The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


an English story entitled Vice Versa Is
described the droll experiences of stern Brit
ism parent who by some sort of hOcus pocus had
been compelled to exchange places with his SON
as an inmate of boys boarding school, and it
was not only full OF the keenest sort of humor
but of the soundest sort Of sense The authors
literary style was lacking somewhat in polish
perhaps, but ne displayed nevertheless an in
innate knowledge of human nature. and his
delineatiOn of individual character was siugu-
larry happy Considered merely Is an Indirect
appeal for reform in the education of youth it
was Of the most impressive character. yet it
bad all the charm Of q novel written simply for
amusement. 10 Is natural, therefore, that we
should turn 70 a new book from the same pen
with the most pleasant anticipati0us. and We
are glad to be able to say that these anticipa-
tons have been fully realized. Mr. Anstey's
new book, which bears the rather curious but
quite apt title Of The Giants Robe is a de-
cided improvement over its predecessor alike
IN the subject and style of treatment Besides,
it brings the reader into contact with society
OF quite different sort from that depicted in
" Vice Versa and confirms the impression on
the mind of the reader that the author IS a
man Of vigorous thought. large observation
and fine analytical powers The dexterity
with which the plot Is developed is evidence
that he possesses a strong dramatic instinct
The story turns upon the circumstance that a
young lawyer about to leave England en- a
visit to his fathers plantation in CeyI0n con-
ides TO a trusted friend who also has literary
longings but not literary culture, the Mss. of .
novel which he has written in his leisure mo-
ments, with Instructions to forward il to a GER
tain well known book house and make arrange
ments, If possible, for its publication but on no
account to allow his real name to be announced
rs that Of the author He sails, news comes
that the steamer on which he took passage is
lost at sea, and the trusted friend in a m0mens
of weakness publishes the book under a nom ds
plume of his own. It makes literary sensa-
/ ton; the supposed author finds himself sud-
denly famous. Yet his treacheFv weighs heav-
lily on his conscience. The fear Of being
detected Ia his imposition haunts him. 4 rival
sutton for the hand of the lady to whom his
friend, on leaving England, had been about 70
declare his love, suspects his secret and
at last succeeds IN penetrating it. Then
comes word that his friend was not lost
at sea after all: he IS on his way to Eng
! land and is about TO land when the news
arrives. 1t would be difficult TO imagine more
dramatic situation than this presents, but the
author reserves his finest effect for the de-
nOuement, which is as touching and pathetic
as 1t Is terrible. Necessarily the narrative IS
N some respects painful and distressing but it
/ Is none the less OF absorbing interest and in
/ its lighter passages extremely entertaining
/ Unless we are greatly mistaken Mr.. AnsteY
/ Whose real name is said TO be Guthrie4 Is
novelists of the day. The vignettes with which
/ the chapters are introduced, while unambitiogs
I in design, very happily illustrate the quaint
[ humOr Of the text. The publishers are ID. Ap-
/ pleton & Co., New York, and the book can be
had in this city at BFentanO Bros.
/ Messrs. Charles Seribner's Sons. New York,
/ have just added a fourth volume 10 their new
/ series of Stories by American Authors and
4 it is quite worthy of the excellent COMPANY to
-. ~
resented are Constance Fenim0re Wo0lson, III.
Q. Bunner, n. P. Willis. Mary Hallock FOofe,
/ ]. w. De Forest and Noah Brooks, aud the
stories are among their best In fact, they bear
| the impress of their authors individuality even
more distinctly than those which have proceed
/ ed them. Miss Grief" for instance, is par
t ticularly striking example Of Miss W0olsOn's
method of work, and certainly the prettineSs
/ and daintiness of Mr. Burners literary con-
ceits have never been better illustrated than in
/ his Love in Old Cloathes.p As for the story
/ by ". p Willis-"Two Buckets in the Well"
1t recalls period in the history Of our Iitera-
/ taFe which was alike more sentimental and
/ ambitious than the present although not per-
haps so healthy or vigorous. Mr. w De Forests
Inspired Lobbyist" has lost nothing By the
/ ten years and more that have elapsed since it
| first appeared. The inspired lobbyist is still a
! familiar figure IN our politics. As for the con-
/ GLIDING story Of the volume Lost in the
J.
| tive style as Moan Brooks employed It. The
Seribner's are entitled to great credit for the
nice Determinations they have made in the
selection Of this series. Thus far they have
displayed not only the most refined taste but
sound practical judgment, and these volumes
are as sure TO delight and please the general
reader as to satisfy the exactiOns Of the critical
The price Of each volume is but fifty cents.
For sale in Washington by W. I'll. Morrison,
40 Pennsylvania avenue.
From ]. B. Lippincott & Co. Philadelphia.
we have new and handsomely bound volume
of travels by Mr.. W. G. Falkner illustrated
with steel engraving Of the author and sew
eral photO-engravings Of persons composing his
party at various periods of his trip. Mr. Falk-
ner, who took in the principal sights IN the
beaten path of European travel appears to
have enjoyed himself hugely, and, like the big
hearted American citizen that he is. does not
conceal from the public even his most intimate
impressions and feelings. We know precisely
what his sensations were at the Coliseum in
Rome, among the lazaroni Of Venice, on the
top of Mount YesuviUs, in the Mont Gents
tunnel, at Mrs. JaFley's WaxWOrks-and even
at sea when the ship began to lureh. 1t is
all set down with great amplitude Of detail,
and upon reaching the last chapter one feels
that he has got Colonel Falkner's exact meas
ure, and is liable to come across him at any
hotel on the continent The one thing we ike
about MS bO0k IS the cOtOneIS Self-aSSerrfOu-
1t is a comfortable thing to know that he
has taken the coneeit out of those effete
mOnarchies across the water Better Rapid
Ramblings' without any exact knowledge
TO show for them, than that sort of foreign
travel which results IN the aping Of old
world idiosyneraeies and follies. Mr. FaIk-
ner returned, as he set out, an American
citizen and none the worse for his ac-
quaiEtanee with foreign guide-b00ks. The
book, which is interesting rather because Of
what Mr.. Falkner says of the places he visited
than what they really are, can be had by ad-
dressing the publishers.
The Crime of Henry Yane-a Study with a
Moral, by j. S, of Dale the author OF Guera-
dale" has recently been issued by Charles
Seribner's Sons, New York. The story has
many strong points. The dialogue is extremely
bright; the characters are few and the action
rapid; the denOuement logical and strong.
The book is not simply we'll written the author
is plainly master of literary style, and the
flow of the story IS easy and graceful. OF plot
there is little or none. Indeed from first to last
the interest is concentrated on the progress of
a eourtship, the uncertainty and doubt con-
ce-ning the result of which constitute the
charm of the story. 1t is a reinstatement of the
old question, VIII she marry him?" and the
author has handled it after very novel fashion.
1t is at once pleasing, exasperating, disagree
able and entertaining, but it, as he really seems
to think, there IS a moral involved, it must DO
of microscopic proportions. Readers of Guern-