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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1900)
THE OTNDAY- OBEGONIAK; POBXLAND, OCTOBER ?, !$& B Take While It FizsesI tumbler of Byron's "rhetorical splash. ao dram of Meaulay's berolcaj dah. . smacK of olu Campbell 'for flavoring this Is); all cp together, and drink while. It flszee. you. dL-bt what tho beverage Is that you're tippling? . s capital, flrst-rato, la fact H-o-y-d K-pl-ng. Punch. AMERICA'S CRITICAL TIME riske's HUtoir of the Period Fol lowing: the Surrender of Yorlc tOTra Late Publication. The 20th of March, 1782, the day -which itnessed tho fall of Lord North's Min istry, -was a das' of good omen for men tho English race on both sides of the Atlantic. Withm two years the treaty rhlch established "the Independence of the Jnited States -was successfully negoti ated at Paris; and at the same time, as jart of the series of 'events -which re sulted in t! treaty, there -went on In Scgland a rapid dissolution and reor- lsation of parties, which ended In the loverwhelmlng defeat of King George's ittempt to make the forms of the Con- BUtutlon subservient to bis selfish pur poses, and established the liberty of the people upon a broader and sounder basis than it had ever occupied before. But le treaty of 17S3 did not end the trouble it the colonies, nor complete the scheme jf government. Thomas Paine -was sadly listaken when, in the moment of exul- itlon over the treaty, he declared that r'the times that tried men's souls are ioYjer." "The most trying time of all was Ijust beginning," savs Professor John lake in "The Critical -Period of American istory." "It is not too much to say that le period of ,flvo years following the ?eace of 17S3 -was the most critical mo- jnt in all the history of the American people. The dangers from which we were saved In 1788 were even greater than the dangers from which we wore saved in In the War of Secession the love of lUnlon had come to be so strong that thou sands of men gave up their lives for it las cheerfully and triumphantly as the martyrs of olden times who sang their hymns of praise while their flesh was withering in the relentless flames. In X7S3 the love of union, as a) sentiment for fhlch men would light, had scarcely come into existence among the people of icse states. The period between 1783 and 17S8 was gpre-eminently the turning point in the Hdevelopment of political society in the SWestern Hemisphere. The preliminary larticles of the treaty -were signed at gParis, January 20, 17S3. The news arrived Gin America March 23, in a letter from Fayette, wrho had returned to France Isoon after, tho victory at Torktown. On June 8, in -view of the approaching dls aandment of the army, Washington ad- idressed to the Governors and Presidents jf tho several states a circular letter. which he wished to have Tegarded as his tlegacy to the American people. In thla letter he insisted upon four things as es- JBentlal to the very existence of the United States as an Independent power. First There must be an Indissoluble TJnlqn of all the states under a single Federal Government, which must possess the power of enforcing Its decrees, for with out such authority It would be a govern ment only in name. Second The debts incurred bj Congress for the purpose of carrying on the war and securing Inde pendence must be paid to the uttermost farthing. Third The militia system must b,o organized throughout the thirteen states on uniform principles. Fourth- Che people must be willing to sacrifice. it need be, some of their local Interests the common weal; they must discard their local prejudices, and regard one an lother as fellow-citizens of a common icountry, with interests in the deepest and truest sense identical. Scarcely had the thirteen colonies been Sdellvered from Great Britain than their 1 conflicting claims and Jealousies gave rise to friction which must in time have engendered positive hostility. The depre ciation and dislike, which before the Rev tolutionary War had occasionally marked jthe relations not only of distant, but even lot neighboring colonies, were now aggra vated by acts of discrimination and en icroachment. There were quarrels about boundaries, often bitter, sometimes fierce. There -were oprnmerclal harasslngs of the jsaxne kind. Within many of the states ! themselves there was open disaffection. which in some Instances broke out in violent riots, and, in one memorable case, took the form of armed rebellion against the state authorities. This was a state of things morje intolerable than anything which had been experienced before the Revolutionary War; a state of things cer tain, unless promptly arrested, to make the hopes of a closer Union and of joint -defense against a common enemy en tirely chimerical. Then came the Con-i fstltutional Convention, with all Its ago-1 nles. After four months of anxious toll, 1 after earnest but sometimes bitter discus jelon, in which more than once the meet ing had seemed on the polnn of breaking up, a colossal -work had at last been ac complished, the results of which were powerfully to affect the whole future ca- reer of the human race. Slowly the Estates ratified the Constitution. Even Iwhen the new Government went into op leration in April, 1789, two states, North ICarollna and Rhode Island, had not yet S given their assent. Although the timel iflxed for the opening of Congress was March 4, 1789, there were not enough 1 Representatives present In New Yorir fcity to organize the lower bouse before lApril 1. It was April 14 when Washington gwas officially notified of his election, and Lpril 23 when' he reached New York, lAnother week elapsed before he was in- jougurated, and the new Federal Govem- lent was definitely established. (Hough- gton, Mifflin & Co., Boston.) Ttnishts of Ihe Cross. The second part of Henry Slenkiewiczs ! novel, "The Knights of the Cross," has I been translated by Jeremiah Curtin,. and, although it may not be considered equal to "Quo Vadls?" in some respects, it is Btn! without doubt one of the best books of the author. The period of which the author tells the story is the 14th cen Itury, with the scene laid la Poland. The , Ipoles and Lithuanians have been con- Verted to a sort of Christianity, which has not interfered in any way with' their j barbarous customs. The object of ,tnc story is to give the reader an idea of 43ie wicked Knights of .the Cross. Their deeds center about a very pretty love j Iile, "which Teally was more- prominent,! A Mr-A fK x. J Mui jJT . iu J n OOKS in the first volume than in the second, in which it ends long before the end of the book. Zbyshko In the first volume fell In love with IJanusha, and vowed to lay at her feot the plumes of a certain number of the knights. Her father, Turand. the one-eyed hero, is decoyed into the Ger man casf.e and all sorts of horrible things are done to him, his tongue torn out, for Instance, and Zbyshko. who goes tq find the father and the daughter, also, has awful experiences. The old uncle, Matsko sets out to find Zbyshko, and he is ac companied by Yagenka. They find the poor, blinded Yurand, and Yagenka kindly and lovingly cares for the father of the woman beloved by the man she loves. Danusba is found, but dies before she reaches home, having been crazed by the cruel treatment she had received at the hands of the Germans'. The dra matic force of the scene In which the old man, is unable to see his daughter's dead form or to speak his sorrow, is very good. The real love story is that of Zbyshko and Tagenka, who has followed her lover, dressed in man's clothes, and has ne'er ceased to love him, even when she knew he had married Danusha. And old Matsko, the uncle, loved her. "But If Zbyshko comes back," he says to her. "I shall be a nun," she answered. "But if he should love thee, if ho should beg, and beg terribly?" "I should not be a nun," and she was not a nun, for he did "beg terribly." There are a few light touches in the story, but on the whole it is rather gloomy. (Little, Brown & Co., Boston. Sanskrit literature. The history of ancient Indian literature naturally falls into two main periods The first is the Vedlc, which, beginning perhaps as early as 1500 B. C, extends In Its latest phase to about 200 B. C. In tho former half of this Vedlc age the character of its literature was creative and poetical, whilo the center of culture lay in tihe territory of the Indus and its trib utaries, the modern Panjab. In the lat ter half, literature was theologically spec ulative in matter and prosaic 'in form, while the center of intellectual life had shifted to the Valley of the Ganges. Thus, in the course of the Vedlc age, Aryan civ ilization had overspread the whole of Hindustan proper, -the vast tract extena lng from t3ie mouths of the Indus to tJhose of the Ganges. The second period, concurrent with the final offshoots of Vedic literaturo and closing with the Mo hammedan conquest after 1000 A. D., is the Sanskrit period, strictly speaking. In a certain sense, owing to the continued literary sense of Sanskrit, mainly for the composition of commentaries, this period may be regarded as -comlrfg down to the present day. During this second epoch, Brahmanic culture overspread the South ern portion of the Continent. In the course of these two periods taken to gether, Indian literature attained note worthy results In nearly every depart ment. The Vedlc age reached a high standard of merit in lyric poetry, and later made some advance towards the formation of a prose style. The Sanskrit period achieved distinction in many branches of literature, in national as well as court epic, in lyric and especially didactic poetry. In the drama, fairy tales, fables and romances. In surveying a literature which extends over several thousand years, it Is not an easy task to condense the subject within the limits of an octavo volume of 475 pages. Professor Arthur A. Macdonell has covered the wliole field in "A History of Sanskrit Literature." His- work will satisfy the casual reader of Sanskrit, but is not exhaustive enough for the serious student of Sanskrit or the student of comparative literature. The two great epics of the Mahabharata and the Kamay ana are disposed of in a single chapter. When we consider that the Ramayana consists of nearly 50,000 lines and the Mahabharata of over 200,000 lines, any thing .like exhaustive treatment Is out of the question in one chapter. Notwith standing its lack of proportion, Profes sor Macdonell's volume is a valuable ad dition to the subject. (D, Appleton & Co., New York.) , Oliver Cromwell. Governor Roosevelt's monograph on "Oliver Cromwell" Is a most vivid and condensed account of the great Protector and his times, -written with especial ref erence to the birth of English liberty, end its relation to the growth of American liberty and American institutions. Gov ernor Roosevelt's estimate of "the great est Englishman of the 17th century" is that he was the product of the first mod ern movement, a movement for lellglous. social and political freedom as the terms are now understood. The forces which produced him were medieval, but he was the exponent of tho new struggle. "Grown, to manhood," says our author, "Crom well -was a Puritan of the best type, the type of Hampden and Milton; sincere, earnest, resolute, to do good as he saw It. more liberal than most of his fellow religionists,, saved from their worst ec centricities by his hard common sence, but not untouched by their glcom, and sharing something of their narrowness a harsh-featured, red-faced, powerfully built man, whose dress appeared sloven ly In the eyes of the courtiers who was no orator, but whose great power soon began to impress friends and enemies alike." Comparing the Protector with the great leaders of more recent tlme3, Governor Roosevelt says Cromwell "waj Infinitely and beyond all comparison above the class of utterly selfish and uncrupu lous usurpers, of whom Napoleon is the greatest representative,'1 and inferior to Washington because he was "unable to "build up free government or to establish the reign of law, until he was finally driv en to substitute his own personal gov ernment." (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.) In the Desert. "In the Desert," by George Ebers, is tho story of a clever young woman who undertakes to "live out her own nature." Left alone In the world by the death of her parents, and with abundant means at her disposal, she breaks away from the restrictions of society and seeks freedom In the Syrian desert. Here she abandons herself to all sorts of extravagant cap rices, and caps the climax by falling mad ly in love with a Bedouin, who already possesses, although she is ignorant of tho fact, two wives and five children. Her lover, Professor Peter Hartwang, ap pears upon the scene about this time. Laura tries to escape from him by plunging into the desert with a small es cort, and the Bedouin. A fearful storm comes up and she is seriously Injured. Dr. Hartwang lavishes the most devoted care upon her. but It is a long time be fore she is brought to see that what she called "living put her own nature" was W really supreme selfishness, and that the highest good consists, not In achieving superiority by walking -over the pros trate forms of her fellowmen, but in serv ing others, and thus fulfilling the Christ- spirit. (Dodd, Mead & Co., New lork.) Haworth Bronte. The fifth volume of the edition of the Bronte novels, known as "The Haworth Bronte," contains "Wuthering Heights," by Emily, and Agnes Grey," by Anne Bronte. Mrs. Humphrey-Ward says in the introduction: " 'Wuthering Heights' was the product of romantic Imagination working probably under tho influence of . German literature." Sho adds: "A great work requires many-siaed-ness, and on this rock the young author splits,' said Goethe to Eckermann, prais ing at the same time the art which starts from tho simplest realities and the sub ject nearest at hand, to reach at lost by a natural expression the loftiest heights of poetry. But this was the art of Emily L Bronte. It started from her own heart and life; It wba nourished by the sights and sounds of a lonelyt yet sheltering na ture; it was responsive to 'the art of others, ytet always independent; and, in the rich and tangle truth of 'Withering Helarhts? it showed promise at least of a many-sidedness to which only the great est attain."' Speaking of the Bronte novels, generally Mrs. Ward writes: ' "The romantic inequality, the romantic alternations of power and weakness which these books show, appeal to those deep and mingled lnstlnots of the English mind which have produced our' rich, violent, faulty, Incomparable English literature. Emily Bronte's genius was the greater of tho two, yet of a similar quality and fiber. It provokes even more vldid reac tions of feeling in the reader, and yet, in tliose who have felt her spell, she wins an ultimate s5mpathjj, and compels ap ulti mate admiration so strong that no one wishes to examine the stages of his own conquest We passionately accept her or we are untouched by her And if we passionately accept her, we are apt to forget our own critical wrestles by the way; we are impatient of demurs, of half- words, and all mere ingenuities of opinion 'concerning her and- that" work 'which is her direct and personal voice." Besides Mrs. Ward's critical introduc tion this volume contains the biographical sketch of "her sisters' which Charlotte wrote In 1S50, and which was prefaced to the edltiqn of their stories. The 3lxth volume of the edition is Anne's 'second novel, "The Tenant of Wlldfell Hall.',' The Introduction by Mrs. Humphrey-Ward sums up the character o,the author who was the slightest in mental' and physical endowments of the three Bronte sisters. It Is Mrs. Ward's opinion that Wlldfell Hall shows the effect of Bramwell Bronte's dissipations. Of Anne' Bronte, Mrs. Ward saye: "She serves a twofold purpose in the study of what the Brontes wrote and were. In tho first place, her gentle and delicate presence, her sad, short story, her hard life and early death, enter deeply into the poetry and tragedy that have 'always been en twined with the memory 'of the Brontes, as women and as writers; in the second place, the books and poems that she wrote servo as matter of comparison by which to test the greatness of her two sisters. She is the measure of their genius like them, yet not with them." The seventh and last volume of the edition of the "Life and Works of the Sisters Bronte" contains the "life" of Charlotte Bronte, not as first published by her sympathetic biographer, Mrs. Gas kell, but considerably enlarged by the comments, corrections and other ana of Clement K. Shorter and the addition of several hitherto unpublished letters of Charlotte Bronte to George Smith, of tho Arm of Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co., her original publishers. To these is added a letter from Rev. Patrick Bronte, the father of th,e sisters, to Mrs. .Goskell, requesting her to undertake the biography of the elder, Charlotte. It is dated Haworth,' near Keighley, June 16... 1855, and follows: "My Doar Madam: Finding that a great many scribblers, as well as some clever and truthful writers, have pub lished articles fn newspapers and tract3 respecting my dear daughter, Charlotte, sirce her death, and seeing that many things that have been stated are untrue, but more false (sic); and having reison to think that some may venture to -write hor life who will be 111-aualifled for -the undertaking, I can see no better plan under the circumstances, than to apply to some established author to, writ., a brief account of Jwr life, ftnd, to raafce somq remarks on her works. You seem to- me to be the. best, auallfled for doing I what I wish sMould bo done.' If. there fore, you will be so kind aa to publish a long or short account of hor life and works, juat as you may deem expedient and poper, Mr. Nlcholls and I will give you such Information as you may re quire. "I should expect and request that you would affix our name, so that the work might obtain a wide, circulation, and bo handed down to the latest times. What ever, profits might arise from the, sala would, of course, belong to you. You are tho first tc whom I have applledt Mr. NIoholls approves of the stop I have, taken, and cfculd my daughter apeak from the tomb. I feel certain 8h,e- would laud our choice." "The foremost achievement," Mr. Short er says in the introduction, ''in English literary biography are the biographies 01 Johnson, by Boswell, and Scott, by Lock hart, and over 'these the word 'finality ' it may be asserted with eo;ual confidence is applicable to Mrs. Gaskell's Life ol Charlotte Bronte.' Mr. Shorter haa-add-ed many letters and notes of value to the work of Mrs. Gasmen. There are numerous photographs and a Bronte chronology has been added to the original work. (Harper & Bros., New York. Reign, of Lavs". James Lane Allen's "The Reign of Law,1 a tale of Kentucky life In the , years immediately following; the Civil War, Impresses one In places as being autobiographic with all tho delicacy of touch with which the character of Da vid Is drawn, there is now and again suggestion of tho portrait rather than the typo. David, born of poverty-stricken 11' liberal parents in a Kentuoky rural home, Is the grandson of the frontiersman and preacher who had suffered ostracism rath- ier than surrender his Ideal of a church ! in which all men of whatever creed could worship. At 18, just after the Civil War, ho hears of the new Biblical College, not farfrom his home, and soon decides with his father's aid to prepare for the min istry. He leaves his home and dwells for a time among a set of bigoted profes sors of the most illiberal theology until driven by his own honesty and light ,to renounce their teachings. Ho has dis covered for himself Darwin's works, he has had some early notions shattered, and he goes home .to his poor parents disappointed in -tho church, feeling the f disgrace of expulsion, yet true to his now ,iaeai, Dome in upon mm Dy au tnat he sees the reign of law In a wide uni- f verse. This Is the first fragment In the drama of David's life; the. second is his love for a woman. (The Macmillan Co,, Now York.) Master Christian. "The Master Christian" Is considered by Miss Marie Corelll to be her most important novel. As a romance, it hag the fascination which one expects to find in the work of this gifted author, but, more than that, it has vital interest as a fearless and scathing denunciation of the shams and vices of much of the social and so-called religious life of the present day. The contrasts between good and evil are! sharply and firmly drawn. The concep tion is daring in the extreme, embracing as it does the return to earth of the Christ-child, .who, taking the form of a foundling, is rescued and protected by a Cardinal-Arohblshop with whom for a time He makes His home. The story begins in Rouen, thenco the scene shifts to Paris, and later to Rome, whore a most impressive interview takes place between the Cardinal and the young Stranger and the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Miss Corelli has handled this portion of the subject reverently, yet nover.has she more olearly shown her power to "rivet the reader's attention by her vivid and almost startling pen-pictures. Especially effective is her skillful use of the' supernatural In the story. (Dodd; Mead & Co., New York.) Study of Somnambulism. ,,'From India to the Planet Mars: A Study of a Case of Somnambulism." by Professor Th. Flournoy, is an account of the experiments with the "Geneva Med ium," Mile. Helene Smith. In her trances she lives the existence of an Indian prin cess, an Inhabitant of Mars and as Marie Antoinette. Early in Jlfe the girl ex hibited a decided predisposition towards medlumistlo phenomena. When she was 18 her hallucinations became more remark able and she received strange warnings, sometinies audibly, and at other times visually. Nine years ago she became in terested in spiritualism and developed strong medlumlstlc power. Believers In the y6ung woman's visions regard her as on,e who has passed through several ln carnatlbns, and who has a consciousness of her other lives as well as of the pres ent life. f One previous existence Is sup posed to' have been passed In the planet HIS WAY OF DOING IT. "Can you toll if a girl will bo married by reading her hand linear 'No; I can tell better by looking over her father's bank account." Mars and the other In India. The skepti cal, will naturally suspect some 'sort of medlumlstlc trick In this account of psychical phenomena, but the high scien tific reputation of M. Flournoy entitles the investigations to an interest they would not otherwise deserve. (Harper & Bros., New York.) Tolatoi Essays. Nothing Is more interesting in biogra phy than the logical consistency of Count Tolstoi's moral development. The begin ning of lta evolution may bo traced even In the earliest of his romances "The Cossacks" and all through the more seri ous parts of his latter novels, culminat ing, of course, in "Resurrection." This evolution has been in the direction of Christian Socialism. Ha has evolved his code of ethics directly from New Testa ment teachings ,and hfl has iterated his belle? 'I'n vbe propriety of every' mail earning his, bread in the sweat of his face, In sharing his goods with those poorer than' himself v In doing away with courts and all forms q gQ.yern,m.n,t and ln dls" banding armies by thft natural process Qf all -men refusing to, bear arms, Theso and similar tenets he has emphasized in the form of parables, letters to rrionds and newspapers, and carefully considered essays, full of conviction and the power Qf sarcasm. These- are, nor published under the title of "Essays, Letters and Miscellanies. (Ti Y. Crowell & Co., New York.) The Web of J4fe. The scene of "The Web of Life," by Robert Herrlck, Is Chicago; the time, the year of tho Pullman strike, the Deb3 riots, and the succeeding years of busli nessVdepresslon; and the problem, the relative rlghte and obligations of rich and poor. The two principal characters are a young surgeon, who, finding himself out of accord with the practices and Ideals of "success," as held by the Influential society of the 'city; voluntarily renounces his prospects of a distinguished career and dqvoteg himself to the humbler op portunities of his profession. The other character la Mat of a woman, whev by the common mistake, of an unfortunate marriage, has placed herself in the se verest grind ot society. The husband of, this woman baa been saved from death by a successful operation, performed by the surg'eon; that is, the surgeon, who become attached to tho woman, has been the instrument of perpetuating her torture, of excluding her frqm the possibility- of joy. The second part of the story is concerned with the working out of these two Jives after the death of the husband, the final readjustment of the man with society and bis profession, the final failure of the woman to attain her joy, and her death. Mr, Herrlck's book is Interesting, not only for its plot and ex cellent delineation of character, but for Its admirable presentment of existing problems and conditions. Thla pasaajre Is a vigorous portrayal of the state of the country during the years Immediately fol lowing the great strike: "During the next two years the country woke from Its torpor, feeling the blood tingle in its strong limbs once more, and rubbing Its eyes in, wonder at its own folly. Soma said the sRlrlt of hope was due to the gold basis; some said it was the good crops; some said it was the prospect of national expansion. In any event, tho country got tired of Its long fit of sulks; trade revived, railroads set about mending their tracks, jnllls opened a current of splendid vitality began to throb. "Men took to their business with renewed avidity, content to go their old ways, to make new shares and to enter them, all unconscious of any mighty pur pose. New industrial companies sprang up ovor night Ilka mushrooms, watered and sunned hy the easy optimism of the hour. The rumors of .war disturbed this hothouse growth. But' the big people took advantage of these to squeeze the 'little people,' and aU 'worked to the glory of the great God." (The MacMillan Co., New Yorh) Philip Nolan's Friends Little, Brown & Co,, Boston, havo late ly published "Philip Nolan's Friends," the fifth volume of their edition of the works of Edward .Everett Hale. In 1801,' tfhillp Nolan, a citizen of Kentucky, organized a company of. nearly 20 -Southwestern men. to go into Texas op a commission worn the Spanish Governor of Orleans. A few months later, Nolan" was killed, by the Spanish Governor of Texas, who knew that Nolan had the pass of, the Governor of Orleans. His comrades were, taken plrsoners and languished In New Mexico for the ,next 10 years'. In 1807 they were made to throw dloe for their lives, and Ephriam Blaokburn, who threw the low est cast, was taken out and spot. When Dr. Hale wrqte "Philip Nolan's Friends,'' the horrors of tho Virglnlus massacre were still fresh, as were those wordp of General Grant, now so Instructive: ' "If Spain cannot redress these outrages, the United, States can and will." The United States settled all old scores with Spain In 1898. School History of England. The text of J. N. Larden-'s "History of England," for schools and ncademies, Is an accurate and Interesting presentation of the chief events in English history. It gives special attention to the growth of England's constitution and to her ter ritorial expansion In the British Empire. It also gives due attention to the so cial and industrial development of the na tion. At the end of each chapter are topics, references and research questions arranged by sections corresponding to tho sections In the chapter. A special feature of tho book is its surveys of general his tory. The first seven centuries after the fall Qf Rome are grouped in one survey, after which, beginning with the 13th, there Is a separate survey for each cen- tury. They represent a brief summary of contemporaneous events influencing English' History. (Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston.) The Storied Wc.it Indie. ' Frederick A. Ober Is well known as a writer 6n Mexico and the West Indies. From a mass of material gathered in nu merous visits to Cuba since 1877 he has selected the most interesting events of Antillean history and published them un der the title of "The Storied West Indies." Century-old traditions, quaint folklore, pirate yarns and buccanoor tales make an Interesting little volume for home read ing. .D. Appleton & Co., New York.) The Boers in War. In his new book, "The Boers In War," Howard C, Hlllegas, who wrote "Oom Paul's People," says that the Boers never hatf more than Wftto anned men in the laid at any time. Mr. Hllllgaa glvei an xcellent account of the Boere' method f fighting; He says that their Generals :annot annpel them to go- Into, a fight, lut the Commanders must call for vol unteers whenever a battle, la imminent. The author spent tqxtx months with the Boer farces, and ho has written a book "Which, is." quite different from the usual war books. None of the matter In the book has appeared in print before, and almost all of the many illustrations; were taken by himself. (D. Appleton & Co., New Yqrk. BlnoJ GotTO. "The Black Gown" is a romance oT colonial New York, the scene belns laid in and about Albany,' in the middle of the ISth century. The" tale abounds in in cident, adventure and romance, and qulto fully portrays the characteristics of the old New York Dutch life of the times. The hero is at the Battle of Fort George, and here and everywhere else Is a very striking figure. Miss Hall Is well known as the author of "The Boys of Scrooby" and "In the Brave Days of Old," books for boys which have had no little popu larity. The author of "The Black Gown was roared In the midst of the region, which contained some of the moat dls tlnotive and charming Dutch oolonlal life, and Its portrayal has been for her a labor of love rathor than one of purely literary endeavor. (Houghton, Mifllln & Co., Bos Ion.) Real David. Harnm. "The Real David Hamra," by Arthur T. Vance, Is an interesting volume, about the personality of the lata David Han num, vho was the original of the world famous novel; and an even more Interest ing character than Mr. Westcott made hlra. The contents Include an account of a visit of the compiler to Homer, New York, which every reader of the popular novel wtU recognise as the "Homevllle" of the story; an unpublished chapter from the Novel; "The David Harum X, Knew," by Hon. John Rankin, ex-Mayor of Blng hamtan, N. Y., who was the original John Lennox; together with many anecdotes about the late David Hannum and his career and achievements after Mr. West cott left him, (Baker & Taylor, New York.) ,Bath Camedr. The scene of 4'The Bath Comedy," by Agnes and Egerton Castle, is the fash ionable resort of the Spa of Bath, and the time the second half of the 18th cen Jury, Mistress Kitty Bellalrs, the reign ing belle and prettiest woman In Bath, finds her friend. Lady Standlsh, the new ly wedded wife of Sir Jasper, in tears, because of her husband's Indifference and neglect. ,4Make him jealous." aays the vlYacloqs Kitty, and Lady Standlsh dovs so with some unexpected results.' Tho tale Is bright, and lively,, and there Is little description in the text, most of which is action and dialogue, making, however, a perfect picture of the fashion able life of Bath In lta joyous days. (Frederick A. qtakes Co., New York.) Sigrni&cance of Form. "The Representative Significance of Form," by George Lansing Raymond, is an attempt to write idealism and realism In esthetics, The materialist may not like the conclusions because they concede too much to the spiritualist, and the spiritualist because they concede too lit tle, while th.0 conventional Christian will demur because they seem to let down cer tain bars which It pleases him to think separate him from the world. Analyzing the entire subject, Professor Raymond en deavors to make the definitions and char acters of epic, realistic and dramatic art, together with the various sub-dlylslons in the different arts, appear Inevitable. (G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.) An Opera and Lady Grnnmerc. The hero of Albert Kinross "An Opera and Lady Grasmere" is a young composer Who for three years has been working In cessantly on an opera. A friend visiting the city persuades him to spend th.e even ing with him. and on their way home. in a spirit of bravado, they go uninvited to a masked ball at a fashionable house, where Lady Grasmero comes o'n the scene. This glimpse of fashionable life arouses the young musician, and from that time on he determines to give up his work, drop his opera, and become a man of the world. Of this life and his rela tions with Lady Grasmero the novel treats. (Frederick A. Stokes Co., New York.) Bcndlna: of the Bough. George Moore's new book, "The Bending of the Bough," is issued in the form of a play, and is called a comedy In five acts. Moore and his associates wish to found an Irish literary theater, where masterpieces of art may be produced by moneyed men, irrespective of their power to catch the masses, by means of dra matic situations. The plot has to do en tirely with political affairs, and the ref erence to England and Ireland Is very lightly veiled. The book reflects the troubles of those two countries, repre sented allegorically, or symbolically, by Northaven and Southaven. (Herbert S. Stone & Co., Chicago.) Daudct Edition. The three latest volumes added to tho new edition of the works of Alphonse Daudet are "Kings in Exile," "Numa Roumestan," and "The Little Parish Church." They come In a fine dress of lacquered red buckram, with large print and choice illustrations. In the Intro duction to "Kings In Exile," Charles de Kay points out the probable- originals of the important characters, finding in the exiled Queen of Illyrla a suggestion of Carlotta of Mexico, and in tho exiled King, Citron, the last Prince of the House of Orange, "Whose escapades once filled Paris with scandalous joy." (Little, Brown & Co., Boston.) A Breaker of Lnvrs. The breaker of law, who Is the chief figure In "A Breaker of Laws," by W. Pett-Rldge, Is a sharp and smart young Cockney who has become a burglar, and who is Introduced In the first chapter in the middle of a successful burglary. He loves an Innocent and pleasing young servant girl, and after marrying her, re forms and becomes a workman. His sub sequent relapse Into criminal habits is not due to pressure of poverty or to pres sure applied by his former comrades, but comes chiefly from what may be called his professional love of the business. (The Macmillan Company, New York). A Master of Craft. The hero of "A Master of Craft," by W. W. Jacobs, is the captain of a coasting vessel of the kind described by Mr. Jacobs in 'Many, Cargoes" and "More Cargoes." The cqptain confesses to having a great fascination for women, and w;hen the story opens he is engaged to three of them, in one case under an assumed name, His struggles to escape a breach of promise suit and other threatened ca lamities furnish Mr. Jacobs with a theme. (Frederick A. Stokes Co.. New York.) Anima Vllis. Anlma Vllis, by Marye Rodziewicz, Is a novel based upon life In Siberia as it really Is, and the aim of the writer Is to destroy certain false Ideas concerning the Russian Empire that have become deeply rooted in the minds of people. Tho purpose of the book, however, is not so obvious as to Interfero with the reader's enjoyment of the story for Its own sake. The author Is a Polish writer of great force and character. (Dodd, Mead & Co., New York.) Cambric Mask. "The Cambric Mask," by Robert W. Chambers, Is all about a lovely girl, a handful of White Caps, and an entomolo gical army man. The story turn3 on the eorts of a lot of unscrupulous schemers to get possession of large tracta of sweet, fern lands which the construction, of a. railroad, because of tho facilities that will he afforded to get the distilled products of the sweet fern to market, will make, more valuable, (F. A Stokes Co., New? York.) Stephen Crane" Lout "Worfc. Stephen Crane put his most pretentious style Into the ,'Whilomvllle Stories." They are amusing stories of mischievous, but not wloked, children, and will ha reliahel more by grown people than by young sters, because of the great array of; words that are not manageable by the rising, generation. (Harper &. Bros., New YorkO BOOK NOTES. Importance of Protection as 'VlewcJ hy John P, Yonng, In a 600-page volume entitled "Protec tion, and Progress," John P. Young, man aging editor of Che San Francisco Chron icle, smashes Cobdenlsm to his own sat-. Isfactlon and reaches the conclusion that the aim of protection is to promote pro duction, and that, therefore, It is the. "economic policy that must endure.' (Rand, McNally & Co., Chicago.) "Animal Lifa'r by David Star Jordan "and Vernon L. Kellogg, Is an elementary account of the relation of animals tct their surroundings and of the responsive adapting or fitting of the life of anlmalst to these surroundings. The book treats of animals from the point of view of the observer and student who wishes to know why animals are In structure and habltsr as they are. (D. Appleton & Co., New York.) "The Religion of Democracy," by Charles Ferguson, alms to show that Americanism Is a religion, that the social structure In this country is based upon the .axioms of a faith which Is the quint essence of historical Christianity, that Americanism is in Its nature revolution ary and that American principles, social and political, are sharply antithetical t& European principles. (Elder & Shepard,. San Francisco.) "Bob Knight's Diary at Poplar Hill School." by Charlotte Curtis Smith. A boy's recollections of school life written In boyish style. (E. P. Dutton & Co.. New York.) "Brain in Relation to Mind." by Dr. J Sanderson Chrlstlson. (Meng Publishing Co.. Chicago.) "Notes for the Guidance of Authors,." by William Stone Booth, Valuable sug gestions to writers who submit works to publishing firms. (The Macmillan Co., New York.) 'The Minx," by Mrs. Mannlngton Caf fyn. A story of English society life with out a villain or an adventuress. The he roes are a ruined English aristocrat and a rich English radical, whose friendship for each other and love of the same wom anthe "minx" lead to complications. (Frederick A. Stokes Co., New York.) "Four Years Nine." by Bart Myndarse, A story of prison life. A perfect picture of life behind the bars. (Frederick A. Stokes Co.. New York.) "Kelea, the Surf Rider," by . A. S Twombly. A romance of pagan Hawallw tho heroine of which Is a powerful, pas sionate, but nobje-mlnded young woman. (Fords, Howard & Hulbert.) "The Romance of Gilbert Holmes." by Marshall Monroe Klrkman. An hlstorlcat novel that includes a little of every thing, Mississippi Valley folk lore. ABra ham Lincoln and love. It Is long, in volved and tiresome. (World Railway Publishing Co., Chicago.) "The Crisis in China," a series of essavs on the Chinese situation, its causes and results, by George B. Smyth, Rev. Gil bert Reld, Minister Wu. Archibald R. Colquhoun. John Barrett and others. All have heretofore been published in tha North American Review. (Harper & Bros.. Now York.) Tho little volume of verse which Hol man F. Day has Just published and to which he .gives the title of "Up in Maine' Is welcome As he snvs In His sub-title, they are "stories of Yankee life told ir verse." They are grouped under the; headings "Round Home." "Takln Com fort,' " 'Long- Shore." "Drive Camp ancll Wangan." "Hosses." and "Goln t" School." (Small. Maynard & Co., Bos ton.) "Voices In the Night," by Flora Annlo Steel, Is a most interesting tale, whlchi the casual novel-reader will enjoy for ltsi delicate love story and In which the stu dent of men and manners will flrd a val uable contribution to his knowledge of the Eastern race problem. There la X fine exhibition of tho brave, devoted serv ice which Englishmen In civil and military lifo have given to the great problems In volved in the subjugation of an alien race. (The Macmillan Co., New York.) "From Sandhill to Pine." by Bret Harte. is a capital collection of Western tales oC the kind this author tells so well. (Hough ton. Mifflin & Co., Boston.) "Evolution." by P. J. Cooley. An expo sition of Christian dogmas and pagan myths. (Peter Eckler, New York.) "The Last Words of Distinguished Men and Women." by Frederick Rowland Mar lon. A collecticn of the last saylng. real and traditional, of great persons. (C A. Brewster & Co.. Troy, N. Y.) "Thy Brother Leonldas." by Sarah Wil der Pratt. (Universal Truth Publishing; Co.. Chicago.) "Toll," by Daniel Florence Leary., (Whitaker & Ray. San Francisco.) "The New Humanism." by Edward Howard Griggs. ('Published by the au thor. New York.) "Way Down East." by Joseph R. Grts mer. A romance of New England life (J. S. Ogilvle Publishing Co., New York.) "Beneath Hawaiian Palms and Stars.' . by E. S. Goodhue. (Editor Publishing; Co.. Cincinnati.) "Laughter of the Sphinx." by Albert White Vorse. Spirited tales of Arctic ad venture. (Drexel Blddlo. New York.) "The Flower of the Flock." by W. E. Norris. The story of the love of a wealthy American woman for two Englishmen In which some breezy comparisons are drawn between things American and things British. (D. Appleton & Co.. Now Tork- .. . T "Memories and Other Poems," by A. L. Blxby. (State Journal Co., Lincoln, Neb.) "Ourlda," by Countess Loveau de Chav anux. The sorry career of avoung Amer ican woman who married a French noble man. (Drexel Biddle, New York.) "Lone Pine." by R. B. Townshcnd. A lively story of life among New Mexican Indians. (G. P. Putnam'3 Sons, New York.) "Greater America." Articles, stories and sketches from Youth's Companion. They glvo much timely Information about the new possessions. (Perry Mason Com-, pany, Boston.) "The Jay Hawkers" Is a well-written . story by Adela E. Orpen, of free soil and border ruffian days. This story tell3 of the misfortunes of a Southern planters daughter, who Is forced to leave her old home and who unwittingly falls In love with a young man who has killed her father In a. Jay Hawker's raid Into which he had been drawn without fully compre hending Its purport. The struggle between the heroine's sense of duty to her father'3 memory and her feeling for the man sho loves Is told with an uncertainty as to the outcome that holds the Interest well to the end. Southern types of character and phases of the slave question are pic tured with a facility of touch Implying Intimacy with Southern life. (D. Apple ton & Co., New York.) E. Hough's romance of the plains, "The Girl at the Half-way House," opens with a dramatic picture of a battle in the Civil War. After thls"Day of War" there comes "The Day of the1 Buffalo." The reader follows the course of the hero and his friend, a picturesque old Army veteran, to -the frontier, then found on the edga, of the Western plains. The third part of the story Is called "The Day of the Cat tle," and the fourth part of the story "The Day of the Plow." While this story la a novel with a love motive, It Is per haps most striking as a romance of the picturesque and dramatic days of early Western life, (D, Appleton & Co., New Tork.)