Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-07

Book Notices.
PUNISHMENT AND REFORMATION.
nv DIR. f. Wines. Vol. VI. In Growers
Library Of Economics and Polltlcs.
Emo. N.15. With Illustrations ana In
dex.
This book Is designed to be an aid 70
legislation, and to the formation OF cor
rect public opinion. It's aim Is to give
TO the ordinary reader a clear and con-
neeted view OF the change In the attitude
OF the law toward crime. and criminals.
during the century now drawing to It's
close: and to the part which the United
States has borne in the movement for
better recognition of the rights. even OF
convicted criminals. 1t shows great re-
search and careful investigation into
modes Of punishment In other countries
as well as the advance OF public opinion
everywhere as to best means Tor the
prevention Of crime and the reformation
of criminals. as 1t has been enlightened
and tempered by the Christian rellSion'
Under the head of What Is Crime?'
the author gives some very interesting
historical facts, which Will amuse ana
instruct the reader, but which are very
far from amusing or instructive 10 the
generation In which they occurred. Inc
Jonians passed law exiting all men
who were never seen TO laugh. The car
thagenians killed their generals "nen
they lost a battle. pliny relates that
they condemned JIanno for having tanned
a lion. because a man who could tai:e
a lion was dangerous 10 the liberties OF
the people. BY the Julian law celibacy
was a crime. In Sparta confirmed pacne-
iors were stripped In midwinter and pub
Hcly scourged in the market-place Inc
German printers, who first brought print
ed books TO Paris, were condemned 10
be burned alive as sorcerers, ana only
escaped death by flight.
"Retribution For Crime" is one OF the
most important subjects considered.e there
being four methods. which, historically.
have been made prominent in the order
of succession in which they are named
retribution, repression, reformation, pre-
vention.
A fearful picture is given of the cruel
ties perpetrated under the mistaken
| ideas Of justice which have pre-
vailed and so marvellously con-
trolled the minds OF men for
many centuries, since the great law OF
| love was proclaimed by the Son of God.
| 1t is necessary, however. TO know from
| what We have been delivered In order
to appreciate what We enjoy. II may
seem to the young and inexperienced
reader that human nature has changed,
and Is no longer what II was when these
| outtaees were committed IN the name OF
| law and religion.
The ingenious modes Of torture prac-
ticed for 20 many ages, and by almost
all nations are referred TO in order TO
show the gradual growth Of mercy. and
development OF the divine instincts which
God has implanted in mankind, and
which were so long buried under a mass
Of darkness and depravlty. That these
black days have gone by. and that now
| the minds OF men are turned to the pre-
yention, more than the punishment OF
| crime, is due, first, TO the religion OF
Jesus Christ, and, under its benign teach
| ing TO the instruments (such as the au-
thor Of this book, in the enlightenment
of public sentiment.
| Mr.. Wines has presented In a very
| pleasing way a subject that is generally
regarded very dry. and has accompanied
| 1t with so much interesting history as TO
| make it both profitable and pleasant to
| all classes of readers.
For sale by j. ". Randolph e. Co.
ABRA HAM INCONSISTENCIES
FROM HIS ASSOCIATES: Reminis-
cences of Soldiers. Statesmen. and Citi-
| zens. With Introduction by the Rev.
William Hayes Ward, ID. u. Themes Y.
Crowell g. Co, New York. For sale by
the publishers.
This Is an entertaining volume. 1t Is
multiple presentation Of Mr.. Lincoln's
character" in which more than forty
contributors participate, and among them
Senator Morgan, Of Alabama. No one can
read II without feeling that Abraham Lin
| III. xx.hn
were not only unique but estimable In a
| very high degree. mere was time when
! he was regarded in the South as the I'M
| personation OF all that was vulgar and
| even brutal just as the North held Jef-
| ferson Davis responsible for all the sins
| Of all the Secessionists. Both sides were
mistaken In their estimates OF the per-
sonal characters Of these two men. IL Is
now generally conceded that Mr.. Lin
coins disposition was kindly and genial,
| without one particle OF malice or VIM
dictiveness. but at the same time, con-
trolled and fortified by a sturdy COM
| mon sense which lost none OF its force
by being expressed In jests and witticlsms
The testimony seems 10 be concurrent
that his attitude towards the southern
| people after General Lees surrender. was
sympathetic and fraternal, absolutely free
from the spirit OF vainglor!ous exultation.
| and, Withal, betrayinc no CONSCIOUSNESS
that he had performed any distinguished
part In the stupendous work Of reuniting
| the sections.
Mr. Ferguson's account of the aseassi-
nation is graphic and thrilling. He was on
the stage at the time, and says 1t Is
not true that Booth uttered the words
| Sic semper tyrannie. He says. moreover.
that Mr.. Emerson. one of the four sur
viving actors In the play on that fate
| full night, has for years been cotton
planter near Richmond. Va" This Is In
| teresting, to the cotton trade. at least
And sprepos Of Mr.. Lincoln. We take
the following FRI N the Southern Church
! man:
We saw in one OF our church papers
not long since this anecdote told OK
him by DIR. Jerome Walker:
Zone week before the assassination OF
Mr.. Lincoln ne visited the hospital at
City Point, where / was stationed as a
| member Of the United States Sanitary
| Commission. was then . boy OF Is or ID.
IImagine my pride at being assigned to
convey the President around the hospital.
We spent the entire day together, and
felt very big. We came to one part OF
the hospital where we had several tents.
of what were then called rebel prison.
! ers. I said. with all the pride Of north
| ern boy, Mr.. Lincoln. do you want to
70 into all these tenteT We had gone
into all the others. He said. In his quiet
way. why notr ! replied. There are
only rebels In there I shall nsvtr forget
| kaa ira nm, ~