The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-30
THE LITERARY WORLD.
WEEKLY CHAT KEG/RDIxG WRIT
ERs AND B0OHS.
New Publications Briefly Reviewed.
Charles Newhall's Book on 1.-THE
Shrubs Of Northeastern America"

W. L. lutnaU SOnS, new JOlh anu
London. For sale by West, Johnston
& Co.
Lovers OF the woods and outdoor wan
derings. who desire TO learn something OF
shrubs without having studied botany,
Will find no better companion than this vol
ume. The descriptions are scientific, but
rot technical. 1t contains 1l5 illustrations
made largely from tracIngs OF the leaves
OF the various shrubs. Complete and SIM
pie guides by which any specimen can
be classified and arranged, occupy the
first pages Of the book. The families OF
our dear old favorites, magnolia, alder
and holly, rhododendron. witch hazel and
many others greet us with & familiar nod,
and lead us hand in hand TO newer and
delightful acquaintance with hudsmia,
staphylia, winterberry and cassandra.
Professor NewhaiIs book is not lacking
In the charm Of literary suggestion, quo
tations from Emerson, Gerard's Herbal
and others. linking the beauties OF ma
ture with the beauties of artistic express
sions. Emerson's lines on the Rhodora,
"the rival OF the rose" match the perfec-
ton Of the flower. During this heated
dusty season there is no thought so crate
full as a trip 10 the mountains, marshes,
meadows, woods and banks of rivers
is enriched and amplifed by the food OF
light thrown upon our wanderings. the
direction given 10 our observations by
Professor Newhalrs treatment OF the
subject.
THE TUSCAN REPUBIdCS-FLOR-
ENCE, SIENA, PISA AND LUCIA,
WITH GENOA. BY Bella Duffy. Story
Of the Nations series. G. p. Putnam's
Sons, New York and London. sl.50. For
sale by West, Johnston & Co.
The author Of this volume OF the Story
of the Nations has drifted far.apparently,
from the original intention Of the series,
which was 10 amuse as well as instruct.
and, more particularly, TO instruct while
amusing the class OF younger readers
The object was admirably kept I'm mind
by the authors OF the earlier volume.
such as those on Germany, Rome, Mex
leo, the Jews, and Nine. Ragozins vol
ume. All these are vivacious interesting,
instructive: they do not rely on the Pfc
lures alone dixie the present volume) for
the entertainment" given, and they
avoid the arid chronicle. the dry and
frequent date, tho discussion Of abstract
questions Of politics policy or origins, and
the duh chronological account. All have
n certain amount OF Science" but the
treatment IS generally picturesque and
attractive. with the prime object OF fas-
cinating the young reader and leading
him on TO further research OF his own
Apart from this mistake in conception
and composition, Miss Duffy's work is a
meritorious compilation from Flicker. VII
lari, Parvnski and Eegel The subject
afforded unexampled opportunities for
graphical pictorial groupings, but she has
preferred like Abdiel to be faithful
found and 10 give US instead the rise Of
the Italian communes and other sudden
spontaneous development through five
hundred years, after the usual historical
fashion. These commuues bear a singu-
lar resemblance In their clear-cut prOfles,
pronounced individuality and interne-
cine unamiabilities 10 that other group OF
republics Just over the Adriatic IN noun
tain-ribbed Greece The plain Of Lom-
hardy stretched out I'm dazzling luxurlance
from Venice 90 Genoa, and In it grew mp
fine repubiics-Florence. Pisa, Lucca.
Slena, and Genoa-each as different as
Athens and Sparta and Achaa and IOnia.
To the south lay papal Rome TO the north
the Alpine republics Of Switzerland. From /
1000 A. ID. 90 1900 some OF the loyeliest /
chapters Of human history were enacted |
In this delicious interval. traversed by |
It's many-brldged Arno. and It's beautiful !
sluggish Po. lit by those brilliant jewels
Of Italian lakes and swarming with an
Industrial and artistic population. such as
the world has rarely seen. Mighty demo-
cracies, great sca-powers, famous poems
and noble pictures grew UP there In the
so-called Dark Ages. and sent their va
ried shock and energzing thrill through
unillumined Europe. Florence became a
new COnstanunOpie I'm the distribution
Of lieht-a geographical candelabrum
casting radiance into countless dark
places. The dlslntegration OF Tuscany
into so many vile and vivid scenss
Of human activity was only a part OF |
what befel ancient Rome. and was a
blessing 10 modern times. The very lack
OF cohesion, Of fusion. Of inten1ependence |
between these diminutiye States started |
each on an original career as different |
from the rest as the schools OF architect !
ture and painting which they originated. |
The incessart friction Of one against an |
other wrought out that mobile physiog- /
nomy which we are wont TO call italian" |
as distinguished from the mOnotonOus fea- |
lures Of ancient Rome. giving lightness,
suppleness, grace, feXibiity where for |
merry only the solemn or severe or sem /
Itorial had reigned The problems OF |
modern life were largely attacked and |
iOlNtl by AufrF lINfilA-ftAN NVifiliblAAAlfNf
beautiful structures and creations Of ali /
kinds became their blrthright. the new
,pic. the new banking. the new naval
warfare and discovery, and the new di-
were theirs, and the blood OF |
heir Medicis and Parmas and Modenas
passed into the veins OF most European
Sings and queens. The world has not yet
lalf learned what IL owes 10 Italy. In
he twenty-niue chapters or the present !
york we learn much about the small
yrannies and large intellectual contribu- |
ions Of the several Tuscanies Of that
lay. Perhaps more anecdot. and less his |
DRY. more yasari and less viiiari. would /
nave made brighter pictures. and pictures /
10 less true than those given. The gen
,ral reader would certainly have rejoiced /
n reviewing a most interesting social and /
political system limned IN such outlines /
IS would not easily roll from his memory |
RUMINATIONS.- BY Paul Siegvolk. G.. |
+. Putnams Sons, New York. $50. |
For sale by West, Johnston & Co.
Mr. Siegvolk's Examinations" are
rightly named. They are the musings OF /
/ thoughtful man, who readily turns his |
opinions into prose. Sometimes his sub |
ect carries him through a long essay.
but more frequently a few pages or a I
lew sentences afford sufficient scope for /
ais observations. Human life 10 is mani |
old aspects Is the theme Of the volume /
and the tone is quiet and lofty. 1t Is not I
unfair. however. 10 say that the writer /
las offered US thinking rather than 4
thought. and so the book Is not easy /
-eading II will hardly prove attractive
10 those II would profit most, and 10 the !
thoughtful man it will reveal little that
s new. >, ne -Dening chapter, The
IDEAL American Lady" is characterized
Win, perhaps. more feeling than den