The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-17
SOME new BOOKS.
RECORD-UNION's BOOK TABLE
LITTLE JOURNEYS.
Some Recent Novels-Father Goose
The Puritan Novel-The Old
Navy-Dewey-Bret Harte.

| Dodd, Mead & Co., New York, have
issued charming volume of legend en-
titled Legends Of Switzerland" by H.
A. Grueber. 1t is freely and beautiful
( ly illustrated. No country is richer IN
| legendery lore of the romantic order
| than Switzerland Her mountains,
| dells, hills, passes and rugged and pic
turesque scenery lend to the charm of
these legends, which the author has
| given us in a style at once delightful
and instructive. He takes US into the
! life of the great body of the people,
and puts us into sympathy with their
thought and views of life The legends
are in varying keys and touch all
chords of themes. 1t is altogether de-
| lightful book.
Street & Smith, New York, have is
sued Trooper Tales a series OF
sketches of 1.-The real American Private
Soldier" They are by viii Lexington
Comfort and are prettily illustrated.
The volume is handsome one. No
claim is made of literary excellence in
| these tales. The cavalryman is sup
posed to tell them just as they would
be related about the camp fire. They
are simple and strong in their SIM
plicity. Plain in style, and all the bet
ter for it. Rough in language at times,
never choice in expression, but unique
and pleasing because of their homeli-
ness
From time to time the Record
Union" has noticed, and always with
pleasure, those little pamphlet volumes
and beauties of topographic art,
Little Journeys to the Homes OF
Eminent Painters Eminent Auth
ors' Eminent Statesmen" etc. They
are all under the editorship of Gilbert
Hubbard, whose style sometimes de-
scending almost to the method employed
for addressing children, has had the
commentator of all critics for its nov
city, ease, grace and unique beauty.
The numbers treating of Eminent
Painters" have now been gathered in
one handsome volume, issued by G. P.
Putnam's Sons, New York, a volume
richly illustrated and beautifully
bound and embellished. 1t Is book
every lover of art will wish to have
upon his library shelf, for it presents
| to US the lives Of great men in art in so
brief, so delightfully."- original and home
like a manner as to make the reading
of the sketches a delight.
y 4
| Henry Thurston Peck's What is
| Good English? and Other Essays" is
| from the press of Dodd, Mead & Co..
New York. It is appropriately dedi-
Gated to that master critic of good
| English, Brander Mathews. 1t is a
most companionable and helpful
volume of twelve sketches. or essays,
| which rise to the level of higher criti-
cism. There is one essay that is full
of rich and glowing humor entitled
1.-The Progress of Fonetik Refawrm. p"
The most thoughtful and critical paper
, is that on Honore de Balzac, and one
of most commonplace concern, but not
the less interesting, is the chapter on
GA Great National Newspaper" The
volume we'll repays for the reading, and
it's quality is such that it will not be
forgotten. On the contrary, it quickens
thought TO such an extent, invites to
controversy SO much that one is sure
to retain it in memory, and we think
profit thereby.
rather Goose" is a handsome large
quarto holiday book, oddly, invitingly
and very humorously illustrated in
colors, and very bold and vigorous
drawing. 1t is by L. Frank Baum, au-
thor Of Mother Goose in Prose.
The jingling, tingling, catchy
rhymes are all new, and are
of the order that stays with
one. They jangle and repeat in ones
memory despite oneself; and, then, they
are so quantity funny that really we
confess to rest and pleasure in reading
them from end to end, though We had
no such intention when we took up the
work 1t is, of course, written for chill
dren, but we would like out of pure
| curiosity to see the grown up who
would not laugh over them and their
odd conceits. L. Frank Baum, author
of the rhymes in Father Goose = His
Book" began his career as a grave
digger, became an editor, playwright.
actor, Spectator in oil, axle grease
manufacturer, opera-house manager,
writer of juvenile stories and books,
besides filing several engagements as
reporter on New York journals. Mr..
Baum is now about 43 years old, is the
architect of three fair-sized fortunes,
all Of which were lost in different spec
ulations, and now seems likely to wiz
another in the field of Juvenile litera-
ture. One of Mr. Baums most init
mate friends is w. w. Denslow, the
artist, who made the captivating pic
lures for Father Goose" On present
ing an autograph copy of this book to
Mr. Denslow, Mr.. Baum inscribed the
title page as follows:
Dear Den: Within my chffonier
Are many drawers; yet l fear
No drawer there can hope to beat
The pictures that you drew 50 neat
For dear old Father Goose: His Book
Unless I'm very much mistook.
There's better. things Ghis goes to show
In some old drawers than we know,
And even l shall draw in time
Which proves si that both Of us can draw
You with your paw with my jaw.
The volume is from the press Of
George NJ. Hill & Co., Chicago.
Will M. Clemens has given u.s. in the
"Life of Admiral Dewey" press OF
Street & Smith, New York, compact,
readable, and, we should judge, a re-
liable story of the life of the great
naval hero. 1t is a freely illustrated
volume. Mr.. Clemens has not attempted
too much, nor has he overcolored or
weakened his volume by exuberance of
praise. He has had the good sense to
tell the story of the ancestry of Dewey.
of his boyhood, manhood and life's
achievements, just as he would that OF
another, simply in a straightforward
and very concise manner.