The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-29
BOOKS hED AUTHORS.

DONA LUZ. By Juan Valera. This is
another of those admirably made translatious
of notable foreign books tor which all Ameri-
can readers unfamiliar with foreign languages
owe the accomplished and painstaking
translator, Mrs. SerIauo. debt of real
gratitude. The works this lady selects for
turning into the clear and graceful English
which she has at such easy command invariably
possess a merit and a value higher than that of
more sensationalism. Such have been "Pepita
Xirnenez," another story by Valera which Mrs.
Serrano translated three years ago; Dragons
Teeth, Z" which for the first time in many years
gave American readers glimpse INTO the
life and literature of Portugal; MARY
Bashkirtseff," an autobiography without
equal in interest and fascination;
"The Autobiography of an Artist" Jules
Breton's beautiful story of his own life;
and now this other and more striking
story of Spanish life, ,""Doha Luz of which Mr..
William Dean Howells says: 1.-THE fascination
OF Doha Luz and her history is that of teuder
and tragic beauty. We hardly know any figure
In fiction more lovely and affecting than that
of Do1a Luz. All her traits are studied with a
minute and respectful compassion which leaves
the reader fast friend of the author, and, as
it were, her intimate friend. 1t is all very fine
and mastery work, scarcely to be matched in
the contemporary fiction of our language, if
that is not putting the case too family" The
story is not all sad, by any means. Valera is
master of smiles as well as of tears. and while
the dominant tone of the work is tenderly
pathetic, there are many passages of gracefully
humorous writing which add to the charm of
the book. "Doha Luz is published by the
Appletons and for sale in Washington at Bren-
tano's.
THE PRIMES AND THEIR NEIGHBORS.
By Richard Malcolm Johnston. These ten tales
a wi he a6 with
cial pleasure by the constantly increasing host
of readers which the simple and graceful style,
the quaint hum Or, and the deep knowledge of
life OF this Southern author have won for his
writings Most of them have, it is true, been
published before in the magazines and perlodi-
Gals, butthe substantial value of MIR. Johusuon's
work, no less than its distinctive charm, makes
it delightful reading a second and third time.
The first of the tales in this volume, "Tne Du-
rance of Mr.. Dickerson Prime" has never been
published before. There is a rich vein of hui
NOR running through this tale, while the char
acter drawing is Of that delightful nature that
has done so much to make the work of this
writer so immensely popular. While the sto-
ries in this volume ali illustrative vi life in
Middle Georgia in the ante-beum Jimes they
are not open to the charge of sameness and
the authors versatility in the construction of
plots and incidents is delightfully."- conspicuous
The volume is well made, contains several
characteristic illustrations. and is published by
the AppletoDs. Brentano has it for sale in this
city.
The April Arena opens with a paper by Pro-
fessor George w. Winterburn, Nj. D., of New
York. dealing with the future of philosophy.
| DIR. Winterburn reviews the rise, growth. and
| fallacies of philosophy during the past point
ing out what he believes will constitute the ac-
| cepted philosophy Of the future. He pays
| glowing tribute to Professor Buchanan, whose
| noble face forms the frontispiece of this num-
| Der. thomas G. Shearman, in a paper of great
| strength, sets forth his views on the evils and
injustice of indirect taxation. This contrbu-
| tion will command general attention. r. Ma
| son Osgood, A. M NJ. D., of New York, has an
interesting contribution on recent discoveries
| in "Hypnotism.'' One of the most striking
features of this issue of the Arena is Professor
| James Il. Bixby's contribution on Buddhism
| in the New Testament" 1t is a reply to DR..
| Felix Oswald's paper on the same subject. and
| is probably the ablest presentation of the Chris
tian side of this problem which has yet ap-
peared. Will Allen Dromgoole writes the story
for the current Arena. 1t is entitled "Tbe
| Heart of Old Hickory" and is one of the most
fascinating pieces of fiction that has appeared
| in many months.
| SARDIA. BU Cora Linn Daniels This
latest issue in Lee & Shepherds Good Com
pany" series is an exceptionally interesting love
| story of a rather tropical atmosphere but with
| well-drawn characters The heroine, Helen
| Fielding, is creation of much loveliness and
| charm, and Sardia, the hero, is noble fellow.
| rather idealZed. While the author is strong
| in depicting these finer types, she is by no
| means weak in dealing with their antitheses.
| Sybil is as dangerous and wicked woman as
one would care to meet in fiction or elsewhere;
| so dangerous is she, indeed, that notwth-
standing all the evil one knows of her one
| cannot resist her fascination.
Mr.. Augustn Daily sends Sherdan's "School
| for Scandal" remodeled aud rearranged by
| himself. and printed from the prompt-book of
| his house. The dainty morocco-bound little
| volume is issued as souvenir of the revival of
| the play at Days Theatre recently. Unlike
| most theatrical souvenirs, it has real value.
| The volume is uniform with the series of
Literary Gems" published by Messrs. G. p.
| Putnam's Sons. portrait of Miss Ada Rehan
as Lady Tedzle forms the frontispiece, and there
| san introduction by William Winters, the
scholarly dramatic critic of the New York
| Tribune.
"The Choir Boys" is the title of neat little
colored process picture by Mrs. j. Pauline Sem
ter, which is published by the Frederick A.
| Stokes Company. and can be had in this city of
Robert f. Miller, the Fifteenth street stationer.
s%
Stringing Wires on Shade Trees.
''Just look here. They're at it again." said