The National tribune., 1895-12-05
RECENT LITERATURE.
A NEW ALICE IN THE OLD woNpERLA,

Lippincott Co. Philadelphia. Price 81 so
new tale Of our old friend Alice written in
frank and svowed imitation of Lewis Carols
book. As literary attempt il cannot help
being compared unfavorably with Alice in
Wonderland which is too bad, because it Is
clever enough to have stood alone IL the author
had hut chosen her own characters aud style,
instead OF making use of these old fsyorites
and compelling the comparison.
however. as n story for amusing the young
folks and some of the wise old ones il serves
very well. The queer antics, the pranks. and
the funny logic of the Wonderland folk make
most amusing reading. One Of the quaint
ideas the Dormouse explains to Alice. She ex-
presses disapproval Of a very untidy tea-room,
and the Dormouse shows her next TO it an
empty room and says:
1--WE keep our things in one room and our
order in the other. so that they don't get mixed
up together all the time" he persisted. land
that's good deal better than your way, be-
cause then this room is always tidy"
CHUMLEY's POST. By William o. stoddard
Published by J. B. Lippincott Co.. Philadelphia.
Price Sl.5O.
A splendid story Of the Indians and frontier
settlers, told by the author Of the Dab Kin
ger" series, Crowded out o. Crofeld," and
many other popular books. Chumley's Post
is a landmark put up by stalwart young Eng
lishman, who takes up claim in Nebraska
and proceeds to hold his own against the In
diaus and the desperadoes Of the country. He
also helps protect his neighbors, and afterwards
marries one of the sweetest and prettisst OF
them, which. of course, is not particularly In
teresting point to the boy who will warm up
when he reads about the funny, wise, ugly
old Indian RED Beauty"
NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. A History
of SnyDes. Sandpipers, and their Allies iHhabit-
ing the Beaches and Marshes of the Atlantic and
Pacific Coasts. the Prairies and the Shores of the
Inland Lakes and Rivers of the North American
Continent. BY Daniel Geraud Elliot, +. X. g.,
etc. Published by Francis P. Harper, New York.
The above is the title, sufficiently compre-
hsnsive, to indicate the character of a very de-
lightful as well as an exceedingly useful book
on orDithOlOgy. IL contains 26S pages, includ-
ing complete index. IL has "a full page illus
trations half-tone reproductions of photographs
OF examples of the birds described in the text.
Mr. Elliot has long been known as a writer on
ornithologica subjects, but has not before ap-
pearsd with popular book. This volume is
essentially so. Any person interested in birds
will find embraced within its pages absolutely
all the information known at the present time
relative to the life, habits and characteristics of
the large family which it discusses.
The naturalist, sportsman and taxidermist,
as well as those who possess no special knOwl-
edge on these subjects, will be equally instruct
ed aud entertained by perusal of the book.
In addition to the full-psge plates. it contains
a folding chart, Indicating the geography of
birds plumage, 80 to speak.
This chart is a unique feature, and fills a
long felt want with many who. not being pro-
fessional ornithologists, are unable to under
stand description of the coIors of different
parts of the plumage of any bird described, be-
cause they do not know the names of the feather
areas referred to. This chart shows at glance
the location of primaries, secondaries tertials
scapulars, axillars, and so on throughout the
entire list of the birds points. The binding Of
the book is unique, being in linen of the natural
tint, and upon it reproduced as a stamp on the
outer cover a representation of q bird in its
natural tnts.
This is the first time bookbinder has sue
ceeded in accomplish ng this feat upon cloth.
The retail price of the book is $3.50. and if
any of our readers are unable to End it in their
local book store, we will undertake to have it
mailed to them at the aboye.named price.
THE DAYS OF AULD LANG SYNE. BY Ian
McIaren. Published by Dodd Mead & Co.
New York. Price Sl25.
Ian McLaren is one of the most delightful
story-tellers of our day. Like Barrie, he takes
the Scotch peasants for his characters and
brings out of their stern. homeiy lives much
pathos and nobility, with many CLEANS of
quaint humor and quiet sarcasm, so that one
must both laugh aud cry over the tales of Doc
tor Aiaciure, annie S0uLar, ElSpetn MacE ayQa1,
Burnbrae, and Drumsheuch.
We read in this book Drumsheueh's "Love
Story" and it is simple in its self-sacrifce and
nobility as the other story that we all have read
of his friend, that great-souled doctor, William
Maclure-"A Doctor of the Gid School" Every
body is reading these stories and we are glad
Sometimes one feels little overwrOught with
their pathos, but they strong and pure and
exceedingly simple, and are tho utmost relief
Ghall ata1
that are termed popular novels. Ian Mac
LaIen has every once In while bit of out
door description, the schoolhouse yard, Burn
brae's garden and FARMS the night outside
while Mcclure and Drumsheueh are talking
over the fire. or the "reminiscences OF these two
men of the days when they fished for trout in
the little brook. and these pictures are very
living and beautiful. Although each story in
the two books is complete, yet the same char
acters 60 in and out as naturally as they would
in their village streets, and one becomes inter-
ested in every account of the folks. We always
want to know what else Drumsheuch is doing
for his feilowmeu, what the minister said, what
Jamie Soutar thinks about it all, and what new
cases Mcclure has.
LIST OF BOOKS FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN.
BY Margaret II. LeypoIdt and George Lecs
Published by The Library Bureau, Boston.
Price 81.
We question the wisdom of the plan of max
ing a list of books specially for women and
girls. as though all good literature were not as
good for the feminine as for the masculine
mind. We might understand list of books
for doctors or electricians or chemists: but
being woman or girl is not enough different
from being a man or boy, as far reading goes,
to make the division worth while. When q
list like this omits Jules Verne, who can de-
light girls as we'll as boys, and with no harm
to either, and Dumas, De Msupassant are
omitted entirely, in q list of 2160 books, one
feels that there has been q mistake Many of
De Maupassants stories are not commendable
for man nor woman, according to our Amer
lean ideas; yet there arc some wholesome in
subject and told in his most exquisite manner.
Dumas too, is not to be wholesalely recon-
mended-his stories have an element unpleas-
ant to our ideas-but they are strong and
vigorous, and one or two of them will do more
good than harm. and could be well substituted
for the somewhat tiresoms and weak popular
novels that are given generous attention.
However, the list, faulty as it is, is good
thing. Literary clubs and reading circles will
find it useful.
THE LITTLE LADIES OF ELLENwOOD BY
Sarah g. Connell. Published by George w. Ja-
cobs Philadelphia. For sale by G. G.. Pursell.
SlS Ninth street. Washington, ID. c. Price ST.
A story for girls. Not particularly good; in
fact, rather poor.
SARAH MARTHA IN PARIS. By saidee Bour-
Paper, 80 cents.
As may be supposed from the title, this book
tells the story of the adventures of rather |
American girl in Paris 1t is bright |
aud sprightly to degree. Some of its droll pass
have hnAp frAFx hxyA pbr