Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-12
oUR BOOK TABLE.
IN TIE BRUsH-PaAEFoN aoGERs-FHE
sUN-sERvANT GIRLS.
Garheld's words-L Luther Scandinavia
Legends Schiller
Magazines

MARTIk LUTnER AND HIS WORK. By John H. Tread
well. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. San
Francisco: A. L. Bancroft & Co. 81.
This is an octave volume-one of "The
New Plutarch Series" Dir. Treadwel be-
Iieves that English literature is unpardonably
mesger Of detail concerning Martin Luther.
In the course Of an extensive reading in Ger
man history he made many notes OF Luther
and his times, and out of them has grown
this modest volume. There is plenty OF room
for discussion with Mr. Treadwell as to the
matter put forth and the thoughts he ex-
presses, but he disarms the critic by the eYl-
dence his work bears of being the candid
views of o very earnest student who has
passed by long disquisitions and lengthy con-
troversiss, and made concise essay In winch
be has treated Luther as he views him on the
historic page and from the standpoint that
the principles Of Martin Luther are the fun-
damental principles OF our American kepub.
Lie. Thus much must be said: MIR. Tread
wall Is not dogmatist; he has been fairly
impartial. and has left the nicities of chronol.
oey to dwell upon the principles which actu-
ated one of the most remarkable of men,
q man Of most marked energy, the man who
was in the lead always and who set the wo.ld
the example of self-thinking and rebellion
against the schools who before Luther stood
in amazement "to see individuals welding
the weapons hitherto exclusively their own"
TEE sHRvASr-GIRL QUESTION. By Harriet Prescott
Spofford Boston Houghton, Miffiin & Co. Sac
ramento: w. A. & G. s. Houghton. g..
Mrs. Spofford has in this small volume
given us very interesting and thoughtful
monograph on the nature Of service, the
causes Of complaint concerning servant girls,
the false sentimentality entertained by some
relative to the word "servant," as applied to
cook or chambermaid; the pity, prose and
poetry of the kitchen, etc. Her conclusion
is radical one, that il the white servant
girls, and mainly the Irish girls, will give the
American housewife no rest on the "service',
question, she will turn to the Chinaman and
give him the places throughout the land, as
well as in California, which properly belongs
to the girls who should not be afraid to work,
not afraid of domestic service, and who now
overcrowd factories and places for which they
are not so well fitted. In fact Mrs. Spofford
inclines to favor the Chinaman for domes-
tic" and through the mouth of the "house-
wife" enters into defense Of him to that
end. Perhaps Mrs. s. might change her
views IL she lived this side of the Sierras. and
heard both sides of the story about John. +"
The Story OF SCANDINAVIAN SUMMER. By Kath-
arine E. Tyler. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
San Francisco: A. L. Bancroft 4 Co. Svo., cloth,
81 90.
To those who have desire to read Of lands
and people concerning which comparatively
little is written lands but little visited by
travellers, and people who have small attrac-
tion for the tourist, this gossipy book will
prove pleasure. For with all its chat and
rspidity of recital it introduces many
strange and romantic story, and with ell its
sightseeing takes its readers into the homes
OF the Scandinavians as well as their public
places. The lady is of an observant nature :;
she possesses the rare quality of seeing well,
and OF yaluing details. She went into Nor
way not only for pleasure but to learn new
things in that far northern cline, and to see
the people as they are, and in this book she
plainly, frankly gives her views and records
her impressions. We judge that they were
generally correct; that she saw perfectly and
judged iapartially in Copenhagen, in Chris
IN Listad and Leslie Jeruvaerk, and SO On to
her glimpse of Sweden. with which she con-
cludes the volume.
ODDITIES OF THE Law. By Franklin Fisk Heard
Boston Soule Bugbee; l VOL, Svo, 81
This collection of wise, witty and odd re-
marks and comments by the famous judges,
the great lawyers, and the law reporters, will
bs found exceedingly amusing and instruct
i've, not only to the legal profession, but to the
general reader. Mr. Heard evidently has an
intimate and peculiar knowledge of English
Courts and Court reporters. The volume
embraces 1872 pages and has over 400 anec-
dotes, not one of which is dull. We append
few of the witty things of briefer form:
Henry Hunt, the famous demagogue, having been
brought up to receive sentence upon conviction
fer holding seditIous meeting, began his address
in mitigation Of punishment by complaining of
certain persons who had accused him OF stirring
up the people by dangerous eloquence." Lord
Marlborough, C. J. Gn very mild tone): My i'm.
partiaty Judge calls upon to say, SIR that,
in accusing you OF that, they do you great in
Justice"
When Plunket was driven to resign the Irish
Chancellorship, he was succeeded by Lord Campbell
The day Of the atters arrival was very stormy, and
a friend remarked to Plunket how sick OF his pro-
motion the passage must have made the newcomer.
g Yes, ne replied ruefuly, :" but it won't make him
throw up the SEALS"
Mr.. Commissioner Fame, in his examination be.
fore committee of the House of Lords calls the
citing OF an unreported case pocket pistol law.
In truth, as was said by Chief Justice Wilmot,
"T The common law is nothing else but statutes
worn out"
Sir James Stephens says, "The criminal law
stands to the passion of revenge in much the same
relation as marriage to the sexual appetite"
ARNE. By Bjornstjerne Bjornson Translated by
Rasmus B. Anderson Boston Houghton, Miffiin
& Co. Sacramento: w. A. & c. S. Houghton
1 vol, 81.
This is one Of Bjornson's earlier tales of
life in Norseland. 1t is an exceedingly simple
stony, involving the loves Of two peasants,
with happy termination. Arne" YVES
written In 1858. year later than "Synnove
Salbakken." 1t is not so strong story as
the latter, nor is it Bjornson's least effective
effort 1t is indeed an average example of
his love stories, and finds its chief merit in
the songs introduced, which have melodies
composed by Bjornson's brilliant cousin,
Rikard Nordraak, who died in 1865. Pro-
fessor Anderson is an admirable translator,
anl M CTb Tba-a has int0 Enofiah qO
much of the warmth and beauty of the text
for which Bjornson is Justly famous in mod
ern literature, especially in that fair land that
lies beneath the eternal snow and unsetting
sun.
GAKFrEID's WORDS. Compiled by William Ralston
Batch. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin Co. Sacra-
mento: W. a. & G. 5. Houghton.
This little work, bearing splendid por-
trait Of the late President, is collection of
suggestive passages from the public and pri-
vate writings and utteraness of Garfield. It
is almost proverbial philosophy, and shows
how thiekly studied were his speeches and
letters with the jewels of utterance. These
pages are an index to the depth of the mind
of Garfield, of his wit and his wisdom, and
cannot fail to find an abiding place in the
hearts Of the American people. A brief
memoir precedes the compilation, which has
extracts touching nearly seven hundred DIS
tince SUBJECTS.
PICTURES AND LEGENDS FROM NORMANDY AND BRIT
TANY. By Thomas and Katharine Macquoid. New
York G. P. Putnams Sons. San Francisco : A.
L. Bancroft Co. Cne VOL, Syo., 81 so.
The title of this finely illustrated volume
fairly tells Of its character. 1t remains only to
say that tt legends are all admirably related,
snd that scholarly diction graces every chap
ter, and that each chapter contains from two
to four romantic stories, some adapted from
the tales told by the storytelling beggars of
Brittany, and others founded on popular
legends and traditions. All these are given
in a running sketch of travel and sightseeing.
TuRousH TIE LIGHT CONTINENT: or the United
States in le77-S. By VIM. Saunders. New York :
Cassell, Peter s Galpin. San Francisco A. L.
Bancroft & Co.
A second edition of this book is printed. 1t
was fully noticed by the American press at
the time of its first issuance. Mr.. Saunders
discusses a great number Of topics, mainly
political, relative to our Government, and
concerning which there is now no necessity
for review Most OF Mr.. Saunders chapters
were given to the public through the columns
of the English press.
TOBY TYLER; or, Ten Weeks in Circus New York
Harper & Bros. San Francisco: A. L. Bancroft
& Co. Small quarto, 81.
All email boys should thank james Otis fol
writing such delightful book for them, and