The Indianapolis journal., 1892-11-04
LITERATURE OF THE DAY.

Inc works offNathaniel hawthorne haNe
taken an assured place in the book world.
and will hold it permanently. In imaRina-
tive literature he hardly has peer, and the
poetic atmosphere with which he invests
his prose works isone of the highest chieve-
ments of genius. The Marble Faun' was
his fret novel the scene of which was not
laid in New England. The scene OF this
was laid in Italy. where, also. It's
plot was sketched. In the preface
to the work the author said, mo author
without a trial can conceive the difficulty
of writing romance about country
where there Is no shadow, no antiquity. no
mystery, no picturesque and gloomy wrong,
nor anything but o commonplace pros
perity in broad and simple daylight" All
those elements which Hawthorne found
lacking In America existed In rich aDund-
ance In Italy. and his glowing imagination
made effective use OF them In The Marble
Faun." The work has been greatly ad-
Dired by discriminating readers. New
England poet writes:
Who e'er the life of Italy would know
Ere Rome arose. while yet her seven bills
Were haunted thickets, he must surely go
To Hawthorne's page--his mystic genius fills
The prehistoric void, the sylvan days,
When Saturn old was king. with sickle bright
For sceptre- -kindles he TO gold the haze
OF gray Etrurian centuries shedding steady
light
On times which Livy, Niebuhr leave opaque
Clairvoyant spirit. Gentle Virgil. Gen.,
Like thee clear retrospection could not take,
Seeing the fauns and nymphs with eye serene
Mingling their life IN fountain-murmuring glen
And vine-twined grove with that OF mortal
men.
Messrs. Houghton. Miffiin & Co.. Boston.
have brought out q new edition of - no
Marble Faun' in etyle In keeping with
its literary merits. 1t Is printed IN clear
type on heavy paper, making two hand
some volumes, which, with gilt tops and
ornamental red cloth binding. present
very attractive appearance. striking
and original feature of this edition are the
photographers of objects of art In Rome
which are referred TO in the work. There
are abOnt fifty of these illustrations.
which have the effect of the finest photo
graphs IN their accurate representation OF
notable works of art. Every admirer OF
beautiful edition of the work which the
author himself regarded as his best.
fragments of Science" consists of q
series of detached essays. addresses and re-
views by Prof. John Tyndall. The first
edition of the work was published a num-
ber of years ago as single volume. Since
then 1t has been revised. some of the papers
recest, new ones added and is
now issued in two volumes, contain
ing fifteen new papers and repre-
beDtlnR the autDOrb lateSt cDange6 ana
revisiODs. The volumes are uniform with
New Fragments" recently issued, and the
three together include all the occasional
writings which their author has decided to
preserve in permanent form. These pa
pers, though very scientific, are entirely
free from technical language. and can be
read with interest by general readers. New
York: ID. Appleton IL Co.
Prince Serebry AMI is the title of nov ell
translated from the Russian of Count
Alexis Tolstoi. who was near relative of
Count Leo Toistoi, and an author of dis
tinction. Prince Serebryanr' is an his
torical novel, the scene of which is LAID In
the sixteenth century, when the founda-
tions of the modern Russian en-
plre were being laid in fire and
shows intimate knowledge of history and
of Russian character. The translation Is
done by jeremiah Curtin, formerly Secre-
tary of the United States legation at Sc.
excellent work in that line. Cloth. Sl.5o.
Published by Dodd, Mead IL Co. and sold
by. Cathcart, Cleland Il Co., Indianapolis.
Zachary Phips," by Edwin l.. Bynner.
is a spirited story. The scene is laid in the
early part of this century. The hero is q
New England boy. who runs away from
home and goes to sea. After a rough time
before the mast he enlists in Aaron Burr's
expedition, goes TO New Orleans and has
an interesting time there. Then he be-
comes an officer in the navy and fights in
the war of 1912; then an Indian trader, and
makes money. Finally he marries happily.
The story Is well told. and can be read
with equal interest by young persons or
adults. Cloth. Sl.25. Boston: Houghton,
Miffiin IL Co.
tom Clifton. or Western Boys in Grant
and Sherman's Army" by Warren Lee
and quite fairly good one. Tom Clifton
was born in Massac husetts, moved with
his fathers family to Minnesota. and from
there enlisted in the Union army. The in
ciients of emi grafton and of life in Min
nesota are well told and the descriptions
of war adventure are spirited and realistic.
1t is a book calculated To please intelligent
boys. Cloth, Sl.5O. New York: Thomas
Y. Crowell ~ Go.
ID. Appleton 81 Co. have issued four
pamphlets in their MAN and the State"
evolution series. entitled respectfully Tho
Race Problem in the Soutb,v by Prof.
Joseph lie Conte; Education as Related TO
Citizenship by Rev. John w. Chadwick;
"The Democratic Party" by Edward NJ.
Shepard; The Republican Party by Hon.
Roswell w. Horr. Each of these pam phlets
is worth careful reading. Price, 10 cents
each.
saint Augustine" q novel, by John II.
Musick. is O story of the period of the early
Huguenot settlements in America, and
deals with the great struggle for political
and religious liberty which was then 60
ing on IL Is an historical story. and Is On D.
lished i'm the authors series of Columbian
Historical Novels" Ornamental cloth,
Sl.25 New York: Funk a. Wagnalia
The Every Day of Life" by Rev. DR.. G.
r. Miller. is an earnest, thoughtful book.
1t treats of some of the practical problems
and duties of life, and is calculated TO he
helpful to all who are try ;ng TO master
tho right conduct of their lives Cloth.
gilt top, 81. New York: Thomas Y.Crowell
* Co.
Passing the Love of Man, novel by
Mrs j. II. Needell is q strong and we'll
written story. The plot is well conceived
and skillfnlly developed. The authors
style Is elevated and pleasing. and the In
terest of the story is maintained Ia the end
New York: ID. Appleton q Co.
"Chiidren's Rights" by Kate Douglas
WIG Gin treats of child uature ard tra,p