a preacher of loftier doctrines. McMaster has not had an opportunity to "create the part," as actors say, but he puts life and vigor of his own into a familiar rôle. He is always picturesque, always entertaining, always vivid; his style, with its by no means disagreeable reminiscence of Macaulay, carries the reader along with it and makes him reach the end with regret. The Reviewer has a number of new books upon his table about which he would gladly have said a few words. But space is limited and time presses; the Reviewer is mortal and subject to the limitations of time and space. He can therefore only make a general clearance of his table by acknowledging receipt of the following books: From Charles Scribner's Sons, "Society in Rome under the Caesars," by William Ralph Inge, M.A., a book which obtained, and deserved, the "Hare Prize" at Cambridge in 1886, a really excellent survey of social life in one of the most interesting periods of all history. From Henry Holt & Co., "Uncle Sam at Home," by Harold Brydges, a frank and gossipy sketch of Americans and Americanisms by an Englishman who has resided here long enough to have opinions, and who knows how to express them entertainingly; "Life of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet," the founder of Deaf-Mute Instruction in America, by his son, Edward Miner Gallaudet; "The Causes of the French Revolution," by Richard Heath Dabney, a thoughtful and well-written historical study; "Pine and Palm," notable as the first novel by Moncure D. Conway, but not specially notable as a novel. From the author, "The Fire of God's Anger," by Rev. L. C. Baker, in which the reverend author continues those studies in eschatology which have raised the ire of his former fellow-members of the Presbyterian Church (but the Reviewer, unfortunately, is no theologian). Also from the author, "Girard's Will and Girard College Theology," by Richard B. Westbrook, D.D., who points out with evident frankness and sincerity the violation of the conditions of Girard's will which are permitted at Girard College (but the Reviewer can only repeat his former disclaimer). From Rufus C. Hartranft, "Some Dainty Poems," by Rev. Waldo Messaros, which, the Reviewer has been surprised to find, frequently justifies the apparent braggadocio of the title. From Rand, McNally & Co., two new volumes of their Globe Library of American Novels, "Calamity Row," by John R. Musick, and "A Puritan Lover," by Laura C. S. Fessenden. From Robert Clarke & Co., "Painting in Oil," a clever little manual for the use of students, by M. Louise McLaughlin. From G. P. Putnam's Sons, "The Life of George Washington Studied Anew," by Edward Everett Hale, an excellent biography for young people; "The Holy Child, or the Flight into Egypt," by Thomas E. Van Bibber, a poem that is rendered more or less valuable by half a dozen process reproductions of famous paintings; three new volumes of the “Questions of the Day" Series,-No. XLIII., "Slav or Saxon," a study of the growth and tendencies of Russian civilization, by Wm. D. Foulke, No. XLIV., "Literary Property and International Copyright," by George Haven Putnam, No. XLV., "The Old South and the New," by Wm. D. Kelley. From Lee & Shepard, 66 The Fortunes of the Faradays," another of Amanda M. Douglas's kindly but commonplace novels; "Vocal and Action Language Culture and Expression," by E. N. Kirby; "The Art of Projecting," an illustrated manual of experimentation in Physics, Chemistry, and Natural History with the Porte-Lumière and Magic Lantern, by Prof. A. E. Dolbear; Poems by David A. Wasson, a fine thinker, a true poet, who has not had justice done him in the latter capacity; "Natural Law in the Business World," by Henry Wood, full of common sense. as the I regard the Royal Baking Powder as the best manufacture and in the market, so far as my experience. I have I have sise of euch compounds. Every box has been in perfect condition when it came wito my hands, and the contents hove given complete satréfaction It is an act of simple justice and also a pleasine to Recommend it mn qualifiedly Brooklyns Aos 30,1887. Marisu Harlando "THE cat loves fish, but she is loath to wet her feet." This is the proverb that Lady Macbeth alludes to when she upbraids her husband for irresolution: Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would," Like the poor cat in the adage. Another old English proverb reminds you that "If you would have the hen's egg you must bear with her cackling," while the Portuguese say, "There's no catching trout with dry breeches." Of the same kind was the good woman's answer to her husband when he complained of the exciseman's gallantry: “Such things must be if we sell ale." THE new edition of Chambers's "Encyclopædia," published by J. B. Lippincott Co., is winning golden opinions from the critics. It covers more ground than any other standard Encyclopædia, contains a greater number of articles on useful subjects, is succinct but always adequate, and for all practical purposes is the best Encyclopædia published. The articles are written at first hand by specialists, and are not compiled from other Encyclopædias by hack-writers. The American articles, of which there are a large number, were written in America, and a great part of the editorial work was performed in this country. "THE darkest hour is just before dawn," is an old English proverb which expresses more poetically the homelier adage, "When things are at the worst they soonest mend," or "When bale is highest, boot is nighest," and finds an equivalent in other languages, as in French "By dint of going wrong all will come right," in Italian "Ill is the eve of well," in Persian "It is at the narrowest part of the defile that the valley begins to open," and in Hebrew "When the tale of bricks is doubled, Moses comes." That the nights, as a rule, are darkest just before dawn is doubtless true, for the moon has then reached far on to the western horizon, while the sun is still far below the eastern horizon. "DEAD as Chelsea" signifies only dead so far as action and usefulness are concerned. Chelsea is the seat of the famous hospital for superannuated soldiers built by Sir Christopher Wren in the reign of Charles II. A person who "gets Chelsea"-in other words, obtains the benefit of the institution-is virtually dead to the service and to the world at large. The expression "Dead as Chelsea" is said to have been first made use of by a grenadier at Fontenoy on having his leg carried away by a cannon-ball. A NUMBER of guesses have been sent in as to the authorship of the "NoName" essays, poems, and stories in our May number. Henry James, Edgar Fawcett, Miss Fanny Courtenay Baylor, Amélie Rives, M. G. McClelland, F. Marion Crawford, and Captain Charles King have been suggested as the author of "The Old Adam," the preponderance of votes being in favor of Amélie Rives; "From Bacon to Beethoven" has been attributed to Mrs. Lucy C. Lillie, Sidney Lanier, and Henry D. Thoreau; "Ding-Dong" to Sidney Lanier and Helen Gray Cone; "Mr. Sonnenschein's Inheritance” to Henry Harland and H. H. Boyesen, Harland being the favorite; "The House of Hate" to Edgar Fawcett, though others, without committing themselves, have decided that it was written by a woman; "Among my Weeds" to Joaquin Miller and John Burroughs; "A Little Boy's Talk" to Dr. S. Weir Mitchell and Mrs. S. M. B. Piatt, the latter having a large majority of votes; "The Portrait and the Ghost" to Henry Harland; “Neb uchadnezzar's Wife" to Helen Gray Cone and R. H. Stoddard; "Old Delaware" (one guess only) to Rebecca Harding Davis. Jul |