Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-02
New Books.

IDDTfSslCUS anu tIpHOHSs DN
MooRy. CHARLES ScRrBNER's SoNs, pub
fishers. New York. For sale by WEsr.
JOHNSTON & Co. Cloth, Sl.25.
This is a volume OF essays by writer
who has opinions Of his own about matters
literary and artistic. and does not mind ex-
pressing them. He writes of BALzAc.
TURGEsEFF, ZoLA. DEGAs, MEIssoSIER, and
other and less-known authors and artists
including several essays on art subjects
altogether, which latter constitute the
most valuable portion of the book. BAL
FAC be considers the greatest of fiction
lists, not excepting SHAKESPEARE. He re-
verses the popular conception OF ZoIA as a
realst, and declares him TO be "a romancist.
In an article on "Mummer-W Worship" he
quarrcls with the present custom of lion
lzing actors in society. Acting" he says
is the lowest of all arts, If it be an art at
ALL" and the public has almost ceased to
discriminate between bad and good act
ing" The ESSAYS are very readable, and
in some instances valuable.
The Pioneers Of 40. A History of the Ex-
cursion of the Society of California
Pioneers of New England from Boston
to the leading cities of the Golden State,
April 10th, May 18th. $780, with Remi-
niscences and Descriptions. BY NrcHo-
LAS BALL. director of the society. IL
lustrated with over one hundred fine en-
cravings. Boston: LEE 4 SHEPAKD.
From the author. Price not stated.
The above. from the title-paRe, en-
bodies about all that is necessary to say of
this book, except that it is very hand
some specimen of book-making, both as to
the text and the illustrations. A portrait
of the author. a portly and prosperous
hotel-keeper at Block Island. r. l.. an en-
craving of whose seaside resort fills the
last page, adorns the frontispiece. Natu-
rally much attention is devoted to the va
rious caravsnsaries along the routo OF the
excursion, which include some Of the
finest hotels in tho world. such as the Pa
lace, at San Francisco, and the Coro-
nado. near San Diego. The narrative is
enlivened with anecdotes and adorned with
poetic quotations. There are two hun
bred and eighty-eight pages.
Southern Historical Society Papers Volume
XVIII. Edited by X. A. Brock, Secreta-
nv of the Southern Historical Society,
Richmond, Va. Published by the So
ciety. 1891.
This volume is most attractive in its to
bic of contents. 1t will be found that the
interest aud value of the: important and
popular serial is fully maintained. Among
its articles the following may BIO men,
toned Address on 1.-The Battles of the
Crater and Malvern Hill ~" on 1.-The Last
DAYS of Johnston's Army 1.-THE days pend
ing the surrender OF the forlorn hope of
the Confedcrates of America; on "The
Lives and Characters OF Generals S. ID.
Ramseur, p. X. Cleburne. and Junius
Danieln; Accounts of the First Obser-
vance of the Anniversary of the Birthday
of General II. Z. Lee, January 10. 1891,
Throughout tho South and Elsewhere,
with the Several Addresses on the Occa-
son"; Tho Memorial Services in
Honor Of General J. L. Johnston. with
the Addresses and Other Illustrative Mat
teri: Accounts of the Dedication of
Monuments to the Confederate Dead ut
Helena, Ark, Fairfax Courthouse, and
Fredericksburg. Va, and jackson, Miss,
with the Addresses Delivered at Each
Place." That of General E. @. Walthall at
jackson is q noble utterance, and most
eloquently presents the cause Of the South
and the grand struggle of her people.
There arc also Biographical Sketches of
Hon. Thomas F. Marshall, of Kentucky
Matthew F. Maury. and Generals Leonidas
Polk. b. d, Fry, and John r. Cooke "A
Sketch of the Origin and History Of the
Southern Historical Society,"" Articles
on Federal Prison Life at Camp Morton,
Point Lookout, Elmira, and Johnson's
Island"; "Glimpses of Army Life in
1854" and other matters of interest and
value.
Price of the volume, 90. Annual men,
bership subscription to the society. IS;
lite membership. $50. Address the secre-
tary, r. A. BROCK, Richmond, Va.