New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-05
NEWBOOKSAND NE W EDITIONS

hest scholarship of England Professor Earle
endeavors as he states in his preface to compass
two ends: First TO represent, as nearly as may
be the poets own words: secondly. to explain
those words with fulness and cearness He has
made use Of the great critical edition OF Eurlpides
by Adolph Krchhon G vols. Berlin 1901, the
special edition OF the Alcestis by Prnz, and the
discussions and emendatons in the 'Eur1pideische
Sudden" OF Nauck. These sources Of critical aid
have been supplemented by the conectures OF other
scboIars on special passages and more particu-
larly by those of the editor himself. NO attempt
has been made TO present an exhaustive "appara-
tus criticus but a selection OF the more important
and instructive variant readings OF the manu-
scripts accompanies the text at the foot OF each
page ana for this the apparatus critcus OF
KrchhoN has been used necessary basis
Following the text is critical appendix. In which
the views and conjectures OF such Euripideah
critics Monk. Elmsley. Hermann. Nauck Mex
Ter. r. W. Schmidt and WecklHin are discussed.
and the editors own cancellations defended; while
q chapter manuscripts and editions (gven In
the Introductory completes purely the critical por-
ton of the work.
In the way of exegesis. commentary OF reason
able length supplies most Of what is needed by the
average scholar and not little OF Importance to
the special student OF Euripides The notes are IN
general brief and In some cases might have been
heightened with advantage but brevity Is atoned
for by the aptness of the TRANSACTIONS which are
not too sparingly given. and are often the pest
sort OF exegesis Here and there longer note IMAM
usual is especially valuable for Its illustrative
quotations from Eurpides and other writer's, or
for the skill with which a grammatical difficulty is
treated. for a discussion OF the dramatic stna-
ton. Questions OF metrical arrangement are eX
planned with clearness. and an appendix on the
metres is added.
Prehxed to all this is an introduction, a notice
able feature of which is the decided expression OF
the editors views regarding that great crux and
bone OF contention with archaeologis's ana SUI
dents OF the Greek dramatic stage quesuoh
Was there elevated stage or speaNihs-p'ace
for the actors in the time OF Aeschyius' as main
tanned by Vitruvius and Polux. did both actors
and chorus perform their respective parts on the
common level of the orchestra as is now claimed
by the German archaeologist Dorpieid ana MS
school? Professor Earle argues for the traoi'lo'ia
view and in doing so throws not a ht'ie IsI'
unon the subject Another important feature OF 'he
Introduction Is the story of the plot. when Is
WILDLY related and to which interest is added by
some literary criticism upon the characters OF the
drama Such preliminary Information ana CRITICISM
clear away at the outset much that might o'her-
wise puzzle the reader and by exciting interest
at the start render the study OF the author more
profitable 1t is perhaps to be regretted mat the
Introduction comes to a close without any detailed
account of the great playwright himself whose
,ragedies have fascinated the world FOR SO many
centuries A life OF Euripides might be added in
second edition.
A new popular edition. in one volume. OF Genera
A W Groely's Three Years OF Arctic service
has inst been published by Charles Scribners Sons
The dramatic and deeply interesting narrative OF
tho LADY Franklin Bay Expedition has been re-
tanned in full the omissions necessary to reduce
the bulk Of the work having been those OF sciehunc
and historical matters not required In popular
edition OF this kind. The book Is adInirapiy ar
ranged. and will appeal to all those readers VINO
have not leisure for the original formidable edi-
ton.
F. p Dutton & Co bring out an amusing sketch
Of the North American Indian ''as he is, by Price
Collier The author who was formerly Well
known Unitarian clergyman OF Brooklyn thinks
that the Indian problem has been badly ruddled
by what he terms the sentimental view OF the In
dian held by the Chrstia.. missionaries. lie
therefore proceeds to show how ridiculous ana
untrue that view is by painting the Indian as ne
personally him. with his fun share OF weak
nesses and vices, but also with many or the VIZ
tues that dignity manhood Mr. Golfers style is
vivid and occasionally fippant.
The same firm has just published an American
edition of Child Life and Girhood OF Remarkable
Women" by w. H. Davenport Adams. book which
has been kindly received in England. The sketches
are readable and bring out with considerable skill
the personal characteristics Of the famous women
noticed
Samuel Adams Drake has added TO his stories
OF American History for Young Readers an Inter
esting volume. The Making Of the Ohio Valley
States" Charles Scribner's sons. 1t covers the
period Between 1863 and 1881 and is illustrated with
numerous pictures and maps The privations OF the
early missionaries and explorers, French ana Eng
fish: the duel between France and England Tor the
possession OF the continent. the ,ong AMI murderous
series Of Indian wars the adventures Of backwoods-
men and pioneers the making of great States and
cities all contribute to a narrative whlch grows
more attractive the oftener it is read Mr. Drake
Interrupts the chain OF history occasionally Tor an
apt quotation For example. after the account or
Rraddock's defeat he quotes the famous passage
from Sanford and Merton" in which Highland
veteran described the battle as he saw it, The ord
nance of 1851 which excluded slavery forever from
the territory Of the United States north OF the ono
River is appended to the volume.
american Authors" (Franklin Printing and Pub
fishing Company, Atlanta. by Mildred Rutherford
is a biographical history Of American literature
from Colonial times to the present Day including
prominent living writer's. besides many not so well
known The author has been careful to eniiven her
narrative with anecdotes. and the selections which
she gives are usually made part of her s'o'S ~
not set off as specimens Of style. Inc doom " ~
tended for the use of students. and It's specia Vaue
lies in the attention paid to Southern "r"efS' -
is Illustrated with numerous PORTRAITS
In Studies IN Folksong and Popular Poetry
(Houghton. Miffn e. Coz. Alfred NJ Williams mas
indicated what could be done with various ATTRACTIVE
themes But ne can hardly De sara 10 nav uC'
more than outline his subject. one can easily us
.srn IN the authors remarks here and there that ne
has gone deeply into Celtic folklore ana poetry
Nevertheless he touches these matters very heht'y
IN group of essays suggested and Limited by
hooks that came under his hand. The hrs' ana sec
ond ESSAYS In the volume on American sea sons'
and folksongs OF the Civil War are. however. orig
,nal studies OF high value. The author mas care
,,,u, avoided mere literature and has opened up a
AeId OF popular lore which ought to repay fur'her
Investigation
"select Specimens of the Great French writer's
IN the Seventeenth Eighteenth ana Nineteenth
centuries" macmillan Coz. by Eugene Fasnacht
Is much more than an anthology Win the e%cep-
zion OF the title and short preface, the work Is