The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-10-04
LITERARY NOTES.
AN HOUR WITH NEW BOOKS AND
BOOK.MAKERS.

LII L GnA II 1 NV1GC
AN HOUR WITH NEW BOOKS AND
BOOk-MAKERS.
Current Criticism of Books, Magazines,
Authors, and Publishers---What the
World Reads.
One of the most interesting as we'll as
one of the most important announcements
of Fall publications is that of a volume Of
'Orations and After-Dinner Speeches" by
CHAUNCEY NJ. DEPEw. There is no more
pleasantly familiar name in this country
than that of Mr.. DEPEw, and it is by his
speeches that he is best known. Very few
of these have ever been printed in their
entirety, and many of them have only
been dealt out in fragments by the daily
papers and yet he has woD a world wide
reputation by them. Taken in their COM
plete form, as they are given in this vol
ume, they are models OF what such speech
es should be. 1t is one thing to deliver
serious thoughts in wonderous words, and
it is another to dress these thoughts in a
style that attracts all who are fortunate
to hear or read them. Nothing could seem
dryer than some of the subjects of Mr..
line in anyone of them that we have read,
although his speech at the Centennial Gel
ebration was not up to our expectations or
to the high mark of the occasion, PREsI-
DENT HARRISON to the contrary notwith
standing They, in most instances, bris-
tie with thought and sparkle with
wit. AS story teller he has few equals
and he has the art of telling an old story
so that it strikes the hearer with all
the freshness of brand new one, while
haustable supply.
THE FORUM FOR OCTOBER.
The leading article in the October Fo-
rum is a review of the political situation
in Europe, by PROF. EMILE DE LAvELEYE,
of the University of Liege. He shows the
points of danger to peace, and explains
the formidable preparations for war that
even the most pacific nations are contin-
ually making. 1t is a comprehensive in
side view of the political status of all Eu
rope. A hundred years hence, PROF. La
vELEYE thinks, except China there will be
no nation that can compare in strength
and Importance with the United States
and Russia. SENATOR CULLOM. of Illinois,
writes an elaborate and labored article in
the vain attempt to show that protection
is of greater benefit to the farmers than to
n, If
it was not lamentable to see so able man
and ready a writer as SENATOR CULLON at
tempting an impossibility. Mr.. THos l.
JAMES, who was Postmaster General under
PRESIDENT ARTHUR, and who spent a con-
siderable part of his life in the postal SER
vice, points out the reforms that are now
greatly needed, such as the cheapening of
ocean postage and of the rate of money
orders Mr. JAMES makes a foicible plea
also for the complete divorce of the postal
service from politics. Mr.. EDWARD WAKE-
FIELD, a member of the Australian Parl.a-
ment, writes from his experience as a poll
tician about the ballot system which sew
eral of our States have adopted. PROF
F. w. TAUssIG, of Harvard, explains III
detail the workings of compulsory insur
ance of employees in Germany. BISHOP
HUNTINGTON, of the diocese OF Central
New York, under the It'll, of "A Draw
ing Room Homily," makes a keen analy
sis of the frivolities of fashionable life
PROF VIM I. HARRIS, the new United
States Commissioner of Education, reviews
the system Of State socialism explained IN
EDWARD BELLAMY's looking Backward
The REV. JOHN SNYDER, of st. Louis,
writes an essay on ''Prejudice against the
Negro" which be points out is felt and
shown among civilized nations only by
Americans. Other articles in this num-
Der are The Love of Notorety," by FRAN
CEs POWER COBBE; Making a Name III
Literature" by EDMUND GOOSE; and DE
mocracy in the Household" by ELIZA LYNN
LINTON The Forum Publishing Co., 253
Fifth ave, N. Y, so cts. number; S. a
year.
GOLD THAT DID NOT GLITTER.
The reading public, especially in the
South, have come to expect much in a lit
erary way from the DABNEY family. Lately
three books have been printed by brother
and son, and sister, which have had
wide sale and pleased many who are not
easy to please. Memorials of Southern
Planter" by MRS. SUSAN DABNEY SMEDEs
was received with great favor. PROF.
GARNER, professor of French at the Naval
Academy. told the editor of the CHRONI-
Gle that he literally devoured the book it
was so intensely interesting to him. VIR-
GINIUs DABNEY two years ago published
"Don Mfr which We at the time review
ed in the CHRONICLE. For rich, genuine
Southern flavor; genuine story telling
ability; sarcastic wit that cleaned like
Damascene blade; simple, stirring and
tear starting pathos; effective and crush
ing answers to the misrepresentation of
the Old South, it was and is unrivalled.
His son, PROF RICHARD DABNEY, M. A,