Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MAGAZINES OF THE DAY-MUsIc-
SOME RECENT BOOKS
Frederick the Great-The Human Race
Life and Her Children, Plants
Haroun Alraschid.

Darwin, LID, r. II. .. AsSl5teu Dy FRANCIS
Darwin. illustrated. New York D. Appleton
& Co. vol, Syo. 81.
The title of this work indicates its charac-
ter. Its object is to describe and connect
together several large classes of movement
common to most plants. To speak of the
methods of treatment adopted is wholly I'M
called for in notice of treatise by Darwin.
1t may be stated, however, that after hold
ing that the most widely prevalent movement
is essentially of the same nature as that of
the stem of climbing plant, which
bends successfully to all points of
the compass, 50 that the tip re-
movement is only due to increased growth,
first on one side and then on another in a
secondary sense, and that the primary cause
is the increased turgescence of the cells, to-
gether with the extensibility of their walls
He shows then that every growing part of
every plant is continually circumnutating,
even the stems of seedlings before they have
broken through the ground. The author
adds what may be taken as the meat of the
whole treatise: g In this universally present
movement we have the basis or groundwork
for the requirement, according to the require
ments of the plant, of the most diversified
movements. Thus, the great sweeps made
by the stems of twining plants, and by the
tendrils of other climbers, result from
mere increase in the amplitude of the ordi-
nary movement of denomination, The po-
sitiOn which young leaves and other organs
ultimately assume is acquired by the cir
cumnutating movement being increased
in some one direction. The leaves of
various plants are said to sleep at night, and
it will be seen that their blades then assume
a vertical position through modified circum.
mutation, in order to protect their upper sur
faces from being chilled through radiation.
The movements of various organs to the light,
which are so general throughout the vegeta-
BILE kingdom, and occasionally from the light,
or transversely with respect to it, are all
modified forms of denomination; as again
are the equallyprevalent movements of stems,
ETC., towards the zenith, and of roots towards
the center of the earth. In accordance with
these conclusions, a considerable difficulty in
the way of evolution is in part removed, for
it might have been asked How did all their
diversified movements for the most different
purposes first arise? As the case stands, we
know that there is always movement in prog
ress, and its amplitude, or direction, or both,
have only to be modified for the good of the
plant in relation with internal or external
stimuli"
ILLzATIoS. By E. II. Palmer New York G. P
Putnams Sons. San Francisco Billings, Har-
bourne & Co. One vol, Svo.
This is one of the New Plutarch SERIES
The name of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid is
inseparably associated with the most charm
ing collection of stories ever invented for the
solace and delight of mankind. Whether
there ever was any " Aaron the Just in the
fiesh-whether he is not as legendary as King
Arthur-it seldom occurs to the ordinary
reader to inquire. The stories belong to all
fi,na and to No tirna Tho oraat Calinh hoe
nothing to do with reality his Bagdad is a
city which may be on the Euphrates or on
any other river, provided it be a stately city
by stately river +; he, his empire, his crown,
his city, his palace, his people, his officers,
his harem, belong all alike to fableland, where
everybody has been hitherto content to leave
them. When Professor Palmer, therefore,
takes up a lraschid as a worthy representa-
tive of Islam, he awakens that curiosity
which ever 1evives at The mention of this
name. He gives us an account of the rise of
the Caliphate and then in five chapters, in
plain narrative, quite devoid of literary grace
however, he tells of Haroun's accession,
1.-The Golden Prince, The fall of the Bar
needles" etc., to the Caliph of the legend,
closing with a genealogical table of the houses
of Ommai Yeh, Abbas and Ali. The work
is valuable but not so romantic as less pro-
found historical student would make it.
LIFE AND HER CHILDREN: Glimpses of Animal Life
from the Ameba to the Insects. By Arabella
B. Buckley. New York; D. Appleton Co.
Sacram nto S Houghton. Svo; illustrated
Price, 81 so.
An excellent work. It's main object ap
pears to be TO acquaint young people with the
structure and habits of the lower forms of
life and to do this in a more systematic way
than is usual in ordinary works on natural
history, and more simply than in text books
on zoology. The author has been more care
full to sketch in bold outline the leading
features of each division, than to dwell upon
the minor differen ces by which it is separated
into groups. When people consider how
brimful the world is of life, and how
to the child it presents in that re-
spect the most puzzling of questions,
they will realize how valuable such
a work as this is to the youthful mind. An
examination of it with care leads US to in
dorse it warmly and recommend its intrduc-
tion wherever young readers show DISPOSE.
ton to enter into inquiries concerning life in
the sea and insect lite, the two main subjects
treated in the book.
The HUMAN RACE AND OTHER SERMONS By the
late Rev. Frederick W. Robertson, incumbent of
Trinity Chapel, Brighton. New York Harper &
Bros. San Francisco: A. L. Bancroft s. Co.
vol; Syo
This book embraces thirty-two sermons
on the human race, typifed by the " Man of
Sorrows, " " Degrees in Glory, " " The Phari-
see and the Publican, THE Kingdom of
Heaven" 1.-THE Progress of Revelation"
" Pure Religion, The Christian Ministry"
" Spiritual Worship" Righteousness" etc.
Mr.. Robertson in his life occupied front
rank among the Christian preachers and
writers of the world, ana dead. his writings
grow in the estimation of Christian readers,
:. tho,, ~,
life. His was in many respects remarkable
character. He was one of the most thought
full modest and bravest of preachers. His
was a bitter life, said Brooks, his biographer,
and it is certain that out Of the agonies of his
heart has flowed great wealth Of satisfying
nutriment to Christian readers.
FREDERICK THE GREAT AND THE SEVEN YEARS WAR.
By F. W. Longman New York Charles Serb
ner's Sons. Small Svo.
This is one of the "Epochs of Modern His
tory" series. 1t is accompanied by maps,
and the whole text is deliberately indexed by
side notes. This little book is mainly in
tended for schoolboys, but we are inclined TO
think that it will be acceptable to many an
adult reader, and invite to search of fuller
works, such as Carlyle's I" History of Fred
erick the Great. This small volume is very
compact ; there appears no redundancy of
words-no waste OF matter. 1t is simple,
clear, concise, and well adapted to the aver
age youthful comprehension.
LOCKE. By Thomas Fowler. New York Harper
& Bros. San Francisco A. L. Bancroft Co.
This is another Syo volume of Morley's
"EngIish Men of Letters" series. Professor
Fowler in very concise form has presented
in this book an admirable sketch of John
Locke, the most characteristic of English
philosophers man who thought and wrote
Is in spirit so candid so tolerant, so liberal
and SO unselfish that he seemed to be writing
not for bis own party or his own times, but
for the future of knowledge and Of mankind"
The work not only stirs the interest in Locke
and his writings, but largely satisfies it.
Magazines. Etc.