The National tribune., 1884-04-17
NEW PuBLIcATIoNs


York, have undertaken the publication of a
collection of the clevereSt of the short stories
that from time to time during the past thirty
years have appeared in our periodicals. and
which form no incOnsiderable part of Ameri-
can fiction. Many OF these stories are from the
pens Of contemporary authors ofestablished rep
utatl0u, but some, on the other hand, are the
work of comparatively unkaowu, or, at least.
only occasional contributors to enrFent litera-
ture and we fancy it will surprise some Of the
critics To see what "a brilliant show these fugi-
tive works of fiction make when thew are cat h.
ered together There is perhaps no form Of
literary effort which affords such a test of A
writer's ability as the short story for the faults
and blemlshes that would be overlooked in a
novel are IN the former certain to be painfully
conspicuous. and il will be seen from a perusaI
of the initial volumes that the standard has
been placed sufficiently high. 0fthe stories that
make up the two volumes already published
the most notable are; Who Was She by Bay
ard Taylor; AN Operation in Money" by
Albert Webster; The Transferred Ghost. by
Frank r. Stockton; Il Martyr to Science" by
Mary Putnam jacob, NJ D. and s. Mrs Knoll
lys, by the author of Guerndale" The first
volume contains I've and the second six stories,
al! OF absorbing interest. yet as unlike in theme
and treatment as they well could be. Hand
someiy bound as they are in cloth and sold at
the low price of fifty cents volume. the col
sive sale.
=" Wife Hard Won - is the title Of a new
and decidedly entertaining love story BY Julia
heNalr Wright. The scene is laid in England
and the plot turns upon this curious cream
stance that the last survivor Of three brothers.
each OF whom in his youth was Tilted by the
same woman, who afterwards married some
body else, leaves viii beqGeathing a certain
part OF mis- estate TO his nephew on condition
that be marries the daughter of this woman.
who IS to receive an equal share of his fortune in
case she consents to the marriage In the event
that the marriage does not take place within
three months of his decease. the bulk Of the
estate is to go to the Crown, but f2500O are 70
be paid TO a cousin, who turns out to be a most
unpleasant person The nephew, a. it happens.
Is engaged to a lass much beneath his station.
with whom he ianeies himself IN love. which
is serious obstacle IN the way of the proposed
union, while the young lady herself IS indiQ-
nant that price should be set upon her hand in
this fashion, and only assents to the conditions
OF the will IN order to save her mother aud in
valid sister from want and a very pretty series
OF con- pllcatOns results from this state Of things
The marriage at last takes place, but both bride
ana groom regard it as purely formal and
they part az the church door not to meet again
tor many day, and it is not until the last
chapter IS reached that the course Of true love
runs smooth 1t is perfectly clear Of course,
from the beginning what the denouement must
be, but the author has contrived to invest the
story with a pathetic interest that holds the
attention Of the reader to the end, and the
book VIII compare favorablv with most Of the
novels OF the day. The Publishers are Messrs.
j. b. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia. and the
story Is for sale in this city by w H. Morrison.
From D. Lothrop & Co, Boston, we have a
most charming sketch book entitled sThropgh
Spain on Donkey back" The drawings. which
are by W. Parker Bodfsh, and originally ap-
peared IN Htde 4Caks, are not only admirabls
from an artistic standpoint, but exceedingly
entertaining and instructive. They illustrate
indeed, the everyday life. customs occupa-
tons. and amusements Of the Spanish people
with surprising fidelity, and while there Is
much that IS odd and unique IN the subjects of
the various sketches, it is impossible not to see
that they are no fancy sketches. but drawings
made on the spot and taken from life What
IS particularly noticeable is the spirit Of these
illustrations They all have meaning Of their
own, and even without the aid Of the sprigh5Iy
letteT-pTess which accompanies them would Be
easy OF Interpretation. They possess all the
accuracy OF photographs. but have none Of the
iatTers Stiffness Indeed they suggest nothing
so much as that the artist must have made his
Sketches unknown TO his subjects. so perfectly
natural are the groupings attitudes. and poses
OF his figures Such a book as this IS worth q
dozen volumes Of travel for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning correct idea of q country and its peo-
pie, and we are glad TO learn that it is shortly
to be followed by companion work entitled
" Through France in Saboes" In size Through
Spain on Dcnkey-back" is q 4uarto. richly
bound, and the price is but $3.50.
From J. B. Lippineott & Co, Philadelphia.
we have new novel BY Rosa y Carey. enti-
tied Not Like Other Girls. 1t IS the story OF
three charming English girls, who, suddenly
compelled through the loss of their mothers
little fortune, to earn a livelihood for them
selves. open dress-n makers establishment, and
N spite of the sneers Of society manage to
thrive and prosper. In the end. Of course.
cousin with . title and no end OF money turns
up, and Nan, Phyllis, and DGice-these pred
Igles OF industry pluck, and good tesnper-re-
sumo their proper place In the world The
plot IS very slight, and the incidents are none
OF them startling, but the adventures of this
happy little family are related in such touch
ing and tender way that it is impossible for
the reader not to take personal interest in
the recital. For sale N this city By ". Fl. Nor
rlson; price papers coversls twenty-five cents.
1t will be seen from the announcement pub
llShed IN another column that the great speech
OF Senator John A. Logan on the Fitz-JOhn
Porter case. delivered in the United States
Senate. December %, 1882, and January 2d aRd
Sd, 1883, has been published in book form, max
ing volume of nearly two hundred pages. aud
IS for sale at the low price Of ffty cents by Mr..
Webster Taylor, 2135 X street northwest. Wash
lugton- IL contains tine portrait of the SEN
at0r, Is illustrated with a specially prepared
map OF the battlefield, and is altogether the
most complete and comprehensive review Of
the questions involved IN this most celebrated
Of all military controversies that has ever been
published.