Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-21
LITERARY NOTES.


SOUVENIRS OF A DIPLOMAT: Private Letters
Preside ae Vsn Buren, Harrison and Tyler BY
the Chevaiier DE- BAcouRT; Minister nom France
MIA MeGr q sas O% lie Ne Se
York: Henry Holt Go. Washington: Rrentano
Brothers
The de Bacourt letters attracted considerable
attention when published in France, some
three years ago, and interest in them is likely
to be renewed with their appearance in Eng.
lish on account Of the free comments made by
the writer on the people he met during his
stay here This however is the only potable
ever as embodying the views and observations
of an intelligent and fair-minded gentleman
trying to comprehend the people ana institu-
He gives attention alone to the things that
affected him personally. The picture which he
and distorted form, only what was seen
through the jaundiced eyes OF a fussy, sef-sufii-
Gent little creature, who was unable to adjust
himself to new surroundings, incapable OF
making allowance for the conditions by which
the political and social systems of the country
Wiling 20 see anythns Worthy Of praise IN
people save those of his own country. Nature
pleased sometimes, but man was always vile;
cans, individually or in the aggregate, were
countries were usually little better. Bodiseo,
ga villainous Old man, ridiculous, vulgar and
disgusting" while his wife had 'the beauty OF
youth, but q silly manner" NJ. de Mareschall,
sip, who sneeis at everything" Henry Clay's
proclivities were Every French, with an exterior
Woodbury., then Secretary Of the Navy, is
CURLY dismissed rs insignificant" Mrs. Meade
was polite, but very common" her corridor
three daughters were badly brought up, badly
dressed and their hair badly arranged
rate EaEs in Short charity fair held by
attended, was only curious on account Of
the filth, the poor display and bad order
had made a fortune in the slave trade which.
however, "did not prevent Washington society
from rushing to his house." Senator Hunter, of
his nose In his napkin constantly during his
dinner" Mr.. and Mrs. Bayard were "ridicu-
loas Americans, who have the impadence to
call themselves descendants Of the Chcvalier
Bayard, ignorant, no doubt, of the fact that he
had the good sense never to marry, and have
proche:'". Even Webster, the ~Godlike Dan
lei" failed TO impress or please. He was 'rough
in his manner, wilfnl and ili-bred, pompous TO
cealed his sad mediocrity with contraband
dignity" In short, says the author, 'every-
thing about the Americans is repugnant to me,
their opinions, their manners, their habits,
their character" This silly stuff will be read
at this distance Of time only with amusement
author would have had if it had met the public
eye during his stay in his country! And just
why 1t should be given to the world even now
is somewhat difficult to understand. It GER
tainiy does no credit either to the memory of
the man who wrote it or the judgment OF those
responsible for its publication.
TWO YEARS IN THE JUNGLE: The Experiences
OF Hunter aud Naturalist, in India. Ceyion. the
MALAY Peninsula, and Borneo BY WILLIAM T:
M1ssn ~, Chi,f TaSidermis T. = Na1'Snai
YORK; Charles Scribner's Sons. Washington:
WIN. Baliantyne & Son.
Those who enjoy travel, those fond of adven-
int Tod IN, l.;
will alike be entertained and instructed by Mr..
Hornaday's narrative. The author explains in
his preface that the journey of which his book
is the record was one of action, rather than Oh
servat1on, and he is evidently trained in his
own calling rather than in the arts Of book
craft; but his story is none the less attractive
on that account. On the other hand. il has n
directnesS and freshness that would probably
be lacking were his attention given to style Of
composition rather than to its substance. 1t
has also the merit Of precision of statement. and
an abStentiOn from description Of things not
seen or done that is as delightful as it is un-
tons of travellers who visit far off countries
with rod and gun in hand, and all sorts
OF game in view The object oil Mr.. Hornaday's
Journey was to collect specimens of natural his
tory In the coun tries named on the title page,
and in this adventurous pursuit he had oppOr-
tunities for seeing places, phases OF life and
members of the animal and vegetable king
doms not often enjoyed by travellers, and he
describes in a plain. straishtforward, but
did. In material point of vicV his expedition
was in the highest degree successful, and his
record Of it is not only interesting in itself but
both the scientist and the general reader.
LIFE AND of GUSrAvE DORE
Compiled from Material supplied by Dores Ie.a-
With many original unpublished Sketches and
Selections from Dores best Published IIusira-
struck etc. New York; Casssii 4 Co Wassins.
ton: Brentano Brothers:
Mrs. or Miss Roosevelt does not possess the
qualifications necessary for the production OF q
satisfactory life OF Dore but she has succeeded in
bringing together a mass of material very in.
tercsting in itself, for the time being, and which
would be Of great value to the future biographer
Of that brilliant but erratic and spoiled genius
should the work be considered worth doing
over. In addition to the advantages afforded
by q personal acquaintance with the dead
artist the author-compiier was fortunate
enough tosecure his early sketch-book and Sc
lections from his letters, and she has been able
also to obtain many "reminiscences and anec-
dotal data in regard TO bore and his friends
from those who sustained intimate relations
with him through life. All this. of course,
throws a pleasant light on the character and
career Of the artist; but SO far as the authors
own work is concerned it is sketchy rather than
biO2 raphical, and rhapsodicai rather than well
weighed. 1t is, however, never dull or uninter-
eSting.
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF THE CIVIL
WAR. By Admiral POTTER author Of "A Han
III.
Appleton & Co. Washington: Robert BealL
Whatever may be thought OF the results Of
Admiral Porter's forays into the field Of avowed
fiction, no one can deny that his opportunities
during the late war-"all OF which he saw and
part Of which he was,"-admirably qualified
him for the preparation of a volume such as he
has now given to the world. While it does not
pretend to be history OF the period to which it
relates, it does give new and sometimes rather
surprising views OF important events, and
throws new light upon the character and acts
OF some of the prominent actors in those stirring
times. His descriptions of battles are graphic
with clever effect and, with the blunt frank
ness usually attributed to an old sailor, he dis
tributes his praise and blame in a free off-hand
way that Will be pretty sure to provoke con-
tradictions and bad feeling in quarters affected
thereby, though it can hardly fail to entertain
the general reader. The latter will, however
hardly forgive him for his attempt to do the
siege of Vicksburg in rhyme, to which effort he
devotes nearly dozen OF pages that might have
been put to better use, or omitted entirely with
THE WIT OF WOMEN By KATE SANBoRN New
York: Funk Il Wagnails
This handsomely gotten up volume Is likely
to be greatly in demand. The ladies ought to
buy it, to see what clever things their sex can
wit by women will want to see how effectually
1t sustains their own theory. Both classes viii
find something to their fancy In its pages; for
while they contain great many bright and
sparkling things, they at the same time furnish
q good deal that Is not new, and therefore not
interesting, together with considerable that Il
not very good and which does not really helm
tons the compiler does full justice to the women
of England, France and Germany, but, like the