Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-24
LITERARY NOTES.
HENRY IRvIN@s IMPRESSIONS or

HENRY rRyINgs IMPRESSIONS or ArrRrok
Na.sed In ser,ss q siesche. Chren,cles and Con.
o.sSod g %.snns nnfoS ho. ssI ton. James
Two things likely to strike the readers Of this
book are that 1t was hurriedly prepared for mar
ket, before interest In Mr. Irving has entirely
died out on this side OF the Atlantic and that IL
contains . great ideal Of matter Of no earthly
consequence to the reading public That Mr..
Irving and his Boswell should take rose colored
views Of things In this country. or. at least, give
Iose coiored expression TO them, was 10 have
been expected: for is not the accomplished actor
coming back again shortly for more American
dollars! He Is too shrewd manager by far to
rsk any thing In adverse criticism IN case like
lnis; Being stranger In the country. mistakes
on ,he part OF Mr. Irving as to It's history, places
aho puohc men, would be pardonable; but Mr.
nation as journalist and somew hsSfamiliar
Win It's events and people. through repeated
SisiIs can hardly be excused fortelling his read
eIs' as ne does on page 402. that two years after
MI Arthur's installation as Vice President he
started from New York Ito stand by the heds,de
OF the President with whom he had been elect
ed" Mr.. Arthur was installed Vice President
on the 4th OF March. 1881. and President Gar
field died on the 10Th Of September. the ssme
year, as all the world, including Mr. Hatton
ought to know.
JAMES AND LUcRET1A MOTT Life and Letter.
Edited BY their srsnddsushteT; ANA DAVIS Hal.
ington: Robert Beau w. WISH
To those who remember or care TO read about
the anti-slavery agitation which preceded and
brought about the late civil war, this book will
be welcome. II IL hardly too much to
say that no woman had more influence on the
destiny OF our country than the sweet faced
Quakeress whose portrait faces the title page of
the book; and with her life and works were
inseparaby connected those OF her husbend
Few persons would perhaps agree in all the
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said for her, and for her husband, as well. that
she was courageous and earnest for what she
conceived to be the right, and together they
were faithful and perseverng I'm good works.
espousng nothing that they did not substan-
TALLY aid. The remarkable couple are wisely
allowed to tell their story IN their own words.
where this Is possible, and many OF the letters
given are exceedingly entertaining and valu-
able for the light they throw upon social, politI-
Cal and religious questions.
Places 4: With Hints for their I'm
wood" "a Reissue Of Rural studies."i New
Ballantyne Som VIA
Another volume Of the new and uniform edi-
ton OF the writings Of Mr.. Donald O. Mitchell.
the excellent aim OF which, to use the authors
language, Is Ito stimulate those who live In the
country, or who love the country, to q fuller
and wider range OF thinking about the means OF
making their homes enjoyable-rather than to
lay down any definite rules by which this NAV
be accomplished" He has especially sought to
excite the ambition Of those holders Of humble
estates, who believe that nothing can be done
In the way Of adornment OF country property,
except under the eye OF accomplished gardeners
and, what with his charming style and the
clever illustrations accompanying the text, We
know no one who can present the case more
1orcloly or In o more attractive manner
THE CHURCH cYcLoPEDIA A Dictionary of Church
Doctrine 0rgan atiOna md snHc,
,nx 0TSI al. Articles on Special Tories written
Laymen Designed especially for the use 81 the the
IAity of the Protestant Episcopal Church In the
benton MA Phiiadelphia: l. R Hsmersiy co.
The character and purpose Of this handsome
quarto volume Of over eight hundred pages are
so fully expressed In the title page quoted above
as to leave nothing to be said In the way of de-
scription. 1t only remains to be added that the
list Of contributors includes many writers OF
acknowledged ability, that the work seems TO
have been Complementary, intelligently and
1mpartialiy DONE and that the book as il stands
has been warmly approved by those high in au-
thority, and competent to judge, as Astounding
In very useful and important information re-
duced to compact and convenient FORM"
t tare By MoRITz BSsca Translated from the
Washington Win Ballantyne Son O''-'
The readers Of The STAR who have perused
the copious extracts heretofore published In its
columns from this book need not be told that it
is volume Of uncommon interest. As would
be inferred from the title page, 1T is somewhat
Elementary in character, but Il is none the less
and perhaps the more entertaining on that sc-
count. While not q formal biography 1t abounds
In personal anecdotes and sketches, which fur
nish an accurate and lfe-like portrait Of the TO-
bust and uncompromising prime minister and
hv xybt ho ic
rounded. Herr Busch is doubtless greatly BIZ
ased In favor Of his hero, but his studies are
nevertheless attractive and valuable. The work
of the translator. 1t may be added, has been
most excellently done.
TIE WOMAN QUESTION IN EUROPE Series of
SoSl: Sew Yost; g, = Patnsn's sons Wash vSe
Those interested In the progressive efforts in
behalf Of woman will find In this collection of
essays not only clear history Of such move
ments on the other side Of the Atlantic but an
interesting and useful collation. of facts setting
forth the social and political condition Of woman
In all the principal countries Of Europe. IL has
been pronounced by those competent to Judge
the ablest and most comprehensive exposition
OF Its subject yet published, and we see no
reason to dissent from this view.
LIFE OF OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. ByEE
ID. Lothrop Co.
The genial, witty and accomplished Dr. Holmes
deserves and will doubtless receive some ofthese
days far better biography than this A ''Life,"
properly speaking, 1t is not, but rather extracts
from the writings of its subject. The author
evidently meant well, but he Is not equal to the
task he undertook.
From Y. G. Fischer We have the Illustrated
Catalogue of the Salon for 1884 Containing as
it does the list of all the exhibiting artists and
the titles Of their works with over four hun
dred illustrations of paintings and statuary,
this annual is indispensable to all persons who
desire to keep pace with the art movements of
the day. As to the illustrations, themselves.
they vary Ia quality; but IL they fairly show the
average character of the exhibition, as we pre-
sumo they do, they verify the representations
previously received that not only are there no
really great works In the Salon this year. but
that the majority Of the paintings possess but
little interest.
Mr.. de B. Randolph Kem, whose excellent
Handbook of Washington" gives him a favor
able Introduction to the public has recently pub
llshed Handbook OF Official and Social Eth
quette and Public Ceremonials at Washington"
which will doubtless come to be recognized'as
he authority on the subject So far az we know,
MI keim is the first person to treat Of his theme
In comprehensive, exhaustive and logical man.
ner He has given the matter much and close
attention, and on account Of the researches
made his manual Is interesting In O historical
point OF view, as well as q light to the feet Of
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