The National tribune., 1885-12-10
RECENT LITERATURE.

A CAPTIVE OF LOVE. A JAPANESE RO-
NANCE nee q Trans Translated by Edward Greey author
Japan" "The Wonderful City of Toxic, The
ear-Worshipers of Yezo," and one of the trans
lators Of The Loyal Ronns:" Published by Lee
q Shepard, Boston, Mass. Price Sl5O.
Nothing could be more delightfully."- quaint
| than Mr.. Greey's transations of the master
pieces of Japanese fiction. His first book,
| "The Loyal Ronins," appeared some years ago.
| entirely unheralded by the press, and at first
| excited no more than ordinary attention from
| the reading public. Bnt one after another into
| whose hands it fell were so charmed with it,
| and SO eloquent as to its merits, that it had q
continually increasing sale, and to-day is one of
| the most often called for books in the market.
| The present book is even more interesting in
some ways. 1t is a literal translation of one Of
| the famous Japanese novels of 500 years ago,
| and gives such picture of the lives, modes Of
| thought, customs aud superstitiOns of those
| wonderful islanders, as they might get of old
Scotland by reading literal translation into
japanese of one of the Wayerly Novels The
story opens with a bad hunter, who follows the
sinful business lin Buddh 1t eyes, of chasing
| and killing the animals the forest. His
pous wife in vain tries to p rsuade him to re-
linquish his vicious practice but he comes
home to tell her how, by initiating holy re-
cluse he decoyed within reach of his bow. and
slew the wonderful "Deer-of- Five Colors,"
which he has long hunted in vain. The poor
woman died in an agony of remorse, but before
doing so besought her husband to expiate his
ofiense by bringing up their boy as priest.
This was done, and the boy became prodigy
of learning and piety, and seemed about to
deem the souls of his parents, when, in an evil
hour, he yielded to his passions aud the seduc-
tiOns of u minstrel girl and committed a NOR
tai sin. Then troubles of all kinds ensue, and
| q story full of incident is related.
These illustrate Japanese ideas as no formal
description of the country possibly could. For
example, the hunters sin in Staying the sacred
Deer Five COlors, not only sends himself wife
and son to dishOnorable graves but in mys-
teriOus way it makes the two soldiers who
bought the hide become towards in battle, and
I after leading lives of wretchedness die miser-
ably. 1t causes the hunters son to fall from
grace and become an evil man. passing through
a series of interesting but criminal perform
ances before justice finally Overtakes him. The
sacred duty of children to ayenge their parents
is taught by stern example, and pecunary
honesty is held up as a sovereign virtue.
The characteristic phrases of the japanese
language are reproduced literally. Thus, when
a man dies he is said to travel the lonely
road or "change his world" when he runs
away he " eats the wnd.'' The story is charm
ingy told, the ILLUSTRATIONS are from the Origi-
nal pictures, and no one who has the slightest
interest in the people and civilization of that
fascinating Land of the Morning Sun can afford
to miss reading it.
The Magazines.
English Illustrated Magaziae. Double Christ
mas number, l2 full-page illustrations in the
highest style of art. Price, 30 cents. Published
at New York.
The Book Buyer.-5The Christmas number of
this convenient and reliable guide to current
literature is q superb one. illustrated with fine
steel plates, and containing double quantity
of literary matter.
Science for Nov "a discusses " "Pasteur and Hy-
drophobia." "The Plains of British America"
and number of other interesting topics
No. "a of Ogiloies Popular Reading is of un-
usual excellence. 1t contains some splendid
matter among which will be found From Out
the Gloom" by the author of Dora Thorn -;
The Missing Diamonds" by the author Of
"Wife or Widow; "A Strange Dream" by
Rhoda Broughton; &" Lady Marabout's Travels"
by Ouida, and THE Doctors Daughter" by
Mrs. Henry Wood. Besides these there are quite
n number of small sketches. poetry, etc.
Nervous Debility, in either SEX how
ever induced, speedily, thoroughly and perna-
nently cured. Address, with 10 cents in stamps
for reply and book of particulars Worlds Dis
pensary Medical Association, 663 Main Street,
Buffalo, N. Y.