New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS..


Rees Welsh & Co. Philadelphia have published
q volume of Walt WLitman's prose. under the tliie
Spec,uen DAYS aud Collect" Externally 1t
bears a close resemblance to Leaves Of Grass
but the likeness does not run through. ihe STRONG
aumaiisn of this astonishing author seems 10 DC
thoroughly aroused only under the influence OF the
muse; and though il is plain enough even wren lie
Whites in the prose form, 1t is not then ollcnsiVe
We are inclined suspect that better test Oh his
intrinsic quality Will be found IN these random ana
fugitive papers. some OF them recording his eX-
perences a. a hospital nurse, many gathered from
the pages OF periodicals. than IN the wilder anu less
genuine strains in which he has been accustomed
to shout for the OBLIGATION OF leatherbralned dis
ciples There is little in these confessions com
muuings with nature forcIbe and often original
descriptions of common place objects, which can
very well STIR the enthusiasm of the hOwiing
dery.hcs of the criticism; but there is GER
tain freshness and individuality which are always
impressive. and an imaginative quality which some
tlmes rises very the level OF poetry II 1T does
not reach it. And yet that Whitman has any new
message to deliver 10 the world, that life, lltera-
ture. philosophy have anything to gain from his
thoughts. no perfectly sane person is likely to de-
eide after a reading Of his prose In the Pieces III
Early Youth" reprinted with the mIsccllania
wrote very much like other people.
"Tra,els in South Kensington," by Moncure
Daniel Conway Harper x Brothers., embraces the
best popular account we have ever seen OF the
famous museum aud a most interesting apprecia
ton of its Importance as national school, Breaking
boldly away from the routine of the customary
handbook" Mr.. Conway has described with
some f,ilness what may be called the typical
nf
museum. and has spiced his lively pages with
pertinent anecdotes and with some extremely curl
Gus stories lie has had something more in view
than the amusement of the idle; he has written, he
tells us. for America he S persuaden that We
can reach most valuable results n this country by
Initiating the English example anu that the iouhda-
ton of a South KensingtOu here ought not TO be Il
very difficult matter To the description OF the
museum he adds a paper On Decorative Art ana
Architecture in England" with IN account of some
famous London houses and very cuiious chapter
on the modern aesthetic suburban settlement OF
Bedford Park, near Tendon. The volume is
copouslv illustrated.
The fist part of an american Citizens Manual"
edited by Worthington c. Ford has Just been pub
ished by the Putnams. 1t contains an explanation
of our systems of government, National, State ana
local of the laws governing the FRANCHISE the
canvass of votes and the methods Of the civil
service; and the second part announced as in prep
aration is to embrace discussion of the chlef
functions of government, such as taxation, expcnd-
ture the regulation of commerce and industry etc.
Mr. Fords object is not to set forth any particular
theory but to exhibit the working of the coInpll-
Gated public machine. and in tne performane OF inns
useful task he has collected great deal OF lniora-
ton especially respecting State laws and consttu-
tons. which will DO even to weuiniormed
readers.
A beautiful lutte book of Chimes and Rhymes
for Holiday Times" edited by Almira L. Hayward
flames X Osgood & Co.., consists OF a selection OF
poetcal pieces for special occasions. namely the
New Year and the DID, Washingtons birthday,
Easter Fast Day. Memorial Day, the Fourth Of July,
Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are chosen
with taste from authors Ole and new, Americ an
and English they are illustrated, and they are
| placed in very pretty and danny dress,
| The "Wit ana Wisdom of Don Quixote Roberts
Brothers. is a collection of the proverbs and other
| pthy sayings of the immortal Knight, his squire,
and other personages Of the story together with
episodes ana other passages which can be detached
from the book. 1t is hardly necessary to say that
it is a store house of good things. and happily the
publishers have put it into an attractive and appro-
pirate form.
| "Spoiling the Egyptians" g. P. Putnams Sons
| is a pamphlet in which Mr. j. Seymour Keay tells,
from the British blue books, what lie calls tale OF
! shame The extreme violence OF the authors
manner at once creates presumption against the
| impartalty of his statements, and he has been
accused ia England of very serious misrepresenta-
tons of the authorities which he quotes, lie Is to
| be read with interest, but with caution.
| Urania Locke Bailey, who publishes a volume of
verse which she calls Star-t lowers " g. L. Put
MANS Sons, brings to the expression of genuine
religious feeling fluent and graceful style,
delicate fancy and a fine sense of form and music.
| Her poems arc sure to be favOrites with a large
| class of educated and devout people.