The Republican journal., 1888-07-12

carried to Hong Kong. From Hong Kong our
author makes his way to Shanghae. where,
by a lucky chance, he gets position in the
custom house, and remains there several
months. Losing his position by the death of
his patron he once more returns to sea life, has
an adventure with Chinese pirates. and on one
occasion. on "A vessel loaded with coolies, takes
part in Il desperate fight between the ships
crew and the dangerous passengers. The book
i. brim full Of adventure, and is evidently
written by one thoroughly conyersant with the
life lie depicts and the places he describes 1t
is well illustrated. ID. Lothrop Co.. Boston.
Price S1.25.
now in press and ready for issue. new vol
ume of travels through our sister republic, en-
titled Mexico, Picturesque, Political, Pro-
sressive." the joint work of Mrs. Mary Eliza
beth Blake. of Boston. and Mrs. Margaret +.
sullivan. OF Chicago. Both ladies have attain
ed a high position in American literature, ard
each has distinct individuality of her own.
Their observations during their journey were
confined to no one thing, but were close, thought-
full and universal. Mexico, we are told, is ''a
country picturesque beyond description and
beautiful! beyond belief. with traditions of the
past to interest the antiquarian, and problems
of the future to occupy the professionals, with
the destinations of a strange tongue and a
strange people. and with that indefinable charm
which those indoent lOtos-eating lands eXcr-
else always over the sterncr and colder nature
of the Northman. The keen analysis of the
habits and characteristics of the people. the
| story Of how they live. the description of their
houses and of the manner in which they con-
! duet their domestic affairs. are exceedingly i'll
tere>ing. The authors also treat of the man
ner of dre>, and personal appearance of the
people. of the social condition of the women,
of the industries of the country. methods of
business. railroads, agriculture, form Of gov
| eminent. courts of law, eminent men, litera-
/ oh to ma n
/ up the h>tory-dOme>tic. governmental, liter
I arT. political and ecOnOmic-Of people who
/ have more than once shaken off the yoke of
| their oppre>sors, and taken new departures on
/ the highway of progress and civilization.
| The Story of Ohio, by Alexander Black. is
/ the second volume of the new series, the "Story
of the States. edited by Elbridge S. Brooks
and published by the d. Lothrop Co., Boston.
The Story of Ohio necessarily pictures the be-
| @inningS of the Great Northwestern that
! splendid group Of states lying at the heart of
1 the Republic. The story has thus a special
and peculiar interest at time when these
| Younger children, as it were, of the great
American Confederation are drawing towards
| them the eyes of the continent and of the
world. Ohio'> animated record is so far from
! being trite that We may welcome volume
which neither struggles to tell everything nor
considers any feature too homel. to be worthy
Of consideration. The farm and the factory
receive as much attention, and are found as
entertaining as battles and legislatures: while
domestic and social life are shown to contri-
butte As much to the dignity and attractiveness
of history as either the rush of war or the
>cufilcs of politics. Mr.. Blacks book sketches
the early history of the Ohio Valley, touching
briefly upon the romantic Indian struggles and
traditions; describes >uccinctiy the movements
that planted civilization in the Northwest, and
brings the State history down to the present
year. with IFS centennial observanceS, thus
covering the full century of Onios life. The
author declares that in the matter Of great men
Il writer upon Ohio suffers from an embarra>s-
imeht of riches. The list of these men is. in
deed. remarkable one. With Grant >her-
man. sheridan, Garfield. Hayes, Mcclellan and
| Custer among her soldiers and statesmen; with
Howell among her literary and Edison among
her scientific children: with Beecher among
her Theological graduates. and Powers, Ward
and the Beard brothers among her sculptors
and painters, the State certainly enjoys a pc
cuiar distinction in diverse fertility. Yet the
writer has been able to do little more than
sample the list of Ohio celebrities. The
story Of the people has been his study. and the
great men have taken their natural place under
the eXigeneies of the narrative. One volume
Sro. fully illustrated. Sl.50