The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-02
NEW BOOKS.
Brief Reviews OF Important aud Iuterest-
ing New PuslIcntIons

upon the tltlo page inc mans OF AtCnlOhlu
Forbes, may not unreesonably expect that, with
such an engaging subject. SO capable a writer
and war correspondent will evolve a narrative
Of more than ordinary interest. But a very
ebort experience OF the book will force him to
the conclusion that either the work has been
too hastily done. or the magnitude Of the task
and the multiplicity of the materials were such
as to prevent Mr.. Forbes from handling tho
subject with his usual success: for 1t must be
confessed that the book Is disappointing. No
regiment In tho British army has had a moro
brilliant and romantic career than has the
Forty-second Royal Highland Regiment uhe
BLACK Watch, which has . glorious record OF
hard and faithful service from the time OF it's
inception as a body OF Independent COM
panics in 1890. under the Gaelic name OF
Am Frelceadan Dubh. till 1882. when. under its
present title OF the Frat Battalion Of the Black
Watch. IL took part In the Egyptian campaign.
The Aud forty twa" received its baptism of
fire Mt Fontenoy, where II won q high tribute OF
praise from the victorious French. a one OF
their authors Of the period. In describing the
battle. says: 1.-THE Highland furles rushed in
upon us with more violence than ever did a sea
driven by a tempest" Stll another compliment
was paid them In 1850. while the regimen was
CHARTERED at Albany during the war between
the British and the French in North America.
Nllth u III -Nt" VIA WEDlt lag
Highlanders were petted by all ranks and
orders of men. but more particularly by tho
Indians. On the march to Albany the Indians
focked from ali quarters to see the strangers,
who they believed were of the same extraction
rs themselves, and whom. therefore, they re-
ceived as brothers." After the disastrous at
tack at Fort Ticonderoga, their bravery was re-
wardcd BY the Kings warrant, which conferred
upon them tho title Royal" and, from that
time on. they have been to the fore whenever
there was hard lighting TO be done. Mr.. Forbes's
book forms An exhaustive record OF the doings
OF this grand old regiment, but in his narration
Of lite deeds OF heroism and the many thrilling
Incidents In It's career we miss much OF tho
vigor and rugged charm of the best of his work.
1t is pleasant now aud then. to meet with q
book that takes the reader back to old-tlme
days In one of those quaint and picturesque viii
lagos, whose gAbled houses stood In the midst OF
gardens fragrant with lilac, lavender and mar
joram. where life had q certain quiet dignity
that does not seem TO have survived tho advent
OF the factory. the Queen Anne cottage. and tho
locomotive. Such a book Is the volume OF short
stories. entitled "old Dorset, Chronicles OF q
New York Countryside" (PutramsJ, wherein
Mr.. Robert Cameron Rogers. a young author
who has produced some verso OF more than
average merit. writes very pleasantly OF a VIII
~ ehsN~ - ~ NaAA's we NhAoA " y =
tally. for its pretty women. for It's kitch-
ems. and for lis negroes. Some OF the ear
lest settlers were from Maryland anu
Virginia. and had brought with them
go many OF their slaves that the town was in
vested with mucn OF that picturesGuencss and
local human color so prevalent In the villages
south OF Mason and Dixon's line. In the early
days this little town was reached only by
tho medium OF q yellow stage. and morning and
evening horns footed gsyiy as SIX horses
swung merrlly along the old post road ard
halted before the Eagle tavern" Mr.. Rogers
makes this old country village the back
ground OF n number OF stories wherein
are blended much quiet humor and ten
der pathos, tho whole series forming a pic
ture rs true and As distinct rs one OF those old
fashioned prints that may yet occasionally be
seen IN some out-of-the-way farm house. Homer
silsbee. landlord OF The Eagle" old Major
Cooper. Madam Callandor and the Colonel"
and Ezra Splcer, tho tendcr-hearted village
topper. beloved by the schoolboys, and ~crattiest
Of fishermen. are all as real and In their way
as delightful as some OF the creations OF Oliver
Wendell Holmes. There Is nothing Sensational
in these stories. but they are interesting. each
a work OF art fashioned with n delicate skill
that appeals TO the cultured reader.
MeteorolOgy, o department OF "sco-physlcs.'
W NAV lIN slNo va "a klpbFs 4h5 UGH buk TO-
Gently elevated to the position OF an indepcnd-
ent science. ana II there be II subject in which
IL may be assumed that all mankind takes an
interest. IL is surely one so intimately connected
with that universal topic OF conversation:
the weather. In Elementary MeteOroiogy''
american Book Company Frank Waldo has
written q reasonably clear and comprehensive
treatise which. while primarily intended to
serve as n text book OF the elements OF the set
ence, will afford the general reader much
gratifying Information and. at tho same
time. equip him with means to provo the
fHlsIty OF that dictum which asserts that
conversation is n lost art For what an op-
portunity is there for the young person who, at
some dinner table, say for example in Boston. can
without falling back upon tho well.knovn
weather mmo place. I'LL in the interval
'twirt SOUP and Ash with \ few remarks on
luminous atmospheric phenomena. coupled
with q casual reference TO oscillations OF air
pressure and a passing mention OF the isothcr-
NAL and the isobaric lines! Despite the old adage
that he who IL weather-viss Is not other
WISE" the tendency to DISCOURSE. upon occasion,
oracularly on this subject Is n very human one.
and n careful perusal OF Mr.. waldo's book
should enable the Intelligent citizen to classify
accurately the variegated assortment OF samples
Of climate that New York experiences In the
course pt every ioTty-clgutn ours or 30.
In some OF tho verses by Mr.. o. c. Auringer In
THE Book OF the Hills" there Is the echo OF
natures music; OF the song OF tho birds and
the bees In warm June days, the mourniul rus
tie OF the falling leaves In autumn, tho r.oting
winds OF winter, and the cheerful crsckle OF the
blazing logs upon the hearth. After the
Shower" Dark Brook" and The Banquet
all contain much of tho charm OF the wood
land and the scent-ladena air Of the open fields,
things OF which Mr.. Auringer writes with tho
sincerity OF ono who loves them; n sincerity
which Is shown in many such passages as tho
following extract from n description OF u cross
country stroll:
And here my way wound down tho broken slope,
Mid gaunt and blackened stumps OF once great
trees,
And past how many vast and splintered trunks.
With all their ruin OF dead branches spread
Alon. the hi side. Some were patched with moss
OF brightest tint, and soidon from Old rains.
And there were clothed as bright rs they
That once were trunks as they q few gray rocks,
And, winding round amons them Ike \ serpent,
Lay white the beaten COW path down the hin.
Ny feet spoiled many a hoot print moulded nns
In the clear clay, ike sa'yr hoOf marks stamped
lInpg wild patha AFgudl.n ilulpr SHAH.