The National tribune., 1884-02-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

nave novel by trace DEMO f4itcnhcid, entitled
Only an Incident" 1t is the story Of how a
gay and heartless young woman triHed with
love until she succeeded in wrecking the lives
OF afriend and herlover, and then quietly forgot
all about 1t, treating il only an incident in her
reckless career, and, as may be imagined il is
anything but q pleasant story. This is not al
ways, by any means a fatal defect in a novel. but
such theme, to be tolerable. must be handled
with power and skill. and OF these there are no
traces in the work before US. On the contrary,
it is painfully lacking in incident feeble in
characterization, and inelegant in style, and
while it may not be without interest TO invet-
crate novel readers. it really possesses little or
no literary merit. 1t is for sale in this city by
Robert Beall
How to bring about revival OF American
commerce IS a problem that still remains to be
solved but it is hopeful IGN that the public at
last shows some disposition TO take an interest
IN 1t, and that the newspapers and magazines
are beginning to discuss it in downright earn
est. The latest contribution to the literature
of the subject is TO be found In a volume Of
some two hundred pages, bearing the significant
title The Question of Ships" by Lieutenant
J. d. Jerrod Kelley, of the United States Navy,
just issued by the house OF Charles Scribner's
Sons, New York. And q very valuable con-
tribution it is. Mr.. Kelley has evidently made
close study OF the history Of our mercantile
marine, and We do not remember 10 have ever
seen more thorough exposition OF the causes
that have brought about the present decay OF
American shipping than IS here presented AZ
to what measures OF reform are necessary in
order that we may regain our proper share of
the carrying trade Of the world, Lieutenant
Kelley is equally positive. lie sums them up
as follows: First, the admission TO American
register Of all ships over 1900 tons, subject to
the same laws regarding ownership which now
prevail, save IN one or two important partieu-
lars; secondly, the admission, duty free OF all
material TO be used in the construction and
repair of vessels of over 600 tons; thirdly the
adoption of new tonnage measurements, based
I on actual carrying capacity, and excluding the
| space occupied by engines and boilers and ac-
/ eommOdatIons for officers and crew fourthly,
exemption from taxation. local and national,
/ on all vessels engaged IN the foreign trade for
more than eight months of the year; filthy,
1 permission Tor ali American vessels in the
/ foreign trade to take their stores and ship
chandlery out of bond duty free; sixthly,
general revision OF the laws relating to seauen
and the consular service; seventhly, individual
liability as to ownership; eighthly, a general
and equitable postal bill, with fair cOmpensa-
ton for carrying the mails, and ninshly,
change in the pilot laws modifying COM
I pulsory pilOtage and permitting masters and
mates, when properly qualified. TO pilot their
/ own vessels. This, we need hardly say, is the
1 opinion Of free-trader, and directly antag-
onistie to that Of Mr.. Blaine, that the only way
/ to restore the prosperity OF our mercantile
marine is 10 offer Government bounties TO
American ship-buiIders. The book is for sale
in this city by W. Fl. Morrison
"Tea and Coffee: Their Physical intellectual
and Moral Effects on the Human System, IS the
I title of very interesting little work By Dr.
1 VIM. A. Alcott recently issued by Messrs. Fow-
Ter & Wells, New York The author has evil
IDENTIFY made an exhaustive study of the sub
I ject, and the evidence which he presents Of the
injurious effects Of these stimulants on the
| human system IS really startling. We doubt,
however, whether his arguments, convincing
though they are, viii have any perceptibIe
effect upon individual habits for we suspect that
the inveterate tea drinker, quite as much as
the confirmed topper, IS controlled by appetite
rather than reason.
From Charles Scribners Sons, New York, we
have Mr.. George Parsons Lathrops last novel
/ g Newport" The title is justified by the char
acter of the story, the action of which takes
place entirely as that lovely seat Of American
wealth and fashion, with whose people, Gus
toms. and local topography Mr.. Lathrop ap-
pears to be pretty intimately acquainted. The
casino, the drive, the sham fox-hunt, the cliff
walk, the polo and lawn-tennis matches, the
yachting partieS-all the favOrite diversions OF
the summer colony figure in the novel. and the
local color is laid on quite thicklv. The author,
too, as becomes a NewpOrter, tells his story
very leisurely. He introduces his characters
when it suits his convenience. and IS in nc
hurry to dismiss them. Indeed, the impression
that one gets from perusal of the book is
that he has been taken irto Mr.. Lathrop's
confidence and put in the possession of the
private history of the latter's personal friends.
There is, indeed, touch of romance here AID
there, but otherwise the story might pass for a
simple chronicle OF the dOings of society.
af II
Oliphant-a wisiower who has found marriage
q rather dismal faiIure-and a Mrs. GifIord-a
widow who has found It very much of a sue
cess. They are drawn together by the force Oi
mutual attraction, but Oliphant, while rum
maging through some old letters discovers
among them a note from the late Mr. Clifford
proposing marriage to the lady who afterwards
became Mrs. OHphant. and is so foolish as to lei
the sentimental widow force the secret from
him. The result is-thOugh why any woman
should consider herself aggrieved because hel
husband at some earlier period ad0red some
other chaFmer, we do not exactly understand
that Mrs Clifford eOnceiyes mild dislike fol
the unfortunate Oliphant, and when the latter
deeply smitten with her Establishments. de-
I elares his sentiments, ineontinently reject;
I him, Notwithstanding that, after the manner o.
the her0ines of romance. she is really desper
ately in love with him all the time. OF course
Oliphant is quite upset by this catastrophe, anC
the author takes the opportunity TO put an enc
to the story with very neat tragedy. Oul
readers, when they come to analyze the plot
{ will discover we fear that there Is little IN it
vet the story upon the whole is bright and en-
! pertaining. Mr.. LathrOp's descriptions Of so
ciety people are extremely clever; he know
! how to turn neat epigram, and without beint
at all sensational, he understands how to ar
range a dramatic situation. Newport, we dar
! say, possesses enough of the elements of human
! interest to make it one of the popular novel
OF the season. 1t IS for sale IN this city by W
III. Morrison.
! 1.-THE Blue and the Gray /" is the title of
new and rather novel history Of the campaign
of the Army of the Potomac and that of North
! ern Virginia from 1861 to 1865, inter5perse,
with tales of individual daring, yarns of tn
camp, and pen-pictures of famous generals 0
both armies. The book is pervaded with tn
/. spirit of good will, and is Veil calculated {
interest the Confederate as well as the Uniol
rank and file. The anecdotes and incident
which enliven its pages are the contribution
indeed, of both Northern and Southern writers
and happily illustrate the humorous as well q
9 serious side Of the soldiers life In size, lt
: large octave volume of more than SEQ pages
E printed from bold clear type, richly bound
: and illustrated with twenty full-page maps b.
Theodore Gerrish and John : Hutchinson
: The general agents IN this city are A. j. Make
. & Co., 916 + street northwest
|. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, are about {
+ commence the publication of q limited large
paper edition Of the works of Edgar Allen Pos
; The edition is to be issued under arrangemen