WIDE AWAKE "R." Illustrated, Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.75. Of all the annual WIDE AWAKE issues this is by far the most attractive, and when this is said it is hard to conceive what, more can be said in the way of praise. Its illustrations, which are all drawn expressly for its pages, represent the best work of the most prominent American draughtsmen, while no stronger show of names in the line of contributors has ever been presented by an American magazine. Among the strong features of the volume is Elizabeth Stuart Phelps's serial complete, A Brave Girl; Mr. Brooks' capital wonder-story, In No-Man's Land; Mr. Talbot's A Double Masquerade, and Rev. E.E. Hale's To-Day Papers. Either of these would alone be worth the price of the volume, but when added to them are the additional attractions in the way of brilliant short stories, breezy sketches of life indoors and out, chapters of biography and history, bits of description, poems, and essays, the volume becomes, a treasure-house seemingly inexhaustible in variety and contents. In turning over its pages the eye falls upon such names as Mrs. A.D.T. Whitney, Nora Perry, Sarah Orne Jewett, Sophie May, Mrs. M.H. Catherwood, Margaret Sidney, Mrs. Mulock-Craik, Celia Thaxter, Lucy Larcom, and others as well known in the annals of magazine literature. The volume is elegantly printed and beautifully bound.
HOW TO LEARN AND EARN. Illustrated. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.50. It is not often that one finds between the covers of any single book so much information so pleasantly given upon a special subject as in "How to Learn and Earn." The sixteen illustrated essays which make up the contents are descriptive of as many institutions in this country for the instruction of children and young people in the useful arts or professions. Some of them are institutions under the auspices of the State, like the academy at West Point and the Indian School at Carlisle, Pa.; one described is a school of reform; but most of them are the outcome of private benevolence or charitable and religious endeavor. Among the more notable of these are the Perkins Institution for the Blind at South Boston, the Boston Chinese Mission School, the cooking schools in various cities, the blind children's kindergarten, etc. Among the authors whose contributions are included are Amanda E. Harris, Ella Farman Pratt, Mrs. John Lillie, May Wager Fisher, Margaret Sidney and Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont.
IMITATIONS OF BABYLAND. The great reputation won during the past eight years by D. Lothrop & Co.'s unique and charming illustrated magazine and annual, BABYLAND, has induced certain publishers to attempt imitations under similar titles. The public should beware of these inferior imitations. The publishers deem it proper to inform the public that the only genuine BABYLAND invariably bears the imprint of D. Lothrop & Co. By noting this fact the dissatisfaction which follows the purchase of inferior imitations will be avoided.
DEAN STANLEY WITH THE CHILDREN. By Mrs. Frances A. Humphrey. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.00. In this tastefully printed volume are brought together five sermons to children, preached by Dean Stanley, prefaced with a biographical sketch by Mrs. Humphrey and with an introduction by Canon Farrar. Every reader knows what a charming man Dean Stanley was, and how ardently he loved children, and devoted himself to pleasing them. The sermons here given are full of exquisite tenderness, and form admirable models for discourses of like character. Canon Farrar says that there was not one sermon ever preached by Dean Stanley which did not contain at least some one bright, and fresh, and rememberable thing. His metaphors, his anecdotes, the invariable felicity of his diction, his historical, literary and biographical illustrations, his invincible habit of taking men at their best and looking out for the good in everything, the large catholicity which rose above the mean, squabbling of religious parties, the calm of spirit which seemed habitually to breathe in the atmosphere of whatsoever things are true, and pure, and lovely, and of good report, made him a preacher to whom one would rather listen than to any other living man. Mrs. Humphrey's sketch not only gives us an excellent idea of the man himself, but also tells us many interesting things about the great English public schools. The volume is well illustrated.
IT IS THE CHRISTMAS TIME. By Miss Mulock, with Twelve Ideal Christmas Hymns and Poems. Illustrated. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price, $2.50. Nothing more exquisite in the way of a Christmas presentation book, or one better adapted to the spirit of the holiday season has yet been presented to the public than the volume before us. Printed in large, clear type, on the heaviest of paper, with broad white margins, and a series of twenty illustrations by famous American and foreign artists, engraved in the highest style of art, it forms a book of exceptional beauty, and one of which the publishers may well be proud. The opening poem, Miss Mulock's "Hymn for Christmas Morning," is followed by Naham Tate's "While Shepherds watched their Flocks by Night," a hymn which has held place in the hearts of the people for nearly two hundred years; Wesley's stirring hymn, "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing;" Herrick's "Star Song;" Bishop Heber's "Epiphany"—
Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning;
Keble's "Christmas Hymn;" The Rev. E.H. Sears's "Angel's Song;" William Drummond's "The Angels;" George MacDonald's "Babe Jesus;" James Montgomery's "Christmas Vision;" Wordsworth's "Christmas Carol," and Whittier's "Christmas Carmen." All those diverse in form and expression, breathe the one pure spirit of Christmas tide.
AMERICA. Our National Hymn. With Twelve other Patriotic Poems. Illustrated. By Rev. S.F. Smith, D.D. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price, $3.00. For the past two or three years there has been a strong demand for a new edition of this unique and elegant volume, which was originally published in 1879. The publishers have responded to the call by its reissue the present season, the work being extended by the addition of twelve new poems, all upon patriotic themes. The words of America, were written fifty-two years ago, while the author was a theological student at Andover. An American gentleman, who had spent some time in Germany, on returning home brought with him a number of books used in the German schools, containing both words and music. These were presented to Lowell Mason, who placed them in the hands of the young student, asking him to translate anything he might find worthy, or to furnish original words to such music as might suit him. In the collection was the air—unknown at that time to Americans—to which Dr. Smith set the words now so widely known and sung. There was not the slightest idea on his part that he was producing a national lyric, but it caught the popular taste at once, and every year has fixed it more firmly in the hearts of the people as an expression of patriotic feeling. It was first sung at a children's festival at Park Street Church, July 4, 1832, and very soon found its way into district schools, Sabbath-schools, concerts and patriotic gatherings throughout the country. Some years ago a delegation from the Boston Board of Trade sung it together at the summit of the Rocky Mountains. It has been used at the celebration by Americans of the national holiday in nearly every country on the globe, and served during the war to brace the hearts and stimulate the courage of our soldiers in camp and hospital and in prison. The author's college friends for more than fifty years made it the first song sung at their annual class dinner.
The poems which are added in the present edition include among others, "The Pilgrims," written some years ago for Forefathers' Day; "The Flag;" "Washington;" "The Student Soldiers;" "The Sleep of the Brave;" "Decoration Day;" "Abraham Lincoln," and "My Native Land." They are all imbued with the fervent spirit of patriotism and represent a high poetic standard. The volume is splendidly illustrated by Harry Fenn, Robert Lewis, and other artists of reputation.
MY CURIOSITY SHOP. Illustrated. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price, $1.25. The little boy or girl who finds this book by the bedside Christmas morning, ought to be supremely happy. From cover to cover it is filled with the most delightful stories and rhymes and pictures, all written and drawn expressly for little readers, and by those who love them, and understand their likes and dislikes.