Toxin is a story by Ouida, the plot of which is laid in that city of romance, Venice. The narrative hinges on the losing and finding of an opal necklace, which brings a wealthy young Italian woman into the society of two men, an Italian of noble birth and an Englishman who is a surgeon. They both become her lovers- the Italian showing his love openly, the Englishman concealing his. Such, however, is the power of the Englishman over them both that the Italian's avowal of his love is delayed until just before he is taken down with malignant diphtheria. The Englishman attends him, and under the pretense of injecting antitoxin injects a violent poison which speedily puts an end to the "THE LITTLE ANTIQUARY." From "Tales of a Traveler." (G. P. Putnam's Sons.) The Buckthorne edition of Tales of a Traveler is uniform in general style with the Holiday editions of "The Alhambra," "Granada," 99 66 Knickerbocker," and "Sketch-Book." It is printed from new type, with artistically designed borders by George Wharton Edwards, and twenty-five photogravure illustrations from designs by Arthur Rackham, Allan Barraud, F. S. Church, Geo. Wharton Edwards, Henry Sandham, Frederick Dielman, and others. (G. P. Putnam s Sons, New York. Two volumes, 8 vo., cloth extra, in box $6.00; three-quarters levant, $12.00.) Many of the readers of THE JOURNAL will remember Charles Remington Talbot, as one of the brighest contributors to Treasure Trove. He had a genial, cheery, half-practical, half-humorous way of telling a story that was very attractive. His death, some two years ago, was a distinct loss to literature. The Lothrop Publishing Company have just gathered into a posthumous volume three of the latest tales by this bright and entertaining story teller. The opening story is the longest and gives the title to the volume. It is called The Impostor, and begins on the football field to end amid the chimes of the wedding bells in the eighteenth chapter. It is a romance, with love and athletics, plotting and counter-plotting,misunderstandings and entanglements, concealments and a final denouement so deftly drawn out and intermingled as to keep the reader on the query point, full of interest in the development of the unique and dramatic plot. The book is illustrated by Hiram P. Barnes. (Lothrop Publishing Co, Boston. 12mo., cloth, 405 pp., $1.50.) "OH! MY NECKLACE!' SHE CRIED."-Page 1. From "Toxin." (Frederick A. Stokes.) Italian's life. Then the Englishman marries the young woman in spite of the secret repulson she feels. The story is full of the characteristic coloring of this author's work. A bright picture is drawn of life in the queen city of the Adriatic, and this offsets the darker features of the story. The illustrations, of which there are several, are furnished by Louise L. Heustis. (Frederick A. Stokes Co., New York and London. 75 cents.) Many years ago Madame Eugenié Foa wrote an account of the boyhood of Napoleon which was so picturesque, so spirited, and so simple that it still retains its place in France as a popular From "The Impostor." (Lothrop Publishing Co.) From "The Boy Life of Napoleon." (Lotbrop Publishing Co.) book for boys. The story traces the boyhood of Napoleon from his childish experiences and escapades in his Corsican home to his graduation from the military school at Paris, with a sort of apotheosis for a sequel, put into the mouths of certain old veterans at the Hotel des Invalides. Her narrative has been revised and adapted to the understandings of young American readers, and the many facts that have transpired since it was written have been skilfully incorporated. The result is a surprisingly accurate and charmingly told story-sketch of the Boy Life of Napoleon that stands not merely as the only comprehensive sketch of Napoleon's remarkable boyhood, but as the only real introduction to the life story of this remarkable man. The illustrations are by Vesper L. George, (Lothrop Publishing Co., Boston. Square 8vo, cloth, 251 pp. $1.25.) It is not very long that the college girl has been known, and therefore the tradition of her that has grown up about the college boy does not exist. However, it will be admitted that the college girl is a very good subject for romance, in spite of her bluestocking proclivities A collection of short stories that has just been published, under the title of College Girls, by Abbe Carter Goodloe, will attract many readers among those interested in this special phase in the development of femininity. The tales, which are brief, display about all the phases of the character of the college girl. The style is light, but not frothy; the book will be read widely, not only by young ladies that have been to college, but by those who have aspirations in that direction that may never be realized, and all others who like to study the sex in different environments: Some of these tales have appeared from time to time in magazines. The illustrations in the book are by Charles Dana Gibson. (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.) The Right to Love is a comedy by Max Nordeau,the scene of which is laid in Heringsdorf, Lichterfelds and Berlin-and the characters are a merchant and others of the middle classes. The play has been favorably received upon every German stage on which it has been presented; it undoubtedly has unusual merit. A transation into English has been made by MaryJ.Safford that has received high praise from the author. This has been issued in a handsome volume, bound in blue cloth, with a leaf cover design. The frontispiece is a portrait of Nordeau. (F. Tennyson Neely, New York and Chicago) The Rev. William G Puddefoot has lived the life of a frontier missionary. He himself has witnessed the exciting scenes that take place in the occupation of the border, the wild barbarities of unorganized communities, the gradual growth of civilization, in many cases the sudden transformation of out-of-the-way places into flourishing cities. He has himself suffered hardships in battling with a stern climate and a harsh nature; he has slept under open stars. He has found splendid examples of unexpected heroism in repellant ruffians, as well as in coarse uneducated women. All these he describes with many touches of pathos and humor in his book, The Minute Man of the Frontier. As a picture of the trials of the home missionary and of life on the frontier the book is of real value, and it will surely be widely read by his countrymen. (T. Y. Crowell & Co. 12mo., cloth, $1.25.) The matter which makes up the volume entitled From the Black Sea through Pers a and India, written and illustrated by "IS IT THIS?" From "College Girls:" (Charles Scribner's Sons:) than this. The illustrations are numerous and show some of the most picturesque regions through which the travelers passed, also people, buildings, etc. The frontispiece is a portrait of the author. The book is printed on thick, smooth paper in large type and is bound in yellow cloth of a delicate tint, and has an elegant cover design in gilt. (Harper & Bros., New York. Large 8vo., 437 pp.) Many erroneous ideas were undoubtedly held in the North regarding the relations between the white people and the negroes in the South before the abolition of slavery. That the masters were uniformly kind to the black people is certainly not true, any more than every man is kind to his horse. At the same time it is doubtless true that kindness to the slaves was the rule and not the exception. A picture of one of those ideal plantations is given in the volume by Letitia M. Burwell, entitled A Girl's Life in Virginia Before the War. In this are described the dress, the social customs, and the mode of living on one of these great estates, where the people seemed to have obtained full as much, if not more, enjoyment out of life than those who dwell in populous towns. The good-natured master, as the author intimates, was often so overloaded with servants that it kept him cramped for ready means, even though he was apparently wealthy, The book is well written and very entertaining. It has sixteen full-page illustrations by William A. McCullough and Julius Turcas. (Frederick A. Stokes Co.. New York.) Grown people who glance over the pages of the story entitled Cricket, by Elizabeth Westyn Timlow, will wonder how she managed to make the home life of children so interesting. The little people who read it will find first the experiences they have had themselves, and hence they will vote it a charming book. Cricket and Hilda, the two principal characters, are not exactly perfect; they are natural children that get into trouble sometimes. The latter has a vein of mischief of that crops out sometimes. The book is well illustrated and bound in blue cloth with a pretty cover design. (Estes & Lauriat, Boston.) George Washington Day by Day, a volume compiled by Elizabeth Bryant Johnston, is a book that will be of great service to all who wish to know as much as possible about this great man, and that includes of course the majority of Americans. The author has arranged with great labor the events of Washington's life under the days on which they occurred, the year being given in full face type in the margin. Under each day also there is a quotation from some noted man, either American or foreign, regarding Washington's character and services. The volume has several attractive illustrations and is beautifully bound. It is a b ok that ought to be in every American family, especially in every one where there are children. (The Baker & Taylor Co., New York.) poetry. The book is illustrated and prettily bound in cloth. (Estes & Lauriat, Boston.) In Girls Together we follow the fortunes of the young people to whom we were introduced last year in "Two Girls." The girls, who are young ladies now, are quite as interesting as in the previous volume, and the stories of their successes is pleasantly told. The story is healthy in tone, and the love-making of the young people is simple and natural. It is a wholesome story for girls in their teens. (J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia.) The story of Joan of Arc was never put in more attractive form than in A Monk of Fife done into English from the manuscript in the Scots college of Ratisbon, by Andrew Lang. The story is supposed to be told by a young Scotchman who afterward became a monk, and the many adventures interwoven, together with the quaint and archaic diction, makes it very fascinating to the lover of romance. This narrative of those times of turbulence and of superstition and magic is one of the best of recent historical tales. (Longmans, Green & Co., New York.) It would be hard to select a more valuable or interesting present for Christmas than Warne's Library of Natural History, edited by Richard Lydekker, F. R. S. It is published fortnightly in numbers 'of about one hundred royal octavo pages, each of AS IF I CARED,' RETURNED THEO, TURNING HER BACH TO HER COUSIN." From "Girls Together." (J. B. Lippincott Co:) The young people will be glad that another volume has been added to the Ruby series, by Minnie E. Paull, making four in all. They have become so interested in this bright little girl that they will like to follow her fortunes further. The new volume is called Ruby's Vacation, and in it are detailed numerous interesting experiences. One of the most amusing portions of the book is where in a confidential way, she shows a young friend how to write and reeling she fell into my arms.-p. 155. From "A Monk of Fife." (Longmans, Green & Co.) which has numerous illustrations, including several full-page colored pictures. In the whole work there will be seventy-two colored plates and sixteen hundred engravings. These are mainly drawn from what is newest and most satisfactory in the current and largely augmented edition of Brehm's "Tierleben," which is familiar to naturalists as one of the best works on popular natural history ever issued. The text has been planned in such a way as to render it available not only for general information about the objects described in it, but also as a guide to their classification. The work contains the results of the latest researches in this field of knowledge. In the numbers of August 1, Aug. 15, Sept. 1, and Sept. 15, many of the most important manuals are described. (Frederick Warne & Co., 3 Cooper Union, New York city. 50 cents a number; $11.00 a year.) Copyright, 1895, by THE CENTURY Co. and made a page at court. He becomes a special favorite of Napoleon, and is employed on many errands of delicacy and secrecy. As as aide, he is near to Napoleon in the last battles of the emperor, through the disastrous Waterloo campaign. In this way the author is enabled to introduce all the more important incidents of the history of the First empire, without doing violence to his story. The interest is heightened by the stately figures that move through the pages. The page proves himself to be a very human boy, and his quips and jokes bring him many tweaks of the ear from the august Napoleon. (The Century Co., New York. 12mo., 320 pp. $1.50.) A very amusing book, both as to matter and illustrations, is that entitled The Three Apprentices of Moon Street, which was translated from the French of Georges Montorgeuil, by Huntington Smith. The three apprentices-"Johnnie," "John," and "Jack," of the worthy jeweler, Charles Dupont's establishment, are three as lively boys as were ever put into the pages of a book.. Their adventures and experiences are related by the author with inexhaustible drollery. The boys have their faults but also their virtues, and while the former get them into almost impossible scrapes, their honesty, good nature, and wit generally extricate them with nothing worse than mortification. The chief episode of the story introduces a traveling show, of which one of the boys accidentally becomes a member. (T. Y. Crowell & Co., New York and Boston. 8vo., $1.50.) THE FIGHTING SAILOR-MEN SPRANG FORWARD." The facts of history, if properly chosen and wisely handled, make an excellent setting for romance. Elbridge S. Brooks has taken advantage of the present interest in the history of Napoleon to weave some of the events in his wonderful career into a story for young people. The actual hero of this book is a brave French lad who warns Napoleon of a desperate plot against his person. In return for his loyalty he is taken into the service of the emperor Copyright, 1895, by THE CENTURY Co. "AMY DRAWING PICTURES FOR THE CHILDREN." From A Jolly Good Summer." (Roberts Brothers.) Another volume has been added to the Jolly Good series, entitled A Jolly Good Summer. In this book Mary P. Wells Smith, the author, continues "Jolly Good Times To Day," and tells what Amy Strong and her friends "did next." She describes the lawn féte,the Sunday-school picnic, the celebration of the Fourth, huckleberrying, the Mother Goose play, and other things in which children will be interested. The readers of the series will be glad that they can follow still further the young friends with whom they have become acquainted. (Roberts Brothers, Boston. $1.25.) A Daily Staff for Life's Pethway is a collection of quotations selected and arranged by Mrs. C. S. Dercse, for every day in the year. A page is devoted to each day. There is a Scriptural text at the top and then follow selections from poets and prose writers. A complete index of authors is given. (F. A. Stokes Co., New York. Gilt edges; bound in white cloth with gilt design; boxed. $1.25.) |