Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-01

'sThe Rape of Lucrece, ""A Lovers Com
plaint," "The Passionate Pilgrim" and
1.-THE Phoenix and the Turtle" are the
poems. There is an introduction of forty
pages, giving a history OF the poems,
tracing of them to their sources, and
chapter of critical comments. The sonnets,
with notes published in 1888, are appropri-
ately added to the poems.
And between Homer and Shakespeare
give Geoffrey Chaucer place. Prof Henry
Morley's English Writers" (Cassell & Coz
reaches its fifth volume and the fourteenth
century. The book opens with chapters
about Wyclif, as retormer and as teacher.
Then follows Chaucer. His life-story, his
pecially the Canterbury Tales" are given
wide space. The reader is taken back
into that curious time when people went on
pilgrimage to Becket's shrine. The history
of the day is discussed in its bear
ings upon literature, and the great
series of poems, in which Chaucer held up
a clear glass that his cotemporarles might
therein reflect themselves, is described,
the plot OF the more important tales is told,
and the long narrative, too long for this
hurrying generation, and written IN
tongue which is not now understood by
the people" is put in such shape that one
can see it all at once.
There are many good people who would
not DENY to Robert Browning place in this
goodly company OF the masters. Richard
Grant White says that being requested years
ago to spend an afternoon with friend and
"bring his Browning" he wrote back,
"Who or what is Browning?" And ne
compares his question to that other remark
able query, "What are Pericles?" Nobody
will ask such questions at this day. Every
body knows who Browning is. But not
everybod has read Browning. Most people
who have not read him will assure you that
it is impossible to understand him. Here
is good book to serve as an introduction to
the most profound, thoughtful, sane, uplift-
ing, mastery poet OF this generation
Selections From Browning" Lee &
Shepard). tfhe selections are made by Mrs.
Albert Nelson Bulleus, and include poems
even from his latest writing, "Asolando."
BEST Things from Best Authors" (Penn
Publishing Co. }, is in the sixth volume.
Talks" by George Thacher, and BEST
Selections" (the same publisher), 60 with
it, These readings are of all sorts from
grave to gay, from prose to poetry, and from
sources as different as William Cullen
Bryant and the New York Weekly. Good
books for boys and girls who have to speak
pieces"
"He picked something out of everything
be read" Pliny said that, of whom, 1 know
not. But it applies very we'll to the maker
of the bright little book entitled "In and Out
OF Book and Journal g. B. Lippincott &
Coz DIR. A. Sidney Roberts is the editor of
these curious clippings S. w. VanSchaick
drew the clever little pictures, I'm and
Out" in text and cover. A good thing well
done.
Here are some of the nuggets:
The highest exercise of charity is charity
toward the uncharitable."
"Conceit may puff a man up, but never
prop him up"
prayer books answer many useful pur-
poses besides that of being carefully laid on
the drawing room table every Sunday morn
ing
ali you would be known, and not know,
vegetate in village; if you would know,
and not be known, live in a city,"
''There is a gift beyond the reach Of art.
that of being eloquently silent"
'Specuiation-a word that sometimes be-
gins with its second letter.
Six books, for whose titles I can make
room. but little more: "a Look Upward"
(Lee andlShepard) by Susie C. Clark-faith
cure; Compares Elements of Psychol
ogy" (Lee and Shepard), by DR.. William
H. Payne-looks like firstrate schoolbook;
IAN American Geological Guide" %. Ap-
pleton & Co.), by James Macfarlane-cap-
ital. gives the geological formation at every
railway station in the country, tells you
what to see out of car windows, meant for
people who are not geologists, and written
concisely, Interestingly and accurately;
Human Magnetism" Fowler and Wells),
by DIR. H. S. Drayton-nature considered
as remedial agent; and miscellaneous
Writings" OovelD, by Julia NJ. Thomas;
Founder OF Psycho-Physical Culture, -
the Mormons, the Thousand Islands, Rum,
Girls and Elocution.
All the books in this weeks bundle are
for sale by j. R. Weldin & Co.
A dozen clever novels will set the texts
for next Saturdays disquisitions of
The CRITIC