Evening star., 1885-06-06
LITERARY NOTES.
DOWN THE RAvINE By CHARLES EeRrR-
CRAppocK. author Of "ln The Tennessee Noun
tAlns etc. Boston: Hocghton, Mfiin & Go
WaShingtou. Robert R.sall

DOWN THE RAvINE BY CHARLES EeRrKr
tans"s etc. boston: HoGshtOn. Miniin tVSs, & Co
Washington: Robert BealL
OF all the later accessions TO the ranks OF
writers of American fiction one took a
higher position at the start, with the promise
OF maintaining it, or I'm fact OF accomplishing
better things than Miss Mary " Murfree who
first became known to the literary world under
Use was fairly niilled by her second effort.
"Where the Battle was Fought" and the third,
now before us, is even better than that Al
though written for juvenile readers. H. is well
worth reading by older people Tor ii is dis
tinctly one OF the best of its class, md is marked
oy tne distinguishing characteristics of the au-
THOR haip,eststyl The scene is laid in wild
country and among strange people. in the de
Sseription OF which Miss Muriree is peculiarly at
home, and the story, abounding in dramatic
interest and striking characters, is thoroughly
enjoyable from beginning 10 end.
THE RUSSIAN REVOLT: Its Causes, Conditions. and
ton sIniin &co Washington: % VIM, Hs'f BalIaSsne Sh
The author of this readable volume quail.
ned himself for hts rask by long and
careful study of Russian history, supple
mentsd by two years residence in the
country, observing her people, their ways.
aspirations, &c. While his treatise Is not
a profound one, and does not throw much
llyht on the subject that could not be gained
from other sources il is Siih well digested and
compact presentation OF facts and theories con-
SeIulHs the great social upheaNal IN that cOun-
try Known as nihiii.m. The volume is a timely
ana useful one, ia view OF the extent TO which
RUSSIA and her affairs are just now attracting
the attention Of the rest OF the world.
BIRDS IN THE BUSH BY BRADFORD ToRREy
Boston: Boston: Hopghton Mitiiip & Co. Washington:
A very agreeable little volume, this, made up
OF scant dozen of essays, most of which have
appeared in the 4ttantic Monthly. Popular
rather than technical i'm purpose and style.
they throw a good deal pf new liohf on be
ieathered sonssters OF New England, and tell
III pleasant way many things already known
10 most observers OF nature. thus combining in
an attractive manner entertainment and in
structIon. For a person going to the country
LOT vacation, and especially for the young, IL
VIII make a most excellent companion.
NEW LIGHT ON MoRMoNIsH. BY Mrs. ELLEN
Weed. New York Funk & WagnaIls
Notwithstanding the great interest now felt
In all quarters in regard TO the doctrines, prac-
tices and probable future OF the Momons, COM
paratively few of the present generation know
anything of the beginnings and early history
OF that sect. Those who desire information on
these points will find in Mrs. Dickinson's book
mueh OF Interest and Importance, based on EN-.
Lrely reliable efoundation.-much of IL derived
Ifoln an examination of original papers and the
evidence or men and women still living who
were personally cognizant OF the facts set forth.
SNoB PAPERS a Humorous Novel. BY Ap.IR
WELCEf:R (SlcraImen,o. California;. Philadelphia:
L. H. Peterson AZ brothers.
Under the guisc of fictitious names the author
OF this book paintsa somewhat amusing picture
of one phase of life in San Flancsco The author
shows himself to be a pretty shrewd observer
oi human nature, with fair powers Tor satirising
the salient features OF character and society that
iaii under his notice; and the sharp points he
makes will be appreciated everywhere, though
the story seems to be better adapted for Cali
fornia readers than this side OF the great di-
vide.
PROSE WRITINGS OF NATHANIEL PARKER
WILLIS Selected by HENRY 4. BEERS. New
York: Charles sScribner sSons. Washington: Wm.
BaiIantyne x son.
Professor Beers, whose biography of Mr. Willis
We recently had occasion to commend, has done
well TO give to the present generation some OF
the best examples OF that versatile and graceful
writer prose productions. They make one OF
the most readable volumes recently published,
and can hardly fail TO be popular with the
present generation, to whom Mr. Willis and his
Iiine are strangers, as TO his old time admirers.
From Shillington, the publisher, We have an
attractiveiy written brochure entitled Country
Homes. and their Improvement" by Commo-
dore Ammen, the purpose of which, to use the
authors own words, is "tO indicate to those con-
cerned the conditions pertaining to an intelli-
gent and rational country life to aid those who
are adaptable, and to discourage those who
not adaptable from putting on themselves "a
burden more than they can bear With the
latent hope In nearly every bosom OF some time
leading a dreamy life Of pleasant leisure In the
country, such papers as this are of morc service
cu.
dore Ammen's experiences, both as a man of
the world and a retired gentleman, qualify him
to speak as one possessing knowledge, and give
to his reflections and observations upon the ad-
vantageS and drawbacks of rural life more than
ordinary interest and value.
Under the general title of sour Living World"
Mr.. Selmar Hess, of New York, has commenced
the publication of IAN artistic edition" of Rev.
&c. Woods Natural History of Animated Gre
alton, revised and adapted to American Zoo
lOgy. by Joseph B. Holder, MD. As naturalists
Mr.. Wood and DIR. Holder are SO well and favor
ably known that nothing need be said Of the
text, SO that the only concern of the public is
with the Typography and illustrations OF the
projected edition.; These, it is a pleasure to be
able to say, are all that could reasonably be de-
sired, SO that within its limitations the publica-
ton will become at once standard authority
LII; a:,a popular M PIesentaton OF us subject The
about fifty pages each, of which the first four
have been issued. The price will be SO cents
per number.
The Messrs. Scribner are about to add to
their fifty-cent paper-covered edition OF stand
ard literature Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett's
earliest and best story "That Lass o. Lowrie's"
over Twenty-Five thousand copies of this story
were sold directly after publication, In form
three times as expensive as the one now pro-
demand.
The fourth volume OF Dodd, Mead & Compa-
ny's "Tales from Many Sources" treceived
through Robert BeallD is quite as attractive as
those which have preceded ii, containing
representative stories by such popular writers
as Wilkie Collins, Daudet, Walter Besant and
James Rice. James Payne, and Others hardly
less widely known.
Mrs. Emily T. Charles, OF this city ('Emily
Hawthorne'D, who has been in i'll health for
some time, has sufficiently recovered to resume
her literary work, and is now engaged on Sec
ond volume of poems, which she hopes to have
ready In time for the holidays.
noo,p, ,r sn,a r,.u..
A HORSE WHICH CARRIED MANY GRAND MAR
SHALS IN MILITARY PARADES.
From the New York Sun.
When the military procession formed In 5th
avenue on the morning of decoration day, Gen.
Green chief of cavalry looked gloomv Tn mr.,