The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-17
LITERATURE..'

Jansen, McClurg 81 Co. Ottawa; fof
sale by Hapeman & Graham. *lso'
There are perhaps no people this side OF
Central Africa about whom Americans
know 40 little rs the Fins, and series OF
historical novels based on there's ge'tde OF
such people may b supposed 4 Do
barren Of stirring sinci dsnt. Ssch icon.
cluslon would be very rash. For ce1srries
the connection between ;the Fins add the
Swedes WAS so close that they were sub
stsntially one people, and in all the stir
ring events in which the latter bore SO con
spieuoys 4 part under aualavus Ado'phus
during TIE thirty years war; under
Chsr.es'lxII., ana down to Gus.
.avus ILL.,, the Fins we're prominent and
potential actors The novels of Topelius,
under the general title fof"The Surgeons
Stories" are six IN number, and form =
long chain OF connected narrative, each In
dependent and complete in itself, in which
the author has woven together history and
romonce in manner so felicitous as to
give HIM q place among the writers OF his
toricarromances certainly by the side OF
If not above Walter Scott. There is at
least this in his favor, that he is more
faithful to historic truth, while equally
with Scott, great historic personsges figure
in his narrative, yet q thread OF exquisite
romance and an absorbing personal inter
est runs through them all. THE charac
terlstic traits OF past times are wildly de-
picted, in striking situations and stirring
battles, which are ,judlciously. introduced
among the swiftly advsnciag events.' .tl
The yolums before us embraces the first
of these historical romances, entitled
"Gustaf Adolf" and has been translated
for Jansen, McClurg g. Co, the wellknown
Chicago publishers, by whom It is issued,
and BY whom 1t will no doubt be followed
by the rest of the series. We have no such
knowledge Of the Swedish language As to
enable Us to judge of the merits OF the
translstion, but Professor Boyesen, who is
in every way qualified to be q good Judge,
says he has compared it with tho original
Swedish and finds it "a very faithful and
spirited rendering" This at least Is true,
that we find the book before Us most
charming English, whatever 1t may be IN
Swedish.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY or BLACEHAwK. Em.
bracing the Traditions of his Nation and
a General History of the Blackhawk
War of 1882 Dictated by Himself to
Antoine lie CLAIR, Interpreter j. B. Pat.
terson, Editor and Amanuensls. With
an Appendix, covering the Life, Death
and Burial Of Blackhawk, and q History
Of the Blackhawk War, BY j. B. Patter.
son. Oquawka, ILL.,. published by j. b.
Patterson. Price, $l.50.
The title of the book, OF which We have
not even copied all, Is SO fully descriptive
~ its cortn,ka th.sS..'. 49, -
that head. The name OF Blackhawk 10 90
largely connected with the early settlement
Of Illinois that It's mention never fails to
awaken, interest," There are Sill among us
living witnesses Of and actors ia the war
Of 1884 Who readily recsll blood curdl,ng
"Reminiscences OF that trying time. There
WAS outrage on both sides and . COED deal
Of unnecessary bloodshed. In the book
before N the Great Ch,ef IL sliowed 70 tell
his story and s,sse HE csss In his own way !
from his own standpoint, and then Mr.. 1
Patterson tells the story Of the Bisckhswk
war from the standpoint Of the settlers,
There IL little variance In the main out !
line. Tho story Of Blsckhawk 70 bat
repetition Of that Of oil his kindred. Hap.
py in his aboriginal freedom; contsnted |
under the protection Of his French and Of.
forwards Spanish "Fathsr;" and cheated,
plundered and at last exterminsted under
The protection" Of the Great Father ..
Washington. Blsckhswks own story 10
one Of absorbing interest; and Mr.. Pstter.
sons Appendix is we'll written, and his Of
dee Of editor" gracefully discharged. We
recommend the book as ono of
deep interest, and handsomely printed and
bound. ,a'
~ ,t --a ."a
' PetiodicaiA'
TnE ART AMATEUR. Montague Franks.
New York, $4d Year, The Februafyl
number contains some striking crayon and
charcoal drawings, including the LIONS - 1