Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NAAbAAiF ID tlAdNlts lJA tl1Fllt-st4O4I All DDOk
form, distinct from his complete works"
It is now nearly twenty years since Willis
died, and the suggestion of Mr.. Greeley has
been acted upon by another and the
work has been well done by Mr.. Beers.
The memory of Willis and his genius was
becoming dim, and the new generation is
drawn but little toward his writings
But the present volume will reawaken in
terest in these works, and introduce many
a new reader to one who was twenty-five or
thirty years ago one of the most brilliant
American magazine writers. Willis, neither
as q poet, an essayist nor writer of short
stories, is 10 be classed with the great writ
ers, nor will his fame burn bright for
ever upon the page of literature. But ne
was very far from being lesser light, and
that the products of his pen are to be lost
to the world is not to be for moment
thought Of By his literary dilettanteism
Willis earned the enmity of q large class of
people who shouli have overlooked it for
the genuine merit of his art and the beauty
OF his chief works. He was one of the
early and most successful Of American cor
respondents from Europe, and the readers
OF the otd-time will recall the memory Of
the eagerness with which his letters were
looked for-fOr Willis possessed the OBJ
servant faculty in fullness He saw clearly,
and judged correctly and mercifully The
volume Mr.. Beers now gives US will be
well received. The book is well edited,
and the Introductory chapter Of memoir
and criticism IS dispassionate and just es-
innate of the man.
THE Journals of Major eneral Gordon,
c. B., at Khartoum are printed from the
original manuscript, by HOughton, Miflin
&, Co, Boston, and the volume is for sale
by G. 5. Houghton, Sacramento, at s.. The
Introductory notes are by A. Egmont Hake,
the author of " The Story of Chinese Cor
dom 1t is ncta book for criticism That
II IS deeply and profoundly interesting goes
without saylng-it could scarcely be other
wise, since the subject matter and the aU-
thor were the chief centers Of interest to
the world for many exciting months. Be
sides the fame Of the man, his single
mindedness and simplicity. his bravery
and devotion 10 principle and
his remarkable successes have been
the admiration Of the world. The journals
constitute a severe criticism of the Egypt
ian policy OF England, though it does not
appear that this was purposeful on the
part Of General Gordon, but results from
the frankness of his nature and the perfect
freedom with which General Gordon re
corded his thoughts At many points in
the narrative Of these journals are anecdotal
recltais full Of tragic interest-indeed in
view Of the unhappy fate Of General Cor
don, there is pathos in every line. The
journals introduce the reader in very
novel way to great deal Of practical life
and habit in the Egyptian Soudan, and
these passages upon people habits, things,
etc, are by no means the least interesting Of
the book.
1t has been our fortune to examine many
collegiate and university class records, but
none that IN originality Of conception, neat
ness of execution, and genuine wit and in
formation have equalled the Blue and
Gold, issued b. the class of Sc at the Uni
versity Of California. II IS TO be regretted
that no University official record is pub
hshed containing such information SIS IS
IN this volume given the public. It is a
hOmOgraphic chart Of all who have entered
and LETT the University, and traces the
alumni into practical life and gives their
business status in society at this time. Be
sides this useful registration, it Is re-
plete with University news" In addition
there IS many witty chapter peculiar to
student life and typical Of the atmosphere
that embalms it. There are poetry, prose
and drama satire fiction and romance in |
these attractive pages, and engrayings gro
tesQue on the one hand and exquisitelv
fine on the other. Accounts of all the
secret and other societies appear with
choice representations Of the society arms. /
seals and insignia. The conception of some
Of the designs are full Of rich humOr, and !
IS witty cartoons some Of the sketches
would do honor to Cruikshank. We are
indebted to II. W Carroll, Of the class Of
50, for q copy Of the Blue and Gold"
which contains matter provocative OF more
extended remark than we can find room
for
We have not in n long time met with a
pleasanter or more instructive volume than
that Of Henry o. Forbes, f. r. G. S..
entitled j NatuTalist'S Wanderir IS in the
Eastern Archipelago" Il is a narrative Of
travel and exploration from 1878 to 1888 in
the Cocas-keeIing islands Java, Suma-
ira, the Moluccas and Timor-Laut, the
island of Buru and in Fimor. L is q large
volume, profUsely illustrated, is published
by Harper & Bros, New York, and is for
sale by a. l.. Bancroft q Co, San Francisco
Several maps in coloTs are attached to the
volume. Whoever is at all interested in
natural history viii be thoroughly pleased
with this book. Aside from its scientific
value, It IS full Of interest as a sketch book
of strange places aud peoples Mr. Forbes
is writer Of charming ease. He invests
bis subject with interest even to those not
familiar with the technical expressions
necessarily used. We have proceeded only
to the third book or subdivision of the
fOAt44tiS " ilNA1 - htAAAlCicilL 70 Justly the
judgment that it is an addition to scientific
knowledge Of high importance, and re-
solves us to complete the book leisurely
and with more than usual care.
It IS hardly necessary to more than ar
nounce the receipt of the two heavy vol
umes, The Congo" by Henry NJ Stanley, !
being an account OF the founding of its free
state and story of work and exploration. |
It is published by Harper f. Bros, New
York, and is Tor sale by A. L. Bancroft 6
Co, San Francisco. The opportunity has
afforded US only glimpse ut its pages, and
we have not attempted to take it up in read
ing order. When that is done We may
take occasion to speak Of Il fully. The |
volumes are richly illustrated, and are ded
icated by the author to Leopold Il. King
Of the Beigians, who conceived and con
Quoted the enterprise upon the Congo.
which has received the recognition Of the
great powers Of the world.
The American Catholic Quarterly Re-
view" Hardy & Mahoney, publishers,
Philadelphia) is at hand. The papers con-
tanned in the present number are as fol-
lows: The Synthetic Philosophy of
Herbert Spencer" by Rev j. Ming, s. j.;
d" Modern Uses Of Wealth" by A f Mar
shall, b. A; " Vageries Of Protestant Re-
ligious Belief" by John Culinary Shea,
al. Us MoThilty anu LlIei Dy a. &c u;
The Latest Phase of the Great Pyramid
| Discussion" by r. Meade Bache; ",The
Crisis in England" by Thomas Power
O'Connor, N. P; The New Version OF
the English Protestant Bible :" Anne
Catherine Emmerich,' by Ri. Rev Mgr
COrcoran, D. D., etc.
"The Library Magazine u. B. Alden,
New York; for August contains about
twenty articles from the best writers.
Among them are these: Socialism and
Atheism by Rev NJ Kaufman THE
Origin Of Higher Animals" by W K.
| Parker, F. R. s.; The Hellenic After
| World" by Percy Gardner; Iohu Rnskin
and His Works" by w. s. Kennedy