The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-28
LITERATURE.


THE CALL have been read with pleasure by
thousands Of readers. Miss SeidmOre has
also written book on Alaska, which was
very we'll received and did much to en-
Tighten the people as to Uncle Sans north
eTn territory For period of nearly three
years Miss ScidmOre was resident OF
Japan, aud during that time familiarized
herself with the people of that country,
their customs and mode Of living, making
note of everything that was new to her
with the purpose in view Of using these
notes at some future time. She has used
them, and has produced a book that is
not only worth the reading, but one
that will impart information concerning
the Oriental people of which she writes that
cannot be found between the covers of any
other book published. Threats OF the Japan
of to-day, and the Japan of to-day Is
as different from the Japan OF twenty
aye ever ten years ago as day is from night.
In most entertaining manner the writer
describes the country, the hospitality OF the
japanese, the various festivals conducted III
Oriental magulficeGce, the theaters, the
flower gardens, the tea parties, the ascent
and descent of Fujiyama. the snow-covered
mountain of that country, and what may be
seen while riding from point to point IN
jinrikSha, which is sort of large baby car
rage used as a means OF locOmOtlOn III the
land of the MikadO and drawn by native
instead of a horse. Miss ScidmOre IN this
pictures OF matters of which the Sight-seer
in The hurry to see just so much in limited
period of time catches only a glimpse.
These pen pictures are so well drawn that
the reader can almost imagine that he is
looking at painters work on canvas In
stead of only reading a written account OF
events and people.
Describing the Empress and her ladies at
q garden party, Miss ScidmOTe writes:
1t was my good fortune TO attend the
chrysanthemum fetP, when the Empress
and their suite made their last appearance
in the red hakama and loose brocade klm0-
nos of the old regime. The day was warm
and with the brilliant autumnal tlnts pc
culiar to Japan, clear and sunny. There
were rows of chrysanthemum beds in the
AsakaSa gardens, shielded from the sun
and wind by matted awnings. screens and silk
hangings, and all the myriad flowers were
at one and even perfect period OF unfolding.
Under silk tents by themselves stood single
plants, bearing from 200 to 400 blossoms
each, every blossom full and symmetrical
The peeTesses waiting in that summer
garden were most brilliant figures, rivaling
in their splendid old brocade robes the glow
of the flowers. At last came the Empress
and the whole gorgeous train Of her attend
arts, following the shore of the miTTOr-llke
lake. past camellia hedges to the esplanade
of the upper garden OF the great Asakasa
Park. AS the Emperor was housed by Ill
Quoted q general court ceremony alone.
Her costume consisted of the loose hakama,
or divided skirt, Of the heaviest scarlet silk,
under a long kimOnO of dun heliotrope,
br0caded with conventional wlStarlas,
ana the imperial crestS in white. No
outer obi, or sash, was worn, and the neck
was closed high with surpllce folds OF
rainbow-tinted silks Many under-kimOnOs
Of fine white and scarlet silk showed be-
meath the long, square sleeves OF the heavy
brocade kimono. The imperial hair was
stitfened into a thin halo behind tie face,
falling thence 10 The waist, but tied here and
there with bits Of silky white rice paper.
ike that of a ShintO priestess. Above the fore
head Shone little golden ornament IN the
shape of hoo, or pn9nIX, and she carried
parasOl and an old court ian OF painted
sticks of wood, wound with long cords of
manV-cOlored silks. The dignity and
majesty of the little woman were most i'm
pressiYe Every head bowed low and, when
She passed, eyes were lifted to her TeyeT-
Iently and admiringly. All the Princesses
and peeTesses following her wore similar
costume, many Of their brocaded kimOnOs
being stiffened with embroidery and gold
thread, and making dazzling effects of color.
When in the brilliant sunset flush, the i'm
perial train retraced its steps, its kaleidO-
scopic flashes Of white and gold and color
reflected in the still lake, and showing WV
IDLY as the ladies formed in a semi-circIe Oh
H.
her apartments, series OF pictures so
beautiful that they seemed an Illusion of the
Imagination.
The book is illustrated with a great many
beautiful pictures, reproduced from photo
graphs.
HISTORY OF THE JEws-By Professor
II. GTaetz. philadelphia: The Jewish
Publication Society OF America. Vol. |.
cloth, 553 pp.) Professor GraetZ, one of the
l. l. Nar.T Eh a -,
the author of a work in eleven large vol
| umes in the German language in which he
furnishes the most complete history of the
Jews from the earliest days to the present
time. Bella LOwy, a careful student, has
| in part translated into English this excellent
work and has carefully revised and edited
| the other TRANSACTIONS, and the whole is to
| be presented in five volumes. The work is
| n OF a mere excerpt Of the original. but re-
production in condensed form in which no
| material point has been omitted, but the
| foOt-nutes, which appear in the original
work, and which take up a great many
pages, are not given, so as to make the vol
| umes less pOnder0us for the general reader.
| The society named has made arrangements
| for the publication of the American edition
| Of this very interesting work IN the English
! language and now presents the first volume.
| This gives the history from the earliest
ueriod down to the death OF Simon Macca-
| bee, 135 b. {.
| In his preface the author says: at is the
| heartfelt aspiration OF the author that this
| historical work in its English gaTb may at
tain Its object by putting an end 10 the hos
| tile bearing against the Jewish race, so that
| it may no longer be begTudged the peculiar
| sphere wheTeto it has been predestined
| through the events and sorrows of thousands
| Of years, and that II may be permitted to
| fulfill its appointed mission without moles-
tation."
This volume is made up Of twenty-f0ur
| chapters in Which is carefully noted and re-
lated in a manner that is most interesting
| the history Of the people Of which the work
treats from the days Of the original inhabi-
tants Of the land OF Canaan. The work is
not only history, but is a fascinating one
that cannot fail to entertain as well as In
strpct the reader.
In PAPER CovERs-Edward Brandus &
Co. of New York have issued "His Royal
Highnpss," by George Hastings, author of
Philip Henson. NJ. D." 1t is a graphic
story told by clever writer, and somewhat
sensational. IL is offered as No. Of the
Vanity Fair Series.
''St. Solsifer and Other Worthless and
Unworthies" is presented by Charles II.
Unity Library. This is a collection of
agreeable sketches by James Villa Blake, a
writer of good English prose and poetry.
These sketches are excellent reading.
Mona, or Against the Mighty" an illus
trated work. is offered by Laird q Lee,
Chicago, as an addition to their library of
Choice Fiction. 1t is written by Lawrance
Lynch. and Is a novel in which the Social
istic element plays an important part. 1t is
highly sensational and many thrilling situa-
tions are described in a mastery manner.
''Salambo," translated from the French
of Gustaye Flaubert, by J. S. Chartres,
has been published by Charles II. Sergel &
Co. of Chicago. This work is one Of the
most noteworthy productions of Flauber.,
one of the greatest literary genuses of
France. II is realistic romance of ancient
Carthage, and is noted for its grand SIM
plicity and purity of fiction.
SWEET AND TwENTY-By Mary Farley
Sanborn. Boston: Lee 81 Shepard. 30 pp.)
This is a very well written novel, which the
publishers present as an addition 10 1.-THE
God Gnttn Snrina - nnndn La,