Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-05
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Russia Under the Tzars," is the title of
Stepniaks latest volume The writ
ings OF this remarkable man. so widely
known as the editor of Zemia | Vulia
(Land and Liberty, have attracted univer-
sal attention, not alone for the intense in
terest the subjects of human liberty and
political liberation in Russia possess, but
because of the vividneSs of the authors
descriptions, the romance of his narrative,
and the vigor of his political expressions,
The objection may well be taken to the
title given the present volume, that il does
not reflect the subject-matter of the text.
One would conclude from the title that it
is broadly historical, but in truth it is a hot
protest against modern Russian political
methods and administration, and has no
historical retrospect whatever, beyond such
as is incidental and quite unavoidable The
condition of the Russian subject as regards
his civil rights is clearly defined by the
writer, but not in connected form. Indeed.
the chapters stand apart very much as if
they had originally been prepared as dis
tinct essays. They lack that continuity of
purpose which we had reason to expect
from the author. The chapters devoted to
what may be called past history are nine
in number, but are by nomeans expository
of Russia under the regime of the Cars
they relate to conditions with Just shade
of a background of the past by wav of con-
trast, but the reader turns from them dis
appointedly to the more Interestingly mar
shalled facts concerning political and mill
tary trials, and the judgments and
executions resulting. These chapters are
thrillingly dramatic, and fortified by
authoritative citations. They are no more
tragic, however than those descriptive of
the inhuman methods resOrted to by the
public prosecutors to eXtort confessions
from political prisoners. We could wish
that Stepniak was as faithful a historian. as
clear and sound a reasoner from events to
certainty of conclusion, as he is a brilliant
narrator of melodramatic episodes in the
political whirl of the strangest and most
inconsistent of peoples-the Russians
Beyond question no modern writer pos
sesses the art in higher degree
than he of so grouping anecdotes
and relating them to illustrate official
cruelty and the horrors of absolute despot-
ism. He understands TO a nicely how to
appeal to the mpathies-he understands
but vaguely how to reach the cool reason
He knows only certain abuses in Russia
exist but unfortunately with all his
brilliancy and experience, he fails to con-
vey to his readers the reason why" One
rises from the perusal of this remarkable
record of civil oppression and political
wrong with the feeling of not having been
satisfied why all these things are, and with
the conviction that Stepniak could have
made it clear. But he prefers to deal with
the sensational and the present, and prob
ably for apurpose which more philosophical
dissertations would defeat. We do not get
very near the causes of the ulcers of civil
ization and political life in Russia by aid
of this book, but we do get a series of re-
markedly stirring chapters, on a variety of
subjects, in some of which the author is
squarely at issue with colder history, while
| III others, as those on military tribunals, or
despotism and the press, and on the press
under Alexander H., there is conveyed
valuable information, and deal of very
clear thinking is manifested. The vol
ume has been rendered into English by
William Westfall, Is published by Charles
Scribners Sons, New York, and is for sale
by A. L. Bancroft e. Co., San Francisco.
The Century" for September Century
Publishing Company, New York; is at
hand. 1t will be in special demand be-
cause of the long-promised paper on the
siege of Nicksburg from the pen of the
hero, Ulysses S. Grant. The article is
freely illustrated and mapped, and is a
clearly written and forcible narrative to
which this journal has already had occa-
sion to make editorial reference. There is
given, also, very fine portrait of General
Grant There are papers on Panforte di
Siena Second paper, by w. D. Howells
illustrated; The Silent South" by
George w. Cable, an elaborate exposition
of Mr.. Cables views of Reconstruction
and the New South y Among the Red
Roofs of Sussex" Gllustrated), by Alice NJ.
Fem; Grows Nest Gllustrated), by
Mrs Burton Harrison 1.-The Great River
of Alaska, the Yukon" Gllustrated) by
Lieutenant Schwatka; "a Womans Diary
of the Siege of Vicksburg;;" Connecticut in
the Middle Ages illustrated), by Wen
dell Phillips Garrison THE Twilight of
the Poets" by E. C. Stedman General
Wallace and General McCook at Shiloh, :"
by General Grant "Who Projected the
Hamilton " The Charge of Cookies Cav
airy at Gaines MILL" by Philip ST. George
Cooke General Beauregard's Courier at
Bull Rum by Campbell Brown. There
are also poems, and the serial, "The Bos-
tonians;;' the always interesting depart
ment. Topics of the Times" the "0pen
Letters this month nine in number, and
on broad variety of topics, and the usual
humor of the Bric-a-Brac department.
The Magazine of Art - for September
(Cassell & Co., New York, London and
Paris is at hand. Itopens with full page
reproduction of L. Alma Tadema's latest
figure piece, WhoIs it?" There is ALSO
full page representation of Kaulbach's
" Unvalued Liberty Leighton's "The
Secret and numerous other engravings,
some of which are more than usually fine
in execution upon wood. Illustrated arti-
Giles appear on the River Dart; paper on
the copper engraver Chodowiecki, with
some fine specimens of his etchings; The
Romance of Art, -" Old London Doorways,"
" Drawing in Elementary Schools" "Fe-
male Head Gear" and Current Art,
American Art Industries" together with
other text matter of art interest and the
usual editorial notes-in all remarkably
fine number of the magazine.
Queen Bess" is novel by Marian
Shaw. Its scenes are located in, and its
narrative drawn largely from academic
life. Il is well-told tale. Published by
G. P. Putnam's Sons; for sale by A. L.
Bancroft & Co., San Francisco.