New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-27

vvhach nv themselves considered, have tended to
lessen the value of money and the burden Vi
debts Issues Of paper have that effect. ana In
crease of bank facilities. and the marvellous
mechanism of exchanges and tce2rsphic transfers
and IL Mr.. Phillips would get sane he would per-
ceive that these vast chan res against the interests
of lenders have all been made by the very bankers
and ananciers whom he considers more greedy anu
,itiless than sharks. They have blundered olten'
as others have blundered, and in stumbling over
the dark road of the past, destitute OF the eecVrc
light which the genius Of MIR. Phillips has caused
20 shine on the world, they caught many Ian'
ana deserve much sympathy. II only Mr. rhi'hps
had been shining then, he might with more reason
howl through 521 pages at these VINO oiu noO
know at all, as he does
THE STORY OF THE sARACENs. By AETnus On
MAN. l2mo pp. xviii. ABS %. r. tu'"an > onN
YpE STORY OF THE MOORs IN SPAIN. by STAN
LEY LANE POOLE 12mo Pr. H.. $50. me same'
These two volumes in the Story of the Nations
Sci les are distinguished by liveliness ami zest Mr.
Gilman whose subject is the life OF Mohamine" I'll"
the spread of the MosIem power from its h"gihniue
IN the fall If Bagdad seems 10 have carried on bis
studier with enthusias,h as we'll as thoroug'nrss.
and like many other modern Investigators 10 mas
arrived at a favorable estimate OF the prophe's
work and character, and decided conviction Vi
his sincerity. MIR. Lane-POoe has long been known
as an authority in certain departments OF Moseih
history. His sentiment toward the Moors OF spain
il one of warm sympathy, and this leads bim in
conspicuous instance-the story of the Chris'lah
mart-rs Of Cordc va in the ninth century-info
gross niece of injustice He stonty defends the acts
of the pors in that case aud lays down the prin-
chile that voluntarily to transgress n law when
carries with it capital punishment is not martyr
dom but suicide" 1t is useless to aTgue a religious
question with an author who pnts forth such
doctrine as that. for it is clear that he has no
conceptIon of the religious principle. Ii he Is right
there is no such thing az voluntary martyrdom, and
it is sinful to obey God rather than man,
Tran slated, with thc Authors PermlssiOn Ivy CHAR-
LOTTh ADAMS l6mo Up. XIV, 3d. George j.
Coombes.
Alfred Stev a Parsian artist of Belgian
birth. is especially we'll known. as Miss Adams
remarks in her interesting introductory notice. for
his groups of Lovely women and children.executed
with an admirable technique, and hearing the
stamp of unusual refinement ana distinction lie
may be called the painter of modern Ii e and, IN no
inydious sense of fashionable life. "Modernity"
ia a favorte word with him, and he uses IT to
express the whole Tone tendency ami aspect or the
society of our time. That he regards as IA worthy
infect for the artist; and he Is persuaded that the
true artist finds mean employment for his brush
and his fancy in the portraits OF beautiful women
beautifully dressed. His Impressions" are strongly
colored by these sentiments He throws his
remarks into the epigramrnatic form, expressing
himself generally with point and bre>ity. If not
With Wit: and although he says many things 90
obvious that it seems hardly worth while to put
them on paper he has the ParIsian knack of dis
guisug common places. and dressing smart sense
in the most telling garb The little book Is worth
reading. and it has been well translated.