The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-23
LITERATURE.


dices. By Charles George Walpole, NJ
Rarrister at Law. Harper a. Broth
ers. New York; Jansen, McClurg * Co.,
Chicago. Price $i72'
While the history of Ireland, by ancient
legends, can be traced back nearly to the
delupe. there is really very little in the
shape of authentic history until the advent
of st. Patrick and the conversion OF the
island to Christendom, IN the beginning OF
the 9Th century. Thenceforward, however,
through the very thorough and efficient
religious institutions which The Saint es-
tablished, in the form of schools, converts,
parishes, dioceses, &c, the historical data
become numerous and reliable, and the
history of Ireland can be traced with more
certainty than many larger and more pre-
tentious contemporary European Kingdoms,
They were strange and interesting peo-
pie, these Teutono Gallo Cells lntelli-
gent, quick witted, full Of pride and mill
tary spirit, split up into numerous dis
cordant tribes, they were always warning
among themselves, yet seldom so weaken
ed by intestine broils rs to be unable
promptly to rcpel marauding incursions
from without.
The history Is traced by our author win
skillful hand, though with a very natural
and pardonable leaning to the IRISH side in
her frequent and bloody encounters with
England, unit, A. d. 1900, when, by means
of the most dsgraceful bribery and cor
ruptiOn, the Act of Union with England
was contaminated, and the last Irish Par
lament met on College Green. With this
historic crime the story of "The Kingdom
of Ireland" closes, and thencetorward irish
history becomes 80 inextricably blended
with that of England that to write the one
10 to write the other. The volume before
us Is very handsomely printed aud bound,
contains very handy chronological table
and full index, and is supplied with maps
adapted to the shifting political divisions
of the country IN the progress of the
history.
A TRANsPLANTED ROSE. A Story of New
York Society Harper L. Brothers, New
York; Jansen, McClurg ~ Co., Chicago.
The book appears anonymously-not
even with pseudonym-lndicatlng that
it IS probably first venture. II the author
has any object IN view 1t must be to Ell
Tighten his (or herr readers on the etiquette
of upper ten" society IN New York city,
in regard to the minutest canons OF which
the writer claims to be fully posted. To
verdan, youths ard callow misses pining
to be az .tnit IN social style" the book no
doubt Will be an invaluable treasure.
Aside from its valae in that regard, how
ever, its merits as "a novel are not very
striking. The crude daughter of Neva
MI or Colorado bonanza King is entrusted
70 an upper ten relative in New York to be
polished up" and made fit to circulate IN
frstclass society. The lady proves an apt
pupil and makes such progress that III less
than year she achieves several conspicu-
Gus "mashcs" and finally captures an Egg.
lish nobleman! As there can be no hui
man felicity imagined beyond such eli
max, the novel there perforce comes TO
an end.
SHAKsPEAREs KING HENRY VI.-Parts
|, III and Ill. Edited, with Notes, by
William J. Rolfe. A. M, formerly Head
Master Of the High School, Cambridge,
Mass. New York: Harper & Bros.
Chicago; Jansen, McClurg s. Co.
While there is considerable dispute
among the learned as to whether Shaks-
peare was the author of these three plays,
in whole or IN part the question Is at least
30 far settled by common consent that they
have been always printed with and recog-
nized as belonging to the body of "Shak-
speare's Plays" But whatever dispute
there may be on tina! point, there can be
none on the part of any intelligent person
who will examine the edition OF Mr.. RolfeI
now before us. as printed by the Harpers,
and compare 1t with any other edition of
Shakespeare, but that this is, of all others
ever issued, Jacile prtnceps. We have had
frequent occasion heretofore to commend
this edition of Shakespeare, and our admi-
ration increases with each new play that is
issued.
LORNA DoONE. A Romance of Exmoor.
BY II. ID. Blackmore. Harper & Broth.
ers, New York Jansen, McClurg, g. Co.,
Chicago. Two column edition. PriceI
% cts.
While all of Mr.. Blackmore's novels
thus far have been good and eagerly read
his best, and the best novel of the year, Is
his Lorna Doone. English life has no more
interesting phases than are presented In
Devon and Somerset, and these MIR. Black.
more presents with genial ana life.like
fidelity, interviewer with many rare touches
of scene and character painting We no.
tice that Jansen. McClurg & Co., of Chica-
go, have thought so much of the book as
TO select it for the embellishments of an
edition de lure, and the honor is certainly |
not undeserved. In this new form the
noval IN ak as a crpwn ~ n rio Of frn ,a,.e |