The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-30
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.
The frst few flakes OF tna Chriatma. holiday,

IHE FIELD UF LIlEkAI UhE.
The first few flakes OF the Christmas holidays
Of literature are beginning TO fall. The foremost
edge of the welcomed storm is upon us, and
soon the tables and stands, and the pianos, as
well as the library, will be piled up and banked
full of fresh contributions from the illustrated
press. Year after year the output of the great
publishing houses takes on more beauty, a
finer finish and greater eahorateness. The
juvenile books that tickled the fancy of
grandsires and grandmothers when they were
toddlers would be cast aside disdainfully
by the little autocrats of to-day.
Hence, the publishers vie with each
other in the production of fine things for the
young people of to-day. Common illustrations
will no longer do. Even youth has become
critical and the little lady still in short skirts
has become a connoisseur; the gentleman in
knee-breeches is learned in a crude way in the
art of illustration. To meet the severe demands
of these exacting patrons of books the publish
ers have enlisted an army of artists in crayon
and graver. and the result is renaissance, or,
rather, a new era in artistic books for embryo
men and women. 1t is positive pleasure, even
pictures" in the ''story- books" of to-day, which
never fail to provoke the vain regret, .They
didn't have such books when l was young"
And, aside from the mere establishment of the
literature prepared for the youth of the land,
the text has been improved in many respects,
and made to serve many useful end.
Take for instance Charles Frederick Holders
''Marves of Animal Life" Charles Scribner's
Sons, New York;, dealing, as it does, with the
marvels of the animated kingdom. The story
while dealing with facts only, draws so largely
and en- gagingly from the odd, erotesque or
marvellous features of animal life that many
lessons in zoology taught while the enrap
tured reader is intent only on enjoyment The
lessons are poured into him while his mouth is
wide open in wonderment The Bowen-Merrill
Company, Indianapolis Price, So
In the same line, but adapted to younger
minds, is the book entitled "Four Feet Two
Feet and No Feet" edited by Laura E. Richards
Estes & Lauriat. Boston), which relates famous
anecdotes of the doings and characteristics of
various animals, insects and reptiles. The illus
trations are elaborate and beautiful, making a
very desirable book for Juveniles The Bowen
Merrill Company, Indianapolis Price, $175.
Estes & Laurat have also published. in book
form. Our Little Ones and the Nursery" a
charming book for the smcllest people interested
in pictures and stories. The Bowen Merrill
Company, Indianapolis. Price, 81 rs.
Charles Scrbner's Sons have published a fine
collection of fairy stories and legends, gathered
from all quarters of the earth by Mrs. Burton
Harrison, and illustrated by Walter Crane,
famous for his pictures in this direction. 1t is
calculated to interest boys and girls from ten
years up. Under the title 'Bric-a- Brac Stories
the editor has compiled very engaging book,
not calculated to teach lessons 80 much as to en-
terrain and amuse That they will succeed. the
publishers are willing to leave to the verdict of
the grand jury of boys and girls everywhere.
The Bowen-Merrill Company, Indianapolis.
Price, So
Thomas Y. Crowell e. Co.. New York, have
sent out another story by "Jak" for young folks,
entitled 1.-THE Fitch Club" 1t is an entertaining
and healthfuI story, and will please the juveniles
greatly.
In the way of works for older minds, the
Messrs. Scribner have published the Move
monts OF Religious Thought in Britain During
the Nineteenth Century" by John Tulock, D.
D., LII. D. ISL SOY; 1.-The Peptateuch: Its Origin
and Structure" an examination of recent theo-
ries, by Edwin Cone Bissell, ID. d. $751; and
''The Blood Covenant: A Primitive Rite, and It's
Bearings on Scriptures" by H. Clay Trumbul
d. ID. 1897
The same house has issued two novels during
the past week: THE Last Meeting" by Bran
der Matthews. and "Roses of Shadow" by T. r.
Sullivan ISL each(.
John B. Alden famous for the excellence and
cheapness of the books he puts forth. has sur
passed himself and now offers the Essays of
Ella" (Charles lamb, neatly bound in beveled
cloth covers, for so cents. Better could scarcely
be done, unless books be given away