The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-10
9e1u Qualifications.

AMERICAN MEN OF LETTERS. BENJAMIN Frank
lin as a Man of Letters. By John Bach
McMaster. Boston: Houghton, Miffiin 81
Co. $1.25.
Prof. McMaster will be readily recognized
to have furnished in this volume the most
interesting book of the series of which it
forms part. Franklin, all things consid-
cred, is the most interesting character thus
far developed in American letters. His per-
sonality was the most pronounced and his
life the most interesting of any of our Amer
lean writers. His Autobiography "Maxims
of Poor Richard" and "The Way to Wealth."
are contributions to American letters which
will have enduring fame. In this volume
Prof. McMaster devotes the larger part of
his attention to the literary achievements of
Franklin. Yet his distinctions as philoso-
pher and statesman are not overlooked, and
the book gives good resume of his remark
able career. 1t is of absorbing interest, and
written in a lively and picturesque style,
with ample material always at hand to fur
nish the foundation of the narrative
G1RDLE ROUND THE EARTH. Home Letters
from Foreign Lands. By d. N. Richard
son. Chicago: A. @. McClurg & Co. 449
PIP. Price $500.
This volume is the portly record of four
teen months travel around the world. 1t
begins at Denver, thence by familiar path
ways (of railroading) to San Francisco The
second chapter ia devoted to the Pacific voy-
age. Japan occupies five chapters; China
fOur lava and tho u0uo0a IN kha Cao 90
China, and across the Indian ocean to Cey-
Ion, chapter each. Next two chapters are
devoted to India, Arabia and Egypt, and BIZ
BILE Lands. Asia Minor, Oonstantinople, Rou-
mania and Austria follow. Italy, Poland, and
Russia, and Scandinavian Lands, are visited,
and the volume closes with France and Eng
land. 1t is a volume of no pretension as to
literary style, but is, nevertheless, well writ
ten, and evidently the production of close
observer, man who can see things, and tell
how he sees them, in an attractive manner.
The chapters on japan and China we found
particularly valuable. They contain great
deal of useful information. The work as a
whole we consider one of the best books of
travel we have read in many day.
SUBSTANCE AND SHOW and other Lectures.
By Thomas Starr King. 9th edition. IL
mo. 434 PIP. Boston: Houghton, Miffiin
d Co. Price $1.50.
1t is significant that the sixth edition of
this volume has been called for by the read
ing public. 1t is evidence that Starr Kings
wonderful genius still finds appreciation
quarter of a century after his death. The
Vnlnmn lie 10 hot ookf lad
Christianity and Humanity" which was
composed of sermons. This contains those
brilliant lectures on Substance and Show"
Socrates" Sight and Insight" "Hilde-
brand" Music" etc., with which King en-
raptured lyceum congregations in New Eng
land and throughout the country thirty
years ago. Starr was then the prince of lee
turers and was everywhere greeted with en-
thusiasm. The volume also contains some
of the more recent lectures which he gave in
California, among others, the valuable dis
course on "Books and Reading" The new
edition, handsomely printed at the Riverside
Press, is comely volume, and with the late
Edwin p. Whipple's Introduction, in which
he gives an analysis of Kings genius and
power as lecturer, will serve to make new
generation acquainted with the brilliant
genius and consummate gifts of the young
thinker and orator whose sun went down |
while it was yet day.
LOOKING BACKWARD. 2000-1887. By Ed |
ward Bellamy. Boston: Ticknor d Co. |
Price, $1.50.
This is very singular volume. We hardly |
know what to style it, and we doubt if the |
writer could properly describe it himself. |
In the form of a story we have description |