The morning call., 1894-04-01

readers mind and effort alone-a true
mark of genius. "Dodo" may have had
wide circle of readers, but "a Double
Overture" will have wider, for it is iu-
stinct with those touches 'of nature that
make the whole world kim" To do JUS
tice to the volume would demand an
analysis Of every sketch and story, and
where all are gems of artistic work, it is
difficult to select any for analysis. Each
reader must choose for himself. One that
Will appeal to all. however. is the sketch
Autumn and Love-" the story OF the
small dog "who could not make his mis-
tress hear or see his little attempts 10
please her, and into whose soul such
dim mysterious anguish entered that lie
could not live" His mistress was dead,
and her fathers narration OF the incident
makes it as pathetic and perfect as any,
thing to be found in literature. Jack
and Poll" description of a parrot and
a jackdaw. is for humor fit to rank
with Lambs description of the. discovery
of roast pig among the Chinese. Another
sketch that will enchain the readers
fancy is the one thai gives its title 10 the
book, "a Double Overture" which makes
use Of the overture TO "Ta1nhauser" as a
vehicle TO convey the same temptation.
Here incidentally is a fne description of
the music that will please all lovers of
Wagner. 1t is pity that these beautiful
degree, BY careless writing, but sem
fences such as the following. Then it
made real fool of itself. 1t began nib
bling at the branch between the tree and
1t, without having the slightest idea that
when it had bitten it through it would it
self fall heavily to the ground should be
eliminated. The careless sentences are
few. but they impair the perfection of the
work. Chicago: Charles II. Sergel u
Co. For sale at the bookstores
UNION; A STORY OF THE GREAT RE-
BELLIoN.-This volume completes the
series of twelve BOOKS by John r. Um-
rick entitled "Tbe Columbian Historical
Novels" AS its title indicates Union"
is devoted to the period in our country's
history made memorable by the great
struggle between the North and the South.
The book abOunds. with humorous incl
dents and mysterious events. The first
uniforms of the recruits with trousers "a
leetle short, bucll be long enough when |
let out the slack" is amusing, The pic-
lures taken in tie iIl-fitting clothes give
realistic visions of the war in the begin
ming. Alec Stevens is one of the most
interesting characters that the novelist has
ever drawn. Blunt goOd-naiured. iolIy.
ridiculous, with a fund of humnr-always
making ludicrous blundeTs. willing to lend
sweetheart to friend. showing a mob e
nature and gaining the admiration Of all
who meet him. The book carries its read
ers not only into the headquarters of the
commanders and into the presence of
Lincoln and his Cabinet. but IL places him
on the field OF battle, with the rank and fie
He witnesses the fearful struggle. A deep
mystery and an intricate plot IN the nara
tive, and in which the central hRure is
Elsie Cole, one of the Of best women, is
finally worked out at the close of the story,
which ends with John Wilkes BOOta max
ing love to Maggie Mitchell, his prOpo <al
and h is rejection the assina'lon oil Pres
ident Lincoln, and tie death or BD0tll.
The romance of the narrative ends with
the year 1865. Following is afull and conf
plete statement of leading events in our
country's history down to 1894. There are
fOrty-6ve eng avings by I. A. Carter IN the
book, ten of which are full-page halftone.
The illustrations include portraits OF Pres
idents Lincoln, Johnson, Hayes. Gai held,
Arthur, Harrison aud Cleveland; also OF
John Brown, Jefferson Davis, Generals
Grant, Meade. Sherman, Hancock and
Butler; also of Robert E. Lee, Horace
Greeley. Samuel j. Tilden, James G.
Blaine and William Mckinley. The usual
historical index closes the volume. New
York Funk 81 Wagnalls Co. For sale at
the bookstores.
THOUGHTS AND PAsTELs.-A neat little
book with his title is filled with the liter
airy work of Charles Z. Nettleton, for a
number OF years resident and con-
tTlbutor to periodicals on the coast. The