Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 7, 1878, Page 9

ERATURE. i The Holiday Poetry-—-Bayard Taylor's ‘' Prince Deu- kalion.” «The Masque of. Poets"---* Ap- ple Blossoms"---Other Poems, Moses Coit Tyler’s “ History of American Litera- ture.” Roscher’s Political Economy--- Life of Alexander Stephens. “Art in the House™«=" Pleasant Spots About Oxford == / Juveniles, gan-Spots and Panics—-A Lacustrine Village-~Scientific Notes ; and News. TOETRY. Mr. Bayard Tavlor's now noem, * Prince Den- Yaifon,” 15 called *alyrical drama," and fs di- vided Into four acts. Prince Deukalion is **the fdeal of possible manhood,” and Pyrrha, bis mate. *the Ideal of possible womanhood.? In he first sct tho reader beholds the passing away .1 the vlossic faith and the emerzence of Chrls- tanity, In the second sact Deukallon and Prreha witness the conflict of Art and Truth with the Ecclesinstical aystem, flguratively rep- resented as Medusa, In the third act thero is anew confllet of Theology with Truth, typlfied s Urania, or Sclence. [n the fourth nct, a fore- cast of the future, Uranta Is displaced lu turn by a nobler divinity known as Agathon, or Good. Then Prometheus, Epimetheus, an- dora, Prince Deukalion, and Pyrrha meet upon “{ho marble ateps leading to tho portal of au edifice, only half tho plllars of the facade of which are 1l{ted into place; yet every block sug- gedts the harmony of the design.’t The plan of the poem, it will be scen, s fantastic. There 15, however, much strength in it. Here, for In- stance, Is'a bold figure In the sollloquy of Earth on Man: Ah me! in those old daya how near and fond Wan lie, how frank {n passion o In fear 1lis thoughticss adolescance. To my life Tho birth-cord stiil nnecvered held fils own: He took my com(orte, keeking nune Leyond, Aud crept for shelter to my shielding arws. We nre not sure that these lines are beautl- ful, but they have a good deal of rugeed atrength in them, and they are approoriate to the charncter of ample, vulgar, plaiu-spcken Mother Earth. ‘The character of Pandora Is one of the mys- terics of the poemn, which she fs perbaps best qualitled to sulve in her own way: 1hare not mnde complatnt, though every sin Sthl cheatr its bnso posscesor to trunufer 1t blame to mo, —though she who now my place Usurps taken Eaypt's serpent for tho Gods, And ents the upple, not on Ida's ill, Prreba elsewhore speaks to Pandora thus: Tt thow, who waitest near, ne onoe too proud Ur 1o evade or spurn shama undeserved, Unhappy wert thou, woman, angry i Agoddess, trauquii belng nelther,—spesk, ‘Iliere Is almost o pun in tho words of Calchas, the representative of the ‘Theologleal system: Froedom 1 gave, because Free-will muat choose me, B Wa get something of the #ulence fn this passaga: - ' IMANIA, | Pl Tuking up 4 Anm(}‘u!ln{ dust, 1] Iare found in this the secret of !l worlds, Tuy Pan? Tknow of no Pastl Thou dream'st of time, — Itianat, was not! Nothing s, snve Law, Thy feet are on my pathe; not heeaing them 1gutded thee, yet ju 80 much of possor Avmay bo given thee, moro of freedon il Far thiem tint follow me and cannot turn. ‘Thero §s no room for further extracts; the parts of the puem are, Indeed, sn closely con- splrit of modern I and will add to Mr. Taylor's fame, in somo depreo too cloke n study of th part of **Fuust”; but, whateyer Yy he thoucht of its symbolism, there will b v dis- vute o8 to the vizor of its thought., The bind- frg in delicate white and gold suzcests that tho volume I8 fotended for a gift-bovk. _(Prin Deukalion. By Bayara ‘Tavlor, Hoston: Noughton, Osgood & Lo, t'rice, $4.) "A .\llsgnu of Poets,” the new volume of tha No-Nauw Serles, Is a collectlon of seventy-odd wems, the suthorship of which fs not ‘made inown, Many great uaies are connected by auriuise with the volunic, but on what authority we know not. No doubt the uss of some of tuetn will prove to be strangely mistnken. There 1a much here that might be ottributed to eecond-class pocts, but littls that would on a yenture be called Longfellow's or Tennyson's. Rome of" the best thiugs fu tho volume are hu- norous or semi-satirical bits of verse; the worst Wing also, o Ballud .of the Wicked Nephow,” Is humorous, or intended to be so, +There is soma fine humor (n Dr, Holmes' (1) *Question and No Answer ' Islt Ethics'or Phyalcs? Ah! that fe the question® Ja !t trouble of conacienco or murbid digention? 1sthe temper that makes all my family quiver Hii-gisciplined inind or disorder of ltvery Uoes the pasaloa that makea even wise men sccen- trical TProcecd from the heart? and, if so, from which ven- tricle? dnty and coursge fine functions of norves— "nl‘:u ;umt woes stesdy and nnotler horso Tvos 1s the gentus that nature can hardly contain A fllm of gray matrow eflusod on (he brain? . Don't beliove it, dear Jady, or better, don't now it. Hut bumeme‘hly stick Lo your parson and poet, Moru biting Is the sonnet on “Ited Tape" '(erm"' the councluston of which la; he world wonld end, wore Dullness Wit's fatbered hecls in the m’rl::l .w:laknzgl:::?. ‘The Provevcal Lovers, ** Aucassin and Nivol- lete,” geem to have dreadfully sdvanced viows ol the futire life: Ta I’n!ffllaryl would With pleasant comrad Baid Aucaseln to Nicollete, An Ideal which more than ona of us has found when thinking of the terrible wrenchics to per- aonal friendsblps aud (amily relations that would be caused by the process pleasantly de- scribed In orthodox iangusre as * eeparsting the wheat from the chal.” ‘Tne phtiosoply of Aucassin reminds us of the yet more cheerful Yiew of a gentle Christian woman who belicved all the mpenitent would be dawued,—excopt thoss of her fumediate acqualntance, Tus serlous things mn ihe volume which bave the most attractious for us “ Herzeeovinfa,” Marshes of Ulynn” “The Bride of War" (which }p_m Lougfeilow’s atyle, {f not by bim), and Pligrime," w straly of vemarknble sweetuess hithin. *Tho Marshes ol Glynn' Lus the suceestivensss of Jean lurclow, The Bauk Of Wild Flowurs™ {s credited, we observe, to Mr. Stedman, well worthy of bim, Ooe hundred and thirty pages aro taken up with u Dovelettc In verse, entitled, * Guy Verson,' Thd author imitates the ** Don Juan ™ measure; but there fs this dilferenco between tho poems: 1 th foruser the messure was nrpmurma to the thougnt, sud fo the latter it fs uot, *Guy eruon's history wosuot s0 caytha', it necded 1 be told fn & roilicking maoner. Yhe volume o the whole high-class etlort, and quite up to tho mark that wus atived us. It would have en better I 1t bad contaloed fewer veracs of 80 order usually contributed by female writers 1o the waguziues, But we can pardon these ln V.l‘cvr of the excellent compauy they ure keeplng. i, A Masque of Poets.” Hoston: Roberta Bros. rice, $1.) whom we know, The Uoodate children, whose marvelous pre- coclty has beeu much writteu of in the news- wenl aud whosy pocias bave Just beeu pul ]llhed n 8 volumo cal! ‘* Apple-Blossoms,” I':‘e at Bky Farm, near Great Barriugton, Berk- o buke County, Mass, The scenery and wtmi Thero of Berkabire Covnty—thoss who know It <au readil; believe—are favorsble tothe dovelop- ment of poetic geolus, Willlsm Cullen Bryuot Wrots bl # Thavatopais® pot far from the very Yoot wuere these uew muses were crudled. [ the Goadalu children do uot, therelore, fultill the }»roulbc Of their carly youth it will not: be the wult of thelr yurroutdings, We aru fuclloed to thiuk, two, with the wejority of Eaateru critics, THE CHICAGO TRIBUN: that, the promise of these chiliren fa ereat. There has been no auch poetrg written by chitdren before fn tha literary historv of this conntey. The elder alster I8 now aontv 15 cars old, and the younzer 12 years. ‘fhe ecarliest poems iven fu this voltime were written at the ago of ) yeurs,. With the excontion of the first puem in each casc, the pieces are arranged in the order of writing, and it fgan encouraging fact that each eollection exhinits n_steady improve- ment from beginning to end. ‘Tho pocina show, first of all, familiarity with Nature in all ber moods and changes, The refercnces to tlowers, to brooks, to akics, aml seasons are constant. One poem (s addressed to * The First Flowers,” another to " Ashes of Roses,’” others to the Aster, the Malden's 1lalr, the Lady's Slioper, and the Traillng Arbutus. The hest specimen of Elaina Goodale’s style, to our mind, Is found {n the poem on the Arbutus: Deen in the lonely forest, 1iigh on the mountain-side, Loni in the dreary winter, Shore 8 the summer tides Just i the breath beticeen them, Pregnant with un anid showers, Btarte from the earth primeval Fatrcst of northern tlowers. There arc sonnets at the end of Flalne's col- lection which show better mastery of vermifl- cation than anything clse she hasdone, but they are ot superior in_purity and Almpiicity of thought to her carlier ciforts, There fa danger, Indeey, that the misters may unwisely be advised to attempt Imitations of old ways In verse-making that, for many years, shoulil hs far from them, We are palned to sce that Elalne at 14 18 growing cvnical. The younger sister as yot seemns wholly to have escaped thils dauger, ~ What could fresher thun these verses: . PLOWN AWAT, On the bare. brown nonghs before me, In the softlv falling rain, eete n hluebird w, upstarting, Bee how suddenly sho's darting Far away ncross the plala. 1t was but a dash of color Shown ngainst a stormy sky, Only two blue winus nolified When the sreay clouda slowly drifted, — But they horo & ¥ong on high. Sha is loat 3n misty darkness, — Will she plerce beyond (ho gray? Wi} she reach the blae behind it? Will sbo panses when she ahall find jtt Will she know it Wno can say? It is almost tnconceivable that such verses should have been written by a child less than 12 vears of nge. But she hisdone manv things almost as good ms this. **Mulden's Lair? s ona of the quaintest and prettivat of them, and almost the Uest thinz in the volume, A cutious fact that Indlcates IMttle actusl consultation between the sisters is the widely different views they take of snmmer, Klaine thinks of that season as containing the promise of ripences and decay, and Tience as the most melancholy of sil, while Dora takes the conven- tional vlew of a boundlng atd exuberant Hfe in all the manifestations of Naturo at that time. The sweetness and freahuess of this volume are its_maln recommendations to fuvor, und they " will make it acceotable, we fcel aure, to a large **Apple-Blossoms.” Verscs of Two Chlldren, By Elaine Goodale and Dora Tead Goodale. New York: G. I, Putnam’s Hons. Price, 81.25). Mrs, Zade) Barnes Gustafson has written much voetry for Jlarper's Jlapazine, but' her name s stlil comparatively unknown to the rende publie. {thlher this Is due to her own reti- cence, or to the fact that her verses have been printed in the .Wagazine without credls, it Is im- ossible to say. Further «Luwlon on the sub- et Is now prevented by the cotlection of hier old verses “and some new ones in a volume, which is offered to thn public for judgment. ‘The lougest poem fu the collection, and the one that gives it n title, is “Mez: A Pastoral.” This is n narrative. fn versc extending over somo seventy pages, exhibiting not much fortllity of invention, buta smuoth and agrecatlo versitica- tion and a graceful manner, Another new poem In this volume s addrcased to Willlam Cullen Bryant. It wcaves his own language and thought into prutse of himself, and it dues something moro: it lutroduces his own person- ality into the midst of his poemas, This, fo con- nectlon with “The Flood of Years,' {s some jus- tification of Mrs, Guatafson's attempt: But not as one in F""‘ or chill of fear, Iio raw ths billow's breaking edee draw near, And knarw ths roaring on the abysmal brim Teneath **the belt-of durknesa ™ summoned him, Bereno his eye, as calmly Jooking back He saw on the brond torrent's desert track 1ia gallant ship that Iang ngo set Hope at the helm, and promine in the galo,— With tho vaet floet of unrcturning hapes Lie blesching {n the wave-ncovered slopes - And thonght, **The hooe it did not hru-z']t bore; Life was the richer on some other shore: For the Great Purpbse, Love, I8 never crossed: Nopain {s uselow, and no Joy ia lost." Botter than anv of the nuw parts of the book are some of the old ones, and tirst of all, “Tho Harp of the North"': What seemed o landscape passing falr i yet A shining harp 'mid_azuro monntaine set, Thu hille are bills, and yot the hiar they frame; ‘The temple's pillars, sirings of tivisted Name, S fine and slender that a wonderin:t slgh ‘Would softly waka tleir far und sweet reply, * “Meg: A Pastoral, and Other Pooms.” Ry Zadel Barnies Gustafson. Boston: Lee & Shep- ard, Advauce sheets. circle of readers. ‘The . poems of Surali Helen Whitmao, the cultivated woman of Providence, who would have saved Edear Allan Poe if soybody could have saved him, have been pathered Into & vol- ume. They are distinguished for deficucy and vividness of conception, (idelity to nature, aml depth of personal feeling, The allusions to Pog, or what can be supposed tu be such, are frequent. * Tha Raven,"” **The Portralt,” and Epigea are unmlistakably of this class, ‘Che Jast _origiual pocm in the volume, dated April, 1873, onlv a short tima beforo th death of Mrs. Whitman, is an ** In Memorlom," from which tue following llnes nre tnken: I held Iheo jn my armn whilo life was failing, — clnuhln‘ y amns, and watched thy futteriag . brea 41} the red sunset In the West was paling, And twilight valled the awful calm of death, In that white calm I saw then and forever The grandeur of thy F'o1l as 1t mortal v Lsaw the immortal bursting into flower. “That soul, so lofty in its fsolation Bu strong In weaknass, resolute in paing $0 wolf-rollant in ite reprobation Ot sorvilo arts and cusiom's (ron reign, Mid alion crowds alone, with nuno to kuow thes, With nothing left beliud theo to regret Save nno rad huart that fove's 't dubt doth owa thee, One lanely heart that never can forget, “1T'oems (complete). By Barah Tlelen Whit- l‘nlngi Boston: Houehten, Osguod & Co. Price, *“The Scarlct Oak and Other Poems,” by Julia P, Battard and Annje Lenthul Smith, might almost bo called a study of Howers, w0 many are the sllusions to them, I the con- tents are versus on the Persfan Crocus, Lenten Flowers, Poud Llllcs, Flowers and Musscs from Stonehenwe, Water Lilies, Wood Mosscs, the Fringed Gentlan, and the Mimosa. But thero are uther themes: I'he old romance of Petrarch und Laura, with n portrait, almost tvo stuny- faced, of ome or ‘the other; * Licht, Licbe, Leiben, theInscription ou Hender's tinbrtousi “'Tho Last ‘Token,” touching stanzas on Max's palnting of the youug Christlan tuartyr, with his lova's red rosc at his feet; and some verses written on Hoosac Mouutaln, for which thoss at lcast who know the spot will feel grateful, It fs a botanist's minute, to bo sure, but nous the less @ reminlscence of an old Berkshire wonarch. (**'The Bearlet Ouk and Otuer Poswms," By Julla P. Ballanl and Awvnie Lenthal Bealth, New York: G. P Putnam's Bons. Price, $1.25.) Oltver Wendell Holmes' poetw, **The School- Boy," read by bim gt the centennial celebration of "Ihiliips Academy, dunv 6, 1575, bas been rinted tn holiday-book form. ~ Some of the il- ustratious urg beautiful; others, bowuver uaint and odd the device, sgres 1ot well with the text. . Ouo can hardly pardon Mr. Sheppard {or bis plcture of tho ahy waiden, * pallid, place 1d, sweet as the firss suow-drop which the sun- beams greet.” If the shy maiden was 4 wax- doll ho'ls right, otherwise ‘not. But the suwn artist makes amends in his Ariel, who s the very “*hnp of all mischiel " Dy, Hulwes was tu- ouiriog sbout. Tho peew itsell will Le rewem- bered a8 one of tbe author's bhapoiest cffurcs. His hooest endeavor to be scrlous st tue start, und bis total failure to remain so for long at 4 time, {8 amusing, [t (s well to remember that, even when be is not “*as fuuny as he can be,’” Dr, Holnes writes good puetry, (*The School- Boy." By Oliver Wendell Holmes. Illuatrated. Boston: UHougbtou, Oigood & Co. Price, $4.) © Thanatopsis,” with desizas by W, J. Linton, whose llustrations for the * The Flood of Years ¥’ were much admired In 1877, Is another gift-book. The designs of this volume sre, i€ not quite caus! to thuse iu **'The Flood of Y¥ears,' of & very superior character, and tho difference s due’more to the subject tnan to waut of felleity ou the part of the artlit. It wust be admitted that it 1s dithcult to treat fn illustration such u hue as ** Unto dust sbalt thou return,” without too severe a literalism, Mr. Linton ha: - wuch hapoier In ** Under the Open O1d Ocean’s Liray and Melaw- choly Waste The ¥atme publish of Yehrs " and ** Thavatepsts " togetber, with all of Lintou's fllustrutions, under the tithe of SATURDAY, DECEIMBER ** Bryant’s Earliest and Lateat Poema." (“Than. atovals.” By Willlam Cullen Bryiant. fllus- trated by W. J, Linton. New York: G. P. Put- nam's Sons. Price, $2.50.) ‘The true story of Genevieve of Brabant? ja told by Mrs. Cnnrles Willing in four cantos of emonath and flowing verse. In her preface Mrs, Williug says: *Ciermany has handled some- what rudely the legend of flienoveva,’ and Fruoce depicts her Genevieve with a touch nl- ternately frivolous and profane, Engzland has been just to the beautlful and tenderatory, but has given it tons in fracments only.” [t bhns been the endeavor of the author ‘to remedy these defects; nmil she has been more than tatr- 1y succeanful. ' Illustrations by Schell and Ben- el adarn the volume, which we do not hesitate to call, on all accounts, an_excellent gift-nook, ‘' (ienevieve of Brabant. Aflegend fn verse.' I Mra. Charles Willing. ~ Philadetphia: J. T, Lippincott & Co. Price, $2.60.) ‘The pocms of Tlarvey Rice, whose reputation we are not familiar with, have been printea by Lee & 8hepard, Mr. Rico has written with much truth, slso with much triteness, of various themnes, none ol which apparently was prescnt- ed to his linagination in so forcible m manner that there was “'a call /" for bl to mnke verses about them, A poef who 1s capable of he- ginning his meditations on Light with this stanza— When the winter departa, Oh, how pleasant 4 thing *Tin to greet the frst Mower That appeara In the spring, has either affected a simplicity which he docs not feel, or has not 2 concentton of what true oetry fa. (*Select Poelue.' Iy llarvey Rice. Hoston: Lee & Shepard, New York: C, T. Dil- lingham, Drice, $1.50). ‘Iris: The Romance of an Opal Ring.”" fs & tale of love, misunderstanding, explanation, rapture, and awedding. Rozmer, of Maine, is the hero; Tris, of the Bouth, the heroine. Rozmer loves Irls, but she s ziven to under- stand that he ls betrothed to a common though good girl of the inciTubly vulgar name of Fan- nle Bliss. Tho loversarescparated, but broucht tocether again by means which need not liere bo recounted, The poem s besutifully ilius- trated by Sheopard, Frenzeny, Schell, Benscll, Fratlericks, and Matflds Lotz. (“Iris: The Romance of an Opat Ring.” By M. B. M. ‘Toland. ~ With numncrous Ifustrations, Phila- delphta: J. B. Lipplacott & Co. Price, $3.) Cella Thaxter, the poctess of the Tale of Bhoals, established her title lovw szv to a place in the Amerlcun Academy, when it shall be or- manized. Bhe hias seldom been missed from the maogazinea long, and has been welcome thero whenever she bas chosen to show hersell. ‘Lhe poems ju her new volume nearly all saw the llgnt first, It we mistake not, in this manner. Among them are such recent contributions s the sonnets on * Modjesks ” an 1 * Beethoven,'! from lale humbers ot the Atlantic Monthly, and verses written for children. We ftka Cella ‘Thaxter best in her sonys and short pocins, be- cauae these exhibit fully her melodious and con- densed expression, without subjectiue herio the test of continued effort. (** Drftweed.” By Calia Thaxter, Boston: Houghton, Oszoud & Co. [Price, §1.50.) The famous Christisn hymn, which has fn- spired and consoled many generations of devout men and women,—** Rock of Ages,'—has been printed with a number of beaut{ful fllustrations for the holldays. Thisisthe tourth number of the ucrles‘—-um others betog * Nearer, my God, to Thee," #0 why should the spirit'of inorta be roud 1" and **Abldewith me,"'—and {4 equal fu eauty of execution to any of fta predecessors. “Rock of Ages.”” By Augustus Mont Toplady. With dealgns by Miss L. B. Hu phrey. ~ Boston: Lee & 8hepard, New York: Charies T. Dillingbam. Square 12mo. Price, #1.50, ‘The complete poetical works of Jean Ingelow arc printed In & plaln and substantial dark volutne by Messrs. Ituberts Bros. The portrait prefixed to the volumo s that of a sincere and earncst woman, dignificd not only by her work but by her thinkiniz. . Jean Ingelow belongs un- questionably in the company of the few Iiving !mcu whoso numes posterity will not willingly cave to dig, and a new edition of her works should be mude welcome by the publie. (““Tha Yoetical Works of Jean “ingelow.” Boston: Roberts Bros, Price, $1.50.) AMERICAN LITERATURE, ‘Tho history of American lterature hias never becn written. Up to this time there has been nabady competent to write it* who scemncd to have the tiine and the Inclination for tho task, But the desired quallfications have at last been found In the person of Prof. Moscs Colt Tyler, of the Mlchigan University. 1le has had the patience to exntore the sources of our }tcrature, nnd to follow its courss downward through all the vicissitudes of Colonlal, Confederate, and National lifa to the present dav. Bealdes vatienes for the collecting of material, Prof, Tyler has the ability to compare, analyze, sift, classify, ond arrange in order (he re- sults of his readivg, Ho has had exper|- enco 1o criticlsm. e is familtar with the best models of Engliah prose and poetry In cach of the perlods whichlie has to describe, o has whie and accurate knowledge of the history of the country. Thore {8 & sense, Indeed, fn which the history of tho literature ot a country Is s history ol that country; but Prof. Tyler had better guldes than his own unalded re- searches to the landmarks of Colonlal history, 1f ho has found in the course of his studies rea- sons to modify somo of his previous oplnlous, it is uot the same as f he had flyst becoms ae- quainted with the main suthorities when he oersonolly examined them. Ho kacw the his- tory of literature, as It had heen Written In s fragmer.tary way by all the historfans from Cot- ton Mather to Hildroth, before lio undertovk a complete survey of it for himsclf, 1t ts comparativoly an cusy task to fix the be- cinning o American literature, Wo kuow there could have been nothing earlier thau the books of Capt. John Siaith, who was 8 member of the first Jameatown Colony, We know likes wise that in thy vature of things there could not have been anything deserving the name of lteraturs In New England befors tho narratlye of Willlam Uradford, the first Governor of thy Plymouth Colony, Tau renb ditliculty of the nistorian begins witer these starting-polnts have been “fixed, Little of whut fs called early Americun Niteratira lns been thought worth revrinting, Auch of has becn od- stroyed; other specimens le bidden n privats sod public Hbrarles, ju the arcaives of historieal, socletles, in town recotds and the minutes ‘ot religions soclcties, or fu family papers. 'The examination of these sources of Listory Involves anlummonse amount of lavor; and the performance of this onthe parg of Prof. Tyler s his best titlo to the sym- puthy aud respect of his readers. He “lLns spent yearg iu lbraries where rare coples of hils authorlties wore Lo be found; hie has runsuck tho files of. bistorical societics, particul New England, aud ho hos applied pers nany now hvmr for Information fn respect to departed worthies wiingo names even sre only remembrances outside of thelr inmediste cireles. Thu result of these Jabors has b accumulation of o lurgs quantity of 1 for the colonlal perfod alony which Prol. Tyler lus founa great ditticuity tn dlspoaing of, ‘Fhough he hus exercised the wost rigurous comipresdlon, o hos been unable to put what he lins to say about the wriicrs of this perlod futo less that two volumes, and these, which are 1l ouly parte of the work yet cumpluted, bring 1he tnvestigstion down nofarther than 1785, The author hopcs to cowpleta the work n two volumes mare, his, as the suthorities in the later period are more ac- ceasible and batter knuwn, 1t is not toreasona- ble to beileve he whl casily do. Certain it s that, with the possily exception of threw chap- ters in the second volume ow uinor writers of New York, Virginla, und Georgia, there is no unrl.gjl the work thus far that could well be spored, The first volume of the history covers tho period butween 1607 aud 1675, The author de- feuds this as u naturat divislon for this reason; **Before 1670 the new clvillzatlon In America was ;xrlucllrnllv in the bands of Awmericans Lorn in Eazland; after 1678 it was princijally in the bands of Amencans born fn Awmerica and the subjects of such trainipz as wus to be hLad there.” 'Tho general culture {n the tirst verlod was, in New Euglaod at least, higher thau in the second. * It is probable thiat between the years 1630 1600 there were W New England s many graduates of Cumbridie and Oxford as could ba found In ayy populstion of abmiler size in the wother country. At one tlme uurivg the first part of that period there was in Massa- chusctts and Conaecticut 4 Catnbridze graduate for every 250 luhabitants, bestdessons of Oxford not u few, gy i parttculur wero some wmen scholarsbip ac- coyuted great even by the herofc stand- ard of the sevcotecuth century—dJohm Cotton, Juha Davenoort, Richard Mather, Eltot, Norton, Hooker, Rozer Willams, Stoue, Bulkley, Na- tbaufel Ward, ‘Thonas Shepard, Danster, Cliauncey; whlle tho laity had dmovg theru ses- eral men ol wo tucuusideruble lewrulg—tite lder oud the younver Winthrop, ‘Tuomas Dud. ley, Sunon Bradstrget, William Breweter, Will- fam Bradford, Pynchon, Daufel Gookin, Jubkn Hayu 1o the sixth duapter of bis tirst yol- umie Prof. Tyles w cxcelintly of the N Liglaudbistoteal wi . tho many mis and the pingular fate of his manuscript, onty recovered (n 18563 of Jahn Winthrop, John Mason, and Danlel Gookin, the friend of the Ind(ans. Next to this chapter the most valnable {s the eighth, devoted to New England theo- Iogleal and religious writers, and part) Thomas Ilooker, Thomas Shepard, Cotton, all gradustes of Emmanuel Collere, Cambridee, and all victims of Lauds’ persecu- tions, Tho chapter on loger Witliams will be found 28 appreciativa a» we—who have learnuld to admire and love his character—ronld desire. 8o atso with thelast chapter on the solitary New Eogland noct of the seventeenth century, Anne Bradatrect, ‘There might have Leen 8 less conscientious study of sume small names in American litera- ture 1n the accond volume, we have sircady intinated: some of the verse-writers and the Iater preachers and chroufelers were hardly worthy the space that has been given them. Much® of the “)iernture’ of the Middle and Bouthern Colonles do not deserse the name. But the chapters on the Dynasty of the Matbers. on Samuel Bewall and Joln Wike, Jonathan Edwards, Mather Byles, James Btatr, Robert Beverly, the First Almanacs, and General Literary Forues iy the Colonial Thue more than make sinends for what is superfluous, ‘The ehspters on Litera- ture in Virzinia nre particulorly good, conslder- e the luck of material;. no onc has ex- pluined nore clearly than Prof. Tiler (sce pages 500, Vol 1) why Virginla lagged helind New England fn the ruce for commereial, soctal, and Hterary {myortasce. There Is unt perhaps tu all history a bester (g tration of the advantage that close roclal orzan- Izatfon, consclentiousness, and fudustry have vver fsolated communities, selfish and Inio- lent hatits. The Virginlans had more advan- mfica of nature, and the New Englanders more of those of education; and fn the long run the Iatter won. That was the whole ge- cret, lut we have not spece to follow Urof, Tyler further: and we distoiss hin unfque and valuable work with the less reluc- tance, beesuse we feel that its very importance will compel the attentlon of all Amiericans In- terested {o the lterature or tha history of their vountry., (* A History of Amerlean L In Twe Volumes, . Crown 8vo. By M Colt Tyler, Professor of English_Litersture in the niversity of Michizan, New York: U. P. Putnam's Sons. Price, 83, ROSCITER'S POLITICAYL ECONOMY. Principles of Dolitica! Eeonomy, By Willlam Roscher. Translated by John J. Lalor, A 2 vole,, pp. 404, 465. Clneago: Callaghan & Co. 1878, The principles of political economy ‘are the principles, good and bad, which regulate men's pursuit of weaith, There arc 1wo meth- ods of discovering them, the psychologienl and the historical. &tuart Mill takes what manis as a hasis, and argues from that how he will act m regard to acqulriog wealth. Roscher tokes what man hss done, and arues from that what he will do. Roughly speaking, the two meth- ods may be calied tho English aod the German, ‘The Euglish is the better of the two, hecause an economic fact 1s usually the result of too many complex causes.tobe fully analyzed. ‘This dilliculty fncreases with lapse of time. When Horace ™ Greeley sald that the wool-clip of Ohio fell off 40 per cent on ac- count of the reduction of the tarifll on wool, ie may not have known that the real vause of the diininished yleld was a destructive murratn which razed that year. And how can we know the reul causes of s tamine five cen- turies arol—or of o rise of wages fnthe yearthat Shakspeare dled! Post hoc, ergo propler hoc, is the stunbling block of the German school, ‘The_historie method, however, used in due subordination to the- other, Is & valuublo cor- rectlve; and the book before us is probably the best work of §ts klud ever written, ' its eminent author has brought to btu task ull the resources of varled reading, deep study, nud enthusi- nstic encrgy, ‘Fno uotes, which fill considerably more than half tho book, are packed with facts al many centurics and many lands. They form an-econiomlc history of the world, The work, as a whole, {8 strontzineat for men. It dous 1ot stoop Lo tho commonplsce. It pre- supposes intetlurence v the reader. The suthor’s @xactucss in the useof the techinies! terms of the sclence Is refreshing in these duys, when half the orevalent fdioes in regard to the woney-questiun s due to a brutal vonfusion of the two terme, “value” and *‘price.” Mere the translator’s wide knowledge of pulitical economy has come Into vlay. Ho har done his work as only a tratned cconotnist could; anr this fect’ls so apparent that the few errors to be noted musts be attributed to the cares of u busy Jife rather.than to auy lack of compreliension ol his subjept. 1n tho fires volguse, on page 51, Anatandabed- urfnisse should s rendered **conforts,” rather thao « ¥ decencic: on page 800, the ldst sco- tence s meaninzless: and in the second vol- ume, page 10, the expression, * Ricardo thor- ouxhly reacts agalnat this view,” { a literal rendering of the tierman text, but fs not good Enulish. These nnd a few other minor points will doubtless .be corrected in succeediog editions, ‘i publishers have given the two volumes handsoma dress, clear print, and several bun. dred typographical errurs, which a proof-read- er's apprentice ouzht to have corrected, There s noindex, and there pever was a book that nceded one mare. It is natural that thero should be a few mis- taken [n the very inany statements of fact. note one or two In relation to this counts Roscher puts his case much too strot he saya (1., 143) that the sy nien & share 1 the profits Is ** very p lent here; and that (b, 2i0) warranty-deeds aro often eiven hero iustead of mortgages, the fact boing that these deeds are in such cascs con- strucd as moriguges; and that (L, 400) In Texas It Is sald to “coat more to raise ten chickens than to bring up ten childre; This last s a singular instance of the dancer of Lringing together American humor und a Ger- wman Professor, But after all criticlsm has spent Itself, the fact remains that this s & masterly work sud s necessity to the student, . Parts of it ure excele lent popular reading, - The pessimlst who hus been walling throwsh the Atlantic Monthty for the Inat Lo or threa months might have some of his fears relleved I Ruscher's chupter on wages, ete, were prmted separately mid sup- plied at the differeut Soulullat ncudqunneu throughout the country, This edltfou s [ree Irom any stain of piracy. 1t has been translated by urrangement with the nuthor; has heen revised by him, and cont thres chapters on puper-woney, laternatd trade, and the protective systc, reapectively, written expressly for i, Alter a eaveful wnd udicial review of Protectionism fu sll its pussi- 1, 1o of the system ‘The protective duties of the United Siates are, for the most part, unly attempts by one part of the people, whoclalfs to be thy whole, to prey nfiun the other parts,” A, B, AL LII'E QF A. . STEPIENS, The Lifa of Alexander I, Stephens, of Geor- gla. hay Leen written by I M. Johinston und Wiliam lHand Browne. The materials for it were furnished by Mr. Stephens himself, who yiclded hid consent to the publication of the work in his lifetime “only upon the ground of presentations of bis oiotives, abjects, and acts on several oceasious In his not uncventful public course.” Wo welcome this blography mors because of tho high characterof the person It commniemorates thau for the manuer 1n which It has been excevted. There lo no man uow {n publie hife who has & lnrfier share of the esteem of the people in ail scitlons of the country than Mr. Stephens. He belongs ta~ & generation of departed statesmen, amoeng whom the virtues of unselilsboess, truth, hovor,.and patriotisn wero not Infrequently practiced. Throueh aud his long and stirriug publle lile he has been true to himselt aud his convictions, e has uever once sacriflieed cioles to expedlency. From the o of the Texas debate to the last dead-lock on the Electoral Inquiry he lLas braved public opinfon whenever hu believed it was wrong, 1o has been, as every statesmau must be, & leader of mien, uoL @ time-server, HOr vue wuo touk orders froms pany commitices, ls des tlance of the caucus in Gicorgin just belore the last electlon, while It was an inspiriow exaplo for other pohticians; was ouly vharucterlstic of bim, sud_one out of mauy simllar scts wolch have made bl public Bre whatitds, ‘The most yeniarkable thing in Mr, Stephens® 1ife, all things cousidered, i3 bils constaut strug- elo with diseuse. He iuherited o feeblu consti- tution, aud bas never been for long ut & time free from paing yet his energy bas ore! d over all sdverse clreumstances. “In 155) ne wag almost as slieht sud fral as he scems to-day, yet in that yesr hic made an exbaustine cauvay of ticorgla agutust the Kuow-Notbing P""" put §t utterly to rout. My Gi—=1" ¢ried 4 man who saw blm then for the flrst tine, + there (s nothing about him bLut braina and luugs.” ‘Tho vikor and truth of this deacrivtion witl be felt by every one who hus scen Mr. Stephiens of lato vears, sitting In his juvalid's chair In the Mouse, and Issufuy (roai thet plave, us If [rom a thrune, orders which are lupheitly obeved. D splte ot Lis infirmities, he has oi the floor of the House more futluence in bis party thau awy otber member. Alis atrueeie with discase ‘of fnaell cxhilits the of ub euceess in o dle, whw been due solely to his enormous wlil-power. Ile bas resolved to do o die, and he bus done thus [y vearly eversthing be has carnestly set bis Leart upon. e did not control his vughly when b beooed, but Le gul 7. 157¢ Ing the War of the Rebellion. and he has been one of its representative public men ever since. It would "be idle to considcr here tully the historr of the Milledgeville rpecch, and IMr, Stephens’ remarkable position at at the time it was delivered. Thesc are mow matters of bistory. Ther are discussed with ALfiity and tmpartiality iu the present biography. Ko alao are the events In Mr. Steohena’ life rince the War, Weregret thattheautbors could notdo ax much for the perlod hefore the War, or. fatling the disposition to do ao, that they could not Ieave My, Stephens to describe the sftoation jn 194 in his own wonls, ns ha was shundantl ablo to do. The blograuhy mieht be Improv!tl inderd, in wmany reapects, Drevity snd con- dengation would " fmpruve the carly parts, and ne complete discussion of Mr. f1ephens’ char- er, hownver awkward a olece of writineg to undertake fn I Hictinie, should have teea added at the close. But, in_ spite of these de- feets, we welcome the work as an attempt. to bring the exampte of & good and great man be. tore the public, ana the only lifonf Mr. Ste- phens with aby claim to authority that Is cver Hkely (o be published. (Life of Alexander 1. Stephens, By Richard Malcolm Johnston and Witliam Hsnd Browne. Phisdelphia: J, B, Lippincott & Co. Price, $11.) AT IN THE NOUSE. A valuable and expensive addition to the It erature of houschold art fa a translation of ‘Historical, Critlcal, sod Esthetfcal Studies on the Decoration and Furnishing of the Dwell- ing." by Jacon von Falke, Vice-Dircetor of the Austrisu Mesum of Art wnd Industry at Vienna. “Dr, Falke's book,'! says the American trans- lator In the preface, ' opens with an account of the Greco-Roman house,ss the most perfect type of the antlque dwelling in plan, construc- tion, and decoration.” While agrecing n part inthis oplolon, the translator cudeavors to ake the discussion of the subject more com. plete by prefacing it #itha briet description of the TFEueyptian snd Assgrian house, from which ~some of the tiost narked features of the Greco-Roman were derived. This part of the work, which 1s entirely of Awmerivan orlzin, {8 very thoroughly done, nnt only in the editor's text, but in the engray- ings, whifch inclwile an elaborate colored chirvino- lithorraph of a Iiall of ¥tate in the paluce ol an Egyptian monarch and reoresentutions of Asevr- fart Interfors, decoratlons, .amil furniture. The original Gerinan work is divided into ten chap. ters, under the titles of *7The Greco-Roman House,” *'The Medizeral House,” “The House of the Siateynth Century,” **Geaeral Critieal tions,” “1he Floor oud the vahle Wall Ornanienta—The Ceiling, **Furnfture,”” Tnc Decorution of the Table," “Woman's Esthetic Mission,” ‘This part of the book contalns sixty oplstes and 160 fllustrations fu the text, The colored plates are ** An rlor View ol the fouse of Sajluet Restared or_in the the Italian’ Reu: B * French Clumber, Rococo Style,” * Interfor of the Filteentn Cen- turs.” There are also Interiors of Queen Aune's time fa England, moders Interfots, desizus for ceilinge, furniture, ctc. The whole work ix pre- scnted In an admirable manner. 'The chapter on furniture in particular will be fouud to von- tain many excelient things, Few who nave made auv advance In the study of the principles af hausehold art can lovk at this book witliout desiring to possess it. (Art in the Hlouse. Ilts- torical, Critical, aud Esthetical Studi-a on the Derorativn and Furnishing of the Dwelling, By Jacob von Falke, Translated from the thiril German editfon by Charles C. Perking, M. A, Tlustrated by’ chromo-lithoeraphs, Al- bertotypes, and typographic ctchinus. Boston: L. Prang & Co. Price, £15.) ot PLEASANT BPOTS ABOUT OXFORD. A book worthy the attention of those who en- Joy reading about the romance of Euglish bis- tory, or lookiug at beautiful engraviugs, is Pleasant Spots About Oxford." fssued from the press of Mersrs. Cassell, Perter & tialpin, of London and New York. The object of the writer 13 not to glve s bistory of Oxford, which has been often and worthily done by other hands, but to describe some of the agreeable and picturesque places that mav be seen in a day's ramble from the old college town, We uccordingly have in this volume vicws, with let- ter press to mateh, of Abingdon, st whose amnous grammar-school Chiel-Justiee Holt was a scholar for seven or elzht vears, and whe mund Rich was born about 1200; of Lindstow Nuu- nery, the abade of Falr Rosamond; of Bicester Priory, seat of the Blonnr famifiy and the Btan. ley family: of Minster Lovell Priory, Old Wooll- stock, Blenhetm, snd Marlborough, The oovk 4 attractive us well Tor s bluding, tynazranby, and cogravings as for the sabject of which it treats, (" Plensant Spots About Oxfond," By Alfred Rimmner. [lustrated. Lundon, P'arie; and New York: Cassull, Potter & Galoin. Price, $6.) ey B 4 JUVENILES. “Prang's Natural-Tlistory Serles for Chil- dren,” by N. A, Calkins, Supcrintendent of Primary Schools in New York City, and Mrs, A, M. Dinz, suthorof the William Henry letters, conststs of a number of volumes in aper covers treating of the habits und pecullar character- fstics ot birds and quadruoeds in & mavner in- teresting to children, The works nlready pub- Yshed n’the ies are “Swimming Birds,” * Wadlpe Dirds," * Seratehlng Tirds,” ** Bire of Proy.’ *Cat Famiiv.” and *Cow Family Boch work liaa thirteen volored fllusirations, ncml fs sold for 50 ceuts. Bostou: L. Prang & 0, ‘Two Intercsting books for childreu are * Hap- by Moods for Mappy Children,” coutaining hocius by Ellzabeth Stusrt Phelps, Marzaret G, Preston, Mrs, Platt, Nora Perry, Celta Thaxter, Fdgar Fawcett, and others (Boston: Lothrup, 81); nnd * Tno Chtldren's Almanae,” o calendar for flve years, with poems fur each mouth by Lonfellow, Whitder, Aldrich, Celia Tuaxier, and others. The puems in this_latter volume ure squite unique in thelr way. This by Long- follow §s for January: Janus sm 1. oldest of potentates: Forward [ lonk and backward und below, 1 connt, a4 kod of avenucs and yates, Tho yearahat throzkn my portals come and go, 1 biock 1ha roads and drifk tue fields with suow; I chi tne wild fow] from the {en; My fraste congeal the rivers In inelr flows My ilecs llght wp tho henrtha and hearis of men. Mrs. Whitney has the woem for Februare, Will Carleton that for Starch, E. 8, Phelpa that for Aprll, Edwar Fawcett that for May, Mea, Whiton that tor June, Whittler that for Jul Cella Thaxter thut for Auzust, Mre, Platt th for Septetaber, J. J, Platt that for Octuber, ‘I'. Trowbridie that for ember, and T. 1. Aldrich that 1or December, The alinanac cone talus & number of colored fHustrations. (Bos- tou: I, Lothrop & Co. Price, £1.) “Little Stay-at-Tlome und Her Friends* i the title of a pifl-bouk, Leautifully flustratod for ewall ehildren. ‘Thr suthor ' L. Clurkso) well known for uther works of thy samy Kin T'he anvjects ure such as ** Tho Alp Clithd, re resenting the Edeiwetss fn the torm of baby- hood; “Just Out,” o little chick meditating by the stde of lits broken shell; = Tiny Kittens"; “¥ree 'ltle Toadstools,"” ete, The fllus tlons ure all made by the suthor, and are e orad, (Mhiladeiplis: F. W, Roblmon & Co, Trice, #3.50.) “The RNag Far and Othir Roverles,” by the same author -and puab- lisher, {8 a work of even artistie merit. Ttis inteaded for ulder remderss perhavs for adults, The latter, at least, will find (n its poges inuch to stay thelr attention, ‘The tone of the poctry in this vuluma 4 trave and_cditative, and it may well prompt the ¥ The divisions of Fain® o tiilight reverie: of 4 plnlcwnhzri s Life,” tho varson’s reverie; aml * Breviary,” a last reverle. (Phlladetphia: Fo W. Noblnson & Co. l'rice, 35) + Karl and (iretchen's Chrlstinas,” by Loufso W. Tildes, Ls s poemn describiug the adventures of two chlldren who bad @ nore remarkable holiday than wehopesny of tho readersof this little book inay have, - But thers was consolation and hap- piness and a oo unuel in the shupy of wun for then ut theend of all, Mias Tilden has been successful before Iu pleasing the enildren, aod doubtless will be sowzain, Cincinnait: Rovers Clarke & Co. Otber {llustrated Looks for the hollday sca- son ary *The Story of & Cat," transluted trom ths Freuch by ‘I) D, Aldrich, sud fllustrated with uumerous dusiers i sillionette by Hoo- kius (Bostoa: [luaghton, ood Co,, 31)3 “ Mother-Play sud Nursery Boogy, mus[uul from the Genusn of Friedrich Frocbel, the founder of the Kiudergurion, illustrated by 1ifty eurravings with potes to tiotliers (Buatos Leo & Bhepard; New York: C. T, Dillinrham, £2); 'The Youur Folka® Upers, or Child-Life fu boug,"” with wmusic (Boston: Leu& Shepard; New York: C. 1% Dillingtam, §1), Awmong the new juveutler, not fllustrated, we uotics the folluwinies “Ikc Partinzion; or, Adveutures of 4 Huwoan Boy and Ris Fricugs.’ by B. P. Eltllatier, the 1 M tou (Buston: Lee & Shep Blue," & story for wirls, by ) Hetl (Bostun: D. Luthrap & Co., "Il the Foshlon," translation from the ticrman of voir Auer, for e Btur Serien (Fulla- ¢ ucia Cnuse J. B, Lippincott & Ca., §1)3 0\ the Circus Buy,” by Frank scwall (Plila phfa: J. B Llonneott & Co. 81 * Little 1D Pitchers,” by Bophle Mas (Hoston: Lee & Shep- ard, 75 cents): * Burylog the Hatchet." by Eli- Jali Kellogg (Boston: Tee & Shepard, $1.25). THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY. "¢ Discussions §n Chureh Polity, from the contri- butlons o the Princeton lleview.” Ry Chatles Hodge, 1), D, Belected and arranged by the Rev. William Durant, with a Preface by A. A, Hodge, . D. New Yorks Charles Bcriliner's Sovs. Tisiss volume of A% pages octavo, It consista of artfcles or portions ‘of articles originaily t ublished in the Princefon Reriewfrom 1835 to 1867. The discusatons are of courss able, and they consider very many questions pertain- ing to Presbyterian Church Pollty, They cover the whole perlod of the Ula and New School Controversy and the conscquent disieion. which extended from 1838 tu 1570, and were writ- ten from' au, Old Sclool standpoint. Hut many of (he questions dlscussed fn this volume wero not fnvulved (o the controver- »y to which we have referred, and all [mrllm will be_intercsted In these Investiations of then. “We truet the repuhlication of the con- trosersia articles will not tend to revive the fcalings that were xo strongly exciled at the Umo of the dislsion and aficr its occurrence. IMs volume niakes a fitting sequel to Dr. Hodzn'n extended work on 8ystematic Theolozy, The high recpect so widely enturtalned for the suthior ane his views will Insure for these dis- cussions a place fu many lbraries, especially thoie of Uresbyterians who eateemed Dr, Hodge a reliable guide In relatlon to questions fn The- vlogy and Chureh Polity, Outilnes uf” Unto'v'e ‘ence : or, A Philoso- vhy of Know'elge and of iirng. By Henry N, Day, Author of ** Art of Discuurse,” d ¢ Ethles, 8. * Logle," New York: U, . Putnam's 8 Prof. Dar Is a clvar and trulv phitosophicul writer snd thinker. The present work discusses Phiiosophical Logie, Phtfosophieal Veychology, Phllosonhieal Thenio- gy, and Philosophival Cosmolozy. The arrange- it 1s lugical, and toe views iresented under head are well cousldered antd pr the positiuna taken we are not to indorse, ‘The authior’s definftion of emns Lo us guestionable, and bls discuseion of thstunve * and * Attributes ' Is not cutirely satlafactory. In the departments of. {'hilo- sophlcal Theology and Cusmuoloxy Lhe distine- tions are well drawn, and the srzuments ap- pear conclusive, As o whole the worlkls un admirable one, aud taay be used with profit, not only §by hilosophiers und theoiogtans sud rren. cral readers, Lut s a text-book In the higher lnstitutions of tearuin; The Kthics of Positivism: A Critical Study. By Gilacomo Barzellotth, Professur of Phitosu- phiv at the Liceo Daute, Florence, New Yurk: Cliaries I Sawerby, The translation of thls work was performed naiuly by Miss 1da Lilug Olcott, Tiie discussion 13 ‘taken ud, ulmost ex- chustvely, with a review of the Positive Pailoso- phy as developed by Comite fn Franee, and with fmbortant moditications by ruch philosopiters in England as J, 8. Mitl and Herbert Spencer. The uuthor traces well the connection between the viewso! the later philosuphers and those of the earlier, such as locke, Hnme, and Hartley, Hia eritictsis are, on the whole, candid, and di- rected *towardy the true thoory of human free- dum and sotind morality. These who wish te understand the position of the hest [talian phl- Josoptiera fu relation to the doctrines of Suen- cer, MIL sud Bain will fimd this volume worthy of their attention ** Esthctics," 5 BOOTH'S SIIAXSPEARE, There has been lssucd, In & neat and very convenlent form, o edition of the plays of Bhakspearc aud others which malke ub the repertolre of acting plays in which Edwin Booth takes the leading part. The edition is 1aken frow the text as played by Boath, and Is esveclal- 1y arranzed to preserve the Shakspearesn fdea in wll its force and beouty, free from the emendations of text and plot by play- wrights. 1n this list appear the following !\ln\'l: ** Hamlet,” *Othello,” * Richant {11, ¢ Hichard 1L, * Katlierme nnd Petruchio,” *Jullus Civsar,” ¢ Lear,” ¢ Macbeth," and also ** Richiellen,” * Ruy Blas," * Fool's Re- veuge,” “ Brutus." The whole cdition ts cdited by Mr. William Winter, the dramatie critie of the New York Tritune. It {8 accompanied hy un interesting and ructive analyais of cach play, aml o hix- tory of the work, with a collection of articles written by eminent critics and authors concern- fng esch “work, .While the books, cach plny being printed scoarately, purport to be takenn from the promoter's ook ol Edwin looth, they are vone the fess a valunbie compliation of some of the best acting playa produced on the e, (Boston: Lea & Bhepand; New York: ", Dillingham. Price, 50 cents vach.) C. AR'L OF THE EXUIBITION, 1Mustrations of the art-work at the Paris Ex- liibition are made o new subscription-book, ta be completed in twenty parts, bearing the title of * The Chefs 4'uvre d'Art of the Par- s Universal Exhibicion, 1878." Ilic publication 1s made under the direction of Edward Straban, whosu conneetion with a similar work after our Centennlal will be pleasantly remembered, Ewmineat ortists in Franee have been cuguyed for the engraving, and the specimens of thelr work furnished warrant the oxpectation that they will satfsfy all reasonavle demands. ‘Some illustrated — are Thisbe,” Maz. Carl Bodmer's of * the palutings lobbe's * Pyramus and orolle's * Falries’ Proteze,' * Preparing for the Fiizht," Majznon's * Insult- nE tho Prisoner,” Sylveatro's ** Locusta n the Prescace of Nern Trying the Poison Prepared for Britannicus,’ Datuls’ statues and “*Military Cournge, 2 Mendicant, " ( Des Chaurity,” Dlu Nuuy's ** Homer rmon's “ Death of Ravana,* and Lemotte's “Orested,!” Foure parts Lave already been fssued, Tie rest witl tollow at the rate of one each month. (Chlcago:‘Mooney & Bmx:n, 145 Clark street. Lrice, 50 ceots per vart.) 2 NRIEF NOTICES. #The Great Slizhted Fortune and ddactic work by J, 1. Bell T, Y. Croweil. Price, $1.00. T Putnam & Co. bave adiled to thelr valu- able serlesof Economie Monographs ** Au Essny on Free Trule," Ly Richard Hawley, The essay is dedicated to David A, Wells. Price, 23 couta, WThe Leavenworth Caso: A Lawyer's Story," by Anua Katharine Qreen, I8 the tiie of w new novel hlgh }" spoken of fu some quarters. New York: G. I Putnam’s Sons, Price, $1.50, “Phe New Teatutaeut Idea of Hell," by 8, M, Merrill, D, Do, Blshon of the Methodist Euviscopal Chnreh, I L title of & amall volume publialied by [litcheock & Walden, Cliclo- uath Y Mewolrs of {he Life of Auna Jumeson," by ber uicee, Geralding Macphiersou, with tratt, fs published by Mer Vrice, $2.50. alters Houghton, Osgvod & Cu. have added tothnir series of Artht thocraphles Landscer, The work 1 this inst aiftleult than In some of the others, heen even more admirably done. ceuts. ', B. Poterson & Bros. {sane, in rheas paner form, translaucus of Henry Greville's * Dosta ™ vrice, 75 centa), sud Georyo Saud's ' La Petite Fadette * ( Fanchon, the Cricket on the Hearth ™), price, 50 cents, Hougnton, Oszaad & Co, have putilished two largo and attractive volumes, * An Account of the Lile und Thoes of Fruucis Bacou, exiracted Trom thie editlon of bis occastonal writings by Jumes Spedding.” A full wotlee of this work 1 unavoldably deferred. d. B. Lipplucott & Co. publish * A Iand. Book of Nurstur for Fawlly und ticneral Use.” ‘This work was provaral under the direction of the Conueetleut Traluing School Is o moral New York: 8 por. A Roherts Bros, A fuller notlve wili be made hera- lography of for Nurseé, State Ilusputal, Now llaven, Coun., and i3 rec- ommended by Drv. Portor wnd Woolsey, of Yale. A vew editfon of Prof, Hlenry Morley’s Life of Hernurd Pallasoy, the Potier,” hus been Is- sued by Messza. Cuvacll, Petter & G This work 18 now almost & ciaesic tu Enulish litera- ture. and necds no further recomn than that whivh it hus wlrcady recelved, Uriec ‘Two hovks of kindred churacter sud interast arc a * Locturo on the Jught bee of Buoks," by Williamn P, Atkinson, Professor of English and Hiatory iu the Massachusetta Inatitute of Tech- nology (Huston: ltoberts Bros., 50 cents); amt » llow to Nead, and Hiuts o Choosiug the Best Books,” with clussiticd lsts of books (New York: & It Wells & Co., $1). LITERARY NOTES, ° Bayard Taylor's * Life of Goethe" is ncarly ready for publications “‘Iue seview of Lrof. Moses Coit Tyler's “American Litcrature™ ju the Nation 13 to bs written by T. W, Niggiuson. ‘Fhe dreadtol tace ls recordod that ‘the peuny Webater’s Dictlonary, just privted in Loodon for popular circulation, spells bouor with u *u." ‘Tue Bawkers' Maguzing oflics will reprint | ** Econowics sor Begiuners,” by Hewry D, Mac- ¢ lead, autbur of what is reputet to be tho best book on tankiog. A correapoudeut of the London Zimes traces the onwiu of the phrase *masteriy luactlyity *7 LU it sourve b Bir Junics Muckintoal's * Viwdi- ciw Galectie s or 3 Defeuse of the Freuch Revotu- | corvesponding stage of cultur ::«;vr:':‘ {\Gmhma mr’u-rnr;d‘;smh finds the sub- ce of the phrase fn Isalah (chap. xxx,, ¥. 7) “Thelr steength fs to sft s> XX ¥ Dh Nir. Parkman, the histoilan, has retorned from Quebee. where be hds Leen nccumulating materals_for his. next book on Canada under the French regime., Moscs Warren, 103 Stata strect, is bringinz out, In a very neat and attractivo stvle for tha holulay tzade, 2 new edition of **Littl: Pocms in & Mother's Life," . b cm“q‘grl ife," hy Mrs, Busgn Teall Perry, > .;lu-rs. Hentley & Frankland (74 and 70 Ran- alpl: atreet, Chicago) will begin In January the publicution uf & monthly journat devoted fo the review of books, nagazines, and general litesa. ture, to be called the Amerienn Atheneum. The Il:u:al;’ mh::\un ;gcmh-.mon has had expericn.e @ suichn paper, having been cone nected with Uentley's Book-Duyer ('f.ow Lolin= fou's Lpitoms of Litrrature, Philadelphin), 1here is room for the Atheneum In the Weet, aud L.lr::!c ar] z l’\‘l Chllumln, and nflwlsh it every as already engag eilicient corps of rnu'.rl)mlmfi.,’! e a .The Boston corresnondent o the ].!'l"lb ican says, in allnding to M tig' paper on American bingrap} ir. Curtls ulances at tbe singularwealthof materlal for a blowraphy of the Adumses, but does not find that much has heen done with it John Adams. indeed, 1as left papers that would make the fortune of a good hiographer, whu would use thewm for * pavigatlou,’ as the old Yankee said n_( water, and uot for a *steady drink.’ us Mr, C. F, Adamns es undo. An fueapacity o Teava off nnywliere is the dlstingulshing trait of that ¢entleinan as a blograplier,—a trait lu~ valuable in an editor with a larme fortune, but fats) to rood blography, What a light te thrown on dohn Adams life ana the history of his times by his varrespondence with Meres Warren, lates 1y edited by Mr. C. F. Adams, and publistied by the Massachusctte Historical Soclety! Mr. Birooks Adama fn bis contributions to the Al {antic shows n torec sl vigorous style, mors ke his great-crandfather than of sny nearer vrogenitor.”” Very rxcellent acnse,—but {s not this tlat hlasplemy for the; Repudlican ! Springfield Cnr- PERIODICAL LITERATURE. The Jmerican Bee Jouraal (No. 974 West Mad- Iron treet, Chicago) for December lias been re- ceived, The 1ide-Awake for Decembicr, the excellent Juventie publication, has been recelved, D, Lo- throp & Co., of Boston. are the publishers. The American Natura'ist (Nos. 217-0 Dook #treet, Phifadeivhia) for December has the fol- lowiny table of contents: *The Excirslons of the Geolozical Roclety of France for 1978, by £. D, Cope; “Rellc-Hunting o the Moliawk,' by & L, Frer: 4 Walks Round an Francleeo %.\n. 1. Luke Honda and Scal Ro k). by W. N, Lockington: **The Heneliclal Inflnence of Plants," by J. M. Anders; *Modes of Spreaa- tuz and Means of Extinguishinzg the Maple-I'r Bark-Lonse,” by Emtiy A, Bmith; General Notes, Sclentillc News, Proceedings of Scientide Sacteties, Serentiilc Nerlals. i g SPARKS OF SCIENCE. TANICS AND SUN-SPPOTS. Prof. W, Stanley Jevons vontributes to Vuture A naper on the perlodiclty of commerclal crlxea aud suu-spots and the correspondence between them., He argues that this correspondence, long agzo poluted out as remarkable, becomes closcras inveatizationsare moreexact, Mctcoro- logical varlatlons, it ts well shown, are able to cause scarclty or tlut of azricultural products, and consequently to affect the volume of trade and comterce, Prof. Jevons yoes on to wy: “There is nothiug In this theory incousistent with tha fact that crises and panles arisc from other than wetearologleal causcs, Fhere wasa wreat political crisis In 1703, 2 great commercial collapse in 1310-'11 (which will not fall into tha deernnlal serics): there was a Stock-Exchange panlc fn 145%, aud the great Amerfean col- lapse of 183175, . . . bhut these wers orobably due to cxceptional and dlaconnected causes, ~ Morcover, they have seldom, i ever, the tntensity, profundity, and wide extension of the true decennfat crisls.” ‘The whole serfes of these crises, as far ns knowwn, Is o follo 1 1711, 1731, 1T31-132 (17921 17581, 17 102197, 1985 1T lSfl‘-'.’nl{ 1515. 1825, 1338-'29 (1857 In the United Stats), 1347, 1557, 1500, 1873, *+ A scries of this sort is not,” says Prof. Jevons, ke a chaln, ns weak as its weakest part § on the contrary, the strong parts add strength fo the weak parts. [n suite, therefore, of toe doubt ful existenes of some of the crises, as marked fn the list, [ can cntertain no doubt whatever that tue princloa! commercial <crises do fall into a serica having the average period of mbout 10464 years. 'Morcaver, the alinost erfect colncidence of this perfod with frown’s estimate of the ‘sunspot perlod (10.45) Is by itsell strong evidence that the phenomena are cansally connected. Thy exact nature of the conuection caunot at pres- ent be cstalillshed, As wo -have seen, Hvda Clarke, Wilson, st Dansou all argued, somo thirtv or forly years nco, that commercial Nue- tuations must be governed by physical causes. But here we are embarraraed by the fact that no inquirer has been nble to discovera clear perodic variation in the prive of This fs what Siz Willtam [lerschel uttemyted to do at the betin- nitug of this centurs, in his truly provhetic fn- auiey about the economle effects of the sun- spoia; hut his facts are evidently too few to Justifv uny sure Inferonce. Carrinzton ulso cal pared the sun-spot curye with that of tl; ol varn, without detecting any coineldenc my own repeated nauirics ave been equally without resalt as Lo this point. The fact is, [ belfeve, that cercal ctops, 83 grown amd gath- cred in Europe, depeml for tielr suceees uhun very complicated conditions, su that the atar influence Is dlsguised, But [Luoes not follow that other crops in other latitudes may not nunifest the deconukal period. Dr. Belinster hias poluted out a colucidenco between poud vintages and mlulmn of sun-apota which cun hardiv bo duc to aceldent, and_the whole von- troversy about the connection of Inufan famives withh thie sun-epot period §s of course famillar to all readers ot Nafure, Now, If Wo miay ussunia Dr. Hupter's famine theory to bie true, there i3 little ditilealty e explalning the remarkuble seric of periodie crises which 1 have panted out* - LACUSTRINE VILLAGES, The London Tiuest Genevi correspondent writes under dato Nov. 13: *As [ havealrady informnel you by telegraph, the remalns of another luke village have just been brought to lghit at Lorcas by tho shrinkaze of the waters of the Luke of Hicnne, ‘This appears to be ono of the ost Intercating discoveries of the sort wn have ad for some tune, rich as have been the Jast fuw weeks in notable facustrine s ‘I'ins statfon at Lorcas, swaigned by experts to Llie aze of slane, I8 situated at & shart distanics from she lake shore, yot far from another amd whidiar statlon which was explored © ISTL Au exploratfon, conducted by Iy, GQroes, of uyevill has resulted - ke puthorlaz of many novel and jotescsting abjects, —~nlurcea stone hutchets shailar to thuse tound In Denmurk, large fiut lance-buada, jade Lstehiets with stag-hord uud wooden hatts fust- ot with piteh; vessels In wood, among others # colander wl @ vase in o zoud slute of prexers vation, Near thera were fouod several uims sud {ustruments ot pitre coboier, a circuustance which points Lo the provabitliy that intermedit- ate heiween the uwe of bronce sud the uge of stone was & perlod When prehlstorie man bt wot discovered the art of ulloviug copper with tn, ‘Fhis waw the age of copoer. Btill more remtarkable is a find of human skulle widch bear unnistakiable marks of having beew trenavned. Luund pleees have been cut out, doubtless after death, us 18 supiposed, for uso as wuiulets, L sowe Instances pleces weio cul from t niwims of liviug [nfants, . order, 58 M, Broca, un emiuent autbority, conjectures, to et out tne spirit by whose mallgnant influcoce they were attlicted with tite, convulsions, amt other maladies. These bits of fufants’ s%alls WEre souielinies tse 1 way of whick an ex- awple has been fuund at Lorcas; they wore fnulde the beads of thodead to protect t Trom tho wiles sunt gasautts of vvil b 1 world of epirits, A similar custom furerly prevatled among the Americun Iinlians of Mivn- ‘u ud Lrepauued skulls have been et with inthe scpulchral caves and dolinens of the South of Fronce, but the specliien at Lorcas &5 the tirst that has becn found in g facustrine sta- ton, Sxull amulets hove utso Leen found fa Bweden, in TLE COLOR-SENSE, Grant Allen writes to Nuluwre: * With ice 10 Dr. Pole's valuable papers on Ho- mes’s colur-blindness, it wuy {atercst your ry ves to learn that 1 bave uow nearly completed & work ou * The Orlgin and Development ol the Culor-Sense,’ which will be shortly publishied by Trubver & Co. 1u it [bave endeavored ‘nler alin) that the nse of culor-tenius fu the Howvrle poetis s strctly snalugous to that of vther races, vxisting or extinet, st tha ud that both pend, ot upon dichromic vislon, but nooL & defect of lauguure cdopely coubieted with the small umber of dics or tificial lgpseuts iugwn (o the variocs wibes, To establish tils resuls 1 bave