The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Mrs. Ella Sterling Cummins. a we'll
known and graceful writer, has sent from
the press volume of 400 pages entltlad
Inc Story of the Files" 1t is a review
OF CallIornla writers, the press and lit
efature; II has rapid pen sketches of the
!Ise anu progress OF many of the leading
journals OF the State, with notes and
commentary upon the men and women
VINO nave written upon them with greater
or less success, and whose names be-
cause OF their literary labors and Jour
nalistlc relations, have to greater or less
extent been woven into State history.
mere are sketches also of MANY who
stahu alone upon literary production in
dependent OF the press. There are in the
volume many portraits which, so far as
we know the men and women. are re-
harkaDIy accurate. Indeed the portrait
ure OF the volume makes it very desirable
Tor reference. The method of treating
the historical data, so far as we have ex-
ahmed with knowledge OF facts, is not SO
much to be commended as the critical
analysis of the style of some of the
writers oil whom mention is made. In
the latter respect there is some excellent
analytical work. The book is unpreten-
tlous, and IN the respect that it is a rood
index to the personality of a great MANY
people VINO nave and do live i'll the Jour
nallstIc world of California is desirable.
we cannot but regret that since the an
uhor has seen IMPROPERLY Soto give a
chapter to the Woman'S Press AsSocia-
tlon, heshould have ignored the more i'm
portant and practical California Press AS
ISOLATION and the Southern California Edi-
torlaI Association. These two till a much
larger place IN The Story of the Files''
when fully told, than the Woman's Assoc
clatlon has or possibly can. So, too.
sterling might have found among some
OF the journalists of the southern and the
northern counties writers who are. in
good opinion, head and shoulders above
many OF those given a flattering place in
TINS volume for literary ability and their.
relation to State building. So, too. MANY
are omitted whose lives as writers cut inn
portant ngureS in early California liter
ature. Mrs. Cummins has permitted bv
quotation others to say in her volume
that which she neVer would have said
Voluntarlly-that is, Tor instance, that GER
tam men are among distinguished
writer's" We have no desire to tnd fault
with volume that has so much of life
history in 1t, and that must have cost so
much palnstaking; a volume that con-
tributes so largely to record making that
1t VIII be OF greater value as years 60 by.
But we cannot restrain the regret that the
old masters in rural Journalism have had
so slight mention, and in main none at
all, since we are convinced that in the
past, as to-day, they were and are repre-
sentative of the best there is in Journal
ism in CaIifornia-and this without at all
detractlng from the purely literary char
acter of the many women and men
writers, whose work has given Califor-
MAN literature a history and a distin-
guished place, who are named and whose
lives are sketched i'll this volume. The
volume is for sale by the Cooperative
Printing Company, 40S Sacramento
street, san francisco, and by Mrs. Cum
minis, at the Worlds Fair, Chicago.
The June number Of ''The COTTAGE
Hearth" presents an unusually large
number of bright stories. Zitelia Cooke.
in the account OF Them Twain, /" handles
her subject with great skill, while Mat
thew White, Jr.. in the story "A Des-
perate Device" has hit on a happy situa-
ton which we know will charm every
reader. One Of the cleverest short stories
OF the month Is that told by Maud Rit-
tenhouse under the title Of AN Uphill
Wooing." The other articles of especial
interest are: The River OF a Thousand
Ships" Unto the Perfect Day." "A
Rising Young Lawyer" and in the
Young Peoples Department the story
Of The Contest Between Crusher
and the Tritons." Oscar Fay Adj
ans gives the account, in verse,
Of the Saxon King, Harold, ''At Wal
than Abbey" The departments are in
creasing in interest. W. a. Wilde d Co.
Boston.
In the July number of 'Short Stories, ),
containing seventeen tales, readers will
find carefully selected and entertaining
collection. The Naval Surgeon" a
dramatic and interesting tale; also, His
Last Role" by Paul Gerristy, a clever
combination of humor and pathos.
Walter j. Davis contributes a story of
life in New Mexico. 4 romance by
George H. Picard, called From Hilary's
Journal" is an attractive bit of fiction.
There are other good stories by A. H.
Lewis, James Payn, and Gilbert Parker.
while G. l.. Breidenstein and Able Carter
Goodloe supply two amusing sketches.
Z. NJ. Flandrau Of Harvard wins the
so prize for the best story of college life.
The other prizes are announced in the
July number of ''Short Stories" Cur
rent Literature Publishing Company,
81 81 Lafayette Place, New York.
The Social Economist for June (34
Union Square, New York. has these pa
pers: application of the Silver Sotu-
tion." Editor; History Of the Ten Hour
Movement in America" Charles Cowlev:
Natural Right OF Suffrage" E. ?. Pow
ell; lis Human Life OvervalueC?" Fred
eric NJ. Bird: ''Some Recent Social Move
ments," Wilton Tournier; 1.-THE Coming