New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


WsE MISTRESS or BICIIsTrIN. 4 novel BY FE'
nENKEI. Translated nom the German ny = X"
IorEs Tome PIP 333. Henry Holt n Co
The theme Of this story bears such S,i""R "
rnmhauce 10 those portions OF "''a' hNpe'.S-
,iops. which relate to Miss Habisham and Est"lia
that enc cannot help making provoking contrasts
botvrcn the somewhat cumhrnus llenkel and the
vioorona and casv-movisv Dickens. In the German
novel. ~ in the English masterpiece, we have a
Orone,l and vind,ctivo old woman, living in sol-'
itarv old house anoue the relies oi her voutl ana
trainiras beautiful AMI naughty girl to revenge
her hiuiics hy breaking tho hearts oi lovers
Esther. morenycr. resembles EstolR In being cot
orlcS aud uupeaan pcrmnGG% WHO n"' oNN
makes herself dls,grNrahlc 90 her associates hu'
mover wins the sympathy of tho reader la tue cnu
tho cruel scheme II FrAdlcin vNp Uern Ia doi'a'""
~ the similar project ~ MISS l'aoi'h'm wa
brought 60 nauGht, u carcfn) cdu'a''h =" ''"''
lessness failing 81 eradicate some latent '"u m'N'
terions capabihty for affections aud the young
h.ir.ss ,,e.ts with "A b,ppy fate which she has done
pothina "a deserve The tale includes lew ehar-
acter sketche, mot th,se of the principal actors
which thonrh slight are clear AID cntertauin9'
and il presents soue wcll-drawn pictures oil quiz
life i'm family of decaved nohios, aud gay NE az
German duoai cpurt-to which TIE translator
rather oddly awards the style of royal ihco
features together with raFidity of movement an
effective arrangement of contrasts. and nuS'nns
IL not really vlvacious dialogue are the pracipH
merits of book which Will no doubt anase the
Leisure Hour.'
STRAY LEAVES FROM STRANGE LITERATURE. BY
LAFCAnIo llEAiN. l0no Up 80 "A"'S w. ''
good Co.
The author Of this attractive little volume, nav
ing found great deal of enjoyment m the iltcFa-
ture OF the East all of other remote lands mas maze
a collection of his favorte stories and parapioS III
the spirit of dIlettante rather than Oh scholar.
The sources from which he draws are BuddhlStc ana
other Oriental writings. the Talmud. the kalewaIa,.
aud some miscellaneous remains including kgyp-
tan and Polynesan. He knows his materials only
in the form OF English and French TRANSACTIONS aud
even Of these he has made pretty free use The
fraolness and modesty with which lie states his
method and purpose dl4arn criticism. He Is well
a,g,re that his book has ono claim upon the con-
s;der,fion of scholars He made il only Tor the
entertainment of the public, aud his chef object
was to tell u pretty striking story caring noun
ing for the authenticity OF the versions, eharglng
condensing. patching. combining, dong III TACT
about aS MS taste suggested, and, as he says cut
ting ALI the gems according To one pattera. Hence
there is similarity of style among all tho diverse
legends HmdOo, jewish Scandinavian, etc.' Whlch
mieht even be mistaken for a similarity OF spirit,
and we shonld DO grievously msled If we read them
as specimens of race literature Mr.. HearnS 5tS q,
however is animated aud pOoticaL AMI 10 wen
SUITED t. the simple fulrt.ol which he assumes as
q teller Of tales Helsalways interesting. lie has
brought together valuable collection OF una
mihar stories. nearly all of them iorcble' many OF
them beautiful anl hg ly imaginative; and he has
refined them with great deal of art India has
yielded II more treasures than the rest OF the
world and the reader will be struck by the rich
and brilliant quality Of the legends from th's
quarter rs well as the high morality which olieh
inspires them. II * curious that they are superior
in both those respects to the rabbuical legends
from the Talmud; bat OF coLrie the falmud does
MT represent judaism in its purity, nor d. Mr..
Uearn', selections EXHIBIT the Buddhstic boo"s
Just as they