The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-10
THE CRITICS COLUMN.
DEVOTED TO COMMENT UPON R.
CENT PUBLIOA TONS
Life of George Augustus SaIa"-"Oog
f'gb. With Dmmany'-John's son
"UniwersaI' Cyciopedia

I THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF
/ GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA: In two
volumes. Written by himself. Charles
Seribner's sons. New York. IS. For
sale by West, Johnston a Co.
! 1t has been said regarding the enormous
literary output OF Geo. Augustus Sala that
| 1t could all be summed up in the Initials
/ OF that Sentlem3n-"G. ~ s." There Is,
| however, q very considerable differences
| OF opinion about this. and even supposing
| we were TO concede (Which we do noD
| that IL Is true, IL must also be conceded
! that II is gas OF very satisfactory COM
mercial value TO the producer who tells
! us that for years past his income from his
! literary work has never been less than
! ten thousand dOhars year.
The present volumes are about as enter
| tanning resume OF the adventures OF a
live and iLdomtable journalist as keen
observation. many and various expe-
riences .sfnong all classes OF people. and
retepoive memory can make them. Born
in November. 1S2S, Mr.. Ssla has lived
thr9ngh stirring epochs I'm European his
toIS, and his profession has put him in
close touch with most OF the leading
events marking these periods
I An admirable modcsty In abiding to
| himself and his successes Is evident
| throughout the book. which has not
| breath of the not uncommon egotism OF
Ni' SitNttHS- VI man between It's Covers.
son Of an Italian father and a Brazil
ian mother. the child. George Augustus
| Sala. was through the malgnity OF n
J jealous nurse during an attack OF measles
7 IN babyhood, exposed 10 a chilled atmos-
/ phere, which resulted In cold and the
! permanent injury and temporary loss OF
| the sight Of one eye. The story OF a
| suffering childhood. through the physical
l sonsitiVcnoss and dolicacy resulting from
this nurses evil temper. Ia the more
pathetic because II Is told with "A brew
| ity which allows itself bare statement
| of facts. and never runs into sentimental
comment.
From Mr.. Sala's allusion 10 his mother
II would appear that this lady was char
/ actcrized rather more prominently by
pluck and versatile vocal and histronic
talents than by admirable maternal
qualities. and II must be clear to any
reader of the book that whatever sue
cesses he has attained in lite are at
tributed entirely TO his tenacious courage
and his qulckness to embrace opuor-
tunities. Indeed his indomitable perse-
verance i'm the face OF physical suffering,
often of the most intense kind. his entire
lack of egotism and his loyalty i'm friend
ship, are the personal qualities which his
book makes most strongly evident.
In the course Of the narration Of his
life story the names OF very nearly all
the men and women who have made
nineteenth century history, art and
literature appear but they appear in
the natural course Of the narrative, and
with simplicity that places Alr. Sala
beyond the accusation OF vulgar toadv-
ism or spobblshness. His exclamation OF
his quarrel with Charles Dickens and
allusion to their subsequent reconcilia-
ton are entirely characteristic and re-
veal a generous. loyal and frank nature
Tho book. As We have said. is de-
hshtul one. Astounding In spicy anec-
dote OF illustrous men and women with
whom, in his capacity as "A Journalist.
Sdla was thrown into personal contact
From mechanical standpoint IL IL
admirable, the print Is clear and ex-
celient, the paper fine, the binding at
once sensible and tasteful. An excellent
picture OF Mr.. sala appears upon the
fly leaf Of volume 7.
OUR FIGHT WITH TAMAIANY. BY Rev.
Charles a. parkhurst, ID. ID. Charles
Scrbner's Sons. New York. LIS. For
sale by West. Johnston ~ Co.
In preparing this volume Or. IT,
hurst Hs~%2 quote nun verea'ln) ~6een
desS5iy motlved
I'm the first place" says he. although
there seems 10 have been good deal OF
desultory warfare waged during tho past
three years. we are concerned TO have
of idea.ty of purpose upon which all APP
parent dcsultorincss has been strung. We
should like. also. to be Of service TO other
municipalities I'm our country. which may
still b. suffering the Same kind OF ty-
ranny our city has just rcnounced.
Thus much tor the purpose OF the book
IL consists, as its title suggests, In "A re-
cital of the steps which led TO the over
throw Of Tammany Hall. OF November .,
1891.
The primary movement dates from
the reorganization and activity Of the So
cleiy for the Prevention OF Crime or
ganized IN October. 1873, with Peter cooper
leading the list OF its ihCorporators.
THE original incorporators orsanized IN
the election Of DR.. Howard Crosby as
president. which position he continued 10
hold until his death which occurred
March % 1891"
1t was through his personal influence
that Dr. Tarkhurst became associated
with the society ON the morning or
Sunday. October 26. 1890. that reverend
gentleman whose name, In connection
with the revelation OF the political rot
tenness of New York city, has become
famous. preached in the pulpit Of the
Madison Square church sermon bearing
upon the election issues which appeared
next morning in the columns of one OF the
ton.
A fac-simile OF Or. Crosby's letter. OK
tending To DR. Parkhurst an Invitation to
become "A member OF the society. al &C.
count Of his election 70 the presidency
OF It in 1891, Of its adoption OF the policy
by him. and the results Of
tnat policy are given clearly and briefly
In Chapter l. The remainder OF the book
is a recital Of facts with which the ma
tional press has made the public familiar.
given in the roformer's vigorous, practi-
cal and simple style.
JOHNSON'S UNIVERSAL CYCLoPE-
Ola. In eight volumes. j.. Appleton
a. Co, New York. For sale by Ed
ward Slye. general agent, Exchange
Hotel.
1t Is a little late In the day to give
JohnsOn's CycOpedia a certificate ol
merit. That has been done Tor some
years I'm its endorsement by the leading
scholars, educational institutions. etc,
of the country Hon. h. Il. Stafford,
Librarian OF Congress, says OF II that
at is found To answer more questions
satisfactorily than any other reference
book I'm the library OF Congress"
Dr. Broaddus gives his opinion as fol-
lows: II think there can be no doubt
that the new edition now appearing OF
Johnson's Cyclopedia will be the best
cyclopedia In existence. Ii will be a book
OF ready reference. presenting short ar
tlcles upon all manner Of interesting de-,
tails. and at the same time. will give
elaborate discussions OF all leading topics.