The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-02-13

| And a. the fun progressed
softly pipei encore
For. old man. came near flying
Into tina, iath.hon>e on the shore.
"A dainty. sky-blue-"
:Hold on, little birdie" said 7, as nc began
TO max iay head whrl and get me mixed up,
"therc are some things that even you should
not tell, but YOU may sing Your last verse Of
early spring poetry"
''Ye dreamy men Of science.
| Why strain your eager eyes
In gazing At the planets
That deck the distan; skies
There are beauties our river
Not dreamed Of in your lore.
And telescope is nothing
10 \ hatl-ho @ on The shore
The series of "New Books" issued By the
| Lippcncotts. on tinted paper, duodeclmo, arc
not all new books. Some of the foreign novels
arc already classic at home, however new to
the American reader. Carmen" By Pros
per Mcrimee, was published in France many
years ago. The recent opera, dramatized from
this novel, did give immediate cause for its
republication in America. Prosper Merimee
has realized in "Carmcn a character almost
wholly IDEAL vet 80 elegant and artistic is his
work that the most romantic incidents and ex-
| pressions Of thought seem natural part OF
the Spanish-gypsv life he 80 minutelY de-
scribes. The creation Of character like
Carmen is test Of genius as absolute as the
creation of Mignon. Purity Of art alone makes
the lawless nature OF Carmen respected, at
least grateful to the fancy. The fiery particle
of love in her, wayward as it is, suggests the
warm genius of the author, and what is lost in
the wav Of strict morality is gained in admi-
ration Of an untamed nature and fierce spirit.
The book unites number of qualities rarely
existing in one author It is romantic, yet
filed with background Of literal description.
Besides character Mcrmee has pro-
duced picture of Spanish and Gypsy
manners ideas and customs as instructive as
fascinating.
To the same series belongs Madeleine" by
Jules Sandcau. 1t was crowned by the French
Academy. The CONVERSION Of q Young rone and
idler, By the simplicity and earnest. practical
life of girl, who becomes his guardian angel
is told BY the love story. The conditions OF
| life and motives Of conduct are thoroughly
French Chaste style with chaste matter
doubtless secured it the honor from the Acad-
cmv, az it is rather from those qualities than
from briliancv, that it pleases.
Certain restrictions which have been put on
the diversions of our Young men are salutary
I and timely. The impetuosity and play Of
| youth must need be curbed, and | am glad
! there are sufficient conservatism and courage
| in the older element of the town to put on the
breaks. In this connection l will try to recall,
as accurately as MY memory will permit,
Thackery's communication of Mr.. Barnes New
comes habits and methods, which, though a
trifc lax, are not unworthy Of inhalation by
our youth if they are determined to be boys.
Mr. Newcome, according to the chronicler, was
careful to protect himself against the reproach
Of life misspent. He attended to business with
reasonable fidelity; he attended church every
Sunday, always dressed for dinner, never kept
tradesmen waiting for their money, and rarely
drank too much and then only in good COM
pany. Some day he thought he would marry a
virtuous, sensible girl with wealth; and mean
while he determined to take his pleasure de-
corously and not SOW his wild oats after the
fashion Of the scatter brain youth of London,
but trinity and neatly, in quiet places where the
crop could come mp unobserved and be gath
cred without hustle or scandal. At play, for |
am sorry to say he did play, he was conserva-
tive kept the stakes down and quit at proper
hour Better had he not sported in any way
it is true, but if he must sport, he did so
among gentlemen only, and he kept away from
the Captain Rocks and the rougher element
who lie in wait for pigeons and pluck them,
sometimes taking handful of feathers at q
clip.