The herald., 1893-10-01
IL. BEHYmER.]

A book just out which is refreshing
western production is souvenir of San
Francisco bay, entitled Within the
Golden Gate. The author OF this work
at one time was a well known Los An
geles woman, Mrs. DR.. Pinney, having
served several years in this city as the
president of the ladies' auxiliary OF the
Y. NJ. @. A.. The illustrations are by
another Californian, Miss Ella N. Pierce,
one of the leading artists of Oakland.
In opening the book we find the fair,
blue autumnal skies, over the famous
golden gate and bay, and sailing through
the portal, grand and majestic, the bold
Alcatraz island meets our sight and it's
story is told in q touching little poem.
Then follows an ode descriptive OF the
plopes of Tsmalpais, with its picturesque
old mill and sparkling brooks.
A tribute is paid to San Francisco,
the western -qneen to Alamede's fair
retreat and Oakland, with her beauteous
lake and green bills and slopes. no.
BILE tribute is given to Berkeley. its col
lege and halls, surrounded by fowery
paths and shady hooks, fair bowers
fit shrines for wisdom's green. And
with last lingering glance the author
carries the reader to gaze upon poets
home. The Song of the Sierras" falls
with a new charm on the ear and we
seem to hear him say:
ssFor surely godland lies not far
From these Greek heights and this great sea;
My friend, my lover trend this way,
Joaquin Miller.
And as the eun sinks in the west out
side the Golden Gate, we follow too,
with the author as guide and as we re-
call these ieles, these shores, this mount
and vale, we bless that kindly fate that
led Within the Golden Gate.
The scenes are all familiar ones, the
description clearly drawn. the poetry
sweet and tender, showing q mind filed
with admiration for natures handiwork.
Altogether it is very creditable pro-
duction. The binding is a unique con-
cert in subdued colors with title in gold.
There should be many admirers as well
as readers among the many friends OF
the well known author.
as
A. G. McClurg & Co. of Chicago are
now placing before the public new
book entitled France in the Nineteenth
Century, IS30-lS90, by Elizabeth
Wormeley Latimer, author OF Salvage,
Princess Amelie, etc. The volume is
beautifully illustrated with % full-page
half-tone portraits of the more note
worthy emperors, kings, queens, states
men, pretenders and adventurers, who
have during the nineteenth century
been concerned in the viciseitudes of
French politics.
This story OF France in the Nineteenth
Century, as told by the author is as alb
sorbing as q work OF fiction. Indeed
for rapid cbhuges sof front, for pictur-
esque ieitua ti0ns 9, remat kgble vacillia.
tion of public opinion, no period OF Eu-
ropean history is more remarkable than
this. Within the c75 years from 1916 to
1890, the period covered by Mrs. Lati-
mer, France witnessed the restoration
of the Bourbons, and, 10 years later the
death OF Louis XVIII;i the accession
and the fall of Charles X, and his death
in exile; the rise of the citizen king !;
his fall at the revolution of 1S4S, and
his death also in exile, and the rise OF
the second republic; it's fall and the
rise of Louis Napoleon and the second
empire upon its ruins; the final fall Of
the Bonaparte dynasty; the defeat by
Prussia; the commune and the estsb-
lishment of the third republic, which
even now is quaking with its possible
downfall.
This is the momentous period in
French history which this author has
sketched. For telling situations and
for startling effects she certainly does
not lack for materials and whether she
describes the deposition and flight of
Charles x; his pathetic death; the
cringing policy of Louise PHILIPPE and
his fall; the famous coup d'etat of Louis
Napoleon or his tragic downfall the
proclamation of the republic OF Gam
BETA; or the more recent Boulanger
episode, she is always picturesque.
In her analyses of character she dis
plays q thorough mastery Of her subject.
Her story OF the downfall of the last
empire deserves to be read, besides
Tola's La Debacle. Exceedingly thrill
ing is the story OF the escape of the EN-
press Eugene from Paris to the coast,
and thence across the channel to Eng
land, story which has never before ap-
peared in such detail. Mrs. Latimer
has written an extremely interesting
book, which will be read with eagerness,
now that it appears probable that u new
chapter in French history may soon be
opened. No story could be more dra-
matte or more abundant in thrilling in
terest than this part of French history,
and the story is here excellently we'll
told. She gives her narrative all the
interest OF story, and che had the ad-
vantage o. covering q NJ s. l;o... in
this form a. sag, has not been occu-
pied.
She has furnished thoroughly popu-
lar account of the vicissitudee and
changes, the tragedy and comedy, the
retrogression and progress, which have
made the last half-century in France SO
significant, and her book finds its spe-
cal timeliness in the interest which
now centers upon French affairs; for
France ls apparently passing through
another stage of development into a
etill more stable and representative po-
litical life.
Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons take
pleasure in announcing the publication
in the celebrated Cameo edition of two
volumes, the rare individuality and the
fine literary quality OF which have long
been relished by the lovers OF bellies
Louis Stevenson's Vir-
ginibus Puerieque and Other Pspsrs
and Andrew Lang's Letters to Dead
Authors.
These two books have charmed thou
sands of readers OF refined taste. and arc
too we'll known and too highly admired
to need even a word of fresh commenda-
ton. The general purpose OF the pub
fishers has been to make these two
books representative OF tho highest styl
of artistic manufacture. A special In
terest also attaches TO each you me