Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-14
New Publications.
RED-LETTER DAYs ABROAD. BY John L. sioddard,
author Of the "stoddsrd Ltctures.n With 100
illustrations. James X. Osgood n 90.

REp.LErrEn DArs ABROAD. BY John L, sioddard,
author OF the "stoddard Ltctures.' With 1870
Illustrations. James X. Osgood a 90.
We need TO speak In terms OF praise Of
'Red Letter Days Abroad" only 10 those
who have never heard one or more Of Mr..
Stoddard's lectures. To some It has been
one Of the wonders of the amusement season,
year after year, that Mr.. atoddard could so
readily fll the largest hall In the largest cities
OF America, and among others the American
| Academy OF Music In Philadelphia with au-
diors of his Illustrated Travel Lectures. II
has not been 30 much question hs to who
| should go, as to who from lack Of room, should
remain at home. 1t is certain that no lectures
| have ever been given to the American public
| that were so popular as his, and at the same
| time that combined so many Of the best liter
airy, artistic and oratOrical elements. His de-
| scriptions are always so graphic and pictur-
| esque, his concurrent thoughts 80 Just and
| suggestive, and'his style so elevated and fin
ished. lie omits nothing that is needed to
complete his presentation Of the subject In
hand. lie does not, like the average lecturer,
read from manuscript, but, being complete
master OF his subject he presents 1t as per-
feet, rounded whole. We know of no great
| er intellectual pleasure OF q receptive de-
| scription than 10 listen to one Of his travel
orations. The pictorial representations which
he has thrown upon screen, illustrate bis
| lectures, rather than the latter describe the
former. The unities are always preserved.
One listens to thoroughly connected and
highly wrought story of travel, and the pic
| lures arc flashed before his eyes in quick sue
cession by way of iutensifyiug the effect "
| the spoken word. We have no doubt that
every one who has heard one OF Mr.. Stod-
dard's lectures, will desire to possess copy
of his "RcG-Lettcr Days Abroad !" and well
| they may, for there is the same aptness OF
| thought, vivdness of description and literary
| finish We are first taken through Sunny
Spain (and Spain just now is being much
printed about, volume after volume, upon its
comparatively little known scenery and peo-
pie, coming from the press). We read about
Toledo, Cordova, Seville, the ALEXANDRA,
Granada and Gibraltar. Nothing could be
better than mis- wotd-pictures OF these his.
toric and romantic cities and places Aud
they are beautifed by accompanying wood
engravings of original design and
remarkable excellence. These supply
the place of those provided by the magic
lantern at his public lectures. Next he por-
trays the performance of the Passion Play
at ber-Ammergau in 1880, which drew to-
gcther about two hundred thousand men and
women, through motives Of mixed curiosity
and plety-the former largely prevailing.
His account of the play, his portraits of the
leading characters who participated 10 it,
his pictures Of scenes from the play, and his
descriptions Of the peculiar surroundings, all
are replete with the deepest interest. The
volume concludes with description of the
two leading "cities of the Czar"-St. Peters
burg and Moscow. The same Distinguishing
characteristics mark these rs the preceding
papers. No narrative could be smoother,
and at the same time more vigorous. We
take pleasure in drawing especial attention
to "Rcd-Le;ter Days Abroad" as a most ap.
proprate gilt book for the approaching sea
son. Its merits are so varied and striking
and its beauty so apparent, that it should
and doubtless will, prove one Of the mos,
popular volumes of the year.-From "Th,
Efust0ne" Phildlelphid