The record-union., 1893-11-21
new PUBLICATIONS.

From the press of Robert Clarke & Co.,
Cincinnati, there comes a critical bio
graphy of General George H. Thomas,
by General Henry Y. Boynton. written
just after Colonel Piatt's death. The
work of the latter comprises nineteen
chapters, and brings the life up TO the
opening of the Atlanta campaign. II
is a strongly partisan work. Colonel
Piatt and General Boynton believed
that Thomas was greatly wronged,
and tney do not hesitate to say
so, even to the extent of claiming that his
death was caused hy little less than assas-
sination, a conclusion that history does
not warrant. But while the work is so
evidently written in partisan defense Of a
friend, it is still of value, and adds inter-
esting matter to the literature of the war.
While closely following the campaigns in
which General Thomas took part, and
noting his uniform success, it presents at
every step the contemporaneous move
ments of other armies. Thus the work
is, to quite an extent, history of the
war; 1t is written in Colonel Piatps
trenchant style. 1t will strengthen the
views of those students of the civil war
who find, as result of their labors, the
figure OF Thomas standing odt as the only
uniformly successful General in leading
command. At the same time the work
must challenge the attention of the
friends and admirers of several other
leading Generals, and lead to much dis
cussion. General Boynton's concluding
chapters present the salient points of
General Thomas participation in the At
lanta and Nashville campaigns, and is a
history more complete than any yet un-
dertaken of the cavalry expedition of
General Wilson, sent by Thomas against
Selma and Montgomery after the destruc-
ton of Hoods army. These closing chap
ters, twelve IN number, also present an
outline of General Thomas career after
the war, and up to his death in San Fran
cisco.
''The California Gold Book" is by w.
w. Allen and r. B. Avery of San Fran
cisco, and is from the press of Donohue &
Henneberry, Chicago. 1t is their story
of the first California nugget and its dis
covery and some of the results proceed
ing therefrom. IL is freely, but very
rudely illustrated. 1t claims that Mrs.
Jennie WINNER was the direct instru-
ment of the Marshall gold discovery at
Coloma, and therefore of giving to the
world the millions OF gold taken from the
hills of California. On that disputed
point it is proftless to now argue with
the authors. The very complimentary
chapter given to Sacramento, if to be
taken as Indicative of sketches of the
other counties, ought to win commenda-
ton for the work. Its historical sketch
and criticism of the railway systems Of
the State is fair, and, so far as one can
discover, just. The work has some purely
advertising features that debase it. Were
these eliminated it would commend
itself more strongly. 1t is not an al
hrmatively strong book, but it con-
tains good deal of matter that will be
helpful to the State if read abroad. To
Californians it will not much address
itself, for the same subjects have been so
much better handled.
"Dodo, Detail of the Day." is novel
by E. +. Benson, Chicago: Charles Il.
Sergel Company. Mr.. Benson is son of
the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is a
writer who is entitled to be classed as
more than clever. for he has feeling and
fascinating manner. Beneath surface
of coquettery. raillery. society tritling
and slang, there runs the tragedy of two
lives. 1t is the old story of good men
ruined by brilliant and heartless women.
But such women, as Dodo did, fall into
their own net in the end and are pun
ished. The book shows us very bad
side of life, along with the courageous
and honest side also. But it does one
especially good thing: It proves how
much more wicked, cr-lel and dangerous
are the unprincipled, fascinating society
women than the merely calculating and
brutally winning adventuresses.
The second number OF the california
Review Oakland is that for November.
Its contents are: ''Frontispiece-Joa oan of
Arc"; "Glimpses of Florence" Mrs. S.
A. Brock way; "The Six Missoo,' +"
Major w. a. Elderkin; Football" "
Edgar Pomeroy;. "Gounod," w. G.
Fraser; 1.-The Oakland Water Front"
quin Valley" Charles p. Nettleton;
"Dharmapal : Buddhism = Theosophy," !"
Abbott Clark; "Maori Sports" George
Fraser; From the Studio,"> Marietta
Cooke; "The Worst Boy in Town.,
Charles Howell; "Unitarianism," Rev.
A. j. Wells; morphine and Its Abuse"
Theodore Milen, NJ. D.; "Home Circle"
Art Notes." Literary Notes." wit
and Humor," "Children's Corner and
Religious Topics," conclude the num-
Der. There are several fine portraits and
few creditable wood illustrations.
The "Muslc Review" for November
Clayton +. Sunny. Chicago) has a
deeply interesting table of contents. For
instance. we Lave an illustrate paper on
"Verdi and His Homer" two on John
Sullivan Dwight" with portrait; one
on "Herbart and Pestalozzi in Compare
son." an essay on .'Schuberts I'm
promptu;" a paper on the ''rhematia
Manual;" one on Introduction to Inter
probation of Beethoven's Pianoforte
Works." and extended reviews, news
notes, special and general reviews of new
music, book criticisms. etc.
The Cassell Publishing Company was
sold at auction on October 9th, the pur-
chasers being the Cassell Publishing
Company. The new concern consists of
some Of the stock holders OF the old COM