The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-28

Nothing more enjoyable in the way OF
literary criticism has appeared than Mr..
Robert Bridges Suppressed Chapters, )"
thin book, gotten up in perfect accord
with the contents by the Messrs. Scrib-
ner. The author touches a new note in
criticism, which is adaptable to sarcasm,
satire, or appreciation. He touches the
pith Of the matter by bit of conversa-
tion, aparody, and the judgments he hints
are as just as his method is fresh and de-
lightful. His art Is very rare, very deli
cate, very delicious. Nothing, IL seems
to me, could possibly put group in better
humor for twilight piazza hour these
early summer evenings than to preface
1t with one OF these fve- minute critiques,
read aloud, upon book that all have read
and formed opinions. One feels, also,
that the author planned the making OF
the book, so perfectly does it harmonic
with the sentiment OF what is printed.
- -lPreston Rounds, Providence.
How can the most enthusia iastic and the
most industrious reader keep up with the
Napoleon literature that Is flooding the
DOCK stores? Iti wholly impossible, and
the Hood OF 1t must produce a sort OF lit
erary NAL dc mer and drive one to cut the
whole cult-let Napoleonjsm go to the
cogs, and devote ones self to
saner literature. One Of the
latest contributions to the Ma
poleonic book-list is the charming
"Memoirs of the Count dc Segur," who
was one of Napoleon's aides de- camp.
His History, Memoirs and Miscellanean
was an eig ight-volume work which appeared
In 1873. From this larger work there has
now been culled the material for this VOL
ume, relating directly to Napoleon,
the editing having been done by the
Count de Segur's grandson-and ex-
ceedingly well done. The book is written
In the peculiarly happy style only met
win In its perfection in French authors,
nd Is replete with informing and enter
iaining matter that is either new or pre-
sented from new point of view. Despite
the plethora OF such literature, this book
ought not to be passed by. 1t is readable.
and 1t gives more than Napoleon lore; 1t
tends toward true literary culture.-rD.
Appleton Co.. ii. Gregory, Proyidence
We are getting great deal OF informa-
zion about Japan now-a- days. 1t Is not
altogether certain how much better we |
are getting to know that country and its |
peculiar people. As yet we have got but |
little except the individual Impressions of |
writer's whose acquaintance with Japan |
mas been brief and superficial, many |
OF them having made a hurried |
trip merely for the sake of collecting
material for book. Mr.. Henry T. Fipck
does not tell us how long he stayed in
Japan to get inspiration and fact Cor his
in Tay k..t l.
long enough to gather many facts OF in
terest, some OF which seem to be new.
The tone OF this book is argumen-
tative, often combative. The writer
unconsciously assumes that jap.
an and the japanese need defense
and Justification, and he seems to have
undertaken to show that they are quite
as good. or little better, than we are
here In America. / do not get aitogethe
convinced by his presentation Of his case
However nearly right he may be in his
conclusions, he Is not always happy in
his way of-puttiDg his arguments before
his readers. He excuses too much:
he pleads equal degradation In
Occidental countries to offset Oriental
vice. But, putting aside all these limita-
lions, there is really much to be gained by
The reading of Mr.. Fincks book. One
will wish it better written, and that the
ieprecatory tone had not been so freely
'dopted. But the sum of all book writers
,annot be found in any one volume. Mr..
fincks book is very handsomely printed
md bound, from the Scribners' press.
q Rounds, Providence.
municipal Home Rule" by Professor
frank j. Goodnow Of Columbia College is
he first issue of the Columbia University
'ress, through Macmillan. IL is a study