The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-13
LITERATURE.

FAMOUS ENGLISH STATESMEN - BY
II Thomas Y. CToweil & Co. Cloth,
A - $50 pp., 81 50) This is an illustrated
book by Sarah K. Bolton, author OF Poor
has found a peculiarly congenlal subject in
her latest contribution to the series OF
famous" books the product Of her indus
triou5 pen. In this volume she gives a
succinct sketch of all the English statesmen
of note from Sir Robert Peel down to Will
lam Z. Gladstone, and nearly all of those
whose biographies are given have been
leaders in great works of refOrm-the bal
lot, the emancipation OF slaves, the estaO-
lisbment of great schools, the treatment OF
factory operatives and the relation OF labor
and capital. Each sketch recounts In a SYM
pathetic manner the position that each has
occupied and the great work that be has
been engaged in. The author had the
honor OF being personally acquainted with
a number of those she has written about,
including John Bright, the benevolent Earl
of Shaftesbury, William Edward Foster
and Professor Fawcett. This is most in
structive book for young readers. for it
lays before them many bright preeepts:
Each sketch is illustrated with a faithful
likeness Of the person written about.
Doctor LAMAR-(New York: Thomas
Y. Crowell & Co. Cloth, 1886 pp.. 81 %
This book is published without the name OF
the writer. 1t is an interesting story, clev-
erly told, in which is discussed the question
which has been asked time and again, and
that is: SIS it ever right TO put person to
death as a means of delivery from long and
hopeless Illness, insanity or sutfering|
If it be justifiable to use opiates and other
artificial means to deaden pain, can 1t not
be argued that it is equally justifiable. with
proper precautions against crime. TO go a
step farther and put final quietns TO the
intolerable pangs OF acute disease, ike can
Ger, or diphtheria, or hydrophobio, for
which no cure is known?
A New York newspaper recently printed
interviews with half dozen physicians on
the subject of Euthanasia," and they all
expressed themselves as opposed to 1t; but
it is unquestionable that it would be easy to
find an equal number Of reputable medical
men who would take the other side.
This interesting and important subject Is
treated in a most brilliant and original way
in the new story "Dr. Lamar" The author
does not commit himself for or against the
act of the heroic young doctor, who, in ac-
cordance with a promise wrung from him,
shortens the life Of his wife suffering from
hopeless disease.
The story will cause more talk and discus
sion than any novel that has appeared in ten
years.
THE Jo-BoAT BoYs-By the Rev. ]. F.
Cowan. ID. New York: Thomas Y.
Crowell 81 Co. $50 pp.. 81 50) There is
nothing that so gladdenS the heart OF the
American boy as well-wrltten book of adj
venture and startling situations. A book OF
this character is the one written by the Rev.
]. f. Cowan, DID,. editor OF "Oar Young
People," and while it is an exciting
story, it is al the same time sug-
moral tone cannot be attacked. The story
| is that OF boys who lived in jo-boats along
| the Ohio, and notably near Pittsburg
there is a population that lives almost ex-
| clusively in boats on the river. They work,
| live and sleep in these floating houses, which
/ are known as jo-bOats. DIR. COwan in this
work presents very graphic picture of this
| floating population, and many scenes are
most vividly portrayed. All the characters
are realistic and there is not n dull page in
| the book. The attention of the reader Is
| caught on the first page and It grows as
| each succeeding page is read. 1t is story
| that will interest every boy in the land, and
| girls Will be as eager as the boys to learl
| the fate Of the three lads who are the chlei
characters in the story. The book, which il
handsomely bound, is illustrated with 9
number Of drawings by FL. w. Pierce.
| ROSARIO OR THE FEMALE MoNK-B,
| Matthew Gregory Lewis. Laird q Lee, Chi
| cage, 400 pages, illustrated). This Is re-
| print in the most elegant style, rs to typeg
| raphy, paper and illustrations. that ha'
been offered to the public for many years
| of work that has always been looked upor
| as the masterpiece Of the associate ant
friend of Sir Walter Scott. This Is the frs
time that the work has been reproduced II
this country, and in England it is very
scarce. This work of Lewis has for man,
years been buried, as it were, and it is nov
reproduced with view to give readers al
| opportunity to peruse tho writings of on'
| whose work "The Monk" was styled by tn