The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-05
NED BOOKS
Brief Reviews or Important ana Iaterestisg
New Pubiieatl0na.

MIR. Brandcr Matthew's goes cunning for tho
| Briton in great style In his Americanisms
| and Criticisms; with Other Essays Harper
4 Brothers.. II la excellent fun for tho Amor
lean reader. We do not know how tho Briton
likes it. but our observation Of him has led us
to conclude both that his skin is well suited to
| his comfortable protection and that II any
| shaft does succeed in reaching his sensibiii-
| ties 1t Is something to lie thankful rather than
| sorry for II anybody does not already know
1t. 1t is here mad. clear that tho Enclishman
who has had abundant opportunities to Know
better can upon occasion use MS motner
tongue with degree OF clumsy ihaoe-
puacy which any American OF SIM.
lar condition would find 1t difficult
to emula,c. Prof. Matthews engages with the
British critics concerning the use OF phrases
| md words md concerning spelling. lie shows.
foo how tho American novelist has como to
surcrscie the British novelist in this country.
md how tie British drama MS we'll has been
sUr,,lnn'cd ly the native product. Other
ESSAYS In tho little volume arc concerned with
| the duty Of critics. with the novels OF Fenimore
Cooper with American cssayists. and with still
Other subjects. They nre all interesting and
charming in matter and in style. 1t is notable
what II n abundance OF instances they bring to
the roint and how ski!fully and with whit
graceful results the material Of them Is woven
| together
| 1t would he difficult to ind moro beautiful
book. and n moro instructive and valuable
| book within tho lines chosen. than Mr. Tim
o,hy Coles engrnvngs Of tho "Old italian
| Masters together with the historical notes OF
! Mr.. W. j. Stillman bearing upon the subjects
| treated. and the engravers own comments
| upon tho same Century Company The varied
suggestion and the exquisite softness which
mny be contained In wood engraving are
shown here IN rap,u n lilo n, nd RI
study this series Of pictures in the light OF the
accofc panring text is tolearn much in very do
| liGhtful fashion. The series begins with some
account Of the Byzantine mosacs. and. COM
| Ing dowa to Raphael. Michael Angelo Cor
| regio. and tho other great masters OF the early
part Of the sixteenth century. represents the
| era OF the italian Renaissance. 1t is splendid
| piece OF work.
It is interesting enough 70 read such flowing
and skilfu description rs Sir John Lubbock
affords for US in THE BcaUtics of Nature and
tho ondcrs OF tho World We Live In" Mac
| milan 4 CO... Tho style o. this narrative is
| well suited to the popular understanding and
| taste. The main divisions OF the look take
| notc OF n great variety OF the phenomena Of
animal and plant life. OF tho woods and fields.
Of the mountains. Of water in the varied as
| poets which 1t presents In the rivers lakes.
! and sea. and Of the heavens surrounding all.
| The author is notably def in tho uso Of quota
! ton. and tho reader will thank him for the
abundant and pertinent introduction Of the
! fire things which tho masters OF language
! have said concerning these beauties and these
| wonders. great number Of illustrations en-
| nance tho interest OF tho text and assist the
| explanation 1t Is n book of much informa
| ton and suggestion Let the reader who be-
gins upon it take note how hard it is to
cease from reading. and remember that its
| interest is II lust measure Of its worth.
! Tho publishers are putting forth all sorts OF
| holiday books for young people. as their Gus
tom is at this time Of the year and the gem
! erous supply seems to be OF n pretty good
! quality. Mr.. Kirk Monroe. writer whose eS
| perence and fancy have provided him with
| notably rich store OF PICTURES OF adventure OF
| the kind which boys appreciate. affords
"Canoemates: IL Story of tho Florida Reef and
Everglades" (I!arper & Brothers.. n tale so full
| Of stirring incident and naturally and
| strongly told that every boy will be glad to get
! hol OF it. Ii tells Of sailing and canning. Of
| shirwreck and hunting. Of tho Indians and tho
| Florida cowboys. It's spirit Of action and OF
adventure never flags from beginning to end.
| and tho skill! OF the narrator has been we'll
! supplemented by that OF tho illustrator. Mr.. W.
| y. Rogers. whose pictures will arouse the curl
! osty OF every young beho!der.
Another tale that boys will like Is Mr.. Her
| bert D. Wards "Carta:n Of the Kittiewink"
tRoberts Brothers. Boston,. This is a story OF
boating adventure off the Massachusetts
coast. 1t is 50 iull OF exciting happenings that
| anybody who should complain Of any inade
quincy on that score would lie simply ridcu-
lous. Tho hero. who Is tho CAPTAIN OF tho
title. is a boy who knows nothing about Sail
| ing. and we can truly say that we drew
! breath OF relief when it WAS finally made clear
to us that he was not to be drowned. This is
| also an illustrated story. tho spirited pictures
| being the work Of Mr.. A. BUTLER.
| Then for children who are younger. Mrs.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox provides Tho Beautiful
! Land OF Nod book OF sprightly and anus
! ing fancy in prose and rhyme. with illustra-
lions by Lohise NJ. Mears Morrill,. Higgins Co..
! Chicago So far rs We can SEQ. this is a fairly
| safe baby bOo,;. There is q set Of verses about
a girl comet who goes about tho sky flirting.
| and prose dialogue in which an ice pitcher
sneers Mt fan for permitting itself to be
| used as an instrument OF Irritation. There
| is also II froptispisce containing n lady who
might be dispensed with. But we are inclined
! to think that. on the whole. the hook is
qualified to 90 into tine nursery. and We feel 1t
is no more than Justice to Mrs. Wilcox to say so.
Still again. for children. We have Tho Ad-
| mlrals Caravan" 10y Mr. Charles T. Carryl
| century Company. a story full OF amusing
! within scaiii"s. very entertaining. with houn-
! tiful supply ot illustrations b. Mr.. Reginald H.
Birch. delightfully."- done: nor must we over
| look Our Little Men and Mailcns." u book OF
Very Pretty pictures by Mrs B"undnge. printed
| in color" in Nuremberg. and set OF with appro-
! pirate verses +. T. Du,ton 4 Co.,.
! NJ: J.. j. claws In Savage Africn: Or, Six
Years Of adventure in Congo Land" IT. II.
| Russell Son. may also be considered as nd
| dressed par icrarly to youthful readers. since
good deal Of it appeared originally in lar
! pc''s lu"n1 P.0y," aud in 81. Nicholas Still it
contains plenty II interest persons Of mature
years. 1t tells. Ike those other books which
have grown out Of the Stanley expeditions in
Africa. OF strange adventures. moving acct
dcnts. fascinating dangers. it is the romance
OF fact. ana is instructive as we'll ms entertain
iLg. 1t overl!ows with illustrations. Mr..
| Gave was one Of Stan.ey's officers. and the
volume contains an Introductory letter from
| StnnlOY which OmnlIinAntS his ynunu Iau.