The record-union., 1895-03-19
new PUBLICATIONS.

Unquestionably the completest and
best modern account of the land, the peo-
pie and the institutions of the nation of
the Gar, is the elaborate work in two
volumes entitled 1.-The Empire of the
Tsars and the Russians" from the press
or q. T. Putnam's sons, New York, II
West Twenty-third street. 1t is by
Anatole Leroy Blaulieu, Member of the
Institute Of France. II is translated by
Lenaide a. RogoZin, Mem Der of the
American Oriental Society, aud author of
several volumes of the Stories OF the
NatiOns'' series. The first volume, 5oS
pages, treats of the country and its inhab-
ltants, and the second, 564 pages, of the
institutions of Russia. The work is a
mastery picture OF Russian life, and is
enhanced in value by the annotations
OF the translator, who is a Russian. This
book is forbidden in Russia, fact that
makes it the more attractive to other peo-
pie. One is curious to know what it is
that Russia prohibits being read within
the empire. The author explains that
we should not wonder at the inhibition,
because IL is not enough that an author
should be sympathetic with the slavic
people and have respect for the sovereign:
something moro is demanded by the
autocracy-it demands that there shall be
no discussion whatever of its methods
and its institutions. These must not be
protaned by debate. But these volumes
do just that; they debate with respect and
truth; they discuss with vigor and acc
Curacy OF statement. AS the author says
this inhibition is really tribute to SINGER
ity. 1t proves the book to be not pulseless,
puerile and non-committal, but strong,
courageous and truthful. We are warned
not to judge Russia by the rules we
apply TO America, or TO the States of
Europe, tor Russia is neither Europe nor
Asia-it is world by itself, between the
two and partaking of both; it is not
State OF our time, but OF an age three
centuries ago. The volumes are delight
tul reading. They are graphic, judicial
IN Judgment, free from emotion, or
passion, yet neither formal nor cold, and
not at all lacking in coler. They are
clothed in diction at once scholarly and
simple. The method is direct; the
author goes around about nothing, but to
and through it with direction and the
momentum OF honest conviction. There
is not lacking romance in these critical
historical volumes. 1t is Veritable his
tory of q people rather than of a country.
1t deals rather with the motives, forces
and thought of the nation than with
the politics of party, the ambitions
of rulers and the hopes and despair OF a
people. The book surprises us by its
1rankness and it's spirit of fairness; it
awakens our admiration by its elegance
OF style; 1t commands our applause by
its graphic method OF recital; it inspires
us with regard for it by the scientific
manner of treatment. For these ad-
mlrabIe volumes proceed upon the doc
triue that history may be, indeed, should
be treated scientifically; reasons, analo-
gles and causes traced out, and conclu-
sIons reached upon and according to the
lines by which scientific truths are usu-
ally established. We have read a good
deal about Russia and its people, but in
no other work have we found such care
ful study of the traits of character in the
Russians that make them what they are
a peculiar people, a people of classes
though not of castles. We commend these
charming volumes to all lovers Of his
torlcal analyses of peoples and their CIV
ilization.
California in the Worlds Columbian
Exposition" is the final report of the
W Norld's Fair Com mission. 1t is by T. G.
Judklns, Flood building, San Fran cisco,
he having been the Secretary of the ON
mission. 1t is from the press of the State
Printing Office. 1t does credit to the
commission and 20 Mr.. Judkins who pre-
pared 1t, and it should be a source of
pride. 1t is richly and very profusely
illustrated. 1t contains description of
all the exhibits from this State, made un-
der the law creating the commission, and
"a.
There Is no waste OF space in tit is
compact, clear and comprehensive The
commission was created by an Act OF the
Legislature IN 1891, which appropriated
5000 for buildings, and collecting and
maintaining an exhibit of the prod ucts OF
California. The report was submitted to
the Governor after the final meeting of
the commission in June last, the board at
that date consisting of Irving NJ. Scott
President; James ID. Phelan, Nice-Presi-
dent; K. McMurray, a. I. Hatcn, ). w,
Ferguson, L. J. Rose and W. p. Math-
ews, with /. c. Judkins as Secretary. AS
a semi-intrOductiOn to the report there is
given on page four letter from Governor
Markham, which speaks in exceedingly
complimentary terms of the results
accomplished by the State at
Chicago, and of his appreciation
OF the efforts of the commission,
county associations, etc., on behalf OF
California. SO far as known this is the
first voluntary letter of thanks that has
ever been addressed by a Governor of
California to a State board. The volume
contains upwards of 800 pages, including
the text and illustrations. About ONE
half OF the book is devoted TO condensed
description of the State collective ana
county exhibits in the California build
ing and in the different departments or
national buildings. The sixty-six pages
Va IAAAStAANAObS 1GPlSSCDk 6lGuLN-GlQll
distinct views and show the UNIQUE
exhibit features. Added weight
Is given to these illustrations, as they are
reproductions of photographs of actual
displays after the latter were installed.
thus enabling Calitornians and others in
terested in the state. who were unable to
visit Chicago, to secure an accurate idea
OF what constituted the agricultural.
horticultural, mining, viticuILural, for
estry, nsh and other collective exhibits,
ana also the several county displays.
\ very timely and important work on
coinage and currency is that entitled
- oint- -Metallism, or "a plan by which
gold and silver together, at ratios always
based on their relative market values.
may be made the metallic basis Of a
sound, honest, self-regulating and per-
manent currency, without frequent re-
colnlngs, and without danger OF one
metal driving out the other" 1t is by
Anson Phelps Stokes, and is a third and
enlarged edition of four parts and is in
one volume, octave, 240 pages. II shows
much study and research, and contains
important historical and statistical mat
ter, with references to aud quotations
from the principal authorities ON the
science OF money; also complete indax
MT. Stokes believes that most of the
present depression IN trade, gpricultura
and other industries is traceable 10 ignor-
ance OF the history ana science of money.
aud to attempts 10 retry unscientitic eX-
periments; and he opposes both mono
metailism aud bimetallism at any fixed
empirical ratio. He proposes that
the mints he opened to both the
precious metals at their market values
when they are presented together in
quantities of equal value. and that Joint
certificates, payable half in gold and half
in silver, be issued by the Treasury. to
be legal tender for all debts contracted
after fixed future date. He claims that
the true economic ratio would thus soon
~ ..... -. L..