New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

LIFE OF OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. BY E. Z.
BROWN. 12mo. mp 3ol. d. Lathrop Co.
This book has no just claim TO the title OF DO
sraphy. II is merely series OF extracts from Dr.
Holiness published essays, and "reminiscences
strung together on the thinnest possible thread of
narrative Dr. Holiness prose carries, of course Its
perennial charm; but it is pleasanter to read 1t
within the covers where it belongs. The book is so
largely made up of extracts patched together that
il is evident that Dr. Holmes Is generous with MS
copyrights as with his delightful humor.
The tone of the volume is wholly respectful and
laudatory-aS indeed, the subject deserves that IL
should be. In arrangement the book Is SIMPLY an
enlarged newspaper article. 1t tells rs IN relation
10 DIR. Holmes nothing whatever that is new, ana
what reason 1t has for being only the compiler can
saw This publishing of ante-mortem biographies
is growing to be an intolerable nuisance III means
the presentation of matter which from the very
nature of the case is without discrimination ana
without value as study of character 1t is gener-
slly an mpertincnce; and in this instance IT GER
tainly has the look Of effort to make money out
of another mans brains.
AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS IN THE ICE ZONES ZONES
a." pporrssop I r. NoURsE. L. o. y. Large octave
pf SIS. Boston: ID. LOthrOp Company
This is a complete record of the labors OF Ameri-
can explorers in the two Polar basins. 1t contains
graphic accounts Of the two Grinnell expeditions
headed by Lieutenant DeHaven and DR.. Kane, tue
VOYAGE of the Vincennes through Bchrng Straits to
Herald Island DR.. Hayes's explorations IN smith
Sonnd CAPTAIN Halls three voyages, the DRIFT OF
The foe marty the Poaris relief expeditions, Lieu
tenant Schwatka's sledge journeys the Jeanncttes
eruise and Belongs retreat, the four relief eNped-
tions to Wrangell Island and spitZbergen, the
Antartc cruise of Lieutenant Wilkes. the establish
ment of the signal stations at Lady Franklin Day
and Point Barrow, and the attempts 10 rescue
Lieutenant Greedy. The information is compheu
mainly from official sources and the recitals while
closely condensed give the salient points aud ieat
ures of each of these interesting and exciting
cbapters of polar adventure. 1t is an admirable
work of reference prepared with a discriminating
sense of the reiative proportions and Importance OF
these various contributions to human Knowledge OF
the ice zones The book is handsomely printed and
copiously illustrated and can be recommended TO
general readers as a comprehensive survey OF every
thing that has been done by Americans In the polar
basins The work contains biblographlcal index
TO the chief publications on polar explorations
There is a large pocket-map of the North Polar
regions, showing the extreme points reached by ex-
plorers of all Nations.
The only new material in this volume is letter
from Lieutenant Greedy which has new er before been
published 1t gives an account of his voyage from st.
Johns 10 Lady Franklin Bay. and contains many
interesting details of the run across Melville Bay
and the passage up Smith Sound. Some details are
of special nteres for their bearings upon the pro-
iected line of retreat in 1888. The Carey Islands
were visited on the way North. the provisions left
iy Sir George Mares in 1875 were examined ana
found to be In good condition, and the English
whaleboat was also pronounced servceable. This
is one of the points where the relief expedition this
summer may hope to find traces of the retreatDg
garrison. The English depot of provisions at Cape
Hawks was also examined and found to be in fair
condition, and the jolly-boat left behind by Sir
George Mares was taken North. The cache at Cape
Coinson, where 24O ratiOns are stored was not in
spected. but at Carl Ritter Bay 225 bread and meat
rations were landed. for use in case of retreat
south in 1888 This precautionary measure shows
that the contingency of retreat was prominent III
Lieutenant Greely's mind 1t strengthens the im-
preston that he would take other precautions dur
ing the summer of 1852, and il the conditions OF
the ice offered opportunity he would transport the
bulk of his force il not the entire body, from Dis
covery Bay to Carl Ritter Bay before II was time TO
give up the expectation of rescue by ship. :" 1t IS
proper to state" says Lieutenant Greedy In tins let
ter. that retreat from here southwark to Cape
Sabine in case no vessel reaches here in 1SS2-S3,
will be safe and practicable: although all but the
most important records will necessarily have to be
abandoned: abstracts could and will be made of
those left" The amount of coal landed from the
Proteus was about 40 tons, not more than enough
to last two winters. If the party did not succeed
in eAectmg a retreat, it would be forced during a
third winter to depend upon the seam of coal dis
covered 10y the English crews
"TUENTY YEARS ~ CONGRESS"