The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-16
Il. W. LADD co.
FIVE NEW BOOKS.

The announcement of political history of
the United States by Prof. Goldwin Smith
will at least arouse interest among such as
know the peculiarties of the learned and
profuse Canadian. His book Is interesting,
though ii will not be likely to find place
among the recognized authorities adopted by
students OF history. 1t Is eminently reada-
BILE, even II 1t at times rouses anger. 1t is at
least we'll written, piquant, full Of observa-
tions that have pith and point if they are not
altogether truthful. Having said so much In
praise there remains much to criticise, II the
book Is to be taken seriously as its title de-
mands. II Is not serious, but fippant 1t is
less instructive than entertaining, and more
ambitious than effective. 1t is written for
British readers. and from British stand
point that is gradually being discarded. II
seeks to discredit the fame and reputation Of
those great Americans who made the British
eat dirt some few generations ago. But its his
tory Is not new and its new things are not
history; merely Goodwin Smith. The very
first page disposes In six lines OF the admira-
bly, supported theory that Norsemen landed
on these shores far in advance OF Columbus,
declaring that the attempts to prove the fact
"only attest the yearnings OF new nation
for antiquity" or course Columbus was
pirate; Roger Williams "a fiighty Welsh
man 4" Washington belonged ITO depart
ing age" and was not great general; Jeffer-
son was not truthful but was q coward;
Webster's moral strength was not equal to his
power of mind 8" Clay thought more of
being president than Of being right" Such
Is the tone of the book, which Is to be still
treat American topics, unhappily. Mac
milan sold by Preston 81 Rounds.
In "The Private Life" and other stories
(Harper) Henry James shows those fine and
-. - ~s.4t ku.r. aAA l.fo
writings welcome and necessary to liter
ary gourmets. This style scarcely
admits Of closer analysis than to ad-
nit that II Is the style of Henry James.
When t-.ition is sought the un-
fitness of the description makes the thing
described distorted and grotesque; shrinks it
and shows 1t TO be pale and vapid. Yet
James produces pictures easily, His readers
encounter q constant succession of minia-
lures. He shows you q lady walking away
from an utterly In consequential scene upon
wholly unintercsting mission, but you see
her with the delicate precision of picture
produced by looking in the large end of a
telescope The three stories in this book are
a literary luncheon prepared to wheedle a
jadcd appetite, to soothe and please where
actual nourishment might nauseate. Sold by
Preston 81 Rounds.
"The Opinions Of a philosopher" by Robert
Grant, (Scribners) is one of those rare pro-
ducts of the book factories that can be recon-
mended to whoever wishes for entertainment
worthy of his uptmost capcity for enjoy
ment. Its humor is genuine, gentle, suffi-
cient its pathos is never bathos; its
philosophy is the philosophy of the daily life;
it's literary style is fine and wholesome
its sentiment is manly but not masculine its
tone Is bracing as mountain air, though IL
does not shun the occasional foul odor that
is sure TO invade any Already. II Is book
that furnishes more genuine compensatory
thrills to the reader than perhaps any other
current book; yet leaves only the impression
OF an exceptionally pleasant encounter with
an exceptionally pleasant parsonage, Sold
by Preston * Rounds.
(Harper) Is story about Jews for whoever
likes q good story with strong
flavor of science. religion, racial pcculiar-
ties, strong affections 8, wrong-headed zeal
in more than doubtful cause, gentle stub
bornness, unbelievable unworldliness and al
most unfathomable rascality. IL Is a good
story; or, rather. IL sa Besant story. IL Is
rather more than readable, but rather les,
than absorbing. IL is heavy In strata, but
relieved by splendid narrative and seasoned
with q scientific mystery. 10 deals with
there shining lives, all Of which had con-
spicuous weaknesses. II has q pale love story
with a glowing finale. IL 10 a good book.
Sold by Preston * Rounds.
'.The Refugees'is what person not addicted
to literary language nor hound by the t-adi-
tions of polite diction might properly call n
rattling good story. IL is by A, Conan Doyle
published by the Harpcrs. IL deals with
France and America near tho close os the
seventeenth century IL fairly reeks with
cnivalry. fighting. court intrigue. Indian ad-
venture, love, and the stirring incidents con-
nected with the Fren ch regime In the north
ern part OF this country. IL IL all action.
There Is nothing duh about IL. IL goes, and
Il goes at a sharp trot or hard gallop all the
way. This author Is one OF the few ronlly
good story tellers Of the time. lie Is cxcelled
by scarcely any not by half OF half dozen.
Whoever can read The Refugees" with -
quiet pulse should have novels kept out Of h Is
reach forever. Whoever negiects 10 read
it 10 deserving Of deep pity. Sold by Preston