The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-16


10 turn TO for safety and dclivcrancc. Pub
lshcd by Bel.ord, Clarke & Co., New York
and Chicago. Price 50 cents. For sale at
Mansiord's.
A number of stories and novels turning
upon Nihilism and Russian serfdom, tyranny
and oifcialism have been written from time
to time producing more or less OF ripple
in the literary world, but save those by the
famous Russian novelist 1olstoi, we ques-
ton II 'Thc Prophets Mantle" by Fabian
Bland, (Belford, Clarke Co.. has been
eoualed. it has certainly not been surpassed
I'm some respects by any one OF them. For
originality and ingenuity of plot it is unique
The action is spirited and takes place at first
in Russia, but most of the time in England
The prologue introduces us TO the count
Michael Ltynofl'' and Armand PercivaL"
a young Englishman whose life he saves
at Monte Carlo, and continues his
protection by making the would-be
suicide his secretary. Lityinoif is possible
though high type of an ideal character
lie Is u Nihilist and has written several rev.
dictionary works, one among them, "A
Prophetic Vision, the secret police OF Rus
STA obtains copy of twenty-four hours
after It is printed, resulting in an order for
his arrest, flight from Russia and subsc.
quent exile. His secretary escapes with him,
and what takes place afterward in the lives of
these two men go to show the metal Of their
makeup and constitute the strength and
merit OF an uncommonly clever novel. The
incidents are many of them strikingly dra-
matte some tragic. The threads of romance
mingled are well woven, while the sociais-
tic features are presented with fairness and
justice, and intelligently treated. The CON
yersations on this latter subject between
'LiWinoff" and "Clarc Stanley" the hero
inc OF the story, show the unanswerablcness
OF the argument put by the former. He
says: I'VE know that all this misery, all
this sin, all this selfishness, all this stupid
ity oven, are the direct results Of the social
milieu. II is this knowledge that makes US the
deadly enemies OF the capitalist system and
that is why we are hated by those who profit
by IT," Referring to the social ostracism"
which is the inevitable fate in some circles
Of those who think for themselves, Lityinof
remarks to Clare: Social ostracism, and by
whom imposed Look at the people around
you. See how small are their aims, how trivial
their interests how great their love OF ease
how small their love Of truth; see what mar
row minds they have, what blinded eyes;
see all the good that would be in them
crushed out by the very conyentionalities
which they uphold. How can we think IL Of
any value, the opinion of such rs thescY Or
II their condemnation should pain Us what a
little thing Is such pain compared with the
life long consciousness OF having from the
fear Of II, crushed out the spark OF truth In
our own souls2 What little thing com
pared with eternal truth Is even life
ITSELF We come out Of the dark.
ness and into that darkness must
return. Is Il not better, seeing the little
time that is ours to know that we at least
have listened 20 the wall OF agony that ever
goes up TO the deaf hcayens2 that we have
done what we could In our little day to help
forward better time for those who shall
come after US, than 20 know that We have
had the good opinion OF respectable pco
pler Everybody should read The Proph
cts Mantle" Go to Mansford's forit Price
80 cents.
The Sideriai Messenger, for June, opens with
paper on THE Wave Length as a Pracica'
bic and Feasible Standard Of Length" that
will doubtless attract the attention o.
scientists This Is followed by "a Motto OF
Double Stars" by Prof Munich, Of Dublin,
aud this by the observations OF many astron
omcrs on variable Stars" Lewis Swift ha
a very valuable paper ON Errors In Astro
nomicai Textbooks" which Is followed by
a biographical sketch OF William Ernes
Temple late astronomer at the Observatory
Of Arcetri, Italy. Current Interesting Phe
nomcna" Is department full OF q nelly oh
scrva,ions, and theirs arc I'D itorial Notes
to replction that deal with persons on,
places, observations aud obscryatorics. Their
Is also a department Of Book Notices" tina
Is always a safe guide 10 amateurs, a. well a
TO professionals The Sidsriai Mcgcagcr I
conducted by William w. Payne, and I
published by the Carleton College obscrya
tory, Northheld, MINI.
"Birds Through an Opera Glass" by Flor
cncc A. Merriam, aud Cup and Down the
Brooks" by Mary T. Bamiord. are the title
Of the third and fourth mum beers Of a serie
under the heading OF the Riverside Iibmr!
for Young People" just begun by Mcssrs
Houghton, Miflin & CO.. designed cs
pccially for boys and girls" though. judg
ing from the character Of the volumes be
fore Us, may DO read with pleas ure AM
profit by older people. Tho books will b
uniform In size, containing from 300 10 -
pages each, will be strongly and attraotiyel
bound In cloth. aud sold at Is cents vol
umc. The first two numbers are "Thc Wa
for independence" by John Fiskc, an,
George Washington; an Historical Biogu
ply" by Horace +. Scuddcr. Nothing bette
could be presented as an earnest Of the mori
aud rank OF the numbers to come. Il
always a pleasure TO handle IIou ghton
Mi1lin a Co.'S books, irrespective o
their literary value they are 70 beautiful
printed and iasiciully bound. The auiho
oi birds Throug GA an Opera Glass" inform
us In preface that many Of the articles con
taincd Ia her volume were published In ia
.iHduJoH MagaFine In 1856 Also that the u
Illustrations are from Baird, Brewer 4 Ride
ways History OF North American Birds.
She gives some useful hints 10 be observe
In the study OF birds In the fields an
woods" In order 10 gain satisfactory result
Her own experiences In this direction ar
described In the clcarcst a nd most dclightfu
manner imaginable. She uses no technics
terms aud assures the reader that the book
| uuot an ornitholoufrul trpntisa 90 She "A,
quainis Us with the habits Of our little fcatl