Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-06
LITERARY NOTES.
DOCTOR GRIMSHAWE'S SECRET. A Romance
By NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. Edited. with Pref zee
and Note, by JULIAN HAwTHCRNE. Boston
J-mes r. OsgoOd Il Co. Washington: w. Ba.lan-

BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. Edited. with Pref zee
james r. 0sgood Co. Washington: W. Baian.
tyne son.
Anything written by Hawthorne will attract
attention; and this posthumous work, fragmen-
tary though it be. will prove no exception to
the rule. 1t is marked by many of the charac-
teristcs of its author, and contains some of his
finest touches: but it also furnishes internal evil
dence that the writer must have regarded it as
one of his failures Whether he would have
finished 1t. had he lived is perhaps open to
question; but it is pretty clear that. standing as
1t Is. and considered as ali acquisition to current
literature it is not fairly entitled to the conSe-
Guence claimed for it. 1t bears to literature
the same relation that unfinished painting by
the hand OF q master bears to art. The latter
possesses qualities and throws out hints and
suggestions Of the greatest interest to other
artists, which are entirely lost on the ordinary
observer. The brother painter is quick to un-
derS; AID the meaning Of each broad stroke and
delicate touch, to weigh and compare values.
and to fOresce the pCSSibii Of the cOncpEtion
as a complete whole; the common eye sees only
patches OF color unmeaniEg lines here and there.
and blank spaces between. So with doctor
Glimshawc's Secret" 1t has an interest to the
ANALYTICAL mind. as illustrating its authors men,
tai processes aid his methods OF work, which it
can never have for the general reader who cares
for results themselves, rather than for the means
CT securing them.
THE HOUSE OF A MERCHANT PRINCE. A Novel
OF Ngs H"rk p Wi1L!.M EESII e, HOP. author
Washingtol Robert Beall.
While Mr.. Bishops story may not rank with
the highest III the mind of novel readers who
dote upon plot and revel in stirring incident
and while it may really lack some essential ele-
ments in construction, it is nevertheless very
clever production in its way It's way is to
''dep;ct more the inner and less the outer life
in the language OF the author, who gives
accordingly some very graphic portraits of
people one meets in New York. and sketches Of
what IS called the society OF that city. As it
deals mostly-as must necessarily be the
case-wth tire vulgar herd of newly and excess
siyeiy rich, the picture. while it is faithful. is
not pleasant to contemplate. That however
is not the fault of the artist but of the period in
which he lives
FRtNCATEI.I rs MODERN COOK A Practical
Gnda to the Cn,inGry Art IN all its Branches By
5rated Ga:sin an chef Cox TUT to Her Majty.
Sie:cTt3; Queen ct tn;,and. from the Te tn Lon
trs. Washington; A. Brentano 4 Co.
With this portiy volume in the house. a rea-
sonabie amount of patience. and Il little market
money. there seems to be no reason why every
body shouldn't live, if not as well as a railway
nabob, at least as we'll as the average crowned
and scope can be formed when it is stated that
it consists OF nearly six hundred pages, ami con-
tdnS some sixteen hundred recipes suitable
DIS OF fare Ter all seasons of the year. a large
number OF illustrations Tor the guidance OF those
who require other Instructions than the very
eXDllcit language Of the text. and glossary
aud complete index.
EyS. N,rIH MITCHELL, nd. Bosom: Houghton,
M1ifi-n Il Co. Washington: Robert B.ali.
There is something in this little volume that
recalls TeN,yson. especially in the title-pIcce,
which pleasantly recites an Old legend of the
Forest OF Fontaileblcau. and THE Striving Of
Guineverc." Only a reminder however. DR..
Mitchell lacks both the mental quality and the
gut OF song necessary for the conception and
expression OF true poetry. Some of his efforts
are fair enough reading us tail pieces for
magazine or in the poets corner of country
newspaper. but we are unable to see why there
shGul'! be any call for them in book form.
OLE BULL: Memoir. BY sara c. BULL. Bo ton:
H HoIsh;' H. Mi''" & Co. Washington: Robert
This handsome octave volume pleasantly re-
calls most picturesque and interesting per-
sonaiity for many years Familiarity before the
people of the United States. His widow has
performed the duty set herself with arectio,,ate
devotion. and with intelligence and good taste
as well. The memoir is a full sketch OF the ca
reer OF The great violinist intersperscd with
many characteristic anecdotes and Incidents
and contains also his ''EiOiin Notes. and paaer
10y Dr. Crosby, explaining the peculiar anatomy
of the celebrated artist his pose and his met .iod
of holding the violin.
AB oK TIE hAW OF sT TO , pos
Brothers 'i'Ni
Not only is Mr. Dos Passos' treatise recoc-
nized by the legal profession as a standard au-
thOrty on the subjects to which it is devoted.
but it seems to be regarded as a necessary part
of the outfit of cOunting-rOom in the financial
centers OF the north. Considering the number
of persons in Washington now interested in
STOCK operations, there must soon be- if there
Is not now, demand for such a work here.
JANET. A POOR HEIRESS By SOPHIE MAY 10
ton: Lee T. Shepard. Washin ;ton J. d. Free Jr.
Sophie May is justly popular with young
readers, nearly all of whom are familiar with
one or more of her previous stories, and this
seems to be regarded by common consent as one
of her best. There is a pretty thread of lovo
running through the book, with some good bits
OF character drawing, and healthy tone per
vades the whole. 1t is cleverly illustrated by
Miss Jessie McDermott, formerly, if not now. of
this city.
PHI, LIS BROWNE. By FLORA L. SHAW. Boston:
Roberts b Others. Washington: W. H. Morrison.
"A "CHSHtiti stoly, ny Tie AUTHOR Oh ''HeCtOr'
and Castle Blair, with hearty healthy coun-
try lass for its heroine bracinr out-ofdoor ia
vOr. and incident enough to make it interesting
to larger class than youthful readers of her
own sex. for whom the book appears to have
been chiefly written.
PAUL AND PERSIS. By MARY f. BRUSH. Boston:
Lea -hepard. Waslington j. d. Ere, If.
This prettly-tOld story in no wise relates to
the pcrsonages named or the salutation sent in
XVI Romans. as might be Inferred from it's
title, by the Biblical reader but to the trials and
struggles Of the settlers in the Mohawk Valley
of New York, during the period of the Revolu-
tionary War.
LIFE OF WASHINGTON. By LEONARD HENLEY
New York: John w. Lowell Company. Washington:
j. d. Free, tr.
A short well-summarised biography of the
"Father of his Country" made up. as the author
states in his preface, from the material furnished
by Marshall Sparks, Irving. Bancroft, Lecky.
Green, and other biographers and historians.
Its brevity, If it had no other merit. would com
mend it to many in these hurrying times
The Oahspe Publishing Association of New
York have recently issued two volumes
which ought to attract the attention of both
the charitably disposed and the law makers
~s,1l To- L