National Republican., 1884-11-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NEW n " ia IlON9s
BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAYS. ny r, MAX MuE1-
LEH, X NJ, Rammohun Roy, Keshub Chun.
der Sen Dnyannuder SarAsr0tl. Bunyiu Nam
iio, and Keniin Kasawara Julius Mohl, and
Charles Kingsley Charles Sctbncr's Sons,
New York. VIM. Ballantyne & Sons, Wash
ington.
Max Mueller's linguistic attainments,
which constitute his chief charm, have
given him not merely that analytic power
which Is 30 necessary for the dissection
and exposition of character, but have also
fitted him to give us valuable information
upon tho subject of oriental religions. We
might reasonably, then, look for n high
order of excellence in his biographical
sketches of tho abovo-named personages,
most Of whom spent an xious time and
effort in striving TO solve the great ques-
tions of tho hereafter and their relations
to the Deity. Mr.. Mueller's lecture upon
"The Religion of India" in tho HILBERT
series" of 1878 did much to throw light
upon the state of religion In that country,
and his simple narrative of the lives of
some of these native religious scholars
and others, visitors to their shores in
quest of truth, will rekindle interest in
what must always enlist our earnest
utlbHblOus nb DTODlblnS WhiCh pItooht
themselves to the Brahmin or Buddhist
inquirer after new light do not admit Of
easy solution. The question Of caste and
tho influence Of tho sacred books forms
an environing wall from whose confines
he escapes with difficulty. Mr.. Mueller's
narrative give us very good idea of this
religious process as il developed and ex-
panded itself in tho lives whose history
he has written, and his collection Of essays
will BIO found both interesting and vslua-
bio. In Julius Mohl we have the history
of q brilliant oriental scholar and discov-
erer, while the brief sketch of Charles
Kingsley will be delightful reading to his
many admirers.
SIX GIRLS. A Home Story for Girls, ByFAN-
ME BELLE IRVING. BOston Estes " Lau-
rlat. Washington: W. II. Morrison.
This gay little quarto volume. with Its
light cover embellished with picture of
six graceful maidens with bare arms and
classic draperies, must prove irresistible
to all the girls-all at least who are too
old to be children and too young to be
young ladies. The aesthetic maidens on
the cover are by no means representatives
Of tho six girls whose fortunes the book
follows, for they are not at all aesthetic,
i uub SlluDlt, uhtuIhlt CNOTJudl kiiib NhOoo
ups and downs, their fun and frolics, their
hard times and their good ones, and even
their occasional quarrels, are pleasantly
and entertainingly told in way that
cannot fail to interest girls. The book Is
plentfully illustrated, and many Of the
pictures are very pretty.
NOBLE BLOOD. A Novel. BY JULIAN HAw-
THoRNE,, author of Sebastian Strome,"
| Appleton & Co. Washington: w. II. Nor
rison.
Mr.. Hawthorne has made America
Italy, and Ireland tributaries to his pen
in this last novel, the hero, Owen Am
brose, being an American artist travelling
abroad his inamorata, Beatrice, combin-
ing Irish and Italian blood, and her ducal
lover, Otto, hailing from Italy. In the
course of his ramblings in Ireland Am
brose happens upon ruined castle of
antique mould and pretensions, and is
confronted with a mystery which pres
emily resolves itself into flesh and blood.
He arranges his studio in chamber of
the deserted building, meets its reputed
ghostly inhabitant in the shape of Bea-
trice, and falls in love at first sight.
When this little romance has progressed
| u buOTL why's buo uuChi lONOE, oblO, ny
pears in his yacht, and by his titled rank
becomes dangerous rival. As a matter of
fact, however, the denouement witnesses
Ambrose the successful Argonaut. De-
spite the fact that the chain Of circum-
stances, although possible. Is not strictly
natural, and that his heroine at times gives
utterances to sentiments neither elegant
nor moral, Mr.. Hawthorne has given us
a very pretty story, in which he shows
some measure of the peculiar talent
possessed by the author of MARBLE
Faun." His use of the secret drawer in
the ancient cabinet and its book, from
whose vellum pages he evolves the weird
story of andrea Cadogna del Morisini," is
very skillful, and gives us narrative
redolent of Venetian mysteries in the
middle ages. Mr.. Hawthornes powers of
description are excellent, his imagery
graceful, and used with that discretion
which marks. the artist whose bright
hues and warm tones give finish and per-
fection to the painting.
A NATTER OF TASTE By GEORGE II
Allen. Washington Robert Beall.
1t is extremely difficult to conceive oi
! the raison d'etre of this book unless 1t il
by thread of narrative to connect {
series of pretty little Venetian pictures
A more vague and purposeless tale one
could scarcely find. There is faint but
plainly perceptible flavor of Howell.
about it, and in the character of Lady
Josselyn there arc clear indications o
James's influence, but it is only at very
respectful distance that the author fol
lows his eminent predecessors in Venetian
: novels. There is slight and shadowy
a plot revolving around the usual beautiful
and remarkably well-dressed American
whose intimate friend, however, is thu
most elaborately drawn of the charac
ters, although having no remotest con
, nection with the progress of the plot, i
few sketchy incidents casually thrown
together can be called plot. The beau
!, tiful American marries Venetian doc
tor, who after being vaguely indicated al
; through tho book as villain of the deep
est dye, disappoints us greatly by doini
D nothing more villainous than to die
thereby giving the heroine an oppor
tunity to bestow her secondhand atfec
+ tions upon a preternaturally faithful
American lover, who has followed her t.
Venice. On the whole, this last AM
, weakest attempt at an international move
!. can only be characterized az hopelessl.
@ commonplace.
WHEEL SONGS. Poems of Bicycling. By s
CoSAST FOSTER. New York White, Stoke
" Allen. Washington J, l.. Whittngtor
!, Those who have travelled on the''wheel
through the delightful suburban town
which environ Boston or made the tri
y to Cabin john" "Soldiers' Home" an
q other of our own choice resorts. will Of
= preciate this collection of sentimental
y narrative, and comical poems, profusel
illustrated, and now presented to tn
a public by Messrs. White, Stokes & AlleI
r Each poem is entertaining and enjoy
d able, and some Of them, at least, wi
n awaken in bicyclists amusing reminii
q | nnnnaa of rnranna al eNnnrianna dnnrlu mn