"'GEORGE MELVILLE,' coming just now, will be even more certain of a warm reception than if he only swelled the crowd of claimants for the popular favor."
"The style is dashing, and the scenes and incidents in the highest degree interesting. We commend 'GEORGE MELVILLE' to our readers."
"The main features have evidently been actual occurrences, and are skillfully worked together by a talented writer, who, with an eye to its good moral influence has made a book which is at once pleasing, interesting and exciting."
"A book of great interest and spirit, and one that brings out, in a strong light, some peculiar traits of American character."
"An unusually well-written and interesting book."
"There is a deal of promise in a new novel just out called 'GEORGE MELVILLE.' It is a dashing, clever, well-written story; its characters talk with animation and plenty of animal spirit, and 'the plot converges to an issue' according to the most approved rules. It has the American Stamp, and imitates no transatlantic author—a merit worth noticing."
"Its style is graphic, careless, romping and fanciful, and it is really captivating."
"The style is lively; the dialogues frequent and effective; the graver scenes well drawn and the book wholly what it purports to be—an American Novel, characteristically descriptive of American Life."
"A book that will repay the reader for the time spent in its perusal. A pleasant companion for Saratoga, or the sea-shore."
"Its descriptions and pictures are very graphic."
The following notice from the Toledo Blade, is so just and true that we copy it entire:
"We had almost said, after reading this story, 'The good old days of Cooper have come again.' It is really refreshing, in the midst of so much literary pretension, to meet with something of real merit.
"The conception of the plot is admirable—the characters finely portrayed—the scenery true to nature and the interest maintained throughout. Its life-like pictures, as well as the style of its author must commend it to every one who feels any interest in the revival of a genuine, home-bred American literature. When such tales as this reflecting on our own manners, scenery, morals and laws can be produced, there is little reason that our fiction-writers should be superseded by foreigners. A tale of equal merit with this, so neatly told, so entirely American, has not of late been issued from the press.
"The scenery of Central New York—a sail on the placid waters of Cayuga Lake in summer, and across the ice which covers it in winter—the picturesque views around Auburn and the grand sublimity of Niagara, are alike portrayed in vivid characters.
"Character is as well delineated as scenery. Dark and light shades—gay and corrupt life—vanity, vice and virtue, all perform their appropriate parts, in making up a goodly number of men and women, who once fairly introduced, carry themselves very naturally through plot and counter plot, to the close of a story which aptly illustrates the elements composing American society, in its various phases. There are many such victims as Melville, and many such true hearted girls as Bell Mortimer.
"We do not pretend that the writer has attained perfection. The book has faults—but these may be overcome by a writer of so much real ability, and we hope his pen will not be allowed to remain idle.
"GEORGE MELVILLE is a pleasant story—written in a chaste style with a good moral, and we cheerfully commend it to our readers."
*** Copies sent by mail to any part of the United States, pre-paid, upon receipt of price.
A BEAUTIFUL GIFT BOOK.
SHELLS
FROM THE
SEA-SHORE OF LIFE,
GATHERED BY
PEARLY SHELLEY.
This work comprises the lighter and more sketchy productions of one of the most original and distinguished writers in the country. The "Shells" are symbolical of the various lights and shades of Life—scattered over its surface or lying deep beneath its ocean. They embody a series of writings which may be called
THE PARABLES OF THE WORLD!
Every one of the series contains a moral which the Christian as well as the man of the world may bring home to his observation or experience. They sound the depths of the heart in the womanly as well as in the manly breast.
Some of these brilliant sketches symbolized in Shells, were originally published in many of the first-class newspaper and periodical press; while others, again, have been republished extensively throughout the country. They are now "gathered" emphatically not only from the "Sea-Shore of Life," by the Author, but from the mass of journals through which they have been scattered broadcast far and wide.
The "Shells" are published in a style which makes them, in their typographical and external dress, equal to their intellectual and moral interest, and renders them one of the most beautiful and appropriate presents that can be selected for the holidays.
| One vol., 12mo., with twenty-one original illustrations, cloth, | $0 75 |
| Cloth, full gilt, | 1 25 |
ALSO, LATELY ISSUED, THE FOLLOWING
NEW MUSIC.
SISTER SPIRIT, STAY NOT HERE—SONG.
"There is a tenderness and a pathos, both in the words and the music, so admirably adapted to each other, that it cannot fail to please all who may hear it."
HO! THE DEEP—SONG.
BY ALLEN N. LEET, JR.
A very inspiriting song, well adapted to the piano. The novelty of the melody has already made it very popular.
SPIRIT OF THE ISLAND HOME—SONG.
A new and very beautiful song. Its tones bring the murmur of the waves to our ears. The imitation of the motion of the sea is admirable.
Either of the above pieces will be sent by mail, post-paid, upon receipt of the price, or all of them on receipt of 75 cents.