Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-07
new PUBLICATIONS.

Letters from He'll is the Title OF al
octave volume that is as startling and vivit
in its contents as the title indicates. 1t il
published by the Oxford Publishing Com
pany. East Fourteenth street, New York
The work first appeared in Denmark som'
eighteen years ago. Its author is not named
on the title page, but it is ascertained tina
ii was written by Waldema1 Adolf Thisted
who was born in Aarhuus, Denmark, in
1915. He was parson of the State Church
in Timmerup, and was fruitful writer O
travels, biographies and dramatic works
He was noted in his native land for the
loneliness and picturesqueness of his de-
scriptive writings and for his wonderfully
fertile Imagination. His dramatic works
are characterized by poetic beauty. Hi:
literary style ranks.in Denmark as of the
best order of literary elegance. Letters
from He'll" created great sensation in
Europe, and have been translated into
many tongues. The volume before
the German. George Macdonald. the
well-known literary light introduces the
work by an extended preface and criticism.
He says: The book has fearful title, and
is far more fearful than its title, but if il
helps to turn any away from that which
alone is really horrible, the doing of I'M
righteousness, it will prove itself the out
come of divine energy of deliverance. y
For brilliancy of imagination it will rank
with De Quincey's Confessions of an
Opium Eater" There is nothing fiippant
in the book; on the contrary, 1t is pro-
foundry deeply sober; at the same time
it is fascinating and chains the at
tention of the reader, rs does a
mastery romance. Whatever the belief OF
the reader, he will confess the marvellous
power of the writer of the book. and accord
him admiration for his genius. The earth
stories and romances in it, related by the
"lost spirit" are tales of the most pitiful
interest, and overflow with the tenderest
manifestations of emotion. If we may say
that the author was believer in the old
fashioned birthstone and hell-fire" hell,
or was of those who believe that punish
ment for sins here is eternal pursuit here
after of that we most love on earth, without
ability to crafty our desires-whatever in
depreciation we may give to his text, how
ever we may scorn his doctrine, or accept
his theories-every reader will pay tribute
to his wonderful imagery and his brilliant
imagination. However out of touch with
the most accepted doctrines of the present,
it is book of weird and strangely fasci-
mating power.
In 1890 "Littell's Living Age" enters
upon its forty-seventh year of continuous
and successful publication. A weekly mag
aZine, it gives over three and a quarter
thousand large and closely printed pages OF
reading matter-forming four large vol
umes-every year. Its frequent issue and
ample space enable it to present with fresh.
ness and satisfactory completeness the
ablest essays and reviews, the choicest tales
the most interesting sketches of travel and
discovery, the best poetry, and the most
valuable biographical, historical, scientific
and political information from the entire
body of foreign periodical literature, and
from the pens of the most eminent writers
of the time. Such authors as Professor
Max Muller, James A. Froude, Professor
Huxley, Ri Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Ed
ward A. Freeman, Professor Goodwin
Smith, Professor Tyndall, Francis Gallon
The Duke of Argyll, Sir Lyon Playfair
Archdeacon Farrar, William Black, Mrs
Thackery- Richie, Mrs. Oliphant, Mrs
Alexander, Mrs. Parr, r. d. Blackmore
Thomas Hardy, W. E. Norris, B. L. Far.
jeon, w. E. H. Lecky, Alfred Russell Wal
lace, John Morley, W. H. Mallock, P. G.
Hamerton, W. w. Story, Ruskin, Brown
ing, and many other foremost writers in
all departments of literary and scientific
work are represented in its pages. As q
satisfactorily complete compilation of the
best literature OF the day, it is invaluable to
the American reader. 1t enables him with
q small expenditure of time and money to
keep fully abreast with the literary pro-
gress of the age. The subscription price
SIS years. low for the amount of reading
furnished, while the publishers make still
cheaper offer: To send THE Living Age
and any one of the American four-dollal
monthlies or weeklies, year, both post
paid, for $40 so. The publishers also offe-
to send to all new subscribers for the year
1890, renting before January LIST, the
weekly numbers of 1889 issued after the re-
ceipt of their subscriptions, gratis. Littel
& Co, Boston, are the publishers.
The editor of 'St. Nicholas" deserves the
hearty thanks. of all lovers of Thackeray fol
the December number. She has secured
from Mr.. Richie an account of 1.-The Boy
hood of Thackeray," illustrated by fac
SMILES of drawings and letters not hither
to published, and also by the frontispiece
to the magazine-a bust showing Hack
cray at the age of IL. This early portrai
is contrasted by Mrs. Richie with the las
photograph ever taken of her father. Mis-:
Egell TELLS a story of early Virginia his
tory, an incident of the Indian massacre
strongly illustrated by Birch. Theodore
Roosevelt extracts from the dairy of hi
brother, experiences in Buffalo Hunting.
This, being an authentic account, will b.
found to give the right mingling of 70
nance with reality. Nora Perry begins {
serial for girls, May Bartlett's Step
mother" and Walter Camps second foot
ball article Is offered to young men as {
counter attraction The verse is unusual,
attractive. Mr.. Butterworth gives us {
sort of responsive carol, "For Christina;
DAY." Mrs. Spofford gives in excellent vers
''The Story of the Iceberg" and Eva L
Ogden, Ida Van der WORT and ii. Heller
Lovett have written graceful and amusing
ballads, which are strongly and fully illus
trated by Birch, o Beck and G. T. Hill, re
spectively ssBesides the pieces already men
toned, there are good story by Professo
Boyson, pleasing bit of fancy by S. Waite
Norris, a fanciful story by Tudor jerks
with illustrations by Bensell, a jingle illus
trated by Albertine Randall Wheelan anC
other attractions. 1t is delightful Christ
mas magazine, The January number i
announced to be holiday issue.
The December Century" opens with
| series of unpublished letters written by tn
Duke of Wellington in his very last days
These letters present the Iron Duke in
very attractive light. There are three por
traits of Wellington. the imposing full
length picture BY Sir Thomas Lawrenc
being the frontispiece. The personal in
terest' is very strongly continued in JOSEPH
Jeffersons autobiography. Charles Bar
nard's illustrated article on 1.-THE New Gro
ton Aqueduct' is the first full account @
that marvellous and unique engineering
work. The Rev. w. E. Grifins, the well
known authority on Japan, writes of ma
| ture and People in that fascinating island
The two celebrated French painters, Alfre
| Stevens and Gervex, give pictures of thei
paris Panorama of the Nineteenth Cen
tury,r and tell how they came to construC
! the work, and their method of putting
on canvas. Professor Fisher begins hi
striking papers in this number on 9TH
Nature and Method of Revelation" L
! fiction. Mrs. Bars new novel, "Frien
olivia" Mr.. Stockton's "The Merr