The herald., 1894-04-08
fBY L. BEIYMER. !

lBY L. BEISMER.
EusslA AND TURKEY INrHR NINETEENTH
CENruk1, py NoRMEEf LArIMER Cloth
shers Chicago. III For DSGh sale BY Us s,oiI
TnAyer Co.
When the authoi published her vol
ume on France in the Nineteenth Cen
tury, che had no idea it would meet
with the, ,dnancia and literary success
which 1t received, and this prompted
the ides OF bringing out this companion
volume on Russia and Turkey, composed
under the same circumstances as France.
The subject is grand one, as Russia is
undoubtedly the most extraordinary
country on the globe, in the four most
important particulars OF empire; its
history, it's extent. it's population, and
its power. The first chapter is devoted
TO a review OF the early history from the
eleventh century to the dawn oil the
nineteenth century and the elevation OF
Alexander | to the throne in 1901. Then
follows we'll written history OF this
wonderful country. chapter on
The Crescent versus Christendom,
Turks, Russians and creeks.
In reading this volume the
facts which will clear IN in many minds
a mistaken idea that exists concerning
the family life OF the imperial rulers. A
great difficulty has always presented
itself to those who desired to understand
any subject relating to Russia or its inn
perial family Tor while the world looks
upon Russia as q eeething macs OF
misery and corruption, and holds her
imnerial ruler responsible for this state
of thinge, all persons brought into per-
eonal contact with this terrible auto
crat and his household find them (from
Alexander |. down to the present dav)
persons who command respect-with
noble qualities that from time to time
conspicuously shine forth as occasion
offers, and with everyday household
virtues such as make the whole world
kin. The author presents q very accu-
rate description OF the home life of the
czars, particularly that OF Gear Nicholas.
Every war that affects Turkey seems
like an annex to the crusades. The
crusades have left us in the nineteenth
an uneolved problem-the eastern quea-
tion. One OF the results OF this ques-
tion was the Crimean war, fully de-
scribed in this volume-a war appar-
entity without any heart-stirring
objsct; war that might have
been averted by diplomacy. In
the two chapters ON the Crimean
war the author gives a very graphic
description OF one of the worlds great
feat OF arms, the charge OF the light
BRIGADE ESlOTipT us this sdh IhS 81 thTsed msrSt 81
Nicholas. Alexander IL, called the EN-
peror Liberator, and speaks OF his many
reforms. The Turkish war OF 1877 is
ok I'D Ia
given. A CHAPTER is devoted TO Emperor
Alexander Ill, his acts, his methods
and his aims. His family ia fully de.
scribed, their home. manner OF living,
amusements, etc. The policy OF state
is outlined and many tangled historical
facts made plain. One OF the most in
teresting chapters ia the one including
articles on Siberia, Central Asia, The
Baltic Provinces, The Persecution of the
jews and many events which have oc
Cured in the last decade. The two Dam
ubian kingdoms, Servia and Roumania,
are very interesting and it 10 quite a
distracting task to unravel 80 tangled
skein as the history of the Danubian
Kingdoms, provinces and principalities,
which include Servia, Roumania, Bos-
mia, herzegovina, Montenegro and Bull
garia. The united wisdom of the great
powers at Berlin in 1873 endeavored
to erect these feeble states into a barrier
between Russia and Constantinop,e.
The last three chapters of this interest
ing volume are devoted to the story OF
the erection of this barrier and of the
persistent efforts made by Russia to
break il down. A careful perusal of this
well-written work will give the KEY to
the present situation OF the great powers
in Europe; it will make plain much
misinterpreted history of the European
nations, so little known in this country.
As history it is one of the best, for it
4 contains information not only upon his
torical aud political facts, but also upon
& the home life of the representative
people of these great nations. Messrs
McClurg q Co. should be thanked by a
: heavy flow OF patronage for placing such
an excellent volume at such a low
4 figure.
FROM EARTHs CENTER-A Polar Gateway
Message. BY 8. BYRON WELCOME Charles
Ii. Kerr publisher, Chicago. FOR sale by An
tiqusrian Book store, Los Angeles.
The above ia the title OF very recent
novel. 1t was written by well-known
citizen Of this city, the secretary of the
Los Angeles Single Tax club. This novel
possesses the faculty OF entertaining
minds of all kinds, from the philosopher
4 to the school girl and school boy. 1t
contains novelties and surprises on every
page. Ii is intensely modern, extreme
lily radical, and pictures nation at
earth's center. embOdying social sim
plicity and individual freedom as con-
ceived in the minds OF Jesus, Jeffsrson
land Henry George. With the acknowl-
edged premise that the present govern
ment is not perfect, it is always
'matter of interest to consider
!any practical suggestion that any.
one may have to advance for its i'm
provement. While different ways are
|adopted to claim the public attention,
Zone OF the most successful is to inter-
weave the authors thoughts into the
acourse of an interesting story. This Mr..
Welcome has done in this volume. The
book 10 clearly written with we'll
de6nsd purpose, and how successful the
w. liter iSin carrying it out no one can
tsll TO see who reads this polar gateway
message, Introduced into Oentralia by
an exciting trip via the north pole, the
eader tiHds in this new country much
opportunity for pleasure and profitable
Btudy. Based on the constitution of the
United States, the government OF this
discovered land has developed there
rom into the automatic syetem,"
(which is 'thus described: "Our theory
Pf public and private functions
q that the nation must not