Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-08
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

Norcross, author OF The Conflict OF La
Dor and Capital" etc. 1t is from the
press of G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.
The author from the outset is antagonis-
tic to the Democratic party. Whoever
proposes to read the book must enter upon
t with that understanding, He devotes
an interesting chapter to democracy IN
ancient Greece-in because OF its
historical character. His claim is that all
organized parties under the name Dem.
ocratic" since the days of Scion, have
borne striking resemblance to each other,
and the predominating characteristics of all
have been fearful tragedies and revolu
tious, The Pisistratide of Athens and its
fifty years rule is cited as the earliest ex-
qualification of the change. This change
ia supplemented by another, that from its
inception the spoils of Office have been the
end of the party to which all things have
been means. In our own country, to pass
much historical recital and parallel, Mr..
Norcross claims that the Democratic party
has never been known to improve or re-
form election laws; has always fomented
domestic turmoil; has always presented,
not what style of government Ia best, but
shall the people have any Government at
all has made State sovereignty first and
nationalism second; has aided and ap-
pauded despotic acts, as, for instance, the
removal of the deposits by Jackson; that
nc party ever yet formed under the name
of Democracy that did not convey to the
mind of its friends and it's foes alike the
idea that its tendency and intention were
to gather into it's ranks the diseontented
and dissolute, the depraved and the
dangerous portion of society, as its chief
strength and support that it was its in
tention to pull down those in influence
and authority, however sound in princi-
pie, however pure and patriotic they might
be, and substitute 10 their places such
leaders as would pander to the worst pas
sions, prejudices and appetites of human
nature that the party, whenever it could
find leader, has ever been ready to plunge
the country into disorder and revolution
it was never in power for decade that it
did not attempt or bring on revolution
that it always leaves a State in a worse
condition than it finds it; that it always
when in power develops despotic lie der
or keeps the State n social strife that it
always has been opposed to the purity and
integrity of the elective franchise ; that
all Democratic parties everywhere have
cherished and upheld slavery, and gloried
in the overthrow and ostracism of the
great and good men of the land that it
has always been in all ages the ally
of despotism that is has always
been the hot. bed of political vaga-
ries and reasonable schemes against
rational liberty, such as Agrarianism, Jac-
obinism, Communism, Chartism and Mill
ism 1t has chespened human life where it
rules; has never conferred substantial
benefit on any peopel. This is not one-half
the indictment drawn by this volume, but
to the marshsling Of proofs in support of
these and as many other allegations, Mr..
Norcross' vigorous and aggressive volume
IS devoted.
Robert Clarke & Co., of Cincinnati, have
issued handsome little volume by Miss
NJ. Louise Mclaughlin in suggestions to
china painters. 1t is practical manual of
china painting, supplementary to the we'll
known more elementary work on that sub
ject by the same author, now in its twelfth
thousand. Among other matters of inter-
est to amateurs are chapters on s. Tech
nique :" Lessons to be derived from Js
panese Art , Preparing Gold and Silver
for Decoration on Porcelain ;" Use of
Metallic Paints :" "Palettes for Flower
Painting y Lettering 5" " Painting
Heads :" "Use of Relief Colors ;" Fir
ing," etc. The book has evidently been
prepared with the greatest care, and there
does not appear to be any statement made
in its pages that is not based upon the &C.
tual experience and experiment of the au.
thor in ceramic art. 1t is illustrated with
designs for plaques, vases, ETC., drawn by
The author, and reproduced by the photo
engraving process, accompanied by full in
structions as to colors to be used, method
of treatment, etc., for each design.
" Brangonar, Tragedy" is the title of
= new work by George H. Calvert. 1t is
published by Lee & Shepard, Boston, and
c. T. Dillingham;, New York, and is for
sale by C, S. Houghton, Sacramento. Mr..
Calvert is the author of several historical
dramas that have been received with pop.
ular and critical favor. As an essayist
and poet Calvert is well-known. The
rsgedy presents in very fervid poetic
form the career of the first Napoleon. Mr..
Calvert believes that the name of Napo.
leon is too familiar, and the events OF his
crowded career are too near to US to be
treated boldly, and by naming men prop
erly or places exactly. Even the colossal
Napoleon is bslittled by our closeness to
him. Poetry refuses to deal directly with
prosaic PROBABILITIES. He thinks it impos-
sible for poetic fancy to trans6gure them
through her golden vail.
Mr.. Justin McCarthy's "Short History
Of Our Own Times" from the accession of
Queen Victoria to the election of 1880, has
been issued in Svo form by Harper Bros.,
New York. Mr. Mccarthy is a plain,
straightforward narrator of events, and
rises superior to any prejudices by which
he may be surrounded. The work before
as is an exceedingly attractive one, and
takes on the regalia of conservative thought
and conscieutiousness. 1t is, withsl, alive
With the interest to history that is given
by graceful raiment, for Mr.. Mccarthy
Yields as brilliant pen when writing as a
historian as when dealing with fiction.
From C. s. Heughton, Sacramento, we
have an octave volume from the press OF
Lee & Shepard, Boston, and c. 7. DilliDg-
ham, New York, entitled 1.-The Boys OF
Thirty.fve." 1t is a story of a seaport
town by Edward Henry Elwell. Tae
scene is laid in Portland, Me-, and tells US
in very pleasant and entertaining manner
how the boys lived and conducted them
selves, and what they saw and went
through in early days. The author aims to
picture real life, and he accomplishes his
object so successfully that we of the pres.
emit generation almost wish that we we're
among the boys"
From \. l. Bancroft s Co., San Fran
cisco, we have Harper & Brothers New
York; issue Of VIM. Arthur's work "0n
the Difference between Physical and Moral
Law" 1t is the Fernley lecture of 1888
It is a treatment OF some of the deep ques-
lions of our time, and the author has sim
Dlihed it by freeing it from technicalities
of expression. The work is scholarly
one, and the product of profound mind.
We cannot at this time enter upon any re.
view Of the method of treatment or even
glancs at the conclusions reached.
From G.. P. Putnams Sons we have DR..
Nilder's very useful pocket edition Of
Health Notes for Students" They form
Che basis OF four lectures, and treat of food,
drink, ventilation, heating, clothing,
bathing, sleep, exercise, the eyes. ssimu-
lants, etc. 1t certainly contains more prac-
sicsl common sense and needed advice in
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