Morning journal and courier., 1883-10-25
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

very interesting little book Is that enti- tied ''Origin of Written Languages, especial ly its Alphabetic signs,'' by George Ingersoll Wood, member of the Yale class of 1888. The treatise is condensed result of investi- gations pursued by the writer, at intervals, for several years. Its aim is to introduce some of the great class of non-scienti6c read CTS into branch of literature unfamiliar to them, but of the deepest interest. The au- thor makes five classes of signs or stages in the process of alphabetic evolution, namely, the Pictorial. the Symbolic, Verbal Phono grams, Syllable Phonograms and Alphabetic Phonogrsms- We may put it down, he says, as general truth in regard to the letters of the alphabet, that at their starting they were simply the pictures of certain well known o6jscts bearing the names of the ob- jects themselves; the first letter of the name, sometimes, too, the first syllable, being the one used in spelling; that from time to time as they were used in writing. they became abbreviated and gradually entirely changed SO as to loss all resemblance to the original object, and became, what ours now arc, with the exception of M, mere arbitrary signs. He traces the cause of this change in 8 lucid and interesting manner, and the treatise contains great deal of information net easily obtain able by the ordinary reader. The book is well illustrated and printed with large, clear type. Published by the Case, Lockwood and Brainard company. of Hartford, and for sale in this city by Judd, the bookseller.
 "How the Rain Sprites were Frsed," by Ia vid Colt, tells how two little German chill dren set out ts find the storehouss of ths rain, why they did it, and how they succeed ed. The story is told with delicate feeling and the moral meaning in even the airiest of it's fancies is apparent to the older reader, and will unconsciously affect the children. It is natural and delightful from beginning to end. Is illustrated with four full page col- ored Autographs, and has an illuminated cov- CT. Published by D. Lothrop & Go [, and for sale in this city by Judd the bookseller.
 The Atlantic for November contains an un- usually good list of articles, among which are: 'sEzra Ripley, D. D." Ralph Waldo Emerson; .sThe Trussworthiness of the He- brew Traditions, Brooke Hsrford; s'Charon's FSe;' Newport. X ,, 1L. George Parsons Lathrop; 'A Noble Lady," Mary Louise Henry; s.En Provence, '' V. Henry James; ssOmens,n Edith M Thomas; The Bird of the Morning, i" Olive Thorne Miller: Random Spanish Notes" Charles Dudley Warner; ssRecollections of Rome during the Italian Revelation" II, William Ohauncey Lang don; "An Only Son." Sarah orne Jewett; s'Vsnice,n Christopher P. Cranchi ''The New Departure in Negro Life o. ". Black nall :; ssSFhat Instruction should be Given in our Colleges, Albert s. Bolles; "A Good By so Rip Van Winkle," Gilbert 4. Pierce; 'sThe Songs that are not Sung" John Boyle O'Reilly tThs East and the West In Recent Fiction, James Buchanan
 The North American Review for Novem ber is well worth reading throughout. Sen ator H B Anthony writes of sLimited Snf- fraae in Rhode Island. The Rev. David N Utter brings out from oblivion the record of ctrtain allsRsi atrocious crimes of 'sJohn Brown of 0sawatomis.n There are two sci- entifc articles, namely. ssSolar Physics" by Professor Balfour Stewart, and Modern Explosives. 7 by Gen John Newton. W. H. MallOck contributes tsConversatiens with