Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-15
Rock Notices.


dom have We read more powerful and
intorestinp work. 1t deals with this vital
ouestion from the beginning OF time TO the
present day, and presents mastery
array of arguments and facts to sustain
the autbor's contention that capital pun
isbment is a relic of barbarism, monde
terrent of crime, and disgrace to present
civilization. Illustrations, statistics, opin-
ions of eminent persons, are gwen IN pro-
fusion. Other and related questions are
also discussed, such as trial by jury and
prison reform-indeed. to our mind, the
hook is more valuable az treatise upon
the latter important subject than upon its
svowed one. andis peculiarly timely. The
final chapter upon war advocates arbitra-
ton as method of settling international
disputes.
Mr. PAIN is very much of " free |
lancen and rides tilt against many estab- |
lished beliefs and customs foreign to his |
subject. He also appears TO be a good deal |
Of free-thinker. His assaults on preach |
ers and some Christian practices are espe- |
oially severe. His Philistlnism Is, indeed, |
rampant. But, all the same, his arguments
are strong, and will be to many minds con-
elusive. AS usual with zealots, however,
he goes too far, as when he says not only
is life taken for life, but. to our shame, 1t
must be said that in many States Of the
Union life is forfeitable for the crimes of
rape. burglary, and arson" Few persons,
we imagine, will admit the "shame" of a
mart of this at least as readily as Mr.. PALM
does.
An interesting chapter is that giving the
opinions of some noted men. Governors
of States, Supreme Court justices, and
many other distinguished men are quoted.
Governor McKNNET is opposed to abolish
inc the death penalty in proper cases; SO
also are Justices BRADLEY and HARLAN.
Sneaker REED and Senator INGALLS, favor
il. Roscoe CoNKLISG favored it in the case
of women. II. G.. ISGERsoLL, HORACE GREE
LEY, CHARLES SUMNER, HENRY WARD
BEEcHEB. BRYANT, WHITTIER, and LoSGFEL-
low are all ranged on the side Of mercy.
But the book is as interesting TO write
about as to read. and we must stop. The
style is extremely good. The author is
newspaper-man.
A Commentary on the CampGi and Bdhle Of
Manassas. Together tcih a summary OF me
Art of War. BY General G.. L. BRAURE-
GARD. G. p. PUTSAM's Sons, publishers.
For sale by WEST, JOHNSTON & Co. Price
81.
General BEAuREdARD thinks that General
JOSEPH Z. JOHNSTON, in his Century papers,
claimed more credit for himself than he is
entitled TO for the great Confederate VIC
tory Of July q, 1861, and hence this book,
which is devoted to showing how much
BEAUREGABp had to do with winning the
battle and how little was JoHSsToS's part.
1t is q sarcastic piece Of work and
will likely call forth retort in kind.
The General sets forth in detail that
the battle was planned and the COM
binations of forces were made by
himself, and that JOHNSTON, though his
senior in command, recognized his fitness
TO direct the fray, and practically, for the
time being, put himself under his juniors
orders. He also endeayors to prove by
pointing out various discrepancies in Gen.
eral JoHysToY's several accounts Of the
battle that the latter is in very uncertain
state of mind as regards the entire occur
renee. The subsequent failure to advance
upon Washington is also laid to the older
general. without going into the merits of
the controversy the facts of which are
now pretty generally understood, we can
but express our regret that this book has
appeared. Its tone is, as stated, inimical
and bitter, and there are many comments
and innuendoes that cut to the quick. The
appendix on the art of war, compiled by
the author, seems to the reviewers nom
military eye to be very valuable treatise.
Essq,is in Line. BY ANDREW LANG, with q
portrait of the author. CHARLES Serb
EER's Sous, publishers.
For sale by WEST, JOHNSTON K Co., 81.
Mr.. LANG occupies the enviable position
of being generally considered the best all
around literary man in England. He is
also poet, as his portrait would show il
there were no other evidence, which hap
PLY there is. The sixteen essays In this
neat little volume are on noted writers
mostly, among them ALEXANDER DUMAS,
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, THEODORE DE
BAUv1LLE, THAcKERAY. DICKENS, BUNYAS,
and KIPLISG, all of whom are delightfully."-
treated, as only Mr. LANo knows how to
do it. We cannot find that he gives
much new information concerning
them, but his criticisms are so acute.
az we'll as just, and his style is so
charming, graceful, scholarly. and witty
that no cultivated person can fail TO enjoy
these essays, or should fail to read them
for that matter. The only thing we feel
disposed to quarrel with him about is his
high estimate of KrPLINa. But as il is the
custom nowadays to extol TO the literary
zenith every author of handful Of
sketches perhaps he is right. KIPLNG's
latest and most ambitious work, 1.-The
Light That Failed" struck us as uninten.
tionally photographed, or. rather. pro.
phetic. THAcKERAY, for instance, toiled
many years and did far better work thar
;; KIPLISo will ever do almost without reach
ing recognition. But then advertising "a
cilities are much better in these DAYS.
, The Necessity for Ciuilidn Directors.ip of On,
Nelo Weather Bureaus, as Against a Mlita,r
Pro,ectorate. The New Weather Bureau
''snould be organized for It's owr
} ends, and guided by professiona
meteorological expert A military di
rectorship would be obstructive TO th,
best development Of meteorology, ant
to its most effective adjustment TO agri
! culture. The lesson OF history applied
TO the problem of just meteorological
!, policy. A pamphlet by THOMAS J. Bnows
= Sometime Observer l1571 TO 1879 in Ia,
Signal Service, at Memphis. Louisville
I and Washington; and since 1875 q dis
: center from the military system o
meteorology.
!. The Educational Vah< Of Political Econo,na
: by SIMON N. PAIIEs, Phi. D., Professor 8
Political Economy Ia the Wharton Schoo
Of Finance and Economy. University
Pennsylvania. Publications Of the Anne
Al riean Economic Association. BlImoxs