Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1910 — Book news and Reviews. [ARTICLE]

Book news and Reviews.

When Ibsen was assistant to a chemist—or, in Americanese; a drug clerk — in the little Norwegian town of Grimstad, he lived in a small wooden house which belonged to his employer. This house the townspeople now wish to preserve as a memorial of the author, and they are asking for subscriptions in aid of their project. *To fall in love with a good book is one of the greatest events that can befall us,” the late Prof. Henry Drummond has written. “It is to have a new influence pouring itself into our life—a new teacher to inspire and refine us, a new friend to be by our side always, who, when life grows narrow and weary, will take us into his wider and calmer and higher world.” Richard Edgecombe, who wrote “Byron: The Last Phase,” is sergeant-at-arms to the King of England. He is connected with the family of the poet Shelley. He was secretary to the National »Byron Memorial Committee, which presented the statue of the poet to Hyde Park in London, and'he has been for years an enthusiastic collector of everything pertaining to Byron. Mr. Edgecombe charge made by Lord Lovelace against Byron. "Madame Janvier’s Church,” by Mary C. Hickson, is a pathetic tale of humble life in the little French Canadian village of Ste. Rosalie, written with a sincere appreciation of\jthe simplicity, devotion and native refinement characteristic of the habitant class. Miss Hickson, who has already won some reputation as a Writer of poems and. occasional articles In the magazines, has wisely given her first Independent literary venture the form of an-attractively printed bookleTof twen-ty-eigbt pages, eminently suitable as a gift. The manuscript of an essay written by Charles Darwin In 1842, and only recently .discovered In the house at Down hidden in a cupboard under the

I : • stairs that had been used as an overflow for matter which Darwin did not wish to destroy, furnishes part of the material for a bpok now published by the author’s son, Francis Darwin, under the title of “The Foundations of the Origin of Species.” The book contains two essays, one written in ’42 and the other in '44, and an introduction by Francis Darwin. These essays are the first extended statement of a doctrine which, hinted at by Darwin in 1832, was not fully amplified until the publication of his great work. The remarkable thing about the essays is that nearly twenty years before the appearance of "The Origin” Darwin was able to present so full an outline of his complete work. Commander Peary’s book on the discovery ~of the north pole will be brought out by the publishers of his former books after its publication as a serial in Hampton’s Magazine. The arrangement is the climax to one of the most remarkable series qf negotia-. tions known in the publishing world. Immediately after the news of Peary’s triumphs reached New York, representatives of publishing houses were sent on to meet him. One of these was on hand at Battle Harbor to help Peary receive the representatives of the press. Several met the expedition at Sydney and many Journeyed to South Harpe well, Me. The Stokes Publishing Company won the prize and the rate of royalty paid to Peary is said to_be the highest ever paid by these publishers. The book and magazine articles will be illustrated by many photographs, taken and developed by young Borup, the expedition's photographer.