Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-14


information. Mr.. Powers holds that the
history of machinery points to the conclu
sion: 4" Machinery has reduced the cost OF
food, or at least prevented its rising with the
increase of population, and has also reduced
the cost of clothing and other manufactured
goods-conferriDg two benefits upon the
laboring classes The introduction of ma
chinery has increased the demand for labor.
The result has been the increase OF the num-
Der of persons employed in excess OF the IN
crease of population, and an increase in the
rates of wages beyond the increase in the
cost of living. Machinery has effected a
marked reduction in the length of the work
ing day and has reduced the amount of mus
cular exertion requisite in many branches OF
industry In so far as machinery has con-
ferred less benefit on American laborers than
might have been anticipated, it Is attributable
chiefly to the fact that European laborers
have poured into this country in flood, es-
pecially since 1916, since which time the
greatest advances in the introduction of ma
chinery have been made.
A RAGGED REGISTER. BY Anna E. Dickinson. New
York :. Harper & Bros, San Francisco A. L.
Bancroft & Co VOL; Svo, cloth. age
This is volume by Miss Dickinson,
goodly portion of which is devoted to an ac-
count of her trip across the continent her
reception in San Francisco, her experiences
in California and Nevada, and her "heroisn'
in facing San Francisco audience of Chinese
haters, who Missed her. The remainder of
the book consists of random papers on various
places she has visited, and OF sketches in and
about Washington. The book is full of self and
self-laudation. 1t gives a glimpse of Anna as
viewed by herself, and the result is not graf
flying. She writes upon many good themes
and has a number of happy stories to tell,
but whatever good effect may be produced
upon the readers mind is neutraized by the
extremely bitter and half injured tone of
the writer which runs through so much of
her text She does not by these papers
add to her literary reputation, or inspire
greater respect for her undoubted boldness
and advocacy of worthy reforms. In short,
Anna Dickinson should not have given to the
world this ragged register She is equal to
better things, and they who can do well
should never consent to do less.
CAMP AND CABIN SKETCHES OF LIFE AND TRAVEL
IN THE WEST. By Rooster w. Raymond late
United States Commissioner of Mining Statistics
Little Classic style; 81. New York: Fords How
ard & Hurlburt. Sacramento: W. A. c. S.
Houghton.
This is an attractive volume. 1t gives the
results of DR.. Raymond's close observation,
ready intelligence and faithfulness in nara
tive. The Doctor is good story-teller. He
can be technically accurate without being
technically abstruse, and detailed without
being wearisome The books opens with
the story of Thanksgiving Joe," and
is located in Nevada. "Agamemnon :" is
story of California, and widow Baker"
is New England sketch. The remainder of
the volume tells us of the wonders of the
Yellowstone region, the ice caves of Wash
ington Territory and the ascent of Gray's
Peak, made in April, 1871 The book is
acharmingly pleasant and refreshing one and
full of naturalness and spirit.
THE ART OF SPEECH: Studies in Poetry and Prose-
By l.. 7. Townsend, d. D. New York: d. Apple
ton Co. Sacramento: w. A. & C. S. Houghton
Two volumes, 60 cents each.
Volume l of this work is at hand. 1t is
an admirable analytical study of the history,
theory and laws of speech. This is divided
into considerations of diction and idiom, syn
tax, grammatical and rhetorical rules, style,
figures, poetic and prose speech, etc. The
work is one of the most concise imaginable
and in the way of illustration is one of the
very best extant of all the compact books
upon the art of composition. 1t should be in
the hands of every young person, while even
skilled writers and speakers may derive much
benefit from its perusal.
D. Appleton & Co.. New York, have is.
sued another of the new Handy-volume Series,
entitled "Great Singers-Faustina Bordoni
to Henrietta Sontac," by George I. Ferris.
For sale by w. A. & G. S. Houghton, Sacra-
mento. No originality is claimed by Mr.
Ferris in this work, except such as is involved
in picturesque presentation of the facts
and this he has accomplished. His method
of presenting these sketches is admirable in
all respects The compiler has drawn freely
from great variety of sources, and has been
evidently guided by the desire to give such
digest of the more important incidents in the
careers of the celebrities treated of as should
be at once compact, racy and accurate. To
serve this purpose the opinions and deserip-
tions of writers and critics contemporary
with the subjects have been used by him at
length, and The sketches have that atmos-
phere of freshness which is the outcome of
personal observation. All that compilation
of this kind can hope to effect is best gained
in preserving this kind of vividness, instead
of revamping impressions and opinions into
second hand forms.
"Wide Awake, =" for February ID. Lothrop
& Co., Boston, has an interesting historical
frontispiece, illustrating an incident in the
life of Queen Charlotte, for which Jennie NJ.
Burr has written poem entitled " A Crown
and Letter; :" M. L. W. S. follows with an
excellent story, :" Granny Luke's Courage"
Amanda B. Harris has a well-illustrated arti-
Gle concerning GA Chinese Mission School in
Boston, > Lizzie W. Champney has story
about Silver Bonbright and her Rubber
Baby )" l.. j. l.. has an after-C Christmas
story Mary Wagner-Fisher tells about
"Nannette's Live Baby" and Kate Lawrence
gives 1.-The Other Side of the Story" for
which Palmer Cox has made some funny pic
lures 1.-The Jeweled Tomb" by Mrs. Cur
wen, gives an account of a famous structure
in India; the two serials, "Five Little Pep
pers and 1.-Two Young Homesteaders. are
full of interest, and the American Artists
fine Isles OF Shoals picture. The number is
beautifully illustrated, and is choice, good
and fresh in every part, making up a maya
zine for boys and girls of the highest rank.
Temperance Jewels is the title of new
collection of temperance, reform and gospel
songs, duets, quartets, solos and choruses,
by j. H. Tenney and Rev. E. A. Hoffman.
Oliver Ditson 4 Co., Boston, publishers.
Temperance musical literature has not, on
the whole, attained high rank, perhaps be-
cause of the homely subjects, on which poets
do not care to sing. In this book, however,
everything seems to be of a much higher
order than is common, and the words are
full of encouragement to the reformed and the !
reforiners. 1t required much tact, good
judgment and research to make so good col
lection. A decidedly religious character per-
vades the text. The music for four parts ac-
companies each song. The book is compact
neat and cheap.
From A. L. Bancroft, & Co.. San Fran
cisco, we have several numbers of Harper & |
Bros. Franklin Square Library" volumes,
a cheap and convenient form of presenting |
standard literature. The numbers at hand |
are !" A Doubling Hart" a novel, by Annie
Keary; "a Few Months in New Guinea,"
by o. G. Stone "The Bells of Pen Raven, ~
a novel, by B. L. Fargeon, and one of the |
best from the pen of that accomplished
novelist 1.-The Egoist, comedy in nara |
tive, by George Meredith; Miss Braddon's !
I" Mistletoe Bough," Christmas story; and |