The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-03

Burton Harrison, and each year one by
some such writer's as these-Egg leston,
Howells. Bret Harte, klping or Mark
IVAN, lew II any one OF these has
had any perceptible effect upon the
circulation of the magazine from month
to month, whereas the war papers added
lO0 eco new subscribers within six months,
the Life Of Lincoln" added even TO these
and the KEENAN, papers on Siberia also
percepuDly raised the circulation during
the period of their publication. Indeed
all the otabe successes of the magazine
have been on these lines, and its hold upon
its readers is in its strong editorial posi-
ton on all public questions. not only such
as affect the literary ana graphic arts, such
as international copyright, free art and
kindred topics, but also on such broad
general questions as sound currency, the
lottery question, civil-seTYice reform, in
dustrial education and the purity of the
ballot"
1t is certain that bound volume of the
Cent ry is almost library in itself. One
OF the most important announcements by
the magazine Tor the near future is a life
of Napoleon BOnaparte which is TO be
written by an American. Its appearance
will be awaited with interest. New
York: The Century Company.l
AN UNOFFICIAL PATRIoT.-T author
of us This Your Son, NV Lord ?" mas
added another interesting book to the
series of studies on social questions. The
present volume, however. does not deal
with a subject that occupies the attention
of people nowadays; it is a study of the
attitude OF a Christian minister toward
that quondam institution of the South.
slavery. 1t is difficult for one brought up
under anti-slave influence TO realize the
reasons-aDart from those connected with
H.,N.1 Il
lleve IN the right TO own slaves; suffice it
to say that they did believe in the right
honestly and strongly. That attitude of
mind is fully brought out in the present
story as well as the sufferings, mental,
moral and physical, of the believer in the
opposite theory who happened to dwell in
the South. There are some splendid battle
descriptions in the book, notably that OF
Shiloh. The attack of the Rdherents of
the slave party on the free-Soil newspaper
office in Kansas and the escape of its edl-
tor Is wildly described. Abraham Lincoln
stands out III the story in bold relief as a
great man-great on account of his wisdom
foresight, marvellous capacity for waiting
the right time, and steady endurance of
burden as great as any human being ever
bore IN times historic or prehistoric. The
style of Helen Gardener has always been
characterized by simplicity. lucidness and
directness, and the present story is in
reading. Boston: Arena Publishing Com
panyl
SEBAsTIAN.-The subject matter Of this
Dramatic Poem" as il is entitled by its
author. Charles Wells Moulton, is the love
of young man, Sebastian, for Lalage, a
married woman. The love is returned, but
it proves fatal to Lalage, who is killed by
her husband. Sebastian then journeys to
Italy to dull his sorrow, but after while
returns to his native land, where he de-
termines to seek pardon by Fighting the
battles of the weak, wiping the tear from
sorrows cheek. warning for right against
the wrong" A very good thing 60 do, but
it would seem natural to an ordinary
Christian that he should repent of his
former actions. Sebastian thinks differ
entity. The form of the poem is original
with the author-at least we know OF no
previous work to which to compare ii.
The versiheatiOn is remarkably good; all
through the work the style is clear, and
occasionally there are passages of real
merit. The methods or scales of rhyming
detTact much from the dignity of the
work, as also do the frequent changes in
the form OF verse. 1t must be said, how
ever, that apart from the defects noticed.
the poem rises above the heights of ordi-
nary work and has many good points
Charles Wells Moulton.
FIVE MINUTE OBJECT LESSONS TO
| CHILDREN.-Here we have forty three
brief sermons to children which were
preached TO children by Dr. Stall, the
author of the wel-known Methods of
Church Work. while pastor of the Second
English Lutheran Church at Baltimore.
The manifest purpose of the author is TO
render the gospel attractive to the young.
TO present the great truths of saiyaiion in
plain. simple language, by means of aptly
chosen objects and impressive illustra-
tions. These sermons were preached with
out notes. and that the simplicity of STYLE
and diction might be preserved, were subse-
| Quently spoken into the phonograpb. mt
into manuscript by a photographic and
printed with but slight verbal changes.
| The author displays natural qualifications
for preaching TO children. and the large
number Of young people attracted perma-
| nently to the church while these sermons
were being delivered attests their practical
value. The illustrations used are i'm pres
| sive. the truths taught are important. and