The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-14
RECENT PUBLICATIONS

REINCARNATIoN.-Th first notable
book on the fascinating subject of
iheosophy published on the Pacific Coast
has just been issued under the above brief
but comprehensive title by DR.. Jerome A.
Anderson. 1t is volume of more than
usual valae. for it EN- bodies IDEAS which it
cannot be denied are gradually gaining
ground among thoughtful people.
Aside from The nature of his chosen sub
ject, the deservedly high reputation Of the
author as a skilltul surgeon and successful
physician entities his work TO more than
cursory glance at the table of contents.
The views of such a man, even though
they seem not to harmonize with generally
accepted theoris, cannot fail to be worth
reading.
After their perusal it will not be denied
that he has presented many statements
worthy Of careful consideration.
"A Study Of the Human Soul" is no or
binary theme. and DIR. Anderson has pre-
duced book which has no place with the
ephemeral literature of the day. 1t cannot
be skinned over at sitting.
Its comprehension requires deep thought,
but once the dominant idea Of The writer
is erasped what az first seemed obscure is
at once made clear
fermentation is probably the least dis
puted Of the doctrines of theosophy. Adj
hitting that there ia a soul the assertion
that il Is eternal cannot be denied.
1t matters NOT If the body in which it has
found temporary refuge dies, there are
new born men and women in which 1t may
find at least temporary refuge.
And so succeeding generations, though
not always branches of the same family
tree, preserve through the ages the beauty
and strength of the ancestral group. though
at the same time they must perfOrce trans
nlft IN VII nf IN bDp
they are indebted for existence.
To quote from DR.. Anderson: at will
be universally admitted that it is the idea
and not the form which is preserved; the
point Of dispute is as to the method by
which the idea Is carried onward. The
materialist AYERS that it is due to physical
procreatiOn alone; that, for instance. If the
dove should become unferiilP, the idea OF
1t would perish off The earth with the ces-
sation of its physical existence.
The :heosnphist denies this. and de-
clares that If every dove on earth were to
die. nature is amply able to reproduce the
form out OF the pre-eXistiug idea from
which it evolved the species.
''rhe theosophst declares that spirit,
or consciousness, underies and is the basis
of all form. and passes from for m to form
as these decay or become unified for its
further occupation"
This. in brief, Is the idea of reincarna-
ton. The theory and facts of hypnotism
are also discussed by the author from
novel and interesting standpoint. Pub
lished by the Lotus Publishing Company.
For sale at the bookstores or by addressing
the author directly at ITO Market street.
San Francisco. Cloth. 81; paper, so cents !
GREELEY ON LINcoLN.-Joel Benton
has edited a most interesting volume of
"Greeeyana." 1t includes the famous ed
TORS essay on Lincoln. letters TO Charles
A. Dana, letters to a lady friend and Mr..
Benton's personal "reminiscences. The
Lincoln article was first published in the
Century magazine and evoked lmmeasur-
able praise. The letters to Mr.. Dana were
written by Greeley mostly from Washing
ton during 1856. AS Mr.. Dana himself
has said. incidentally they discuss great
many topics, and the wit and humor and
the originality of every line will be sure to
arrest the attention OF the reader"
In one of his letters Greeley writes
Dana was then managing editor of the
Tribune: II shall have to quit here or
die, unless you stop attacking people with
out consulting me-" And again: IF you
were 10 live fifty years and do nothing but
good all the time you could hardly atone
for The mischief you have done by that
article on Brenton." Aud this: For
Tribune is cursed all over the House as
having beaten US to-day by your most I'M
timely article on Bayard Clarke" Writing
a few weeks later he says: Although
this is to me he most detestable spot On
earth. ! want 10 stay here through the
Reeder fight. if You will let me. | will
stand my chances to be horsew hipped or
pisioled if you will keep me clear Of being
knocked down by the Tribune"
His comments on the value of TWO differ
ent classes of news are interesting: IF
Won received on Fridsv night my letter on
Hale's and Toombs' Kansas speeches. yet
allowed it to be crowded out by that i'm
mortal scandal of the Griswold divorce
case. why then you failed 10 consider fairly
what is and what is not perisEable. My
| letter would have been middling on Satur-
| day. while 1t will be sour as whey aud fiat
as cold dishwater on Monday. while the
Griswold business would have been rolled
| as sweet mnrsel under the tongues of all
| the old maids in New York any day you
| might see fit to print IT,"
TeIegrarhic facilities WE'RE not 10 those
days what they are now, and most all of
| Greery's news dispatches were sent by
mail. Delays were frequent, and he often
! speaks % making rev with the postal
| authorities 10 secure better service. II
| have myself carried every letter to the
| p0stoflice this week." he writes.
Sevel al OF the letters are written at diff
| ferent points overland on his famous jour-
ney to the Pacific Coast, which was made
before the advent of the railroads. Writing
! from Lawrence, kans., in May, 1859, he