The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-28
BOOK STORE CHAT.


from "the newspaper English" which
marks much OF the current literature, at
tractiye as the newspaper style may be,
and indulge In the smooth, we'll con-
sidered a1d highly flushed phrases OF
writer like Mr.. Henry James, who takes
the reader on little journey and gives
him something TO think about betwixt
subject and predicate. Under the title OF
Embarrassments, the Macmillan Conn
pany have issued handsome volume
price Sl.50, Preston a. Rounds) contain
ing four Of Mr.. James stories that have
already appeared in American. magazines
not widely read. The title Of the book
may be said TO cover thet heme OF each of
the four stories: The Figure in the
and rhe Way II Came. The first is q
readable and somewhat cynical-if that
word may be applied for lack of a better
one, TO Mr.. James gentle way Of smiling
at things-story OF an attempt to divine
an authors purpose in bis writing and
the failure OF criticism to got at the meat
OF such things as authors purposes. 1t
is a delicious sort OF tragedy.
Glasses is a study OF character quite
in the James best style, the character, Of
course, being girl whose pathetic
popularity is pursued to its last and IN ost
pathetic analysis. Glasses Is by all
odds the best and most readily compre-
hensible OF the four tales. The Next
Time Is q tragic comedy that recites
the attempts OF an author TO write down
to paying market, an attempt as imposs-
ible of accomplishment as is that of the
other Contrasted author in the story TO
write up TO plane that shall make her
books unstable. The last of the stories is
mystical, wherein Mr.. James treats in his
own clever way an IDEA not at all novel
in these days of mystic story telling.
The J. B. Lippincott Company have
published and Preston IL Rounds have
for sale dainty novel entitled Venus
and Cupid; or Trip from Mount Olym-
pus TO London. 1t is declared to be
new fantastic romance. 1t is each OF
these--new, fantastic and a romance. The
romance relates of a personally conduct
ed party OF gods, goddesses and heroes,
comprising Venus and Cupid, Apollo,
Mercury, Diana, Neptune, Bacchus and
Hercules TO carry the luggage, who de-
scend to earth and make jolly sort Of
tour, and in the progress OF the story
the reader is brought on terms OF friend
ly intimacy with these personages as they
adapt themselves to their earthly sur
roundings. The festive Olympians
suffer a good deal OF en- barrassment, as
might be expected. The complications
are mirth-provoking and at the Same
time excite the readers sympathy for
the unfortuhates from Olympus. The
book Is joyial reading.
Sir John Lubbock, who writes delight
fully of many things, enjoyed pleas
ure trip with Huxley and Tyndall, back
In 81. The scene of the Journey was
Switzerland, and Sir John has made the
trip good many times since. OF
course, he studied during these holidays
studied Swiss scenery-and the result
OF his observation ana investigation
and tue reading of what authority was
available is volume entitled The Seem
cry OF Switzerland and the Causes to
Which it is Due. 10 student and to
traveller the book is Immensely lrable,
interesting and Informing, an appendix
being helpful for ready roferencs. The
limited literature of the subject is freely
resorted to by the writer, and the book
is real compendium of desirable infor-
nation attractively presented. (Macmil-
Ian Company. For sale by Preston &
Rounds. Sl.25.)
The author Of Yekl has been endorsed
by Mr.. Howells and that is something.
Possibly the fact that Yekl treats Of
a new country has something to do with
the endorsement. Mr.. Howells rarely fails
to.recognize the tribute due to the dis
coverer of new fields for literary treat
ment. Yekl is a tale of the New York
Ghetto and the fact that Ghetto exists
In New York is not wholly familiar. Mr..
A. Cahan, the author, spares nothing in
his picture of the Ghetto and the picture
Is not a pleasant one for wholesome
mind TO contemplate. However, that has
nothing to do with Art, with a capital
"A". |he theme, plot, romance or. what
ever il may be called would rs we'll hit
any other spot as the New York Ghetto,
but that has noting to do with Art, cit her,
as the picture must be hung or some sort
OF hook and one hook IL as good as
another. Perhaps, indced, The less osten-
ta,iuus the hook, the more conspicuous
the picture. We get taste of the Yid-
dish dialect that like Stephen Cranes
word colors, assists in the drawing. The
reader learns good deal about the
Ghetto, there is "local color" in big
blotches and the book is as entertaining, !,
accordingly, as the Ghetto itself may be.
Ii Is like reading vivid description OF
how bad egg tasres--(D. Appleton x Co.
For sale by Gregory. Price s1.0o).
4 beautiful book Is Familiar Trees and
their Leaves, by T.. Schuyler Mathews
20. Appleton Il Go. Price S1.75). The
author has enriched the book with more
than 200 drawings. and charming draw
ings thoy are, many OF them, and all effec-
tive for instruction. The title familiar
Trees expresses exactly the kind written
of-.the Kind that are so familiar TO the
eye but not so speaking To tue average
mnd uneducated I'm tree matter. Meth
ing that we have seen quite fills a desira-
bio place in so desirable way as this
book.
The Macmillan Company have just
ADDED to the beautiful, han0y and won
der!ully cheap (i5c. volumo) Temple
Shakespeare, the tragedies of Antony
ana Cleopatra and Macbeth. The
first mas for frontispiece tine repro
ouction Of the bust OF Cleopatra from the
s S1 The