ekrt<"rirs, which carry n story In them-
Belves an.l give an inkling to. the thread
cf th'- ta'f. His books are "roomy' book.-;
there is plenty <>f marginal sjiac, the ii
lu«-tiations are not crowded, the <!<cora-
Uve work is in perfect taste and the type
Is large ar.d legible. In justice it must be
paid that to Mrs. Grace Gallatin Seton-
Thompson if fine tho crtdit for the gen
eral mak'-up. Mrs. Se»ton-Thompson has
always scccmnasled her husband upon all
his trips into the wilds, and is In perfect
sympathy with his work and personally
Fuperir.U'nds the> set-ir.g of his books
through the pr<-ss.
The late-si book appearing under the
authorsh'p of this most capable writer
upon subjects of the animal kingdom is
"The Biography of a Grizzly." Illustrated
and de-cf.ratpd by the author and published
t>y the Century Company, price $1 "A. The
chapters were first printed in the Century
Magazine, late 1 last winter, and have now
bc-en gathered together in its present ai
trai tive form.
About all of Mr. S^tcn-Thompson's
work there is the coo! fresh air of the
woods, the high* st admliutlon for and
sympathy with animal life, combined with
the rare- and nappy faculty of making his
tales of the gre-atest human interest. In
the prc-ser.t bock he takes as his hero the
grizzly cub Wahb, and. as the title sug
gestf, follows him through all the vigor
of his fie Toe bear life to his iinal eioom In
Death Ouhh. "that fearful little valley
where everything was dead, where the
very air was deadly." Sefjr.-Thompson
has the ability of making his animal char
acters rsost Intensely human. 1 1 <> is su'"h
a dose student >>f tho woods and its life
that not a solitary detail is ever negle'Ctcd.
It Is this tvldinoe of Study and the
6 tra'.frht forward manner f.f t«l!i:ig that
Haraj'K !i:s work as real and e-arr'>s the
reader's confidence. You know that th!s
man ha? lived among and loved his char
afte-xs. and his very enthusiasm fcrms
haif the <-h;:iT.i In reading him.
"Tho CiPSTZpby cf -a Grizzly" Is divided
Into three part:--— "TheCubhood of Wabb."
"The D;)ys ot H;:s Strength" and "The
V.',->:,;r.K." Wa!;b's cttbbood <lays are al
most the only 1 right ones thr.t lie has. and
they do DM last long. lor rifle bullets lay
low his mother ar.d brothers and sisiers,
end be Is obUsed to wander forth alone to
loam by bitter experience ."11 the; hard
things ihat 41fe- has In store for little
CXizzUcs v. !)o rennot lie guided by the
vrfsC&n of sh.?;r loroboars. His discover
ies, the pradd.il realization of his great
rmr.fath and the development of his in
h.crcr-t sagacity arc what make the story.
in tbe rccdins ot which you will learn
more about the* habits of the king of
Amextuui leasts than you would in a
week's study of text books on grizzly
tcart. Y'.u wl!j l< arr. to know the animal
ts one of Go£'s living « reaturcs, and not
ac a brute machine.
••Coder) riorsesrjoz."
Mr. Stephen Bonsai* "Golden Horse
shoe." which has justly been received
with much favnr. purports to be a reprint
of the letters exchanged at the outbreak
of the trouble in the* Philippines between
two officers in the Cnited States atmy —
the names indeed being altered and seme
portion* of the letters being omitted, but
absolutely no other changes being made.
The plot, so to speak, of the book i« the
change cf view in the mind of a brilliant
and devoted young officer, who entered
the Spanish war an opponent of expan
sion, and who, as the result of the liber
alizing influences of a voyage to the Phil
ippines by way of the Suez canal, came to
believe In the imperial destiny of the
Vnited States. He sees Ceyion, Singa
pore and Hongkong, of course, and runs
over to the rotting Portuguese colonial
capital. Macao. Being modest, open
hearted and open-eyed, he hears frank
and instructive speech from Yankee skip
pers. Catholic missionaries, colonial
Judges and exiled men of business. He
Ftruggles at the risk of his life through
the Chinese quarter of a, Chinese port.
reador will reason that no t .;.tc-ij* Stntes
transport which passed through the Suez
canal was driven so far north as Vladi
vostok, and that if the letters are inac
curate In that point it is impossible to
tel! iiov,- far they are authentic in any
point. -Cot every reader wiii know that
the publishers advertise the book as
iictic.:.
The brilliance and liveliness of the work
are not diminished by regarding it as a
piece of expository Tctinn. but of course
its peculiar evidential value disappears if
it is not absolutely what it pretends to
be. The acutencss ol 'he observation and
the cleverness of the style remain, but
the personal charm and interest of the
book have disappeared.
11. B. LATH HOP.
Story of Christian Science.
Stanley Waterloo, who wrote "The
Story of Ab." has published a novel, "The
Seekers." in which are weighed in the
balance— and found wanting— the preten
tior.s of Christian Scientists and others of
Uir.Ured faith— the "truth serkers" of the
book to pese as truth finders. In the
novel, the devotees of the "new thought "
are divided into two class* s— those who
are ho.ientin their belief, but in whom all
sympathy for human sorrow ti-ens dcad
er.<-d ty trust in the theory of the non
reality of nain, ar.d those who make pro
fession of the new faith serve as a schema
lor money-making.
Mr. Waterloo, to be sure, does r.ot tell
us whether the science attracts disagree
able people or whether unpleasant quali
ties are developed* by the religion in Its
adherents. A« an unprejudiced inquiry
into the value of Christian Science; tho
boi;k is .scarcely convincing, though read
for its story it is possibly entertaining.
The heroine. Kate Vaughn, a successful
woman of business in Chicago, brings
from her home in the country her young
sister, Narcissa, who is out of health.
Narcissa, having been under the care cf
a physician, without deriving benefit from
his ministrations, next tries what a hc-aier,
Mrs. Clay, can do for her. Finding Mrs.
Clay a failure, Narcissa joins the classes
of Dr. Zadski, the teacher of a system
«.f philosophy,' which he calls "Truth."
and v.hich he pretends to have originated.
Kate, ltarful of the Influence which Zad
ski is gaining over Narcissa and suspect
ing it to te harmful to her Eister, also
joins Zadski's classes to see If she can
counteract this Influence. However, Kate
herself succumb^ somewhat to Zadskt's
fascination. When the latter leaves town
for his summer vacation, Narcissa disapp
ears. Kate-, in despair, unable to trace
her sister, seeks aid lrom her lover; John
Yule, from whom s-he has been estranged
on account of the lack of sympathy he
shows fer Kate's new faith. \ule finds
Kardzsa in the South In v colony founded
by Zaelski, and then telegraphs for Kate,
who arrives only in time to receive her
dyinfr sister in her arms. After Narcissa's
death. Kate, hating the syste-m of philos
ophy which she believes to have been an
swerable for her sister's loss, turns from
it to the old religion of her childhood.
("The Seekers," by Stanley Waterloo.
Herbert Stone & Co.. Chicago. $1 23.)
"Barbara pritfcehie."
Clyde Fitch, not willing to let a play
able p!ay rest on its laurels won behind
footlights, must needs issue It between
covers.
The story of Barbara Frletnhle is based
upon Whittler's poem— that is to say, the
Hag-waving climax is. in other respects
there is little resemblance. Barbara is
described as "a ravishing young crea
ture," instead of the elderly person we
have known since we used to "speak
pieces." The other characters are also
new to us. But "the author disclaims any
intention to the wilting of an historical
play," and "he has endeavored merely to
picture of an imaginary eto'ry some of the
spirit and atmosphere of a certain period
of our history."
For stage purposes he has done all that
be assumes to do. and hu who reads wim
lems of city government. The theme of
which Comptroller Coler has written is
therefore one on which a notable work
might be founded, but the volume he has'
given us is utterly Inadequate. It does
not even explain the form of government
the new charter provides. The various
papers i were doubtless Interesting when
they v.'*re published In magazines or
delivered as lectures, for they were then
timely to some issue occuping public at
tention. They are not BO interesting In a
book, and are far too, sketchy and slight
to be accounted valuable. The subjects
dralt with are: "The City Charter,"
"Public Charily," "Charity Regulated/
"Income and Expenses,'.' "Water Supply,"
"Transportation," "City Development."
"The Church In Politics" and "Political
Machines." These are all good topics, but
in not one single case has the Comp
troller given us anything more serious
than a liffht review suitable for the casual
magazine reader. ("Municipal Govern
ment as Illustrated by the Charter
Finances and Public Charities of New
York." by Hlrd S. Coler, Comptroller of
the City. Published by D. Appleton & Co.
Price 51.) [
"Through fira to Fortune."
Mrs. 1 Alexander Is too well known as a
writer of bright, readable books to need
a word of commendation. Her latest
work, "Thro" Fire tc Fortune." will not
prove a disappointment, for. although It is
inferior to her work at its best, there, is
about it a freshness of touch and a mod
errity of treatment which will appeil par
ticularly to the younger class of novel
readers! The plot Is a hackneyed one. but
the heroine is distinctly likable and the
hero has the necessary amount of fasc.'.na
llon. bo that one can find entertainment In
the book If not in an exacting mood. (R.
F. Fenno & Co., New York).
The pree Trade Movement.
One of a series of volumes designed to
deal with the principal features of the
Victorian era in Great Britain is ,"The
Free Trade Movement and Its Results,"
by G. Armiiage-Smith, principal of the
Blrbeck Institution and lecturer for the
London Society for the Extension of Uni
versity Teaching.
The work is much more of a plea for
free trade than an impartial record of
history. In his preface the author says:
"The old controversies still remain and
have, in fact, been renewed with fresh
vigor, partly owing to the persistence of
the United States and other countries In
a protective policy, and also to the move-
Trade Movement and Its Results," by G.
Armltage-Smith; Victorian Era Series,
published by Herbert S. Stone & Co., Chi
cago and New York; price $1 25.)
The City Problem.
Under the title "The City Problem." Al
bert A. llgskln presents a city puzzle
ar.d a solution thereof that ought to have
been cast in the form of n Utopian novel.
or n chapter from the philosophy of Pes
simism. Mr. Hoskin can c»rry his theo
ries straight through more contacting
facts than any man that has ever written
on municipal problems. He says the city
Is an established factor in social economy;
that the genius of tho city is corrupt and
that it must be purified or perish. The
man who does not work should not be al
lowed to eat whether he be a tramp or a
millionaire. Mr. Hoskin continues, and
that law is violated in the city. The city
Is a non-producer and the rural districts
aro taxed to support it, and along with
the city they have to support also the
city slum. Moreover, the city is destruct
ive of the home. It divides its people Into
two classes, one of which has mansions
larger than the owners can occupy and
the other has no home at all. Then. the
city Is unsocial, for, says Mr. Hoskin.
"sociality is democratic, but society is
aristocratic, it is autocratic. It is pluto
cratic, it is royalistic. And all this Is un
natural, unbrotherly and cruelly unkind."
Finally the conclusion is reached that we
can never find an ideal social compact
within a city, and therefore the solution
of the city problem Is to abolish the city.
Mr. Hoskin* proposes* that every family
shall have forty acres of land to . live
on, and be made to live on it. That would
enable the people to live near enough to
gether to have sociality, or as the author
puts It: "We would in such manner reach
the result of stimulation without conges
tion; of emulation without envy; of am
bition without contention; " of aspiration
without greed, and of combination with
out competition." ("The City Problem,"
by Albert A. Hoskin.' Published by" John
B. Alden. New York; price 50 cents.
"The Successful flroerican."
The third Issue of "The Successful
American," published monthly by . the
Press Biographical Company of New
Several half-tones have been added,
among them a picture of the recently
burned Theatre Francais, and the former
chapters considerably strengthened. Lee's
Guide thus becomes a standard not only
in. name but in fact. (Laird & Lee. flexi
ble cloth, 50 cents; full leather, full Kilt.
$1, with large plan cf exposition, in colors,
and diagrams of the Louvre museums.)
Mochrn Jcurnalisro Expoundsd.
Mr. Curtis Haven, "Journalist. Author
and Teacher of Over Twenty Years' Ex
perience," has published a clever litt:e
handbook entitled "A Practical Course In
Modern Journalism and General Litera
ture." The work presents a detailed ac
count of the workings of different news
paper departments and the requirements
of editorial, local and special writes, to-
Slther wi:h practical examples ard ex
. anatlor.s of proof-reailing and advertise
ment writing. The author also gives sjma
valuable hints to the ambitious shoi t
story writtr. The book contains S7 pagea.
On tr;e South) African Trouble.
"Who Ought to Win? Oom Paul or
Queen Victoria?" is the title of a graphic
account by Spencer Randolph of the South
African struKgle from . its inception to
February 10, i9UO. Its aim la to present
the facts in their chronological order of
the history of the Boer settkrs. first under
the rule of the Dutch East India Com
pany, later as British subjects and finally
during their checkered career ai an in
dependent republic. A number. of illustra
tions are scattered through the boon. an«l
a hand; reference map is given: OUO sjm-j
tables that should prove ini.eresi.lng.
(Laird & Lee. Ch»Lago> Cloth; 75c.)
F^ornarjce of Bagdad.
A very interesting rr.mance of tho time
of Harun Al Kaschul, in v.hich the Khalif
plays an Imp'oriaiit part, iia.-^ been written
by Kate A. Beaton and entitled J*Geber."
Mrs. iienton has made the philosopher
and scientist lieber the central :iguic »:•
a story of the tragic tvents which marked
the closing years of the reign of Harun.
It seems sui prising that in this day of
the vofiue of the historical novel there
should have been overlooked f^r so long
the wealth t>t material for a fascinating
romance lurnlshtd by that naosj pictur
esque and romantic of times— the guiucti
age or' the Khalifate.
•"GeLer" gives an excellent picture of
the lite ana manners of the Hosle&a and
contains a st^ry sufficiently t-ng-iging u>
make- one loth to ;>ut aside un.- ooolc
until it ;a uri-shed. ('"Getier," !)V Kate A.
L>t:uoii. Frederick A. t, t uK.cs Co., New
\eiiK; 41 m.}
Cverheara by t^z B.oKworrrj.
The Century Company announces for
publication on April 2s a new novel by L»r.
>vtulam Harry, atunoi of "i'lie Two
Htaiiuaida.'" '.ilus romance is aaiii to be
wholly different trom Father .Barry's prt
vious work In characters, scene and i»iot.
It Is named lor ltd nero, ' .vrUen .Uu^i
ter."
Kand, MeNairy & Co.. Chicago and New
York, announce the pub.i«.u.iion atwui
Aprii £0 of a new novel entitled "Bisnop
Pendle," by Fergus Hume, author of
•"lbe Mystery of a Hansom Cab," etc.
Mr. Hume is widely known as a master
ot stirring! ingenious plot that nrst ruis
ltatls ar.il then surprises the reader, and
of vigorous, picturesque Knglish.
The London Globe records an extraor
dinary Instance of absence of mind con
cerning a popular book. A certain per
son, needing a copy of Mr. Whiteings
"No. 5 John Street," is said to have taken
a cab to John street, AdelpbJ, to have
rung the- bell at No. 5 and astonished the
maul servant by asking for one whiting.
This sounds like fiction, but it is declared
to be a fact.
When Columbus discovered America It
occurred to others to go and do likewise.
Now that Captain Joshua i-loeum has
sailed alone around the world, and told
much labor and expense— the best text of
the play extant. In this volume Mr. Stead
has gone a step further and thrown the
play Into a narrative— novelized the
drama. The result la one of the most
vivid imaginative narratives of the last
week of Christ's career that has ever been
written. The book is published by Davis
& Co.. Chicaso.
In "Bird Lore" (the Macml'.lan Com
pany) for April a new camera is described
which, like a gun. may be firea the mo
ment it ia sighted, an ingenious device
enabling one to focus, after the slide has
been drawn from the plate holder. The
same magazine also contains bird calen
dars for the spring month*, a paper on
methds of bird study at CTellealey, an ac
count of the manner in wMch egrets*
plumes are obtained in Venezuela, a re
nrrt from the Postmaster General in re
rard to tho improper use of the maila
by feather dealers and numerous illustra
tions.
ft "The Farmstead; the Making of the
Rural Home and the Layout of tho
Farm." is the title of a new volume in
the Rural Science series, which will be
published immediately by the Macmlllan
Company. -
The author. I. P. Roberts, director of
the College of Agriculture. Cornell Lnl
versity, explains how the gains from
farming may be applied to tho making of
comfortable and attractive homes. 11*
does not hold out the bOJM that the farm
is a theater on which to Lccumulato
wealth; but rather that it Is a place upon
v.hich one may secure a competence and
live a happy life. In the great majority
of cases, the f:irrner fails to f.nd happi
ness because he do*"? not know how to
• live. Professor Roberts discusses tho
location cf the hou«e, the layout of the
grounds, the details of construction of
houses ar.d farm buildings, the planning
•>f the- barns, the .< cheme of Bctda and
fences, the f urnisliins anJ sanitation of
the home. As far £s any book can this
work will take the place cf an architect
for rural buildir.s-f.-r Professor Robert 3
was himself ome a builder. It is a oook
if advice for every one who lives on tho
t:irm or who contemplates country life,
ar.d is profusely Illustrated ar.d printed
in large type. Professor Roberts' pre
vious book i:i this name series was on
"The Fertility of the Land."
The contemplate. l purchase by the
Brooklyn Art Institute of the Tissot paint
ings gives special interest to the presenta
tion of M. Tissbt'4 character and methods
cf work in Cleveland Sloffett's Lt-nten lec
turts.
Mr. Moffett yper.t some weeks with Tls
.«ot last summer at his home in Frince,
and gained a better insight into this com
pltx artlxt'fl nature than most of the
Frenchman's admirers have obta-r.efi.
T!ssot has been called a realist, and no
doubt he pushes Ills paintings to almost
photographic accuracy, but he is more
than a rtaiist. h* is something very dif
ferent from b realist, a seer of visions ar.d
a cirearr.er ol dreams.
Mr. MofTett reates several conversations
in Which Tissot. With gravest conviction.
acknowledges his indebtedness to a certain
Sister Kathirine for tlata in various
Kcnea of Christ's Hf^- For example, ct
the time of the crucifixion it ts known that
Mary stood somewhere betwem the crosa
arid "the garden of Joseph of Arlmathea.
Tradition says there were three terrace 1 *
on the 1 ttle hill of Calvary. Dili she stand
on the tirst of these, or on the second, or
on the third? In the absence of all his
torical knowledge on this point. Tissot ap
peals confidently to Sister KaTherine.
"Tell me. my sister," he said one day.
"if Mary stood on tho third terrace, the
one nearest to the garden?"
"Oh no " said Sister Katherin**. cj'ilta
confidently; "the Blessed Mother stood on
the second terrace. Many, many times I
have seen her there and watched with her
to the end."
All this quite simply from this holy
f-u -tilC pood old snyins that "f:r.<? feath
ers make fine birds." while never in-
J^ t«nded to l>e applied to books, r.ever
th<!rss is appropriate in that con
nection to a preat extent. Hooks an- made
to please or to ir.s-ruct; v.'hcn they botb
plcape end Sr.strurt they become that
much more v;.iu:il)ie. especially when,
p.fter fillinir botn tbe above re~u;ren?entp,
they aro also arrangod. printrii nrrl !1!uf
tratfd in a manner perfectly !n harmony
vith the subject matter presented, and i:i
Eympathf'.i'c. r.rlistic taste*
The nrorks of Urnest Setor»-Thcrnppo;i
fill all thioe of these requirements— they
«re pleasir:;?. they aro Instrtictivti ard th.ey
are rr.tirc-Iy artistic. Without reference
to the to:;t «.r "Jr. Srtr.n-Tho^ipson'.s
books, but pWstefi tlum up for a first and
carual p'.ar.cr. you crouid s;:y, "There is
a. book that I -would like io read. It looks'
laterestlnic? The photogravurfg are all
from stu«"feF of animal Itle made by tlie
author himsc'.f. an»l the pages ar? further
ornamented by inarsir.tl pen and ink
and beholds the marvelous administration
<.f justice by a Chinese Judge. A conven
ient storm carries the old transport In
¦which Hcrndon is off to the north, and
before the captain can get coal he is
oUigrd to run all the. way to Vladivos
tok, rleltlng a Korean port on route.
TIki? In a most dramatic but artless an<l
natural m&nncrtaxe presented to view thr»
ocntrasts between Oriental decadence anil
incompctency and Occidental thrift, en
ergy and power of orK«nizati'in. In brief
but ftriklns bits of narrative and de-
Fcriplinn arc depicted the demoralization
of the Chinese character, the Inefficiency
of the PorlLSUtsp, the dignity and hcnetl
cer.ee of Kr.glish ruU*. sustained by the
line, clean energy of the English charac
ter, the abjectnesa of the Koreans and
the civilizir.K activity of the Russians.
It is to be roprette;l that a work of
fiction like this should have the appear
ance at claimfrs to be accurate in poi.it
( f fact. Mr. Bonsai's sisned preface lojks
like a trick for the unwary. Not eiviy
an eye to stage setting and action will de
tect the skilled hand. But It is not to be
supposed that the book was Issued for a
small technical class. It was meant to be
rend, and being read it fails.
The descriptions inserted, under the
guise of ccstumc or stase .directions are
feebly poetical. For instance, "A young
ccunle. arm in arm, stroll absorbedly i>,i3t
on their way back from the usual lovers'
walk of the "town— where the willows weep
vt\d hearts ?to;i beating underneath cool,
white marble names.".
Cemetery is what it is usually called
Again, "Slio is dressed in a billowy mass
cf blue gra-.zinrss." This, it will be seen,
neither ttirs the soul nor aids the dress
maker. |
The narrative Is not striking, the lines
n;e net clever. And yet your theater man
can tell you why the play has made a hit.
lie will talk about settings and contrasts
and climaxes and business. But we are
discussing 'the;' book. (Life Publishing
Company. 25 cents.)
Mur>xipal Government.
Bird S. Coler. Comptroller of the city
of Xew York, has compiled a series of
papers dealing with some of the salient
features of iho administration of that
city under its now chartor. Most of the
chapters In the book were prepared orig
inally .is articles for reviews or a3 lec
tures. Consequently the work does not
tive anything like a satisfactory account
of the subject. Municipal administration
is at the present time one of the most in
teresting of political topics to the Ameri
can peopie. and the experiment in thHt
form of government which has been un
dertaken in Greater New York is the most
important venture which has yet jeen
made in this country in solving the prob-
ment for federation with our colonies,
most of which are committed to protec
tion." It is therefore as a contribution
to an existing controversy rather than
as a review of the controversies of tho
past that the work has been written.
Those who look to It for a comprehensive
account of the great agitation in Kngland
which resulted in the overthrow of the
corn laws will be disappointed. It deals
with that agitation, it is true, but the
standpoint of the writer is that of a par- 1
tisan, and his purpose has clearly been
that of refuting the arguments of the free
fair traders who are now increasing in
number in Great Britain rather than of
composing a book which would be accept
ed by all parties as a correct history of
one of the most notable events of the Vic
torian age.
A slncle pasfage from one of the early
speeches of Cobden will serve to show
why free trade ha 3 been adopted by the
British and why the corn laws were re
pealed. Addressing the Commons, he
said: "I am neither a Whig nor a Tory.
I am a free trader. Under the corn laws
the family of a. nobleman pays to the
bread tax about one halfpenny on every
300 pounds of income, while the tax takes
from the income of the family of a labor
ing man about 20 per cent." Of course, a
monstrous tax of that kind upon a neces
sary of life could not be maintained In a
free country, and it was repealed. Pro
tection in the United States does not en
tail a bread tax nor impose such unjust
burdens upon tho laboring man. It Is, on
the contrary; a benefit to him, since it
builds, up industries which provide him
witli work and wages.
The wide difference which exists be
tween the conditions of the United States
and of Great Hritaln affords ample expla
nation why a fiscal system. injurious m
the one country can be advantageous to
the other. Professor Armltage-Smith,
however, is an intense partisan on the
subject and undertakes to maintain thai
free • trade is right everywhere, that all
the nations of Europe and America are
wrong and that Great Britain alone ha 3
the true light. Ho has made an Interest
ing work and those who wish to go over
again the old controversy that raged
around the tariff issue in this cpuntry
during the Cleveland administration will
find the work worth reading. ("Tho Free
York, is devoted to the history of official
Washington. It contains excellent pic
tures, in half tone, of the United States
Senators now serving, the respected mem
bers of the Supreme Court, a group photo
graph of Mrs. McKinley surrounded by
the "Ladles of the Cabinet," and specially
posed pictures of the President and his
Cabinet. In addition are given valuable
and authentic biographical sketches and
data of importance. The publishers have
taken up a new and Interesting field, and
from the superior results thus far at
tained merit the success which will un
doubtedly be theirs.
Concerning Mexico.
"Guide to Mexico" is the title of a
bandy little text of some 12T pages from
the pen of Christobal Hidalgo,. Besides a
map and excellent photogravures illustra
ting the character and life of the country,
the book contains detailed information up
on every point likely to be of valua to an
Amorlcan contemplating a visit to Mex-co
cither for business or pleasure. It com
prises statistics, the agricultural re
sources of the country, descriptions of its
cities and railroads, possibilities of em
ployment in different branches of labor,
and points of interest for the sightseer—
altogether a quite valuable and handy lit
tle volume. (The Whitaker & Ray Com
pany, San Francisco, $1.)
•'Autobiography of a Cu^cK '
'.'The Autobiography of a Quack" is a
psychological study of a man who is more
rogue than quack in the common accepta
tion of the term; for we do not usually
symbolize by "quack" downright villainy,
and Dr. Mitchell has taken for his subject
the description of the character of one
who is- the embodiment of degeneracy and
whose life opposes the theory that envi
ronment is able to overcome the evil en
dowments of nature. Dr. Sandcraft. the
quack, engages in practice of all kinds
of nefarious work, sometimes led on by
love of pain, and again Induced to gratify
some passing, impulse.. His methods are
all dishonest, and as they are employed
by a clever man, who is mentally ami
physically the opposite of weak, the sym
pathies of the reader are not engaged
in his behalf. Indeed, It la with a feel
ing ot distrust, us well as of pleasure.
Book AEVIEWS
that on<> rises from a perusal of Dr.
Mitchell's book— distaste on account of
the unvaried rascality of the leading char
ter and pleasure given by the skill of the
author In clothing with interest the ex*
plolts of even a precious rogue.
In the same volume is the imaginary
rnsc of Richard Dedloe, nr army surgeon,
who loses his limbs in the war of the re
bellion. V
The case excited a grbat deal of atten
tion and sympathy when the article ap
peared in the Century, and a number of
subscriptions were sent to the "Stump
Hospital." It was then that Dr. Mltcheil
confessed that ho had written up the case,
not having Intended it to fall into the
hands of the publishers, which it did
through h friend.
The descriptions of Dedloe's sensations
aro painfully vivid. not only where he lose 3
his limbs, one by one, but after he has be
come a "stump."
The story Is not pleasant reading to one
who. Is affected by horrible pictures, sticr*
as could alone oomo from the pen of one
who, like Dr. Mitchell, has been a lifetime
in Katherins such data, but it la certainly
fascinatingly weird. (The Century Com
pany, New York: $1 25.)
Guide to Paris."
Laird & Lpe of Chicago have just issued
an eighth edition of their Guide to Paris,
which is to all purposes an entirely new
book, to be known henceforth as "Lee's
Standard Guide to Paris." This work
was successful from the start, but in its
present form it is undoubtedly the best
guide of the size ever published on either
side of the Atlantic. Its main new feature
is a Eeries of twelve city routes, with dia
grams, covering every possible point of
interest in the great city, and giving
crisp, accurate descriptions of all monu
ments, public buildings, churches, the
aters, museums, bridges, parks, etc. These
routes have taken the experienced Paris
ian author months of close study, as his
ambition was to give the tourist a chance
to see everything and miss nothing, while
covering the ground in a minimum of
time. A second novel feature introduced
in the" book i 3 v short vocabulary of words
and sentences in German and Italian that
will prove most valuable to tourists visit
ing Switzerland, Germany, Austria or
Italy after or before their trip to Paris.
THE SUNDAY CALL.
th? wo.M how he did It, another hardy
sailor has proclaimed his Intention of
doing, or trying to do. the same thing. It
would not be surprising if. before long,
"ocean greyhounds" would have to steam
at half-speed to avoid running down
would-be Slocums, trying to circle the
globe alone.
Stanley Waterloo's new novel. "The
Seekers," has called forth a striking
tribute from Dr. Dowlc. This eminent
preacher, who claims to have performed
miraculous cures and holds crowds en
thralled by his emphasis if not by his elo
quence, says that "the hottest place in
hell Is reserved for Stanley Waterloo."
Mr. Waterloo has therefore abandoned
his project of going to the war In t^e
Transvaal; and is remaining in Chicago
by way of fitting himself for so rloble a
vocation.
Frank K. Young. wllely known by his
articles on the strategy of the Beer war.
is the author of a series of books on
chess playing, known as the' "Minor,"
"Major" 'and "Grand" tactics of chess.
Mr. Young believes that the mathematics
of chess and of war are identical, and
that chess play and warfare differ only in
matters of relatively minor detail. This
idea he will bring out more clearly In a
fourth volume. "Chess Strategy's Illus
trated," which Little, Brown &. Co. pub
lish next falL
A timely novel, taking its plot and char
acters from the "Oberammergau Passion
Play"— ln fact containing almost the full
text of the famous drama— will appear
the latter part of April. It is called "The
Crucifixion" and is written by the bril
liant Kngllsh Journalist, AVUllam T.
Stead. Great popularity la predicted for
the book on account of the decennial per
formance of the play occurring this sum
mer. It was written In a most unusual
manner. In ISOO Mr. Stead realized a long
standing wish to see the "Oberammer
gau Passion Play." He attended several
performances of the drama and grew so
enthusiastic over it that he secured— at
woman, now worn with ago. ret trusting
as ev-er In the absolute reality of these
Christ pictures that have ccme to her all
her life.
EooKs Received.
"The Redemption of David Corson," by
Charles Frederic Goss. The Bowen-Mer
ri!l Co.. Indianapolis.
"Robert Tourny." by >William Sage.
Houghton. MiiHin & Co., Boston and New
York; $1 CO.
"Chalmette." by Clinton Ross. J. B. LJp
pincott Co.. Philadelphia. Paper: DO cents.
"The Immortal Garland." by Anna
Robeson Brown. D. Appleton <S*Co., New
York. Cloth, II; paper. £) cents.
"Ezra Hardman, M. A., of Waybaclc
College," and other stories, by Sara li.
Ropers. Dodse Pub'.ishinpr Co.. New York.
"Sophia." by Stanley Woyman. Long
mars, Green & Co.. New York; Jl SO.
"Historical Nuggets." Selections rrom
Macaulay. Stanley. Froude, Flske. Arm
strong and Emerson. Fords, Howard &
Hu'.bert. New York: 45 cents.
• "About My father's Business." by Aus
tin Miles. The Mershon Co., New York;
$1 50.
"Twentieth Century Knighthood," a se
ries of addresses to young men, by Ilev.
Louis Albert Banks. D.IX Funk & Waj
r.alls Co., New York; 75 cents.
"Who's Who In America." A biograph
ical dictionary of living men and women
of the United States. Edited by John W.
Leonard. A. N. Marquis & Co., Chicago;
J2 73.
"Lee's Standard Guide to Paris and
Every-day French Conversation." Laird
& Lee. publishers, Chicago. Cloth, co
cents: morocco gilt, $1.
4