The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-04
RECENT PUBLICATIONS

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT-It is a diff
cult thing for people Imbued with one kind
of civilization to criticize the works of a
totally different one. Their criteria of
judgment are different from ours, their
points of view are different, and what
constitutes beauty for US Is by no means
beauty for them. And yet when one
comes across the work of great talent or
of genius there is no mistaking it; the ac-
cretiOns of national character play
secondary part, and the broad human
qualities of men and women are dealt
with and the 'touch of nature makes the
whole world kim" "Crime and Punish
meDt," written by Fedor Dostieffsky. Is an
intensely In eTestiDg novel. told according
to our ideas in somewhat too prolix
fashion. but crammed full with the results
of close aud careful observation. II is The
story of young man killing an old woman
usurer Snd her sister led to confession
and repentance by a girl who has sacri-
b, ed herself TO keep her mother and sisters
from starvation. There is a great deal of
rude Lille in the book which must be uD-
ineligible to one who has not personal
knowledge of Russian life, but the series
of pictures painted are strong and vivid.
The sufferings OF he young murderer, the
various phases and workings of his mind,
his starts of conscience, his ever being on
the defense, his constant criticism as tn
whether he has betrayed himself-all are
portrayed by the pen of master. Crime
and Punishment ranks In vividness. in
tensiiy and accuracy with Victor Hugo's
Last Days of Condemned Man."
[Chicago: Laird 81 Lee. For sale by the
bookstores.
A MARRIAGE CEREMoNY.-This Is an
interesting work from the pen OF Ada
ambIidge, author of the THE Three Miss
Kings" Australia has produced several
authors OF promise, and not the least among
them is Ada Cambridge. The present
story commences where most such stories
end, at the wedding. A rich Australian
leaves his fortune to bis niece and nephew
on condition of marriage within three
months of his DEATH The cousins become
man and wife and separate Immediately
after the ceremony, the wife going to
Australia aud the husband remaining In
England. Tie story eliminates Of course
IN their reunion, but the events that lead
up 10 it and bring it about are simple
skillfully devised aud connected. The fig
ures on the canvas are d OF many, but they
have been sketched in with great care.
The characters of the cousins are deiineat-
ed must successfully, but me best work
has been done in Hilda Penrose, the par
sons daughter, driven by her fathers
hyp0critical Christianity into unbelief and
by a luckiess love into a miserable mar
riage with a man in every respect un-
worthy of her. Some OF the poetry writ
ten by her is far above he average and
gives hope that from Mss Cambridge's
pen may yet come some of those winged
words
Jewels five words long,
That ON the stretched forefnger OF all time
Sparkle forever.
New York: D. Appleton g. Co. For
sale by the Bancroft Company.l
THEosoPHY AND CHRISTIANITY.
WHICH?-It has been e puzzle to many to
understand the teachings of theosophy and
the reasons why it has spread so much In
the United States and gained so firm
foothold there. The pastor of the First
Baptist Church, New York City, the Rev.
l. NJ. Aaldenan. has grappled with the
subject and in very short treatise ex-
plains the teachings of the theosor hists In
such q way that the reader can carry away
some definite ideas of Devachan, Kama
loca. Karma, ETC.. and no longer be in a
fog about the one spirit. the three souls,
the lie principle and the two bodies that
compose man. The causes of the spread
of lheosophy he finds to be disloyalty in
doctrine and life of the teachers and fol-
lowers of Christ. The need man has for
light about the hereafter is not destroyed,
but his belief in the Christian doctrine has
gone and to replace it theosophy brings its