The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-29
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.
New Cooks.


New Cooks
NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS American Men Of Let
ters series, by Henry A. Bssrs. Boston Houghton,
Mfiin & Co.; Indianapolis. The Bowen Merrill Com.
pany. Price, %1.2J.
1t is certainly stretching any reasonable plan
for Men Of Letters series to introduce Nathaniel
Parket Willis into 1t, at least, Mt so early
period in the natural development Of the work.
Distinctively man of letters in the true and
literary sense Of the term. Mr. Willis was not
There is little he has written that will have
permanent place in our literature,
and his influence upon letters is OF
the smallest value. In the main,
MIR. Willis was charming gossipy letter writer
and current Newspaper historiographer, and La
known more for what ne made out of the Home
Journal a weekly devoted to society," art and
diletanteism in general, than for his devotion
to or connection with literature" And yet Mr..
Wiliss pen produced some few things that have
taken their place between the covers Of bound
books, and we would not depreciate his work.
The best products of his brain were before he
became connected with the Home Journal, as tho
editor of which his worser charactistics as
"a chronicler of small beer" seemed to de-
velop, becoming veritable Jenkins, the fore
runner of that innumerable class of gossips, who.
with less ability and more recklessness have
done almost irreparable injury to the cause Of
American letters"
The treatment of the subject by Mr. Beers is
all thai could be asked in such q biography. 1t
is full authentic, sympathetic, and withal criti-
cal; but, as we have said, we can but think Mr..
Charles Dudley Warner, the editor of the series.
in selecting Mr.. Willis for subject took cour-
than IL
stinct
AMERICAN POLITICAL IDEAS by John Fiske New
York Harper Brothers; indianapolis, The Bowen
Merrill Company.
This volume comprises three lectures first de-
livercd by Prof. John Fiske in 1879, in the old
South Westinghouse in Boston, then repeated
at University College, London, and afterwards
generally delivered by the author on his profess
sional lecturing tour, among other places, in Inc
dianapols. The lectures assume to be a historical
inquiry intothe origin and development of Ameri.
political ideas. The first lecture is devoted to
the New England town meeting which is
held to be the germ OF our American
system; the second is the Federal Union," and
the third Manifest Destiny" 1t needs not Ia
be said that the treatment of Professor Fiske is
thorough and scholarly, and is such as to COM
mand the attention of all who would know Of
the philosophy of our political ideas when ex-
amined in the light of universal history. There
is a certain assumption of dogmatism about
Professor Fiske; but this is, perhaps inseparable
from the method of the scholar who fancies he
has discovered or apprehends the scientific
and systematic development OF politics. But,
whether we agree with the professor OR
not it remains that all who care to read the best
literature important topic AS American
political ideas, must have this volume. A
valuable feature of the book, adapting it for ref
erence purposes after it has been read, or before
for that matter, is an index, given sufficiently
copious and comprehensive, to readily turn to
any phase of the subject which is likely to be
under consideration.
PARADISE FOUND. BY William F. Warren 8. r. D.,
LII D.. With original Illustrations Houghton.
Mifain & Co., Boston: The Bowen Merrill Company,
Indianapolis. Price, 81.
The purpose of the writer, who is president
OF Boston University, an author of note. is to
study the prehistoric world with view to To-
eating the Adamic paradise or Eden, the con-
clusion being that it was in The immediate viz
cinity of the north pole
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. By Hippolyte Adol,ae
Taine D. G. L.. Oxon Translated by John Durand.
Vol. III. Henry Holt e. Co., New York: The
Bowen-Merrill Company, indianapolis, Price,
$3.50.
Third and last volume of this valuable addi-
ton to French history embracing one of the
most notable epochs through which the French
people have passed.
PELVIC AND HERNIAL THERAPEUTICS. BY George
II. Taylor M. D. Alden Publishing Company, New
York. Price, rs cents
One of Alden's admirable books, published at
astonishing low prices. This is practical
health book, intended to aid I'll affected in the
regions named.
GLENAvERIIl OR THE METAMoRpHoszs. BY the
Earl of Lytton Owen Incredibly A poem In six
books. Book |. d. Appleton & Co., New York,
The Bowen Merrill Company, Indianapolis. Paper.
25 cents.
How TO DRAIN A House. Practical Information
Inst, G. r. Henry Holt & Co.. New York; The
Bowen-Merrin Company, Indianapolis. Price.
$125.
NATIONAL ACADEMY NOTES AND COMPLETE Gaia
LoGUE. 1855. Edited by Charles NJ Kurtz. Cas-.
sell g. Co., New York; The BoweL.A Merrill Company,
indianapolis. Paper, SO cents
LITERARY LANDMARKS OF LONDON. BY Laurence
Hutton. James r. Osgood 81 Co., Boston The
$50 80 = COMPANY N''''p''''' '''
KINGS Dictionary OF Boston. BY Edwin NJ.
Bacon Moses King, publisher, Cambridge With
compliments Of lilly Haynes.
WIr AND WISDOM OF BULwER. Complied by @. L.
Bonney. The Alden Publishing Company, New
York.
PULPIT AND EASEL. BY Mary b. Sleight Story.
II. Y. Crowell 81 Co., New York. Price, $1.25.
The twenty ninth volume of the Century Mag
azine, containing the numbers from November
1884, to April, 1885, has been issued in cloth COW
ers. The principal contents of each number have
been noticed from month to month, aud it is only
necessary to say now that the bound volume ia
as handsome and attractiveand as full Of variety
and interest as any that have gone before.
complete set of Scribners and the Century would