The National tribune., 1883-12-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

is the Calumet OF the J0Geau, collection
of poetical legends, by 2. w. Norris, for some
five years superintendent of the Yellowstone
National Park The poetry, as might be ex-
pected, has something OF q Western flavor and
the diction is lacking in polish, but among the
poems, nevertheless, are some of very consid-
cradle merit, as, for instance, Gallant Charlie
REYNOLDS" There is also to be found in this
book an admirable glossary of Indian Names
words and Western proyincialisms, together
with guide to the Yellowstone National Park.
From James r. Osgood & Co., Boston, we
have new and superb edition of Tennyson's
poem The Princess 1t contains more than
one hundred choice illustrations, the joint work
of the following celebrated artists f. 5. Church,
+. Dielmau, Harry Fem, Mary Hallock Foote,
A. Fredericks. Arthur 3. Frost, E. III. Garrett,
w. ST. J. Harper S. p. Ipsen, G. Perkins, II.
Sandman, L. b. ScheH and J. ID. Woodward.
There are few subjects that afford a wider
range for the artists pencil than THE Princess
and the illustrators of the work have certainly
been equal to their opportunities. The drawings
are not simply faithful reproductions of the
scenes described in the text but are full OF senti
nentand poetic expression, and they greatly
enhance the pleasure derived from perusal of
the poem The book is richly bound, the typog
Taphy as perfect as it well could be, and q
handsomer gift book it would be difficult to
find.
From James r. Osgocd & Co. we also have
" Red Letter DAYS Abroad" by John l.. Stod-
dard proflsely illustrated. Mr. Stoddard is
one OF our most charming writers, and these
descriptions OF out-of-the-way places on the Con-
tinent, written during intervals Of repose from
travel, are unusually entertaining and instruct
i've The first of the volume is occupied with
the story of his travels in Spain, and there is
besides most interesting account OF the pro-
duction of the Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau
in 1880, and OF visit which the distinguished
traveller paid to the cities ofthe Czar-St Peters
burg and Moscow. Books of travel are plenti-
ful, but few indeed possess more than con-
temporaneous interest. This book of Stod-
dard's, however, is unique in its way and will
long retain its freshness. This also IS an adj
mirable gift book. and well suited to the holi-
day season. 1t is handsomely bound-very
much i'll the style Of THE Princess, published
| by the same house.
Among our minor writers one of the best
known is doubtless Mr.. VIM. Winter, the ac-
complished critic of the New York Tribune,
and his latest volume, entitled English RAM
! bles and Other Fugitive Pieces III Prose and
/ Verse" published by James r. 0sgood & Co.,
! Boston, VIII doubtless find many admiring
/ readers IN his English Rambles he tells of
I his visits 10 the old churches and literary
1 shrines of London: to the Harp Tavern, which
was the haunt of Edmund Kean TO the Stoke
Pogis Church, which was the fayorite seat OF
/ the poet Gray to the grave of Coleridge; to
Barnet battlefield to Canterbury; to the
shrines of Warwickshire, and of strolls through
! the streets of London in the dead of night In
/ this little volume also will be found some
/ touching personal reeoleetions of Longfeliow,
/ as we'll as an eul0gy on the poet. Among the
/ Fugitive Poems will be found some appre
ciatiye verses on John Mccullough, Lawrence
4 Barrett, and William Warren.
Every novel reader viii recall the phenome
nal success of that dainty little story, 9 One
/ Summer which made It's appearance so unex.
| pectedly few seasons ago. Like Helen:
| Babies" by Habberton it was unique pro
duction in the field of literature and without
| being work of genius, touched those chords Of
/ the public heart which respond most quickly
to the player 1t was both sentimental and
matter of fact; it was serious and playful; il
was grave and gay; it was shallow and deep
/ il was piquant and pathetic. People who had
! a few minutes to spare in this busy world
read it, enjoyed it, and praised it extraya
gantly. The author, Blanche Willis Howard
suddenly found fame thrust upon her But il
Was perhaps after all q misfortune, since, once
known 10 the public, greater things were ex
pected of her than there gTas any warrant fol
anticipating. And so it came about that he
next story, Aunt Serena" was disappoint
ment, and people could not understand how i
was that the author of One Summer coul(
write book so lacking in the qualities which
made ''0De Summer a success. We very
much fear that something Of the same feelin.
viii qualify the verdict on her third and las
novel, entitled 'Guenn," published by jane
Il. 0sgood & CO., Boston. The scene of thi
story is laid in France-in the little Breton
village OF Plouyenec and the heroin
Gaenn is a village beauty who attracts tn
attention of strolling American artist
Hamor-who is as cold and passionless as hi
art He admires &Ae rare loSnisness OF tn
girl and perceives in her a splendid subject 70
his brush, while she, taking this artistic admi
ration for a warmer feeling, falls desperatel,
in love with him. The day comes whel
Hamor completes his picture, which is destine
10 be the great artistic success of the season
and betakes himself to Paris without on
thought of the girl he has left behind him
Imagine. If you please, all the misery that
likely to result from association of this sort
and it will scarcely fall short of that whc
the author has piled up in this story
The book is not without a certain inter
, est, but the interest is painful and tn
descriptions which Miss Howard gives {
Breton scenery and Breton folks by no mean
atone for the unloveiness of the story itsel
| Why Miss Howard should have gone to Franc
10 find theme-and that an unpleasant them
for her story is more than we can under
: stand. Il is clear from this last book of hel
that her genius is not of the dramatic order
:, ana that ner skill lies rather In the dellned
5 ton Of simple and familiar types of characte
Z within small and contracted area of observe
) ton, than the painting Of big canvasses file
with large and stiff figures. Miss Howard hs
cleyerness, sentiment, and certain sort
, humor, but she misapplies her powers whe
she employs them upon such themes as thu
: she has worked or 50 painfully, and so great
| 10 the distress of her readers, in this story {
/ village life in France.
!, OF making books about the war there seen
e to be no end, but IN " Birds Eye View
r Our Civil War;" by Theodore Ayrault Dodg
S of the Regular army, we have an outlined hi
Q tory of the rebellion which is perhaps the mo
concise and compact of any that has yet bee
published. As a history Of the war the studer
viii scarcely find it satisfactory, since it DR.
n fesses to be only an outline of events, and
course, the author does not attempt to DEF
y with causes, as causes, but simply narrates an
a describes events ia their order Of occurrenc
as key, however, or a guide to the study
military operations, it is really invaluable, f
). il recounts the operations of our armies III
e only in the East, but in the West with accl
! racy and spirit, and gives the reader a Gle;
idea of their relation to each other and the
n comparative Importance. Although perhaps III
so intended, it must be considered as an e.
n cellent introduction or preface to study
l. the war by campaigns, and when read iii come
ton, for instance, with the Scribner's series
with Swinton'S Army Of the Potomac and q
history of the Army of the Cumberland,
IS win serve an important purpose as a boo
h Of reference. The publishers, James Z. @
n good & Co., Boston, have issued it in handson