Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-28
LITERARY BOSTON.
ing.

Correspondence OF the Free Press and Times.l
There is a tide in the affairs of men which
taken OF the food leads on to fortune" Thus
saith the retail book seller, as he sapiently
lodges around the corner and buyeth up his
share of the two or three thousand copies of
the last popular novel, which said popular
novel happens to be Crawford's, about
which more anon.
1t is Christmas-card time, and the counters
are filled and so are the streets, with buyers.
A year ago wrote Of Lee & Shepard's
Golden Floral" SERIES and very nearly
nearly exhausted my lexicon Of compliment
tary adjecuves they have now issued new
series, and what shall do for more?
s. Il. Casino has issued set quite indie
pendent of these, although in the same gen.
eral style, one OF which, the "Fringed Gen.
tiau," by William Cullen Bryant, with an
excellent likeness of him upon the cover
has in my humble estimation as nearly reach
ed perfection in harmony OF color and
capable of attaining. 1t was my choice
for my own special gift, and beyond that ca
praise it further?
Lee & Sheperd have issued cute little
volume under the title of Boys of Thirty
five," by Edward Henry Elwel, which is a
series OF "reminiscences Of juvenile life in
Portland, in the old days when the war of
1912 was not such very ancient date. 1t is
very bright and Lively reading
They have also issued novel by Aman-
dy Douglas, but the first edition was sold out,
press copies and all in advance Of publlca-
ton.
J. r. Osgood & Co. have published the
Little Girl among the old Masters" with
introduction and comments, by w. ID. How
ellis. This is series Of sketches made by
tcn-ycar old, without instruction or sus-
gcstions from any onei she apparently had
done them in her leisure moments, after
wandering through foreign galleries and alb
sorbipg their general educational effect and
the impressions which they make upon the
juvenile mind is very quantity betrayed by
these pencil memoranda
To come back to ID Lothrop Il Co. again,
Margaret Sidney has written juvenile story,
"Who told it to me" designed for children,
from Is to To- They have also issued Sun
shine" by Mrs. louisa Craign-anothei
Juvenile, with a flavor of Miss Alcott in it.
That takes us around to Houghton &
Miffltu, as Roberts Bros, have closed out
their list for the year. They have issued
Edgar Fawcctts "Ambicious Woman" which
ran asa serial 10 the New York Tribune, as 6
rather lengthy and cynical study OF socla
life in that city, in his now somewhat vel
known style.
They have also issued f. Marion Craw
| ford's latest novel ITO Leeward"-how many
of your non-uautical readers will not call thai
To Toward Crawford has made rapit
advance in his writing since the publication
of "Mr. Islocs." 1t is far more finished
work than that whimsical production, OF
| "Dr. Chudus" Considered as a work Of
art 1t is very well written. 1t gives an absurd
| little dig at the heredlca,ion-fDr women
| idea at the outset, which, considering hi:
connection with Julia Ward Howe is, to say
the least, very undulfu while he apparent
| ly has respect Tor the doctrines OF lIegel
| We're that all, however, he could be pardon
ed easily but the whole motive of the
book jars upon the minds of the Puritan
descendant. 1. is a Roman story; and pict
ures life in the aristocratic part of that city
accurately as far as can judge, social life a
all events-but trust not moral.
| The plot lies Ia Il nut shell a countess; hel
brother who falls in love with cosmppolit'
girl of half English parcntasc an itineran
author, who seems to have been rather al
object of admiration on the part OF his make
with fatal capacity for falling in love at TN
first slight provocatiOn, and knowledge o
his own weakness IN that respect, but no
suffl ,icnt moral strength tokeep out ofdinger
Marc Antonio, the Italian husband, seem
to be worthy, in fact an honest man, an
honestly in love, yet very commonplace
While Leonora, whom he mirries does not ar
pear to have cared for him particularly, bu
concludes that it would be nice to be marie
and treats the whole matter as course
philosophy along with her other studies.
She had any moral sense, she does not q!
pear 10 show it, if shc had any i'd
of duty she seems equally Oblivion
of it. When our wandering D)n Jua
comes along, and is unsuspectlngly invite
to become family friend by Marc An,oni,
she falls in love with him as readily and CT
l venti lnally us though she were her husband
sister; and enjoys their little stolen inte
views, their boat ride, add secrecy with q
air that "stDlen fruit is always the sweetest
while her husband dreams along in life, 10
ing, respectable, rich and dull. His slsie
| yell aware Of the character of Jull'
! Bat:sc mic, for he was formerly her love
tries to play the guardian angel in trl
V sis,crlv way which is unsuccessful throus
no fault of her own when she fails she
: obliged to disclose all to her brother, az
with rare nobcuess the strives to SHE
o Leonora from she consequences, and Tor
+ time is success vi, but when did sto
# wall avail between determined lovers
Net result, more interviews, and
G clnpcmcnt, and some very vivid pl
:. lure writing, aud the husband, after VI
1t searching, becomes mildly insane, Ana
y that condition finds her at last. The lnsa
; ity is pcrccptbly introduced - account
= his Internationally Of proceeding to she
!. BltiscJmbo ins cad of sending him CHI
u, lepgc, while Leonora saves her lovers III
=" at the risk Of her own, dying without /
50 slightest expression Of peniteuce, Batiscom
I, rec lvering meantime from serious woun
81 ard "nDw he is writing novels again, a
Il smoking his cigarettes, between the phrase
ii tn help his ideas, and to stimulate his il
x. ag,uaiion But here comes the grave fa'
TT in h. h Ok. l. is not immoral, 1t is simr
}" immoral. There is MT only no less
N preached, which is well enough, but the
ID con be none drawn, if taken nj the autho
q. standpoint. If Diana and her brother h
only taken things pnilosophically a
81. said "good radiance all would seeming
ar have gone well. For this lack OF hum
- sympathy, the loss is to be computed OF
VI IN the impression left aud the ia
We is unsavory. Ii book neither amuses. !
teaches, nor is au honest endeavor to sol
ne some earthly or ntarthly problem, Is It
a failure? Car any amount of skillf II hal
m ling compensate for that 2 1t may sell,
xt has this one. b. the thousand, it may be ?
cuuirily bonanzi. 1t may be, as this
rs is, fine hi, of dissection of a private p
Ie- cto,ogcul subject; study for the authC
sell.cducation. us sketch may be made
ly the purpose o: determining by experim
certain effects # color and design which
artist is not sure Of, with no intention OF
III passing beyond the door of the studio. bu
ny TAN hardly he considered II successful nc
Tor sending ont into the world, an evidr
al If he mental growth Of the author.
on vet, /, woult have taken 50 little-not Ia
doaen pages in all u have made this Doc
grand success.
ger NERIrA
V -------
he uiurr, KILLED by "A snow slide.