Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-29
BOOK NOTICES.

Philadelphia: j. B. Lippincott 4 Co. 1886.
THE book is published by subscription. The
subscription list for Richmond is in the hands
Of Messrs. West. Johnston & Co.
Many of us in reading of the old Creole life
glorfed by Gable, or OF the Tennessee noun
tain life glorided by Craddock. have felt In our
hearts a longing that even these Weavers of
romance did not satisfy. We have longed for
the touch of the romancer's genius upon our
own city and commonwealth. In the fatef al
history of Virginia, in the society and man
ners of our Richmond folk. IN the strongly
marked blending OF Puritan severity with
Southern joyousness of nature which dis
tingulshed the Virginia life there was,
we felt, field for she American
novelist unequaled in its capacities of
effect. OF late the stories of Mr.. Page, so
full of delicate observation and of tender hui
NOR, have already shown how much there lie
in these circumstances to stimulate the ar
lists Imagination. Mr.. Dabbey's romance
occupies tine same field, put occupies 1t from
different side, by a more extended nara
tive and a more complicated plot. The book
is a romance, and yet more than a romance.
It will take it's place, If we are not mistaken.
as a lasting and precious contribution TO that
inner and rarer kind Of history whose aim ana
merit lie in catching the spirit, and in depict
ing the manners and genius of time that
can no longer be studied by living observa-
ton. The Vlrgnlans OF 1865 to 1866, IN their
habits, their occupations, their peace, anu
their war, will live in this novel as they are
not likely 10 live elsew here.
Those Of US who like to remember the sweet
calm days of our prosperous little capital be-
fore the trials of the war years came upon her
with their fullness of changeiand theTlfallness
Of glory and of sorrow will ind delight in Mr..
Dabnev's loving picture Of what thai old Rich
mond was. And from Richmond itself, drawn
so kindly and faithfully, the story radistes
outward into the counties. The first half OF
the novel. calm, cay, full of incident an
character, has over it sunny glow of happi-
oraAa
The second half of the romance takes ms out
Of this sweet, prosperous life into the awful
scenes of the war. The characters OF the story
are drawn out of their peaceful surroundings.
away from lOve-makIngs and merry-makings,
into the wild excitement of the battlefield and
the campaign. The authOr--a soldier in the
Confederate army, stat officer to Gen. Cor
don-had the chance of seeing all the sides Of
the soldiers life; and the story, blending
earnestness Of spirit with never-faiHng humOr
in observation, gives the best rendering we
have seen in literature of the detail, Incl
dents and spirit ofthe camp and the march OF
Confederate soldiers. II is thislast part that
reveals the force Of the nOvelist's method.
Simple, unaffected, hardly putting on any lit
erary fashion, the story moves straight on,
with overwhelming sweep of interest, through
admirably told scenes Of warfare TO a noble
conclusion.
Not only, however, in the art of narrative,
but also in the more delicate art of charac-
terizatiOn, the merit Of this novel is genuine
and vigorous. Almost all the characters are
drawn with spirit and life-like movement.
They seize hold Of the imagination and clsave
to the memory. The old country gentleman,
with hrs passion for the violin and his gentle
courtesy TO pretty girls, a man that can be
eccentric and droll without ever being ridic-
| ulOUs. is q figure as molly and mellowly
drawn as one could find ia fiction. And
the hero himself, ''DOn MIL" a man
modest simple and shrewd, rises under
stress of circumstances to a grandeur of life
and OF death that makes him fit TO occupy
no hnrOfa a1Onu w n
these characters of men there are women also
drawn with delicate discrimination. bright,
| beautiful girls filing the earlier chapters by
their lively talk and sparkfing fuD, and CIV
ing to the closing scenes the highest element
| of tenderness and p8ShOs. 1t was Gntlhe's
saving that portrayal OF a W0m8n's char8 teT
was the highest test OF a mans genius: Pie
presence IN Don Mih,' Of this group OF gtris,
each so distinct and ali so thoroughly alive
| is perhaps the highest proof that there Is ge-
MUS in the book.
TIE SHOP GIRLS or PARIS, with their life
and experiences in large dry goods store
| BY Emile Zola. One volume, paper cover
Price 70 cents. T. b. Peterson & Brothers
Philadelphia.
''The Shop Girls of Paris" just published
/ by T. B. Peterson 4 Brothers, Philadelphia
Is the striking title of Emile ZOla's last anC
| greatest work of French notion. II will GER
tainiy take front rank among the master
rOmaHees OF this or any other age. Z0ia has
| never given to the world anything like it.
and its entire novelty IN subject, scope ano
| style vastly augments its un1eniable charm
The heroine is a young and beautiful shOT
! girl, or saeslady, in huge Paris dry goods
| store, and her varied experience rs the pivot
| upon which the entire fascinating narrative
turns. Contrary TO LOla's usual method Of
| procedure, he paints her as model OF innO-
| cence and purity. or course, she has her
| temptations, and fearful ones they are, too
| but her natural inclinAtiOns and th0rOugt
| uOO6naaG aOah1a he n thFOnuh them 81
| sDotless as the driven snow She receives heI
reward at last in happiness, wealth and social
| position. The action OF the novel takes place
| mainly in the Immense store, the rise OF which
! from the smallest proportions ZOla describes
with the utmost minutencsS
| HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, in chrome
! logical order. BY Emery +. Chifds, New
York. Baker Taylor.
This volume gives q concise history OF this
country from the discovery of America in
l4s2 up to the year 1885,, including notices Of
manufactures as they were introduced, al
| well as of other Industries. railroads, canals
telegraphs and other important improve
ments, inventions, etc.
MAGAZINES.
'Strikes, 'Lockouts and ArbitTations,' " il
the title of timely article IN April Ceatura
! by George May Powell, Three anecdotal ar
| tices in this number form a most entertain
| Ing account OF Tue lAulouh AoulcNGt dAt Hlbbf
| Alabama and her duel with the kearsarge.
| p. ID. Haywood, who was a seaman on the
! Alabama. describes Lille on the Alabama y
| with graphic humOr: Lieutenant John Nae
IntOsh kell. in his paper. gives an authorIta-
| tive account of the reasons which impelled
| Capt. Semmes to try ISSUES With the kear-
sarge, and Of the incidentsOf the eight; while
| Surgeon John NJ. Brown, Of the Kearsarge,
contributes the Union history of that stirring
event In point both of illustrations aud an
| ecdotal interest these articles are perhaps
| second to none that have appeared In the
| Century War Series. In Memoranda on the
| Civil war, Capt. Charles King replies TO Gen.
| Pope in yindicatinn Of his father, Gen. Rufus
| King Prof John j. Tigert makes sugges-
| ton in regard 10 Government Aid "a the
| Marking of Battle Fields;' and Col. l.. q.
| NorthrOp, the Confederate COmmissary Gem
email replies 70 criticisms by Gems. J. X. John
| son. Beauregard and ImbOden.
| Mr.. Cables paper ON "CreOle Slave SonEs'
! ia as fully illustrated and as entertaining a.
| his February article on Tine Dance in the
| Place Congo" Mr.. and Mrs. Pencil con.
| clude sItaiy from a Tricycle." A profuselJ
| illustrated paper on ''Tiy Dog, the pugs
spaniels and terriers.-by James Watson
| completes the Century series on typical dogs
The CeBt,wg Company, publishers, New
! York,
The Southern BiUoHGc for April opens with
an interesting article on the much talked-Oi
| HavaIiara and auW one NAV nnu