Evening star., 1897-04-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


NEW PyDLIcATIONs.
FIOWER 10 RIP VAN wINKiE By Donald
e. Mitchell. New York: Charles Scribner's
sons. Washington: Brentapo's
The author Of. ."Reveries of a Bachelor
could probably find no more cougenial
topic than a review of the literary lights
that have -shone with more or less bril-
liancy en- these shores in the past. He
has written no solemn history of Ameri-
can writer's. but he has daintily sketched
certain outlines and has filed them In with
his graceful discourse. that has made
such great successes of his former works.
| a round dozen in number Though three
quarters of q century in age, Mr.. Mitchell
| Is even now contemplating fresh excur-
sions into the literary field, having just
completed his series, English Lands, Let
tiers and Kings. in q line similar to that
followed by the present publication. which
nad gone into second edition before the
day OF publication. This immediate sue
cess Is well deserved. for American Lands
and Letters Is unquestionabiy one of the
notable books of many seasons. The author
clearly indicates his scope in his first few
words, saying that his aim has been mot
so much tOssive instruction about the sub
1ects brought under review as to kindle
interest In them. by certain allowable
plquancfes of treatment, and so provoke
his readers to- wider study amongst
sources that are ampler and more fully
accredited In order to limit the work
within reasonable bounds no writer Is dealt
with whose birth-date belongs in the pres
ent century. ,...,,
NIGHT HAVE BEEN: SOME LIFE NOTES BY
the Rev. Joseph Parker. d. d. New York:
Frederict A. Stokes Company. Washington:
BrentI NOS. res
play in this volume. which can have o
hoff &hon
its subtitle. Life Notes" The book is like
a weil-written and-what is better-a we'll
edited diary. 1t takes the readers whiriing
into the company of high dignitaries of the
church in England and America, introduces
them to a certain amount OF the opposition
between the Dissenters and Nonconform-
lists. and the Church-of- England party, and
oners them many bright and entertaining
paragraphs here and there about things I'm
general. A broad Christian spirit such as
must have flowed from so liberal a preach
er as DR.. Parker permeates the work. and
optimism and love and charity are stamped
on every page. There are somes sharp
strokes delivered on the weak spots of the
armor Of men, and some telling blows are
struck at the frailties and hypocrisies of
modern life. Yet it is refreshment to go
from cover 10 cover.
IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DOUGLASS. With
portrait Philadelphia: John c. Iorston & Go.
preface, "A record of the spontaneous ex-
pressions of grief and surprise evoked by
the unexpected death of Frederick Doug
lass. 1t includes detailed accounts Of his
last hours, death and funeral. and also the
obsequies at Rochester where the inter-
ment took place. Then follow letters liter
ally from all parts of the world. written to
the widow by admirers of Douglass An
other chapter is devoted to the preambles
and resolutions adopted by various societies
and organizations. Several pages are de-
voted to poems and sonnets written on the
life services and death OF Douglass Next
in order of arrangement is a large section
devoted to reports of memorial services,
with addresses and sermons on Douglass,
followed by extracts from newspapers
throughout the country commenting upon
the dead man. A brief but interesting chap
ter Is devoted to "reminiscences by friends
and associates of Douglass. and the book
concludes with a well-written biographical
sketch
1871. Translated from the French of Charles
Gavard- New York: Henry Holt & Co. Wash.
ington Ballantyne 4 Sons.
NJ. Gavard had the literary misfortune
to be stationed at London in a diplomatic
capacity during exceeding uneventful
period. There had settled over France and
the rest of Europe at that time an intense
calm produced by the closing of the
Franco-Prussian war. ard in consequence
"A Diplomat in London is rather a calm
narration of society events with consider
able OF the flavor of diary kept by
close observer. and one who is inclined 10
analyZe slight Incidents At no point does
the book rise to a dramatic climax for in
the nature of things its course is even and
slow. Its especial value. perhaps, lies in
its character as a contribution to the lit
erature of the period, casting some rays of
light upon the diplomatic record of that
time and maybe in a few decades 1t will
prove most serviceable connecting link
for historians.
PHILIP AND ALEXANDER OF MACE:DoN: Two
Essays in BIOGRAPHY BY David G. Hocarth.
$. A., F. X. 9. s. With map and ust tIons.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Washing
ton: Brentano's.
season, for it outlines the works and char
acters of two of the greatest men of
Greece. now pluckily engaged in an effort
to regain some of her lost laurels The
story of Philip is unfamiliar one hav-
ing been rather neglected in the study Of
the achievements of his more distinguished
son, Alexander. The author seeks to clothe
traits. to present them in the atmosphere
in which they lived and moved and in
succeeding in this he has produced a vast
ly entertaining volume. The reference
notes indicate a wide research and open
up many lines of parallel reading The
illustrations are neatly presented. being re-
productions Of ancient portraits.
PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE By Amelia f.
Barr. Illustrated. New York: The Century
Company.
Mrs. Bars story has already appeared,
in briefer form. in the Century Magazine
Its publication there proved a success, and
many tributes to its power and fidelity in
character portrayed were called forth The
scene of this story is laid in the Shetland
Islands, among the fisher folk, strict Cal
vinists, and full of the stern realities OF
NAAAAAN