The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-17
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.


The publication OF such pretentlous Volulhes
as the biography of man greater in war and
history than was General G.. 7. Tor P. G. T., as
his bioerapher has itl Beaure-
gard is very questionable, if undertaken
for the profit that may be in it. Be that as it
may, two fine quarto volumes of nearly six hun
bred pages each have been prepared as the per
sonal history of this man. From preface writ
ten by General Beauregard the matter seems
more an autobiography than the opinions even
of personal friend and beneficiary. In this
preface the General says:
''This work, written from notes and docu-
ments authenticated by me, furnishes correct
account of my military services and conduct
prior to and during the recent war between the
States 1t is offered as a guide to the future
historian of that momentous period In devel-
oping the truth of history, and fortifying 1t with
evidence beyond dispute I desire to express
my appreciation of the earnest, able
and judicial manner in which the author mas
performed his arduous undertaking; and fully
indorse all his statements and comments, except
ing only such encomiums as he has thought
proper to bestOw upon me-"
1t will be reasoned from this that the reputed
author was at best but little more than an
amanuensis possibly editor of the materials
and suggestions from the General himself, The
evident purpose of the work is to apologize for
and to explain why General Beauregard was not
at the head of military operations, or at least
commander nchief of one of the military di-
visions of the Confederate army This is a
matter of very little moment to the world, and
few outside the Generals immediate household
will care to read, much less go to the expense of
buying such volumes.
AMERICA A HISTORY By Robert Mackenzie. T.
Nelson G. Sons, Londor, Edinburgh and New York;
Bowen Stewart e. Co.. Indianapolis. Price, 81
The first sight of this fine volume provokes the
wonder how it can be sold at such marvelously
low price, containing, as it does, 564 pages, beau
tifully printed on excellent paper and bound in
cloth, with bevel edges The volume is divided
into three sections: the United States, the Do
minion of Canada and South America, each of
which subjects is fully and carefully
reviewed from the most trustworthy
data obtainable There is a whole
some, outspoken truthfulness in this
history concerning the issues involved in the late
war that will commend itself to all loyal and pa
triotic readers Written apparently by sub
jeet of the British empire, presumably a Scotch
man, it evinces familiarity with the facts of
recent history in the United States that is very
ing or display of rhetoric, the author goes right
to the core of facts, and carefully and plainly
lays them bare The spelling might all be mod
flied to accommodate American readers, and the
Up" in Sumter is unfortunate, but with these few
uni,nportant exceptions this history is all that
could be desired 1t will bear the test of time
and criticism.
VrsTIatA Rv C4aoroa F1annino Mise T,Ia
Fletcher Roberts Bros, Boston; Bowen, Stewart
& Co., indianapolis. Price S1.25.
Readers of "Kismet7 and Mirage. Miss fetch
er's earlier novels, will find in this story de-
cided advance in style and workmanship. The
characters are drawn with practiced
hand, and the rounding out of the narrative
more artistic The scene of the story is laid in
Leghorn, and the few personages who figure
therein are with two exceptions, of the common
people. 1ne delightful picture of Sir Andrea.
the old fisherman, is evidently a work of love
and the result of close stu1y. The sweetness
and devotion of Italia, as well as the warning
qualities of nobility and weakness in Dino, are
admirably depicted, and in no recent novel are
there such charming love scenes as between
these two. Some slight blemishes occur in
places as, for instance. where an ignorant sail
or's perhaps ungrammatical italian dialect is
represented by grotesque English, and he is
made to wish for an dedication" AS a whole,
however Vestigia will enhance the authors
reputation.
THE UNITY OF NATURE. BY the Duke of Argyll. G.
P. Putmans Sons, New York; Bowen, Stewart g.
Co., indianapolis.
The distinguished gentleman whose title APP
pears at the head of this handsome volume in
tended this as a sequel to his earlier book on
''rhe Reign of Law publ ished in 1866 The
thought and research evinced in the preparation
of this argument in favor of perfect unity in all
animated nature is striking, and the result is a
book that will attract the attention of the learned
and entertain and instruct all who may read it.
The harmony and instructive kinship between the
lowest and highest types of animals are traced
from the simplest organisms up to man. The
reasoning employed is so plausible and the vari-
Gus relations so clarly established that little is
left to be desired A handsome and valuable
volume
SOCIAL PROBLEMS By Henry George Bedford
Clarke g. Co, Chicago.
The greater part of the papers herein contained
were originally written for and published by
New York weekly paper, and at the time
of their publication attracted general attention,
not so much on account of the merits of the
methods suggested their originality. Mr..
Georges doctrines border so closely on the an
eient communstic theories that he feels called
upon to deny that they are practically the same,
and he attempts to explain the difference. The
authors effort is to find legislative panacea for
poverty and all the social ills to which humanity
is heir. The season is inopportune; tho time to
graft communism is in times of financial distress.
At all other times the people are competent to
analyze his sophisms and realize their impracti
cability.
LAW OF THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE Bv Lewis Fl
Bisbee and John c. Smonds Callaghan g. Co.
Chicago.