The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-03
THE LITERARY WORLD.
WEEKLY CHAT RsoAEDIF9 WRI-
TERs AND BOOKS.
Brief Chances at Recent Pubiicstions-Rus'
sia and Observation-Disclosures Eoose-
veIt's "vildernsss Hunter"

THE EMPIRE OF THE TSAkS AND
THE RUSSIANS. BY Anatoie Leroy
Beaulien. Translated from the third
French edition, with annotauons by
Zenaide A. Ragezin- Part l. Inc
Country and It's Inhabitants q. +.
Putnam's Sons. New YORK. ~ TOT
sale BY West. Johnston & Co.
The authors preface. written express
iy for the American edition. states that
the book Is forbidden In Russia, that au-
tocracy TO which Mr. George KEENAN,
lectures and writings have given an nc
CELEBRATED interest. and whose people. as
a mass. have long represented 10 us all
that IL pitlable and oppressed as us
government has become synt nymops
with eli that is arbitrary. despouc, mar
row. Selfish. cruel. "Autocracy'. says
he. like faith, fas It's noii me tangere'
IL car not allow either It's acts or us
principles 10 be discussed AND TINS IS
sust what this book does" As an exchange
remarks, this volume Is an Important
addition 70 the English readers source
OF information about a great and mys-
ferrous nation, whose destiny is yet 10
lie unfolded The French work CONSISTS
of three Nolurnes-the first deVoteh 10
psThe Country and It's Inhabitants
She second 10 The Institutions, and the
third 20 religion. The first volume ls
divided into eight parts, treating OF c1-
mate soil races, national character,
history, the nobility and the tchin, the
peasants. emancipation, the mir, the lam
fly, village communities, etc, win most
satisfactory minuteness OF detail. me
translator, a Russian lady OF twenty
years. residence In this country, brings to
Aer task an enthusiasm for the author
and the subject that makes her style
spirited and pleasing. 1T is not for the
modest translator" she says. 10 preface
by any words OF personal appreciation
work such as this. which, as Russian,
I feel 10 an honor and great privilege
H. be allowed go present In English garb
20 the nation OF all others whose friendly,
enlightened and unbiased judgment OF
Us and OF our country we are all most
anxious TO secure" Her own annOtations,
however, are no small addition to the
value OF the book" The author has Gu
rious habit OF repeating himself which
adds very decidedly TO the size OF the book,
and, to a certain degree. has the merits Of
emphasizing his facts. but we think, per-
haps. that a more condensed history
would give greater strength II less
bulk to his work. The author states that
'the Russians are n people In the act
OF getting itself into shape and that
from the moral as well as the material
standpoint" The nationality of the trans
Ihtor manifests itself throughout IN "a
most pardOnable patriotism, and as
recent criticism puts II. "She never fails
10 criticise the authors allegation OF
Russian inferiority: but II would seem
that ne has as high respect as she for
Russian capacity. and looks upon the
infariority as circumstantial. The inter
est In Russia and her people is increas-
ing every day, and the subject of the
book. together with the intrinsic merit
and attractiveness-its completeness ana
ciearness-c cannot fail TO give IL great
educational value and commend IL TO
american scholars and statesmen.
THE WILDERNESS HUNTER: An &C.
coult Of the Big Game Of the United
States. and It's Chase with Horse
Hound and Rife, 10y Theodore ROose-
welt. Author Of Hunting Trip of q
Ranchman." G. =. Putnam's Sons
New York For sale by West. Johnston
and co.
When Mr.. Roosevelt announced on the
title page OF this. his most celebrated
work, mat Il Is "An Account OF the
BIG Game of the United States and IT'S
Chase with Horses. Hound and Rife" the
character OF the book is clear. but Il
does not In any degree preface the pros
pectiye reader FOR the feast of good
things IN store for him. The opening
chapter Is upon 1.-THE American Wilder
ness. Wilderness Hunter and Wilderness
Came, and Is devoted TO a comparison
OF the American forests plains and noun
tains with those OF the old world; sketch
es I'm brief OF Boone. Crockett Houston
and Carson a resume Of the species Of
game most sought after: and a state
ccssful and ideal hunter. Nineteen chap
tiers carry the enthusiastic reader
throughout the American hunting coun-
try winding up i'm cowboy land and the
closing chapter deals with a recital Of
hunting lore, American writer's on out
door sport, a comment upon the number
OF American soldiers and statesmen who
have been devoted 10 the chase a letter
from Daniel Webster on trout fishing.
hunting extracts from Washington's
diaries, etc, and the whole twenty-one
chapters are profusely and beautifully
illustrated. Indeed the beauty and num-
Der OF the illustrations in themselves make
the book valuable. Throughout this re-
cital Of his hunting adventures. the in
born love OF Mr.. Roosevelt for nature
and all her creatures is beautifully APP
parent He describes the inhabitants OF
the forests with the pen Of one whose
keen love for and exhilaratiOn In. the
memory OF vast prairies shimmering in
the bright sun, vast snow-clad wastes
lying desoiate under gray skies Of me-
lancholy marshes; OF the rushes of Nigh
~ rivers. OF the breath Of the evergreen
forest IN summer; OF all the tnnumerable
sights and sounds of the wilderness:
Of it's emmensity and mystery; and OF
the shences that brood In it's stil depths"
His love for inantmate nature gives his
style the el0quence and attractiyeness
not less % poetic spirit than OF simple
practically. and his enthusiasm and
nrdor for the chase never lead him into
the wanton cruelty that dsfigures the re-
cord Of many of the lovers of the chase
Indeed his gentle humanity is beautifully
apparent throughout the book. An APP
pendiX furnishes valuable advice to the
prospective hunter as to outfit etc. and
closes work OF sustained and power
ful interest not less 10 the boy who re-
toices In stories OF the chase. than the
naturalist In search OF valuable infor-
nation.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY,
VA, AND IT'S FAMILIES. BY Sally
Nelson Robins West, Johnston SEQ,
Richmond. Va, 1893
This little pamphlet will be welcomed
by all who are interested in the past and
Of oil