Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-07


fact that Mr.. Henry Guy Carleton was the
writer Of the turgid stun sent out by telegraph
funeral ceremonies In that city-a revelation
which must be very gratifying to a number OF
innocent perNons who were supposed 70 be
guilty of that astonishing performance.
THREE DECADES OF FEDERAL. LEGIsLA-
TiON; 1892 70 lsS5 Personal and Historical
me nsT 9nss sd nSs
Secession. Emancipation and Reconstruction wit h
Periods BY SAMUEL s cox Member U of Congress sss
Hsror laugh A"tsSr q sssesys
ETC. etc lius, , With Ihir'Hsix Portraits En-
dence: ]. A. 4 r. A. Reid.
Nothing which comes from Mr. Cox's pen can
be dul AMI when it treats OF a period the most
momentous in the history OF the country, with
the events of which he was perfectly familiar
either rs an intelligent spectator or an active
participant, the outcome is sure to be i'm the
highest degree interesting and instructive. The
author is 30 well known i'm Washington that
his literary efforts need no praise here, and OF
this particular work our readers have already
had appetizing foretastes In the extracts from
| its pages which have hitherto appeared in the
columns OF THE STAR. 1t seems to be only ne
cessary to say that IL is now before the public
to insure for II q large and steady demand. Ii
| Is literally one OF the books that public man
cannot afford to do without, and there is no
private citizen who will not be largely the
| gamer for having read 1t.
AS TT WAS WRITTEN. A Jewish Musicians story.
BY SIDNEY LUsKA. New York: CasseIl & Co.
Washington: Brentauo Brothers
The readers Of this story will not be surprised
at the statement that the publishers have made
an arrangement with its author whereby they
are to publish all he writes for the next five
years. AS 1t Was Written" Is a great deal
more than promise. some of the critics
have called it. and for a beginnerit is a wonder
FULLY clever performance Both Poe and Haw-
thorne are suggested In reading IL, though
neither is initiated, and one is also reminded OF
Charles Auchester," but this story is less
hat pca
popular musical novel. 1t Is full of strong dra-
matte situations, the action is well sustained
continuous. SO that the interest of the reader
does not nag from beginning to end. That IL is
not without weak points would be saying too
much; but 1t is exciting without being sensa-
tional, and somewhat technical without being
dun, and is therefore very much better than
the average OF current fiction, and, above all, it
is not too long.
LOUIS AGAssz His Life and Correspondence.
Edted by ELIzaBETH CARY AsAssIz Boston:
hb sag Mifiiin q Co. Washington: Robert
The charge sometimes made that biographies
constitute an undue proportion OF current liter
AZURE, In that the lives of men who have done
| little for the world and in whom the world
takes little or no interest are too frequently
written, cannot be construed to apply to this
work. The career OF Professor Agasslz was q
most useful and interesting one, and its history,
as told In these two handsome volumes, is alike
entertaining and instructive The first deals
with his early life I'm Europe Of which but little
Is known here; the second is devoted to his long
and honorable service in the cause of science
after he became citizen OF the United States.
| Throughout his personal and his professional
career are woven together naturally and
and deiineated In sty lie SO attractive that the
biography reads like q veritable romance. In
mechanical appearance the volumes are equally
attractive. For that, i'm short, nothing but
words OF praise can be used.
TEE LAST MEETING A Story BY BR.SpER MAT.
THEws. New York: Charles Scribners sons
Washington VIM. Balantyne & Son.
Except the part he bore in connection with
Mr.. Bunner in writing the collection of short
stories entitled ain Partnership" this is, we be-
lieve, Mr.. Matthews first essay i'm the domain
OF fiction, although he has been a somewhat i'm.
dustrious worker i'm other literary fields. And
very bright and entertaining essay il is, in
spite of some obvious Inconsistencies and oc-
casional straining in efforts at fine writing.
The scene is laid la New York, and most of the
OF the author although their identity has not
been made known. The hero is brilliant Young
artist, who mysteriously disappears one eve
ming after misunderstanding with the lady TO
whom he is secretly engaged, and upon this M
cident and his subsequent adventures and I'M
expected return to his old circle of friends and
his waiting bride the interest OF the story hangs.
AT LOVES EXTREMES By MAURICE THoMp-
SON. author of" Tallahassee Girl" His second
insto@ Brentsno sroth ngsk: o"SSel 70 wash
This is, We think, decidedly Mr.. Thompson's
best effort in the way of novel. 1t is dis
tinctively American, in location and coloring.
in spite Of the fact that two OF the principal
characters are Englishmen. The scene is laid
in the iron and coal regions of Alabama, and
the authors familiarity with southern life and
character enables him to paint graphic pictures
of the people, places and incidents o. that To-
cality, while his love and knowledge of nature
gives an added charm to the story by reason of
the faithful descriptions of birds, flowers,
scenery, etc, scattered every where through its
pages. The plot is not a pleasing one. and some
the characters are far from greeable but there
are some well drawn dramatic situations, and
the attention OF the reader will be closely held
to the close.
A NATURAL ARITHMETIC. Specially prepared
for Elementary Schools. BY H. RICHARDS, M.
Chicago: s. r Winchell d Co.
If the man who causes two blades OF grass to
grow where but one grew before is a benefactor
to his race, he who simplifies and shortens the
road to knowledge is not less So And this is
what our tOwnsmans little work does While
1t is prepared specially for elementary schools,
II really seems to contain and explain about all
the arithmetical principles absolutely neces-
sary in carrying on the common pursuits OF
deserve it will speedily take its place among
the standard text books of the country.
MARUJAH By BRET HARTE Boston: Houghton
Miffiin & Co Washington: VIM Baliantyne & Son.
California il, of course, the scene OF Mr.. Harte's
latest effort, which is already familiar to many
readers, having been published as a serial on
both sides of the Atlantic but it hardly rises to
the standard of some of his earlier gleanings In
that rich and picturesque field. However, the
felicitous and true, and his sketches of scenery
are so charming that, whether his plots are in
tricate or simple, the reader Is always sure of
an agreeable treat whenever q new story ap-
pears from his graceful pen.
RUDDER GRANGE. By FRANK r STOCKTON
Illustrated by A. b Frost. New York. Charles
Scribners Sons Washington VIM Ballantyne
4 Son.
It is not all difficult to believe the statement
that the first edition of five thousand copies of
this new and beautiful reproduction OF "Rudder
Grange" was ordered by the trade before il
had left the binders hands. Its quaint and de-
liciOus humOr has made 1t @ steady fayorite
since its first appearance and Mr.. Frost's Aims
trations, so capitally in keeping with the text
have given IL an added charm. 1t is in every
way one Of the most attractive books OF the
season.
AT BAY. Novel. BY Mra ALEXANDER. author
of "The WOOing OFT" "A Second Life" etc ct
New York: Henry Holt 4 GO. Washington:
Brentano Brothers,
Mrs. Alexander is never stupid or slovenly,
so that anything from her pen is apt to be
worth reading; but the two stories which con-
stitute No. 172 of the Leisure Hour Seriesv
are by no means up TO the level of her best
efforts They will. however. serve the purpose
OF the set in which they are incorporated.-to
pleasantly while away leisure hour.
HECTOR'S INHERITANCE: or The Bows of smith
Institute pe nsE snd A e,n authsr Of
delphia: Porter and Coates. Washington; VIM
Ballantyne& Son
Mr. Alger is an excellent writer for boys, as
he Il also q fAvorite with them. He has the
faculty Of interesting them, while he never
avnv f1.oap vvnav