Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-12
REVIEWS OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS..

! REvIEws OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
| CONVERSATION It's FAULTS AND ITS GRAcEs Com.
! piled by Andrew p. Peabody, LID, D. d.
Boston: Lee & Shepard. Sacramento: w. A. &
c. {. Houghton. Price, SO cents.
The first impression on taking up this
volume is, that here is another cheap and
short road to scholarship. All such are
deceptive and absolutely injurious, and
should meet with unhesitating condemns-
tion. But more careful examination of
DR.. Peabody's work discloses that it ia not
intended to supplant the standard text
books on grammar, or offer to the reader
any superficial. rules for avoidance of study.
There are principles governing conversation
among persons Of true refinement of mind
and character, and these are being en-
croached upon by besetting vulgarisms
occurring in the colloquial English of our
day. To check this tendency has evident
ly been the object of our author. His
book embraces a lecture upon the charac.
teristics of graceful, elegant, and profitable
conversation. There is wide difference
between being ready and good talker,
and this the learned philologist has made
clear. He has Incorporated in his work,
also, Francis Freach's essay on converse
ton, and has supplemented the whole with
Hints on the Current Improprieties OF
Expression in Reading and Writing" by
Parry Gwynne, and chapter of illustrs.
tions on mistakes of speaking and writing
most commonly met with.
ARcrIc sUN=EAxs; OR, FRos BROADWAY TO THs
BoseHoRus BY WAY OF The koRTn CAPE. By
Samuel s. Cox. New York G. P. Putnam's
Sons. San Francisco A L. Bancroft & Co. 81
That Mr.. s. S. Cox could divest himself
SO completely of his congressional and po-
htical habit as to devote nearly year to
travel, and several subsequent months to
the making up of an interesting record of
his observations, is surprise, not only be-
cause the habit of his thought has run in a
vein very different from that made mani
fest in this work, but because it would
hardly seem possible for him to muster the
necessary courage to offer to the reading
world still another book of travel. It is
evident, however, that Mr.. Cox is wise in
his day, and made very correct estimate
of his ability to entertain. He has given
US gracefully pleasant volume. His
powers OF observation have been well culti-
waited. and he possesses the art of making
the reader see with his eyes. He pretends
to no novelty 10 research, description or
illustration, but is content to invest the
scenes he saw with the interest felt by
himself in them. This is an srtful method,
and, garnished by natural wit and graced
by poetic expression, he has made it serve
his purpose admirably SO that we are en-
abled to say Of his g Arctic Suubeams -
they are worth the reading, and for recrea.
ton and rest from heavier tasks, compen-
safe for the time given to the volume.
mon AcoIDENrs AND DISEASES, AND RULES OF
SIMPLE HYGIENE, BY Dawson W. Turner, D. C.
L. New York: Macmillan d Co. so cents.
Any work from reputable authority that
conveys in brief form information to the
people of the character indicated by the
title of this little book is TO be favored.
The ample rules of hygiene are very
plainly STATED and address themselves SO
directly 60 the reason that they should be
impressed upon every person.
SIX INTERVIEWS WITH ROBERT C. 'TSaERsoLb ON ST,
SERMONS sy THE REV. T. De WrrT TALHAeE, D. D.
to which is added q Talmsgian Catechism. Sten
! Nspya hu Ea.tftn, RaGa Wash
ington, D. c.: G. p. Farrell
Every one knows who MIR. Ingersoll is,
and what is his position, and what his
view of the theology of the day. Every
one knows who DR.. Talmage is, and what
is his position, and what his view of the
theology of the day. 1t would hardly
seem necessary to say more in introducing
this work. 1t must not, however, be as
sumed that these are genuine INTERVIEWS"
between Messrs. Ingersoll and Talmsge.
On the contrary, the latter had nothing to
do with the matter The questions are
propounded by person who purports to
! present Mr.. Talnisge's views and express
sions, and we have no reason to believe
that they are otherwise than fairly set
forth, as they are drawn from his pub
lished sermons and reviews. MIR. Talmage
believes in the Bible. and has the courage
to defend his belief. Ingersoll disbelieves
the Bible, and does not fear to state the
reasons on which that disbelief is founded.
On this issue the text of the book hinges.
! | Et1r thar of
heretofore made In these columns upon
similar works by Mr.. Ingersoll, it is un-
necessary. to remark.
PEs-PIcruRHs OF MODERN AUTHORS. New York
| g. F. Pu.nam's Sons. San Francisco A [. Ban
croft 4 Co. 81 Is.
This is one of the Literary Life Sc
ries, edited by William Shepard, and is
the second OF the issue. In this handsome
little volume we have sketches of Carlyle,
Eliot. Ruskin, TeRnyson, Emerson, Dick.
ems, Bryant, Taylor, Thackeray and others.
These papers are not biographies, but Sc.
ries OF sketches, anecdotes and personal
"reminiscences relating to the more modern
authors-that is, the authors who are now
living. o. who have died very recently, and
whose work belongs to the present half of
the century. As the book is a compilation,
the editor admits that he has occasionally
been hampered by want of available ma
teriai, and that if the reader misses any
face which he would like tn have seen in
gallery of this sort, be will understand
that 1t Is because no satisfactory "pen-
picture" could be found. Mr.. Shepard's
work has been well and Interestingly done
TIE LITERARY History oy ENGLAND IN rHs RSp OF