The herald., 1898-04-10

I y
her no more. She has left Italy and take
up her residence in Paris. After her de
parture from Florence all her househol,
goods, including her wearing apparel an,
her manuscripts, were sold for the benefi
of her creditors. The manuscripts wer
afterward rescued, though 1t is doubtful
If they would have had much value in tn
eyes of an Italian tradesman. 1t is to b,
hoped that "Ouida" will send copy of he
latest denunciation of cruelty to animals
to the Florentine tradesmen with whom
she formerly dealt. They would doubtless
animals"
THE PILGRIMS IN THEIR THREE
HOMES-ENGLAND,I HOLLAND AMI
| AMERICA.
A fresh and interesting book on the Pill.
grims in their several homes, by William
Elliott Griffis, DID,, author of Brave Lit
tie Holland, Japan, Townsend Har-
ris." etc; with Illustrations; 16mo, s1.25; in
Riverside Library for Young People,
small 16mo, 10 cents. Houghton, Mifflin &
| Co. For sale by Stoll & Thayer.
Still another book on the Pilgrims. a
band of men and women of whose exploits
one never tires. In this volume, which is a
very thorough and calm restatement of the
facts concerning the Pilgrims, an orderly
survey of the field is found-the Pilgrims in
their three stages of development. In the
modest preface the author says: 1.-The
first founders of Massachusetts were not
merely representatives of church poity.
They were men and women of beautiful life
and of attractive character If they had
the infirmities and limitations of other NOR
tails, they also showed the touches of ma
ture which make the whole world kin.
have tried to depict them amidst the hopes
and fears. the joys and sorrows. of their
daily environment in three lands" This
is just and necessary reminder that the
coming hither to make a new community
and nation was much more that the mere
breaking away from an old form of wor-
ship. although that was the superficial view
at the beginning.
One of the most satisfactory topics of
the volume is 'Scrooby and Its History"
which is illustrated by a fine picture of the
old church and its surroundings. This
place Is most closely associated with the
earliest efforts OF what were known as the
"Separatists," and its distinctive influence
was felt for a long time on the colonies
here.
The happenings at Amsterdam and Ley
den are briefly but effectively sketched
making altogether valuable survey of the
sojourn in Holland. There are no new facts
brought out, but it is an intelligent restate-
ment Of what has been before set forth in
so many ways.
OF course. 1t Is the history of the early
settlements here, and what came of them,
that becomes of most interest to the aver
age reader of history or philosophy.
The portion of the volume devoted to the
manners and customs of the people of New
Plymouth is very entertaining, since moth
ing is so interesting as the home life of any
people. How these customs gradually
changed, how the old severity of belief
softened, and how the material needs of
the colonies broadened the political views
of the early corners, is very swiftly but
graphically sketched, and we are left with
a very favorable impression of the SINGER
ity and intelligence of the author.
1t is handsome volume. with befltting
illustrations and a faithful index.
o O O
AT THE SIGN OF THE SILVER CREs-
CENT. story of modern French life
by Helen Choate Prince author of "The
Story of Christine Rochefort'' and -
Transatlantic Chatelaine" 16mo.. s1.25.
Houghton, Mifflin G Co. For sale by
Stoll & Thayer.
This Is a story about young American
who went abroad to study art, choosing
Paris, of course. Grafton Blake IS a fair
specimen Of the young man of education
and means, and also with an abundance of
time on his hands. And when he found him
self several miles out of Paris in the calm
country, domicifed at the little inn which
bore the sign of 3The Silver Crescent"
and with kindly and sossipy landlady to
entertain him with local history, he be-
came greatly interested in life. The ad-
ventures that followed were not startling,
but even mild in kind; but they led the
young man at last into a pleasant path
with a happy ending. The details we
must leave to the reader. 1t is a creditabe
story as to plot and incident and in mos,
excellent literary form. although it does not
seem to us to have so much heart in it as
did the authors first book.
O o o
THE LETTERS OF VICTOR HUGO.
Second Series. Edited by Paul Meu-
rice. Houghton, Mffin & Co., Pub
fishers.
Perhaps there is nothing more indicative
of the quality of a mans mind and heart
than what we find in his familiar letters.
Therefore they have a certain value which
in estimating his character we cannot af-
ford to omit. on the other hand. the mere
personality, the ordinary traits are so dis
tinct from his genius-whateve that may
be-that we are often led to believe that
there is no connection between the two.
How many writer's have builded better
than they knew, and have been practically
incapable of appreciating, or even fully
the heights or depths of
their own work?
OF Hugo, it may be said that while his
letters are of interest and value, and we
would not be without them, they yet fail
to indicate altogether his greatness as
poet, novelist and statesman.
The second series of letters Just publish
ed written from exile, and after the fall
of the empire, are many of them addressed
to Paul Meurice, Francois Coppee, Jules
Claretie, Theodore De Banville, George
Sand, Edmond About, Lamartine, Arsene
Houssaye and his own family. His cor
with Mademoisele Louise
Bertin is but slightly in evidence in this
volume, and such letters as they are have
a cool or respectful tone.
In the earlier volume the letters to Sainte
Beuve excited much comment in France
and there is probably no doubt that the
woman of whom Victor Hugo writes thus
You must remember what passed be-
tween us was the most painful moment