The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-03-12
LITERATURE.


Co, Chicago; Osman y Hapeman' ot'a"A'
sl.50.
George Mcdonald, as novelist, has Tor some
wears been before the public, and HE ieao'"s
characteristics arc pretty well known. a S'e',
rymnp evidently OF profound convictions anu
great earn estuess, he is no doubt entirely con-
.cientious In the belief that the precepts oil 'ne
religion N Christ can be more effectively taught
and the beauty Of an earnest, upright Christa"
life moro attractvely illustrated through 'he III
strumentality Of action than by the Ordinary
routine Of parish work and pulpit minis'ral'on',
The fault OF most teachers who adopt this ncthoo
,s. that thore is too much preaching Tor goeu
novel and too much novel for good preaching
Atlesst, we fancy most readers will have some
.uch impressiop on the perusa Of MARY Mars
ton" Nurtured in wha, the author eviacn'iy re
cards as somewhat narrow iaith--thaI OF lhe
BaptIsts- under the training of stu more Inn
practicable though thoroughly devont 'ather'
MARY, In spite OF her drawbacks, Is a Siri VINO no
doubt realizes the authors ideal OF a true thr'e'
tian woman. To present THE character In lhe
holder relief he surrounds it With numerous 9th
ers more or less distorted. Poor Lefty har all
the natural impulses to be good like Mary, but
none OF her training and strength OF character
Mr.. Wardours many noble aud manlyltraits are
msrred by inordinate pride OF caste; Miss 'o'.
land never having had the semblance OF reii'
yious training, is thoroughly unprincip'ed'
schemiug and selfish; Tom Hemer, with many
good impulses, is weak IL the upper story ana Il
sad dog, also for want Of early religious tram
ing: and so on Yet, In spite OF the immaculate
loyeliness of the impossible iMary, the sympa'
h. nft hp rahtn
the slightest doubt, go out towards poor Lefty
and her scapegrace Tom, with almost feeling
OF indignation towards the author for bringing
them to SO deplorable O plight; while they are
hardly any more pleased With the fate OF the
noble Mary, who is made to marry chance ae'
auaintance In the form Of a harmonious BLACK
tmith-s musical prodigy who wholly untHugh'
without knowing n note, Is yet able, Ike blind
Tom ON the piano, to equal Oie Bull or Paganinl
in his mastery Of the violin! Is this a htlihG
earthly goal for such exalted saintshpF Yet
there Is much in this book to incitc 70 whole
some thought, much to inslii reverence and q
longing Tor what is pure and good and noble IN
life, and much of epigrammatic yigor In the Ut
terance OF brave and manly opinion, 30 that
whichever one may lack II admiration OF the nov
teacher.
DUrr. With Illustrations Of Courage, Patience
and Endurance BY Samuel Smiles, LID,
author OF "self Help" Character" &c. Har
pcrs Franklin Square Library Price l5c.
This last great work Of DR.. Smiles, the WIND
sng up OF his series--Sell Help, Character Thrift
we shall no more attempt to criticise than We
should the Limitation" OF Thomas u Kemps.
II is amply strong, earnest, yearning plea for
duty. Example on example is given, OF the
trayest and best men and women in all history
who left great lcgacies in the remembrance Of
great deeds by sturdy adherence TO duty. The
marvel is, how so sizcabe vouine-~ith liz
eyer recurring and ever echoing refrain Of duty
duty-could be made such pleasant reading
Another marvel is, that work OF this character
never before published at q less cost than two OF,
three dollars, should be placed within The reach
Of all by the Harper. In the admirable form OF
their Franklin Square Library at the trinlng cos,
Of Is cts.
ALL ALONE. BY Andre Theuriet New York j
d. Appleton 4 Co. Chicago: Jansen, Nc
Clrrg 81 Co. Ottawa: Osmau Il Hapeman
25 cts.
The story like most OF the novelties OF thi,
popular French author, is written with pur.
pose, and suffers somewhat In structure and the
oeR0tLrae,a on that account. The purpose, Ia the
present case, ia n protest against the laws Of
france which forbid absolute divorce between
married persons for any cause. We suspect few
readers, after reading this touching narrative
will dispute that in the present supposed case,
Gt least, tho law worked with wholly unrcasona.
tle and painful harshncsF.
CARLETON ENCYCLOPEDIA AND HANDBOOK or
GENERAL IMPORTATION. New York: q. W.
Carleton * Co. Sold only TO suhscribcrs.
There are encyclopaedia and encyclopedias
Most Of them, however, are Crca, bulky affairs
OF from ten TO hundred yolumes-l!hraries I'M
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little more than definition, yet 40 comprchen.
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ma Thule" What is thsts One Of the big ency
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TIE CHo!CE or Books American Book Ey
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edition In paper for cts.
THIS Is work which cannot fail to delight all
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will be greatly helpful 10 all who want help IN
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1t treats of The Motive Of Reading, The Reading
Habit, What Boohs to Read, The Bcst Time to
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