The Training of Rachel Haller,

By L. M. N.

American Baptist Publication Society,

Philadelphia.

We have here a book of the "helpful" sort, but not obtrusively so. The heroine, Rachel Haller, is hampered by hereditary tendencies, but through force of character and Christian faith is able to rise above them and develop a beautiful character.

The romance deals with the mystery surrounding the identity o ftwo waifs, who were reared in good families, and the complications that were brought about by the mercenary plotting of the father of one of them. Until the finish the author keeps the reader in the dark. as to the motive for stealing the children, and shows ingenuity in the construction of the story and the solving of the riddle.

The characters are rather weak, with the exception of Davis Martin, who has never wavered in his devotion to the memory of his former sweetheart who jilted him for another suitor, and the weak and rascally husband who brought misery to all who were connected with him.

The story ends happily and is one that will doubtless interest all who will desire a pure and wholesome romance.

*

A Quaker Scout,

By N. P. Runyon,

The Abbey Press, New York.

"A Quaker Scout" is a most interesting romance of the Civil War. It tells the story of man's fall through weakness, his expiation of his sins through self-sacrifice and suffering and final redemption.

The author is well known to the newspaper world as "Ironquill," and this work has the same crisp, pungent style that characterized his writing for the daily press.

The story opens with the arrest of the hero, his escape from the sheriff and subsequent enlistment in the Union army under an assumed name. The exciting scenes of army life that follow are well described and the author never allows the interest of the reader to flag. There is plot and counter plot, and such skill is shown in delineation of character that one's sympathies are enlistetd in favor

By L. M. Elshemus.
The Abbey Press, New York.

The author of a "Triple Flirtation" has, in this book, surpassed himself in his own particular line. "Sweetbrier" is a composite production of artist, poet and author, in the foregoing order of their excellence.

In landscapes Mr. Elshemus is at his best, but he should eschew all attempts to draw the "female form divine." As a poet, he sometimes expresses himself in a graceful way, but it is seldom that an author exploits his good opinion of his own writings as he does on page 23. He says of his first note book: "Yet another one (a verse) confronts my eyes while paging the note-book, which shows that thoughts to poets come arrayed in beauty free-and that chiselling, pruning, or criticising are futile to perfect what enters as a perfect strain into the poet's soul. Who can carp on the following short, sweet theme

"Oh! dig my simple grave

Near to the brooklet's wave;

And let the flowers that on it grow The brooklet's softest murmers know." "Does my gentle reader remember anything more simple, more timeful, or more poetic than these four lines

The prose of the romance is incoherent, the sentiments maukish and the plot (if it can be called a plot) purposeless. The book is well printed and in the best style of The Abbey Press.

264

is a very weak attempt to present a revolting proposition; i. e.,"A trial expiration clause amended to the monogamic marriage law, proclaiming to hold in legal wedlock man and woman equally secure as husband and wife for several years, and at the expiration of that time

simply be annulled, or continued if suit mated," p. I and II. It would be a waste of time and space to discuss such a foolhardy suggetion. The wonder is that the book ever saw the light of day. There is certainly no excuse for it.

Several eminent gentlemen have been telling the Outlook what books, in their opinion, most influenced the last century, says The Bookseller, Newsdealer and Stationer. The greatness of a book is ditticult to gauge, it so often has so little to do with a book's influence. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is an excellent case in point. Thanks to the subject and the time, its influence was such that Lincoln could greet Mrs. Stowe with the woras: "Is this the little woman that made the big war?" Its effect was great, and it remains not a great book. With their selection, then, confined to greatness of influence, the gentlemen addressed themselves to their task.

Mr. Brice doubts whether any book in this century, except Darwin's "Origin of Species," has had so great an influence as was exercised in the eighteenth century by the "Esprit des Lois," the "Contract Social," "The Wealth of Nations" and the "Kritik der reinen Vernunft." He finds some difficulty in naming ten books, because some of the greatest thinkers and writers who have done most to mold the minds of their contemporaries have done so by their writings as a whole, and not by any single book. Bryce's ten most influential books are:

Darwin's "Origin of Species."
Goethe's "Faust."

Hegel's "History of Philosophy."
Wordsworth's "Excursion."
Mazinni's "Duties of Man."

Carl Marx's "Das Kapital."
DeMaistre's "Le Pape."

De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America."

Malthus's "Population."

Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables."

De Maistre's works have almost been forgotten, but his book "Le Pape," Mr. Bryce considers, should be included, for it played an important part in its time in propagating a set of views which have had much currency in Italy, as well as in France, and have contributed to the Catholic reactoan in England also. Familiarity has also in the case of De Tocqueville been unpropitious to his fame. So much of his "Democracy" has passed into our common thought that we are apt to forget now much we owe to it. It is curious Mr. Bryce should have ignored Lyell's "Principles of Geology,"

W. H.S.

which has a profound effect both popularly and on scientific thought, indeed, did more than any other book to prepare the way for the "Origin of Species."

Dr. Fairbairn prefers Wordsworth's "Lyrical Ballads" to his excursion." They stand, he says, for the whole poetical development of the century. Scott's "Waverly," he thinks, should certainly have a place, for it has the great distinction of not simply being a factor in literature, but in religion. In religion Dr. Fairbairn believes that Strauss's "Life of Jesus" is an easy first. It has been the most hated book of the century, and owes its influence more to what it compelled to be done than what it did.

Darwin's "Origin of Species" is unanimously recognized as the most important publication of the century. Goethe's "Faust" is also generaldly recognized as claiming the second place. Among poets, Wordsworth and Tennyson alone claim high rank. Byron appears to have been forgotten. Scott, Victor Hugo, Tolstoi and Mrs. Stowe are the novelists who are adjudged to have exercised most influence upon their day and generation. Emerson, Hegel, Carlyle, Ruskin and Herbert Spencer are also placed in the foremost rank. The following list shows, in the order of their importance, the books selected as having indelibly stamped their mark upon the life of the nineteenth century:

"Darwin's "Origin of Species."
Goethe's "Faust."

Emerson's Essays.

Wordsworth's Poems.

Carlyle's "Sartr Resartus."

Mrs. Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
Hegel's "Logic."

Tennyson's "In Memoriam."
Scott's "Waverley."

Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables."
Ruskin's "Modern Painters."
Comte's "Social Philosophy."
Herbert Spencer's "Synthetic Philosophy."
Strauss's "Life of Jesus."

The list is remarkable for the way it misrepresents the century. The locomotive, the telegraph, the dynamo and dynamite are not so much as hinted at in it. It is a thought to make booksellers pause, this that the men who make the real progress of the world do not, with rare exception, make books.

In Politics

The situation in China has not improved perceptibly during the past month. The powers are still fencing over the amount of the indemnity, which must necessarily be within the limit of China's ability to pay. $200,000,000 has been suggested, but the indications are that China would not be able to meet such a large sum. The disagreement between England and Russia shows that there is not good feelings between the forces, and disruption and war between them is not an improbable outcome. The loot of China by the allied armies is a disgraceful spectacle and a reflection upon our civilization.

Cuba having refused to accept the dictation of the United States as to her foreign policy, the question is, what are we going to do about it? It looks very much as if some of our politicians are going to force us into a serious squabble with Cuba, with the hope of thus setting aside our solemn pledge for Cuban independence. It is true that Cuba has shown some symptoms of ingratitude, but is this to be wondered at when a large part of the press of the United States is maintaining that we ought to ignore our pledge to Cuba? It would be a most marvelous case of gratitude that could survive the opinions of some of our senators and newspapers. The anarchist who would destroy life and property is not nearly so dangerous to society as a man like Frank Munsey who would destroy our national honor by maintaining that our pledge was a "mistake" and should be ignored. We are bound to give Cuba her complete independence. Any other course is a step down the path of national corruption and ruin.

*

*

*

The Spooner amendment to the army appropriation bill, passed by the senate, has been the cause of some bitter partisan comment. The principal section of the amendment is as follows:

Recent dispatches from the Philippines have an encouraging aspect, says the Review of Reviews. The reports from Iloilo are to the effect that the insurrection has been practically ended in the great island of Panay, and that the people there have been very generally taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. The so-called "Federal Party" movement, under the direction of mature and influential Filipinos, is said to be doing a great deal toward the establishment of peace and order. Judge Taft and the commission appear to be exercising a very wholesome influence and to be gaining the confidence of the people. Advices both public and private from the Philippine Islands would indicate that commendable progress is being made in the establishment of schools, and that the appropriation of large amounts of money for the making of good roads is proving to be a popular measure tending toward peace and good understanding.

* **

A distinct municipal reform wave is passing over the country, and it has not been without some good results. Speaking of the movement in New York city, Albert Shaw says that the forces of reform are gradually and calmly preparing for the great municipal election of next November. Republicans have plainly stated that they intend to co-operate with non-partizan bodies like the Citizen's Union, the chamber of commerce,

and the various anti-Tammany organizations and movements, and that they are perfectly ready to join in the support of a candidate for mayor pledged to give the city a business administration without political bias. Far from asking that the candidate for mayor should be a Republican, they are prepared to support an independent Democrat; and they have advanced to the view that, if elected, such a mayor need not feel obliged to recognize by his appointments the various elements of his support. This is a noteworthy change of view. It is a recognition of the absolute necessity in our great American cities of the abandonment of the old idea that good administration of municipal corporations can be brought about by the maintenance of close party lines. Tammany Hall is a great conspiracy held together by private interests; and it can only be defeated by the union of all those who seek good and efficient government.

The measurement of bolt of lightning has been made more by accident than by design, says the Patent Record. Prof. George Rumker, of the Hamburg Observatory, had his camera out for a lightning flash and he secured a very fine view of one which struck a steeple not far from his location. Securing the exact distance of the steeple and having all the data about the lens with which the picture was taken, he was enabled to make accurate measurements of the flash. The actual breadth of the discharge was one fifth of an inch.

graphic message and print it in the Roman alphabet on a page form. This, according to the Scientific American, he has accomplished. The printing, it says, done by this most ingenious little machine is remarkable even, and in its spacing and general typographical excellence it compares favorably with the best work that is turned out on the typewriter. We are informed that during the last six months over one hundred and fifty of these printing telegraphs have been put in operation in New York and Chicago, the number being limited by the capacity of the shop in which the machines are constructed.

In Literature

*

Among the papers of the late Grant Allen was found an article on "The British Aristocracy." It is probable that he did not care to place himself before the English reading public in the position of entire frankness which he had assumed while writing this article, and that consequently it was held until after his death for publication. It was secured through his son for The Cosmopolitan and appears in the April number. Certainly Certainly no Englishman has ever so handled the subject without gloves as Grant Allen, and no one was ever better equipped to do the subject justice.

The position which the Pierpont Morgan organization holds with reference to the business and political world is discussed by Mr. John Brisben Walker in the April Cosmopolitan under the title, "The World's Greatest Revolution." Familiar with the business world and a student of affairs, Mr. Walker has, while approving of the general idea of concentration which makes for good organization and public economy, drawn a picture of the power now exercised which will be a surprise to the great majority who have not given this subject thoughtful attention.

*

*

The demand of the hour, according to leading educational journals, is pleasanter conditions for teachers. The rule of love versus force is also very generally advocated. The tendency, if these same publications are to be trusted, is to so educate the child that his moral nature will be lifted above temptation by a quickened and cultivated intelli-. gence.

In Art

The Webb prize of three hundred dollars, annually awarded by the society of American artists, will hereafter go to the American who can show the best marine or landscape painting, who has not before received the prize.

Shaw prize, also of three hundred dollars, takes the place of the Shaw fund, and will be given each year for the best figure composition in oil by an American The painting must be owned by the artist exhibiting.

citizen.

The interesting local event has been the exhibition of the Kieth painting,