The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-11-05
LITERATURE.
Books.

Ottawa slO0.
The "Reminiscences' OF Carlyle, published
soon after his death BY MIR. Froude, were claimed
by his friends TO present such q distorted view OF
him, that a portrait by more discreet ana Kihu
" hand seemed demanded on the score OF CON-
mon fairness 1t was not right, they maintain
cd. and. as Mr.. Conway expresses it, "that the
outeries OF a broken heart should be accepted as
a mans true voice, or that measurements OF men
and memories, AS seen through burning tears
should be recorded as characteristic OF his hear,
or Judgment" To paint this softcnea and truer
portrait Mr.. Conway was peculiarly fitted. For
over fifteen years his close and intimate friend,
meeting him almost daily, in all bis moods, shar'
ing sweet counsel with him and admitted to the
very arcand of his heart, who could be better III
ted to etch him to the last lineamenty 1t must
he admitted, however, that while the spirit OF
Mr.. Conway is that OF the true friend, and he
labors with an assiduity that attests his sincerity
as such to present his subject In comely and
attractive light, the picture he produces differs
only in tone from thst1of the "Reminscences d"
In both We have the same restless elusive, i'm.
pulsIye, cynical nature that blurts out on ell oc
casions and themes, exactly the feelings OF the
moment. No doubt there were streaks OF great
kindness and geniality In his nature generous
and noble impulses; that, as Mr. Conway says,
che was hater OF tyranny, wrong and outrage,
and q lover of liberty and right" yet there was
not about him that steadiness and strength of
purpose that char acterses true intellectual great
ness. His writings, like his sayings are chiefly
notable for sharp, biting utterances-"lava
Jumps and burning Goals" He is his cwn Irish
man, "who is now about the 'freest man in ex-
istence; he Is at liberty TO sit him down on his
dunghi and curse all creation; he clothes him
self with curses with garment,' yet what
good does he or anybody else get by 1t Gll?" or
course "A book made up largely OF anecdotes OF
such man, full Of his Feenest utterances, Is de-
licious reading as the reader will be prepared to
admit, from a single anecdote, which Is all we
can make room for G.
Being in Scotland at the house OF an old ac'
quaintance, whom he knew to be sceptic, Car
lyle was shocked, when dinner came, by the com.
plaisanee with which his enthusiastically
BECAUSE OF the neighbors prcscnt-cntered upon
sanctmonious grace. before meal" OF the long
Scotch pattern and cut II short by cxclaiming,
"Oh, -, this is damnabeW
THE You've NiMRoDs IN NORTH AMERICA. A
Book for Boys By Thomas w. Knox, author
OF "The Boy Travellers In the Far East: siam,
Java, &c" New York: Harper Il Bros. Chi
cago: Jansen, McClurg & Co. Ottawa: Osman
IL HaFeman. 81 81, n .-..
Nothing Is more plenteous In literature In
these days than hooks for boys" From Mayne
Reed and Goodrich down TO st. Nicholas aud
Harpers' Young Folks, half the writers and mag
azne and book makers OF the country seem to
be occupied with mnstering TO the peculiar lit
erary wants Of boys. In the main this literature
is both trashy and vicious Boys ut best are
short-lived and most OF them, when arrived at
exactly the Intellectual stature where they best
enjoy this kind of literature, have arrived, as an
eccentric neighbor OF ours would say, sat just
the right age TO he killed" When the boy ia
able to read with sufficient intelligence to enjoy
the bulk of the boys literature OF the day he is
old enough TO turn his mind to serious study,
and that is when the boy should die and the
young man step to the fore.
Amid the vast piles Of trash daily Issued TO
catch the pennies Of boys, however, there occa.
sionaiv Is a book Of real merit, and such beyond
question Is the beautiful volume before us.-I
While it professedly deals with stories and incl
dents Of the hunters life, 1t is really an admlra-
bly, arranged and brilliantly illustrated treatise
on natural history imparting more information
IN that way than can often be CLEANED from form
al text books, and in q vastly more agreeable !
manner. The average boy, after patiently going |
over It's pages, will find, we imagine, that instead
Of having read book simply for amusement he
has been tricked into a serious and profitable
study. Boys OF 40 will realize that as well az
boys OF &C. II is book VIC can heartily and con.
scientiously commend to all the boys, old or
young, who enjoy outdoor sports and studies.
THE STORY OF HELEN TROY By the author OF
Golden Rod" &c. Harper Il Brothers, New
York; Jansen, McClurg ~ Co., Chicago; o.
man & Hapeman, Ottawa. $l.0U. .
Having given us Blanche de Prevle, In Cold
en- Rod" as an ideal Of fascinating woman Of |
European experience, the author, In Helen Troy, |
portrays as her counterpart the true American
girl. The latter is indisputably an advance upon |
the former, both as to the heroine and the story
as q whole. There Is more Of it-better comps.
ny, neater scenery, and more skilful manage.
ment OF incidents and construction OF plot That
Helen is true American girl we are all ready TO |
attest for exactly the same gay, sprightly, care.
less but self reliant and strong and true girl |
when the trial comes, lives right here and we see
her every day. We all love her and are delight. |
ed to read what the author hiss SO prettily writ
ten about her. .s.aa.-
Who WAS PAUL GRAIsoSs By John Haberton, |
author OF "ielen's Babies" &c. New York:
Harper Il Bros. Chicago: Jansen, McCInrg 4
Co. Ottawa: Osman Hapcman. $I.OO.'
The story is one OF school life, designed ap |
parently for young people, and while there are
in It some fine scenes that would delight the boy |
readers OF st. Nicholas, there is little In Its mat
ter or make up to remind one Of the author OF
"Helen's Babies" whom we should acquit Of the
charge Of this ofense without hesitation were
his name not given in the title page.
,s Magazines. |
With the November number, beginning
a new volume, SeSfBnevss takes on its new