The herald., 1895-12-22

scriptions that seem to outweigh the
narrative portion. But however that
may be, the general reader may miss
the lack of events and not find COM
pensation in local coloring however
brilliant. A story made to depend
very much upon locality must neces-
sarily suffer in another direction. In
other words, its orbit Of movement, of
action, of scope and sweep of imaginR-
ton must always be somewhat re-
stricted.
The essay and the descriptive por-
tions of the book are genuine and elo-
quent, like this one, for instance. which
paints winter view. "When cleansing
rains have polished every ridge of the
Sierra Madre, until purple canyons shine
out like treasures OF amethyst, while
clearly defied spurs, shot with softest
green, reflect the promises OF spring
Old Badly the hoary sire of the range,
CLEANS like high priest. To the south
shaggy 'Grayback,' and still beyond
San Jancinto, lone fortress of ala
baster on turquoise sea, emphasize
again the boundaries of the horizon"
And not only winter but Easter time
and the carnival season 'When tine
gold Of Ophir' rose and MariposilIa-the
butterfly - we're both blooming to-
gether," are pictured ia happy phrase.
In makeup few finer specimens Of the
bookmsker's art will be seen this season.
4 & &
HORTICULTURE, OR THE A. b. c. OF TRUE
LIVING. BY HORACE FILcHER. A. G. Nc
Clurg e. Co., Chicago. For sae by S!oll d
Thayer.
This is small but finely printed
book which the author in his preface
calls "a kindergarten presentation of
theory of horticulture through elimin-
alton of the germs of the evil passions"
It is really sincere and earnest
plea for the uprooting of certain men,
tai weaknesses, such as anger and wor-
ry, which are the roots or germs of
most mental ailments. sanger is a
highway robber, and worry is sneak
thief" They are bad habits of the
MUD and not ingredients. They are
poisonous parasites and can be de-
stroyed by care and courage. The
book is striking one, embodying
sound and philosophic thought and
study, in some particulars worthy of
Jeremy Bentham. Every reader of it
will be benefited by it, which is highest
praise 1t may be fairly doubted, how
ever, if the author does not go too far
in assuming that lone may become 80
emancipated as to view his own indi-
viduality from without, and direct it
from an impersonsl standpoint" Is 80
much really to be desired?
= y y
MEADOW GRASS. By ALICE BROWN. Cope
land & Day, Boston. For sale by stoll &
Thayer.
We do not know who Alice Brown is,
or in what corner of New England she
has lived; but she has caught the flavor
of that unique portion Of the continent
and writes of it with the strong and
sure grasp of one to the manner born.
OF the stories that make up the vol
ume, Farmer Ellis Vacation and
Nancy Boyd's Last Sermon are, to our
mind. the best.
There Is something rather surprising
in the way these New England sketches
"hold out" as the ancient housewife
would say of her meal barrel But is
it not all because Of the fact that there
are people in New England who know
how to write? Just now England is
aghast at the foray Scotch writer's
are making into England. In fact, just
as Scott and Burns and Carlysle once
hold England in thrall, just 80 now are
Orocker and Watson doing it, though
in smaller way. So long as Scotland
and New England have men and