Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-10
LITERARY NOTES.

President Monroe has never been counted
among the picturesque or sensational figures n
history. but at the same time his character We
NOT commonplace, nor was his career monoto-
nous. Says Mr.. Gilman: "He served with Ral-
iantry In the army OF the Revolution. and Ne
high In of1ce during the progress Of the second
contest with Great Britain and during the Sem
mole war; he was delegate and a Senator N
Congress; he was called TO the chief legislative
and executive stations In Virginia; he represen.
ted the United States in France, Spain and Eng
land; he was prominent agent I'm the purchase
OF Louisiana and Florida; he was member a
Madison's cabinet, and directed 0or awhile
simultaneously the departments Of state and
war; he was twice chosen President. the second
time with an almost unanimous vote of the cleo
torai college; his name IL given 10 a political
doctrine OF fundamental importance. and his ad-
mnlstration is known a the EZRA OF good feel
Ing" Surely a record like this cannot be I'M
interesting, treated by any hands; and Mr.. On
man seems to have had exceptional facilities In
Tree access TO large amount Of material hith-
erto unused. for doing II Justice. This ne has
done, SO far as he goes: but restricted some
what perhaps by the plan Of the series 10 which
his volume belongs, his memoir is not as full or
extended as its subject would justify or the pub
lie enjoy.
the ss6 gSUs sN, OF the Nn SEVEN aAsLEs TN
haasnson Mn g. h SsSs
woNpER, BOOK, TANGLEwoop TALES. AND
GRANDFATHEk'SC ca AIR BY NaTHANIEI HaV-
inxton: Robert Bea l. s''' "'h''h 70 "ssn-
These two handsome volumes constitute the
third aud fourth OF the attractive "Riverside"
edition Of the compete works OF Hawthorne.
now In course Of publication by this well known
Boston house. and Of which we have heretofore
made suitable mention. OF course onothing
needs to be said now as to the literary merits
OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.; the public present con-
Germ with them Is that they shall be properly
Clothed Tor future preservation. and this re-
qurement, IL can truly be said has been fully
met In the Issue under notice. IL may not BE-
amiss. however. to say, I'm connection with the
third volume, that Hawthorne himself considered
" The House OF the Seven Gables" better than
"The Scarlet Letter." which most people re-
gard as his best work, saying. to Use his own
words, that portions Of IL were as good as any,
thing he could hope to write.
ICE,PaCK AND TUNDRA: An Account Of the Search
ssf the 'eannstts and sledse Journey thr,usA
Charles SeItbners Sons. Washington: VIM. Bal.
The strange fascination which the arctic re-
gtons possess for all peoples is something which
every one feels, yet no one can fully explain.
Neither is it likely that the desire to learn the
mysterious secrets OF that barren and inhospua-
BILE land Will ever be satisfied or finally die out.
Hence such narratives as Mr.. elders and the
avldity with which they are read. The main
parts OF the volume before us are already mea-
surably familiar to the public, through the au-
thors letters to the New York Herald; but the
matter there presented has been revised and put
in better shape for permanent use. Mr. Glider
has the faculty OF preserving those details Of
lie and adventure In the high ATTITUDES which
the world desires to know. and the contributions
which his narrative adds to the stock of geo.
graphical and chronological knowledge are such
as TO give II more than O temporary value. The
map and illustrations add much to the satisfac-
ton enjoyed by the reader In following the text.
FIGURES OF THE PAST. From the Leaves Of oA
Brothers. Washington: Robert Beaii. -'''''' !"
Few books, II any, more readable than this
have been published lately. 1t will be specially
relished by elderly persons, and those having .
taste for reminiscential literature. but much OF
1T win be enjoyed by nearly all classes and ages.
This applies notably to the chapters on "wash-
ington Society In 1896" the year the author
made his first visit to the national capital. HIS
description of scenes and events. and his i'm
pressions Of the distinguished people he met
here-ladles as well as gentlemen-are very en-
Pertaining, notwithstanding his notice at the
beginning that he dared not make il as enter
tanning as he could.
HYGIENE FOR GIRLS. By InEs sus p DArm n.
A. Brentano Co.
II there is anything more needed lust now
than knowledge which will give us healthier
and stronger women, We do not know what H
Is. This Or. Davis undertakes to furnish, in the
shape OF sensible and practical advice for the pre-
servation OF the health and development of the
strength OF young girls His book is full of use
ful information and suggestions, conveyed in O
style at once plain and unobjectionable.
MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE from the French Of
OCTAVE FEUuLET. BY CELIA LOGAN. New York:
Whitaker. s''H' W. ~
The author Of - The Romance OF Poor Young
Man" has given here very Frenchy story, cley-
erly enough told, but BY no means up to the
standard of the one which gave him his fame.
Its motive is the experiences of reformed
rome and his wife, who was educated in q con-
vent, and, up to the time oftheir marriage, had
been kept In the most perfect secusion. He,
having drank the wine OF gay and fashionable
life to the lees, imagines that they can settle
down to life OF quiet welded bliss; but she
has longing to taste also OF the pleasures he
has exhausted, and gives herself up to the en-
joyment OF them. Hence comes trouble and
finally a separation. or course a lover enters
upon the scene at the proper time as he must
appear i'm all French stories: but unlike ZoIa's
pictures OF French life, there is no real sin in
this case, and the separated couple become
recOnciled again.
A WORD. ONLYA WORD. Romance. By GEoRo
EBERs From the German, by MARY j. SAFFoKD,
New York: VIM. s. Gottsberger Wash ngton VIM.
Ballantyne Son.
The scene of this interesting story opens in
the Black Forest time, the 10th century, when
the rack, prosecutions Of Jews, witches, ETC.,
prevailed. Uric. the hero, lie q beautiful boy,
son Of q blacksmith, whose long wanderings and
stormy adventures are told In most fascinating
way. Having been traveller, artist, and soldier,
he ends his life quietly at last with his old
father and his young playmate, Ruth, having
found that the word he has been seeking-f1rst
Fame then Art,-was, after ALL Love- and Love
only. Less learned than some of the others the
author has written, 1t 10 one Of his best short
Stories
CONFESSION. BY EsuLk zoLA phfa.
delphis: T. b. Peterson Brothers. Washington:
Z. o. Reid.
lola paints another picture Of the dark side
Of Paris life under the title given above An
that be said In It's favor lie that II vice and its
were always drawn I'm such sombre
colors, sin could never become attractive. The
hero exchanges happiness I'm the country for
fame and misery in the city. and his experience
Is terrible story Of wasted and degraded life.
FATE. Boston: Roberts BrothsrsL
Washington: w. II, Morrison.
(" B0rrincton'S Fate" ayeracas IN we'll with