The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-13
THE CRITICS COLUMN.
DEVOTED TO COMMENT UPON RE-
CENT PUBLICATIONS.
A Study In Womanhood - Mae emo - Dr.
Normsa Kerr on Inebristy = bchooIs
and MssterS Of scripture.


d. Co., New York. 80 cents. rof
sale by West, johnston co.
This study. as It's author styies H. 70
| of a type OF woman happily rare, anu
| is exceedingly weak and pointiess.
Its plot, IL plot il may be said 10 nave,
| is shallow and ill-sustained, its ehafac'ef
| painting poor, and its moral tome que
tionabie. AZ pictures a woman WIZ
essentially sensuous, not to use some
| what stronger adjective, and Deheali .ne
| recital of her various escapades' "hiSh
trench in one instance closely upon the
line between decency and ihdecenoy'
there is. although doubtless the authof
would deny II, an undercurrent Oh ue-
| fence of her conduct upon the siounu
that IL sensuous, she is also auiiiii aois
| gifted. II the writer of the booh ndd
more ability she might eneof MAJ III
| through the preaching of such a gospel
| but II this novel be the standara U!
which TO measure i1er power, there is nut
| little danger that she will ever accom-
| pish any result beyond surmise on lhe
| part OF her readers as to what JuStfles
her in supposing that books on the oruer
| or "Dust and Laurels'' will be OF any
| interest to the public. Certainly VIA
| ever IL may be, 1t Is exceedingly uhiia'
| tering to the public taste.
| MAELCHO: A Sixteenth Century Mar
rative. Hy the aon. Emily Lawless.
-. Appleton K Co., New YORK for
sale by West, Johnston az Co
The Hon. Emily Lawiess mas IN hv'
| books preceding this III order OF publ
| cation. taught us 10 expect strength, ro-
mantle color, hue character skelchlu2
and humor OF her, ana in this taie Oh ire
land in the sixteenth century, those OK
pectations will be entirely realized
The book is vigorous from start To I'M
ish. and has received from the press
generally the unequivocal praise Wmch
IT deserves. Is, gun as a'' adventure
book pure and simple" says the "riler'
This story has grown srilnmer some
how and more luSubrious as IL went on
ireland is IN this respect very mis-
| leading individual to follow. YOU I'M
asii @ that you are hand in hdnd with an
| inconsequent. but at any rate very
lively, companion, and having gone some
uttle way under this delusion, you ma
| when you least expect IL that you nave
linked yourself t. Sybil or "A None.
| 10 be iugubrious is in felton, we all pro-
test to be unenduI1f.le, ami uhendufa-
| beness is not one of those faiiings ior
which an unlucky author can very SUIT
! ably apologize"
An apology from Miss Lawless would
be superfiuous. IL she has linked her-
| self to a SybiI or Niobe, il Is because she
| has been true TO the subject with which
she deals, and her fidelity Is that OF d
| vigorous and able writer.
| INEBRIETY. or NARCOMANIA: Its
Etioiogy, Pathology. Treatment ana
Jurisprudence. BY Norman Kerr, -
| -. j. Selwyn tsit n Sons, New 1ork'
$3.50. For sale by West, Johnston q
| co.
This new edition OF very popular and
| exhaustive work on the subject or IN
! ebriety is largely written, ana lnciudes
| 81 additional pages. Theauthor, VINO Is
| a Fellow of the Medical Society of Lon
| don. and chairman of the British Medlcai
| Association inebriates Legislative Com
| mfttee. has had very wide experience IN
| the treatment of inebriates, and IS rec
| ognized, both I'm this country ana Great
! Britain. as beyond question one or the
| very best living authorities on the SUD
,ect upon which ne writes. In this work
he may be said TO strike the nrst help1nl
note for the future Of the pitiable ineDrl-
ate. which the medical profession, as a
nodv. will recognize and cordially APP
prove. Expert opinion of the value of
| rhe book is shown by the fact That the
British Home Secretary has introduced
| a bill into Parliament recommending the
! adoption of Dr. Norman herrs system
| as a basis for the treatment of inebriety.
Lay opinion on the subject Is, perhaps
best evidenced by the powerful tribute
which the New York Herald recently paid
| the book IN these words, on receiving an
| advance copy:
III this book could be placed In the
| hands of the millions OF our wage earn
| ers 1t would do more to make them SOBER
| and keep them sober than all The tenn
,.axauoa lectures au ulauet.'
The author contends that inebriety In
| all its forms. whether alcoholism, NOR
phtnomania. cannabinomania. chlor0form-
omania, etheromana, oplumisn' the
| eau-de-cologne, sal volatile, or IA
snecsh habits is disease, ana
IS amenable TO treatment. As an
expert in the matter he gives great
Lumber OF cases from his own exception
al experience TO establish this assertion,
together with the treatment which he I'd ;
found TO he eflcaciOus. lie is an at
tractiVe writer, and by avoiding the use
of technicalities he has given TO the
world a book which all classes can read.
AS a pubic educator against TIE Use, as
wei as the effects OF alcohol and otner
narcotic poisons, this book Will be OF in
estimahle value; while in the medical pro-
fession II IS destined 10 become text
book as Il most valuable contribution 10
medical literature.
SCHOOLS AND MASTERS OF SCULP-
TuRE. BY A. q. Radcliffe. -.
Appleton Il Co., New York. For sale
by West. Johnston X Go.
The general and warm praise which
was justly given 20 Miss Radcliffe's pre-
ceding work-"Schools and Masters of
Painting" is destined TO be repeated
| wherever this second volume is known.
This. like it's predecessor, is OF the
| greatest practical utility, as an artistic
| guide-book 10 the traveller, as well as
OF great educational value 10 the general
reader. Under the head of general
| readers are. We think, destined 10 be
| ranked a very large number. for Miss
| Radcliffe is the possessor OF most re-
| hcitous literary style. as we'll as of broad
| culture. Then too, her book is profuse-
! ~ ana finely illustrated. the Illustrations
| bringing before the reader the work of
| the great masters OF sculpture with ad-
| mirable fidelity, thus enabling him TO
| more thoroughly ENJOY what the author
| has TO say regarding their subjects.
Ia her preface she starts out by saying
that 1.-THE difficulties OF condensation in
| TINS volume are extreme" Certainly she
has overcome them most satisfactorily.
| successive schools OF sculpture" says
she, ARE shown by the flash light OF
| single chapters, and the personality or the
| great masters is brought briefly before
us. such restriction OF space has win
moved facts, and seldom left room for
| opinions"
ut is my aim to tell the story of plas-
| tic art clearly, WILDLY and accurately,
| with entire correctness so FAR as posi-
| BILE, but without needless technicalities
| and thus TO rouse an interest In the sub
A. f.s..