The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-02-14

William Elleroy Curtis, the author Of the
above important addition to eur knowledge OF
our Southern neighbOFs is one of the best
knows of the corps of able and brilliant men
known collectively as Washington Core
spOndents." For years he was the representative
in this city of the Chicago Inter Ocean aud the
New York Graphic. from which duty he was
called to assume the position of managing ed
itor OF the former paper. He discharged the
duties OF that place with signal success, but
subsequently returned to his earlier love, and
now represents one or more metropolitan pa
pers at the Capital Of the country
President Arthur appointed him one Of the
Commissioners to Visit the Central aad South
American Countries. While on this GRAND hs
diligently exercised a trained journalists hab-
Its OF observation. and has told what be saw
IN lncisive, easy flowing and captivating style.
The title OF the book is capital, and We have
altogether before us the chief places of interest
in Spanish America. One-third of the book is
devoted to Central America, including Mexico,
and the balance to South America
UncOnscIously, perhaps, the author has fol-
lowed the theory that Paris is France" and
never was the saying truer than in the case OF
Spanish America. The Capitals Of South Amer
lea concentrate and absorb all the interests Of
the countries they represent. With few ex-
cepllons they are Situated inland and a g0Odly
portion OF the countries, and the most striking
features come under observation in reaching
them- When one knows the Capitals he knows
the countries and the peoples.
The book is an attractive volume in apuear-
anee, and eaptiyates the eye at once By the
wealth of illustrations. He who runs may
read In fact. through it he can toGr Spanish
America on a limited express. The volume
numbers us pages, and contains fully 800 illus
trations selected with great discrimination. and
as such beittingly descriptive. The book is an
album IN itself, carrying with it an index Of
illustrations
The general plan and features Of the book
ays-- 5laGIendGs.sy from the facility with which
one may ind whafae would seek, and in read
ing knows where he is. 1t is to be regretted,
however that 10 so useful work the iudexing
had not been more detailed. The grouping Of
the Capitals together IN one volume is an eject
I've plan for sake of comparison in showing
I kindred relations to zach other
The average reader, IN order to ascertain
| what little he war IS, rarely cares to wade
through large book. In this volume he has
all that IS really worth knowing brought before
/ his vision IL compact space In this respect
the BOOK supplies public want by placing IN
a comprehensive manner the whole Of Spanish
I America, so arranged as to be readily referred
to under appropriate heads as future occasions
may call for, making it useful book for pub
lie and private libraries.
The volume is conspicuous from the absence
/ OF personality Of the author throughout the
context Although he has been there, he has
not made the volume the narrative Of a tray
eler or the diary of events, scenes and anec-
dotes passing under his notice. It is not him
self but the countries he presents for inspection,
with this exception, that he shows the able
/ journalist throughout.
From the variety Of subjects touched upeu.
/ the book becomes, under the authors treatment,
/ an illustrated mosaic. He gives pictures Of the
/ life and customs of the peoples. descriptive
sketches of the country, interspersed with the
/ history OF the places described. Although ne
I goes back to ancient history, he never foTgets
| the present. Naturally, everything coming be-
/ fore the eye OF an acute journalist receives q
/ notice. Withal, he blends judiciousIy statisti-
4 cal information of permanent value without
/ fatiguing the reader. Without being a history
/ guide book or gazetteer, it answers the pur-
/ pose of all
/ The book has especial value in afording
! means of an chronological study of the iuhahit-
1 ants of the countries by reason of the bringing
/ together of widely extended regions ia a COM
/ pact form, and in the cOnciseness Of style.
( When one bears in mind that throughout this
/ vast area of Spanish America the Indian class
/ have the same aboriginal descent, and that
/ their cOnquerOrs came from the one OF related
/ countries of the Spanish Peninsula, widely
/ open field OF analysis and comparison is pre-
/ scented for the politician, the philOlOgis5 and
/ the theOlogian.
I In short. the monumental work Of AIr Curtis
/ is so comprehensive aud pithy, with such a
I mastery grasp Of details IS to furnish material
! to interest any reader.
! ST. NICHOLAS ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE
/ FOR YOUNG FOLKS. Conducted by Mary
! Mapes Dodge Parts / and 2, Vol XIV. Published
/ by the Century Co.. New York.
/ 1t IS needless to tell the young people what
/ beautiful volumes these are. and how full OF
/ interesting reading matter Almost every child
and youth OF the country IS familiar with St.
/ Nicholas and no betteE Christmas present could
/ be given to either lad or lass than these hand
! somely-bOund volumes Of this fayOrite maya
I zine for young folks.
l DE MOLAI The Last u the Military Grand
Masters Of the Order Of Tenlplar knights By
/ Edmund Fiagg. Published By T. B. Peterson
/ Brothers, Philadelphia Price Sl.51-
/ This is q powerful, picturesque aud absorbing
/ novel of the 14th century, historical in char
/ acter and crowded with information conveyed
/ in the most pleasing manner. The scene is
| laid principally in Paris, and the theme is the
/ suppression of the Order Of Knights Tempar
/ by Philip the Fourth of France. Throughout
| the romance towers the commanding form of
/ Jacques de Molai, the noble old warrior monk.
/ who was ready to bear the fortunes of the IN
I QUESTION, and even to suffer martyrdOm az the
/ stake for the cause Of the prosecuted Order Of
/ which he was the chieS. A complete history OF
the Knights Templar IS given, which viii be
7 found of great value ard interest BY the Ma
sonic Fraternity as well as by the general
reader.
/ HISTORY OF THE 9TH Ill. CAV Published
under the auspices OF the Historical COMMITTEES
I OF the Regiment. Edited by Edward A. Dayen-
port. Illustrated
OF the numerous RcgimeGtal Histories which
/ THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has been called upon
TO notice. we remember none which compare
/ with this History of the 9Th Ill. Cav. In de-
tail. it contains not only history Of this gal
laut regiment but Of che Sixteenth Corps, to
! which the regiment was attached during most
of its service. lie kazsshandsome portraits Of
/ prominent officers who commanded brigades
/ and divisions, rs we'll as of both officers and
men OF the regiment. To read the book takes
one back to the days when armies were march
ing and lighting al over the country, and the
blood courses quicker when reading of the hair
breadth escapes and the daring which these
men exhibited whenever duty called them for
action. The readers of THE NATIONAL TRIB-
I UNE who served in the Army OF the West can
not fail to be pleased with this book. and no
library which makes war literature speciality
will be complete without this History Of the
9th Iil. Cav.
/ RENA; Or The Snow Bird. By Mrs Caroline
Lee Hentz. Published by T. b. Peterson < Bros.
Philadelphia. Price p cents.
Rena Is one of the most popular and enter,
tanning novels ever written By Mrs. Hentz
and has never before been published OF sold
/ under $3.50 copy. This edition is published