Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-21
LITERARY NOTES.

pies. Upham Co. Wsshinston: A. Brerfaso & &C.
The interest In this little brochure comes
largely from the enthusiastic praise II has re-
ceived at the hands of Mr.. Ruskin and his warm
admiration Of the author, both as an artist and
writer. This circumstance will heighten IL in
the esteem Of some readers, and lower it in that
Of others: but on its own merits alone il is we'll
worth reading. 1t is the story Of the unselfish
| but short and sad life of a young Florentiue
| girl, told with a refined simplicity that is far
| more effective in Its way than a pretentious
| effort on a higher key could possibly be- Ii Is
| to be regretted, however, that the pleasure OF
reading 1T should be marred by Mr.. Ruskin's
| notes aud meddlings with the text, which
| are both unnecessary and exasperatlng. The
| author, we may add is Miss Frances Alexander,
young American artist, long resident az Flor
ence. whose pictures SO pleased Mr.. Ruskln that
| ne purchased number OF them. The portrait
| OF Ida. the heroine, drawn by Miss Alexander,
which serves as frontispiece to the book. would
seem to Justify at least part OF his extravagant
praise OF her talents.
| SINNERS AND SAINTS. A Tour Across the States.
g. Ne sun" Boston Roberts Brothers washington:
| AS q rule, the impressions Of a visitor who
spends only three or four months In a big
country are not worth much In the way OF
| reliable information, either about it as q place
TO live In or its people. Mr.. RObinsonis however
so experienced q traveller, a person Of such
excellent Judgment, and so bright a writer
withal, that his book is very far above the
| average Of its kind. But even he, we fancy,
would modify some Of the opinions he expresses
had he staid longer and looked into all branches
OF his subject more thoroughly. He made a
special study OF the MOrmons. and takes favor
able view of them as people and Of what they
have done In the way Of developing their c0un-
try, as all intelligent and fair-minded travellers
are bound to do; but it appears pretty plainly
that he has only concerned himself with one
side OF the case. Aside from this bias, the record
of his Journey is exceedingly clever. giving evil
| dence throughout of keen observation, and
Astounding in bright comments and droll con-
| ceits.
| GEORGE SAND. By BERTHA THOMAS. Boston
Roberts Ssm Brothers. Washington: VIM. BallAntyne
Miss Thomas has brought intelligence, care
and discrimination to her task, and she has per-
haps done as we'll as any one could do In the
same space; but her effort will doubtless fail to
satisfy those who desire to fully understand the
strange character and follow the singular career
| OF her heroine. For this larger and more corr
prehensive work will be required, and for this
the volume before us may perhaps pave the
way. II it does this. it will do we'll; but mean
time. to use a cant phrase. 1t meets want long
| felt by those who care more for salient points
than minor details. and few who take up the
book will willingly lay it aside until the close be
| reached.
Fob or THE rs Selections for
R ReSsas Bs aIPiuEn'on' Miiin Co. Washington
This collection Of verse and prose, impressing
the duty of kindness to animals, has been made,
as the compiler tellsus. in response to inquiries
frequently made by teachers and others for a
selection in which that lesson is distinctly
taught. Mr.. Firth has gone over wide field In
his search. and his work seems to have been ju-
diciously done. The influence of such q cOlec-
ton on the young can not fail to be good. and
to older readers 1t will have an interest as show
ing how many writers and especially how many
| writer's of Verse have
| -"plead the cause
| OF those dumb mouths that have no speech"
I hos.om; KSoerts brothers, Washington; VIM. Bal
Series" and quite charming story. Its period
Is just previous to the French revolution, and
its characters are the lesser celebrities of that
time. 1t Is little too pedantic in style, and
some Of the conversations and situations seem
| forced, but the plot is well worked out and the
happy ending is clOsely-kept secret to the
close, which Ofitself is great merit in the eyes
OF many readers. and especially In those of
young ladies, who will probably be the story
greatest admirers
Hs+ls E5sFes
Miss Harris, who will be pleasantly remem-
bered by young readers as the author OF ''Wild
Flowers, and Where They Grow, 'FIeld, Wood
| and Meadow Rambles" etc takes them. in this
attractive and well illustrated little volume
along another pretty path In the study Of nature.
| She first discOurseS In an entertaining way of
| the living things common about q farm, and
| examination n -troo
| buds In winter time, and gives plain guidance
| for carrying on Instructive experiments in that
| direction.
THE TARIFF LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES;
CHARLIE, F. WILLIAMS. Boston; Sonie Buebee
The author of this work was the Secretary of
the late Tariff Commission, and therefore had
an excellent opportunity to qualify himself for
the task he has undertaken. and whichhe seems
to have performed inteliigently and satisfac-
| tOrily, so far as we can Judge. Business men
and lawyers will doubtless find the book con-
venient and useful.
SUPPLEMENT- Mt. Az CATALOGUE ILUsTRE DU
6HM,s Paris Iibrsir SeI par %asSn9 as
G. Fischer. ""s n
This volume has nearly three hundred Illus
| trations representing some Of the more promi-
nent works not included in the main catalogue.
after sketches supplied by the artists themselves,
| and is about as essential to clear idea of the
| exhibition and as interesting in itself as the
| principal volume, which it is intended to accom-
| pany.
| FAIRY GOLD. A Novel. By the author Of "a Lesson
in Love-" Philsdephia: j. b. Lippinoott & Co.
| clever story, well worth reading, as stories
60 nowadays. The style is original and strik-
| ing, and the interest is sustained TO the last,
albeit the characters are not all of the most
| agreeable sort.
| KATHLEEN. Love Story. By Mrs. FRANCES
HoDGsoN BURNETT. Philadelphia: I. u. Peters
son b Brothers.
Another edition ia cheap form of one of Mrs.
Burnett's earlier stories. reprinted from Peter
sons Magazine, where 1t first appeared.
From John b. Alden, Is Vesey street, New
York, we have a package of his cheap but
tastefully gotten up publications, including
brief biographies Of Aristotle, Demosthenes,
Plato, Peter Cooper and Alexander H. Stephens;
Edwin ArnOlds Indian Song of Songs and
Pearls of the Faith; DR.. StOrrs' and Representa-
tive Hewitt's OratiOns on the opening Of the
Great Bridge; and the Elzevir Library Science
Series. containing papers by Huxley, Spencer.
| and other eminent scientists. Mr.. Alden's
| literary output though modest in Its way