The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 15, 1896, Page 21

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 1896 NCIDENTS in the career of King Alired the Great are the foundation for a four-act dramatic poem, “Eng- land’s Darling,” which is Alfred Aus- tin's first production in book form since his appointment as poet laureate. The poem is dedicated to tne Princess of Wales, “‘daughter of vanished Vikings and mother of English Kings to be.”” In his interesting preface Mr. Austin says that in the spacious gallery of commanding char- acters commemorated in English poetry there is a strange and unaccountable blank. Where we look for the most illus. trious figure of all there is an empty niche. The greatest of Englishmen has never been celebrated by an English poet. Ex- tolled by a succession of prose historians and deeply rooted in the affections of his countrymen by &n unbroken tradition, which for a thousand years has designated him “England’s Darling,” Alired is forgotten by Chaucer, all but ignored by Spenser, unnamed by Shakespeare, and but fortuitously alluded to by the most eminent of their successors. King Alfred has always been Austin’s favorite hero, the name and the tales that clustered round it forming the most enthralling pages of his nursery erudition. The language of the characters in the poem is mainly of Saxon origin— the natural utterance of £nglish men and women living in the ninth century of our era. The production is a notable one, brilliant in many respects, and the poet laureate has well begun the work of em- | balming Alfred’s memory n verse. The first act relates the love-making of Edward, son of Alfred, and Edgiva, the Danish maiden. Then Alfred appears on the scene, disguised as a peasaut, and the poet tells'the familiar old story of the King sitting in the hut, studying his book and allowing the cakes to scorch. In tne sec- ond act Alfred appears before the Saxon Witanagemote at Athelney, a noble and heroic figure, surrounded by the lords and ealdermen. He makes a strong speech, showing the necessity of war to rid Eng- | land of the Danish heathens. The assen- bled freemen join in striking their shields with their spears and hailing the King— Alfred! Alfred! Lord of England ! comfort! shepherd ! gland’s Darling! ! Alfred! _ the King is next seen in his study, mak- ing models of long-oared boats to cope with the Danish esks. In the third act we find Alfred addressing his son in view of the approaching war, and then teaching 1 to read in the forest. In the fourth rises to the heights of heroism by act | overcoming Guthrum, Oskytel and the | heathen Jarls. In this act, before the bat- tle, King Arthur sings thus happily of the origin of England: : In the Beginning When, out of darkness, The Earth, the Heaven, The Stars, the Seasons, ghty mainland, whale-ploughed water, Were formed and fashioned, Then God made England. He made it shapely With land-locked inlets, And gray-green nesses; With rivers roaming From fair-leafed forests Ti-rough windless valleys, Past piain and pasture, To sioping shingle; Thus God made England. Having conquered his foes, the King de- clares: For mé, T have no other wish on earth, Save to leave long remembrance after me 0Ot something done for England. For a genuine Saxon song, rich in ai tinctively Saxon words, there is commend- able merit in that sung by the serfs in the first scene of the second act. Here it is reproduced : Fetch me a hunk of salted fiitch And a jug of sweetened ale, And off I trndge to bank the ditch Or bang about the flail. Who recks of summer sweat and swink, Or winter's icy pang? Tilt up the mug, my mates, and drink, And let the world go hang, Go hang, And let the world go bang! Now, youngsters, suap the fallen sticks w, hearthwife, boil the pot, For we have thatched the barley-ricks, And plowed the gafol plot. The shepherd's star begins to wink, The she-wolf whets her fang: Up with the mead bowl, mates, and drink, ‘And let the world go hanz, Go hang, And let the world go hang'! The volume also contains the ““Passing of Merlin,” originally publis don Times, 7 October 7, 1892, tribute to his great predecessor, death. Here is a stanza: April will blossom again, again will ring With cuckoo’s call and yaffel’s flying scream, ed sleep the nightingale will dream, if awake. But what will bring In [New York: Macmillan & Co., pub- For sale by William Doxey. hers. rice THE W MAN. *“Ye Thoroughbred” is the title of the initial volume of the Health Culture Li- brary. It professes to be “‘the brotherly words of a Briton to his fellow-men at home and abroad, with a special message to his Brother Jonathan.” The author sails under the nom de plume of Novus Homo. As the title implies, the book maintains that the *‘alpha’”’ of all human improvement is in the human *‘bodily re- generation,”” in the breeding and training of true thoroughbred human animals and “the ultimate extirpation of low grades.” After showing mankind, as far as he is able, how to attain the physical and intel- lectural high-grade standard for the race, the Briton brims over with advice to the American Republic. He has the nerve to suggest what he deems *improvements’’ for injection into our Declaration of Independence. He may certainly be assured that the Declaia- tion is very good as it stands, and served quite well as an epoch-making document in history—in history with which even a Briton should be tolerably well acquainted. Novus Homo wants us to raise first-grade men and women. As far as that goes America can challenge the world right now for high-grade averaze. Novus Homo suggests that we make the ‘‘welfare” of the people the Nation’s supreme law. Upon inquiry, be could have learned that this Nation ‘was built specifical’y for the people’s welfare and is still being run with that landable intention, and it was built in spiie of the rather unfriendly and persistent efforts of our beloved cous- ins over the water. Novus Homo desires us to educate all our children and support the common schools. He ought to come over herc and glance around. He would find our system of public education the best in the world, as #t is, and steadily advancing to even @ higher plane. In fuct, despite Novus Homo’s fears for our future, it may be said that Americans have been able to take care of themselves jor the past hundred years and more, and they will probably succeed in keeping up‘ hed in the Lon- | being the | on, on the occasion of the latter’s | ote back? He mute, it scarcely will be | “England’s Darhing”’ the new poet | laureate_is generally admitted to be at his | t. appearances in the van of the procession of nations for some time to come. The author calls the American Republic the ““Greater Britain of the Western World,”" and he wants Brother Jonathan to initiate a commercial and defensive federation of amity among English speak- ing people for the maintenance of interna- tional peace and the furtherance of racial and international prosperity. This isex- pected to lead to the federation of the world. Meantime, let us observe our cous- |ins across the ocean are continually adding to their navy and Brother Jonathan is preparing to preserve peace, so far as he is concerned, by showing well-wishing rel- atives that they will find hum ready to_kick if they tread on his corns. [New York: The Health Culture Company. Books is- suea quarterly, $1 per year.] * A RICH MAN'S DAUGHTER. In “A Rich Man's Daughter,” Mrs. J. H. Riddell has furnished a peculiar story that [ is, nevertheless, put together in no un- attractive manner. A youngLondon phy- sician, who has been pursued by ill luck from childhood, is practicing in the poorest | quarter of thé great city, when he chances | to meet the daughter of a rich man. They | fallin love and marry in secret. Luck chanan’s novel. The author’s characters have “impossible” faults and ‘“‘impossi- ble” virtues, and some of the characters are ‘‘impossible.” In fact, it would appear that whenever the author’s stock of de- scriptive terms have run short he has rushed ‘‘impossible’ to the front to do ser- vice in the breach of his deficiency. Itis too bad Buchanan did not find it impossi- ble to get his loose story printed. [New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company.] THE LOST STRADIVARIUS. In this weirdly attractive story J. Mead Faulkner enlarges on the idea that the mind may be directed on the one hand to ascetic abnegation by the systematic use of certain music, or on the other, to illicit and dangerous pleasures by melodies of an opposite tendency. It is contended, how- ever, that after a comparatively advanced standard of culture has been once attained, music is the readiest if not the only key which admits to the narrow circle of the highest imaginative thought. Briefly outlined, the story is that in the year 1738, wherein the world’s greatest violin-maker, Antonius Stradi- varius, died, an Englishman of culture, traveling in Cremona, attended an auction sale of the stock of Stradivarius fiddles. | doesn’t change, however, The daughter | fears her father’s rage if he should learn | | the secret, and refuses to disclose it in | | spite of the urging of the young medico, | | who has a keen eye to his possible finan- | cial betterment as well as the society of his wife. Time flies. The father favors | {the suit of a wealthy and ardent | admirer. To this man the doctor’s wife confesses, but the information is| | still withheld from the old man. At length the husband departs for the East. { Then the father fails, and, to add to his despair, discovers that his daughter has | become a mother. He is about to end both lives with a revolver when the old- time wealthy admirer appears and ex- plains matters. Then a dispatch comes to | say that the doctor has fallen a victim to | the cholera, the wealthy suitor helps out the old man financially, marries the young phy i ,and_the secret | i [New York: | ny. For sale | by Doxey; price 50 cents.]. THE RETUEN OF THE NATIVE. | This is a reprint of one of Thomas | Hardy’s works which was first issued in 1878. The hero of the story is described as one who takes ennoblement rather than | repentance for his text. He has a convic- | tion that the want of most men is knowl- | edge of a sort that brings wisdom rather | than affluence. He lives in a rural world that is not ripe for him and the author remarks: “A man should be only par- tially before his time; to be completely to | | the vanward in aspirations is fatal to fame. In the interests of renown the | forwardness should lie chiefly in the | capacity to manipulate. Successful pro- | pagandigts have succeeded because the | doctrine they bring into form is that | which their listeners bhave for some time | felt without being able to shape.” The | hero throws up his business to benefit his fellow creatures and does not receive the | blessings which, Hardy says, *‘come to the | well-proportioned mind’’—happiness and | commonplace. He finds his vocation at | least in the career of an itinerant open- | air preacher and lecturer on morally un- | impeachable subjects, and of course there | were many in the old home who were | | rezdy to say that it was well onough for | | 2 man to take to preaching who could not | see to do anything else. [New Yor | Lovell, Coryell & Co. For sale by W. liam Doxey; price 50 cents.] . EDITOR VERSUS POET. | | Neith Boyce, in the Philistine, complains | that some magazine editors mischievously | meddle with the songs or sonnets of con- | tributors, who naturally wax wroth when their verses are accepted *‘and in the course of vears published” to find the trail of the | editor'’s blue pencil over all the printed | lines. One might opine that R. W. Gilder is suspected of ‘“‘editing” some of Neith’s } poetry in the manner hinted at. th pleads her cause and goes after offending ‘ editors in this capital style: | 1f the editor knows to 8 comma how he wants | nis poetry written let him write it himself, as ‘ Mr. Gilder mostly does. If he thinks he can | improve on the poetical style of his contributor | | and wants to put in his time that way let him write and propose collaboration, or at least submit to the poor mortal of an author a plan of the contemplated improvements. But 10 go shead on his own hook and change the whole complexion of the thing perhaps, and then send it out over the original signature? It is not honest. The author relinquishes for a time the child of his brain, fondly expecting 1o get it back | ngsin in bedutitul new clothes of type. - What he does get is & changeling with dyed hair and & clothespin on its nose. Is he grateful? Hardly. ) When the editor accepts a drawing for his magazine, does he proceed to work it over, put in a few niore shadows, touch up the high lights and perhaps alter_the arrangement of | the model’s back hair? Not as a rule. | A magazine is not a school for drawing, nor 1s it a literary kindergarten. An editor is not & pedagogue. 1 he thinks a_thing good enough to print, let him print it honestly as it was made; if not, let him return it with thanks and encourage the author to send it somewhere else. That author, if he is worth bis Attic salt, would Tather have his verses printed in the Podunk Thinker as he wrote them than in the Century | with R. W. Gilder’s emendations. A GRAY EYE OR SO. This is an English story of love and politics, in which parts are played by peo- ple of high and low rank in society. The | author, ¥. Frankfort Moore, does not seem |to hold a very high estimation of the | British conscience. At the conclusion of the volume, when hero and heroine, after many vicissitudes, approach the usual outcome, the heroine cries: ‘‘You are a fool if you cannot see that your career is just beginning. People are talking of you to-day as the Conscientious One—the Man with a Conscience. Isn’t the reputa- tion for a conscience the beginning of sue- cess in Encland?”’ The reply is: ‘“‘Helen, will you marry me. With our combined money we can make ourselves necessary to any party. Will you marry me?”’ The marriage winds up the book. But Mr. Moore is probably not much of a student of the British conscience. He is just a book-writer. [Chicago: Rand, Mec- Nally & Co., publishers; Globe Library; price 50 cents. | DIANA’S HUNTING. | | | | | | One of the most pernicious novels that have recently floated over from England is entitled “Diana’s Hunting.” It is by Robert Buchanan, who should be sent to jail for offending common decency with such & work. The heroine of the book is a girl who thinks home a prison, mother a jailer and longs for freedom from all re- strictions. The girl is a moral monstrosity: The principal male characters, who are represented 10 have intellectual attain- ments, affect the belief that marriage, morality, legality and durtdv are “mere e Having a remarkable ear for mu. and beinga violinist as well, he purchased the instrument which most appealed to his fancy. A history attached to that instru- ment. Though it was of the master’s golden vperiod, and probably the finest violn he ever made, Stradivarius would never sell it and it had hung in his shop | foran age. Ashelay dving, it was said, he gave orders that it should be buried, but his instructions were neglected and it came under the hammer. The original possessor became a victim, mentally ana physically, to the infliience of the peculiar music to which the instrument was par- ticularly responsive. He kept the fiddle in a secret spot, and after his tragic death the Stradivarius was Jost for years, until John Maltravers discovered the hiding place through the violin’s responsiveness to certain strains, which also seemed to conjure up the ghost of the dead owner. Maitravers, 1n turn, becomes a victim of mental degradation. The music which enchained him had an unwholesome effect on his impressionable nature and dragged him to his ruin. At the death of Mal- travers the curse which seemed to attend the possession of the instrument is got rid of in & summary manner. The guar- dian of Maltravers' son burns the Strad- ivariys tiddle and the book with the mind- conqlering evil music. [New York: D. Appleton & Co. For sale by Doxey; price, paper, 50 cents.] THE SOLAR SYSTEM. The story of the solar system, simply told for general readers, by George F. Chambers, F. R. A. 8., is the latest issue of Ethel Turmer, the Young Australian Writer. the Library of Useful Stories. The author has kept statistical details and numerical expressions within very narrow limits, and in doing so has certainly added to the in- terest of the work for the general reader. It is plentifully illustrated. [New York: D. Appleton & Co. For sale by William Doxey. Price 40 cents.] OLD FAITHS AND NEW FACTS. William W. Kinsley, in preparing this religious work, has recognized the fact, so he declares, that there is a public, rapidly enlarging, made up of vigorous, progres- sive inquirers, eager after truth and will- ing to follow it wherever it may lead, to which the old proofs of the Christian faith appear wholly inadequate, and conse- quently the old beliefs to be shrouded in the gravest doubt. ‘It is notenough for them to be shown merely what the Secrip- tures teach and the canons of the church authoritatively affirm. They call for facts —facts incontrovertibly established with scientific accuracy, with cool judicial pre- cision, in the various departments of physics and metaphysics, biology and psychology, history and biography, of the many different branches of moaern re- search. They call for an orderly, logical grouping and interpretation of these facts and aclear demonstration of the underly- ing principles and laws that witness to the active presence of an organizing, over- ruling mind.” 1t is to such inquirers that he addresses his work, ‘‘Old Faiths and New Facts,” and he aims to carry on his discussions from their standpoint while endeavoring to answer, to the satisfaction of the scientific investigator, such vital questions as these: Does prayer avail? Was Christ divine? Is man immortal? The volume is elegantly bound in deep blue cloth covers. [New xlork: D. Apple- ton & COo. For sale by Wilham Doxey; prize $1 50.] PERSIS YORKK, Sydney Christian has written an excel- lent novel in “‘Persis Yorke”—it is thor- oughly interesting and conveys some good, wholesome lessons. The volume illus- trates the priceless value of early discivline and training. The 1dea of packing off boys (who have bardly reached their first decade) to big schools is denounced as most injurious—as poisoning the boy’s life at the start. It is contended that parents should at home teach their children what life really is, and notsend u.npregnted lads into the furnace of temptation afforded by any great school. The fretted early life of Persis Yorke, and the experiences by which she happily profited, make a story that it will do any one good to read. [New York: Macmillan & Co., publishers. For sale by Doxey; price $1 és.] ‘WINNING FAME IN THE ANTIPODES, A delightful story of child life, “Seven Little Australians,” has created quite a furor in Australia, and has won admira- tion in England. It is by Miss Ethel Tur- ner, who, although scarcely more than a young girl, is gaining prominence as a writer. Miss Turner is an English girl, but went to Australia when very young,. She won a high school scholarship an formulas” to be disregarded by ‘‘ad- vanced”’ animals like those of Robert Bu- was to have gone to the university. but gave it up to start a magazine, the Parthe- non, which ran for three years end was a financial success. Since then she has contributed to the press and written several novels. Among her admirers are Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett and Louise Chandler Moulton. NEW YORK AS A LITERARY MART. Edward W. Bok, in March Ladies’ Home Journal, writes of ““The American Literary Center,” and presents the claims of New York and Boston (between which cities it may be inferred it rests) for the distinc- tion. He summarizes New York in this way: “* * * New York undoubtedly offers the largest market for literature of any city in America. This is naturally so, as must always follow in the case of the largest and wealthiest city of any country. The Empire Oity controls the largest number of publishing-houses, even though it cannot claim all the principal ones. It hasa larger number of magazines and periodicals of all kinds than any other city, even thoush it is deprived the right to the first and foremost of all literary periodicals, the leading eclectic magazine of the world, or of the most widely circulated channels of serial litera- ture. But, unquestionably, it has the majority, and a pewerful majority it is. It has libraries galore, one might almost say, yet the two principal libraries of the country are in other cities. Its list of authors, resident of the city or near it, is long and representative, embracing some of the most gifted pens which make con- temporaneous American literature, * * * If all our best writin%s do not emanate from its immense places of output, a goodly portion undeniably do.”” SOME LITTLE OF THE ANGEL LEFT Mrs. John M. Clay, whose famous stables in the Blue Grass State were re- cently described in THE CALL, isa woman of literary ability, and her spirited racing story, “Some Little of the Angel Left,” is a production that reflects credit on her as an authoress. In depicting scenes and incidents of the training-stable and the excitement of the racecourse she is thoroughly at home. The race in which the horse’ Don Juan and his jockey are killed with victory almost within ‘their grasp is remarkable for fidelity and pathetic power. The leading characters are strongly drawn. The love story in the pook is quite charming, and a Crimean battle-scene makes a_splendid climax. {Cincinnni: Robert Clarke & Co., pub- ishers.] GRAY’S IMMORTAL ¢ ELEGY.” Gray, the poet, omitted two four-line stanzas from the “Elegy.” According to Mason the stanzas were omitted by the poet (just before the epitaph) because ‘““he thought it was too long a parenthesis.” Of the first stanza James Russell Lowell affirmed that *‘Gray might run his pen through this, but he could not obliterate it from the memory of men. Surely Wordsworth himseif,”” continued the American critic, ‘‘never achieved a sim- plicity of language so pathetic in sugges- tion, so musical in movement as this.”” The two verses are as follows: There scattered oft, the earlies: of the year, By hands unseen are showers of violets found; The redbreast loves to build and warble there, And little footsteps lightly print the ground. Him have we seen the greenwood side along While o'er the heath we hied, our labor done; Oft as the woodlark piped her farewell song, ‘With wistful eyes pursue the setting sun. THE ART OF COOKING. One of the latest additions to the great library of cookbooks is thison the culinary art by Mrs. Emma P. Ewing. As the author says, a great need exists in homes and schools for more intelligent instrution in re%nrd to the preparation of food. To supply this need this book has been writ- ten. With its aid any person of ordinary intelligence should be able to select, pre- pare and serve in a proper manner those articles of food which are in general use. [Mesdville, Pa.: Flood & Vincent. For sale at the bookstores.] LITERARY NOTES. Btephen Crane’s ‘““Red Badge of Cour- age’’ is already in its fourth edition in this country, which indicates no lack of Ameri- can appreciation of strong American work. Mr. Crockett’s new novel, **Cleg Kelly, Arab of the City: His Progress and Ad- ventures,” is said to open new ground and to be the most effective cf his books in incident and humor. It is to be pub- lished immediately by D. Appleton & Co., with several illustrations, “‘Congress and Its Critics” is the title of a symposium in the North American Re- view for March, the subject being skill- fully dealt with by Senator H. C. Hans- brough of North Dakota; Hon. Nelson Dingley Jr., chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and Representatives William Elliott of S8outn Carolina, George B. McClellan of New York and Charles P. ‘Taft of Ohio. Among the short articles in the same number .are: ‘‘Recent Photo- raphic Invention,” by Ellerslie wallace, g{‘D.; “Woman's Wages,” by Kate Stephens; A Guerrilla Eden,” gy Felix Oswald; and ‘‘Chemists as Leaders,” by Peter Townsend Austen. Hutchinson & Co., London, will publish a spiritualism novel by Florence Marryat entitled “The Strange Transfiguration” of Hannah Stubbs.” “A Financial Atonement,”” a new title by B. B. West, author of “Wills and How Not to Make Them,” is among the an- nouncements of Longmans, London and New York. Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., London, an- nounce a *‘Life of Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies,” by Mary Hall McClean. The two new volumes in Longmans’ English Classics are Shakespeare’s ‘‘Mer- chant of Venice,” edited by Professor Francis B. Gummere of Haverford College, and “‘As You Like It,” with an introduc- tion by Professor Barrett Wendell of Har- vard and notes by Instructor William Lyon Phelps of Yale. Grant Allen’s “Moorland Idylls,” a series of papers on natural history—pop- ular natural aistory with a dash of evolu- tion, somebody has described them—have appeared. The general line of the book may be gathered fron. such titles of the E‘.F" as these—'‘Our Win, House- ‘ellows,” “A Fli%ht of Qualis,” or “An Interview With a Cock-Sparrow.” A manuscript work by Carl Marx has been found among the papers of the late Frederick Engels. He was Karl Marx's literary executor, and Mrs. Aveling, the daughrer of Karl Marx, is one of his exec- utors. The book, which is complete, is entitled *Revolution and Counter-Revolu- tion,” and forms a vivid description of the condition of Germany in 1848, "It will be published shortly in Sonnenschein’s Social Beience series. A volume soon to appear in The Public Men of To-day series is one on Joseph Cbamberlain by 8. H. Jeyer, the editor of the series. Georges Hugo, grandson of Victor Hugo, is soon to publish his first book, *‘Souve- nirs d'un Matelot.” Georges Hugo was a sailor forthree years. It is said that his book criticizes the French navy in a man- ner which will cause a sensation. Richard Harding Davis has written a new Van Bibber story that will appear in Scribner's for April. "It contains a most hmfising description of & dance in Lyric all. The Writer (Boston) contains ny helpful hints and suggestions to young writers. An especially valuable feature is that wherein the editors of leading period- icals exgl:in in detail what they want and what they do not want in the way of manuseripts. Horatio Alger Jr. con- tributes to the March number a practical and suggestive article on *“Writing Stories for Boys,” the fourth in the series on tha* sub&ect by leading gvenlle writers. The Arena for March is an unusually able issue of this progressive and popular review; it is also marked by a variety of topies and a masterly handling of the same. One.of the leading articles in The Peter- son Magazine for March is “American Naval Heroes,” which gives the early his- tory of our navy, its officers and victories. No'other magazine has taken up this sub- 21 WA= ALFRED AUSTIN, [Reproduced from the engraving in POET LAUREATE. the volume “England’s Darling.”] ject, although 1t is rich in historical and anecdotal lore. The Peterson Maguzine will publish subsequent articles on the | navy and its heroes, making the record complete and copiously illustrating the text. The current number of the Fly Leaf is the lightest and gayest number yet issued of that dainty little bibelot of literature. The contents include a postscript poem on the Fly Leaf itself by Waitman Barbe; “Lucky Richard’s Manual”—a companion to the famous ‘‘Poor Richard,” in a new vein of humor, by Walter Blackburn | Harte; Eugene R. White, one of the| youngest poets who are piping up in the | newspaper world and promise to do big | things in literature proper, contributes some verses, ‘‘Reward”; Herbert A. Cox | has a strong story, “Life and Death’; *“A | Fantasie of Dreams,”” a poem by John Northern Hilhard, and ‘“A Proposal for a Literary Censorship,” by Jonathan Penn. | The ‘‘Bubble and Squeak” department is filled with gingery and whimsical com- mentary on current topics. The recent selection of Anatole France to fill the place in the French Academy left vacant by Ferdinand de Lesseps lends anewinterest to Lafcadio Hearn’s char- acterization. “The author of ‘Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard,’” wrote Mr. Hearn, in his introductory note to the’ trans!ation of the work in question, which the Har- pers published in 1890, “‘is not classifiable, although it would be difficult to name any other modern French writer by whom the finer emotions have been touched with: equal delicacy and sympathetic exquis- iteness.” Professor Saintsbury in his new book places Byron in the list of second-rate Ppoets, and not even firstamong the second- | raters. Saintsbury may be counted on to glorify Alfred Austin as a darling poet of | the number one (Saintsbury) variety. Messts. Frederick Warne & Co., New York, will issue immediately, *‘Sport in Ashanti; or, Melinda, the Caboceer,’’ a tale of the Gold Coast in the dazs of King Coffee Kalcalli, by J. A. S8kertchly. Also, “The Carbuncle” Clue,” a mystery, by Fergus Hume, author of *“The Mystery of a Hansom Cab.” ‘‘The Shuttle of Fate,”’ a powerful story of the Lancashire cotton- mills, by Miss C. Whitehead, with illustra- tions by Lancelot Speed; and **By Tangled Paths;” Stray Leaves from Nature's By- ways,”” a series of delightful essays on nature, animate and inanimate, for lovers of the woods and waysides, by H. Mead Briggs, arranged so as to cover the months of the year. “The Second Opportunity of Mr. Staple- hurst,” a novel, by W. Pett Ridge, author of the novel entitled *“A Clever Wife,” which has recently appeared, is to be issued this month arpers. The key- note of “The Second Opportunity” is the popular aspiration, “If I only had my time to live over again!"’ Mr. Staplehurst, by a whimsical chance, has his opportu- nity; but he finds himself hnndiclpged by the accumuiated experience of his former years. Experience is supposed to be a valuable, because a hard-earned, posses- sion, but Mr. Staplehurst would have been much better off without it, and he who reads may learn why. “The Evolution of Woman,” shown in a series of forty-four drawings by Harry Whitney McVicar, is a new book from Harpers. The pictures themselves tell the story; but, lest there should be doubt as to their full significance, a discreet amount of lottmpressghu been added. From the earliest times, through the Dark and Middle Ages, the progress of the sex is traced; and toward the end it is intimated that the bicycle may carry this ‘‘evolu- tion” forward more rapidly still, and to unforeseen conclusions. Some of the drawings are broadly humorous, others cafitivmingly pretty. uring this month Harper & Brothers will publish the foliowing books: “Qut of Town,"” aseries of clever sketches dealing with types of suburban residents (author's name withheld); ‘‘Venezuela, A Land Where It's Always Summer,” by William Eleroy Curtis; “Tommy Toddles,” the amusing travels of a little boy, de- scribed b%{ Albert Lee and depicted b Peter S. Newell; “The Hand of Ethel- berta” (new edition), by Thomas Hardy, and “The Bicyclers, and Three Other Farces,” by John Kendrick Bangs. R. D. Blackmore’s forthcoming volume of short stories will be issued in London this month under the general title of “Tales from the Tellin ouse.” Tt con- sists of four stories—*'Slain by the Doones; a Romance of Exmoor,” “Frida, or the Lover's Leap,”’: “George Bowring’’ and “Crocker's Hole.” Mr, Blackmore is at present engaged on a& new novel to be called ‘Dariel; a Romance of Surrey,” which is to appear serially shortly in Blackwood. The publishers of the latter monthly bave recently issued a popular edition of Mr. Blackmore’s **Maid of Sker,”” a story, by the way, which some readers consider almost equal to his ‘‘Lorna Doone.” Messrs. Appleton announce for the future two fresh novels by new American authors, “Green Gates,”” a story of New York and of Long Island country-house life, by Katherine McCheever Meredith; and “Sir Mark,” a tale of the first capital, by Anna Robeson Brown, ° M. Henri Rochefort is preparing a s%ecial edition of his ‘‘Adyentures’’ for. publica- tion in English, and has arranged for their issue in London and New York by Edward Arnold. The English work will be kept within the compass of two octavo volumes and will be carefully revised by M. Roche- fort himself, with a view to including only mattexs of genuine interest to the Eng- lish-speaking public. The latest addition to the Temple edi- tion of Shakespeare—one of the most ad- mirable of the many editions of the famous dramatist—are “Coriolanus” and “*Troilus and Cressida.” Each volume is embel- lished with an appropriate photo-engray- ing and contains a full ;glossary. Macmil- lan & Co. are the New York publishers, and the volumes by William Doxey. Price 45 cents each. From a review in the Critic_the interest- re for sale in this City | inianct is learned that Mr. Gladstone usually reads three books at the same time, changing from one to the other for his mental well-being, as one would change from mountain to seashore for his physi- cal health. When there are no visitors at the castle he enjoys the society of his family or his book, never a pipe. He does not smoke now and naver has smoked. He goes to bed early and reads in bed, a luxury which he has just begun to allow himself. Seven hours is_all he gives to sleep because he thinks it sufficient, not because it is all he wants. He would rather have eight and admits that he hates to get up at any time, but adds that “one can do everything by habit, and when I have had my seven nours’ sleep my habit is to get up.” Joei Shomaker, editor of the Logan (Utah) Republican, has published a little book of instruction to writers and news- paper correspondents, which cannot fail to be of value to persons engaged 1n literary and journalistic work. It tells how to begin, what to write, how to sell manu- script and many things that every corre- spondent should kno: > The Queen ot Italy, during her recent sojourn at Monza, practiced assiduously as'a cyclist under the guidance of a Milan- ese professor, and she is now able to cover long distances with safety. Many Italian ladies, not much given hitherto to athletic NEW TO-DAY. MUNYO HR. A MELSTED CURED OF RHEUMATISM. Rheumatism, Dyspepsia, Kidney Troubles, _ Blood Diseases and all Nervous Com- plaints and Throat and Lung Affec- tions Positively Cured by Mun- yon's Improved Homeo- pathic Remedies. Ask Your Druggist for Munyon’s Guide to Health, Buy a 25-Cent Remedy and Cure Yourself. Mr. A. Melsted, 113 and 118 West Second street, Los Angeles, Cal., has this to say of Munyon’s Remedies: ‘‘For years I have suffered with acute rheumatism, which has affected me in various parts of the body. I have tried many so-called ‘cures,” but never realized any benefit. I have spent hundreds of dollars with doctors and had become quite discouraged when the Her- ald made its free distribution of your ‘Rheumatism Cure.’ I determined to make one more effort to get relief, and, contrary to my expectations, I had not taken more than three doses before I began to improve, and before I had finished the little vial every ache and pain had disap- peared. I cannot say too much in praise of these wonderful little pellets.” Munvon’s Rheumatism Cure never fails to relieve in from one to three hours, and cures in a few days. FPrice 25c. Munyon's Dyspepsia Cure positively cures all forms of indigestion and stom- ach troubles. Price 25¢c. Munyon’s Cold Cure prevents pneumo- nia and breaks up a cold in a few hours. Price 25¢. Munyon’s Cough Cure stops coughs, night sweats, allays soreness and speedily heals the lungs. Price 25c. Munyon’s Kidney Cure speedily cures Painu in the back, loins or groins and all orms of kidney disease. Price 25¢. Munyon’s Nerve Cure stops nervousness and builds up the system. 25c. Munyon’s Catarrh Remedies never fail. The Catarrh Cure (price 25c) eradicates the disease from the system, and the Catarrh stc]e" (price 25¢c) cleanse and heal the arts. 2 Munyon’s Asthma Cure and Herbs re- lieve asthma in three minutes and cure in five days. Price, 50c each. Munyon’s Headache Cure stops headache in three minutes. Price 25¢. Munyon’'s Pile Ointment positively cures all forms of piles. Price 25c. Munyon’s Blooa Cure eradicates all im- purities of the blood. Price 25c. Munyon’s Vitalizer restores lost powers to weak men. Price, $1. A separate cure for each disease. At all druggists, 25 cents a bottle. Personal letters to Prof. Munyon, 1503 Arch street, Philadelphia, Pa., answered with free medical advice for any disease. Kastimes, are said to be following her Majesty’s example. NEW TO-DAY. MONEY SAVING PRIGES Money-Saving Dishes. S MONEY SAVERS. Lunch Buckets, Coffee Pots, Cream Pitchers, Oatmeal Bowls, Custara Cups, Sgoonara, Plates, Dairy Pans, Hand Basins, 5¢ each or 6 ror 25¢. 1 OcC MONEY SAVERS. Berry Dishes, Milk Pails, Meat Dish, Dish Pans, Mustard Pots, Vegetable Dish, Salad Dish, 10c each or 3 for 25¢c. TEA SETS. 4 Pieces complete for 12 Persons Pure White, Delicate Blue, Brown and Rich Gold Spray Decorations. * Money-Saving Prices, per set 225, 2‘50. 2.85, 3.00, 3.75, 4.15 DINNER SETS. Pleces complete for 6 Persons Pure White, Delicate Blue, Brown and Rich Gold Spray Decorations. Money-Saving. Prices, per set 3 4.%. 4.85, 5‘00, 5.85, 6.50 DINNER SETS. Pleces complete for 12 Persons Pure White, Delicate Blue, Brown and Rich Goid Spray Decorations. Money-Saving Prices, per set Great American fipnm'nu TeaCo.’s 1344 Market st., S. F. 965 Market st., S. F. 140 Sixth st., S. F. 017 Kearny st., S. F. MONEY- SAVING STORES: 1419 Polk’st., S. F. TRY OUR Money-Saving Prices; Mone;'fgav‘{fi: stores} 100 Opel!:tion MONEY SAVED EVERY DAY. NO SPECIAL DAY. nd st., S. F. 3289 Mission st., S. P. 52 Market st., S. F. Oakland. 'ablo ave. % 616 E. Twelith st., d. 1355 Park st., Alameda. ELECTROLYSIS.G 1170 MarKET 5T, CORNERTAYLOR (Ouerrre Maze) Room 28! PrEMASBNLLY REMOVES SUPERFLUOUS »air by electricity at #1 a sitting: first sitting m.:.n scars left; moles, warts, etc.,, slso re- A FIRST-CLASS HIGH-ARM SEWING MACHINE ! Equal to any machine on the market selling at twice the price. “Golden Rule” SPECIAL UNTIL APRIL 1, 1896 ‘With 3 Drawers. ‘With 5 Drawers. 19.38 GUARANTEED FOR FIVE YEARS. INSTRUCTIONS FREE. FLOWER POTS! SPECIAL SALE. Leeds At Pots, 5-inch. Leeds Art Pots, 514 inch. Leeds Art Pots, 6-inch. ‘Albany Spiral, 6-inch. York Paneled, T3g-inc York Paneled, 814-inch. Blythe Cyperion, all co Large _assortment G Royal Chelses, Hand Decorated and Japanese Pots, AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICES, FOR SALE. A GREAT BARGAIN HE HALE RANCH, MOUNTAIN VIEW, Santa Clara County; two miles from Mountain View Station, eight miles from the Stanford Uni- versity, and ten miles from the City of San Jose. 1700 Acres of the Choicest Land in the Santa Clara Valley. ‘Will be sold at a great sacrifice to close the estate of ]J‘.::flvl‘la. deceased. = 2 neyard, Three Prunme Orchards, Fruit “Irees of all kinds and abundance of Water from a living creek and numerous springs. Large House of eleven rooms, Barns, Stabls Chicken-Houses, Outhouses, etc., etc. etc., and all the necessary farming utensils. PRICE $85,000—0NLY $50 PER ACRE. The cheapest land ever offered in California. For all particulars apply to MCGLYNN & MEN- TON, Real Estate Agents, Room 22, Chronicle bn:uam, where photographs of the property cam seen. DR. LEPPER’S ELECTRIC LIFE! Cures Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Bruises, Sprains, Stiff Joints and Swellings. IT STOPS ALL PAIN. - ALL DRUGGISTS SELL IT. 50 CENTS AND $1 A BOTTLE,