New-York tribune., 1890-04-19
NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS


teresting lives LADY Godva is here, but not much
more distinctly than in the legend. The bographcr'
however. is disposed to accept the Ola 'iau'"o" o"
true. which will a comfort TO those who nate 10 S
their idols broken by the mpertnent lcohooi"S'" Va
modern research Happily the stories when 30 D'oN
IN the eleventh century are protected by the very lapse
OF lime This volume also includes sketches OF "ohe
or Cough the reglcide, GOdolphin Godwln' .hc ~ h"i
concerning whom Also legend has been proiin' O'''
Goldsmith-a long biography this-flelu -u"iS"a'
CONNIE, list of GordOns filling over eien'S P"s'''
Cover the poet. "a long list OF Grahams I"'u"s
a full account of Claverhouse, an EXTENDED roh Vi
Grants together with Grangers, Coughs "oihsS'
Ciranvlles, Graftons etc. There is an h'eres'"e anu
ADEQUATE biography Of Grattan. ana geh@aiis .'c po
portons are wen observed in the amount OF space
allotted.
DodJ & Mead publish IN handsome form, ana uni
firm with Professor Dana's characteristics oi VOL
canoes third edition of his "Coiais ana 'oi"l
Isands - with emendations considerable additions
four new maps and four new colored plates. Inc au
dtons comprise full discussion Of the views ana
arguments recently advanced in opposition 10 Dar"S
theory of coral reefs Eighteen years having eiapSe
since the issue the first edition, many developments
and new ideas and theories have had to be recorded
Professor position in the main controversy
too we'll known for it to be necessary to indicate
here This new edition of his work VIII be weicomeo'
The eighth volume Of the 4" Bsnkside Shakespeare
is devoted 70 A Midsummer Nights Dream tune
Flayers text of 600, with the First "Ao eAV' Inc
introduction is by Mr.. William Reynolds. Ab Ll-b''
who discusses the quaroS. and the stage laries
NJ sbakesncare,s time Certainly when consider
the mechanical implications of the delicate. graceti
and airy fairy element in the "Mdsnmmcr Nleh'S
Dream" and then reflect upon the crudty OF the stage
mounting possibilities Of the era ii IS diihc"lt 10 v
lieye that the audiences of the Globe Theatre oouo
have made believe" with sufficient force and scope
of imagination 10 realize what Shakespeare meant
Mr. Reynolds thinks that the Bottom-Oulnce element
was purposey introduced as strong contrast 10 u'c
fairy scenes. and that by observation OF that SfoNs
bJresque the spectators should be estopped from cr'
csing too severely the stage shortcomings IN 'he
presentaion of Puck, ObcrOn and Titania, ana the
fairy court 1T NAV be so. yet even If Mr.. keyho"N
theory the fact rer>ans that the Ezaocthahs
must have had faculty OF self-illuson iacuiF
eQilal. one would think. to that possessed by inc
"Marchionness." who able TO transmute orange
peel and water into wine. in our day, when every
bodv is supposed to be very wise and cultivated
the most skiliu and wonderfully realistic mechanical
devices presenting the of Shakespeare with every
conceivable accessory and illustration, scarcely hA
the attention and the interest OF the audience
Perhaps il really demands the daily practice which
an age of easy creduly affords TO bring the popular
imagination into condition thoroughly in accord with
the higher flights OF the poets fancy
4 volume on "Ths Ancient Classical Drama by
Richard G.. Moulton NJ A., (Macmillan). appears to
be well adapted for use as text book in higher SCHOOLS
and colleges While II may be icau WITH interest," al"
profit by other than students 1t is, as the subtitle
indicates study in literary evolution: but il more
than this 1t aims. the author says at presenting
tho Ancient Drama from purely literary Standpoint
and addresses itself to readers in English ana IN the
original" As "a lecturer under the Cambridge Uni
versity extension scheme. Mr. Moulton has Ill VIDE
experience. found the ancient classics second ONLY
TO Shakespeare and Goethe an attractive subject
for lectures" and the largest audiences he ever had
were for a "Ancent Tragedy lie hodS
that the connection between the ancient ard the
modern drama is so close that understanding OF
the former necessary to clear and thorough ap-
prehension OF the latter. The arrangement Of his
book is good He considers first the origin of tragedy,
and passes thence 10 choral tragedy Illustrating bY
the Orestes of Eschyus. Choral tragedy, as ara
matte species. ancient tragedy in transition and the
Roman revival of tragedy, come next and lead up 10
very Illuminating chapter, in which Shakespeare
"Macbetho is arranged ancient tragedy The
second part deals in like manner with the origin
growth and transition Of comedy, Illustrated by the
"B.rds- Of Arlstophanes. Roman comedy furnishes
the ground acute analysis OF the maj changes
which preceded the birth the evolution OF tho
noodern romantic drama. The volume is made more
helpful by series of appendices indexes and refer
cnces one of the former containing suggestions ior
a course Of reading. and tables Illustrating develop
ment being also given.
Philip c. Friese is the author of Semitic PHI
losophys Chicago, r. c. Griggs & Co.., curious book
which great many more bilngs are Sdio t'ldh
ono beside the writer is at all likely TO understand
What Mr. Friesc terms here semitic Philosophy is ap
parenty Synonymous with supposttious revelation
made to man through the medium Of what he calls
"instinctive thought" before the origin Of language
Tho general implication seems 10 be that the
anthropoid apes from whom according to Darwin
men descended enjoyed a philosophy so lofty and
suficne that, though 1t in the nature Of things
inconmunicablc they were able TO order their lives
by 1t. But wien men began to talk they invented
many devices, among which was "monothel-uc
idolatry, and the wicked press, and hence all man
ner of evil Those who wish TO know more must
study Mr. Friese for themselves.
"The Mormon Deusion" by the Rev. ". W. Mont
gomery Boston and Chicago Congregational Publish
ing Society," can hardly be accepted as historical
work. 1t is, in fact, very fierce aud dcnunciaory
that even the truths il embraces in danger Of being
regarded with suspicion. The writer's account Of the
early history Of the Mormons with that Of Nanvoo,
the murder OF smith, etc, appears 10 nave becn taken
wholly from The contemporary statements of the anti
Mormons, which, should be well understood at
this day. we're viilated by the most reckless and
wholesale mcndacity and SANDER Much that Is said
of the later Mormon church is true enough, but the
tone and spirit OF the book are not conducive to
sober conclusions
Charles scrbner's Sons publish in handy little
volume the articles Of G.. ". Gable the negro ques
ton, which have been appearing for some time in na
azines and other periodicals.
Rand, McNally Co. have published a translation
ty l.. de T. of joaquin Bernardo Calvos book on
The Republic OF Costa Rica.' with maps and u
lustratiOns. Dr. Calvo's work enjoys high local repnt
ton having been adopted by the Government Of Costa
pics rs a reference and guide book. II is arranged
compactly. In the form Of para -raphc nCtrs, and
treats briefly but clearly Of the resources. industre
institutions fora fauna oogy. etc, Of the Hriub
Ic The absence Of an index is partly compensated
1.tp - fsffL Tls "a
contains photographs Of distinguished Costa Hicans
and views Of picturesque scenery. scenes OF cultva
tjon and public buildings. The general showing II
DR. Cslvo's statistics encouraging. The population