Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24
LITERARY NOTES.

LITERARY NOTES.
EGYPT AND BABYLON: FRoM sAcnED AND Pro
caeS b Of Aasen Hsas
Canon q Canterbury Cathedral New .ork:
Upon the ancient history Of the two countries
treated of in this volume there is no higher au-
thority than Prof Rawlinson, and he has
brought to the discussion Of the special subject
to which his last volume is devoted, his extern
sive archaeological knowledge, his proverbial
patience and perseverance in research. his keen
powers Of analysis, and his faculty of clear and
forcible statement. Believing that the real his
tory Of all early nations is closely interviewer
with the history Of their religions. he has sought
to ascertain and point out such light as biblical
and profane authorities throw upon the subject
Of his inquiry, and, by comparison, to show
how nearly they are I'm accord The scriptural
illusions to Egypt and Babylon are grouped
together and dispassonately discussed; the
same process is adopted with reference to such
reliable information as Is to be obtained from
other sources. and very striking and interesting
connections are shown to exist between them
the whole making up what is doubtless the
most complete history of the two great ancient
empires yet given to the world.
OUT OF THE WRECK; OR Was IT v1oronYg By
AMANDA NJ DOUGLAS author of In trust" etc.
Boston: Lee Shepard. Washington: W. a. Nor
rson.
A we'll told story, this, of a wife's struggles
of a marriage beginning in love and happiness.
with the brightest of prospects,-of the grad
ual downfall of the husband, until he becomes
that most loathsome OF all objects, an habitual
drunkard, and one that appeals strongly to
the sympathies of the reader and wildly Illus
trates ideal and real life. The description of the
wife's feelings when she determines, for the
sake of her children, to break away from the
degradation of her life, is both thrilling and
pathetic, and the narrative of the manner in
which the devoted mother makes her way in
the world and brings her daughter from misery
and low associations to higher and better life
is In the highest degree absorbing. The story
does not perhaps come under the head of pleas
ant reading, but the purpose Is good and the
tone healthy.
PERIL Novel. BY JESSIE FoTHEReIL1, author of
Hour series Mo- ISL Ne% Yop H as l Hnt
"Peril," which takes its name from its eccen-
trio heroine, Is likely to be one of the most pop.
ular of the series to which it belongs. The scenes
are laid in the manufacturing districts of Eng
land, the characters being mostly drawn from
the middle classes of that country and the pOr-
trayal of both is well done. In addition to this
merit the plot is quite out of the common, the
literary style Of the author is attractive and the
interest is maintained to the end There Is no
moral preached, but the discerning reader will
not fail to see the thread of one running between
the lines.
FER1sHTAH's FANCIEs By ROBERT BROWNING.
Boston b, 6da Houghtoh. Miin Co. Washington: Rob-
Mr.. Browning's thick-and-thin worshippers
will doubtless find much to their liking in his
last volume, which serves up the mystical para
bolic philosophy of the orient in obscure and
lolting verse, but the average reader will see in
IL LITTLE that no oft hop
estly admired. The occult meaning of the
"fancles' may be mastered after much study
and it may be, too, that frequent readings might
reconcile one to the poets style, but after these
things are accomplished will come the query
whether the result is worth the effort
OF "Hepzibah Guinness. J" The Hill of stones, and
Co. Washington Robert Beall
Although possessing all the requisites OF the
conventional story, with the plot consistently
worked out and the actors well limned, the
charm Of DR.. Weir's book lies in its quality as a
character study, and the admirable manner in
which the author illustrates the growth and de-
Vel0pment OF those elements which make or
mar career. Its theme may be said to be
mans weakness and WON ans strength, and it
IS treated with both originality and power
throughout.
IN 3 CASE !. OF Gs, AoCIDENT. By Dr. D. A. SARGENT
L. Co. - A0'
If the value of books were determined py
their size, this little volume would not count
for near as much as it is worth. 1t is really a
handbook that might well belong with advan-
tage to every family. containing, as it does.
much useful information. plainly and concsely
set forth. calculated to aid in self-preservation,
ana TO show how best to act In the face of such
accidents and emergencies as are likely to be
met ID the everyday experiences Of life.
FARNELL,S FOLLY. By J. T. TRowBRIpGE Boston:
Lee Sheppard. Washington: J. C Parker
Mr.. Trowbridge is clever delneator of char
acter, and his style is vvacious and popular,
particularly with young readers and he gener-
ally manages to hold them to the end. but in
this case the end, it must be said. is too far
away The present story would have been bet
ter II 1t were shorter.
The International News Company of New
York have become the American publishers Of
the old established London Art Journal. which
seems like wine, to improve with age It does
not abandon steel engravings, which were for
SO many Years its specially, but gives in add
ton to them some Of the very best examples Of
modern etching, of which the reproduction Of
MOslers wedding Morning." In the January
number Is an excellent illustration. The Feb
ruary number in turn has steel engraving Of
richardson's striking painting Of Napoleon on
way, are unusually rich both in interesting
illustrations and letter press.
Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons announce that
the scope Of their attractive little monthly 1.-The
Book Buyer" is to be enlarged so that it will
hereafter cover every important book published
in America and good many of those of foreign
origin. While it will keep strictly in the line of
descriptive notices, everything which it prints
will be specially prepared for its columns, thus
giving in compact and acceptable form large
amount of information which those interested
in current literature will be very glad to get.
In the February number of Babyltood DR..
Yale has an article on the subject of the
child's First Steps" in which the earliest de-
velopment Of the baby's power of locOmotion is
described in practical manner with sugges-
tions as to theavoidance of "bow-legs." "knock-
knees" etc: Marion Harland writes of 'Baby
Abroad in Winter" and Edward Everett Hale
discourses amusingly on the naming OF the new
born child.
Charles Bad Guesses.
From the Hartford Conn Times