The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-04
BOOK Talk AND GOSSIP.
The Up-to- Date Literature Of
These Times.
WHAT BOOKSELLERS ARE SHOWING
Rac's Careful Examination Of the
Eight Hour Movement and Mrs.
Gardner's Novel ssThe Fortunes OF
Margaret Weld''-Book Notes.


The movement to obtain the necessary
legislation to procure the limitation of a
days labor TO eight hours is one that Is
receiving O great deal of attention In
manufacturing as we'll as in labor
circles. Many works have been writ
ten upon the subject but there
can be no question but Eight Hours
for Work." by Mr.. John Rae, which has
Just been published by Macmillan a. Co.,
will prove to be the standard authority
for the friends OF one side OF this labor
question.
! Mr. Rae Is already well known as the
author of Contemporary Socialism," and
while IL may be anticipated that his work
will be somewhat one-sided, his name
alone is enough assurance OF its enter
tanning character.
Mr.. Rae has certainly made very care
full study OF the question and the argu-
ments he presents and the illustrations
and proofs that he produces are of suffi-
cient authority TO demand attention. AS
he says in his introduction, the prognos-
tications as to the probable consequence
OF an eight hours working day have
too often been built on a little stock of
assumptions about the natural effects OF
shorter hours. which nobody has seemed
20 think 1t necessary to verify. Start
ing with this fact as a foundation
MIR. Rae has attempted TO verify his
material In order that the results
might be less problematicai and, however
he may have succeeded, there can be no
doubt that his work is far superior to any
that has yet been produced. He has ascer-
tanned the effects of the 10 hour and nine
hour laws upon countries in which they
have been worked out and il is from these
sesults that he draws his conclusions in
1egard to the action of the eight hour
law on business in general, The result,
he finds, is that "the available evidence
is Unexpectedly copious, and its teaching
1r unexpectedly plain and uniform. In
the course OF the investigation l have
found ii impossible, personally, not TO
grow stronger and stronger believer in
the eight hour day."
Mr.. Rae gives considerable interesting
Information in regard to the working OF
the eight hour day in the few places where
II Is in operation, and he has succeeded In
presenting the matter in a new light.
While much of the material in the book
is entirely new portion of il has already
appeared in The Contemporary Review and
The Economic Journal, but Mr.. Rae has
conferred a benefit upon the student of
labor questions by presenting the re-
suit OF his Investigations to the world in q |
more substantial form.
Such work as this is always readable |
and valuable and 1t will be welcomed by t
the friends OF this movement for shorter |
hours of labor, the general tone of the |
book being such as to commend 1t to all
who are interested in the examination of
such present day problems.
: EIcHr Hours ros Work" John Rae. New
has it. Price Si.25.
aThe Fortunes of Margaret weldp is a
psychological study with rare depth of
purpose. IL Is q novel that teaches many
lessons; that paints the many changes of
the human mind with such deep sympa-
thy, suoh careful attention to detail, such
perfect truthfulness that the readers
attention 10 held closely to every page.
The book Is story OF the misfortunes
OF young lady, whose decidedly novel
characteristics lead her away from
her friends and into no end
Of trouble, in which cold, calcu-
lating scientist of man plays not
unimportant part. Everything il righted
1t last, however, and the sullied soul is
made white by the love of good young
man.
While Margaret Yields fortunes finally
led her into peaceful and pleasant fields,
and while she is often q very lovabie
young lady to initiate her. Her theories
are dangerous and 1t is only the careful
manner in which they are handled by the
author that presents the story from being
regarded as questionable production.
1t is an open question whether the
result for good, but IL Mrs. Gardner has
succeeded in emphasizing the fact that
and ee-love philos-
ophy can only bring sin and
its attendant troubles and sorrows
she has accomplished commendable
work; and her effort to show that W hat is
sin for woman is sin for a man is just as
worthy Of praise. ]
'sThe Fortunes OF Margaret Weld, Is
not devoid of faults, but 1t is an enter
tanning story and will be widely read.
sTHE FORTUNES OF MARGARET WELD nv
Mrs. .. NJ. III. Gardner Boston: Arena Pub
fishing Company. 1894. AL booksellers |
have II.
"The Master" is the title OF new story
by /. Zangwill, the publication OF which
nss Just been commenced in Harper's
Weekly.