Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-16
ABOUT BOOKS AND BOOKMAKERS,
AReview of Recent Interesting
Publications.
4 Compilation Of Thoreau's Journals
Entitled The Seasons.
A Most Delightful volume-John Hab-
berton's Chsutauquans-The Au-
thor Of Van Bibber's Latest
volume-Columbiana.
[BY L. FL


As the month OF October passes away,
and November draws near, we COM
mence to realize that soon the autumn
will cease and winter commence. Here
in our beautiful climate, with the sun
shining brightly, we do not realize or
appreciate it in the same manner OF our
less favored brothers and sisters Of the
central and New England states. With
them the hazy Indian summer has just
passed, the birds are travelling south,
and the autumn leaves, in their bright
hues and changing colors. speak palmer
to the eye than bright skies or shining
sun. There is a lesson in nature in its
varied forms changing continually, that
is palmer to an observing eye than pages
of well written books. A lover of ma
ture can describe an excursion Of few
weeks duration, where thought is inter-
mingled with loving observation and po-
etic description, go that it seems long
journey, and which will abound in more
genuine lie, more of the true spirit Of
travel, than the most varied adventures
Of ordinary travellers in distant lands.
One may have visited other continents,
and yet never gone far. Such man
and writer was Henry D. Thoreau. Dur
ing his rambles and labors be kept q
journal OF each day, carefully written,
and which might be taken as typical Of
his real life. His true life was in the
observation and suggestions of nature,
and Of these his books are record. In
their way his volumes are unique. Tho
reau was of all men one who loved and
closely observed the seasons and their
changes. Throughout these pages it is
the life out OF doors that we read of, not
the life lived by stoves and under roof
trees. From his journal four volumes
have been compiled by the editor, Mr..
Blake. Three of these haveappeared in
this series in the last ten years, Early
Spring in Massachusetts, Summer, and
Winter. A fourth on Autumn, to
complete the cycle of the seasons, has
just been published at this typical time
of the year, and cannot fail to find q
hearty welcome from circle of readers
now happily large. There is no such
comprehensive observation as his re-
corded in literature, united with style
30 racy, 90 incisive and so pictorial. 1t
is book Of keen observation and varied
interest, with sermons from nature,
grander than the pulpit ever produces.
To the thinking and analyzing readers
prove q treasure, showing how, with
simple wants and almost obscurity, q
person may enjoy the wealth of the
world. So long as Thoreau lives, and is
read with sympathy and wisdom, we
need not fear that the whole nation will
ever 60 over body and soul to sordid
commercialism.
Autumn, by Henry D. Thoreau. For sale by
stoll & Thayer company.
*x*
just now the Chautauqua members of
this city are recognizing and forming
reading circles for the ensuing year.
This season the interest in this noble
work seems to be increasing; the meni-
bers of preceding years are waking up
and helping push the work along. An
efficient president, DR.. Rider, has been
elected, who is working in conjunction
with the presidents of the local circles
throughout the city and county. It is
an educational movement which should
be patronized and assisted by this intel
igent public in every way, until we es-
tablish it 80 firmly as to rival the parent
school at old Chautauqua, in the east.
We, as q community, are ahead in 80
many laudable movements, why not
also bring this to the front rankP All
1t needs is concerted movement.
One OF our local circles is the
Habberton circle, named after the
popular writer John Habberton. He is
q pleasant writer, and although it is as
tonishing, that the O. L. s. @. has not
before been made the subject of story,
for 1t certainly has material enough in
its organization to make hundred rom
ances, still Mr.. Habberton was Just the
man to write the first. He grasps the
Chautauqua idea and he grasps its pos-
sibilities to the writer OF fiction. This
story gives one very practical idea of
what Chautauqua has done and is do
ing, and will impress the general reader
much more efectually than will the or
dinary pamphlets on the subject. The
book is written to explain the great
work done by the Chautauquans in en-
couraging home study, controlling use-
less, harmless gossip and bringing about
meetings between those interested in
self improvement and desirous
OF helping their associates to
cultivate their noblest instincts and
best talents for the good of all. In it
every class in the village is represented.
and the amount of good done by the
sympathy, good fellowship, earnest
etudy and general helpfulness is told in
2 bright and pretty story, enlivened by
little touches of the authors unfailing
humor. If Mr.. Habberton's story is
read by all the members of Chautauqua
circles it will have larger circulation
than his popular Helen's Babies.
The Chautauquans, by John Habberton. For
sale BY stolI & Tnayer Co.
~
(. Natures changes. and contour and
beautiful color and contrasts seem to
bring out the poetry and imagination OF
authors. We have gem in the little
volume OF prose poems in praise of the
beauties OF nature, prettily bound
and entitled Field Earrings; a chronicle
OF Earth and Sky; by Martha McCul-
loch Williams. The volume is composed
OF ~ vagrant essays, written in style
which is as attractive as their themes
are delightful. These short essays dis
course OF the fields and the woods and
the pleasant features of outdoor life dur
ing every season of the year. It is q
book which will commend itself to every
lover OF nature, whether in country or
town. Snowfall, At Flood, Green Fields,
Summer Rain, Down the Greek, August
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