Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-01
SOME RECENT BOOKS.


takes US beyond The gates-that is to say, the
reader goes into the heaven che evolves from
her fervid and pure imagination, and sees Ter
ideal of Paradise. Human hopes are very
apt 10 stimulate fancy to draw pictures in &C.
cord with human desires, and hence this
sketch answers to the soulful aspirations of
its author in describing the future state as
she hopes it is. and wishes it to he. This is
the boldest flight Miss Phelps has taken.
Were it not go plainly the work of pure hands
and clean heart, it would be almost impi-
Gus. Sire attempts to describe, in the form CT
an autobiography, the life beyond the grave,
aud it must be said that she hiss drawn
happy picture. This ideal heaven is unlike
that of any other described to man. She sur.
passes Milton in the details of her imagery,
and indeed all others. She describes very
particularly the passage from life here
through death to the life beyond, and imme.
distely tells Us all about the people on the
other side, their methods in spiritual exist.
ence. in the several spheres of the other
world, for her heaven has suburbs and de-
grees of beauty and excellence. She did not
fad heaven to be like that of Buuyan or Swe-
aDywise to resemble the so-cslled revelations
by so-called spiri.ualists. Every one she
saw glowed with more or less of brilliancy.
from psls, hazy appearance to burning.
dazzling radiance. Every one was busy-no
iileness was anywhere found. Nor was
there an effortful seeking. She was told
that all the Creator desires for His creatures
is to be natural. Instead as of on earth suf.
lering to lesrn, she found the heavenly rule
is to learn by being saved from suffering. As
/ to her heavenly body, it was very unlike the
earthly frame, and yet not. g [ ssemed to
have slipped out of one garment into an.
other. There were nervous and material
and other systems, the same and yet not. If
l say felt az if had got into the soul Of
body, shsll L be understood 81 She
met and recognized friends she saw
that there is growth IN Heaven; that its
chief law is freedom, perfect freedom.
She realizes that the heavenly life is life
that cannot die. She finds also that in going
to heaven she does not abandon earthly loves.
and so begging the privilege she is permitted
TO rsturn TO earth to comfort Der mother, and
On her journey back, as on her course upward,
she met strange asssmblsge OF beings,
the souls Of the dead VINO cannot get
away from earth. This accocds with the
doctrines OF the Occuitists, in part, in the
account of those who cannot leave earth,
because in life they loved nothing, lived for
nsthing believed in nothing, cultivated them
selves for nothing but the earth, but simply
lac6 the spiritual momentum TO tear tenn
selves away from gross things. We should
very much like to give many extracts from
this imaginative work, and especially to de-
scribe the strange marriage union into which
she entered with love long lost to her, and
her waking TO find that all that had been so
real to her was but the dream of brain dis
ordered by fever. Every page of this work
is page of beauty. The heaven Of which it
tells is fanciful, but one we could wish to en-.
ter into for eternity; heaven thai accords
with reason and the loftiest aspirations of
the humsn soul.
The CITIZENS Law Book AND OFFICERS GUIDE By
Jabez F. COwdery, of the San Francisco Bar. San
Francisco A. L. Bancroft. Co; PIP. zoo; Sc 80.
Mr.. Cowdery has made OF this an excellent
book. We have as a rule no faith in the
"eve-y man his own lawyer order of publ
cations. But this work does not aim to super
sede the lawyer. 1t is rather book of prac.
teal information oD topics concerning which
every citizen should have fair knowleds 20
regarding the laws of the land. 1t embraces
| those LEGAL facts relating to trade, commerce,
agriculture, mining, descents, estates, bank
log, teRant-hOldiugs, cOnveYancing, property
rights, ETC., which it is desirable the citizen
should know. 1t is very complete work of
its Riod, and cannot but prove an invaluable
reference and form book for the notary. clerk,
broker, sole trader, employer, agent, auc-
tiOaeer, clrveyancer, contractor, Coroner,
dealer In stocks, landlord, manufacturer,
farmer merchant. guardian, Justice If the
Peace, collector, Constable, Sheriff and 9TH
ers. The al phabstical arrangement makes it
a matter Of ease to turn to any one of thu
eight hundred subjects treated.
THE WISDOM OF GOETHE. By John Stuart BIackie
New York Charles Scribners Sons. Sacrq-
meuto; W. a. & c. S. Houghton. Svo. 81 %.
1t is scarcely necessary to introduce a
work from Prof Blsckie to more than set
forth its title. His subject is well chosen
ard opens an appropriate field for his schol
arly ability and critical talents His est.
mate of the character Of Goethe is brilliant
comprehensive. and one of the best exam
pies of analytical criticism with which we
have met. No man can read it and not desire
to reperusa it, nor can he do 40 without the
Consciousness of having been lifted above the
every Jay environment, and 30 have gained
in intellectual strength. But of no less in
terest are the excerpts Prof. Blackie makes
from the writings OF the great author, whom
ne denominates ''the model of perfectly
wise and virtuous man"
MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATION. BY George Burton Ad-
A small book - one of the History
Primers" but none the less valuable con-
tributiou, for Professor Adams has pre-.
scented in remarkably concise form, on the
authority of the best authors, very clear
outline of the historical period treated 1t is
an Admirable. simplif3d essay, serving as az
Introduction to historical study that fills
place. Two things ths author has kept cor
stantly in view. systematic statement and
the relation of the progressive steps of civii-
zltion to each other. Tae student will find
himself led into no confusion whatever by
the treatment of parallels, as is too often the
case il historical works.
The November number Of the "Cottage
Hearth was representative ore and had
thess contents: 1.-THE Sisters Of Bon Sc
cours" illustrated Israel" Romance
and Cranberries," Burying the Boulder"
(Ocem. illustrsted). "a Green Sp1t in Lon.
don, My Cross (poem, illustrated "Bas.
sis, My Boy, An Autumn Memory" (poem,
illustrated) Music" Failing leaves" "O6
the Wster-Sea Begin, q" Household Hints,
" Approved Receipts" Ladies' Fancy
trsted) Weighed and Wanting" by George
Mcdonald, Ii. d; Editors Basket.
Published by Cottage Hearth Publishing
Company, Boston, Mass.
1.-The Electra " for December bellies let
tres monthly for young people, and highly
attractive aud Instructive, il at hand. For
frontispisce it has beautiful engraving of
Rosa Bonheur, standing with one arm rest
leg upon finely engraved bullock, and in
the other hGnd has her sketch-book. The
number throughout is filed with well.
chosen variety Of subjects, treated in a most
interesting manner for parusal, and well in
tended for the improvement of young read
ers. Published by Isabella NJ. Leyburu,
Louisville, Ky.
THE Musical Herald for November has
thess pieces of music Fly Away, Bird.
ling" song in E, music by Frank Abt; Nc.
49, Stranger" (Fremder Manu- in E and
b fat; Introit," in f. by J. Barney;
when l Survey the Wondrous Cross, :"
a5ap.ed from j. Bsttishill, in F; and r.
sponseS to the Commandments" by j. Barn
by, IN L The other departments OF the
number are of unusual interest and value.
Published by the Musical Herald Publishing
Company, Boston, Mass.
The December issue of est. Nicholas" ia
S Merry Christmas greeting, with happy
cheer and brim-full of interesting reading
and illustrations for the young folks and lit
tie oaes. 1t has an unusual holiday sparkle
and sttractiveness, and will be warmly ap.
precisted by all who examine or peruse It.
Published by The Century Company, New