The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS

Messrs John Church & Co, Cincinnati, Ohio,
have lately published an admirable translation,
By Miss Elise J. Allen, of Moritz Karakowski's
Life of Chopin, the great musician and COM
poser 1t is work of great value and inter
est.
From Messrs. D. Appleton & Co.. New York.
we have the " Yerbalist,1 the s0rthoepist,v
and the English Grammar of William Cob
bett three invaluable aids in the writing aud
speaking of good English, edited by that ac-
complished scholar, Alfred Ayres The Yer
balist is a treatise upon the use of words most
frequently missapplied; the 0rthoepist," a
companion volume, furnishes key TO the cor
rect pronunciation OF words, while of Cobbett'5
Grammar We may say that time has only in
creased the esteem in which it is held By nen
of literary taste These three little volumes
ought to be in every library as well as every
school-room for, after all, the most common
falling among Americans IS their sloyeniy
style Of speech and composition.
From Charles scribner's Sons. New York. we
have a translation of q very clever French
brochure. by Max O'ReIl, entitled " John BuH
and his Island The book. while in some re-
spects q satire upon the foiblas of oaF English
cousins, Is really a very bright and life-like
picture OF insular manners. habits and GUS
toms, and although the author seems disposed
to dwell upon the ludicrous side Of English
character, he is at pains to point out its many
excellent qualities. Indeed, so intimate an
acquaintance does he manifest with the poll
ties, literature, amusements, religion, society.
laws and business pursuits OF the English peo-
pie, and so judcious are his comments thereon,
that the book would seem to have been intended
as much for the instruction as theentertainment
of his countrymen. The style of this little
work is admirable rigntly, and character
lied by quaint and delicate huGlor 1t IS for
Ia ~, -offx In D.,
sylyania avenue. Paper covers, fifty cents.
Where Did Life Begin is the suggestive
title of monograph by Mr. G. Hilton Scribner,
recently published by Charles Scribner's Sons,
New York. 1t is Mr.. Scribner's befief-aud he
supports his opinion with many facts of sci
enee-that life on the earth began at the poles,
where the cooling-od process first set in and
the earth's crust first became capable of sus-
tanning life, and that. as through the centuries
this process OF cooling-oR went on, the various
forms Of life migrated southwark, moving as
climatic changes impelied, so that to-day the
death-line of cold which encircles the poles is
the index of the fate that mnst ultimately over
take the earth's whole surface when the heat
OF the sun at the equator even shall not be suf-
ficient to melt the icy envelope which will
then inclose the globe. IL will be seen from the
citations in the appendix that Mr.. Scribner is
not without authority for the facts on which
in this city by W H. Morrison, 475 Pennsyl-
vania avenue; boards. 81 %.
Messrs. ]. b. Lippincott & Co.. PHILADELPHIA,
have lately issued a new novel by Mrs Rosa
Vertner Jeffrey, author Of WOODBURY. en-
titled Marah." 1t is a love story, pure and
simple. Marah. the heroine, is one of bevy
of charming young girls who are all more or
less in love with somebody, and the plot turns
upon the efforts of a rival to dispIace her in
the affections of her lover. The latter is ulti-
mately spirited away and confined in an in
sane asylum, from which, however, he fortu-
nately escapes in season TO officiate at the
wedding, which brings the story to close.
The action takes place chiefly on a Southern
plantation, and the characters are fairly typical
of the polite society of anti-bellum days.
Without being remarkable for beauty OF style,
power of description, or ingenuity of plot,
Marah" is nevertheless interesting and enter
tanning, and will doubtless be widely read. 1t
is for sale in this city by W. III. Morrison, 475
Pennsylvania avenue. Price, SIPS.