The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-01-08
Literature.

author is Belfast boy whose success in hi
chosen profession has given pleasure to hi
many friends here and reflected credit upon hi
native city, and in whose literary venture al
will feel both interest and pride. The book
as we are told in the preface, is the 'labors OF
| winters evenings" is drawn from the authors
''experience and his diary of the war;" ano
contains an exact description of life In the
United States Navy during the rebellion, anc
traces the career of an officer from midshpmal
to eutenant.' But that does not tell the whole
story. The hero, Harry Careswel, is born on
the New England coast and his early life is like
| that of many another boy. He disappoints his
parents, who were preparing him for college
by shipping as boy before the mast in a large
ship bound to New Orleans. Finding him de-
| termined to try the sea they reluctantly yielded
their consent and fitted him out for the voyage
| Fourteen months before the mast cured Harry
| of his desire to be merchant sailor, and he de-
| voted the following eight months to reading
| law. Then he secured an appointment to the
Naval Academy, passed a successful eXamina-
| ton, and began the course of studies at An
napolis. The second chapter gives an interest
! ing description of the Naval Academy before
| the war and of a cruise on the practice ship.
Our hero graduates in due course, receives his
commission as mdshipman, does duty at Navy
Yards, has cruise to Bermuda and Charleston.
| and then, having been promoted to Ensign. is or
dered to the sloop-of-war Nautilus, fitting for
sea at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Then we
have descriptions of Philadelphia in war times,
of the good soop Nautilus, of the preparations
for sea, and the sailing under sealed orders.
Her destination proves TO be Hampton Roads.
The war is now raging in earnest, and a chap
ter Is devoted TO clever descriptions of Norfolk
and its people, with some extracts from rebel
literature. Then the Nautilus puts to sea again.
has fruiless chase after the Confederate
cruiser Florida, captures her first prize, eXpe-
rlences norther, and soon after is anchored in
the port of Havana, among blockade runners
flying the Stars and Bars. The visits of officials
to the ship and of her officers to the shore with
taelr adventures, are pleasantly told and after
Il short stay the Nautilus is headed once more
for blue water. Soon after leaving Havana
the blockade runner Victoria is disabled,
captured and towed into Key West, with a
cargo Of arms, ammunition, provisions and
clothing. At Key West the officers of the ship
enjoy the hospitaliies of the place, and feasting
and flirting are the order of the day and night .
Then once more the ship puts to sea and the
next prize is the little schooner FunChUn, of
which Careswell is put in command with a
prize crew, and orders TO take the schooner to
hey West. He had an exciting but very rough
experience, and had been given up for lost BY Ills
tellow-o officers when he comes safely into port
With l> wing coors. The Nautilus remains in
Florida waters until ordered North to 90 out
Of commission, and there are boat expedition,
and other incidents which relieve the monotony
OF blockade GUY ana make up AN interesting
story. The authors descriptions Of life
and movements have not only the merit of ac
curacy in The use Of nautical terms but he pos
se>>es as we'll Il pleasing and effective literary
style which also lends Il charm 10 his pictures Of
shore scenes and happenings. We confess to
have read the book from preface to the end
without It stop, and that we believe will be the
experience OF all who read it. Among all the
books brought out by the war we know Of
has therefore a certain historical value as de
picling phase Of life amoug one class of the
defenders of the Union.
IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. By Dr.. ID. A Sar-
gent. Published by u. Lothrop \ CO., Boston,
Here WE have another Belfast author. ii grad
uate Of two colleges, and now a recognized au-
thorlty on physical culture; and, as shown by
a recent contribution of his TO the North Amer
lean Review. Il graceful and forcibIe writer.
We have not seen his book but the Bo, ton
Budget says Of it: "rhe talks which Dr. b.
A. Sargent has been giving TO the Chautauqua
young folks in Wide Awake during the last
year have been collected into IL little volume,
entitled In case of Accideut, Indispensable
in houses in which there are BOYS, with the
boyish liability to come near self destruction
seven times daily. Dr. Sargent gives brief
lectures on the different parts OF the body, eX-
planning their construction sufficiently to enable
his readers to deal with them with moderate
intelligence and tells now they should be treat
ed In Case of Accident The directions are
clear and simple, and Of such a nature that any
one could carry them out, and the remarks
about poulice making and the list Of anlidotes
for common poSons will be found especially
valuable
PROGRESSIVE MORALITY. BY Thomas
Fowler, Ill. D., f. :. A., President Corpus
Christi College, oxford. England. The pro-
gre>s Of Natural Science ba> been not without
effect upon the data Of the moral and inteectu-
al sciences. The present work, by an author of
the highest emnence, is an attempt to show
wherein the principles of moral conduct are
reinforced or explained by The application to
Ethics of the methods of research employed in
the study Of nature The author aims to pre-
sent scientific conception of Morality in II
popular form. and with a view to practical APP
plication rather than to discuss theoretical
difficulties. His views are in full harmony with
those which. making exception for few back
eddes in the stream of modern thought, are
winning their way to general acceptance among
the more instructed and reflective men of our
day. J. Fitzgerald, publisher, 20 Lafayette
Place, New York.
CHRISTMAS IN NARRAGANsETr. BY Ed
Ward Everett Hale. Author of The Fortunes
of Rachel" sour Christmas il Palace" etc.
Such hearty reception was given by press and
public to "Our Christmas i'm Il Palace one year
ago. that this new work of Mr.. liale's, prepar-
ed after somewhat similar plan, is sure to be
hailed with delight. over a dozen of most en-
gaging stories are woven together in this vol
ume, and W oven so skifuly that the unity of
the narrative is preserved from first TO last.
There are wheels within wheels, but all NOV
ing in perfect harmony aud without friction.
Some of the stories are rs excellent specimens
of the storytelling genius a> the public has
been favored with many day. There can be
little doubt in any readers mind that if a man
was ever born to tell tales, Mr. Hale certainly
was. Published in Funk Il Wagnals' 90 and
II Dey Street, n. " Standard Library. Paper,
% cents.
S. l.. Boardman. Esq. of Augusta, will pub
lish an agricultural work in the spring.
Mr.. Il. p. Roe'> new serial story, Driven
Back TO Eden," will begin in the February St.
Nicholas.
The November Century is on the press for
the fourth time. The first edition of the Febru-
AIRY number, containing Gen. Grants SHILOH y
will be 115, 900.