The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-12
LITERARY REVIEWS
Recent Publications by
different Houses.
Historical Works of Value and
interest.
The Chinese question as viewed BY
Mr., Seward.

HIsgoar CHnIsTAN REI, s5te GO VhE
300 A. B. By Charles b. ""s' Y. v " "-'''
| Under the above title Judge Waite has
written book that in some respects is an
attack on orthodoxy. 1t is not "anton
assault, or one made in spirit OF reckless
ness, but is calm, considerate review of
the history of the Christian religion up to
the year 200, aud is worthy OF reading from
all n-ofessions and irOm all classes 1t
lis careful history honestly and
diligently compiled aud Is claimed TO be
more reliable as sGcb. than any other
work oe the kind we have The design
of the hook is best stated by the author
in the preparation of this work, the
autnor has proceeded on the assumption,
that the ascertainment of the truth is all
limportapt. and that its PRONUNCIATION can
not fail to result 10 the permanent benefit
of the human race,
CHINESE IMnenAr1oN, IN ITS Social AND Eco
| NoxIcAI Aspects; by George f. Seward, late
Il s Minister to China. Charles ScIibner's
| Sens, New ork
/ d
question. and is fully considered one. 1t
uni;es the authors experiences Of the Chi
uese 10 China, With the result Of investiga
ton into the effects of Chinese imuligra.
ton in this country; and is an instructive
as we'll as interesting work. Mr.. Stewards
soiourn among the Chinese surely should
have made hin acauainted with their home
habits and customs, while he has evidently
given much time and thought to their
bearing en- the industries of this country.
1t is strong plea, that the Chinese must
not go" AMI deserves careful attention
from those opposed to the authors views.
TUE NINETEENTH CENTURY by Robert Mac
| Kensle, I Nelson y sons, London; Il. Cramp-
| ton, Rock Island, III, 81 so.
The above named work is a reliable aud
comprehensive history of the events Of
historical! importance that have occurred
during the present century. The infor-
NATION contained is we'll selected and is
evidence of CAREFUL and trustworthy
research. The plan of the work differs
from the ordinary history, lnasmuch as
lit covers period, Of time in
stead OF a particular country or people.
The subjects treated, and the style in
which the book is written. not only COM
mend it to the general reader but place it at
once among the standard goIks OF a
library.
THE BIBLE.
A controversy has arisen in New York
as to the part played by the American
clergy in revising the Bible. One paper
maiptalps that the work Of the American
scholars is penned op:as q foot note or APP
pendix An interview with DR.. Philip
Schaff gives the following:
!, One might suppose that all the Ameri-
can suggestions had been rejected as a
whole and added to the Testament as
! concession to our feelings. Such is not the
case The plan of making the revision was
as follows: First, the American and Eng
lish Com uittees, working separately, made
a list of the changes which they thought
advisable. Upon preparing this list it was
found that 60 per cent Of the changes pro-
posed were suggested by both Com mittees.
OF the remainder of the suggestions pro-
posed by the American Committee. and
not by the English revisers. more than
half we're adopted after consideration of
eur arguments in their support. The
Ichanges which we suggested, and which
the English Com mittee refused to sanction,
related chiefly to archaic expressions which
We desired to replace by modern forms.
The English Com mittee objected, however,
lrpon the ground that it was essential to
| TIE success of the work to make as few
changes as possible in order that the new
Bible might read as near as possible like
the old. We agreed with them. but never
theIess thought that especially in this
country, modern forms of speech. UNDER
stood by every one. were desirable. The
English, have. of course, replaced a great
many obsolete words. but they have not in
our opinion gone far enough. For in
stance, they retain the penny as the price
of the days work in the parable of the
vineyard, which to the unedueated man
seems ike an absurdity. The actual value
of the penny in the Biblical days was about
I6 cents, and we are in favor of indicating
this But the English revisers objected.
AS we are in some sense responsible
to the American people for the accuracy
and value Of orr work we insisted as a
matter OF right to onrselges that our sug-
gestions should De incorporated in the
American edition of the Testament issued
from the Oxford presses. The appendix
will pot be long one, perhaps not more
than dozen pages. and Americans may
choose for themselves between the two
tegts."
In speaking of the criticism that world
be passed upon the new WORK. DIR. Schsff
says: Undoubtedly there will be good
deal; Ignorance is always anxious to make
itself heard, The present Bible is re-
garded as sacred down to the last period
by many good people, and the army of
euthpsiasts whose knowledge is not to be
compared With their zeal will rise up in
arms The changes are SO many that
scarcely verse in the New Testament
remains uualtered. Ia many instances.
however, the alterations concern punctu-
atoms and minor words. Of course any
alteration will arouse criticism, bat think
we can hold our own, and we are prepared
to do battle far ghat We have done and
sanctioned. We have worked between
two fires. the radical wanting far more
sweeping changes than we would sanction.
and the other party rolling their eyes in
horror when O comma is transposed or a
small letter Ia replaced BIZ q cartal