Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-11-16
Literary Items.

igbted the public for several seasons, mas
made for this year a series of pictures aito-
,ether unique, printed in SKY tint" DELI
oious blue, which gives a charming etiectto
l;Ohts and shadows. There are thirty OF
these pictures, accompanied by selections IN
nrose and verse The book is very appro-
pristely called "S,m- Prints in SKY IIHts,
and will be published by Lee and Shepard
1t was happy thought to make coiiec-
ton of portraits of children. In white
covered book entitled "My Little Friends,
Mr.. f. Heinrichs has gathered large uum-
her of characteristic pictures, and on the
pages opposite has furnished appropriate
poems The little people are from all parts
of the country, and exhibit the greatest va
riety of physioguomy. Some few of them
are from the darker races,-Indian, Negro
and Chinese. One of them, Baby Mckee,
is from the White House This pretty book
will be appreciated by parents and by all
lovers of children.
"Tze FaHop Field" poem by Mrs. Julia
G. r. Dorr, has bsen illustrated by her
daughter, Mrs. Steele in series of twenty
five original drawings, reproduced in half
tones from charcoal sketches The poem is
full of suggestion, and the artistic drawings
are in harmony with its sentiment The
volume is an oblong quarto, 81 by II inch
es with gilt edges and beautifully printed.
Lee and Shepard are the publishers.
"THe NeO England Country" contains
over one hundred pictures of life and man
ners in rural districts They tell their own
story to all who have been bred or who have
lived in the country. 1t is most charm
ING collection. There are also letter press
descriptions of the scenes. The author and
arts. is Clinton Johnson, and Lee and
Shepard are the publishers.
In Mr.. Underwood's new volume "Qua6-
bin" which Lee and Shepard are to publish,
will be seen vivid pictures of life in rustic
community sixty years ago. The book is
unique in plan, and, instead of following an
argument, the reader perceives the facts
and fancies by light and swift Sketches
The reirns of the parish ministers, the
schools. town meetings, sleigh rides. quilt
ings. militia trainings, etc, are presented
truthfully, yet with an eye to picturesque
effect There are some fine photographs
and q portrait
The noble hymns and poems issued by
Lee and Shepard are illustrated, and fur
nished with new and rare cover designs by
Maud Humphrey. They are printed in
delicate colors on imitation ivory. For a
gift book one could scarcely do better than
select one of the MAUD Humphrey Iyo-
rines."
Those interested in art will find an at
tractive and useful volume in Mrs. Cheney
"Life Of RGuch," the great Sculptor Tour
lists can not fail to remember his stately and
beautiful statue of Queen Louise in the
park at Berlin, and that of Albert Durer at
Frankfort. He is in many respects the most
eminent of the moderns. The author is
well known to be an authority in art. Lee
and Shepard have the work in press and
will issue it shortly.
"IHe Fortunes of Toby Trqford," by J. T.
Trowbridge, which Lee and Shepard an
nounce as ready, will be welcomed by
thousands of youths In the " Y. Nail
the poet, r. H. Stoddard, has thus written
"Mr. Trowbridge has good perception of
character, which he draws with skill he
has abundance of invention, which he never
abuses and he has, what so many Ameri'
cans have not an easy, graceful style
which can be humorous, or pathetic, OF
poetic
After writing about one hundred stories
it might be supposed that Mr. Adams
known by all boys as Oliver Optic might
have exhausted his stock both of plots and
ideas hut it is remarkable that in his Ia
test series, "The Blue and the Gray" he
has renewed his OWN youth and vigor, and
by his mssterly account Of the events in
our Civil War has taken Il new and power
ful hold upon the affections of the coming
generation.
Thlrty-fye solicitors for the New York
Life Insurance Company in sixty days
wrote and settled upwards OF six millions
of new business. 1t looks like confidence
in the New York Life. Mr.. c. T. Mitchell
represents the company here.
The following dispatch in the New York
Tribune of Oct p illustrates the advanta.
ges Of insurance in the New York Life,
with no suicide clause"
PHILADELPHIA, Oct, Equipment of
$4,000 insurance on the life of William NJ.
Runk, late of this city, has been refused by
the Mutual Life Company, of New York,
Oh The ground ihat Runk had committed
suicide in yIulhtion OF his policy. Mr..
Runk was partner IN one of the largest
dryg0od, firms IN tie city, and when he
blew out his brains without warning few
weeks ago, in "A iii OF remorse over alleged
stock specuiA,iuns there WAS dismay among
life insurance companies. The dead mer-
chant had been an enthusiastic investor in
policies aud the risks on his life aggrega-
ted 100000 One company, the New York
Life, promptly handed over 100000 to
Runk's executor. who has since succeeded
i'm Collecting only S65 900 from three other