New York Despatch. In that year he wrote a poem entitled, "One Heart's Enough for Me." A little later it was set to music by Auguste Mignon and published simultaneously in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Cincinnati. The next year the talented young poet was accidentally poisoned, just as he was on the eve of publishing a long poem which he had partly completed. He was born near the village of Mount Eaton, Wayne Co., Ohio. He was the great-grandson of Thomas Cheyney, whose perilous ride on the morning of the battle of Brandywine is historic. The youth's father (who died ten years ago at the age of eighty-four), his grandfather and his greatgrandfather, the Revolutionary hero, were all given to verse-writing. Thomas Cheyney (whose watch is preserved in the National Museum at Washington) was moved, after meeting some of his former comrades, to write a song entitled "The Decanter's Song." A curious fatality happened to Levi Cheney's song; it became a favorite and was comprised in the compilation made in 1860, by the late N. H. Head, of Portsmouth. But the name of the composer was appended instead of the poet, and for now more than a quarter of a century Mignon has had the credit of having written the words. This is an excellent example of what might be called "ascribed plagiarism."

66

Houghton, Mifflin and Company have in press for publication in February the so-called Ingersoll Lecture, delivered by the Rev. George A. Gordon, D. D., under the title "Immortality and the New Theodicy," also a volume by the Rev. George S. Merriam of Springfield, called The Chief End of Man." Mr. Edwin M. Bacon, who as 'Taverner," contributes regularly to that clever and rapidly popularizing little magazine Time and the Hour, has written a work entitled Walks and Rides About Boston.'' He will surely communicate to all his descriptions that charm which comes from a simple, natural style. Professor James M. Hoppin, of Yale, who has lectured in Boston, will be represented in the Houghton February list, by his "Greek Art on Greek Soil."

New novels by Henry James and by Mrs. Helen Choate Prince are included.

Copeland and Day have a very good list in preparation; a new volume of poems by Francis Thompson, entitled "Miscellaneous Odes;" the sixth volume of the "Oaten Stop" series by Evelyn Stein, a new writer; a new volume by Richard Burton of Hartford, called "Memorial Day and other Poems;" "A Book of Lyrics" by Father Tabb, whose poems (with which this will be "identical in form") is in its sixth edition, a volume of poems by John Vance Cheney, of the Newberry Library, Chicago, and a novel entitled

"A Writer of Fiction" by Clive Holland, author of "My Japanese Wife.”

Mr. C. W. Ernst, who was formerly connected with the Post Office of Boston, is busily engaged in writing a "History of the American Postal Service," which is practically a history of traffic, for it is the Post Office or the carrying of mails that enables the railways and steamboat companies to support the great through lines, such as the transcontinental trains and the Baltimore and Ohio steamships. Mr. Ernst has discovered some of the most curious facts; such for instance as that in 1835, while England had only about seven hundred mail coaches, the United States had over twenty-five hundred and that before the Revolutionary War, when England had no coaches at all, Boston manufactured the finest public conveyances in the world. Unfortunately all the early records and public documents have been allowed to perish.

Mr. James Muirhead, whose Baedecker Guide to the United States and Canada, proved to be so successful, is in Boston, superintending the issue of a new edition, which is to be published also in a German translation. Mr. Muirhead married a Boston lady and thus doubly allied himself with the literary element here, where he was so warmly received when he first came to this country.

Messrs. T. Y. Crowell and Company have on the press a little volume of short stories. with a slight connecting thread of personality. It is entitled "Pine Valley," and is from the pen of Judge L. B. France of Denver, Colorado. For vividness of style, brilliancy of description, for pathos and humor, they compare favorably with Bret Harte at his best. The book will be illustrated from photographs representing the mountain scenery amidst which these stories of mining-life are enacted.

The Browning Society of Boston are issuing a volume of selected and representative essays from among the large number that have been presented at its meetings. It will be published by the Macmillan Company of New York.

Folk-Songs.

Our lives are tunes by untaught voices sung
In widest range.
Some breathe but few bars' lease,
And thenceforth silence; some a minor piece.
From pallid lips are grievous dirges wrung:
By valiant knights loud trumpet-blasts are flung;
While gay hearts trip to dancing jigs at ease.
Strange hands oft add what harmonies they please,
Roaming the wide world's ivory keys among.
Yon cantus haply with full chords is set :
Through this the florid counterpoint flits fast
And here, 'mid changeful notes that throb and fret,
One deep-toned chime of pain's recurrent cast.
If grief's our figured bass, let none regret-
God's Perfect Cadence closes life at last.

From "The Flower Seller and Other Poems,"
by Lady Lindsay.

WITH THE NEW BOOKS.

BY 1ALCOTT WILLIAMS, LL. D.

"Timbuctoo, the Mysterious," by a French traveler, M. Felix Dubois, is one of those infrequent books which open a new horizon to the general reader. The broad curve of the Niger, with Timbuctoo on its northern arc, is one of the familiar memories of school study; but no one pretends to have any clear idea either of its present condition or past history. M. Dubois has done both in a single readable, profusely illustrated volume. It has frequent maps. Its style is a model of vivacious French travel. The French advance up the Senegal river, across the divide, and then down the Niger to Timbuctoo is clearly told. At Genne, the other city of the region, M. Dubois found buildings of sun-dried brick, which to his lively imagination matched in form the architecture of Egypt, and to account for the same he has devised a migration from the Nile to the Niger in the seventh century, of which history makes no mention. This resemblance is common to like earth-work in many lands; but there seems some ground for M. Dubois' view that the inhabitants of Genne are Nubian.

Dr. James Martineau is a stimulating spiritual guide, who sets the inner life in relation to the daily work of man. The small volume, "Faith and Self-surrender," containing four of his sermons, will leave each reader regretting his declension to the selfish life and longing to renew his vow of endeavor for the unselfish, whatever temptation he may find within to indulgence.

**

Good books for boys are the rarest pebbles on the beach. "Wild Cats I Have Met," by Mr. William Thomson, is one of the best boys' hunting books written. I advise you to mark it down for next Christmas. You cannot begin too early to avoid the December rush. Its author, an old Canadian hunter of seventy-two, who has sought game for many menageries, treed a puma at the age of eight, and he tells his adventures in all lands since, with the adorable simplicity boys love.

"Reminiscences of a Sailor," by Captain William R. Lord, deserves the second edition it has reached. This unpretending volume is a vivid record of the transition from sail to steam and of the daily life of the new type of captain developed by the freight steamer. Wrecks, rescues, the incidents of the port and the accidents of the voyage, are told with a directness which renders the book most valuable, and it will not be surprising if it takes its place among the better books of the sea. There are certainly few books on the sea which

leave the clear, definite vivid impression left by Captain Lord, who has written straight onfull of nothing but this story.

*

**

"The Half Moon," a series of papers on historic New York, deserves imitation in every American city. They do for local what the "Old South Leaflets" sought to do for general history. Each number complete in itself gives for five cents a clear account of some place of New York history. "King's College," now Columbia University, is the second of the series by John B. Pine. In sixty pages-whose matter would about cover a page of a daily newspaper-Mr. Pine tells the story of the founding of King's College, its change to Columbia College, and its history to the selection and dedication of the new site for Columbia University. No space is lost. The institution is placed in its historical relation and its inner growth outlined. A dozen other papers are announced, all but one by experts. Most histories, school and others, are so general that they fit any particular place about as closely as the sky. A series like this gives teachers the opportunity to put local interest into their teaching. Children love this. History is never dull to the child who has been told over there this happened.

Locality is the note of "Bird-land Echoes,' by Dr. Charles Conrad Abbott. For New Jersey fields it is a well-nigh perfect bird guide-book. If each of the drawings by Mr. William Everett could have had below three lines giving the color of the birds, its value would be greatly increased to the raw amateur. It is full of minute bird detail-the gleanings of years-and the style is as chirruppy as a bird's

Nobody knows, who has not tried, what they miss by not watching birds with an opera glass and two or three books like this.

Mr. Dunbar is far stronger in his dialect than in his serious verse, but both are above the ordinary.

* **

"An Autumn Singer," albeit the title is suggested by the first poem, is doubtless selected for caption by Dr. George M. Gould, with some thought that he plucks "berries harsh and crude," with forced fingers rude before the mellowing year. Dr. Gould comes to verse at Cowper's age, after writing the best medical dictionary of his day and a sheaf of its most vivid and vigorous medical essays. The passion for verse seizes all who write, and we long to pluck the strings to which our hearts have rung. Dr. Gould fingers them with sincere feeling and an apt emotion. There is here that thought suffused with passion and infused with personal interest which is at the base of poetry--its raw material.

*

**

Elizabeth A. Reed has written several compilations on oriental subjects which prove useful to a large number of readers, but lack the perspective or authority which comes from original study. It is as easy to undervalue them, as is done by professional scholars, as to overvalue them, as is done by lay critics. Her last volume, "Primitive Buddhism,' a small work, groups from many sources, facts record and opinion in regard to this world religion. The opinion is sound. The record and facts are from received authorities. Miss Reed has the gift of the interesting. There are few books on the topic as small which give so much. The lack is a sense of relation, a grasp of the parts in their perspective, with reference to the whole.

***

Geology is not an easy science to teach in elementary classes because its broad principles are built upon multifarious detail, instead of being like physics based on single isolated experiments. Most school-books on geology begin with structure. Professor Angelo Heilprin has commenced in "The Earth and its Story'' with phenomena. The book opens with the effect of erosion as visible in every field. There is the same homely reference to current phenomena throughout and no attempt to load the mind with terminology. Periods and horizons are disposed of with the utmost brevity. Processes are described at length. Only the class-room can decide the text-book, which is like a play, its only competent judge the audi

Lord Roberts and his father served together ninety years in the Indian military service, the term of the second ending in 1892, after fortyone years of service, and the first dying in 1854, after forty-nine. The first life covers the extension of the Indian Empire. The second its reconquest after the Mutiny, its administration, and the Afghan c mpaigns. In two imposing volumes Lord Roberts has told the story of his life, from subaltern to commander-in-chief. The first volume tells of his share in the Mutiny, in which he served on the staff at Delhi, Lucknow, Cawnpore, and nearly every important engagement in Lord Clyde's campaign. Abundantly illustrated by maps, this is the best military history of these operations, accessible to the general reader. The second volume, with much mere routine matter, describes the occupation of Cabul and the great march to Candahar. Moltke pronounced this the one great feat of arms by British troops in this generation, and he knew. Lord Roberts writes as a soldier, and like most soldiers he writes well. His great work will deeply interest those who come to it with some knowledge of Indian affairs. Its pages make clear the fighting foundation of English supremacy. Over one-thousand pages

on

one man's Indian campaign will be too much for most, but there is comfort in being told things so that they can be fully understood.

*

**

When Herbert Spencer began his "Synthetic Philosophy," now completed after thirtysix years with the third volume of the "Principles of Sociology," he and nearly every one else believed that recorded fact extended over a sufficient area to make accurate deduction possible. His name and work have steadily less weight because every independent investigator in any particular field sees that prodigious as has been Herbert Spencer's labor, he is perpetually quoting us conclusive facts which do not conclude, owing to the small share they bear to the whole field. In savage life, for instance, on every page appears the isolated observation of a single traveler quoted as authoritative in a way inconcievable to one who knows by personal experience how hard it is to be sure, after much observation, as to the real facts, actual condition and true sentiments of any savage society. Mr. Spencer's

The Balkans," by Mr. William Miller, in the Nations" series is a disappointing but convenient book. Convenient because Mr. Mil

ler has gathered in one volume the annals of Roumania, Bulgaria, Servia and Montenegro. Disappointing because its author has done nothing more than compile annals. Recent researches into Roumanian origin, which altogether modify the theory of Roman origin he has overlooked. On the ethnic foundation of the Balkan Peninsula he has a weak grip. If he has ever studied the hypsemetry of the Peninsula, it does not appear in this volume. It reads as if Turkish annals and administrative records were unknown to him, and the volume shows little or no knowledge of the flourishing historical school at Buda-Pesth. Historical study is sounder in this country. than in England; but the American publisher of this series seeks his book-makers in England, and he gets, as in this case, only a fair article of book-making.

By the Sea.

Dawn, red on the blue sea-line,
Bursts open like a rose.
Scattering its petals on the tide

Which way the sea-wind blows.
Ho! for a ship with a snowy sail.
The pink flakes drift to the shore
And vanish in the spray;

But, lo! on the echoing cliff

A miracle greets the day.
Speed, speed a ship with a snowy sail.

In the mystery of the grass
A thousand roses nod,

Where a maiden patiently waits

Love at the hand of God. Woe to a heart and a snowy sail.

Day dies like a rose in blight,

Sere-yellow and pale red,
And a heart lies pulseless and cold
Under the twilight dead.
God, and a heart, and a snowy sail.
From "Rose Leaves,"

by Henry Clayton Hopkins.

NOTES FROM LONDON.

January 4, 1897.

The draft of the new copyright bill, framed to amend the law relating to copyright in periodical works, lectures, abridgments, and otherwise, has recently been published and it appears fairly comprehensive, and calculated to strike terror into the hearts of the predatory journalist and the literary thief-meanest of all rogues-for it practically protects all literary matter, save bona fide current news, that appears in any newspaper or magazine. If the bill is well-received and passes through Parliament, as all wielders of the pen who are possessed of brains devoutly hope it may do, it should put an effectual stop to the wholesale robbery that is perpetrated by unscrupulous press men and women every day of the week. The bill will be introduced early in the pending session, and most probably in the House of

Lords.

A forthcoming book that will certainly be of high historical value in course of time, is a monograph on the personal life of Queen Victoria, which is being written by Mr. Richard Holmes, chief librarian at Windsor Castle, by the Queen's special sanction and under her supervision. The book will give a description of the Queen's position as princess and sovereign and also in her private capacity as daughter, wife and mother, and various incorrect statements that have been promulgated from time to time will be set right or contradicted. The illustrations are taken from famous paintings, and will be produced in the most finished manner. The book will be published by Messrs. Boussod, Valadon and Company and two editions will be issued, one on Japanese paper.

The book reviewer, like the dramatic critic, is not always above suspicion, and the want of thoroughness occasionally evinced by some of the log-rolling brother-hood was amusingly exemplified the other day. There was announced for publication by Macmillan and Company. some months ago, a volume called "Wanderings in Unknown Austria," the letter-press of which was by Randolph L1. Hodgson, to be embellished by illustrations from the pencil of Princess Mary, of Thurn and Taxis. For some unknown reason a mistake was made in the publication of the book which duly appeared in November, and displayed on the title page, the words "Travels in Unknown Austria," by H. S. H. by H. S. H. Princess Mary, of Thurn and Taxis, with illustrations by the author." The book was duly distributed for review, and in time the notices began to roll in. It was described as "girlish and pretty,"

and "brightly written in good womanly English." One paper went so far as to compliment the foreign Serene Highness on her excellent English, while another boldly stated that she was English. As a matter of fact she is a German princess, a near connection of the Queen of England, and a cousin of the Austrian Empress. Although she speaks English, she seldom writes it, and she lives most of the year in her lovely castle, Schloss Lautschin, in Bohemia. Of course the kernel of the whole joke lies in the fact that Mr. Hodgson has written the book in anything but a "girlish" style. He speaks enthusiastically of sports of all kinds, and mentions, with masculine devotion, the special virtues of a certain strong and black pipe he is continually smoking. The reviewers evidently scarcely did more than glance at the book, and so formed their impressions. The first edition of the book has now been recalled and the second one, which is rightly attributed to the collaboration of the Princess and Mr. Hodgson, will shortly be issued.

The new edition of Byron that Mr. Murray has in hand, will be ready early in the spring, and will be the most complete that has yet been given to the world, for a good deal of personal matter will appear, letters that have never before been published, notes concerning the poet's method of working, and the copious alterations and finishing touches he bestowed on his work, with much more of the life. I should not like to prophecy a brilliant success for the edition, however. Byron is comparatively out of date at the moment, we want something stronger and more thoughtful and virile than even the finest of his poems, as is evinced for the popular demand for the English classics, Chaucer, Spencer, and Shakespeare. and, coming to our own century, for Browning.

American ladies who are about to take up their residence in England for a long or short period, should study the new edition of Judge Baylie's compact little volume on the law relating to domestic servants, which has just been published by Sampson, Low and Marston. It is an excellent and interesting manual concerning the rights, duties, and relationslegal and social-of domestic servants and their masters and mistresses. It was first published nearly half a century ago, for the purpose of putting the servant question-always a vexed one in domestic circles here—in a clear light, and removing some of its worries, and this laubable object ought certainly to be attained by the present edition, which is not only concise and lucid, but entirely up-to date.

Another literary find, made some six months ago, is far more important, especially to students of hagiography. It is nothing less than the Hebrew original of ten chapters of the book of Ecclesiastes, which was discovered in the East in June of last year. One leaf, discovered and brought to England by Mrs. Lewis of Cambridge, was recognized by Mr. S. Schechter as a portion of the long lost original, which had never been heard of since the tenth century, to be accurate since eight hundred and seventy-five years ago, when mention was made of it by a Hebrew scholar in the year 920. Soon after Mrs. Lewis brought home her treasure-trove, the remaining nine leaves were found and sent to England to the Bodleian Library. The whole will be published shortly by the Clarendon Press, in an edition consisting of the Hebrew original, with English translations, and the Greek, Syrian, and old Latin versions, followed by a glossary of new forms found in the old Hebrew