mittatv 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
The Guide-Board to Health , Peace and 
Competence . (Springfield, Mass.: D. E. Fisk & 
Co.)—“To prorent the young- from gening sick, 
to enable ail to grow old gracefully, with a heart 
full of the milk of human kindness, a genial 
smile and a pleasant word for everybody and to 
go down to the grave ‘like as a shock of corn 
fully ripe in hts season,’—these are the main ob¬ 
jects of this book." So says the author. Dr. W. 
W. Ham* in his preface; and one look at. his 
good, honest countenance, whose engraved sem¬ 
blance faces the portly octavo's t itle-page, con¬ 
vinces us that bo is sincere. We have always 
liked Dr. IIalt, for liis plain, earnest, common- 
sense. This is his largest work, and is thoroughly 
characteristic of the roan. It. treats of almost 
every subject liable to arise for consideration in 
the home, hearing upon individual and family 
well-being and happiness, and so plainly and 
pointedly as to carry conviction and profit. 
Nearly four hundred topics are thus introduced 
in the 718 pages. We commend the book to the 
careful study of all parents, particularly. It is 
gotten up in unusually good style, for a sub¬ 
scription book, being well printed and bound. 
Self-Help. (New York: Harper & Urol hers.)— 
The production of an English author, Samuel 
Smiles. this volume finds some of its roost note¬ 
worthy examples among Americans. Yet though 
our country Is confessedly the home of self- 
helpers, this work, treating plainly of its sub¬ 
ject, and giving numerous illustrations of re¬ 
ward crowning earnest endeavor, is well calcu¬ 
lated to do great good. It was first published 
several years since, and has been translated into 
various foreign languages. Its value and popu¬ 
larity are thus proven, and the present revised 
and enlarged edit ion is a happy thought of both 
author and publishers. It should be in every 
school library - in the land, and ought also to bo 
numbered among the individual possessions ol 
young men everywhere. 
The Buck of ttoarfn g- Camp , and Other 
Sketche*. (Boston : Fields, Osgood & Co.) — 
Several sketches and tales which have appeared 
in the Overland Monthly, within the last year, 
lrovo attracted much at tention by their peculiar 
strength. We have them now in hook form.—a 
form their literary merit well deserves. They 
illustrate California life of years gone by, and 
depict certain phases of character with a skill 
rarely equaled. But beyond this wo hardly feel 
like commending them as a whole. It is dilllOUlt 
to port ray such types and so divest them of their 
vicinusness as to render them harmless. For 
this reason we would not put the book into the 
bands of youth. 
The Hatar Book of Hecorum. (New York : 
Harper & Brothers.)—“The caro of the person, 
manners, etiquette and ceremonials" arc sensi¬ 
bly treated of in ibis very neat little work, 
which derives its title from the fact that some 
of the chapters originally appeared in that most 
excellent journal. Harper’s Bazar. Whoever 
the author may be, he (or she) seems to have 
made good manners a philosophic study, as it 
were, and thus raised the subject up to a higher 
level than populur treatment has heretofore ac¬ 
corded it. 
J.rcture- Room Talk a. (New York: J. B. 
Ford & Co.)—Of all Mr. Bbf.chkr's writings, 
those that make up this 13-mo. volume seem 
most informal. Naturally enough so, too, for 
they were given not as writings, at the first, but. 
ns indeed " Talks," in the familiar Friday oven- 
ing conference meetings of Plymouth church, 
and thus they arc truly colloquial. But theyaro 
nevertheless excellent. They touch on numerous 
topics suggested by every-day Christian experi¬ 
ence, and contain much advice that it behooves 
all to heed. 
Tom Braun i»* School Dope. (New York: 
Harper k Brothers.)—The HARPERS are out¬ 
doing themselves In the issue of valuable books 
at a low price. This is their latest venture, and 
for it evory school-boy ought to fool grateful. 
For it is possible now for each and all to possess 
the happiest record of sohool-day life over yet 
written, and in a form uncommonly attractive. 
Illustrations have come to be a marked feature 
of all the Harpers' publications, not excepting 
even the cheapest; and this volumo in paper is 
illustrated profusely. 
The Chicago .llagarlne^ Mrs. M. L. ItAYNE 
editor and proprietor, is the latest candidate for 
woman's favor, in that its specialties are Fash¬ 
ion, Music, and Home Reading. Two numbers 
have been issued—both beautiful iu typography, 
printed on heavy, tinted paper, adorned with 
excellent engravings, and containing much very 
valuablo practical and literary matter. The 
magazine aims to bo a real help in the home, 
and richly deserves success. 
Bar per ’» Monthly for .It ay is an exceeding¬ 
ly interesting issue. An excellent feature there¬ 
of is the "Editor's Scientific Record” which 
gives in brief the more prominent current 
scientific events and discoveries. This number 
also contains an interesting review of Miss 
Marweoel’s Gentian work upon Industrial 
Schools for Women, which embraces facts of 
much importance and interest bearing upon the 
solution of what a woman may do. 
Barth Clone! » and Barth Sewage. (New 
York: The Tribune Association.)—This pamph¬ 
let contains information in detail concerning 
the Earth system, the manure question, sewage 
and cess-pool diseases, the Dry-Earth system for 
cities and towns, &c. It is illustrated, and a 
profitable book for any farmer or gardener to 
study. It is a most excellent contribution to our 
economical literature. 
Tom BUnntg Temperance Society and Other 
Talew. (New York: National Temperance So¬ 
ciety.)—!’. S. Arthur is so well known as a plain, 
earnest writer, that this last volume of bis will 
meet a warm welcome. There are eleven stories 
in It, all written iu tbo interest of total absti¬ 
nence from intoxicating drinks, and each en¬ 
forcing an eloquent lessoh. 
IP'ondert of Italian Jtrt. (New York: Chas. 
Scribner & Co.)—The “Illustrated Library of 
Wonders" grows rapidly. This is the latest ac¬ 
cession, and is a popular treatise on, and descrip¬ 
tion of, Italian Ai t, by Louis Viardot, illus¬ 
trated by twenty-eight engravings. 
Xell’» Popular Bnc.yclope.dia. (Philadelphia: 
T. Ellwood Zell.) -Number twenty-eight of this 
remarkably well edited work brings it down to 
the word Hector. There is no abatement of ex¬ 
cellence, literary or mechanical. 
GOSSIP ABOUT AUTHORS. 
Hans Christinn Andersen.—The Danish story¬ 
teller has had a life-history strange and roman¬ 
tic. Born at Odense, Denmark, on the 8<J of 
April 1806, amid the poorest of surroundings, lie 
has known ever} - variety of human experience, 
from the cottage to the palace. His father was 
a shoemaker, a young man of poetic mind, 
alwayslonging for a richer lot than that of mak¬ 
ing shoes; his mother a simple, superstitious 
woman. He inherited in large degree the nature 
of each, blending with a mental organization 
peculiarly sensitive and poetic a simplicity of 
character at once uniquennd beautiful, and that 
keeps him still notwithstanding the almost; 
universal attention and praise he has received, 
childlike and guileless, and the chosen compan¬ 
ion of youth wherever ho may he. 
His early boyhood was quite solitary, except as 
imagination brought him com¬ 
pany ; aud he grew up a tall, 
ungainly lad, as shy as a girl. 
At a charity school he gained 
ft little elementary education, 
but only a little. Then he felt 
a strong desire to go to Copen¬ 
hagen, aud bidding good-by to 
his mother, some time wid¬ 
owed, to Copenhagen tie went, 
without any definite expecta¬ 
tions. He had learned abso¬ 
lutely nothing- of the world in 
his fourteen years, and his ex¬ 
treme simplicity caused him 
often to he laughed ut for a 
simpleton. Hoiv he lived for 
awhile it is difficult to im¬ 
agine; but Councillor Collin 
finally became interested in 
him, adopted him and had him 
properly educated. Writing 
was soon a necessary outtlow 
for ids fertile mind, and be¬ 
fore (Missing his lash examina¬ 
tion lie had published a vol¬ 
ume of poems, and one oi' his 
plays was produced at the 
theater. 
From that time to this An¬ 
dersen has been writing al¬ 
most constantly. Like all au¬ 
thors, he waited long for full 
and hearty recognition, and 
was compelled to undergo 
many hard struggles; but for 
many years his works have 
been very popular in Europe 
and America, both among 
grown-up people and youth. 
Hla stories for children are 
best known, and perhaps best 
display hts real genius; yet 
his other and more elaborate 
works have won admiration 
the world over, ami are rich 
with the rare poetry of his 
nature. His “ Improvisator©” 
is a charming picture of life 
in Italy, nncl glows with all 
the mellow radiance of a 
sunset tn that laud ol' song; *■ 
and many of the finest descriptive scenes to 
bo found anywhere have come from hts busy 
pen. He has traveled widely In the Old World, 
has enjoyed the society of the highest In many 
lands, and tins it way of telling what lie sees t hat, 
is indeed Inimitable, and that makes him tho 
very prince of story-tellers. 
Hitherto no uniform edition of Andersen’s 
works has been Issued in English. Tho want is 
now being supplied by Messrs. Hurd & Houoii- 
ton, under special arrangement with t ho author. 
They urn bringing out, in crown ootavo, elegant 
in letter-press and binding, an edition the most 
complete outside tho Danish language, and one 
which is a very admirable contribut ion to our 
literature. Four volumes menlready published 
—“The Improvisatore," “The Two Baronesses,” 
“Wonder Stories," ami “In Spain and Portu¬ 
gal." The latter has just come to our table. It 
is one of the author's most recent descriptive 
works, and is thoroughly readable. Andersen 
sympathizes keenly with the poetry and ro¬ 
mance of Castile, and so takes us Into his confi¬ 
dence that we go wherever liegoes. The snatches 
of verse intermixed hore and there are rather 
crude, to be sure, and do not satisfy; but they 
servo to show u§, by contrast, how truly poeti¬ 
cal the traveler's prose is, and so wo chooso not 
to quurrol with them. 
The following volumes, now in press, will 
complete the edition: "O. T,;” “Only a Fid¬ 
dler;" “The Story of My Life;” “Stories and 
Tales;” “A Poet's Bazar;” “ In tho Hartz 
Mountains;" “Dramas and Poems." In tho 
Copenhagen edition of Andersen's works seven 
of tbo twenty-eight volumes are made up of 
dramas and poems; but these are not all to bo 
translated—a decision by tho author that is 
probably wise. American taste cures little for 
dramas. “ The Stor-y of My Life ” has never be¬ 
fore been translated in full. The brief extracts 
which Mary Howitt once gave, drawn from an 
abridged German translation, afforded many 
glimpses, however, of its beauty aud interest, 
and all who enjoyed these will surely wish to 
peruse the autobiography entire as brought 
down to the present time. There have been 
tumors that Andersen would come to the L ul- 
ted States, but they were without authority. 
Reports say he is growing old, and is enfeebled 
in health; so wo may not hope to know him 
more nearly than we are permitted to in this 
volume, when tt shall be put before us. 
Thomas llno,t. — Moncure Conway once 
wrote of him in Harper’s Monthly aa follows: 
No one would have associated with his serious, 
observant eye, and his grave, melancholy face, 
the “ fellow of infinite jest." In person Hood 
was of the middle height, slender and sickly 
looking; of sallow complexion and plain fea¬ 
tures ; quiet in expression, and rarely so excited 
as to indicate either the pathosov lituuor in him. 
The upper face was calm even to solemnity, sel¬ 
dom relieved, even iu society, by the eloquent 
play of tho mouth or sparkle of bis observant 
eye. Ho was by uo means brilliant iu conversa¬ 
tion; and if he made a pun, which was rare, it 
did not seem Instinctive, but a process of 
thought. With all his fun, tie was incapable of 
sarcasm, and never did an injury iu his life. His 
mind was as delicate as an innocent child. 
trorttnnal. 
PRACTICAL EDUCATION. 
BY EMMA MARWEDEL. 
Mv parents liad very high social standing, 
and were rich. Wc had plenty of servants, 
but they were chosen very carefully, witli 
special regard to our education. Never was 
a nurse engaged unless she had a good voice, 
and liked to sing with children; and every 
day at twilight we entered the room of our 
father, aud our five little voices joined in 
Richard Brinsley Sheridan resembles Hood in 
some respects, especially in regard to tho out¬ 
flow of his wit. Sheridan’s best things, and 
seeming tho most wholly Impromptu, were the 
result of careful study. A witticism need not be 
spontaneous to be good. 
Hans ctiristi/list AismTr.uHidisr. 
0 singing some of the sweet German child* | ii 
j v ren’s songs. We were partially instructed p 
y by young male teachers at honi?: but be- n 
it. fore engaged they were asked if limy were h 
10 willing also to play with us. Thus we were d 
, accustomed continually to the society of ii 
I* older ami cultured persons, and grew up to fi 
i- feel deep respect for them. t( 
r. We were made to set the table, to make ii 
^ our little beds, and to care for various do- h 
* 0 mest.io animals; and I also had the stock- a 
ir ings of my brothers under my charge. At r 
•i the same t ime wc were better instructed in- n 
tdlectually, than most other children, so v 
,, that when a little over ten years old I cn- f 
. e tered the first class of a High School, with ti 
n girls generally fourteen to fifteen. But ti 
very soon after, before the last half of my II 
eleventh year, we became poor—poor as a 
•r people can be—aud the shock killed my t 
y mother. J 
J" Between two death-beds — that of my h 
mother and my youngest sister — 1 em- o 
i ( broidored for money. For a veil and a nan- s 
1 - sook dress I was paid $30 and $40 respect- 
<t ivcly by friends of ours. This money was 1< 
l/ [ one of my mother’s lust, reliefs. Slje died, t. 
n and we were entrusted to the care of our s 
>r uncle living in the country. Wc had to take Ii 
» sole care of our own clothes, had to wash, t 
mend and iron them; and our domestic clu- I 
ties were continually increasing. Leaving t 
Is our lessons at, 12 o’clock, and dining at two, v 
u we had then to help iu the kitchen of my 1 
( v aunt. t 
, ’ But the best of all was to do garden work i 
it and to be a help in the open fields. How t 
n pleasant to gather fruits, to seed and to 1 
l * plant; to look after their growing day by 
,J day; to take care of them and to greet every a 
m flower as though it were somebody we loved l< 
is long ago. What a pleasure to eat them, as s 
the result of our own care; to arrange them C 
;o in baskets and vases; and with them to or- i 
’; nament the house. And how exquisitely » 
p’ pleasant to the children of a clergyman to c 
d clean and to rake the large sunny yard, with t 
iy its blossoming apple trees, on Saturday even- 1 
^ ing, for Sunday’s harmonious repose. Who 1 
n can tell what a small matter leads the young i 
1 - miud from the first outspring of a pure, ( 
it natural feeling to the power of a thinker and i 
u observer,—to the power of a poet or artist, p 
or to any blessing granted to humanity? <. 
jf Have wc a right to say, as wc do often, “ Our t 
M children don’t want Ibis kind of life; they 
18 want only intellectual instruction. Love a 
and understanding for practical knowledge s 
in will follow. Life will teach them duties?” 1 
Have wo a right to deprive their childhood i 
of this inner life of poesy and remembrance ? < 
jo ilave we a right to imprison and dry up the 1 
beautiful little soul, full of creative power 1 
and imagination, full of desire to find a form 
for its mighty feeling of self-responsible, ac¬ 
tive being? Is it not almost, criminal to 
ignore their wordless feelings, illustrated by 
their pale checks and feeble bodies, shut¬ 
ting them up day after day, year after year, 
in their monotonous school-rooms with 
closed windows, behind wearying books, 
from morning till night? 
This sad picture is seen in both the old 
aud the new world. To better the educa¬ 
tion, to unite practical and theoretical in¬ 
struction, lias been, and is still, the great 
problem. Frcebel, after a profound philo¬ 
sophical study of human, and especially of 
infants’, nature, tried to introduce a system of 
education taught in places 
called “ kindergartens," tak¬ 
ing children in the early 
age from three to seven 
years old. Tho name of the 
institution indicates the Idea 
that presided at their foun¬ 
dation. The garden leads 
to fresh air, to free develop¬ 
ment, to nature, to the whole 
influence of the creating 
power and the taste of beau¬ 
ty around us. Tho object 
of all education is, without 
doubt, tho harmonious de¬ 
velopment of all faculties 
in us. These faculties find 
their first free representa¬ 
tion in play. Instinct urges 
the child to occupy itself al¬ 
ways in a creative or plas¬ 
tic. manner. Fire del offers 
material to realize this in¬ 
stinct. Instinct also leads 
the child to care for and 
to cultivate things. Sym¬ 
pathy awakened, love fol¬ 
lows. The culture of plants, 
and gardening, leads to the 
care of animals necessary 
to every kindergarten; the 
care for playthings leads to 
observations and responsi¬ 
bility. 
Germany (the native land 
of Frcebel) is beginning to 
see and to feel more and 
more the importance of this 
system, is increasing its kin¬ 
dergartens from day to day. 
The last, Congress of the Gcr- 
r * man Philosophers, giving 
Its especial attention to it, made a public ap¬ 
peal in its behalf. Baroness von Maken- 
uolz Bi llow, who sacrificed her fortune, 
her social position, and her health In intro¬ 
ducing this system in five different countries 
infm different, languages, wrote lately to a 
friend about, to introduce the Frocrel sys¬ 
tem in Italy, expressing her regret at not be¬ 
ing able to assist on account of the want, of 
health and money. America, I trust, will lie 
awakened by the earnest, inspiration and the. 
restless efforts of Miss Elizabeth P. Pea¬ 
body, who, since her return from Germany, 
where she studied the practical result# of the 
Frcebel system, is now attempting to in¬ 
troduce it to your Normal schools, to be 
taught there, and afterwards introduced as 
the primary education to your public schools, 
and will soon feel its benefits. I hope, also, 
that the American people will agree with 
Miss Peabody’s address to American work¬ 
ingmen and educators, which, with an essay 
on Fiukrkl’s Reform of Primary Education, 
she distributed largely. 
It is a false idea that the Frcebel system 
looks only to the education of children fVom 
three to seven years of age. Frcebel him¬ 
self, and his true friends, too, begin with the 
first day in children’s life, and then go on 
through the whole school time. Madame 
De Portugal, a lady of very large repu¬ 
tation in Geneva, Switzerland, is the first 
who tried this true principle of Frcebel. 
Her institution contains children of all na¬ 
tions, under the age of twelve years. She 
intends to educate nearly all her pupils as 
teachers of this new system, and I wish 
America might follow out her idea. 
The Workingmen Associations of France 
and Germany have proposed to establish a 
kind of school besides the regular public 
schools, called “Jugend gaerten,” (Youth 
Gardens) leading to practical activity, where 
play exercises are changed to exercises of 
real work, embracing the different activities 
of human life. These places are to be open 
twice a week. Half-grown children may 
help to teach little ones. Children who 
have already left school may return to their 
places for further development of their 
physical, spiritual, and moral strength. 
Small and large children, when thrown to¬ 
gether, teach each other love and esteem, to 
deny and subordinate themselves, to be just 
and true. 
These youth’s gardens may be united 
with cooking, housekeeping, and industrial 
schools. Tho science of health may be 
here learned. Agricultural aud horticultu¬ 
ral organizations must also be united, the 
care of plants belonging cspcoially to the 
Frcebel system. Who will deny that such 
places would not greatly bless this country ? 
SHE COMES NOT BACK. 
BY MARIE S. LADD. 
Witr ebeer ilia xenial sprluR returns. 
And buds untnld, and birds rejoice: 
Yet 'mid the bloom my toeltm yearns 
For music of one silent voice. 
In dreams she hovers at my side. 
With her bright face my eyes are blest; 
Thus tho glad id ft to day dented 
Now soothes the fever of my rest. 
I clasp her band In mino—'tls warm; 
I look In her clear eyes and seem 
To (eel attain tier words' deep charm. 
Making my dream more than a dream. 
Yet e'en In sleep a strange unrest 
Will thrill the heart with sudden pain, 
For gloom becomes a Hitting guest, 
And dims the gleams that cheat the brain. 
Around the distant mountain’s brow 
Swift clouds In many a llooOT fold 
Shift their warm colors, gilded now 
With sunny tints of morning gold; 
The waters of the lake glide 'round 
Its fresh and lovely Isles, and wake 
Upon its shores a slumberous sound. 
Where’er Us gloamiug ripples break: 
The tender buds burst Into bloom. 
And sunshino glimmers on the wavo, 
Yet not without a touch or gloom 
It falls upon a, sister's grave. 
Not Mansfield, fair and proud of mien. 
Nor Champlain'S blue amt clear expanse. 
Floating around Its Islands green, 
Filling tho soul with soft romauce, 
Nor robin’s song, nor trembling leaves. 
Nor violets fresh from early showers. 
Can win the heart from all It grieves— 
Alt it has prized la happier hours. 
Grief makes its low and sad complaint. 
While we toll up tho mountain slopo; 
And yet, though dimmed by earthly taint. 
We dwell In trust ou one sweet hope— 
Tho grave cannot retain Its dead: 
Though to our eyes ills ways are dim, 
Wo only lose tho tears we shed, 
tfls children go In peace to Ilim! 
toxm fox Ihtrstliste. 
A LICIHT-HOUSE ADVENTURE, 
A STORY OF WOMAN’S COURAGE. 
(.Concluded from pago890, last No.J 
With many louil oaths and objurgations, 
Black Steve hurried alter his victim as fast 
as his bulk would permit hint, Mr. Cris 
bringing up the rear iu a more leisurely 
fashion. 
“ You Jezebel,” exclaimed Black Steve, 
while still some distance away, “ I’ll put an 
end to your vagaries at once and forever;” 
and another moment would indeed have 
ended all Mam’s troubles, had not Mr. Cris 
hastened up, and striking lus friend’s arm on 
one side, sent, the bullet intended for her to 
flatten itself harmlessly against a tall pin¬ 
nacle of rock that rose out of the sea some 
hundred yards away. “ Don’t you be in 
quite such a hurry, my friend,” said Mr. Cris; 
“ there will be plenty of time for that sort of 
thing afterwards, if you wish to amuse your¬ 
self in that objectionable way. I want to 
have a little, conversation with this young 
person.” Black Steve growled out something 
below his breath, but ventured on no further 
opposition. 
“ Iu Lhc Fiend’s name, how did you con¬ 
trive to get, loose?” said Mr. Cris to Mam, as 
lie put his hands on her shoulders, and turned 
her face towards the moon. 
“ That is for thee to find out, and not for 
me to tell,” replied Mam. 
“ Perhaps so; but if--” 
What more Mr. Cris intended to say was 
never known, for at that moment Black 
Steve, with a loud cry, came running back 
from the landing place. “ The boats, the 
boats—they arc both gone!” he exclaimed. 
“ Stir from this spot, and I’ll shoot you 
through the head,” said Mr. Cris to Mam, as 
he hurried away to verify with his own eyes 
the startling assertion of his friend; but as 
we know already, the boats were really gone, 
and Abel Ilushton with them; the only token 
left of the latter being the rope that had 
bound him, which one of the men found on 
the rocks. 
“ This all comes of your clumsy style of 
tying the fellow up,” said Mr. Cris, savagely, 
to Ids friend. “ If I had secured him myself 
we should have found him where we left 
him." 
“ How about your own handiwork, then ?” 
retorted Steve, pointing to Mam. “ She did’nt 
get away, did she? O, no!” 
“There’s some deviltry about the whole 
business that I can’t make out,” said Mi'. 
Cris. “ 1 could have sworn that it was im¬ 
possible for that woman to stir; and yet in 
less than five minutes after I leave her she, is 
free. I can’t understand it at all. But, how¬ 
ever, we have no time to bother our heads 
with that just now; tho question is, how are 
we to get away from this cursed den V” 
Black Steve scratched his head disconso¬ 
lately, but Uic operation did not seem to 
brighten his ideas. 
“ Wasn’t that a boat I saw lying on the 
other side of the rock?” said Mr. Cris, after 
cogitating in silence for a minute or two. 
“ Oh, that’s one of the old light-house boats 
that got a hole knocked in her bottom last 
winter, and is laid up there to dry into match- 
wood, I suppose. She’s uo go, she isn’t; she 
