Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-11

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biographies, important as their influence was
upon the destinies of the country at eventtui
periods, the present generation Cares little.
The book now under discussion, however,
treats of one who left such mark on his
times and held the devotion, almost idolatry,
of 80 great number Of his country, that his
mere name commands the attention and H.
terest OF every American to-day. Tne brew
ity of Mr., Lodges book, when we consider
also it's careful pg7ment, skillful preser-
walton of the unities # time, and clear, de-
tailed picture Of the political life of the period,
is most admirable; for as the relation
Of WehsteE's public life comprises history
Of period in the life Of the United States
big @ith weighty measures, each OF which
needs careful calculation, so mere sketch
runs the risk of being little more than an in
dex to the vuluminous biographies extant.
Mr.. Lodges book is more it helps to under
stand the estimate placed in those days on
one mans intellect and power that, in slmost
every grave question of finance or policy, viz
IN lily brought victory or defeat as that man
wiIled. Il these days of more complex and
sub6ivide1 government, a paramount lot1u-
ence is next to impossible. Webster's birth
and parentage, his boyhood and youth, the
devotion of his family to him, q few anec-
dates TO show the boy was fatLer to the man,
his early political life, his constant, rapid rise
ia his Or # sssiou-the law-sre told concisely
and well. His Congressional experiences,
his appearance in the Senate, the scene
of his greatest triumphs, the underlying
causes for his defeats for Presidential nomi-
nation, his wonderful services in the National
Bank question, bis sudden change of opinion
of the American system Of tariff, and the
grand idea of complete American nationality.
ID fha nt,
which, Indirectly, his fame finally split, are
and often forcibly brought out.
The circumstances leading up to the crises of
his life, such as the Dartmouth College case.
the reply to Hayne and 9TH of March spaech,
are told in sufficient detail for the reader to
gain clear understanding of their points
and Importance while Mr.. Lodge does not
hesitate to say that it was more often by pas-
sionate, emotional appeal, than by incontro
vertible argument, that Webster won his
cases. While evidently an admirer of the
man, Mr.. Lodge gives fsir, impartial
criticisms OF Webster's political acts and
changes of opinion, and the results of the
7th Of March speech, the irretrisvable mis-
take in a magnit 'ent career, seem given with
acute personal regret, and a feeling of sad
ness is communicated to the reader az the end
draws near that disappointment ftly sung
by Whittier in his "Ichsbod ;"
So fallen SO lost the light withdrawn
Truly the glory had departed. For sale by
W. A. & G. 8. Houghton, Sacramento.
THosE PRETTY ST GsoaaB GIRLS. Philadelphia ::
I. B. Peterson Brothers.
This is an anonymous society novel" Of
English life, which has the sovereign merit
of being readable. If very severe lady
should say, "Is there anything in it but balls
and races and hirtations and love affairs ?"
you would bs forced humbly to answer,
" Mo-" no aspirations, no noble deeds; but,
in the language of Its own characters, it is
g awfully Jolly" Like AIRY Fairy Lillian, !"
only more so. For sale by A. L. Bancroft &
Co., San Francisco.
SHANDoN BELLS By William Black. Illustrated
New York Harper & Brothers.
Mr.. Black has written enough novels TO
know how to tell story pleasantly, and
" Shandou Balls is accordingly good read
ing. It is made up of the struggles OF an as
piring young literary beginner in London,
and also of his love affair with tickle but
engaging young damsel who sings upon the
concert stage. her favorite encore being Shan
don Bells" The correspondence of these two
while the hero is in London and the heroine
ia Ireland, is pretty feature of the book,
The blithe young Irishman is consoled for the
of kitty by stately young
lady given to scientific pursuits, and is shown
as a successful writer on the last page, giving
a sigh to the recreant " Kitty" only as a man
regrets the ardor and bloom of his youth.
For sale by A. l.. Bancroft & Co., San Fran
cisco.
A FASHIONABLE SUFFERER. By Augustus Hoppin.
Illustrated Boston: Houghton, Miffiin & Co.
These Chapters from Lies Comedy" as
the subtitle rune, are vaguely reminiscent OF
Mallock's New Republic" that is, circle
of clever psople gather, first in the city and
then in the country, and discuss lightly and
brightly current topics, giving prominence to
various phases of the tender passion and the
feminine character. The fashionable sufferer
is "the beautiful n. E." these initials
standing for Nervous Exhaustion" and
the little homily on nervous exhaustion, the
new fashionable disease, is one of the clever
things of the book. The characters are more
healthy, and being Americans, represent q
more whole souled, purer, civilization than
Mallock's over-educated theorists, and some
of the phrases and touches of description are
full of piquancy, as where the SUBMITS of
the AlpE are called Z" the mere debris Of the
world, as if Omnipotence had piled up the
pieces there, sitter finishing creation" Mr..
Cequicus Douce is the expressive name of the
hero, man with bitter tongue and warm
heart, and "Tucit Kennoc." which reads
like q backward spelling Of Connecticut, is
the scene of the summer lounging of the
party. The Illustrations, which are by the
author, are very dainty. For sale by w. A.
& G. S. Houghton, Sacramento.
PoENs OF PASSION By Ella Wheeler. Chicago
Belford, Clarke & Co.
The fsshly title and fiery covers of this
book prepare ore for something very Swim
burnian, indeed, but prudish or prurient
reader would be equally disappointed in thu
contents, which show talent, right feeling and
much felicity of vereifcstion. The two or
three poems that fell under the censure of
the New York Sun for versi6ed longing for
I" sweet hell" and creeping into strong arms
in preference to the gift of the orthodox
val heaven-iu short, the Ad Finem"
and the "Delilah," are only two more of the
for which the double-syllabled
rhymes and abnormal sentiments Of Swim.
ourne's dolores are responsible. A
woman of such good sense and delicate fancy
IS Miss Wheeler shows herself to be in those
oosmsin which shefollOws her own inspiration,
poems like "Love's Coming" Response"
Is The Creed and "a Fable" knows in the
inner, honest chamber of her heart that
brute passion is neither poetical nor health.
-ul; that it is by the holy loves that the
world thrives and is blessed, and that moro
enduring and indeed more human than the
painting after the love that lures to the
q gates Internal" is Christina Rosetti's firm
speech:
Il love, "a you would have me, God the best;
Would lose, not Him, but you, must one be lost"
Mrs. Wheeler makes "Dsmeter" scan
With the scent on the frat syllable, and
= Guilo" is not an Italian name, aud is so
IueerIy like Giulio " ss to be bewildering,
1ut these are little blemishes upon work foil
IF talent and sincerity of purpose. For sale
" A. L. Bancroft & Co., San Francisco.
fo1.Asps. BIZ william Black. New York: Harper
& Brothers.
YoIsnde. particularly nice heroine, whose
mouth is described as cupid's bow partly
irawn, has the uncomfortable experience of
,alf-hearted lover, and an opium.esting
mother "spruag upon her after she has
esched years of discretion. A hero worthy
f her is duly provided, and the dissipated
mamma takes cold in q snow-storm and joins
he choir invisible. The episode of the
egyptian Journey is told in the delightful
pirit of true lounger which MIR. Black so
veil understands, and his fayorite Character
II the faithful rstsiner reappears IN the pres