Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-18
LITERARY NOTES.

THE RESCUE OF GREELY By Commander W &
tom Of is and fnanor The s ksef ETpe
Illustrated from Ih-tngraohs and Maps of the
sons Wasinsto u eM II %ofison; VIM. haliap
tyne & SON
In one way and another pretty much every
thing contained in this portly volume has
already been made known to the public; and on
taking it up the reader will be puzzled more than
a little to know how narrative covering so short
a period of time and so few incidents can well
be expanded SO as to fill nearly three hundred
broad pages. AS matter of fact, however, the
record OF the rescue proper covers only about a
thlrd OF this space. Nearly halfthe volume is &C.
chances at previous expeditions, etc, which pre-
pareS the reader to understand the objects
ships and perils he and his little band endured
In their furtherance, while the remainder re-
cites the incidents of the homeward voyage.
Although there is nothing absolutely new
set forth, the narrative will nevertheless hold
the attention of the reader from the Begin
ming to It's close by reason of its terse, fresh and
attractive style. This result is largely due to
the Skin of Prof. Soley, whose literary expert
ence and natural abilities have enabled him to
scant and decidedly slight material In the
hands of any but trained writer the whole
history. save its exciting climax, would have
been a spiritless and tedious chapter. And in
reading the account OF the relicf expedition,
presented as 1t is, in the best aspect
upon what ground the proposed vote OF thanks
by Congress to those in command oft could rest.
The officers engaged in this particular service
did nothing but the plaineSt and simplest duty.
No one In government employ could have done
less, and there was no call or opportunity to do
more. Nor was the undertaking at any time
attended with deprivationS or beset by special
dangers. Indeed, according to the showing of
the book ITSELF it does not appear that the relief
party endured any more hardships or ran
greater RISKS than those assumed every year by
the officers and crews OF the whaling, sealing
and fishing vessels engaged in their ordinary
aVocatlons in the waters traversed by the relief
fleet. There is in fact every reason to believe
that the Greedy party would shortly have been
found by one of these private ships had the gov
eminent vessels not appeared on the scene at
all, but probably at too late day to have saved
the lives of the sufferers. In the latter regard
the relief expedition was worth all it cost but If
was not an exceptionally hazardous or heroic
adventure, in any sense, and therefore not Ell.
titled to special recognition.
A DEFENSE OF EDGAR ALLAN POE Life.
Character, and Dying Declarations of the Poet An
Physician, jobs j. j. MORAN. NJ B II" Washns a,ns
VIM. +. Boogher.
In this handsomely-printed monograph the
memory of Poe is cleared from a cruel stain
that has long rested upon ft,-partly the result
OF unfortunate circumstances and partly, also,
1t is to be feared, through the malice ofenemies.
Dr. Moran was at the time physician of the hos
pital where Poe died, and he shows conclusively
that so far from the death of the unhappy
genius having occurred during a drunken de-
hauch, as has been generally supposed, il re.
suited from violence at the hands OF a couple of
ruffans. who first drugged and then robbed
him. The sad story of the poets death and
burial is fully and clearly told, and Dr. Moran
Is entitled to credit for his generous and sue
cessful effort TO do justice to one who, short as
was his career. did much to confer luster upon
american literature, and who, had his life been
spared must have taken q place with the very
first writers of the present age
SCRAPS Romance. BY GEORGE EBERs. author
BELL, Authorized Edition New York y VIM MS S.
Hottsberger. Washington: w H Morrison
Another novel of Egypt as might be inferred
both from author and title. 1t is marked by
the careful attention to historical details and
the fine descriptive scenes which characterize
all OF Mr.. Ebers writings, and is in fact in one
sense quite as much of n history as a novel.
put for all that it is not exactly agreeable read.
ing. Inc scene Is laid in Alexandria early in
the christian era, when christianityan pagan.
Ism We're struggling for the supremacy, II
accordingly portrays the country torn with in.
ternal feuds and members of families divided
against each other. There are of course several
rove passages interviewer in the narrative ia
hold the readers attention and give TO the
story that perennial interest which centers
around the trials and triumphs of human affec-
ZION IN every age and every cline.
A CARPET KNIGHT A Novel. BY HARTFORD
FLEMING. author of Cupid and the Sphinx" Bos.
.Bdllantyne d Son.
A very clever story this of society life in Phil.
adelphia, where the scene is laid albeit the con.
Versations are too much protracted at times and
little condensation could be done elsewhere to
advantage There is no plot, but there are i'm
cidents aplenty; the style Is bright and some of
the characters are very cieverly drawn-par.
Knight Who gives e the book dts title the
very good type of the society young man Of the
period, spoiled by his mother and sister," not
tain good qualities which favorable circum-
stances might develop into something above the
common run of his kind.
GERMINAL. BY EMILE lola. author Of eL'Asso-
Charles Baum.
The only possible excuse for the existence of
TINS book lies in the claim that it was written
in the interest of labor. But how working
people can be helped by 1t is difficult to I'm
derstand. A darker and more lepulsive picture
of life has rarely been penned, and the artist
takes special delight in bringing out in the
strongest possible light its vilest and most bru-
moral, is left to The imagination. That lola
has decided power of delineation is NOT tn he
denied but the effect of his efforts is anything
but elevating or pleasant and it is not surpris,
ing that this particular one has been suppressed
in England.
MIND; ;EAD1NG AM, BEYOND By WILLIAM
ton; VIM. Ballantyne & Son.
This book is mainly made up of the records
and reports of the London Society for Psychical
Research, or rather that branch Of it devoted to
mind-readfng with explanations and diagrams
illustrating number of experiments made
to demonstrate. the existence of that faculty..
Those interested in the Investigation of mental
phenomena will find the book worthy their
attention, though to the majority ofreaders the
manifestations relied on by the author as q
base tor his conclusions will seem puerile and
unsatisfactory, and the conclusions them.
selves not well founded.
ALIIsTO. Romance. By JOHN EMERs1E New
York: John ID. Williams
"Allisto' is queer hotch-potch. It seems to
be written with purpose, but just what that
purpose is or whether it be worth attaining ia
not clear. 1t is a love story, dealing with nsy-
chical phenomena and the occult theories Of
the orient. The hero, who is intended to sym.
bolise the tendency to advanced thought, seeks
perfection, and with his bride Allena endeayors
to live up to his high ideal, but the results are
disastrous. Some of the descriptive portions
are very good, but the time spent in reading it
could easily be put to better use.
BACCALAUREATE SERMONS By ANDREW p
and Piumer Professor of Christian Morals i'm Har.
ward College. Boston: d. Lothrop & Co.
DR.. Peabody is one of the soundest and most
liberal theologians in the country, and at the
same time most clear and cogent reasoner. It
follows, therefore, that in nineteen of his ser.
mons, preached from 1861 to 1873. there will
be found much to challenge attention and sug-
gest serious thought.
With its next issue The Century will adopt the
very sensible rule Of appearing on the first Of
the month, instead of several days before that
date; How the custom of anticipating pub
licatfon day by our monthly magazines
originated no one seems to be able to
tell but one periodical having adopted 1t the
Others were rather forced to follow, whether they
liked it or not. The same foolish habit prevails
with orr illustrated waakIiaS ond in ovo,, q