The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-14
NEW BOOKS.

Ny UscLE BENJAMIN. A. Humorous, satirical
and Philosophical Novel By Claude Tfllier;
translated from the French by Benz r. Tucker.
Boston: BENZ. X. Tucker.
In the translator's preface he speaks of
this work as a buried treasure which he
resurrects with pleasure and pride, and be-
lieyes il will take rank among the wittiest
and most humorous ever written. Claude
Tillier was born in small town in France
in 1901, and in his forty-three years of life
was teacher, soldier, essayist, editor and
novelist, but died poor and with pen IN
hand. His political pamphlets gave him
wide reputation as a thinker and an artist,
bright and clear, graceful and pointed in his
work. His two novels were written for serial
publication In the journal of which he was
the editor. The newspaper died OF sys-
tematic persecution. The stories barely
escaped forgetfulness. .'My Uncle Ben
jaminn deserved to be rescued from the
dust heap. Its pessimism is not ail-per-
vading its philosophy is not obtrusive, its
pathos is not false. There is a lingering
charm in its style, so direct, simple and
concise, and each succeeding chapter in
creases in fascination. Once read it will not
lie forever undisturbed, but will be taken
up again and again and give new pleasure
with each perusal. Its translator has done
his work well. The flavor of the authors
thought has not escaped in the process,
but remains as distinctive as the bouquet
OF wine from the grapes of his native land.
LEGENDS AND LYRICS. From the poetic works
OF John Greenleaf Whittier. Boston and New
York: Houghton, Mifiiin d. Company. l6Ino.,
gilt top, 81.
The fifth volume In the white and
Gold'' series is as dainty and artistic as
any that have preceded it. There are no
new things TO say of '-the Barefoot Boy"
Barbara Frietchie, " "Snow-Bound, and
Telling the Bees" but they are here In all
the charm of heavy, rough paper and
clear-cut, old-style letter, with thirty other
selections, each as well known, and the
whole bound in white cloth with gold de-
vices. There has been no such collection
OF Writers best poems, and few more at
tractiye books made from any poets
works"
DE-. LIZ BARON AND Hrs DAUGHTERS. story
of the Old Colony. BY Jane G. Austin. Bos-
ton and New YORK: Houghton, Mifilin & Co.
The author has entered no new field in
this, her latest novel. The readers of "a
Nameless Nobleman, Nantucket Scraps"
and ''Standish of Standishn are already
familiar with its scenes and the people
who furnish its characters. None the less
is the story full of interest, and its terse
descriptions of places and events in Ply
mouth Colony are done with nrm hand.
There are many stories bound up in the
chronicles of the New England ply
stefan, his family and his neighbors, and
many "reminiscences of anti-reyolutionary
times. There is a wealth of material in
the lives and loves of the reserved, unemo-
tional race that built its homes about Mas
sachusetts bay, and novelisfs will not ex-
haust it soon. There are chapters of hor-
ror which need no touch of Imagination to
keep their shadows dark, and true stories
of devotion to a righteous cause that will
live for ages. Miss Austin, in ''Dr. LIE
Baron's Daughters has photographed a
community, and each character stands out
distinctly in the picture. Some are hardly
worth the time she has given them. but
the central ngures in the story are strong
enough 10 make amends. The tale is one
that viii not be forgotten easily.
THE MATCHMAKER society novel By Be-
atriee Reynolds. Philadelphia: 7. B. Peterson
d Bros. Paper, . cents.
A story supposed to be told by Beatrice,
only child of the sixth daughter of the
sixteenth Baron Ailye. Nearly all the
characters who figure in its pages have a
title before their names, and it should be a
veracious chronicle of life among the no.
bility of England. There are some smart
descriptions in its 800 pages, and many
dialogues more or less sparkling. Should it
serve to while away dreary hour for the
reader, he would have no reason to repeat
sadly at the end the name of one favorite
character in the story, Thyme, Thyme"