning under the nomadicI
tribes, as the literal pillow turns under and sub
dues the native vegetation OF the prairies The
tale derives n double interest from its authorship
being that of an Indian girl born and raised
among the scenes she depicts, of most OF which
/ indeed she was an eyewitness, and yet who has,
by education among and association with the
whites, been so elevated that she is able from
the double standpoint of the height Of Boston
culture and the lowlncss OF the untutored maid.
en- OF the forest and prairie, to contemplate with
calm and bright eyes" the relative status and
needs Of the two races between whom she sees n
needless and cruel conflict. 1t was the remark
OF Harriet Nartneau, we believe, after travelling
all over America, Europe and Asia. that che had
found the whole human family divided into but
two classes-males and females: meaning that
essentially, all over the world, human nature is
very much the same. And so our "Bright Eyes"
opens her narrative by assuring the reader that
1.-THE Indian is not an extraordinary being; he is
simply OF the race of man, and like (all) Others,
the creature of his surroundings" And this is
fully borne out in the tale before us, giving us
inside views OF the homes and haunts ideas and
impressions, costumes and customs and familiar
habits OF our North American Indians, constant
ly reminding US of the same primitive human
nature we read OF in Genesis, and Joshua and
Judges and Homer. The story is in the form of
q narrative by the son OF an Indian chief, telling
of his youth and training amid the family infu
ences Of his loved Indian home; his haunts and
battles; his loves, his wooing and wedding; the
coming among them OF that great parsonage the
Indian agent; the holding of councils, making
treaties, &c; the narrative eliminating in the
already familiar story OF the Poncas; how the
perldious agent who pretended to write to their
"Great Father" the President, at Washington,
their petition to be freed from the supervision
md aa1o nnt ~ In (,rt la
their petition prayer to the government to buy
their homes and lands and remove them to the
"Land Of Fire" as the northern Indians call the
Indian territory. And this petition was duly
granted, the tribes village was destroyed, their
lands appropriated, and the wretched Indians,
protesting in vain, wailng for their lost homes,
were driven like cattle-starving, dropping Of
fatigue, dying Of exposure by the way-and left
in that "healthful" land where the first years
fever slew third OF their number, and the sec.
ond made the death list full half. The style is
that Of thoroughly educated, polished author.
ship; while as presentation, In graphic and
telling form OF Indian wrongs, and the practical
working OF our 'lndian Policy" 1t is at once so
clear and forcble that 1t cannot fail to open the
eyes OF the people to the truth, and to make them
think rightly, Of matters in regard to which the
masses have hitherto been culpably inattentiye
and misinformed.
THE EASIEST WAVE HousEKEEPISG AND Cook
ING. Adapted to Domestic Use, or Study Ia
Classes. By Helen Campbell, author Of Chip.
from a Northwestern Log" &c. Fords, How.
ard d Co., New York. Ottawa: Osman &
hspeman. Price, s1.0O.
There are cook books and cook books Taking
all that have been issued in the last forty years,
beginning with Miss Leslie, and fair sized H.
brary might be stocked with cook books. A
common infrmity, however, characterizes about
all. Their dishes, except the few simpler ones
that the most inexperienced housekeepers are
more or less acquainted with, involve such va.