The Sunday herald., 1886-11-28
LITERARY NOTES.


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Among the theological publications OF the year
none Ia more important than the substantial volume
on "MesslanIc Prophecy: the Prediction OF the
Fulnllmcnt OF Redemption through the Messiah" by
Rev. Charles Augustus Briggs. D. D., professor OF
Hebrew In the Union Theological Seminary, New
York City. It Ia a critical study OF the Messanlc
passages OF the Old Testament In the order OF thet
development; and while It is designed chiefly fot
students and clerGyrheh the technical disctssions
and Hebrew words are confined TO the foot-noes, so
tina, any Intelligent reader can follow the text with
out break, feature that Will commend the book TO
thoughtful layfuen, notably to teachers In Sunday
schools. Dr. Briggs belongs 10 the modern school
OF those who, while strictly orthodox and devout In
all essentials s % ns anI scnvnrv
Biblical as In other matters, even TO an extent some.
times startling. lie correcs the Massoretic text not
only by comparison with more ancient versions, but
by critical conjecture, and tho principles OF Hebrew
poetry, where all the versions extant appear to bc
He the any wosn as
pronounced rohpeh or Ya,,reh,) after the manner
Of foreign scholars He translates Hebrew poetry
as poetry. and according TO his own theory OF the
lines aud strophcs by which he says he has detected
several poetical portions IN the Old Tesla
men, ns oon NO, so have oS to Inc
that Il would he great task for an English poet to
reproduce the entire body Of Hebrew poetry in cor
responding English poetry Of the same rhythm and
sirophical organization. II real poet should per-
form this work he would confer an nestimnble boon
upon the English speaking race, aud give version
for popular use than any English version That trans
lates Hebrew poetry into English prose-" sum
mary would not do Justice to tho learned authors
views upon the nature aud functions OF prophecy.
Sufilce II say that they are conservative yet en-
lIghtened, neither excluding theelements OF mystery
and human cOlOfing In the grand Divine revelation,
the other hand viewing the prophets merely az
men OF genius who made shrewd guesses at the
future. Ills remarks on tho uncertainty OF time IN
all the prophecies. on tho of prediction, law
ful and unlawful, and other topics, arc full OF in-
struction and of saving common sense. Dr. Briggs
has devoted years OF study to ILLS present subject,
aud this may no doubt he regarded as his leading
WORK. tPubllshed by Charles Scrbncrs Sons. Re.
ceived from Robert Beall.)
In these reminiscent days when no American pub
lcation from the ponderous quarterly TO the rural
"patcnt inside" is complete without s"war-serles,'
the announcement Of another story OF the great
struggle In calculated to make the hnrassed reader
turn his face to tho wall and pray for death. Hut
there nre war.storles and war-siorlcs. "The Red
Acorn,' by MIR. John McElroy, OF this city, has
qualities which at once insure Its promotion from
the ranks ana place It at the head OF fiction of Its
class. MIR. McEroy has written much heretofore
that, besides being always pre-emlnently readable, Is
historically Invaluable. A keen observer of men
strongly developed, his varied and adventurous ex-
perence during the war In field, hospital, ana prison,
has rendered him exceptionally qualified for the
role OF the military novelist the scene Of the
story, which takes lts name from the badge Of the
First Division of tho Fourteenth Army Corps, is laid
In Kentucky aud Tennessee during the campaigns
that cnlminated with the battle Of Stone River.
Like "vanlty Fair 1t might have for Its subtitle IA
Novel without Hero" for oil lls men arc heroes,
and Its lovely heroine the most heroic OF all. The
authors narrative style is admirable. He Is born
sory-cller. There ia no pause In the spirited move
ment OF his history from beginning GO close. Ills
descriptive powers are perhaps equally felicltous
and the scenery, fe and customs OF the place and
period are reproduced with realistic effect Among
ihe very best passages in the book arc the scenes
which Introduce the native Unlonsis tho Drills, the
Fortners, and their friends and neghbOre, those
hardy nomey ndqm,aSe rn%s Sss oil inc
taiized, and whose traits and speech Mr.. McErOy
has reproduced with no less vivid force Altogether
the book Is one of the very best novels OF the war
as vet produced, and possessed OF literary mcrlts
usually found Incompatible with Its line of felton,
"Katy OF Catoctin; or, the Chain. Breakers" by
| Mr.. George Alfred Townsend, "Gath,' {New York
d. Appleton Il Co.. bears the appropriate subtitle
"a national romance" Though tho central thread
is passionate love story, the action begins with
minute description of John Browns raid and death
and closes with an equally minute account Of tht
crimes Of Booth and his accomplices. Its thus his
| torlcal in its character. Both of these groups OF
events Mr.. Townsend has studied and investigated
with his usual energy He has Journcyedover every
foot OF the terrible flight of Booth, AMI he has his
summer residence at "9apland," near the scenes IN
| Maryland described In the earlier portion Of the
story. The design of such u book, he says, wa,
formed IN his mind he stood by the dead Lincoln
| In the White House, and the material has beer
gathered at intervals ills certainly of tht
deepest, most thrilling interest, and adds many
strange facts to the public Information previously
existing. Asa literary work this is an improve
ment upon "The Entaled Hat" though II suffers
somewhat from too much srenu0usness and lacl
of repose In the style. and from Mr. Towsends habi
of dcnoing character by the excessive repetition
OF some catchword In his speech, such as Jak,
Boslcr's "Bi'm by" lIe is likely to rouse som,
fierce resentment by his fearless denunciation of tn,
element III Maryland and the District OF Coluinbi,
who were more devoted to the save-power than t'
the Union during the war, but to this he will NJ
| doubt he Indifferent. "Katy of Catoctin" Is rea
remarkable book, and one that few will be willDl
| TO leave unread.
| we laugh at foreign Ignorance about the Unite,
States, but most Americans know little or moth
| Ing about large part of our own country
that is to say, Alaska. There have been mum
her OF publications designed to remedy this defect
| but few or none 30 thorough and elaborate rs sou
Arctic Province" by MIR. Henry W. Elliott, (Ney
York: Charles Scribner's Sons.) Mr.. Elliott went I
Alaska on behalf OF the Smithsonian Institution, AM
made an official report on the habits of tho fur seals
| which, 1t may he remarked without oIfense, wa
only issued to select few In tts complete form,
very realistic was part of the descriptions. Th,
handsome volume now published Is popular In II
| character, IL illustrated by many drawings from na
ture and by maps, and gives a most interesting &C
count OF that far wonderland now under the protec
tOn OF the stars and Stripes While particular al
tcntiOn Ii devoted to the seal islands and the opera
tons there, this does not exclude full chapters upOi
tUc geography Ot tne WllOe region, upon eaCi OF "
| various tribes, the many queer animals, and th
great rivers and mountains. Mr.. Elliott has entere
into his subject with systematic ardor, and ha
spared no pains to Investigate every phase OF |
lie has aimed to exclude all bias, and TO state onl
facts from which readers may form opinions fc
themselves; but there yet pleasant flavor of pc
sOnal adventure In his pages that recalls HumbOld
Those who desire something novel and unworn
the fields OF travel will ind 1t In this description
those with practical interest In Alaska cannot a
ford to dispense with Mr., iGlliotts vivid and exa'
presentation OF details. Qtcceived from Robe
Beall)
The tribune, speaking OF Mime. de Meissner
novel, says: ''It has been seml-ofilclay announce
that 'The Terrace OF Mon Desr' Ia the work of Il
wife OF u well-known foreign minister. 1t is MOI
the more or the less charming and we-wrltt'
story. The hero Is a young American who Is !
In love with a beautiful Russian girl who, nnfort
nately for him, is engaged to his host, fine your
MuBcOvite. The latter, however, has an enemy
his next OF kin, who to secure the Inheritance pr
sons the young man just before the time arrang
me s ag aerS aoessS
unconventional way. His success opens the do
for such llnal adjustment as occurs perhaps mo
frequently In fiction than III real ltfe The story
told clevery, brightly, with animation, In partc
larly good style. Tho author is fond OF nature al
natural and significant, the female characters n
gracious and pleasant, and altogether the litera
experiment may be pronounced SUCCESS"
"Natures Hallelujah." from original designs
Irene +. jerome, (l'oston: Leo shepard,) is We
beautiful ana choice gift book. The author becar
7 favorably known through her "Message of the Bit
bird" and"One Years Sketch Book, but the prese
work surpasses Its predecessors In richness of {
q sign and splendor Of execution. 1t IL an honor
all concerned In its production. The nearly III
full. page Illustrations are beautiful examples OF
designers and eDgravers' art. These are, OF cour
the chief feature OF the book, but the intrOductO
pages Of charming description and the select
verses which interpret the pictures are exquisite
IL their way. Al an artist Miss jerome has decd
individuality, and the studies of Wild flowers, grass
ferns, aud bits Of landscape are delightfully."- draw
= Altogether this volume Ia one which can be I'M
warmly commended tteceved from Decker & c
"Five-Minute Readings for Young Ladies'" Ia
iIila nf n unlnma whIch will sonn ln Ialuad fronl