Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-10-26
Lancaster .gntelligenrrr.
SOME NEW BOOKS.

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One of the handsomest holiday books we
have ever seen Is that which has just is.
sued from the press of Messrs. Harper Il
Brothers. New York, being superb edi'
tion of Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem,
1.-THE Raven" with full page illustrative
drawings by Gustave Dore. Apart from
the subject Of the work aud its treatment
the book itself touches the very acme of |
perfection in the publishers art. IL is |
folio with gilt edges, bound handsomely .
in decorated drab cloth, and printed on ]
fine Bristol board paper. Edmund G. |
Stedman contributes an interesting crit |
iaue OF Poe's merits as poet, together |
with an appreciative attempt to iathom /
the causes that led to the weird un'arihIi- |
ness that characterize all Poe's produc'
tions.
The tragic career of the unfortunate
poet vel Illustrate the theory ot Maeaully /
that poetry is the natural outgrowth oi a
mind which so far as IL concerns itselfwith !
the work. day world, is uusound. Not that |
all poets are necessarily insane. But the |
constant exercise of the imaginative fac |
ulty tends to give It an abnormal develop
ment. And this fact, together with the
eternal communing with self, so necessary
when the mind is struggling To evolve
great thoughts has the consequent tendency
to drive man from campanionship with
his kind. He loses his interest in
the cold. practical business world around
him, aud enjoys himself in an imaginary
Utopia that is peopled by the creatures OF
his own fancy. 1t is little, therefore, 10
beiwondered at under this theory OF the
true poet that Poe should have been an
erratic character, the creature Of his pas
sious, and his checkered career nothing
but contradiction. Indeed, many Of the
peculiar charms Of his works are derived
from the consideration Of his unhappy
life.
Throughout all his productions, how.
ever, one paramount fact stands forth,
around which all others ceutre his incon-
solable grief at the loss of her, of whom
he said, :" And this maiden lived with no
other thought than to love and be loved
by me-" He harps on the same worn
string in Ulla'ume," :" The Bells, "
" "Anuabel Lee" and The Raven" and
refuses to be comtorted. The latter poem
is probably his most famous one, as it
was the rook on which his reputation was
established. IL is weird, fantastic pro
duction whose fascination everyone feels.
yet few can explain. The beautiful
rhythm which charaCterizes IL is one o. It's
chief charms. Some have considered that
the poem is an ideal representation of n
druukard's deirum, with the raven az
the demon drink, which Interpretation. II
not correct, is a. least not improbable.
To accurately fix the status of Poo in
American literature is not an easy task,
but like the average prophet, II may be
stated, that he il more highly thought Of
on the other side of the Atlantic than At
home. Victor Hugo regards him rs tho
prince of American poets, while Other
Loo, rhy IN -
versifier, whose works are destined to en-
joy only an ephsmGral prosperity. Be
this as it may, this handsome edition Of
his best poem with its graphic delineH
tions OF the most striking PASSAGES Oy
Dore will do much TO, popularizs the
poetry of one who mada deep impress
on the literature of his time.
"Tne Bali of the Vegetables"
This is the title of an aggregation Of
short stories in prose and verse, IN which
the various products of the vegetable
kingdom are made to talk and act like
human beings. The stories are taken
from Hlrper's Young People, 81. Nicholas
and other juvenile publications, aud their
good arrangement shows the excellent
taste of the compiler OF the book, Marga-
ret Eytinge. A feature oi the book is il
excellent illustrations. AS a means o
Aut NpullE WIN q VI hlSi ~
useful information, without the dryness q
school routine, this book should prove
valuable addition 10 any DurSeTy library
tine BOY Travellers in the Far East"
The fifth and concluding volume Of thI
excellent series of juvenile books is nov
ready and depicts the adventures OF tn
Boy Travellers in Africa aud their hna
return home. Tue experiences of tht
heroes of the story have been gathered bl
the author Thomas w. Kuox from an ex
haustive study of 20 O'eign lIuis aud the
books torn an interesting ~ well as au
instructive source Oi eatertlinment. The
volumes are hIudsDn,Y bpund and
copiciously illustrated, each being com
plete in itself Among the countries visite,
by the yonthtul wanderers arc japan
China, Siam, Java, Ceylon, India, Egy p
aud Palestine, all OF which are treated il
the light of the latest historical researches
These books fill a long felt want for par.
ents in search OF elevating literature t
supplaut the trashy dime NOEL for boys
"OId Mexico ana Her Lost rrovnoes,"
This is the title gwen to a work b
William Henry Bishop recOunting in deta
the incidents of a journey in Mexico
Southern California aud Arizona. Tn
work is descriptive in character, tn
various points OF interest visited by th
writer coming IN for a large share of hi
attention. The book opens up a mine
information concerning section Of th
American clntinepi little known to tn
general public Handsome illustration
enhance the value OF the bDok aud it i
also elegantly bound All the aboy
works are recent issues from the press u
Harper IL Brothers, New York, and ar
for sale by G. l. Fou Dtrsmith, No. 4
East King street.