The Rock Island Argus., 1883-12-03

NEW BOOKS.


S1.00. The two little dramas, No
Questions Asked, and "More Than They
Bargained For" which make up this vol
ume. are sparkling and full of movement,
and can be arranged easily for parlor or
school presentation. They do not depend
upon complicated stage arrangements or
scenery for interest, but upon the breezy
dialogue and the frequent dramatic situa'
tions Aside from its admirable adapta
tion to use in parlor theatricals, the book
will be full of interest to the general
reader The illustrations are fine, and
the outside harmonizes with the contents
in the way of attractiveness.
"The Miseries of Fo H." just pub
lished by Jansen, McClurg s. Co., Chi
cago, is from the French of Francisque
Saroey; but while it has no small share of
the keenness and wit that mark the satir-
zeal writings of the best French school, it
has no lack Of points of application to our
own country, upon whose system of man
agement of the public business its satire is
as direct and irresistible as it Is neat and
delicate. Perhaps the finest quality of
the work is its Overhowing humor There
are few pages from first to last but will
provoke hearty laugh at some unexpect-
ed bit of sarcasm or fine touch of drolle-
ry The public service of China, as here
in portrayed, affords a, rich field for
study of many peculiarlties of the system
of public plunder; and the "miseries" of
poor Fo Hi, 'functionary" whose chief
misfortune is the possession of certain
fixed notions of fidelity and honor in his
official position, is fine illustration of
the workings of that delightful system,
whether in the Celestial Empire or else
where. Price 81
Mr.. Edward Greey, whose intimate
acquaintance with all matters pertaining
to Japan and Japanese has given him
wide renown in this country, has just
issued Il new book under the title
of The Bear Worshipers. Mr.
Greey has most assuredly chosen a
theme which has never yet been worked
for our benefit, and by the aid of numer-
our illustrations, all of them by native
japanese artists,-he has produced a
volume which, it must be said in justice,
stands alone in our literature. No more
suitable or interesting gift could possibly
be chosen for boy or girl, whose thirst
for knowledge is to be gratified, than this
intensely charming book. We can do no
ihore than merely hint at the contents OF
this book. One must read it through -
and it is safe to say that no boy who has
a chance to read it will ever fall asleep
over its pages, in order to gain a perfect
and full notion of people, whose man
ners, habits, religion, traditions, skill in
the arts, games, sports, and, in fact, the
entire mode of life, are indeed as un-
known to American readers as those of q
race which yet remains to be discovered.
Lee & Shepherd, Boston, publishers.
Many readers of that wonderfully en-
tertaining book of last season entitled
"Our Boys in India, will recall their
final glimpse of the heroes, Scott and
Paul Clayton bidding farewell to the
wharves of Calcutta from the deck Of the
steamer "Tigress." The vessel sailed on
its fateful course to Hong Kong, and was
burned in the China sea- Our Boys es-
capped and their wandcrings and advcn-
lures to the time when they sailed from
Shanghai for Boston are told by Mr.. Har-
ry w. French,-so widely known as a
popular lecturer in his new volume en-
titled "Our Boys in China" and which
Messrs. Lee and Shepard have just pub
lished III form which cannot fail to at
tract youth. The illustrations, of which
there are one hundred and eighty eight,
are prominent feature of the book. They
serve to enlven the authors narrative; as
well as to throw light upon many subjects
untouched by his pen. We know of nc
other single volume that so charmingly
pictures this ever interesting theme; anG
if Our Boys in China" does not prove
success, it will not be the fault of eithel
the author or his publishers. Boards
81. 70: cloth $3.50
Speech and Manners for Home ant
School. By Miss E. S. Kirkland, author
of "Short History of France, =" ''Six Little
Cooks" etc. Price, $100 This book
by the popular author of six Little
Cooks" and 'Dora's Housekeeping
with which it is issued in uniform style)
is intended to call the attention of young
people to the Importance of correct us'
of their mother tongue, and to furnisl
some hints in regard to the most common
violations of good breeding. The reader
will not improbably find themselve
science stricken at the thought of thei
, own frequent sins against ''The King
English" not to speak of the points con-
. nected more especially with juvenile lif
, and comprised under the general name o
Manners. Published by Jansen, McClur!
S & Co., Chicago,