New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
u,sroRy FOR THE YOUNG.
rur STORY OF THE NATIONS Vols l2mo.
sHS q. r. Putnams sons.

rur STORY OF THE NATIONS Vols limo.
q. r. Putnams Sons
The series OF historical works OF which we nave
herr the first instruments is intended TO present
for Young readers clear, rapid, ana entertaining
account OF tho principal nations OF the ancient
and modern worlds: not exactly an aostrac, OF
sbeir annals. and something more than study OF
their manners and institutions sketch, IN iact'
NJ their clinical and social characteristics. their
civilization, and their intellectual progress with
thc story of the most picturesque incidents ana
noteworthy periods in their lives We arc prom
tsed. moreover that these narratives shall DE
written BY especially competent students ana
shall embrace the results OF all the most recent
historical discoverics-Messrs. Putnam rcanzhs'
what so many publishers are slow to learn 'ia'
the belief that any sort OF hack-worK Id soou
enough for the young belongs TO rast day Each
volume is complete and independent but an ehor.
is TO be made to coordinate them III gciciai
course which, although it NAV no. eli orace uc
whole field of universal history. VIII serve a. u
guide and introduction TO more complete STUNTS
The books arc well printed and bound ana sup
Piled with illustrations OF very unequh he""
The titles and authors oil ABOUT twenty >oiui'''
are now announced.
sTbe story of Chaldea.7 by Zcnaide A. Rago-
Yin Is one of the most successful of those now on
e,
slant use of modern research. and rarity on &C
count Of the fclictos arrangement OF the material
After n brief geographical introduction, the BOOK
cives an excellent summary Of the discoveries OF
Javard. George Smith and other Investigators ana
then passcs on TO wcapitulation OF wiat We
have learned about the ancient Chaldeahs lioii'
these and other sources of knowledge, the imror-
cant esuts of the recent deciphering Of the cuncl-
form inscriptions receiving cspeclal atehtoh' iho
reader therefore shares the zest OF discovery rs ne
pursues the narrative. and is likely to retain the
memory of whatever he acquires by SUCH an iil'c'-
csting process.
"Snsin" is treated by the Rev. Il. r.. Hale ana
Susan Hale. Here we have to commend the DIS
elimination which throws aside vast amount Vi
complicated historical detail especially in the mod
crn rcriod and laws stress upon those stirring and
romantic chapters which include not only the
chief interest OF the subject but nearly all i's
,cal inheritance An accomplished story-teucr
like Mr. Hale could not but find congenlal topics
in such brilliant page of European history.
GERMANY, by Sabine Barring Gould and Ar
thur Gilman, is another CONSPICUOUS success' ia
which a very clear historical sketch Is si<lIulN
combined with an account of the people, ancient
and modern. and their institutions when nave hau
such a powerful effect upon the CIVILIZATION Oh t"o
bcmisrberes 1t is more difficult subject than
-
arc not sure but that it is also made more interest
ing.
"Uuncarvr is by Arminius Vambery, who has
,o,d tho chief events in the history of his country
with considerable animation. and managed 10
comprcss into the allotted space fair abstfact
OF her history.
NORWAY by H. II. Royesen, Is the wori, not
only of a wellknown Norwegian man OF ie''eie'
but of an enthusiastic student OF Morse history
and IL is almost the only book IN our language
in which this fine subject is adequately uea'eo
THE RATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. From tie " History
Of the Civil War IN America; By C ooe .o"iN DA
PARIS svo. PIP. tx. 3l5. Porter Coa'es.
Recent controversy has gwen an especiai interest
% Tho account of the Battle of Gettysburg 10y so
dispassionate and cautious an authority as 'no
Comic de Paris. and the republication IN separate
form of the three chapters of his third volume IN
which he tells the story of that engagement VIII
probably be justified by public demand. In tnis
edition some notes have been added and the itin-
eracv and organization Of Meades forces nave peol
revised and completed from documents IN the al
Department The editor declares that ne uaS also
tested the faithfulness of the transaIoh' we
wish that it had been possible to revise the s'y
of the translation as well but for this task the
person responsible for the present puohca'on
would clearly be incompetent; the last sentence
of the Preface ia one of the most extraordinary
examples of bad grammar that we ever saw undei
the imprint of a respectable firm. The Comte oe
Paris is painstakng and impartial writer whose
military judgments are entitled TO respect, o"V n'
has not the art Of animated aud picturesque nara
tio and the heaviness of his manner is aggravated
bv the faults of his translator To say nothing OF
confusion of lenses and other and worse errors OF
svntax il is a great mistake to preserve IN bhghsn
the present tense which French authors are so fond
of using in historical writing Custom has mace IL
natural to them and to their readers but win our
race it always requires strain OF the IMAGINATION
and it is not permissible except as passing rue
torical device. to be employed only when Tue nara
tive has reached certain rapidity OF movement
and eyaltaton Of feeling and never to be sustained
beyond few sentences. In this version from tne
Comte de Paris we have whole prosaic pages OF IT,
and the result is to give the story an air OF
theatricalism Far from lending animation 10 the
hook il becomes an insnterable drag.
BERRIES OF THE BRIER ARLo BATES. l6mo Pr
%. Roberts Brothers.
MIR. Bates is member of that large choir OF
American poets who train their voices 10 tnt
careful singing of little songs on simple things
love In its common phases sorrow for the absent,
pensiveness a reflective observation OF nature, ana
the translation into words of familiar cbects OIL
landscape sea- and sky. Such work has little OF
the Imaginative quality but it often shows
sentiment and technical skill. With Mr.. Bates
the sentiment is surer than the versihcatior out
some of the pieces have all the dainty conclseness
and polish which such poetry requires.