Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-12-31
BOOK TITLES.


II Is difficult nowadays to know from
the title Of book whether ii is /: novel.
a scientific treatise, or 4 new Atlas. The
story of the lady who carried home
Ouida's "Alothsa from Il circulating
library, thinking it a treatise on natural
history, should be received with respect
full sympathy. Even the libraries can
not afford to smile at her. for it is in the
catalogue of one of the largest of them
that mill on Liberty is followed by
ditto on the Floss"
.'Gaslight and Daylight is one of
Mr. Sala's books in the authors charac-
teristic style: 1.-The Electric hight is a
scientific guisle-book; and s.Ihe Electric
Spark is the professional name of a
music-hall artistic ..Ihe Family Doc
tor" is a work that parents viii find in
valuable in cases of emergency: but
1.-The Family Fool isa story in three
volumes. Mrs. Gore is the authoress of
the work Of fiction entitled .sThe Deb,l-
tante;n but The Ballroom is a book
OF etiquette, miraculous Cures is pub
lished by a doctor; but desperate Rem
etties'' Is a novel by Mr. Hardy. MIR.
G. r. X. james has novel called
Forgery and DIR. Winslow Il scien-
tific work called ..L,macy Sparkling
Gems'' and bright Diamonds (J.
Blaekwood d Coz are stories. but
Diamonds and Precious Stones is de-
voted TO the history, value, and proper
Ties of certain metals.
Calf has novel called The Entail
which has in its day proved more mis-
leading than Moths About two
months ago a book entitled .sThe Wine
of Life was produced Some people
thought IL discussed the merits of Bor-.
deaux; more knowing ones suggested
that it was probably a religious publica-
ton. But it, too. turns out novel.
'fThe Books OF Dates has not word
10 say about the fruit of that name, and
"The Sheepfold and the Common
(Blackie) has nothing to do with sheep.
The shepherd who buys it under the inn
preston that it will prove Il useful work
of reference will learn from its preface
that it illustrates the power of eyangel-
ical teaching There is no farmer who
can not talk eloquently of the fact that
the eggs of one bird are often found in
the nest of another. The ugly duck
ling's" birth, far from what should have
been its home, was explicable; but mys-
terry sometimes attaches to the change of
eggs. Here is undoubtedly an interest
ing subject for book; and Ducks
Eggs in Hens Nest seems the very
book wanted. But Ducks Eggs in q
Hens Nest" is a collection Of stories
published by Bently & Son. Higher
Law would certainly seem to be a re-
ligjous dissertation. But no; one of the
reviews says that it is a novel ..the
best next to Romola." Mr.. Edmund
Yates book, Broken to Harness, is
not a guide TO the mysteries of horse
training; and though The Hangman"
was recent magazine article on the
late lamented Mr.. Marwood, 1.-The Exc
cutorn is a three-volume novel by Mrs
Alexander. Luna is described as "a
mere love story but THE Moon" is
by an astronomer. "Agincomtn is
novel, Waterloo" poem, .Bannock-
burn" a history, "Richelieu' novel,
NELSON" biography. 1.-The First
Lieutenant is novel, THE last
Adam religious work.
Even in the earlier part of the centu-
ry. when there were fewer books than
now, titles proved frequent source
of annoyance and misunderstanding
Then. as now, some autho.s- aeknowl-
edged the difficulty and struggled to
surmount it; some shut their eyes to it,
and others looked it in the face and
passed by Sir Walter SCOTS titles were
laboriously come by. .The title of this
work" he says in the introduction to
"Waverly," has not been chosen with
out the grave and solid deliberafion
which matters of Importance demand
from the prudent;" and then he goes on
to chide those of his predecessors who
solved the little difficulty '.by Selling
upon the most sounding and euphonic
surname that English history of topo-
graphy affords, and elccting it at once as
the title of their work and the name of
their hero" How to name the novel
that tells the sad story of Amy Robsart
proved a special difficulty to Scott; and
the friend who suggested "Kenilworth"
always held thereafter that he and Sir
Walter had written the novel between
them. The most common method adopt
ed nowadays, though it is one against
which the publishers complain, is SIM
ply to name the novel after the hero or
heroine. Henry jenkins is not par
ticularly attractive title; but it distin-
guishes the book from other novels, all
the proper names not having vet been
used up. Many of the best novels in the
English language, from ''Clarissa Har-
lowe" and Tom Jones" to John In
glesanth and Lorna Doone," have
got over the title difficulty in this way.
Perhaps the greatest of English novels
is also the most happily named. Thack-
cray SAYS that the title VANITY Fair
came to him in the night time, and that
he was so delighted with it that he had
to get out of bed and walk up and down
his room for while.
Probably no prolific writer of these
days has escaped the book-title a4llic-.
ton. 1t affects authors in different
way from their readers. but not less an
'noyingly. What they have now TO ac-
cept as the ordinary course of things is
illustrated in the ease of Miss Braddon.
This novelist published in serial form
a story entitled Her Splendid Misery"
No sooner had the novel become known
than another laborer in the field of fic-
ton wrote to the authoress pointing out
that the title was his Miss Braddon, of
course, change her title. and when the
book was announced it was called "Her
Gildcd Cage" In day or two letter
reached the publishers saying that this
title had also been forestalled. Then
"Barbara's History was suggested: but
there was at least one "Barbara's His
tory already. Finally THE Story of
Barbara; Her Splendid Misery and Her
Gilded Cage was adopted Before we
may find some unhappy novelist an
nouncing in the press, The Secret of
Lady Audley; or, the Old Curiosity Shop:
Story without Hero" Affairs being
so desperate, it is right and fitting to
compliment Mr.. ID. Christie Murray on
his own great success. Whether his
new. novel is to be equal to the others
rcInains to be seen, but there is no doubt
's@t in First Person Singular he has
- 'oon truly original title. One
shoulders to think, though, of the imi-
tations that will follow it. .Paulo-post
Future may be already in type.
COucerninQ Names