Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-11
LITERARY NOTES.


partly due to the fact that he had the gift of I'M
derstanding the intellectual taste and needs of
the average man and woman, partly because
he discussed topics of general and per-
manent interest and partly to the fact that his
style was pare and pleasant and his moral tone
as rule healthy and sound. The former ed
lions OF his works were mostly read by gene
ration which has now passed away but the de-
mand Tor his writings has never ceased. The
present call for them is largely from a new gene
ration of readers. and it has been augmented
somewhat doubtless. 10y the recent death of the
author, which brought him and his literary
iaoors into fresh and prominent view. To meet
this demand a new. complete and uniform
edition of his works was undertaken
last October. Although he died before
they passed through the press, they had
the benefit of DR.. Hollands personal
revision, based on greater experience. broader
| combs Letters" ''Gold Foil" ''Bitter-Sweet."
Lessons i'm Life" ''Plain Talks" .'Kathrina."
mistress Of the Manse, 1.-The Jones Family"
The Puritan's Guest, and other Poems, EVERY
Day Topics" Gin two vOIumes) and "Sevenoaks'
have already appeared, and they will he fol-
lowed by tine remaining volumes at regular in
tervas, until the whole series shall be COM
piete0. The new edition is without llustra-
tions, but in respect to paper, Typography and
binding, it leaves nothing to be desired.
ciraRiSE DREW or author tho 81 TALE BY
LEGACY , etc New York: Henry Holt x Co. WASH
This book is not, as the reader of headlines
might suspect. disguised advertisement of st.
Jacobs Oil. or anything of the Sort 1t takes its
| title from the calling of its heroine, who was
lutte player in the choir of old St Jacobs Church,
in Hamburg, and its text is aromance-biography
of the German poet and musician George
Neumarcke. who wrote and composed about the
middle of the seventeenth century. The hymn
| ana tune which most endeared him TO the hearts
OF his countrymen and made him best known to
the world is the one beginning
Leave God to order all thy ways"
1t stands No 134 in the Choral Book for England,
while in other collections it is known as :. Bre-
men. and In still Others again as "Morayia"
Duke Bernard. of COburg expired while joining
IN si2ging it on his death bed i'm 1906 Frederick
William L.. of Prussia ordered it to be sung at
his own funeral, and it was also sung at the
funeral of the Prince COnsOrt, i'm London in
1861. little love story is woven i'm to give
interest to the history the scene of which is laid
first at Hamburg, and then at Bremen. where
after many struggles and great disapp0intnents
the hero finally wins high honors and comfort
able ease, which he enjoyed until his death at
Nelmar in 1851.
Roberts Brothers Washington: j. j. Chapman.
The admirers of Miss Alcott's writings,-and
they are MANY and enthusiastic be inter-
ested in this new edition of her first novel. re-
written, revised, corrected and essentially
changed, by herself. When first published the
book was great success; but the author was
never quite satisfied with it, having been influ-
enced by Others, and against her own judg-
ment, to somewhat change its original plan
Just vino was responsible for these alterations
is not clear. Some authorities assert that it was
her first publisher. He denies this, and saws his
only offence or agency in the matter was in sug-
costing that the manuscript as it stood was too
Voluminous tor him to publish, but that he
nevertheless prevented the author from striking
out the chapter entitled "a Golden Wedding"
and substituting another for it. Others allege
that Mrs. c. II. Dali undertook the first work of
revision, and cut out at the request of the
author all the chapters that We're canceled
however this may be, now that Miss AlcOtt's
literary reputation is established she has decided
to give the book to the public more nearly as it
was originally written. She has omitted several
chapters of the old edition. and restored those
which were first prepared, besides improving
the text generally, and bringing back to life the
heroine, who was prematurely Killed off. The re-
suit is not only longer but better story than
it was before.
THE FORTUNATE ISLAND, AND OTHER sTo-
Washington: j. ID. Free, Jr.
Readers OF Max Adelers funny sketches who
look for sOmethingin the same line in this book
will probably be disappointed; but they will be
none the losers, nevertheless 1t serves q
yet written, and his gift of huInor and powers
OF invention are turned to good account as a
means to an excellent end. Some of the
sketches are very pathetic and tender. and the
tone OF the whole book lis pleasant and healthy.
ASPASlA; A Romance of Art and Love in Ancient
m by Mary j. sasrd New Erm M GeE
Gottsberger. Washington: W. Baiiantyne Son. o.
1t is not easy to understand the great popu-
larity of this book in Germany, where it first
appeared some six years ago. The STYLE is
rather stilted, and what might be called a little
remote. and the moral tone none of the best
Nevertheless it has certain charm, for its vivid
sketches Of life at the most interesting period in
the history of Greece The ancient modes
habits and thought of that country are clearly
depicted, and the reader is brought into init
mate relations with Pericles, Phdias, SophO-
cles Socrates and other historic personages: the
building and conservation OF the parthenOn. the
etc: are described in glowing colors, and per-
yading all is the spirit and influence Of Aspasia.
priestess OflOve and beauty.
Po BE- saw
This is a collection OF letters. originally writ
ten, apparently, for the Danbury Neacs, giving
an account of a summer trip of three or four
newspaper men from Washington down the Po-
tomac and through a portion Of Virginia and
North Carolina AS such they were readable
enough, but they are hardly worth preserving in
book form.
OCCIDENTAL SKETCHES. BY Major BEN c. TRu-
MAN. San Francisco: San Francisco News Co.
Major Truman. an old Journalist, well known
in Washington. gives in this little volume num-
Der of word pictures of life on the Pacific slope
some of which are based on facts, Others are
partly, and still Others again. wholly fiction, and
all readable and interesting.
BACHELOR BLUFF: His Opinions, Sentiments and
Disputations. By OLIVER BELL BUNcE. New York:
ID. Appleton Co. Washington f. b. Mohun.
Readers Of the later volumes of Appleton's
Journal will be glad to get in durable form q
collection of the pleasant editorial essays con-
tributed to that periodical by Mr.. Bunce, who
served its Editors Table" so long and SO well.
They constituted indeed not the least attractive
part Of the original matter published in it's col
umns and in their present shape they are more
attractive than ever, having been re-cast some
what. and with more thought put in them. The
book a canifa1 fO r,uf in ofoha