Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Haggard's romance, Cleopatra In this
historical fiction Mr.. Haggard has given his
imagination less play, but has not thereby
lost anything. On the contrary, the mon
strously improbable is eliminated and we
have an orderly and very thrilling recital
mingling of fact and fancy in a very
adroIt and altogether permissible manner.
Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen, is the GEN.
trail figure OF the story, and it is drawn in
correspondence with historical models
bat there is added the romance of fancy
that is in keeping with such character.
An astrologer, Harmachis, is enamored of
the Queen, and is led on by her to almost
slavery to her charms. When she has used
him, however, for the unwilling of certain
mysteries and the disclosing of certain hid
den treasures, she casts him cff, and he
proceeds to avenge himself in methodi-
cal and tragic manner. Faithful to him
despite his enchantment by the Queen, is
her waiting-woman, Charmion. Bat this
latter character is drawn weakly and un-
naturally. 1t is impossible to conceive of
a woman such as Charmion is pictured. at
once constant and jealous, yet weakly, con.
senting to the follies and slavery of her
lover, and doing nothing worth o woman
| to release him from the tolls of Cleopatra.
Haggard paints with a lavish use of colors
and his strokes are strong and vigorous.
tale, one cannot believe that il will have
long literary life. or rank with an enduring
class of works OF fiction. II lacks speed in
the movement of the story, is heavy and
dragging in its action, and somber and
trsgic in its Situations
The Federal Government of Sgitzer-
| land" is by Bernard Moses, PHI. D and of
| the Faculty of the University of California
| 1t is an essay on the Constitution and one
of the most concise and clear of political
| papers. Prot. Moses has made his com.
mentary on Federal Government by com
| parison OF the Swiss I'd American systems.
| of profound interest to American readers
! 1t is work for which we forecast a wide
! reading and much critical comment. The
! authors style is attrectiYe, his subject mo-
| foundry interesting and his method of
| treatment impartial and vigorous. 1t is
| impossible to quote from the work and do
any chapter in il justice, since the plan of
the essay is one of coDnecte iness, and tits
| therefore essential that tull reading of
] this fortunate work should be had to I'M
derstand the symmetry of its construction
and the charm with which political
treatise has been invested. The book sells
| at 81 so and is from the office of the Paci-
fic Press Publishing Company, Oakland,
and is creditable example of good book
| work.
From the Superintendent of Public In
struction, Hon. Ira G. Hoitt, we have of the
California State series of text books Les
sons IN Language" compiled under the
direction of the State Board of Education.
We have given it very careful examination
| during several weeks, and are prepared to
say that it is a work that deserves to rank
with the best of elementary works of the
order. 1t would be difficult to explain in
detail its excellent qualities within the
limits of a brief notice, but we NAV say
that the method adopted appears to be well
nigh faultless, and the leading up of the
scholars from easy to difficult tasks in
English composition and in correct modes
of expression, is admirably managed.
"Peterson's Magazine " (Chas. J. Peter
son, Philadelphia), for September, opens
with a steel engraving, Pick a Back y
. charming picture, and a wood illustra-
ton, The Young Family An illustrated
article gives variety of head dresses and
costumes. Miss Bowmans serial, sin st.
Tammany Parish" ends, and the other
continued story, Ted and l." also con-
cludes. The short stories and the fab on
and household notes are as complete as
ever. The Talk by q Trained Nurse y
gives useful and needed directions.
Artist and Model is No. 102 of the
Globe Library series Grand, McNally d
Co., Chicago. 1t is by Rene de P, MT. Jest,
and is a well-illustrated novel, that is of
| sustained interest and that turns lin all its
action upon tie hinges of unla wful love
and the violation of every VOW of the wife.
1t is not the work to commend to the
reader with regard for modesty or purity
OF thought. 1t Is pity, indeed, that such
capable authorship should be Drostituted
to such work.
OF the Riverside Paper series (Houghton.
Miffiin Co., Boston and New York. we
have the issue for July Goth. The Queen
Of Sheba,' by 7. B AIdrich. 1t is not
merely an interesting story, but it includes
as an important and very attractive feature
charming acc0unt of travel, observation,
and experience in Switzerland. The open
| ing chapters describe scenes and characters
| OF New Hampshire, with which Mr.. Aid
rich was familiar in mis- boyhood years.
Medical Classics for August CDr. F
Seeger, editor and publisher, New York !
is the second number of the third volume
OF journal growing rapidly in import
ance. The table of contents of this num-
Der is very extended, and embraces refer
! ence to.a great many articles on sanitation,
food, ethics of the medical profession,
mental and physical education, etc.
Bishops A B Guide for Routes of
| Travel upon the Pacific Coast and in the
| Territories" is at hand for the current
| quarter. 1t is very detailed and elaborate,
and contains vast amount of useful in
formation. 1t is published at 400 Mont
gomery street, San Francisco, by the Traffic
Publishing Company.
From Harper & Bros. New York, we
have OF the Franklin Square Library series
| No. 652, entitled 'AUncle..Piper's Hill" 1t
h.
an admirably constructed romance. one
indeed, of exceedingly strong and we'll
sustained interest.
! The Writer for August (Wm. Fl. Hills.
Boston, treats of Women in Journalism,
Humorists, Stolen Literary Goods, Modern
Titles, the Editorial Room Horrors, When
to Write, Style, Literary Bookkeeping, ,"
and other topics relative to literary work.
The Book Buyer" for August Charles
Scribner's Sons, New York; contains
very pleasing summary of American for
eign literature for the season. 1t has
very superior portrait of Mrs. Spoford, the
author, for frontispiece.
OF the Rialto series (Rand, McNally &
Co., Chicago), we have No IS. 1t is entitled
up Terrapin River and is pleasant and
interesting novel of love and adventure,
from the pen of Opie P. Read.
The Statesman statesman Publish
ing Company, Chicago, for August, has
papers treating of labor, capital, postal saw.
ings banks, local option, woman suffrage,
insurance laws, etc
The Coast Review for August CT. G.
Edwards, San Francisco), is very full and
interesting number, and is replete with in
formation for underwriters, insurance news
and statistics, etc.
From the Secretary of the State Board of
Trade we are in receipt of the pamphlet
edition of the report of the committee of
the Board on the reclamation of arid lands.
BY THE SAD SEA WAVES.