Historic Girls. By E. S. Brooks. (G. P. Putnam's Sons.)—These
twelve stories (republished from the St. Nicholas Magasine) picture to as twelve heroines of the ancient and modern world, beginning with Zenobia of Palmyra, and ending with Macta-oks, commonly called Pocahontas. Pretty stories they are, well told and set off with plenty of picturesque detail. Our only doubt is bow far the epithet "historic" is applicable. Historic these women were ; they all played a part in the history of the time. But was it the part which the author assigns to them ? There are dark traits, for instance, in Zenobia that we hear nothing about, and that really concern the estimate of her character. She courted her own downfall by an un- scrupulous ambition ; and there is too much reason to believe that she procured the assassination of her husband. As to Helena, mother of Constantine, it is really time that the old fable of her having been a British Princess should be finally banished. This is the second time within a month that we have had to protest against it. But it is un- gracious to find fault with a really instructive and entertaining book.
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