The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-19
RECENT LITERATURE.


petroleum. He is live man, and we expect
him to prosper
RECENT LITERATURE.
THE PROPHET OF THE GREAT SMOKY
MOUNTAINS. By Charles Egbert CraddocIs
MARY n. Murfreel, author 4" In the Tennessee
Mountains etc. Published by Houghton, Mifiin
IL Co., Boston. For sale by VIM. Ballantyne IL
Son, Washington. Price Sl.25.
Our own land of romance is prominently
that wonderful mountain country which
stretches away from the southern boundary
of Pennsylvania to where the great Appalach-
ian chain sinks into the lowlands of Northern
Georgia and Alabama 1t is inhabited by
strange, simple people, who, though speaking
our language and bearing the same names as
ourselves, seem to belong to another race and
| far-of region. Really they are people such
as our ancestors were centuries ago, for they
are descendants of the same fathers ourselves,
who have wandered Off into those remote, high
walled valleys, and remained almost stationery
in their thoughts habits, and modes of speech.
They are ignorant, so far as book-knowledge
goes, and, judged by the Northern standard,
lazy and shiftless. But they have a force of
character that is peculiarly their own, and are
passionate, brave, manly and revengeful. The
bloody annals of East Tennessee tell of the de-
votion with which they fought and died for
the Union, and this heroic trait they carry into
all the affairs OF life. In all respects they are
as fascinating subjects for the romance writer
as the bordermen who play SO important part
| in Sir Walter ScOtts Stories but they have
| lacked worthy historian until Miss Murfree
began her wonderful pictures of them, which
have raised her at once into the foremost ranks
of modern novelists. To rare descriptive
powers and poetic feeling of the highest order
she joins real love for the people of the mount
ain region and its marvellous scenery. This
latest work is superior even to those which
| IL
Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains " is a
true work of genius, and as superior to the
ordinary run of novels as one of Gilbert and
Sullivan's operas is to negro minstrel sketch"
THE STORY OF ROME. By Arthur Gilman, NJ.
A New York G. Z. Putnams Sons.
This is one of series of historical studies,
intended to present to the young the stories of
the different nations that have attained promi-
nence in history. Mr.. Gilman has rehearsed
in most attractive manner the story of Rome,
from its beginning among the mists of myth
and fable down to the end of the Republic.
Too much cannot be said in favor of this neat
volume, and the series to which it belongs.
COMMON SENSE IN THE NURSERY. By Marion
Harland New York: Charles scribner's Sons.
Sold in Washington by w. H. Morrison. 81.
series of " Familiar Talks with Mothers"
compose this volume. Theyare all about babies
how they should be fed and cared for during
the early months of their earthly pilgrimage.
The 90 Talks" are eminently practical, but at
the same time are in that piquant, vivacious
style for which the author is celebrated.
THE GOLDEN LOTUS AND OTHER LEGENDS
OF JAPAN. By Edward Greey. Boston: Lee
81 Shepard.
Mr. Greey has hitherto written several charm
ing books on various phases of Japanese life,
and this collection of curious legends, gathered
among those peculiar people, will be gladly well
coined. The volume is beautifully printed and
hcn an1 will ind
AN ORIGINAL BELLE BY Edward p. Roe.
New York: Dodd, Mead IL Co.
Mr. ROes novels are always popular, and he
writes for multitude of people. The scenes
of this story were laid during the war, and into
the life of the heroine woven incidents of
the battle of Gettysburg and the draft riots in
New York, giving to the book an unusual in
| terest to many.
| DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN. BY Il. p. Roe New
York Dodd, Mead d Co.
| This story of city tenement fats and green pas
| lures was published serial in the ST. NichO-
| las magazine. 1t is bright and clean, and in
some respects far above the average fiction of
| the day.
AURORA: A Novel. BY Mary Agnes Thicker.
ington by Brentano. Sl.25.
The author has charmed many by her novels,
| and this story of Spanish life will add to her
| long list of friends.
The Magazines.
The weekly numbers of Science contain much
| useful and valuable information. Its articles
are written in style to meet the popular taste,
| and the magazine fully deserves its success.
| Published by The Science Company, TAB Broad
| way, N. Y.
| The international Standard is published BIZ
monthly at Cleveland, o. 1t is devoted to the
preservation and perfection of the Anglo-Saxon
| weights and measures and the discussion and
l ,Dffl -.
| Great Pyramid of Jeezeh in Egypt" The last
number contains several very able and ingen-
| ious articles which cannot fail to interest the
careful thinker. So per year; 30 cents per
copy. Address Chas. Latimer, Cleveland, O.
NOTES.
| Whitney and Lowell Calendars for 1SS6.-The
| fact that the writings Of James Russell Lowell
| and Mrs. A. d. Il. Whitney are used for these
| two new calendars published by Houghton,
| Mifflin & Co., Boston) is in itself enough to
| make them unusually attractive; but apart
| from this the calendars are among the prettiest
| in their decorations that have yet appeared
The Lowell Calendar has an excellent portrait
| of the poet and view of Elmwood, his house
| in Cambridge. The Whitney Calendar is printed
| in gold and light tints. The design is emblem
atical of the four seasons, which are symbolized
by figures of little girls dressed in Kate Green
| away" style, bearing garland of Spring and
| Summer flowers Autumn fruits and Winter
| holly. The cOlOr-printing is excellent, and
shows marked advance over recent work of
| this kind
The popular Holmes, Emerson, Longfellow
| and Whittier Calendars are reissued this year.
their selections being newly arranged. All these
| calendars measure 8 by IL inches, and are sold
at the uniform price of 81. 1t seems as if
wherever they go, they must have an educat-
ing influence, artistically well as in literary
sense.