Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-04
RECENT LITERATURE.
KNIGHTS OF To-DAY-REcLus' STORY OF
N-HELMH0LTz.
Franklin Square The Handy Vol
ume Series = Religious
Madame De stasl.

New YORK q DiOs. Sdu ftuiiCiscO. a.
L. Bancroft & Co.
DR.. Stevens has here presented an ad-
rn;rable biography of one of the women of
France who was famous in her day, and has
place in the history of the world. Stevens
is scholarly, careful and conscientious
writer LIZ there is here or there DISPOSE
ton manifest to enter too much into
detail, and to dwell oyerlong on GER
tain POINTS, it is fully compensated
by the lucidity of the writer, the deep inter-
est his text awakeus, the living reality with
which he iinbues 1t, ard the fact that he had
to deal with times filed with the most stirring
events, which have made their unmistakable
mark upon the social and political history of
mankind. DR.. Stevens was evidently pro.
foundry interested in his subject, and very
nearly comedies with Macaulay, who pro-
nouncsd Nine. De Stael 'sthe st woman
of her times A good many Incomplete or
partial biographies have been written of her.
DIR. Stevenss work, however, may be pro.
nounced full. 1t is ct least the completest vet
given to the world. The authors object was
not only to study her life and work and the
politics of the times in which she lived, but
also "to reinstate Madame De Stael in her
resi- historical position to restore her salon
at Paris, crowded with representative per
sonages Of the times to revive her brilliant
literary court at Coppet; to disinter from
old publications the contemporary and later
criticisms on her works TO trace her travels
and her relations with distinguished men and
women of France, Switzerland, Italy. Ger
many, Russia and England, and, above all,
to ascertain her own intellectual, her interior
life" Oh her early life, her girlish years, DIR.
Stevens gives us less of detail than IS desirable,
for the child was prscoeious that as woman
became so famous. When he approaches her
nE,-- I
detail of interest omitted, and we follow the
days and years Of this remarkable woman
with fascination that is almost trying, as
we Joy or suffer and feel with her in her
buoyant youth, her unhappy marriage, her
exiles, her lave, her political struggles, her
courage and her literary activity. Some
ISLANDERS upon her DIR. Stevens fatty gives
tue lie to, among them that of egotism, as
for instance, the charge that she attempted
to have Napoleon call her the greatest woman
in the world. living or dead Her words
concerning America should be read by
all Americans "What is more honorable
for the human race than this new world,
which is establishing itself without the preiu-
dices of the old; this new world where reli-
gion is in all its fervor without needing the
support of the State for its mainten-
ance; where law is more powerful
| by the respect which it inspires than
| by military force Old and free Eng
land should be inspired with admiration by
the progress of America" Stevens is more
| than warm in his praise of the woman, he is
| indeed fulsome, but we should remember that
his commentator and applause ara fully
| literary men OF her day. But aside
| from the admirable clearness with which he
presents US Nine. De Stael IS e writ:r, a
talented and wonderful woman, a genius, a
martyr Of political persecution, he shows Us
the woman as such, with her pride. her share
of self-conceit and vanity; the woman as a
daughter worshipipg her father, the emo
tional woman, the loving woman, the mother
with all her cares and domestic joys and sor-
rows. Partisan as is this biography, it is one
which viii take front rank, and will be re-
ceiyed in the literary world as an invaluable
addition to the literature of the day.
THE STORY OF MOUNTAIN. By Elisse Reclus.
| Translated frem the French by Bertha Ness and
| John Lille. New York: Harper & Bros. San
Francisco A. L. Bancroft Co.
This IS another of Reclus' charming works.
| He is the author of the well-kuown volumes,
4" The Ocean, Atmosphere and Life" and
sThe Earth" Rsclus is one of the most
graceful and pleasing of scientific writers.
| There is charm about his style indescriba-
bly, attractive. The present volume is at
once a fund of valuable information. TO-
nance, graphic and true narrative, and q
| scientific essay. It is not intended for the
delectation of those thoroughly yersed in
geologic science and literature, but rather for
those whose opportunities for deep research
/ have been limited, and in whom the spirit of
| scientific inquiry is sufficiently alive to be
worthy Of stimulation. He who reads the
first page will not lay down the book unfr-
ished, willingly. Reclus is a distinguished
French saraat az explorer, q practical
! scientist, a close observer, charuiingly
graceful and poetic writer, and 3 man of pro-
| found learning.
"From Death Into Life; or, Twenty
Years of My Ministry" by Rev. w. Harlan,
| press of ID. Appleton & Co., New York.
| Mr.. Harlan was late Incumbent of Curzon
| Chapel, Mayfair, and viii be remembered as
| the author Of volume entitled Twenty
! Four True Tales of Conversion :" also
as the author of the works entitled. "The
Threefold Gift of God, {" Building from the
Top" etc. The present work is both his
tory Of the clergyman work and his account.
as he says, of the Lords dealings with him,
how He wrought in and by him during
| twenty years. Il fairly introduces this book,
which is evidently the work Of sincerely
devout and earnest Christian worker, to quote
from his own opening - had been given
over by three physicians to die, but it pleased
| the Lord, il answer to prayer, 70 raise me
up again. My restored health and strength
! ! thankfully devoted to a religious and ear
nest life. In the hight ard seeming prog
petty OF this, the Lord awakened me to see
that [ was dead in trespasses and sins; still
far from Him; resting on my own works and
| going about to establish my own righteous
ness, instead OF submitting to the righteous
| LII Vh1v, Egan Al.
Holy Ghost, and raised me up into q new and
spiritual life. In this volume the reader will
meet with the respective results Of what |
have called) the Religious, as distinguished
from the Spiritual, life. The former pro-
duced only outward and ecclesiastical effects,
while the latter brought forth fruit in the
salvation Of souls, to the praise and glory of
God. One object in writing this book is to
warn and instruct earnest minded souls, who
are, as l YVES once strangers tc the experience
of salvation. seeking rest where / am sure
they can never find it, and laboring to DO
good to others when they have not yet re-
ceived that good themselves. They are vain
ly building from the top trying to live be-
fore they are born; to become holy before
they have been justifed and TO lead Others
to conversion before they have been converted
themselves"
"The Wids-Awake for June d. Lothrop
& CO., BOSTON, is especially noticeable for its
exquisitely illustrated poems from we'll
known poets, chief among them being Mary
in the Morning glories, by Mary Clemmer
1.-THE Baby's Prayer" by Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps; Courtesy" by Mrs. L. G.
Wilton, and "OGt of Tune" by
Mrs. S. NJ. B. Piatt. Mrs. a. NJ
Diaz contributes also delightful six PACED
ballad entitled "The Little Boggermuggers, :"
with humorous drawings by Boz" There
is also fine sonnet to Mother Goose" by
James Whitcomb Riley, with capital PEN
and.ink portrait of Mother Goose by G.. I.
Barnes There are several remarkably good
short stories in this number, two noteworthy
ones being "Silly's Hood Tree" by Mrs.
Lizzie w. Champney, and 1.-THE Original
Wax Works Show" by James B. Marshall.
each with full-page illustration, the one
drawn by G. F. Barnes. the other by T. H.
Lungren. Kate Lawrenee's amusing story
of 1.-Two Little Trunks" also full page
drawing by Miss Humphrey. 'Off the
Track in Sleeper" By Sherwood Ryse. is
similarly illustrated by Robert Lewis.
Rev. Edward Everett Hale in his " To- Day"