frpw?5 W Tt . V "r- . " Lt xr -r& i - r - . ..-I THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, POBTLAlfo, APRIL -1900. WMBOofa c3-gsr Ju Tesra'a Advice to His Sob. (From the Epanlat,) Sir m, I bI4 you buy few books. But read tb few wlUi on; Tour.own loved langwage study much. And read roar Latin rare. Too many write In other tongues Who do not know their own; They better use. as Greeks bars dose, Their zuui7e tongue alone. Tilth diligence regard the thought That books, forsooth, contain; 'And all that seemeth of most worth Let margin notes detain. 6bould your misfortune vw bs To glvs your strength to rhyme Which God forbid then think of me. Devote lt little time. The less of verses you shall mak The mors you'll be esteemed; 6o learn of me who much have made It little hath redeemed: The smallest hours lt yledeth ma. And but a .narrow bed; A carden small, and flowers few, A table poorly spread. Perry Marshall la Springfield Union. BIOGRAPHY OF SUMNER IBbtorfleia Storey's' Life of the Great Cfcmmploa. of Freedom Late Pnbllcatlo as. Tho great distinction of Charles Bum- laerwas the ability and fidelity with 'which he served the cause of freedom, giving to lit the support of his large resources of I Scholarship and powerful eloquence, and proving; faithful even unto death. In "Charles Sumner," -which has Just been added to the American Statesmen series. Ofoorfleld Storey portrays Sumner's noble career as a champion of freedom in the United States Senate, and his high serv ices as chairman of tho committee on for elgn relations during the years when wls--dom and Judgment were imperatively nec essary. His work is a fitting tribute to one of the conspicuous and shining figures among the statesmen of the United States. Charles Sumner came of typical New England stock. His family on both sides 'was of English origin, but his ancestors left England very soon after the landing of the Pilgrims and dwelt in the neigh borhood of Boston for nearly two cen turies before his birth. His childhood was in no way remarkable. He was educated In the schools of Boston, and was an am iable, quiet, refined and studious boy. Though apparently never 111. his health was not robust, and, having little inclina tion for 6ports, he early acquired the tastes of. a. scholar. His father at first did not Intend to give him a college ed ucation, and lt is a little curious that Sumner himself, in later years the cham pion of peace, wished to enter the West Point Military Academy. His applica tion for a cadetshlp failed, and the father's opportune appointment as Sheriff, with a larger Income, enabled the son to enter Harvard College In September, 182S. Sumner had long felt an overmastering desire to visit Europe, and In 1S37 he determined to go. The two and a half years which he spent in Europe enlarged Us horizon, added to his knowledge, filled Tils memory with a wealth of associa tions and made him a citizen of the world. It was now that he established personal relations with leading foreigners, and gained an Influence which later was of great value in tho conduct of our foreign affairs. Sumner returned from Europe in May, 1S40. but he took no part In the Presiden tial campaign of that year nor hi that of 1S44. His entry into public life dates from his Fourth of July oration at Bos ton in ISC His oration was an argu ment against war. It was received on both sides of the ocean with every variety of approval and disapproval, but all agreed that Sumner had shown rare cour age, high purpose and marked eloquence. In a single year, from a private citizen. little Interested In politics. Sumner became niv anti-slavery leader In Massachusetts. During 1817. he wrote in the newspapers against the Mexican war and against slavery. February 4, In Fanuell Hall, he urged tho Immediate withdrawal of our troops from Mexico. In IStS, the Free Boilers nominated him for Congress against Robert C Wlnthrop. He was de feated, but the campaign gave him wide influence and National reputation. The Massachusetts campaign of 1S30 resulted in the triumph of the Democratic and Free-Soil coalition. There was. Indeed, no choice for Governor, but the combined Democrats and Free Sollers had a major ity in the Legislature. From the ouuet. the object of the Free Sollers had been to elect a Senator, and now. when victory was won, Sumner was their choice. He secured a two-thirds' vote In the Demo cratic caucus, and his nomination was made unanimous, with only a few dissent ing votes, but after the state ofllcers had been elected by the combined votes of Free Sollers and Democrats, it. was found that enough Democrats in the Hour e to prevent his election refused to vote for him. There followed a struggle from January 14 till April 21. 1S51. During the contest, Sumner was bitterly opposed by the Whigs, who denounced the coalition as an iniquitous conspiracy, and. smarting under their recent defeat, spired no pains ot take from the Free Sollers the prize of victory. "Webster exerted all his Influ ence, and seems to have been joined by Lewis Cass, who represented a certain number .of Democrats. But the Democrats did not feel satisfied with their position in refusing to carry out their agreement after all their own candidates had been elected, and. they at-, tempted to meet the difficulty by offering to vote for some other Free-Soil candidate. The Free Sollers, however, stood firm, believing Sumner their best man. Fall ing with his supporters, his opponents next sought some concession from Sumner himself. He was asked by the editor of the Times, a Democratic Journal of Bos ton, to write a letter modifying his speech against the fugitive slave law, so as to make lt easier for the Democrats to sup port him. He declined. Individual Dem ocrats and committees urged him to give some assurance that he would not agitate the slavery question In the Senate, or would give other questions precedence: but he replied that he had not sought the office, and if It came to him. It must come to an absolutely Independent man Those opinions were known and vyio rould ro to the Senate resolved to assert them. This inflexible determination of (Sumner's supporter?, with considerable I pressure from the constituencies, finally triumphed, and so many of Sumner's op- mixm ponents yielded as to secure his election. The chapters on Representative Brooks assault on Senator Sumner is chiefly in teresting for tho comments ot some of the Senators, as the main facts are well known. Senators Slldell and Douglas were In the ante-room when come one rushed in and cried out that a man was beating Sumner. Slldell said. In the Senate: "We heard the remark without any particular emotion; for my part, I confess I felt none. I have no associations or relations of any kind with Mr. Sumner. I did not think lt necessary to -express my sym pathy or make any advances towards him." Senator Douglas said: "My first Impression was to come tnto the Senate chamber and help put an end to the af fray If I could; but It occurred to my tnlnd in an Instant that my relations to Mr. Sumner were such that. If I came Into the hall, my motives would be miscon strued, perhaps, and I sat down again." Senator Toombs, of Oeorgia, who wit nessed the assault, said: 'The blows were very rapid, and as hard as he (Brooks) could hit. Ther were hard licks and very effective. As for rendering Mr. Sumner any assistance. I did not do It. As to what was said, some gentlemen present Condemned It in Mr. Brooks. I stated to him. or to some of my own friends prob ably, that I approved It That is my opinion." Sumner longed to take part in the cam paign ot ISO, but this was clearly Impos sible. He could not refrain, howier, from writing letters In support of the Republi can candidates, and he wrote many in answer to requests from different parts of the country- In none of his speeches or letters, at this time or afterward, was there the least expression ot indignation at the attack upon himself or any per sonal allusion to his assailant. Tears afterward, when walking with George William Curtis in the Congressional cem etery, his attention was called to the cen otaph of Brooks, which he had 'hot seen. Curtis asked him: "How do you feel about Brooks?" Sumner answered: "Only as to a brick that should fall upon my head from a chimney. He was the un conscious agent of a malign power." Sum ner's hostility was directed against slav ery, not against slaveholders. The seizure of the British mall steamer Trent by the San Jacinto in the Fall of 1S61 and the arrest of Mason and Slldell. the Confederate agents, gave Sumner the opportunity to render his country perhaps the greatest single service of his life. He was In Boston when the news came, and at once said: "We shall have to give them (Mason and Slldell) up." Sumner exerted all bis Influence to promote a peaceful adjustment. He strongly urged that Mason and Slldell be surrendered, and showed Lincoln that, according to the doctrines always maintained by the United States, the capture was unjustifi able. He Insisted that England, on the other hand. In demanding their release abandoned claims on which she had al ways Insisted, and lt was thus In our power to win a diplomatic victory by surrendering the prisoners and accepting England's surrender of rights which she had always asserted and we had as con stantly denied. .But the peremptory tone of the English demand and the strong feeling in this country made such a course very dif ficult, and for a time lt was doubtful what the answer would be. Sumner per sistently urged his views on Mr. Lincoln, and on December 25 he read to him and the Cabinet private letters from Cobden and Bright, which -sustained him. Ctfb den wrote: ."I am sure that the President and people of the United States would be but too happy to let these men go free, unnatural and unpardonable as their offences have been. If by It they could emancipate the commerce of "the world. If I were In the position of your gov ernment, I would act upon their tradi tional policy and thus by a great strategic movement turn the flank 'of the European powers, especially of the governing classes of England. I would propose to let Mason and Slldell go, and stipulate, at the same time, for a complete abandonment of the old code of maritime law as upheld by England and the European powers." Sumner's anxiety and his appreciation of the crisis appear in numerous letters. Thus he wrote to Dr. Lleber-on December 24: "War with England Involves Instant acknowledgment of the rebel states by England, followed by France; breaking of the present "blockade, with capture of our fleet; the blockade of our coast from Chesapeake to East port; the sponging of our ships from the ocean; the establish ment of the Independence of the rebel states; opening of these states by free trade to English manufacturers, which would bo Introduced by contraband into our states, making the whole North American continent a manufacturing de pendency of England. All this I have nut .to the-President, But my anxious desire is to associate with our decision about Mason and Slldell some triumph of our traditional policy with regard to maritime rights." He labored with his English friends to prevent war. To Cobden he wrote. December 31, 1661: "On reaching Washington for the opening of Congress, I learned from the Prerldcnt and from Mr. Srward that neither had committed himself on the Trent "affair, and that it was absolutely an unauthorized act- Sew ard told me that he was reserving him self In order to see what view England would take. It would have been better to act on the case at once and to make the surrender In conformity, with our best precedents; but next to that was the course pursued. The question was not touched in the Cabinet. It was also kern out of the Senate. These circumstances will let you see how little there was of study or .effort against England. Telling the President a few days ago that it was now important to drive out from the Brit ish Government their distrust of his ad ministration and to plant confidence in stead, he said at once, with perfect sim plicity: 'I never see Lord Lyons (the British Minister). If It .were proper, I should like to talk with him. that he might hear from my own lira how much I desire peace. If we could talk together, he would believe me." " In the same letter, Sumner says: "Last evcting. at a dinner by the Secretary of War. where were Seward, Chase and two or three Senators: while we were seated tho President entered and took a seat at the table. The conversation was much ot 11 on the Trent case. Speaking of the course of England. Seward said he had no memory tnr injuries, and that in sur rendering Mason and Slldell he did it in good faith laying up nothing for future account or recollection. I mention this conversation and the surrounding circum stances that you may know the Inner sen timents of our Cabinet, and especially ot th- n.an who Is most suspected by Eng lishmen. Seward may be careless or has ty he is not vindictive. The President is naturally and Instinctively for peace, be s'des being slow to conclusions. He covets kindly relations with all the world, especially with England. I say this con fidentially, tor I have seen him almost dally and most intimately ever since the Trent question has been under discus sion." Sumner pressed upon both Bright and Cobden the idea that interference by Eng land in behalf of slavery would be a crime against civilization, and pointed out clearly the danger that such conduct would leave behind It "an ineradicable, undying sting." Pending the settlement, Sumner was very anxious to prevent any discussion In Congress which would embarrass the Administration. When the resolution of the House approving the action of Can tain Wilkes was sent to the Senate, he moved its reference to tho committee on foreign relations. But Hals of New Hampshire moved, that It be sent to the committee on naval affairs, and. to avoid debate, Sumner yielded. On December 26. the last of the seven days allowed by Earl Russell, Senator Hale made as oc casion In the Senate to assail vehemently the suggested surrender of National honor. Sumner spoke briefly In reply, urging that the matter be left with the Administra tion unembarrassed by any action in Con gress, The Administration decided to surrender the prisoners, and Seward, in announcing the decision, wrote thatlt was made "upon principles confessedly American." But he took the narrow ground that the error of Captain Wilkes lay.ln not selzlnr the Trent herself and bringing her before a prize court for condemnation. This view was, indeed, sustained by the opinion of the Crown lawyers, but lt was not sound. He added in his letter that, "If the safety of the Union required the detention of the captured persons, lt would be the right and duty ot this Government to detain them," thus substantially asserting the right to disregard international law when ever lt seemed expedient. This conten tion naturally was rejected by Earl Rus sell, and It was felt that the subject was left In an unsatisfactory position. The Government was attacked for Its course, and the country felt sore over what seemed a humiliation. The President sent to the Senate the cor respondence relating to the Trent case, and Sumner moved its reference to his committee, making a speech on January 7, ISO, in which he stated fully the his tory of the case and discussed the prin ciples involved, the historical precedents and the position of the two governments. By this review he established his main proposition when ho stated thus: "The seizure of the rebel emissaries on board a neutral ship cannot be Justified, accord ing to declared American principles and practice. There is no single point where the seizure Is not questionable, unless wo Invoke British precedents and practice, which, beyond doubt, led Captain Wilkes Into his mistake. In this surrender. If such lt may be called, the National Gov ernment does not even stoop to conquer. It simply lifts itself to the height of Its own original principles. The early efforts of its best negotiation the patriot trials of Its soldiers In an unequal war at length prevail, and Great Britain, usually so haughty. Invites us to practice upon prin ciples which she has so strenuously op posed. Thefe are victories of force; here Is a victory of trutlu If Great Britain has gained the custody of two rebels, the United States have secured tho triumph of their principles." This speech was generally approved by men of all parties on this side of the ocean. It smoothed ruffled sensibilities and turned apparent humiliation Into tri umph. It converted many who had de fended the capture. It strengthened Sum ner's personal Influence greatly by""?ettlng men see that he was a conservative states, man. and an International lawyer. In whose hands the foreign relations of the United States were safe. While anxious not to provoke war when intervention was seriously considered In Europe, Sumner desired equally to .avoid inviting lt by an appearance of fear. Of fers of mediation had been made by Rus sia in 1S61, and In 1SG2 the French Emperor tried to secure the co-operation of Russia and England In obtaining a suspension of hostilities for six months or longer. Fall ing In this, he tendered his good offices to facilitate negotiations, but his offer was declined. In England. Intervention In various forms .was from time to time sug gested In the press and in Parliament. In consequence of all this, on February 28, ISO. Sumner reported a series of resolu tions drawn by him. These recited the offer of the Emperor and the dancer that "the idea of mediation or Intervention In some shape may be .regarded by foreign governments as practicable," and then de clared that "any further proposition from a foreign power. Intended to arrest the ef forts of the United States to crush the rebellion, was calculated to prolong and embitter the conflict." and would be re garded by Congress as "an unfriendly act." These resolutions were passed promptly, and, being communicated through our Ministers to foreign govern ments, did much to end a course ot action which had kxclted the hopes of the Con federate states, and had created Irritations which might at any time have led to war with new enemies. It was a bold nnd dignified step, which was Justified by tho the Senate adjourned. Sumner re mained in Washington till July. Though tho Emancipation Proclamation had aroused the anti-slavery sentiment In Eng land, and had led to manifestation of sympathy with the North, our relations with England and France were never more critical than between March and October, ISO. Influent al Englishmen like Glad stone openly declared that the South w u d succeed, nnd so thought many of Sumners closest personal friends. The tone of Earl Russell was most Irritating; the es cape of the Alabama and Florids, the building and equipping of ships of war for Confederate use In English shipyards and the depredations of the privateers created Intense feeling in this country, well expressed In Lowell's "Jonathan to John." The climax was reached when. In September. Earl RurEell at first rp fused to stop the Confederate Ironclads, nearly ready at Birkenhead, and Minister Adams sent his famous note, in which he said: This Is war." During this period Sumner constantly corresponded with his English friends, im pressing them the fixed resolution of the North to restore the Union, no matter at what cost of civil or foreign war; insist Irs that England could not, upon moral grounds', throw her weight for slavery, and In every way endeavoring to prevent war. In Washington he was In constant consultation with Lincoln and Seward, and In touch with each difficulty as lt arose. The replies of Bright and Cobdn kent Sumner advised of English feeling and English difficulties, and they were at ones shown to the President. This familiar and frank correspondence helped our Gov ernment and strengthened the hands of those Englishmen who favored the North, of whom, from first to last. "John Bright was the bravest and most unfaltering. He never deserted nor doubted the suc cess of lhe Government," Mr. Storey concludes the volume with this estimate of Sumner: "Charles Sumner was a great man In his absolute fidelity to principle, his clear perception ot what his country needed, his unflinching cour age, his perfect sincerity, his persistent devotion to duty, his indifference to selfish considerations, his high scorn ot anything petty or mean. He was essentially simple to the end. brave, kind and pure. In his prime he was a very eloquent speaker, and his unbending adherence to the highest morality gave him Insight and power In dealing with great questions and a strong hold upon the moral forces of the country. He was a man of great ability, but not of the highest intellectual power, nor was he a master of style. He was not in cisive In thought or speech. His orations were overloaded, his rhetoric was often turgid, he was easily led Into irrelevance and undue stress upon undisputed points. His untiring Industry as a reader had filled his memory with associations which perhaps he valued unduly. Originally modest and not self-confident, the result of his long contest was to make him ego tistical and dogmatic. From the time ha entered public life till he died, he was a strong, force, constantly working for righteousness. He had absolute faith In the principles of free government as laid down In the Declaration of Independence, and he gave his life to secure their prac tical recognition. They were not to him glittering generalities, but ultimate, -practical truths, and in this faith Lincoln and Sumner were one. To Sumner moro than to any single man. except possibly .Lin coln, the colored racei owes Its emancipa tion, end .such measure of equal right as It now enjoys. To Sumner more than to any single man, the whole country owes the prevention of war with England and Franco wher. suoh a war .would have meant disruption of the Union." Hough-, ton, Mifflin & Co., Boston,) i PAClrtC COAST WRITER. Xlsa Mabel ClareCrmft, AatTsex e "Hawaii Set. One of the brightest books of travel that have appeared for some time past is "Ha waii Nel." a new edition of which Is pub lished by William Doxey, of San Fran cisco. It is quite an Ideal blend of history, description and personal experience, writ ten with sympathy, humor and pungency. It will not be popular among the mission ary folk, but it will bo heartily liked by people who love fair play, and don't look at everything from a strictly business point of view. To a man closely allied with the "missionary" government on the Island, "The Lounger," of Critic, re marked that it bore rtehr heavily on the missionary element. His reply was that a book on Hawaii that didn't. wouldn't be good for much. Miss Mabel Clare Craft, the author, has recently be come the Sunday editor of the San Fran cisco Chronicle a position to which few. If any, women have attained on any lead ing American newspaper. The Land ot Sunshine says that Miss Craft waa tho MISS 91ABEL first woman to win the University of Cal ifornia gold medal, and that she has earned every step of her advancement in journalism. COLONIZATION IS AMERICA. John Flake's History ot "Old VI r glnla and Her Neighbors." In the series of books on American his tory, upon which John Flake has tor many years been engaged, the two volumes on "Old Virginia and Her Neighbors." a ne edition of which has been published, come between "The Discovery of America" and "Tho Beginnings of New England." The opening chapter, with lto brief sketch of the work done by Queen Elizabeth's great sailors, take tip the narrative where the concluding chapter of 'The Discovery ot America" dropped lt. Then the story ol Virginia, starting with Sir -Walter Raleigh and Rev. Richard Hakluyt, is pursued un til the year 1753, when the youthful ueorge Washington sets forth upon his expedition to warn the approaching Frenchmen from any further encroachment upon English soli. "That moment." the authpr says, "marks the arrival of a new era, when a book like 'Old Virginia and Her Neigh bors'which Is not a local history nor a bundle of .local histories can no longer follow the career of Virginia, nor ot the Southern colonies, except as part and par cel of the career of the American people." That "continental state of things," which was distinctly heralded when the war ot the Spanish Succession broke out during Nicholson's rule In Virginia, had arrived in 1751. The struggle agalnot France, so long sustained by New York and New England, acquired a truly continental character when Virginia came to take part in It, Great public questions forthwith came up for solution, some of which were not set at rest until after that young land surveyor had become President of the United States. With the first encounter between Frenchmen and Englishmen In the Alleghanles, the stream of Virginia' history became an Inseparable portion ot tho majestic stream In which flows the career of the American Union. Mr. Fiske follows tho main stream of causation from the time of Raleigh to the time of Dinwiddle, from its sources down to Its absorption into a mightier stream. At first our attention Is fixed upon Ra leigh's Virginia, which extended from Florida to-Canada. England thrusting her self In between Spain and France. With the charter of 1609. Virginia was practical ly severed from North Virginia,' whle presently took on the names" of New Eng land and New Netherlands and received colonies of Puritans and Dutchmen. From tho territory thus cut down, further slices were carved from time to time, first Mary land In 1632. then Carolina In 1663, then Georgia In 1732. The work begins with a concise survey of the voyages of the sea kings ot the 15th and 16th centuries Columbus. Cabot, Drake, Cavendish and others. Columbus spirit was that of a Crusader, and his aim 'was not to discover a New World (an Idea which Boerds never once to have entered his head), but to acquire tho means for driving the Tqrk from Europe and setting free the Holy Sepulchre. In stead of beginning a Crusade, which might have expelled the most worthless and dan gerous ot barbarians from Eastern Eu rope, Spain began a Crusade against ev erything In the shape of political and re ligious .freedom, whether at home or abroad. By 1609, when Spain sullenly re tired, baffled and browbeaten, from the Dutch Netherlands, she had taken from America more gold and silver, than would today bo represented by $3,000,000,000. and most of this huge treasure she bad em ployed In maintaining the gibbet for po litical reformer and the stake for here tics. The second, third and fourth chap ters deal with the planting of colonies in America,, the founding of Jamestown, and the starving time In Virginia. Haklight favored English colonization In America because he was Impressed with the be lief that the population ot England was fast outrunning the means of subsistence. There was In many quarters a feeling that, with its population of about 6.090,000, Eng. sland was getting to be overpeopled. This was probably because lor some time past tho supply of food and the supply ot work bad both been diminishing relatively to the number of neoDle. In the remain' 'log chapters of the first volume graphic sketches are given or-itne man ot too first settlers in Virginia, the overthrow of the London Company, the founding ot Maryland, domestic broils and civil war. Tbesecond volume contains an account of the coming of the Cavaliers, a brilliant narrative ot Bacon's rebellion, and a re view of the affairs ot Virginia in the reign of William and Mary. Tho 100 years be tween the breaking out of Bacon's re bellion In 1676 -and the Declaration of In dependence wero for Virginia a century of political education. It prepared her for the great work to come, aai brought her into syrapatny more or less euccuro nuu other colonies that were struggling with similar political- questions, especially Massachusetts. The succeeding chapters treat of Maryland's vicissitudes after the death ot Cromwell, social life In the -Old Dominion, the Carolina frontier, the gold en age of pirates and the movement of the settlers from tidewater to the mountains! It was about 1730 that the Scotch-Irish began to pour Into the Shenandoah Vol ley. This settlement ot the Valley soon CLARE CRAFT. began to work profound modifications In the life of old Virginia. Hitherto It had been purely English, and predominantly Episcopal, cavalier and aristocratic. There was now a rapid Invasion ot Scotch Pres byterlanlsm, with small farms, few slaves, and democratic Ideas, made more demo cratic by life in the backwoods. It was impossible that two societies so different In habits and. Ideas should co-exist side by side, pending representatives to the same House of Burgesses, without a stub born conflict. For two generations there was a ferment which resulted In the sep aration of church and state, complete re ligious toleration, the abolition of primo geniture and entails, and many other Im portant changes, most of which were con summated under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson between 1776 and 17SS. Without the aid of the valley population, these be. glnnlngs of metamorphosis In tidewater Virginia would not havo been ac compMshed. The Shenandoah Valley," says our au. thor. "was not absolutely given up to Scotchmen and Germans; It was not en tirely without English Inhabitants from the tidewater region. At the northern end 'of the valley was a little English colony gathered about Lord Fairfax's home at Greenway Court, a dozen miles southwest from the site of Winchester. There was much surveying to be done. and the Lord of Greenway Court gave this work to a young man for whom he had conceived a strong affection. The name of Fairfax's youthful friend was George Washington. Fairfax, In engaging Wasn. lngton to survey his frontier estates, put him Into a position which led up to his wonderful public career. For this advance of the Virginians from tidewater to the mountains served to bring on the final struggle with France. The wholesale Scotch-Irish Immigration was fast carrying Virginia's frontier to ward the Ohio River. Hitherto the i struggle with the House of Bour- bon had been confined to Canada at one end of the line and Carolina. at the other, while the center had not been di rectly Implicated. In the first American Congress, convened by Jacob Lelsler at New York in 16S0. for the purpose of con certing measures of defence against tho common enemy, Virginia took no part. The scat of war was then remote, and her strength exerted at such a distance would have been of little avail. But In the 60 years since 16S0 the white popula tion of Virginia had Increased four-fold, and her wealth had Increased still more. Looking down the Monongahcla River to the point where Its union with the Alle gheny makes the Ohio, she beheld there the gateway to the Great West, and felt a yearning to possess it; for the westward movement was giving rise to speculations In land, and a company was forming for the exploration and settlement of all that Ohio country. But French eyes were not blind to the situation: and lt was their king's pawns, not the English, that opened the game on the mighty chess-board. French troops from Canada crossed Lake Erie and built their first fort where the city of Erlo now stands. They pushed forward down tho wooded valley of the .Allegheny and built a second fortress and a third. Another stride would bring them to the gateway." At such a crisis Governor Dinwiddle had need of the ablest man Virginia could af ford, to undertake a Journey of unwonted difficulty through the wilderness, to ne gotiate with Indian tribes, and to warn the advancing Frenchmen to trespass no farther upon English territory. As the best person to entrust with this arduous enterprise, the shrewd old Scotchman se lected a lad of 21. Lord Fairfax's sur veyor, George Washington. History does not record a more extraordinary choice nor one more completely Justified. (Hough ton, Mifflin & Co., Boston.) Current History. After being published nine years as a quarterly. Current History (Boston, Mass.) now makes Its appearance as a monthly. The character, the scope and the general editorial direction of the work undergo j r n J no change. The literary and .historical standard "is fully maintained; while the usefulness of the magazine asTa summary of contemporary history Is Increased by by a, more abundant use of portraits, maps and other Illustrations; and the greater frequency of the issues gives an added freshness and interest. The yearly subscription price remains the same. While reflecting with sufficient fullness and phil osophic insight, the progress ot opinion on all Issues ot the day. Current His tory's main object is to put 6n record In convenient form for permanent preserva tion and easy reference all the essential facts of history as It is being made. In the present number, the developments In South Africa are traced in all their bear ings, with many accurate maps and por traits to elucidate the text. The Ameri can colonial problem, the Issues of the Presidential campaign, the open door in the far East, the European pollticlal sit uation, currency reform, election results (tabulated), work of Congress, business and commerce Canadian affairs, isthmian canal question, progress of science, new Inventions, art, education, music, drama, literature, religion under all these head ings and many others, tho leading, facts are faithfully and impartially recorded. Portaits, maps and other Illustrations abound, and biographical sketches ot prominet personages are numerous. American Regeneration. The opening chapters ot William Morton Grlnnell's volume, "The Regeneration! ot the United States," are devoted to a con sideration of tho early history of the United States, with Its lofty political ideals reduced to practice, as contrasted with the political and business degeneration which characterized the last half of the 19th century. The state of affairs during the 20th century, as the author views it. Is still moro gloomy. Trusts assimilate all Industries, production becomes cheap, and men live well, but there Is no inde pendenceall except the leaders are slaves. "Tho nation had grown so great in numbers. In power, and in wealth so as to excite the envy of the rest of the world, and pride, which had always been a strong characteristic, was augmented by their, marvelous achievements, until they practically stood Isolated from the rest of the -world, and were feared and disliked in an equal degree." This-condition aroused the enmity of Russia and Germany, and they declared war against the- United States. Notwithstanding the heroism dis played by Its sailors, tho United States Navy, being far outnumbered, was shat tered, and the Atlantic seaboard fell Into the hands of the enemy. After a pro tracted war. In which the United States met with serious reverses, peace was pro claimed, but the country was In a sad condition poor and disorganized; money waa scarce, manufacturers had in large part failed, and only those industries which ministered to the wants of the vast army had thriven. The people had, how ever, been chastened, and, taking heed to the failures in the past, started to re build the country into a sure and lasting foundation. The volume closes with a picture of the regenerated nation, happy In Its universal prosperity. (G. P. Put- nam a Sons, New York.) History ot English Kings. "The History of English Kings, accord ing to Shakespeare." by J. J. Bums. Is a scholarly manual, designefd to convey ac curate Instruction In a popular form. "It is the aim of the writer," he says in his preface, "to put Into one handy volume a goodly portion ot Shakespeare's his tory." In tho main. Instead of translating the blank verse Into prose, he has taken the characters whose biographies he wishes to give, whose names appear In the table of contents, and. In most cases, give title to the plays and selecting the portions of th? drama which contain the King's chief words and deeds, has Joined them In whole or In part, as they stand in tne drama, tilling in the spaces with mat ter which forms with the poetry a. contin uous story. The term "King" is used with due Intention, including Falstaff. tho king of the realm ot humor. When the path wanders outside, those scenes in which the hero takes part a convenient term, not always Implying anything wa think of as heroic or beyond those scenes which throw a direct light upon them, lt is to secure some choice bit of literature too good to leave behind, often a Ilnj which has brightened by use Into a pro verb. A little sketch leads up to the story of the second Richard; a glance at his famed ancestor, the "Black Prince." in the act of winning his spurs; a look toward the English people of those days as they appeared to the clear vision of Chaucer, of the author of "Piers Plowman." or that rare old chronicler. Sir John Frols sart. Thereafter each story Is a prelude to the one that follows; as. for Instance, In telling the tale of Richard II. much more than a beginning Is made upon that of his successor. At the opening of each story there is a looking back to get the leading string well In hand. (D. Appleton & Co.. New York.) BOOK NOTES. Origin of the Title of Cyrus To-nrn-send Brady's Neir Novel. In reply to an Inquiry as to the origin of the title of his new historical novel, "Tho Grip of Honor," Cyrus Townsend Brady wrote that it was suggested by a stanza from Burns' poem. "An -Epistle to a Young Friend": . Tne fear o hell's a hangman's whip. To haud the. wretch In order. But where ye feel your honor grip, t Let that ay be your border; Its slightest touches. Instant pause, Debar a' aide preterms; And resolutely keep Its laws. Uncaring consequences. "The concluding lines," said Mr. Brady, "indicate so admirably the motif of the story that the appropriateness ot the title was apparent." It Is a story of John Paul Jones and the American Revolution, the, hero being one of Jones' Lieutenants, whose honor is put to the severest test. "Red Rock" la rapidly approaching the 100.000 mark. Mrs. Burnett's "Tho De Willoughby Claim" is in Its 4oth thousand, and Mr. Seton-Thompson's "Wild Ani mals" Is in Its 61st thousand. Dr. van Dyke's new book, "Fisherman's Luck," has overtaken and Just passed its prede cessor, "Little Rivers," being now In its 22d thousand. "Plant Structures." by John Merlo Coul ter, as Its title Implies, treats of the struc tural and morphological features of plan! life ana plant growth. "Plant Structures" Is not Intended for a laboratory guide, but to be used In connection with labor atory work. Tho Illustrations in this vol ume, as in "Plant Relations," constitute one nf tne marked features, and add much to Its attractiveness and usefulness. (D. Api.etcn & Co., New York.) "The Fortune of War," by E. N. Bar row, Is a novel of the last year ot the American Revolution. The scene passes mainly In New York City during the Brit ish occupation, partly on one of the prison ships and partly In the patriot camp at Morrlstown. The life In the headquart ers of the two armies Is cleverly contrast ed, and tho suffering of the Continentals during that fearful Winter are vividly de pleted. The story has a strong "love in terest." (Henry Holt & Co., New York.) "Stories From the Arabian Nights," se lected by Adam Singleton, Is prefaced by introductory papers on the Arabs and their history, the origin of the Arabian Nights, etc The stories themselves are In Sir Richard Burton's translation, scrupulously edited for young readers. The four stories given are "The Tale, of the Birds, the Beasts and the Carpenter, "The Second Voyage of Slrfbad." 'Thi City of Brass" and "Hasan of Bassorah." The book contains a number of Illustra tions. (D. Appleton & Co..- New York.) A new volume on "Healthy Exercise" comes from the pen of a distinguished physician, and one who backs his theories with practice. Dr. R, H. Greene, as a physician, knew the necessity of regular exercise, but had neglected to take It, with the result that a long rest was in evitable. Dr. Greene's attention was called to the subject of physical culture.. He strongly advocates the series of ex ercises recommended by Le Grange, tho well-known authority on physical culture The beneficial effects of this system hap led him to write this little book on "Healthy Exercise," which should find its w-iy into the hands of the active busi ness and professional man who uses his brain at the expense of his physical strength". (Harper & Bros., New York.) In "A Maker of Nations." Guy Boottfby pictures the adventures ot a modern sol dier of fortune. The opening scene showB the picturesque and various mingling of all nations In Cairo. From Egypt, the reader follows the hero to South America, and takes part In the dramatic episodes of a revolution, which are lightened by the leve story that runs throughout. (D. Appleton & Co., New York.) A. C. McClurg & Co.. Chicago, have In press and will shortly publish 'The Pri vate Memoirs of Madame Roland." edited by Edward Gilpin Johnson. The present work Is based upon a translation mado from Bosc's original edition of the me moirs, and published at London within two years after Madame Roland's death by the guillotine; and it will be the first English translation to be published sinco the above named, and now very scarce, English edition. "The Rhymer" Is the title of a charm ing and moving romance of Edinburgh and Scotch rural life, of which the poet Burns) is the central figure. His character Is portrayed with vivid touches, which throw into sharp relief both he nobility and tho weakness of his complex nature, and the subsidiary personages the drawn with equal sureness. The drama In which they, move is not less noteworthy for the f lten sity of its romantic Interest than for its remarkably reproduced historical and local color. The book will be published imme diately by the Scribners. Professor .John Flske has expressed much enthusiasm for a forthcoming book by George lies, called "Flame, Electricity and the Camera," In which the author shows how wonderfully man's material progress has been accelerated through tho multiplying of his resources by each new discovery along these lines. The chango from the cave-man. Just discovering that he could make- flame, to the man at the verge of the 20th century, who telegraphs without wires, photographs colors and nasfnMne? nil tta nTKis mnnrata f? enArlaFn science, has an evolutionary bearing fhat'jf is impressive. Doubleday, Page & Co of New York, will publish the work. "A Friend of Caesar" is the title of a. historical novel, by William Stearns " 4 vls, which Tho MacMlllan Company has on press for Immediate publication. TJia story, which 13 laid in Rome, begins when Julius Caesar is Just rising into power, nnd ends with his great victory and tho establishment of his empire. It Is a novel of wide scope, vigorously written, and tho author has attempted to put the reader on an intimate footing with the people of tho Rome of Caesar's days. The plot Is stir ring, as n truthful portrayal of such times would hardly fall to make lt; It shifts from a Roman country house to tho capital and thence to Syria and Egypt. Stories that appeal to the spiritual feel ings arc published under the title "Tho World's Mercy." The author Is Max well Gray, whose "The Silence of Dean. Maltland" some years ago so stirred fic tion readers. The titular story portrays the misery and degradation of a woman wed to a brutal drunkard and her down ward" steps, as thrown upon the world, sho nnds refuge with a man who soon regrets his relations with her, and finally, her husband comes upon her In her ex tremity an.t takes iter into his arms. "Tho World's Mercy" is painful reading. Much better Is "The Widow's Clock," with Its home simplicity, and "Sweet Revenge," a pretty bit of comedy. (D. Appleton & Co.. New York.) Rev. W. H. FItchett, the author ot "How England Saved Europe," is com monly spoken ot as an Australian, al though he was born In Lincolnshire. Eng land. When ho was only a few yeara old. his father went to Australia, and the son wo3 thus brought up as a thorough-going colonial. He Is a man of herculean fame, and of tireless Industry. He has been a Wcsleyan minister, thp head of the Ladles" Methodist College In Melbourne, the edi tor of the Southern Cross, a religious Jour nal of large influence, and of the Aus tralian Review of Reviews, and an edi torial writer on the Melbourne Dally Ar gus. His first book, "Deeds That Won the Empire," was mado up of a series of historical tales, which he published In tho Argus under the nom de plume of VUette. "Phjslology and' Morphology of Ani mals." The work of Darwin on the de rivation of species and the descent of man awrkened a new interest In the lower an imals and furnished additional evidenco of their close kinship with ourselves. A fresn field of study was thus opened up. cn.brnclng the likenesses and differences of action, as well as structure found throughout the animal kingdom. In "The Comparative Physiology and Morphology of Animals" Professor Joseph Le Conte gives us In his well-known cleat and simple style and with the aid of nu merous Illustrations an interesting outline of these similarities and variations of function, as displayed among the various classes of animals, from the lowest to tho highest man included. (D. Appleton St Co., New York.) "Knights in Fustian," by Carolina Brown. Is a story a of most interesting episode occurring in Indiana during tho war for the Union, its theme being a plot by the Knights of the Golden Circle, as alleged at the time and since much argued and discussed, to. assist the Confederacy to victory, and then force a separation of the Northwestern states from tho Union. The story of the attempt to mako the plot effectual In the Indiana county in which the novel is laid and its-frustration by the hero, is graphically told. Tho Introduction of several historical charac tersGovernor Morton, for one has been accomplished with much skill. The lovo story which is woven into the textuto of the historical narrative Is original, and In It at least one of Its episodes is unique. The' book will be brought out by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. An experiment of great Interest to read ers of tho Bible Is announced by Tho Macmlllan Company. They will pub lish Immediately In current and popular English "The Epistles of the New Testa ment." The work has been dono by Rev. Henry Hayman, D. D.. Rector of Aldlng ham. England: Hon. Canon of- Carlisle. The author's plan has been to keep with the most careful fidelity to the thoughts, of tho Apostles, whilst claiming a per fectly free hand as regards the languago In which he has ventured to present them. In the latter respect he reverses the prac tice of every earlier version In our lan guage, but the departure Is Justified by tho changes that havo taken place In our native tongue. The result will be found to bo very helpful In the understanding ot the epistles. The authorized version Is printed on tho left-hand pages, and the modern English on the right. In her unpretentious study of "Wotan, Siegfried and Brunnhllde." Miss Anna. A. Chapln has caught the very ersence of tho spirit of Wagner's treatment of the Nleb elungen Lied, on both the library and tho musical sides. "In studying the art of Wagner," says the author, "one might spend a lifetime and yet grasp the sub ject inadequately. But the spirit of Wag nerthe philosophy, the poetry and the elemental strength must be understood by all who can feel and think. The truths which he tells are simple and universal, expressing the philosophy of all. thinkers who have, through the ages, reiterated the message of wisdom in the ears of hu manity." Tho work Is not weighed down with abstruse. linguistic questions, nor by musical technicalities, but, thanks to MIrs Chapin's s.ourid knowledge and sympa thetic insight, lt appeals as Strongly to the advanced Wagnerian scholar as to tho Intelligent layman. (Harper & Bros., New York.) "Whence She Came. "Mrs. Newcash boasts that she, caino from a very old. aristocratic family. She doesn't look It," "Oh, I don't know. She looks as If she might have been cook for one sometime Lpr other."-I,hiladelphla Bulletin. 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