The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-04
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.

The new book year, which, by common con-
sent. antedates the holidays by about two
months, is now fairly open, and the product Of
the press, the output of the great publishing
houses of Philadelphia, New York and Boston,
is being placed upon the market. The variety
indicates that all tastes Win be met and all
kinds Of people pleased A big book crop, like a
big fruit or grain crop, is rightly a cause of re-
joicing among The people. Out of the straw and
chaff that inevitably accompany the golden
grain of literature may be winnowed all that
any healthful mind can digest and assmilate
There is comfort in the thought of piles of books
ready for the buyer. They suggest companion
ship to the lonely, and close fellowship and sym
pathy for those who have homes about them and
children at their knees or companions in the
household. With books at hand the thought OF
winter, of flying snow and piercing seet, of drift
and storm, is rather pleasing than otherwise
The door can be shut, the crate piled high
with anthracite, the gas turned to the right
height, or the student lamp adjusted at the prop
er angle, the stool under the foot and the foot in
\ snug, dry slipper, and-well, the man who
wants moro than a pile of books at his elbow
then is no friend of the novelist the storyteller
or the poet
The book this week that first appears to the
eye is Frank A. Burrs Life and Deeds of Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant" Beautifully bound in marbled
board covers with leather corners and gilt edges
it presents a very inviting appearance. On open
ing it, however, the reader is disappointed for
the paper on which it liz printed is of very poor
quality, almost enabling one to read the text
through the sheet, while the illustra
tons are the rudest wood cuts with the excep
ton of two fine steel portraits of General Grant,
one representing him as he appeared in 1865, and
the other of recent date. The text however,
presents features that will commend the book to
the reading public. Besides running biography
and account of the military operations, as
viewed from friendly standpoint, the author
has incorporated in several instances the written
opinion Of leading confederate commanders on
some of the great campaigns made under the
command of General Grant. Thus the confeder-
ate view is given of the Belmont fight of Donel-
son, of Shiloh, of Vicksburg and General Fitz-
hugh Lee contributes an account of the way the
confederate cavalry was recruited and kept up to
Its wonderful degree of efficiency. The volume
Grants trip around the world, his final illness,
death and burial. The book is published by the
National Publishing Company, Philadelphia.
John B. Alden has again placed the reading
public under obligations by publishing in beauti-
full and substantial form, another volume of
Ruskin's works, this time giving his poems, his
ten lectures, entitled "The Eagles Nest" his
, three lectures grouped as Sesame and Lilies, :"
his king of the Golden River, or the Black
Brothers, legend of Stiria, and. finally three
other lectures under the general title, 'The
Pleasures of England" The book handsome as
it is, and valuable as it is, is sold for ST. 30
In the way of juvenile books Harper 6
Brothers have issued in linen board covers col
lection of legendary stories, illustrated by
Howard Pyle, as only Howard Pyle can illus
trate. They are entitled Pepper aud Salt !"
The volume is in quarto form, and is really an
artistic and beautiful book.
Roberts Brothers, Boston, in no mind to for
get the needs of the little folks, have published
for very little people book of rhymes, entitled,
Sugar and Spice and All That's Nice"
$685. For little folks little older
they print 'The Joyous Story of
Toto" by Laura E. Richards. and illustrated by
Z. H. Garrett ($l50.l Children one remove
older in years will be delighted with "a Little
Country Girl" by Susan Coolidge ($150)
Lee & Sheppard, Boston, have offerings in the
same direction, and tender to the patronage of
young people and their friends ''The Satin Wood
Box" by j. T. Trowbridge, the prince of story
tellers They publish also ''Stem to Stern, or
Building the Boat" by Oliver Optic Price,
$l25 each. Cathcart Cleland 6 Co., Indianap-
oils.
But the book Of solidest merit for young
folks comes from the house of j. B. Lippincott
& Co., Philadelphia History of the Roman
Empire, by William Shepard. The author has
skfully adapted his language to the compre-
hension of young people of intelligence, and the
publishers have supplemented this with the
finest of letter-press work. This volume in every
feature is commendable.
In the way of fiction, j. B. Lippincott & Co.
have issued Frances Courtenay Baylor's story,
"On Both Sides" Miss Baylor has just contrib
uted an excellent story to the Journal, finished
in last Saturdays ISSUE The bound volume is
equally good.
Bret. Hartes new story, "Maruja," tHoughton,
MlIllin q Co., Doston1 possesses little merit 1t
lacks viriity, and brings into undue prominence
an ordinary and very uninterestng tramp, which
he marries to Maruja, the heroine of the story,
at the expense of a high bred gentleman captain
in the army. The scene in laidin southern Cali
fornia. on an old Spanish estate the property of
Maruja's mother, Spanish lady, who has
offended her people by marrying Yankee"
Beyond Pereo, the old mayor domo, there is
nothing picturesque or engaging in the story.
even the heroine having little to commend her to
the reader, The effect of the story is not good.
it is unwholesoms and improbable in any light
that it may be viewed.
The above named books with the exception of
the first two and one other indicated are for sale
by the Bowen Merrill Company, indianapolis.