Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

from 1850 to Its Close; By Horatio King, e1-
Postmaster General OF the United States. Phil
adephia: ]. B. Lippincott Co.
This work, which has been in preparation
for some time, is valuable addition to the
literature of the civil war, dealing largely
as 1t does with the preliminary period that
| elapsed between the election of Lincoln
| and his inauguration, in the spring of 1861.
Mr.. Kings postiouNas first assistant post
master general for several years prior to
this time had made him acquainted with the
| leading men of the country and placed him
on intimate terms with President Buchanan
and many other high officials Of the govern
ment. His subsequent appointment to be
Postmaster General gave him an in
PRODUCTION into the inner cabinet circles
and placed him in possession of many
facts bearing upon the attitude of the
President during this painful and ex-
citing time. One of the most valuable
parts of the work just published is a series
of letters between Mr.. King and Gen. John
A. Dix of New York. relative to the spread
| OF secession sentiment at the capital and the
| influences for disunion brought to bear on
Mr.. Buchanan. Mr.. King performed at that
time great service to the Union by his ring
ing appeals to influential men Of the north
to scatter abroad non-secess:on sentiment
fdent to take a firm stand against the dis
ruption of the country. These letters must
have been most valuable to the Postmaster
Generals correspondents in the north. espe-
c1ally In view of the lack of authentic news
| owing to the comparatively poor telegraphic
| service and the doubtful attitude of certain
papers published at the national capital
| notably, 'The Constitution" against the in
fiuence of which Mr.. King was constantly
fighting.
The correspondence also embraces letters
or much historical interest that passed be-
tween Mr.. King and President Buchanan
ex-President Pierce. Gen. Holt and Others
and many Of these are now published for
the first time.
Other parts of the book treat of the early
stages of the rebellion, 1.-The doctrine of CO.
ercion" and the genesis of the civil war"
There Is included an important chapter in
lion not crushed at the start? In this con-
| nection the tremendous influence of the Sc
cessionists at the capital is plainly shown
by text and letters, many of which are en-
tirely new in print. That portion of the
work which bears on the war itself, the as
sassination of Lincoln and the trial of the
conspirators are drawn from personal
sources. although Mr.. King was not at that
time connected with the government in an
official capacity that threw him into init
mate relations with the administration. His
retirement, however, from the Post Office
department did not end his official duties, for
H.
r. Goodloe and DR.. John NJ Brodhead
one of board Of commissioners to carry out
the provisions of the emancipation procla-
nation IN the District. This position was
rendered him by President Lincoln unsolicit-
ed, probably on account of his conspicuous
services in the interests of the Union during
the closing months of the preceding admin
istration. The service of the commission
was limited to nine months but in that
space Of time Mr.. King and his associates
performed an enormous labor which enabled
them to see perhaps more closely than most
civilians the inner history Of the conduct
of the war at the sect IL government.
The latter chapteEs.ASt the work deal with
miscellaneous matts9SShtimately connect
ed with the history &s4 republic. and there
from Mr.. Kings penS One of the most inter
estng features of thu book is biography of
Horatio King, its authSr, by Gen Horatio
Z. hlns OF Brooklyn, dis son, who, in brief
space, gives a comprehensive sketch of his
fathers career. pointing out some of the
! many tasks which he accomplished, and
noting particularly the important achieve
ment OF 1naugurattng the penalty envel-
ope,' which has since been used by the gov
eminent. In conclusion, Gen. H. c. King
says Of the author of Turning on the
Light: He is notable example to the
youth OF his country. Born and bred under
circumstances which gave him no greater
advantages than are, enjoyed by a large
majority of the young of our Union he has
attained by his own energy, industry and
Tor himself name and a reputa ton of which
any man may well be proud"
THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYErTE IN THE AMER
!CAN REVOLUTION. With Some Account Of
the Attitude Of France Toward the War of the
Independence. By Charlemagne Tower, IT,
LID In Two Volumes. Philadelphia: J. b.
Lippincott Co.
If the historian who charged himself with
the task of narrating in detail every pub
lie act of the Marquis de La Fayette has
| missed an incident of any consequence, the
lack of it is by no means conspicuous for
| inspection of the two large volumes reveals
minute completeness. Every available doc
| ument and letter has been laid under trib-
ute, and the result is what may honestly
| be termed the standard history of La
Fayette's connection with the marvellous
feat of American independence. The ex-
| haustive text is supplemented by many in
| teresting maps, which. to the student of
| military affairs, will, because of their ex-
actness. be of undoubted value. AT such a
time as this, when there is considerable
agitation throughout this country in favor
of the recognition of Cuban belligerency by
once more the enthusiasm with which
France and Frenchmen in general favored
the cause of the rebellious colonies.
THINKING, FEELING. DOING. By E. W. Scrip
tme, Ph.D. leipzig, Director of the Psyche
Vile: Flood l. Vincent.
Few human beings may fairly claim
| to be expert psychologists, but one need not
be an expert to understand and appreciate
Prof. Scriptures extremely clever book
| of which he says that it is the first on the
new or experimental psychology written in
| the English language. 1t has been written
for the people by one who knows how to
do that rather difficult thing. The pro-
fessor says: I'm one respect have depart
| ed widely from usual writers on psycholo-
gy; have written plain, everyday English
and have not tried to clothe my ignorance
| in the 'multitudinous qualifications and
| frangomaxillary combinations that pass
as philosophic English" Literally Illus
| trated and Astounding in diagrams easily
| to be understood, the book deserves a
prominent place in the libraries Of those
who believe in useful literature.
| TALES OF SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS BY Am
brose Bierce. New York. Lowell, COryell & Co.
Possessed of marvellous power to depict
the horrible. Ambrose Bierce has given his
pen full swing. His war stories are far su-
perior to those that deal with ordinary
people devoid of military attributes. "An
Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and THE
| Affair at Coulter's Notch are dramatic
masterpieces worthy to rank with the best
EFFORTS of any novelist ancient or modern;