The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-12
BOOKS OF THE TINE.

Iron the Bowen-NerYM Co., Indianapotis.l
1.-THE Bishops Conversion" by Ellen Black
mar Maxwell, is u story with a purpose, but
though. rs in all such stories. the purpose IS
given more than artistic prominence, it detracts
in no way from the interest of the tale. The au-
thor's object is to correct false impressions and
preJudices current among people at home con-
corning missionaries and their work in the for
eign field. In an introduction TO the book by
James NJ. Thoburn, missionary bishop OF
the M. E. Church fer India and Malaysia,
he Gays the root of the misunderstanding
"is found in the fact that most persons measure
all conditions of life and labor by the one stand
ard with which they are familiar, without max
ing allowance for the thousand points OF differ
ence which must prevail between people 80 rad.
ically different as those found In oriental and
occidental worlds. To this must be added the
fact that for two generations past "A false ideal
or missionary character and mis- missionary Top6
and in America" Mrs. Maxwell, who has spent
years In India and is entirely familiar with all
phases OF her subject, has undertakent TO describe
missionary life in that country as it Is.
and TO this end does not deal In
abstract statement. but chooses the form
OF q narrative and presents scenes from actual
life. Her leading character Is a bishop, who is
convinced that missionaries lack the eyangel-
indulge in luxury and idIeness. He is filled with
a desire TO make a tour through the missionary
field In order TO fully inform himself on the sub
ject, and, incidentally, to exhort the workers to
greater and more Jealous effort. securing from
the proper authorities a years leave OF absence,
he goes with his family to India, and his ex-
story. he learns a great many things in the
course of that year, and oil readers of the book
who have gained their ideas OF India from
works OF romance, and or missionary life
from photographs of missionaries dressed In ORR
entail costume and borne In sedan chairs by ma
tive servants, are forced to revise their mental
pictures. The scenes and incidents are vividly
described, and the narrative has a curious at
traction, even for those who have no especial In
terest In missionary work, because of its graphic
pictures of life among a strange people. The
author Is not outdone by Rudyard Kipling In his
account of the climate of India. The book well
rcpays reading, and will doubtless have q run"
i'm missionary circles. Price, $3.50. New York:
Hunt IL Eatom; Cincinnati: Cranston d Curtis.
Gan Earthly Paragon" by Eva W. McGlasson,
comes very near being a first-rate story, and
many persons will say it is. 1t certainly has
merits. The scene of the story is laid In a rural
district OF Kentucky, and the descriptions of
Kentucky small-town and country life are ex-
ceedingly good. The heroine is a young lady
who is suddenly transplanted to this kind of life
from an Ohio town. and the story is really the
story OF her heart adventures. 1t is in the de-
velopment of her character and that of one Of
her lovers that the story seems weak. Both
characters are, in different ways, disappointing,
and the ending Of the story is not altogether sat.
isfactory. The author is str ong in depicting real
life and In description, but when she INDUCES IL
sentiment she is not SO happy. Notwithstanding
is a good story, and the interest is well MAIN
tanned to the end. Mrs. Lichen. who keeps a
village tavern, and who is always misquoting
and misapplying Biblical texts, Is a very original
character. Illustrated. New York: Harper d
Brothers.
I'm the Levant," by Charles Dudley Warner,
shows how a comparatively threadbare subject
| can be yitalized and made attractive by q mas
| ter hand. The book is a record OF travel in the
| Holy Land, the trip having been made many
years ago. Mr.. Warner is one of the most charm
| ing OF American writer's, and though the route
he trayersed Is a familiar one, he invests his
narrative with rare interest In reading it one
breathes the very atmosphere of the Holy Land.
The work, which is in two volumes of liberal
size. Ia handsomely illustrated with numerous
photographers which give ono an excellent idea
of the salient features described. Ornamental
cloth, gilt top, SO. Boston: Houghton, Miffiin IL
A good book in the way OF domestic economy
is 'sNinety-nine Practical Methods of Utilizing
Boiled Beef by Babet. Most persons detest
boiled beef. or, as it is commonly called, 'soup
meat" but these receipts show how it can be
served in many nice, appetizing ways. The
book is translated from the French, and the re-
ceipts are very useful as showing how what is
too often rejected as unfit for food may ne rem
dered palatable. Good beef is good food, even
after it has furnished a strong soup. provided
one knows how to utilize IL. This book tells how
to do that. Price, 75 cents. New York: John
Ireland, 1893 Broadway.
.France Under the Regency, with a Review Of
the Administrator of Louis NV" by James B.
Perkins, is a carefully elaborated history of that
period in French history covered by the regency
of the Duke of Orleans, with q review of the
more important phases OF the long reign of
Louis Xiv. The author has consulted many
new and original authorities, official documents,
ETC.. and the work IS a valuable addition to the
1S-fAru 0f n Apiad m rhtah "a n Cloth.
81. Boston: Houghton, Miffiin Il Co.
MI. r. L. Gamers articles on ''The Speech of
Monkeys have been collated from the period.
icals in which they originally appeared and
issued In book form by Charles L. Webster & Co.,
New York. In ii the author presents his theory
and summarizes the results of his investigations
IN a way at once interesting and instructive. He
evidently has sincere convictions OIL the subject
of monkey language, and is actuated by scien-
title motives.
"Scenes from Nature" Is the title of an artistic
work containing six photographers entitled, re
specsively. ION the Fence SILVER Stream
"Going to Market" "The Crossing Place." RE
turning from the Fete." and Pastoral Farms
They are pretty pictures and handsomely
mounted. The hook would make an appropriate
holiday Gift. New York: Frederick A. Stokes
Company.
"Cameos from Ruskin," selected and arranged
by Mary Z. Cardwell. ia q compilation of char.
acteristic sentiments from Ruskin's writings on
art. The extracts are all very brief, and many
OF them -epigrammatic in their terseness and
conden alton or thought. The work OF select
ing and arranging is intelligently done. New
York: Charles e. Merrill d Co., 50 Lafayette
place.
In 'sThe Praise of Paris" Mr.. Theodore Child
describes various phases and institutions OF
Partisan life in q graphic and interesting way.
The author is evidently thoroughly familiar with
the subject, and his descriptive powers are good.
The book is profusely and handsomely illustrat-
ed. and published In attractive FORM By Harper
e. Brothers, New York.
"Ararra Pcntilici," by John Ruskin, embraces
seven lectures on the Elements of Architecture,
delivered before the University of oxford in 1870.
They are a sequel 10 the authors lectures on art
and are addressed TO lovers of art study. IL
Illustrated. New York: Charles f. Merrell &Co.
"Under Summer Skies" by Clinton Scotland,
is a narrative of travel in the Holy Land. The
author has a fairly pleasant style. but the sub.
iect is hackneyed and his treatment of it does
not rise above commonplace. New York: Chus.