The morning call., 1890-11-23
LITERATURE.

EsSfAMANTuA AMONG THE BRETHREN
S by Josiah Aliens Wife" Funk 81
tMS s New YORK; z. In hiss ISIS
Episcopal Church there arose question as
10 whether four female delegates, duly
eiected should take their seats as members.
Inc matter occupied great deal of atten-
tion, and for three days the brightest lights
III the conference argued the matter, finally
deciding that under the constitution and
laws OF the church as they now are, women
are not eligible as lay delegates to the Gen.
eral Conference" In view of the frequent
reference in the book to the discussion had
on TINS subject, the publishers have added
10 Tue work, as an appendix, six of the most
agalnst-that were had during the confer
ence. The proceedings furnished "Josiah
Aliens Wife" Marietta Holley) the text for
humorous and semi-serious protest against
the decision of the conference. The book is
In the Yankee dialect, and the arguments.
Wnlch are witty, do not lose their force
by reason of being SO expressed. The writer
does not follow any set line, but presents
arguments here and there, getting in some
very solid thrusts in favor of women having a
voice In the government of the church to
winch they belong. The whole book, while
dealing with subject that will involve a
great many conferences in controversy, is a
very happy way of presenting very serious
case, for it not only applies to the members
OF the church named, but to churches Of
other denominations in which women have
sought representation. The book is embel-
liSned with numerous good illustrations.
which are to the point, and there is no doubt
but that many who read Samantha Among
the Brethren" while amused by the quaint
arguments advanced by Josiah Aliens
w lie, Will give the subject serious consider
alton.
"LIFE"-By William W. Wheeler. (Ameri-
can News Company New York). This is
novel by Mr.. Wheeler, is resident Of
Merlden, Conn, who in plain everyday
sort OF way tells a story Of man, Joe
whitney. who was pronounced dead, but
could not be buried, because his sister being
under the belief that he was in a cataleptic
III, he having had several, refused to allow
MIN TO be placed on ice or have an autopsy
made or the body" buried. The authori-
ties were anxious to have the matter ended
by placing Mr.. Whitney under ground, but
the sister being in the way they took steps
III an asylum Tor believing that her
brother. who had the stare of death
on his cOuntenance for two weeks, was
not dead. An attorney, George Wilson. cir
cumvents the officers of the law by marry
ing the sister and becomes her guardian,
and under the circumstances she cannot be
arrested without his consent. The marriage
was, however, only one of necessity, and as
under the law marriage outside OF the
church Is civil contract, which may
be annulled by the courts, Wilson decided TO
obtain divorce as soon as he had con-
WINGED the sister of Joe that there was
corpse in the house. A specialist in New
YORK was sent for, and after treatment of
the extraordinary case brought Joe back to
HE. lie tells of some strange visions he
had while in the trance. Finally Joe's sis
ter becomes Wilson's wife in fact as well as
hn 10 full nf CT ri n
istic views, and while there are many who
will not place any faith in what is pre-
scented, 1t contains great deal That inter-
eSts.
PAoLI, TIE LAST OF THE MISSIONARIES
By w. c. Kitchen. Robert Bonners Sons;
New York.. Thi is a well-bound and beat-
tifully illustrated book of 463 pages in which
IS presented picture of the overthrow Of
the Christians in Japan in the seventeenth
century. 1t tells in most graphic manner
OF the severe trials OF those missionaries
who in the early period sought to es-
Land of the Morning" 1t is writ
ten in very interesting and enter
tanning style, and is an historical picture
which outwelghs fiction. The principal
characters are all real persOnages who took a
prominent part in the stirring events that
attended the overthrow of Christianity.
The author of this book was for three years
resident of the picturesque city of Maya
saki, on the crest of Higashi-yami, where
the war against the Christians was waged.
and it was while there that he decided to
gather the material for the book. He de-
voted great deal of time to Investigate on,
and hearing from the lips of the people
legendary accounts OF the great rebellion of
the "jashiu- which have been handed
down from father to son for more than two
and half centuries. During his inyestiga-
ton the author came across two hitherto un-
nesses of the war, in which they gave
infinitely detailed account of the events Of
the time, and it is mainly upon these that
the volume published is based.
MANUAL OF NERVOUS DIsEAsEs-By
A. b. Arnold. MID. 0he Bancroft Com
pany; San Francisco). This is work writ
ten by the emeritus professor on diseases OF
the nervous system College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Baltimore, and is concise
description OF the essential facts in relation
to the study and treatment of nervous dis
eases. 1t Is the second edition of the work,
and ii has been thoroughly rewritten and en-
larged, yet in this the author has not de-
parted from the original design as set forth
in the first edition. He has added snme
valuable matter to the preliminary chapters
on the anatomy of the nervous system and
the general symptomatolugy and therapeu-
tics of nervous diseases. 1t is n book of
value to the medical profession and to
students.
DESTINY OF A COMMONPLACE LIFE
By Mrs. Il. Z. Nelson. John b. Alden New
Y"tk). This is a story written for young
peui ie by the author of "Dorance." IL is
Oue that is realistic, written with good
purpose and should have many readers who
will find it Instructive, interesting and pro-
fitabe. In the preface the author says:
Believing that false and impracticable ideas OF
life and its sacred duties are ofienlimes imbbed
from books giving improbable accounts OF every
day events ana unreal pictures of The scenes and
lives have tried to deal only with that which is
attainabe by any energetic boy or glri who en-
joys the advantages OF his nineteenth century
civilization. hope that may gave my Young
friends an incentive TO better work or n0bler
living as show them The benefits of moral aud
intellectual culture.
LovELL's INTERNATIONAL SERIES Unit
ed States Book Company; New York;. This
publishing house has added to the we'll
known and popular series three very inter
esting works of fiction, namely: "The Heart
of Gold" by l.. L. Meade, author of "a Girl
of the Period" and Frances Kane's For
tune; Alas" by Rhoda Broughton, author
of ''Ductor Cupid, "Good-by, Sweetheart"
GUS" by Bertha Thomas. Like other works
OF this series. the novels named are OF the
best class of English writings and are printed
by special arrangements with the authors.
Each of tile books named has good plot
and each is exceedingly interesting.
ROSE ASHES-By Carrie Stevens Walter
&C. a. Murdoch 81 Co.; San Francisco. This
is neatly printed volume of poems by Car
RE Stevens Walter of San Jose. which the
lady has written at various times i'll the past
few years. They are divided into three
classes, namely, In the Sunshine" "In
the Shadow" and "Tempest-Tossed."
MANY of them were inspired by California
scenes and are meritorious compositions
in verse. The book will make neat offer
ing for the approaching holidays. For sale
by William Doxey.
Book Notes.
The Worthineton Company of New York
will shortly issue "A Russian Country
j. ". Davis. and July illustrated Mith
photographers. This is said to be IL very
interesting story OF Russian life-Russan
high life-wbich presents capital pictures Of
manners and customs in the time OF the