The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 14, 1897, Page 23

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 1897. ITHIN the limits of a small and exceedingly dainty volume Messrs. Harper & Bros of New York have | published a collection of about adozen es- | says written by the late George William Curtis and contributed by him to “The ¥ r Harper's Magazine. The volume is entitled **Ars Recte Vivendi,” a name adopted at the suggestion of a college professor in view of the fact that the writings therein contained cover the tal questions of hygiene, courtesy and morality. Mr. Curtis, in his day, held a facile pen, and his compositions were highly esteeried as those of a man who preferred the use of the rapier rather than that of the b Some fine speci- mens of sat nterwoven with his | | | serious talk. or manners and morals the editor of Harper's possessed fixed d these mainly of the ola dence of this 1s not lacking in ir'’ talks, so long a feature at magazine he conducted. as been claimed that matter con- d to mewspapers or serial publica- ns loses much of its value when placed 1in the covers of a book, and in the > of some writers this is undoubtealy : Take, for instance, Mr. Zangwil whose witty causerie, “Witnhout Preju ice,”” ran month by month for quite s | )ng time in the Pall Mall Magazine. The monthly chats were afterward repub- lished, but what made excellent transient copy acquired a certain jerkiness when served up in book form. Other writers could be cited who have suffered from a similar disaavantage, but the not be found with Mr. Chair” e plying to them the infallible test ot time | they also come out creditably. Several made their appearance as far back as 1874, yet it is no exaggeration to s hat were they published for the first time to-day v would find a host of resders, not 11y on account of their applicability to ent-day conditions, but as well for ¢ merit as examples of clean- h without prosiness or re- dundancy. The young newspaper writer Id take Mr, Curtis’ “Ars Recte | ndi” as a study in writi glish, | part from the infor: i arts re- | z the ethical side of b rst essay in the collection before 1s is entitied travagance at College,” L ring the condition of the student at sixty years ago with that which in some respects to the d the latter. The social in- f our colleges are held responsi- cailing. e for that barrier of exclusiveness erected | nd himself by the rich man’s son ch is galling to the pride of the student nds himself unable to compete with 1y brother for lack of mea nd Brawn” is another articl versity life and demandine reater recognition for the studious col- | -ian. The third essay, ‘‘Hazing,” is a| ’ erful attack on the petty bullying that | r: American colleges. The ar ideas of seniors touching the in- ion of freshmen to college life are iled without mercy, though with e justice, and Mr. Curtis went so far s to call hazers men to whom the training | instincts of gentlemen are un- | Incidentally the word “gentle- | illuminated with & directness | plicity that is charming. *Is a tleman,” a-ked Mr. Curtis, honest and modest and 1 describing Lovelace, should tt be wus a gentleman? iurally say so of Burns? not a joke to describe ntleman, while it would o deuy the name to Major be impos Dobbin.” By jar the most important essays in “Ars Rec i are those entitied ““Newspape They are composed icles contributed to ears 1830 and 1891, | te explanation of what id be, and how d conduct him- 1 with men and print. Mr. Curtis’ 1 some respects advanced by the late ss, it may be ies experienced by s of his conduct were trivialities 1 editor would ze his news- licated by tem of i States, or for the civilized resembie t 1 Charles A. D said un world, it may be said ng like an absolutely non-partisan newspaper, ving impartially both siges of public Juestions, is an imposs The ideal b keitsa conditions of to-d fully wspa; yet s plan, has | earance, and, en the | ¥, it could not succcss- survive a few woeks of existeace to ma The question of the employment of in- vective and satire papers writers is ably treated. Under cx in conditions the author of “Eisy Chair Essays” consid- ered their use entirely allowable, but, he said, “‘the legitimate superlative must be nandled like dynamite, with extreme Blackguardism of e degree nnisance 10 bYe summarily discoun- &d and abated by those who know he difference between grandeur and big- between Mercutio and Tony Lump- kin, between fair play and foul.” In conclusion Mr. Curtis put forward the opin (and in this he was not sup- ca tion. ten ne ported by the great New York editor named), that journalism is a pursait rather than a profession, for the reason that it does not demand a certain course ot stady, which 1s finally tested by an ex- amintion and certified by a degree. In a lecture given by Mr. Dana before the nts of an Eastern college Lie said, on contrary, that journalism was a pro- D 1n every sense of the word ; that in no business was sjecial study and special kuowledge in particular branches of in- formation of more value. We are in- ed to agree with him, notwithstand- ¢ Anthony Trollope’s observation that body can set up in the business who command pen, ink, paper and a room. Could bLe aiso have said that any man Ay sel up the trade of an artist who can buy paints, brushes, an easel and a pal- etie? To quote Mr. Curtis' own words, It can be done indeed, but only as a man who can hire a boat may set up for an East India merchaut,” SR fe c * The fourth volume of the ¢History of California,” by Theodore H. Hittell, * | doubtedly take its place as the standard | at length and in the way that a scholar promised for the end of October, hascome to hand ana fulfills in every respect the promise of the three earlier volumes, an extended notice of which was given on this page of THE CALL several weeks ago. We took occasion at that fime to testify to the carefulness with which the history | has been written, to the scholarly acumen of its author and to the painstaking atten- tion which he has employed in securing facts for his work, which is published by | N. J. Stone & Co., 809 Market street, this city., | The fourth volume is introdaced with the administration of Governor Burnett and brings the history to a completion with the close of the year 1887. Politi- ally, the book covers the whole time | nce the Btate was received into the Union, and it is a matter for congrat tion that Mr. Hittell has given his read- ers careful description without bias. Par- ticularly is this evidenced in his treat- ment of the labor troubles in California. Oune need only compare Bancroft’s history of the subject with that of the writer of the work under review to see wherein in- accuracies have been corrected, worthy men put straight and demagozues cen- sured. We take occasion at this time to repeat that the work just completed will un- history of California. The book has cost a number of years of immense labor in its preparation. It was not written as a speculation nor was it patched together asajob. Completed s it is in a work- manlike manner it stands as a monument to the industry of Theodore H. Hittell, admirably preserving in permanent form those romantic events forming the history of one of the most important Statesin the Union, . . . Happy indeed must be the lot o the young man engaged in the study of Eug- | lish literature at the Leland Stanford ( Junior University in the possession of so | helpful an instructor as Professor William | | Henry Hudson, whose last book, ‘“‘Idie | Hours in & Library,” reaches the review | desi of THE CALL from the press of William Doxey, at the Sign of the Lark. Ju | bis labors in the classroom from this { ume he must be a man with the rare voi- fac- ulty of imparting knowiedge in the pleas- | ant manner of a friend rather than in th | of a professional mentor, and it is t characteristic that makes the successtul teacher. | The title of Professor Hudson’s bo k | happily chosen, suggesting as it does the | work of a man whose keenest delight itis to browse among his beloved books—at random, ifyou will—yet taking from their pages “here a little, there a little,” and serving it up to his audience acceptably either from the lecture matform or in the | pages of a book. It is in this way that one of the essays before us was prepared, and from the method of the preparation of the dish comes its delightful savor. There are four essays in Prolessor Hud- son’s book—''London Life in Shakes- peare’s Time,” “Pepys ana His Diary,” | “Two Novelists of the English Re tora- tion” and “A Glimpse of Eohemia.” Of these we single out “Pepys and His Diary” as being the one possi th most general interest to the ordinary reader and as indicating to the greatest degree what Mr. Hudson can do in the way of enveloping a deal of solid | instruction in an attractive wrapper. Never have we read so interesting a dis- sertation on the subject, nor one that so completely satisfied the requirements botn of the student and the man who | is | | likes instruction in homeo pathic doses. What Samuel tha lived? How helive .? His manners? His dress? His wife? The coudition of Eng- land in his time socialiy and politically ? You will find your every question answered is tuere touching you would know? the garrulous When he would reply to them. By the way, how fo you pronounce the diarist's name? rofessor Hudson is prepared for vour | query with a verse published 1n London | several years ago: There are people, I'm told—some say there are heaps— Who speak of the talkative Samuel as Peep And some, so precise snd pedantic their step is, \thcunl the delightful old diarist Pepys; But those I think right, and I follow their steps, Ever mention tho garrulous gossip as Peps. 'Tis. a curious book, Pepys’ Dairy, and one that pays good interest for the time expended in its perusal. Of style it has none, neither does it possess any literary quality. Iis value from a historical standpoint may also be questioned. Whence, then, its atiractiveness, appar- ent more after a second reading than from a first? Professor Hudson thoroughly satisfies the reader on this point: Pepys’ memoranda have lasting interest for us on account of their naive frankness, their plain and simple spontaneity, their (rans- parent honesty of seif-expression. As we read we realize that, for once at least, we are brought into the closest, the most vital contact with & living man, and that this man speaks to us, who, by the irony of fate, cha 10 overhear his unconsidered utterances with- out disguise, without reticence or reserve of the things which stand nearest to his heart. The reader of Pepys’ Dairy knows Pepys himself better than his acquaintances knew him et the office, in the coffee-house, at the street corner; better than his friends knew nhim at the social board, spite of the truth that there is in wine; better even than his wile knew him 1n the intercourse of the home. To us he lays bare without sophistication or guile thoughts and impulses, desires and disap- pointments, concealed from them beneath the conventional wrappings of daily manners and life—personal criticisms aud private experi- ences which living he coufiled to none. Does this strike you as & small matter? Then pause for a moment and ask yourselves of what other man whose written words have ever come into the fierce white glare of publi- cation such statements as these could truth- fully be made. Considerations of space alone deter us frecm making 8 more complete summary of this mosty fascinating study of a singu- lar man. Let it be saia, howeve:, that we could imagine no greater intellectual de- light than to hear Professor Hudson per- sonally tell of his experienc:s while spending his idle hoursin a library. On paper le is luminous and sympathetic, with a flow of diction that is remarkabie. Heard from the leciure platform he must ) Siate or Territory wherein thev were opera- | Beauties of Marie Corelln’ | in layiug the groundwork be delightful, with just those attributes which go to make the successful lecturers to and teachers of bodies of students. A word should be said in praise of the mecnanical part of the volume before us. The book has b2en made in San Francisco and is certainly as good a specimen of workmanship as comes to us every day from the oider esiabished publishing- nouses in the East, Emaxvesn Erzas. HOW TO SELECT A LIBRARY. The selection and care of a library constitute asubject that is always interesting to a large class. From an editorialin the New York Times we take the following very sensible sug- gestion “In the selection of books time and care are required. What to buy and what not to buy need tobe fully considered in order to pre- veut the filling up of shelves with books that may prove to be tresh. It isa godd plan for persons buying ever so moderately and econos mically to consuit (in addition to their own tastes) some of the recognized catalogues which classify literary publications for the convenience of buyers. Even when a man has largs Y tive. his mind made upas to what he wishes, the Awerican mining law 18 therefore a tolerably complicated thing. Mr. Lindley treats of tnis system in the work before us, and sets forth and comments upon the laws in alearned and thorough manner. The work is moreover entirely up to date, as in the ap- pendix will be founq the Congressional, State and Territorial legislation on mining subjects 1n foree in September of thisyear. The volumes will prove valuable to all those who are inter- ested in mines and mining, especially to law- yers who make & specialty of this kind of practice. LUKEWARM ONLY. A DAMSEL ERRANT—By Amelie Rives. Phila- deiphia: J. B. Lippincott Compeny. For sale iu this iy by Joscph B. Hoftman. Price 75 cents. Admirers of Amelie Rives will be somewhat disappointed with her letest effort, *“A Damsei Errant,” as it is almost void of the erotic and sickly sentimentality for which this pe-titied authoress is notorious. In fact onlyin one place does Ameli€’s passionate nature show 1tself, and that is where her young hero, a gallant of the middle ages presumably, forgets himselfin the presence of the maid of his heart. *Then,” says he, “I wrapped her to me and drank deep of her eyes and married her wild mouth to mine, and with my lipsstill on her lips sobbed forth: I love thee—l love thee—love thee.” All this was done after he had sucked the poison from a suske dite out of her dimpled foot, so his insanity is to be accounted for. But the maid would have none of him, and tells nim so in tne fiery and flowery language of a Billingsgate fishwife. The gallant tinally kills his lady love's father in a free fight, is | sentenced to death and is only saved from the grave by the damse. herself, who repents of her cruelty and betroths herself to him in sight of the executioner’s block. NOT AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS. THE CRIME OF SYLVESTRE BONNARD— B/ Anatole France. New York and Boston: Price $1. This is a typical romance in the highest and purest French style. In spite of the blood- curdiing title there is nothing sensational in the whole story. The hero, like the author himself, is a member of the French Academsy. He is au elderly man, who, in spite of having delved ali his life in antiquities, and being more iamiliar with medizval institutions than those of his own times, with the ordinances of Blois, but not with the Napoleonic code, has Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. PROFESSOR WILLIAM H. HUDSON. printea lists which the leading booksellers | have as suggestions and guides to buyers are | of immense advantage. This is particularly true in cases where & person selects books for fam “In buying for a moderate-sizea library the head of a houseliold should consider the fol- Ancient and modern his- ¥, travel, geography, explorations, geology, astronomy, military art, ancient and modern wars, politics, nee, irce trade and protec- tion, industrisl education and progress, capita and labor, inventions, domestic_economy, so- ciology, theology, religions, evolution, myth- ology, mozal philosophy, temperance, biology, biography, art and architecture, poetry and wit and humor. “With some of the best things in these classes of literature a useiul and wholesome family library can be estzblished at moderate expense and with trouble of selecting reduced to the minimum. The variety within the lines indicated, and the quality of binding and paper in eech volume, can be governed by the financial ability the purchase The hint issufficient, however, to assist any one for a library which will at once be an ornament to the homeand a refining influeuce upon its members. Of course the very foundations of any Library are a dic- tionary and an encyciopedia. A good map or two will also prove an advantage in study- ing history and keeping one informed on the world’s current events. “In the vast supply of fiction & few volumes can easily be selected which will ‘enliven’ a library or serve as a leavening influence among the heavier and more strictly instruct- ive works, without detracting from the dig- nity of the collection. The reading world would agree that the following works of fic- tion, for example, stand foremost, both as to skill in writing and as to the wholesome en- tertninment afforded: ‘Les Miserables,” ‘Van- ity Fair; ‘Middlemarch,’ ‘A Tale of Two Cities, ‘Don_Quixote,” ‘Moute Cristo,’ ‘David Copperfield,’ ak House,’ ‘Westward Hol ‘Lorna Doone,’ ‘The Vicar of Wakefield,’ ‘Great Expectations,” ‘Oliver Twist,’ ‘The Scarlet Letter,” ‘Saracinesca,’ ‘The Marble Faun' ard ‘Romola.’ Al of these can be purchased in very inexpensive forms, but their literary quality and the high reputation of their authors entitle them to a place among best pound books. E car adds largely to the supply of new literature, and a few of the year's best things naturally ought to be purchased as they appear in order to enable one to keep abreast with current thought and ideas. The art now displayed in tne manufacture of books makes them an edditional source of pleasure 10 the owner. “To heighten the beauty and utility of & col- lection of books, as well as to aid in their preservation, a modern bookease ougit to be used. Books ought to be kept free from dust, and they are best preserved and best seen be- hind gless doors. Nothing pays a larger re- turn on the investment than the bookease, considered as an article of ornamental furni- ture or in connection with the care of val- uable books.”” CONCERNING MINING LAWS. A TREATISE ON THE AMERICAN LAW RELATING TO MINES AND MINERAL LANDS. By Curtis H. Lindley. San Fran- cisco: Bancroft-Whitney Company. umes. Curtis H. Lindley, a prominent attorney of this city, bas added to the law literature of the United States wnat among other countries passes 85 a Dnational mining code. As the author states, American mining law is ex- pressed in the legislation of the various States and Territories supplementing Congressional action: in the legislation of Congress itself, and in the local rules and customs, or regula- tions established in different localities not re- pugnant to Federal legislation or thatof the TWo Vol- nevertheless & most sensitive nature. Down in the depths of his heart there is a large room for romance and sentiment, and when atlast he discoyers a somewhat raw and un- trained maiden in a humbie position, the daugnter of his first and only love. he finds scope to lavish the suppressed tenderness of & lifettme. The only crime the old man com- mits is to make this girl happy. How that is done the author tells in a chxrming manner. The characters in the book are drawn with the utmost care. There is little action to the story, but it has the besuty of a siowly wind- ing stream full of periect reflections and un- cisturbed by any disagreeabe incidents. Typ- ographically speaking the book is a gem; it is elegantly bound, well printed and handsomely fllustrated. FOR ALL SORTS OF CHILDREN. BOC From ‘A ew York: Charles THE STEVENSON 80 Child’s Garden of Verses." ESciibner's Sous. Lovers of the late Robert Louis Stevenson’s work will be giad to hear that many of the delicate little poems in “'A Child’s Garden of Verses” have been set to music by various composers and published in handsome book form by Charles Scribner’s Sons. Beautiful by themselves, these songs of childhood are even more so with their musical accompaniment, and the book will certainly become a favcrite with singers. Among the composers who have contributed to the present work one notes the names of Reginald de Koven, Dr. C. Villiers Stanford, W. W. Gilenrist, Arthur Foote and G. W. Chadwick. THE PINK FAIRY BOOK—Edited by Andrew Lang. New York: Longmans, Green & Co. Children never weary of reading about the mythical beings (hat peopled the world in its younger days, and many of their elders are not averse to perusing them themselves. The fairy stories in this litile book are carefully selected and are gathered from every country under the sun. The illustrations accompany- ing them are both numerous and beautiful, and the volume will be in great demand asa gift book for Christmas. THE BAD CHILD'S BOOK OF BEASTS—Verses by H. B. New York: Edward Arnold. Price $1. Here 1s a new book for the children, and, al- though it is dedicated to *“bad” children, their better behaved brothers and sisters will undoubtealy appreciate it as well. Whether the verses or the illustrations are the more humorous is a matter the little ones must de- cide for themselves. The author is original, and, as children love originality, the book is bound to go. A _NEW BABY WOKLD—Complled by Mary Mapes Dodge. New York: The Century Com- pany. Price$1 50. This book consists of charming stories and verses for very little readers, culled from the pages of St. Nicholas Magazine. The work ot many popular writers of juvenile literature is included and the book is a suitable gift for a child. - The illustrations accompanying the reading matter are well exccuted. MORE fil[ CORELLL. The literary critic who tells about “The Lit- erary Show” in Town Topics has been very much bored because of a book called “The B:auties of Marie Corelli.” He talks about the author and the book as follows: ““The blinding exposure of Marie Corelll’s face has been safely kept from us, as we hear from the tireless but tiretome heralds for prolific breeder of bad books, but there are other and perhaps even more appalling dis- closures from which there isno escape. Asif it were not enough that all of us forced to ve- casional views of the lower jungles of litera- ture hold horrible memories of Corellian of- fenses against tuste, logic and grammar, here isga female who hasgone into those dreadful deeps and brought forth what she terms *The This good creat, ure’s name is Annie Mackay. Personally 1 suspect that this is merely a pleasant veil for Miss Corelli herself. Besides Miss Corelli, I doubt tne existence of any other person in the world, even of the femaie persuasion, able to find as many and as curious beauties in the Corellian volumes as are in this book. How- ever, there is really no need of my specula- tion in this regard. These extracts, being, as it were, a triple essence of the best, prove how awful must e the worst. Note this: “‘The fatal fingers of the electric instinct within me point out unerringly the flaw in every haman diamond.” “I should like to see the finger of an elec- tric instinet. I think the natural-history mu- seums would clamor for the details of this digit. Mr. Edison and Mr. Tesla would be in- terested, I know. Another phenomenon in which those eminent electricians would find food for wonder and discussion is descrived in this passage: *‘Iknow I once had a few glimmerings of the swift lightning called genius in me, and that my thoughts were not precisely like those of every-day men and women.’ “No, her thoughts were never like any other thoughts in the world. If they were they could not have seen swift lightning glimmer- ing. That may be genius, but Idoubtit. I think it is merely maudlin metaphor. It makes me agree, cheerfuliy and without re- serve, with Miss Corelli nerself when she de- clares: “““Mon Dieu! if 1 had but the gift of writing I would conquer the worid!’ “I think there can be no question on that score. The intention is there, but the pen is fmpotent. As the Frenchman once put it, ‘Ze ghost s willing, but ze meat is feeble.” Yet if the gift of writing is dented her, to her own knowledze, why does the woman continue her maunderings? Her philosophies are neither as lively as & graveyard nor as novel as yester- day. Observe some of them, their originality, their pungency: * ‘Methinks those who are best beloved of the gods are chosen first to die. * * * In this world no one, however harmless, is al- lowed to continue happy. * * * The mind soon grows fatigued with ponderivg. It is better not to think.’ “Indeed, indeed, it is much better not to think. If by avoiding thought and logicand grammar you may become the goddess of the great mentelly unwashed, why attempt any of these things? Observe the case of the young woman from whom I just hud tne mis- fortune to quote, She violatesall the proba- bilities of language and all the laws of intelli- gence, yet ir: the affection of the many she is cousin to the Isle of Man and sister to Hall Caine, as John Davidson’s nun mightsay in a momeént of freedom. “The philosophies of Martin Tupper pall be- fore the glittering gems in the Corellian coro0- net. Observe this severe truth: “‘Auy one can die.” “Ilike that. Iam glad the dear woman has found out that one trenchant fact.” ODE TO MY PIPE. Two yesrs old, this littie fellow, Yet he's strong and sweet and mellow. Yesterday, to-day, tc-morrow, Always sharing j 'y and sorrow Sticking by me like a brother, Soothing far more than amother. Two years old and yet quite ripe— My little buildog brier pipe. Yes, he goes to church on Sunday. (Oftentimes to worse on Mounday); Then of course he’s under cover, Yet this patient little lover, Grumbiing, hateful ways disdaining, Ne'er was known to be complaining. Two years old, yet strong and ripe— My little bulldog brier pipe. SR e e e . . Cheer and comfort always lending With his curling smoke ascending; Never cold and apathetic, Always warm and sympathetic, He and I are single hearted, He and I have never parted. Yes, 1love this strong, this ripe, This little bulldog brier pipe. FOR THE TREASURE HUNTERS. KLONDYKE — By Charl's A. Bramble. New York: R. F. Fenno & Co. This is by far the most pretentious volume yet published on the Yukon gold district, and its appenrance will undoubtedly be welcomed | by the numerous fortune-seexers who iniend going there in the spring. Mr. Bramble was lately the Crown Lands Surveyor for the Dominion of Canada, and is attached to the The impossible language of Jabberjee, his ex- traordinary adventures In the streets and shops of London and on the railways, his ridiculous social mischances, his debut as a sportsman, and exhibition of legal acumen in the courts, are perfect in their ingenious absurdity and make up & chronicle which will be laughed over and quoted by many a reader. The adroit characterizations of the artist in the numerous illustrations fuilv bear out the spirit of the text. This book is to be published immediately by D. Appleton & Co. A SIMPLE ROMANCE. A CHILD IN THE TEMPLE—By Frank Mat_ thew. London aud New Yorki John Lune Price $1. £ This is a charming story told in the first person by a writer whose other works have already won for him high pralse in tua liter- ary world. The “child’’ isa young bachelor, barely out of his teens, who rooms in the old London Temple, and who Is supposed to be studying law. His reminiscences of childhood days in Ireiand during the ‘‘moon- lighter” troubles, his queer iriends and their queerer doings, his adventures and the deli- cate love story running through it all are treated in a manner that must appeal to a large class of readers. The dialogue is in places delicious, and is never permitted to become commonpiace. A vein of Irish humor runs through ihe book from begin- ning to end. All the characters are natural, from Larry himself to his little fox terrier Mab. The days of the old Temple are now over, and sumptuous apart- ments have taken the place of the humble quarters where many a student burnt the midnight oil or dreamea away the hours while watching the shioping on the Thames. But young lads are still tne same; and as many have fallen victims to blue-eyed Irish lassies, they will take pleasure in reading how two lovers were kept apart yet happily brought together in the end. And their elders will do likewise. FOR DISCONTENTED GIRLS. PHYLLIS IN BOHEMIA—By L. H. Bickford and Richard Stillman Poweil.” Chicago and New York: Herbert =. Stone & Co. For ssle by Wil- liam Doxey, Palace Ho.el. Price $1 25. This is a story of a young girl who wearies of Arcadia and enters Bohemia with her young man prior to their marriage. The proceeding is somewhat out of the common, but as the couple are eminently respecta- ble no harm comes out of their little escapade. In fact it turns an otherwise head- strong girl into a good littie wife with some experience of the ways of the world. doings in Bohemia are well described, al- though the twain soon find out that one must be born inside of the mug.c circle or remain forever without. The book is somewhat wearisome after the first few chapters, but the characters are well drawn throughout. Ifsuch a book can teach a lesson, the lesson of this one is: That the country with its simple pleasures is better (han the city with its jadea joys, and the young couple in Arca- dia are better off than in any other place. The iliustrations heading each chapter are origi- nal. HOW TO EXERCISE. MANUAL OF PHYSICAL DRILL—By Fir: Lieutenant Edmund L. Butts, U. S, A. Ne York: D Appleton & (o For sale by Doxey, Pa'ace Hotel. Price $1 +5. By studying this little volume any one can learn how to develop himseli by muscuiar ex- ercise. Thebook was written originally for the benefit of drill officers in the army, but much of the work can be periormed by the civilian athome. No athlete should be with- out a copy, as he wili find therein much valua- ble information as to trainiug for track and field events. The book is substantially bound in cloth and contains numerous illustrative cuts. A BOOK OF EXPOSURES. HOURS WITH TH GH(SIS—Bv idgoly Evans. Chicago; Laird & Lee. This is an admirable expose of the devices of pretended mediums and charlatans, with fuliest evidence furnished »s to their trickery. Those interested in the phenomens of spirit- uslism and theosophy will certainly find much between iis covers to set them thinking. It contains forty illustrations of the highest in- terest, revealing the secrets of rope-tying, slate-writing, materializations ard spirit-pho- tography. It also contains the strongest ac- connt of the late Mme. Blavatsky’s lite and work, and gives & comprehensive synopsis of Henry Price THE LATE GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS. editorial staff of the Engineering and Mining Journal. his advice contained in this book is well worth listening to. It is a veritable ‘‘manual for gold-seekers,” and contains information on routes, tools, supplies, clothing and prices of articles obtainable in those ports. The coun- try 13 described as it never has been before, and only facts aredealt with. The chapter on «Life at the Diggings” is especially interest- ing. Numerous illustrations appear in the book, which is to be relied on, SOMETHING FOR SINGERS. POLYHYMNIA, A COLLECTION OF QUAR- T¥4s AND CHORUSES FOR MALE VOICES —By John W. Tafts. Bosten and New York: Siiver, Burdeu & Co. Pric: $1 12. This book has been prepared in answer to numerous requests from teachers, educators ana directors, who have felt the need of a choice coliection of part songs especially adapted to male voices for boys’ grammar end high schools, male quartets, glee clubs, etc. 1t contains an unusuaily large number of the finest representative selections and songs from the works of famous composers, and thus forms an introduction to the best musical literature of the world. ANSTEY’S NEW BOOK. 1t will be good news for the readers of “Vice Versa’’ and “The Tinted Venus” that F. Anstey is again developing the delightful vein of humor which bas gained for him so many friends. His new book has the remarkable title of *“Baboo Hurry Bungsho Jabberjee, B.A.” In this irresistibly amusing picture of the educated Baboo in England Mr. Anstey’s delightful humor finds its happiest expression. He knows whereof he speaks, and | theosophical doctrines. The book 1s brought to an end with a sketch of the successors of the famous Russian priestess, with a complete bibliography of all the works written on the subject. A TALE WORTH READING. WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNGER. Miss M. E. Braddon. New Yorl & Co. Miss Braddon’s latest book is undoubtedly one of her best and will appeal toa largs circle of readers. In it she deals with the days of Charles IT of England, “who only re- membered his kingship when he wanted & new subsidy.” Her characters are flesh and blood creatures, the men given to dusling and drinking, the women either heartless coquettes or of surpassing virtue. Miss Brad- don is sure ot her facts, and this book is there- fore of historical value. Her description of the plague in London is graphic in its details, and the duelling scene between her two lead- ing characters is a splendia piece of writing. AN OLD FAVORITE. TANG LEWOOD TALES—By Nathaniel Haw- thorne. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. Price 75 cents. Readers old and young will always read Heawthorne with pleasure. In “Tanglewood Tales” he tells in his own inimitable style the Greek siories of “The Minotaur,” “The Pyg- mies,” “The Dregon’s Teeth,” “Circe’s Pal ace,” “The Pomegranate Seeds” and “The Golden Fleece.”” Under his touch the old myths are reclothed with & fresh and undying beauty, and will certainly gladden the hearts of all children fortunate enough to possess them. This new edition is exceedingly hand- some, and {5 beautifully illustrated. By : R. F. Fenno Their | LITERARY NOTES AND NEWS. Mrs. Emily Crawford, the well-known Paris correspondent of the London Daily News, tells Lorna” of the British Week!y that there is no opening at all for women journalists in Paris. “The manners of the country,” she say entirely against it. The Fronch press isat present in the hands of a rough, pushing, scrambling set of men, who guard their own rights most jealously against any intrusion of women. If a girl tried to force her way into a Paris newspaper office, she would meet with seant'courtesy, avd would be looked upon as an interloper who deserved no merey.” If this is the way Frenchmen treat women who interfere with their earnings, it Is not diffi- cult to believe that they would show even less mercy to women who stood in the way of their lives. *Worse stories are believed in Parls about the con- duct of the men at the Charity Bazaer fire,” says Mrs. Crawford, ‘‘than any which have appeared in print. The men at the bazaar were notof a good type—they were the idle loafers and hangers-on of soclely.” “‘Apropos of the candidacy of d’Annunzio for the Italian Parliament,” says the New York Evening Posi, “a French writer has been taking a survey of the literary men of Europe who are in public life or who at least aspire to political influence. In Italy Car- ducet's name comes first, of course, and Verdi, though mot strictly » man of ietters, is a Senator. Spainstill honors literary achieve- ment with political rewards; Canovas himself was 8 distinguished historian; Castelar, Galdos, Martos have been at once academis cians and members of the Cortes. Seveu writers of more or less prominence are in the German Reichstag, Professor Virchow being the most distinguished. Maurus Jckal is & member of the Hungarian Pariiament. In England the well-known names are thicker, Morley, Lecky, Bryce being all members of the present Parliament, to say nothing of Mr. Balfour.” The Hartford Courant thinks that ii Hall Caine’s “The Christian’ is, worth £50,000 o its author Thackeray should have received $1,000,000 for “Vanity Fair.” The Sun raises the Courant’s fizures, and says that if the merit of the work is considered “Vanity Fair" must have been worth §5,000.000. This is quite true, but merit Is not the basis of pay- ment; if it were a dozen authors could be named who would be starviug in their garrets to-day instead of hiving on the fat of the land. Mr. Kipling is one of the few authors Who is | paid for his worth and not for his popularity. ‘There are many authors whose books outsell his by thousands, but who are motso well paid. It is doubtful 1f more than 50,000 copies of any of his books have been sold in this country, yet he is paid a higher rate than authors whose stories sell twice as well. The Centary Company will publish the fol- lowing books in November: James Whitcomb Riley’s “Rubaiyat of Doc Sifers,” a long poem, | the story of & country doctor, with fifty illus- trations by Reiyea; General Schofield’s biography, “For:; Years in the Army”; the Hon. James Bryce’s *Impressions of South Africa”; ““Tae Story of Marie Antoinette,” by Anna L. Bicknell, who wrote “Life in the Tuilleries Under the Second Empire”; *Java, the Garden of the East,” by Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, author of “Jinrikishs Days’; and | new volume of poems, **Songs of Liberty,” by Robert Underwood Johnson. There is & certain minister in Kansas who hes an eye to the physical as well as the spir- stual welfare of his congregation. He brought one of his recent Sunday sermons to a sudden close with the following woras: *Brethren, I will now close, for I see that we are going to havea thunderstorm. The congregation will lease follow me to Brother Soandso’s field and help him stack his wheat” And tney went. The peasant on the shores of the Solway Firth that Froude tells about in his “Life of Car- lyle” held, it may be remembered, an alto- | gether diffzrent opinion of what was necessary under similar circumstances. The mew gift edition of Tenmyson's *In Memoriam,” with descriptive and analytical preface by Dr. Henry Van Dyke, the volume lavishly illustrated with drawings made for itby Harry Fenn, will be issued by Fords, | Howard & Huibert on Wednesday, November 17. Printed with great care on a neavy coated paper of extra strength, bound in siik, with gilt top, uucut edges, this book will supply | sometning hitherto unattainable—an edition of this great poem, by itself, in beauty and elegance suitable for presentation. There is to be a new translation of the “Roubaiyat” made by Mr. Edward Heron-Allen. Fiz Gerald’s translation was made from a copy of the Persian verse found in the Boaleian Library. A feature of tue mnew traaslation will be an exact copy of the original Persian. As ull members of the Omar Khayyam Club are quite fluent with thefr Persian, Mr. | Nichols, the publisher, will give English and ; American Roubaiyatists the fullest facilities. M. Taine left & volume in manuscript which has just been published in Paris, and Fisher Unwin will issue an English translation. Some favored few in New York had the oppor- tunity of reading this book of M, Taine's be- fore its publication and were loud in their praise of it. The title of the 'volume is ‘Journeys Through France,” and is the work of an art eritic. Taine appears in a new light. His descriptions of French scenery are charme ingly written. A handy little book acout the Klondike gold fields has just been published by Edward Holland, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel. Most of tne miners who came down from Alasks stayea at Mr. Holland’s hotel and irom them he has gathered all the informa- tion and statistics given in his book. The maps are accurately drawn and no miner who intends leaving for those partsin the spring should overlook it. Price 25 cents. We have received from the Smith Premier Typewriter Company of Syracuse, N. Y., a charmiag little pamphlet entitied “Our Juve- nile Class,” wherein a score of tots are de- picted using this well-known machine. Their opinions. as expressed on their “copy,” are unanimous as to the excellence of the Smith Premier. The pamphlet is also & splendid specimen of fine half-tone work. The granddaughter of the naturalist John James Audubon, Miss Maria Audubon, of Sa- lem, N. Y., has worked for twelve years in the translation of her grandiather's unpub- lished journals, which were written in French, the letters being so small that & magnifying- glass was necessary to decipher many of them. Number 7 of the American Colonial Tract series consists of a concise history of the early life in Virginia, published in 1612. These pamphlets are of considerable interest to the student, and have hitherto been inaccessible to the general reading public. The tracts are published by G. P. Humphrey, Rochester, N. Y., and sell for 25 cents each. The “Bab Baliads,” by W. S. Gilbert, are be- ing preparea for & new edition by their author. They first appearea in book form thirty years sgo, and since then have goue through many editions. The additions will consist of about 150 illustrations and many of the songs that occur in the Savoy operas. Chatto & Windus, London, will publish at once a “Life” of Napoleon III, by Archibald Forbes, the famous war correspondent. Part of the work has been appearing serially in the pages of the Idier. The volume will have asa frontispiece an unpublished portrait of Louis Napoleon. The Rev. H. R. Haweis, who has many Ameri- can friends and is speclally known in litera- ture as the author of *Music and Moral: is now writing a volume on *“Old Vioiins' for George Redway’s series of books for collectors. The Macmillan Company will publish in & week or two “The Leiters of Elizabeth Bar- ret Browning,” edited, with biographical ad- ditions, by Mr. F. G. Kenyon. Dr. james Legge, the lecturer on Chinese at Oxford, is said to be a very hard worker, for many years beginning his task at 3 o’clock in the morning. +Simon Dale” is the titie of Anthony Hope's new novel. We ard indebted to Mr. Hope for giving us a title without Zenda in it. Hall Caine, by the way, has planned & new work which will deal with the great “drink question.”