The Courtship of Miles Standish.-The Song of Hiawatha.-New and cheaper editions of both these favorite songs of Early American life are brought out this season and make fabulously cheap and very beautiful presentation volumes. "The Courtship of Miles Standish" is illustrated by ten artists, George H. Boughton, F. T. Merrill, C. S. Reinhart, Grandville Perkins, D. C. Hitchcock, S. H. Shapleigh, J. D. Smillie, J. E. Baker, Charles Copeland, and S. L. Smith. Some of the most interesting and valuable of the ornamentations given to the volume are contained in Mr. Copeland's head and tail pieces. ($1.50.) "The Song of Hiawatha" is preceded by a portait of Mr. Longfellow as he appeared in 1840, when still young and quite beardless. The other illustrations, which number twenty or more, are from designs by Frederic Remington. The poem was first published in 1855, as is explained in an introductory note, which also gives a number of historical facts in regard to the circumstances under which it was written. The illustrations very much enhance the poem and lend interest to the text of this curiously original and rhythmic Indian song. (Houghton, Mifflin & Co. $2.)

Malta Edition of "Midshipman Easy."-There is something untamed and untamable about the sea which is peculiarly fascinating; there is a sense of grandeur and vastness which is instructive. This feeling is, in large part, lost nowadays, when the sea is traversed by swift steamships, but in the period described by Captain Marryat in his famous story, "Mr. Midshipman Easy," when vessels were propelled by the mysterious force of the winds, when they were so largely at the mercy of the storm or the calm, those who went "down to the sea in ships' were more conscious of its wonders. The Malta edition of this standard sea-tale has been finely illustrated by R. F. Zogbaum, the well-known marine artist, and has very pretty head and tail pieces by A. W. Van Deusen. Mr. Zogbaum has given a series of stirring pictures, rendering still more attractive the narrative of the author, itself so engrossing, with its thrilling adventures, rollicking good-humor, and dramatic incidents. (Putnam. $2.50.)

Five Series of Dainty Books.-G. P. Putnam's Sons have brought together a selection of famous books which they distribute in four series. The Elia Series (6 v., printed on deckel-edge paper, with gilt tops, and bound in full ooze calf, in dark green, garnet, or amber, ea., $2.25). Contents: Group 1, "The Essays of Elia," 2 v.; "A Selection of the Discourses of Epictetus with "The Encheiridion"; "Sesame and Lilies;" "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin;" and "The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus." 2. The Stories of the Ages, uniform with The Elia Series. Contents: Group 1, "Select Tales from the Gesta Romanorum;" "Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey;" Cranford;" "Tales by Heinrich Zschökke;" "The Rose and the Ring;" "Undine;" and "Sintram and His Companions." (Ea., $2.25.) 3, The World's Classics, a reissue in less expensive form of the more important volumes published under the title of The Knickerbocker Nuggets (39 v., 16mo, ea., 50 c.). 4, The Ballads of the Nations, comprising a set of nine volumes, possessing value as reflecting the thought of the peoples. Profusely illustrated. (9 v., sq. 16mo, ea., 75 c.); and, 5, The Fly Leaves Series, initiated by Calverley's "Fly Leaves," and now followed by Thackeray's "Novels by Eminent Hands' and Bayard Taylor's "The Echo Club." (Putnam. 3 v., 16mo, in box, ca., $1.75.)

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The Echoes of the Playhouse.-Many books have been written upon the stage, but Mr. Robins has an excellent excuse for adding yet another volume to the number. His "Echoes of the Playhouse" is written in an unconventional way; he has attempted nothing pretentious, and has carefully avoided dry or technical details. Authorities have been quoted liberally and judiciously, and the volume should appeal to both the layman and the professional. The illustrations are for the most part reproductions of quaint old engravings. (Putnam. $2.)

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F. A. Stok s & Co.'s Fiction.-The publishers' first aim has been to secure works of human and contemporaneous interest. Preference has also been given to writers who deal with the incident and the romance of life rather than to the exponents of metaphysical and psychological problems. They believe that such good stories are worthy of attractive dress, and consequently these books are of convenient size, well printed, and tastefully bound. Quite a long list is ready for Christmas shoppers. Specially noticeable are the books of William Le Queux, "Zoraida' and "Stolen Souls." The author was born in London of a French father and English mother, and as his first leanings were toward art he spent some time in the Latin Quar ter in Paris. He wrote Russian story entitled "Guilty Bonds," and since then every scrap bearing his name has been ruthlessly blocked out by the Russian censor. During the past few years his really remarkable work has begun to be appreciated. The Stokes have published his "Zoraida," a story of the Harem and the Great Sahara, full of adventure and mystery, very appropriately illustrated Mr. Le Queux made a dangerous journey over the Sahara to collect this material ($1.50). A series of stories of adventure showing his peculiar talent is entitled "Stolen Souls" ($1). Very excellent works of fiction are "The Grasshoppers," by Mrs. Andrew Dean; Annie of Argyle, or, cavalier and covenant" ($1); "Lakewood," by Mary Harriott Norris, a description of the brilliant social life of that very popular winter resort ($1); "Bohemia Invaded," by James L. Ford, the brilliant writer of "The Literary Shop" (50 c.); "Sinners Twain," a story of the great Lone Land, by John Mackie, etc. (75 c.). These novels of the Stokes should be examined. All their books are noted for delicate workmanship, and these novels are very tempting in their colored buckram covers. Most of the books are illustrated with half-tone engravings. (F. A. Stokes Co. 50 c.-$1.50.)

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Westminster.-As in the book entitled "London," of which this is the successor, Sir Walter Besant does not pretend to offer a history of Westminster. The story of the Abbey buildings, of the great functions held in the Abbey, of the monuments in the Abbey, may be found in the pages of Stanley, Loftie, Dart, and Widmore. The history of the houses of parliament belongs to the history of the country, not that of Westminster. It has been his endeavor, in these pages, (1) to show, contrary to received opinion, that the Isle of Bramble was a busy place of trade long before London existed at all. (2) To restore the vanished palaces of Westminster and Whitehall. (3) To portray the life of the Abbey, with its services, its rule, its anchorites, and its sanctuary. (4) To show the connection of Westminster with the first of English printers. And, lastly, to present the place as a town and borough, with its streets and its people. The publishers have made a fine book, with many most interesting illustrations by William Patten and others. (Stokes. full gilt, $4.)

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Volney Streamer's A Cluster of Gems. A collection of choice poems relating to the ballet and the stage, illustrated by twelve fac-similes of watercolor designs of the ballet by Ellen G. Emmet, one for each month of the year. Accompanying these are designs of the twelve precious stones representing the different months. Miss Emmet's pictures are very dainty and entirely unlike anything previously published. Exquisitely gotten up in three styles of binding, all equally pretty. (Stokes. $2.50. $3, $3.50.)

Lyrics of Love and Nature.-These poems by Mary Berri Chapman have almost all appeared in the Century and other well-known magazines, where they attracted considerable attention by their strength and beauty. They have pretty cuts in half-tone to set off their musical words, also the work of the talented author. A variety of bindings have been given the book. (Stokes. $1.50; $3)

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Harper's Illustrated Descriptive Books. "From the Black Sea Through Persia and India" consists of pictures of Eastern life in desert and bazaar, and is a volume unique in scope-the outcome of a long journey undertaken by Edwin Lord Weeks in consequence of an arrangement with Harper & Brothers. The readers of Harper's Magazine, in which appeared from time to time the articles now incorporated in this volume, do not require to be told how successfully Mr. Weeks has represented in picture and text some of the most fascinating scenes that the East has to offer. ($3.50.) And another beautiful volume, so timely that it may be said to have been born under a lucky star, will be naturally associated with the foregoing. It is the " Notes in Japan," by Alfred Parsons-exquisite studies of mountain and grove and temple, of flower and of quaint humanity, in a land that, suddenly and unexpectedly commanding attention, is now ceiving it in large measure from all the world. The volume contains a few fresh illustrations, in addition to the series already published in Harper's Magazine. ($3.) "Pony Tracks," written and illustrated by Frederic Remington, chiefly devoted to camp life and sporting life in the West, is wholly charming and delightful. The text is blood-curdling at times, the illustrations profuse and very good, the print, paper, binding, etc., sumptuous. ($3.) All three of these beautiful books are illustrated by their authors, with pictures made while the experiences were fresh, and wholly different from the work of professional illustrators. Constance Fenimore Woolson has written a book on "Mentone, Cairo, and Corfu," with a novelist's privilege of letting the information conveyed come from the lips of imaginary travellers, who notice all the details of customs, occupations, and manners of the inhabitants and make vivid and often amusing comments ($1.75); Richard Harding Davis tells us "About Paris," and his descriptions of many "points" which escape the eyes of the general tourist are supplemented with excel ent illustrations by Charles Dana Gibson ($1.25); the storm and stress of our Western borderland are realized in "Red Men and White," dramatic tales of adventure by Owen Wister, with illustrations by Frederic Remington ($1.50); Julian Ralph's studies of people on the East Side in New York City are now collected in a volume bearing the title "People We Pass" ($1.25); and "Dixie," a valuable and entertaining series of Southern scenes and sketches, is by the same author ($1.25).

John Galt's Novels.-"Roberts Brothers are issuing the Works of John Galt' in neat form, beautifully printed and illustrated. The two volumes before us contain Annals of the Par ish' and the Ayrshire Legatees,' which are generally considered the best of Galt's Scotch novels, if they may be called such, with an introduction by Mr. S. R. Crockett and a memoir. The works are edited by Mr. D. Storrar Meldrum. Leisurely readers who like Scotch dialect, quiet humor, quaint and simple pictures of country life, and all that goes into the making of good old-time humdrum literature," says the Independent, "will be delighted with this excel

lent edition of Galt's works. Mr. Crockett's introductory sketch is a cleverly written bit of appreciation cast into graceful form and is, moreover, an excellent piece of light criticism

in which Galt's measure is correctly taken. Mr. Crockett does not range Galt, as some English critics have tried to do, on a level with Scott, but gives him a place by himself as a happy, gossipy chronicler and letter-writer who could photograph a country parson to perfection and depict the country life of his time with precise yet interminable truthfulness." (Roberts. 8 v., ca., $1.25.)

Henry Kingsley's Novels. -Ward, Lock & Bowden have ready for the holidays the now completed edition, in twelve volumes, of “Henry Kingsley's Novels," edited by Clement K. Shorter, with frontispieces by well-known artists. The twelfth volume, entitled "The Boy in Grey, and other stories," contains a biographical sketch of Henry Kingsley by his nephew, Maurice Kingsley, who by such eminent critics as James Payn, Andrew Lang, Augustus Birrell, and many others is held to have been a novelist than his brother far better as Charles, whose novels were somewhat spoiled from a literary standpoint by their important purpose. Although written a generation ago, Henry Kingsley's novels appeal to the most modern readers. Many of the stories have

met with less favor than the more popular ones, but in this new uniform edition will

again be read in their chronological sequence with his great successes, "Geoffrey Hamlyn," Ravenshoe," "The Hillyars and the Burtons," "The Silcotes of Silcote," etc., and may perhaps receive a totally new distribution of relative rank by a generation of readers judging them solely on their merits and not by the reputation of the author at the time they appeared. This set of novels in handsome threequarter morocco makes as satisfying an addition to a library as can be thought of. (Ward, Lock & Bowden. 12 v., ea., $1.25; three-quarter mor., only in sets, $32.50.)

Little, Brown & Co.'s Dumas, George Sand, and Charles Lever. In response to repeated requests Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have issued, in continuation of their standard edition of the Romances of the incomparable Dumas, six more new volumes. "Ascanio" and "The War of Women" ("La Guerre des Femmes ") are among the great novelist's wellceived numerous inquiries regarding them. known works, and the publishers have re

'Black, the Story of a Dog," and "Tales of the Caucasus" have never before been trans

lated, but will without question commend themselves to the lovers of Dumas. (6 v., $9. $18.) George Sand's masterpieces, "François, the Waif," "The Devil's Pool," "Fadette,' and The Master Mosaic-Workers" are made into beautiful editions, which must be seen to be

appreciated. There is a plain edition, a limited edition, and an édition de luxe, sumptuously fitted out (4 v., $6-$40); "The Novels of Adventure," by Charles Lever, with twenty etched Phiz" and E. Van Muyden, are plates by now ready for Christmas shoppers. (6 v., $15$39.)

G. P. Putnam's Sons' Famous Novels.-The new issues for the holiday season of 1895 in the series of Famous Novels" are the Waldering edition of "At Odds," by the Baroness Tautphoeus, and the Fontainebleau edition of "Richelieu," by G. P. R. James. The series now includes six works, comprising thirteen volumes;

the four earlier issues being as follows: "Lorna Doone: a romance of Exmoor," by R. D. Blackmore; "The Initials," by the Baroness Tautphoeus; "The Home, or, life in Sweden," by Fredrika Bremer; and "Quits," by the Baroness Tautphoeus. (Ea., 2 v., in box, $2.50.)

The Heroes of the Nations Series. In this excellent series have recently been issued four volumes of exceptional interest: "Julian, Philosopher and Emperor," by Alice Gardner; "Louis XIV.," by Arthur Hassell; "Life of Charles XII.," by R. Nisbet Bain, and "Lorenzo de' Medici," by Edward Armstrong. The series now numbers sixteen volumes, all fully illustrated. (Putnam. Ea.. $1.50.)

The Story of the Nations Series. Many years will undoubtedly pass ere a more important series of historical works will be successfully planned and carried out than The Story of the Nations. The plan of this series, which now comprises forty-four volumes, is to present, in graphic narratives prepared by competent historians, the stories of the different nations that have attained prominence in history. The latest volumes are "The Story of the Crusades," by T. A. Archer and Charles Kingsford, and "The Story of Vedic India," by Z. A. Ragozin. All illustrated. (Ea., $1.50.)

The Doom of the Holy City. Christ and Cæsar.-Lydia Hoyt Farmer gives a picture of Jerusalem and Rome in the first century. The historical and fictitious characters, alike Jew. ish and Roman, are set forth with a vivid realism, while a domestic romance enlivens the shadows of the dark, historic background. The work has required painstaking research, and is full of thrilling incidents, as the characters, real and fictitious, participate in the scenes connected with the fall of the Holy City. Graphic pictures are also given of Roman life. The work is not only a romance but a carefully compiled history as well of the political, religious, and social life of the period. (Randolph. $1.50.)

his predecessors have done. The explorations and incidents recorded are the fruit of a nine years' sojourn in Syria; and as the writing was done on the spot, partly in the saddle and partly in the tent, it is unusually fresh, crisp, and full

Palmyra and Zenobia.-Dr. William Wright's comely volume entitled "Palmyra and Zenobia" is about evenly compounded of history, archæology, and travels. In the way of history the author naturally does not attempt to add much to what the early historians have told us of Zenobia's disastrous conflict with the Romans; but he has nevertheless availed himself to some extent of current popular traditions, a source to which he inclines to ascribe more weight than

Copyright, 1895, by G. P. Putnam's Sons. LORENZO DE' MEDICI.