The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-16
BOOK Talk AND GOSSIP.
The Up-to- Date Literature Of
These Times.
WHAT BOOKSELLERS ARE SHOWING
DIR. Vose's Study Of Congregational
ism-"Life's Little Ironies," "a Vel
low Aster," and sour English
Cousins" Among the New Books.

peared during the past lew weeks tnere IN
one that will be regarded with particular
interest by the residents OF Rhode Island.
During the celebration OF the one hum
dred and fiftieth anniversary OF the
institution OF the Beneficent Con-
gregational Church. Rev. DIR. Vose,
the pastor, delivered q number OF
discourses upon Congregationalism In
Rhode Island and it is these sermons that
have Just been issued in book form by
Silver, Burdette ~ Co., OF Boston.
DIR. Vose has considered his subject In a
most sytematic manner. Beginning with
the religious condition OF the first colonists
he brings il down, through the history
OF the First Church, to the present time,
the pictures OF early colonial life
In the first two chapters, for instance,
being valuable as we'll as interesting be-
cause true, and each chapter OF the book
may certainly be said to be accurate from
an historical point OF view.
The history of The Beneticent Church II
given with all its detail as only such an
one as DIR. Vose could give it. Having
been pastor OF the church for so many
years, the last OF the three clergymen who
have ministered to the spiritual needs OF
the people during the century and a half
of the churchs existence, its history Is
largely that OF his own life, and the sub
ject appeals to him with an interest that
assures an accurate and sympathetic treat
ment. Such work has long been needed
by the members and friends OF the congre-
cation, and although the sermons are
already familiar to these people, the book
is one that will be read and re-read, as
being one of the most important chapters
of the religious history OF Rhode Island.
Besides the regular chapters there Is
history of the Sunday school and an ac-
count of the exercises at the centennial OF
the society's charter in 1885.
'sKETcnEs OF CoSGREGATfoSALIsM IN
RHODE ISLAND, WITH SPECIAL REFFR-
EScE TO TIE HISTORY. OF THE BEsEFI-
CENT CHURCH" by James Gardiner
vose. Boston: silver, Burdette & Co.. 1894.
I I I
Those who are acquainted with the de-
lightful Van Bibber stories of Richard
Harding Davis will need no other as
surance of the merit OF "Our English
Cousins" 1t Is not at all unusual for
English visitors in America to discover our
traits and characteristics and dish them
up for the edification OF their friends at
home, but Mr.. Davis has crossed the big
pond to discover similar material among
our English cousins and these delightful
impressions have Just been issued by Har-
per Bros. in q most attractive form.
Richard Harding Davis has long been
recognized as an impressionist, but an i'm
pressionist who has the power to give
vivid description OF the many things that
he sees and feels. He knows the points
tndt Will DC Oh Iut gtthtcob ihleitSb W
his readers and to these he brings his
great power of description.
In his Oxford and Derby sketches as
well as in the General Election in Eng
land" Mr.. Davis presents graphic and
impressive studies that cannot fail TO in
terest the American reader. His election
sketch is particularly vivid and the des-
cription of the novel methods that take
the place of American bribery will be as
enjoyable to the reader as 1t was TO the
author, his power OF producing word PIC
lures being sufficiently strong to make
them appear as actual experiences rather
than mere variations.
IL the work Is not altogether compre-
hensive the author makes no claim in this
respect. He was simply visitor OF a day,
and as such, he has written most enter
tanning book.
"OUR ENGLISH COUSINS" by Richard Hard
ing DAVIS. Illustrated. NewYork Harper
Bros, 1894. Ii. Gregory has IL. Price sl.25.
: 7 I
"a Yellow Aster,n the new work by Mrs.
Warrington Caffyn, lady who appears
before the reading public under the name
of "Iota," Is IA novel that IL decidedly out
of the ordinary, and those who read the
strange story will understand why it has
created such a sensation in England.
"a Yellow Aster' is story with a
purpose. 1t relates the experience OF
thoroughly original young lady who was
unfortunate enough to have scientific
parents who were 30 wrapped up in their
our studies that they had no time
for their offspring. At last, after
she has succeeded in painting herself from
head to foot with blue paint, their atten-
tion Is attracted to her and they decide TO
make her the victim OF a novel scientific
experiment. As q result the child Is edu-
Gated without knowledge of love or re-
ligion, and the progress OF the work is
most interesting.
Gwen, however, is a beautiful girl and
1t is not strange that the lover and then
the husband come at last. Still the early
training is not overcome until the child
appears. Then this little mite OF humanity
turns the marble statue into woman and
the work OF the scientific parents is sue
cessfully undone to the satisfaction OF the
reader.
"a Yellow Aster'' is q powerful story
and the fact that the author touches upon
matters that are not often discussed in
"proper" novels does not mar the interest
in the book.
a YELLOW. .AsrER," by Iota. New York: D.
Appleton g. Co. 1884, Ii. Gregory has it.
The popularity that was attained by
Thomas Hardy upon the appearance of
Tess OF the D'Urbervilles," book that
stamped him as one OF the greatest novel
lists of the day, will not be the less mark
ed for the publication OF his new collect
ion Of short stories.
"Life's Little Ironies" is the comprehen-
sive title under which they appear and a
better could not have been selected, for
all the tales deal with natures ironies
where the efforts of the virtuous and
wicked alike are buffeted about by Fate.
Nearly every story Is more or less tragic
in tone, "The Fiddler of the Reels" and
"The Tragedy OF Two Ambitions" being
80 vivid as to draw dangerously near the
Objectionable, but "To Please His Wife"
"For Conscience SakeD and son the
Western Circuit" as well as some OF the
"Crusted Characters" are striking and
lfelilso I'm every respect.
Few novelists would be able to rroduce
such perfect character studies as many OF
these that appear in this new collection,
and those who have long admired the
work OF Thomas Hardy will close the
book with a sigh of regret, for one can
never tire OF his novel and thoroughly de-
lightful sketches OF life.
N