Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-15
LITERARY NOTES.

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pleasantly-conceiyed rose-colored sketches OF
life and society at the national capital 1t diff
fers from most of its predecessors, also in that
| it is thoroughly good natured and contains
nothing OF the seamy side of life. It gives no
glimpse of anything bad. or vulgar or common
there are no unprincipled scheming women no
coarse boorsh Ignorant men. No shameless
lobbyist strides across the stage: office seekers
do not tire with their importunites: no barren
boarding houses with their mixed occupants are
exposed to view. All is lovely, and elegant and
serene. The curtains are drawn aside to dis
close enchanting visions of the higher plane of
the social world.-that fashionable holy of HOLES
where none but the truly blue looded Old fami-
lies and army and navy people. and diplomats
ana other nice people ''Out oftrade' are allowed
TO enter There is no plot 10 the book. strictly
speaking Its incidents and the two or three
misunderstanding between lovers involved in
the narrative are all developed, and cleared I'D
in turn. through the medium of a correspond
| ence which is supposed to take place between a
young married lady and her single companion
| from New York, who come to Washington (and
| have perfectly lovely time'O and some
| friends residing in New York and London, with
an answer or two from the latter which seem
to be necessary for the unities of the undertake
ing The whole action transpires in Washing
ton. the time being the period embraced be-
tween January 3 and June H. 1888. Several
real personaSes are introduced 10y name. to-
gether with number of fictitious characters.
ing originals; and the proper amount OF love
making, with the usual happy ending is worked
into the narrative in order to give it a vital
| interest. The plan adopted by the author is
not new one. and when successfully carried
out 1t serves its purpose admirably. Judged
from critical point of view however. Mrs. Lin
coin does not seem to be quite equal to the
task she has set herself. Although purporting
| to be written by six different personS-four
ladies and two gentlemen-there is striking
CO in In ot,-,n OF In, ln+f,
Barring a weakness for introducing French
phrases and slight flavor of place-worship, they
are clever enough examples ofepiSt0lary accom-
pShmentS in their way; but on their face they
are all written by the same hand, though signed
with different names. The strongly marked in
dividual characteristics which should mark the
letters written by group of half dozen reO-
PIE are noticeably lacking in the pages of "Her
Washington Season." 1t is, however, under
stood to be good form with the high-bred
sweNs born in the purple to destroy all individ-
uality, and shape character and style in one
common mold; so that it is possible Mrs Lin
coins representation on this point may be cor
rect after ALL
BY-W NAYS. OF NATURE AND LIFE. By C1AEEScE
ngton: A Brentano Co.
Mr.. Demng. for several years an editorial
writer on the n. Y. Erening Post. and now the
editor Of the New Haven he,rs has collected
under this head thirty-two letters, written by
him at various times and from many widely
scattered places to the first-named paper. They
are, however, superior in style and matter to
most articles Of their class. having been prepar-
ed originally with great care. as part ola scheme
OF study of nature and human nature which Mr.
Deinng prosecuted with earnestnesS for num-
Der OF years. The letters. therefore. are really
essays on curious features of life. based on orig
mai investigation on the spot by one whose in
clnatton and circumstances equipped him for
! tIn fDSl in,
ton is unique; and it is one that well repays the
reader. who, under judicious hands. is guided
from land to land and up and down the strata of
society. THE Giant Tides of Fundy" THE Ba-
hama Sponge-Fishers," and The Buried Forests
of New Jersey" are titles that show the au-
thor's researches in natural history; A British
Election Day." "A Yankee Town Meeting:" Tire
| Shoestring District" and other articles of po-
litical cast, enable him to show how varied and
thorough his studies have been In this depart-
ment; and in his lighter sketches, particularly
those that touch on fishing. whether for cod on
the Newfoundland banks or for the scarce and
wary trout In Connecticut brooks, the writer is
very happy.
HissT 1-,FII HANDBOOK OF ITALIAN SOUP
MemR y of the French institute etc Illustrated
WIN Ballanyne Son.
By his previous works on Tuscan Sculptors"
and 'Italian Sculptors" Mr. Perkins demon
strated his fitness for his present undertaking.
which, in turn, fully justifies the expectations
they raised. The task has been well per-
formed. Embracing over four hundred pages
his present work completely covers the
plastic art of Italy before the revival. and
during the Gothic period the early re-
nascence, and the later renascence,-in other
words, term Of about eleven hundred
years, extending from the beginning of the fifth
to the end of the sixteenth century. From the
character and purpose of his book, Mr.. Perkins
treatment OF his subject is naturally technical
rather than popular; yet the biographical
sketches are sufficiently full as to data and
interesting in style, and the descriptive parts
are clear and instructive, while his meaning is
emphasized by frequent and well-executed Illus
trations. 1t is rather to be regretted that the
author did not carry his work down to the
present time. or at least until later period than
that chosen for its close. 1t is true, doubtless.
that there have been no really great Italian
sculptors since then; but there certainly have
been some whose works are worthy of mention
and to have made the record complete though
the additions might not have been many nor
important, would have added materially to its
value.
RECoLLECTIONS OF a NAVAL OFFICER. 1s4I-
ls63 BY CAPT. WILLIAM HARw.R PARKER. author
OF Elements of Soamanship" etc. New York:
tyne Son.
POLITICAL. RECoILECTIONs 1910 to 1872. By
GEORGE ". JULIAN. Chicago: Jansen, Mcclure 4
Both the works here named will have more
than ordinary local interest on account of the
rather Intimate relations formerly existing be-
tween the author of each and the national
capital. Captain Parkers recollections are
especially entertaining. covering as they
do period of considerable activity in
the old navy and stirring service in
that of the late Confederate States They
abound Ia lively well-told anecdotes. and odd
experiences. social and otherwise. on sea and
shore, and convey, wthal. good deal of new
and interesting information bearing upon the
war between the states. Mr. Julian's book is
also noteworthy addition to our inner polit-
ical history Mr.. Julian was always a man of
strong prejudces. and his views of things are
taken from stricy partisan standpoint: but he
Is so frank and decided in stating them that the
reader is In no danger Of being misled. And.
after all, narrative from the pen Of such man
Is apt to be more interesting than one from that
OF q writer of more moderate and conservative
stamp. since the former is sure to have q tone
ana Vigor which in the nature Of things the lat
ter cannot possess. Mr.. Julians "reminiscences
are, therefore, pretty likely TO be enjoyed hv his
readers, whether they accept all his conclusions
or not.
CHARACTERISTICS. Sketches and Essays ByAP
RUSSELL, author of Library Notes" Bust N;
Houghton, Miftiin & Co. W3shington Robert Beall
A very delightful volume for reading at odd
moments is this, embracing as it does anecdotes
observations, etc, which one would otherwise
have to seek for in many and widely separated
places It ia much in the nature 81 - scran