Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-19
LITERARY NOTES.

rank him in the higher flights of poetry, and
other authors may be given the preference in
their specialties, but no American Is SO sure TO
write well and acceptably, whatever be the
| theme, as he. In the versatility Of his excel
lence Doctor Holmes deserves the eulogy
smith: There Is no branch OF literature he has
not touched, and he has touched nothing that
he has not adorned. In his most recent contri-
button, now collected from the pages Of the At
the title Mortal Rnsipaahy o SaFe snee rSs'
the resSer go further than the
duction to find himself in company with one
of the gentlest wits and kindest men of our
art, thoroughly characteristic, and In q style
which is the despair OF his elegant imitatOrs.
His touch is as delicate but as certain that of
jefferson or Lester Wallack, and his audience
have nothing to do but to surrender themselves
to the master, to be amused and instructed and
bettered, without knowing 1t.
DIR. Holmes has been accused Of harping too
much upon his age, but he complains of Time
so humorously that we cannot spare any Of the
is q stanZa on the familiar theme which litera-
ture could not afford to miss:
'Our old acquaintance, Time, drops in,
r; And while the running sands
Their golden thr, ad unheeded spin,
What 1t Is for which so happy-hearted q
writer can conceive IA Mortal Antipathy' we
leave the reader the enviable privilege of dis
covering.
TIE INFANT PHILOSOPHERS: STRAY LEAVES
York: Fords Howard 4 Hubert
This is q charming little book written by DR..
I. S. Verdi, of this city, with the object Of
setting forth the wants, the suf1erings and the
mental conditions of the little ones. This sub
ject is now occupying the attention of distin-
guished scientists in Germany, and the author
adds TO his reading the long experience of the
physician. Yet the work is not q medical one,
but rather a graphic narrative, and is SO clear,
so simple in its style that a child can read IL
with profit and delight. 1t is effort TO express
the feelings of the baby in its own way, through
the medium OF language, and is SO original and
natural that the reader follows the pages with
Increasing sympathy for the wrongs it suffers.
T.ie baby journal is filled with protests against
the ignorance OF nurses and the abuse of medi-
cineS, and undertakes to explain the condition
OF its mind from the first budding of conscious
ness until 1t throws away its baby clothes.
The book is small one, printed in clear, read
able type, and well subdivided into short chap
tiers, and can be found at all the leading book
stores. No season could be more appropriate tor
such "a work than Christmas, and while parents,
especially mothers, will derive much Instruc-
fail to be entertained by the baby's views Of
things.
HIGH LIGHTS Boston: Houghton Miffln & Co.
Washington: VIM. Ballantyne & son.
Considerable interest exists as to the author
ship of this anonymous novel, which, without
much plot, is a very charming old-fashioned
story of idyllic New England life, told much
after the style of Miss Jewett, though by no
means Initiating her. The touch of the new
candidate for favor is perhaps little more deli
cate th;in that ladys, and her delineatiOn of
character and local sketching are very happily
done: Ii this Is the first venture of the author
which may well be doubted-she (of course it is
She) has made a most enviable beginning.
THoESs, author Of Fortunes Fool" "Beatrx
Randolph" etc. Boston: Tcknor 4 Go.
Mr.. hawthorne is capable of good literary
work but this story is not of that sort. 1t would
have bppn N his credit ha6 haa,
published. So far as it pretends to be a portrait
OF anybody or anything it is not true, and
there is nothing attractive in it from beginning
TO end. 1t is coarse and vulgar, as whole, and
some parts are repuisively SO.
THE RED ROUTE A Novel. BY WILLIAM SINE
author OF "Haco the Dreamer" etc Leisure Hour
The scene of this story is laid In Ireland, and
its plots and incidents are furnished by one of
the innumerable movements organized in that
country against the English government. 1t is
decidedly interesting and better worth reading
than the majority of the novels ofthe day. 1t has
two we'll sustained love episodes with plenty of
plquant dialogue, and a palatable splicing of
Irish humor, that will hold the attention OF the
reader pleasantly from beginning to end.
By JOHN Vance CHENEY New York: D.. Apple
ton " Co. Washington: Robert Beall.
To use a common but expressive phrase of the
day, this may be called q story OF cranks. Al
most every character in 1t is the victim Of some
authors style is far from polished but 1t shows
considerable strength, occasionally, and those
who are interested in the side OF life of which it
treats will find it rather enjoyable. The ave-
rage novel reader will not be apt, however to
recommend it very enthusiastically.
RALPH NORBECKS TRUST. By WILLIAM IVES
TALL. author OF Red Kyvington - 1.-The Old Fac
tory" ETC.. etc. New York: Casser Co. Wash
ingtOn: Brentano Brothers.
The interest of this story turns on the for
tune of a wealthy manufacturer of England be-
ing left in trust to his daughters, instead OF to
the Only son, who displeases his father and is
disinherited. There are in 1t some excellent
descriptions of scenery and life in South Amer
lea and Trinidad, and some exciting passages
describing adventures, etc., but the story would
have been better had IL been judiciOusly con-
densed. In some parts it is rather wearisome.
The interest in Christmas cards seems to be
dying out So far as we know. only Prang &
Co., the well-known art publishers, are promi-
nently in the field of supply, and, Judging by
the samples of their output for this year which
have reached us, their designs are neither SO
numerous nor SO good US heretofore. No prizes
appear to have been offered, as in previous
years, and the most important of the collection
We have seen are only passable. The best, per-
haps is Il bunch of wild violets on pink satin
background, in which the effect of water colOrs
is admirably simulated in chrOmO-lithOgraphy;
but as works OF art the majority are tritiing in
conception, though fairly well executed me-