The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-12-27
RECENT LITERATURE.

RECENT LITERATURE.
! WILD BEASTS. BY J. Hampton Porter. Pub.
| lished By Charles Scrtbner & Sons. New York
City.
| Dr. Porter's book is rather a surprise. There
is so much "gush written about animals in
the popular books. and even i'm the scientific
treatises, that while book like this is ex-
| tremely refreshing, vet at the same time it
| seems abnormal az first glance. from its utter
lack of Sentimental zoology" Or. Porter
| finds animals neither incipjeut Tyndalls nor
mere autGmatOH5 running on a schedule COM
pounded from heredity and environment. He
| attributes 10 them the power OF reasoning
| quite logically from the limited premises which
can DO known TO them. but ho does not expect
them TO perform as miraculous mental feats as
did the siDgullrly-giited beasts which were
! the daily companions Of the lats Rev. j. q.
! Wood. In DR. PortCr's opinion, much nonsense
is also habituay talked about the disposition OF
animals. The tiger is fierce and murdeT1us
| because that is the way it gets its living; but
IL is neither more nor less so than the lion, a
beast of similar habits, which it is the fashion
60 style magnanmoas."
Tho FIRST animal discussed is " Wy Lord, the
Elephant and an interesting study OF ec-
phantiue psychology is made. large number
OF authentic stories relating 20 tho animal are
given, aud the conclusion arrived at. that
while the elephant is capable OF matchmaking
well enough III way, he is by means ready
witted. He IS usually moody beast, wholly
ou-disin terested, ard very prone 20 lay out
his mahout wien that gentleman is least ex-
pecting it. In fact, the sweetly-loviug nature
we are accustomed 10 attribute to the elephant
seems TO DO rate.
The elephant is the only non earnivorous
beast discussed. All the others treated belong
TO the cat family except the grizzly and the
wolf. Probably the most interesting chapter
in the book is that devoted TO the puma. or
American panther. It contains graphically
written description OF the psychological de-
yelCpment OF puma which DR.. Porter pur-
chased as a mere kitten from Mexican hunter.
AMI kept till it attained maturity, subjectiDg
it merely 20 such slight restraints as were
necessary to make it safe companion. 1t
grew up practically unbiased by any further
training, and developed meutally along its
own lines After reading the account Or. Por-
ter gives it would be hard to believe that the
animal did not reason quite iutellig~Dtly on
the facts that came under it5 observation, and
draw deductions therefrorn which were quite
as reasonable as could DO expected. Is GER
tainly learned by experience and direct ex-
pertinent, although it as certainly possessed
large fund of inherited knowledge. The story
is fascinating one, and the reader feels very
natural regret when the career Of the animal
is finally cut short in very natural way-by
the gun of q scared stranger.
The style Of the book is a pleasant flowing
one. DIR. Porter has evidently had wide ex-
perienco IN zoology, and he writes is though
thoroughly conve.sau5 with his subject.
Mechanically, the book is all that could bs
wished. The cuts are exceptionally good.
NAPOLEON. BY Alexandra Dumas. Translated
by Jo!i.I u. Larner. Published by O. P. Put
MANS Sons. New York, aud for saIe by Bren-
tame, Washington, D. G. Psicesi.
This Is a history of Napoleon. from the politi.
cal, Dar-ilke and romantic aide, mainly. lie
deals largely with his battles and strategy, and
describes them IN considerable detail 1t is quite
faithful to facts; more So indeed, than is usual
TO find in works OF this class. The translation |
is unusually good, and reflects great credit |
upon Mr.. LaFrcr.
Magazines and Notes
DemGFestS for January has an interesting /
article on tbs Japanese Empress /
and her ladies, By Frank Carpenter, several /
good stories and accounts of the cacsi and its |
curious grouths. besides the regular portrait !
album of notable men and women, ard the /
fashion pages and talks about fads and saneies. I
Published By w. Jennings Demorest, New
York. Price 90 cents.
The Young PcepIes Magazine is the name of 1
a handsome little publication by the Eaton
Dunlop Co., Boston. Mass. 1t is beautifully
illustrated. and lis contents are very attractive
Price 10 cents number, or 81 year.
The December number of The 4rsnI contains
20 pages, with articles by Prof. Max 5Ial!er,
Count Leon Tolstoi. Rev. W. J. Savage, Bush.
rod w. james, b. o. Flower. Heinrich Hensoldt
JAS. g. Clark, Henry Lntehford, Hamlin Gar
land, Margaret Stewart Sihley, William Allen
Dromgoole, and others. Published at Boston,
Mass. Price 80 cents, or 81 a year.
What daisy the special Christmas number
Of Life is, to be sure. A beautiful cover rich
with fine drawing and gold, and "A large pages,
filed with pictures Just too cunning for any
thing" and bright, airy. scintillant fun. Pub
ished NJ New York. Price % cents.
Little Men aud H0meH. An illustrated maya
zine for young readers. Published by the
Alpha Publishing Co., Boston. Price 10 cents
a number, or 81 a year.
What the late Franklin L. Gowen, President
Of the Reading Railroad, called the greatest
achievement ever made by detective, is the
subject of the PinkertOn Detective article in
HcCture's for December. and describes how
James Mcfarland overthrow the Molly Ma
CURES.
The Christmas number of the Catholic World
has Tho Hillwood Christmas Ball. by Mrs NJ
3. Heury-Rutfn; Why Constantinople Fell,
Rev. G. w. Carrier; Glimpses of Life in IN
Anglican Seminary, Rev. c. A. Walworth; A
Christmas in the Hospice of Mont st. Bernard,
Iohn J. OShea; Ancient Mammals and their
De :cendants, VIVA. Seton, LID.