Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-17
Hook Notices.

on THE PHRONOCRAT. By Slack
Worthineton. Boston: The Arena Pub
fishing Company. 1855. Paper back. j.
mo- IS pages. Price. % cents.
This is not book for cursory reading
II challenges in the outset thoughtiul
consideration in the definition Of its
new coined word Phronocracy ITO ex-
press a meaning between Democracy and
Plutocracy," and its bold assertion Of the
principles upon which a Phronocratic
policy or government should be based.
These principles are announced by the
author TO be:
/. All taxation TO be direct and for
revenue only, on fixed property only
. Cumulative taxation on this property
held for exclusive private use.
8 No man to vote who cannot read and
write English, and pays annual rent for
his residence or taxation upon a residence
owned by himself. Men Of property to
have cumulative votes in proportion to
such rent or taxation.
4 The circulating medium TO be based
on fixed property, and redeemable in gold
coin only.
5. Nothing to be done by the Federal
Government which the local authorities
are competent to do, and rethinS by gov
eminent that individuals can do
9. The proper purpose Of government
Is protection against foreign aggression,
as long as separate governments exist.
and against domestic Instruction. as long
as a tendency towards that exists.
7. All systems OF governmental or CO.
operative ownership or management Of
business affairs TO be discouraged.
Some Of these appear TO be pretty start
10 relieves
the situation somewhat by the assurance
that lit is not here proposed 10 change
anything radically, but simply TO sug-
gest measures for relief along lines from
which alone il is thought relief can come
While the propositions OF the author
cannot be expected TO command ready as
sent. they are ably and instructively ar
cued. and the time necessary for a
thoughtful reading OF the book will not
be unprofitably expended.
THE CHAIN OF GOLD; OR. LIN GRAN
MED ROCKS. a Boys Tale Of Adj
venture on the Wild West Coast of
Ireland. BY Standish O'Grady. author
Of Finn and His Companions" etc.
New York: Dodd. Mead d co. 1893.
Cloth. i mo- So.
The subtitle Of this book Is very de-
ceptive in it's suggestions. The Wild West
is so identified in our parlance with
cowboy-life and Irish adventure "a so
associated with the rollcking pen Of
Charley O'Malley and Handy Andy, or
the wide pathos Of Celtic pauper-
life that We are il-prepared for the
entertainment realized I'm the reading OF
this book The heroes of this adven-
ture are two well-known boys. who,
after the most perilous experiences in
Il fearful storm upon the Irish coast, are
cast upon a rocky ridge Astounding In
caves. Their boat Is lifted high upon
the rocks, but, fortunately. SO far pre-
served as TO secure TO the castaways
some store Of provisions and utensils,
with which they had embarked upon
their escapade The description Of the
storm is graphically and powerfully writ
ten, and the narratives Of their adj
ventures during an imprisonment Of
months upon the rocks IL told i'm Il pic
turesque and entertaining style. To
those, whether men or boys VINO are
fond of such literature as Robinson
Crusoe" and the "SWss Family Robin
sons" this book will be a source OF great
interest and pleasure.
LIdTH. A ROMANCE BY George Mac
donald. author Of "Donal Grant" etc
New York: Dodd. Mead Il co. 1885.
Price. $l.25. PIP. SJl.
We have persevered through this work
more from curiosity than from any in
terest which IL inspired. II Il be intended
as "A sort Of allegory. or satire. We have
been unable to appreciate its purport
Ii carries us back TO the days Of Adam
/ and Eve. and deals largely with skeletons
who talk. eat. and drink; with cruelty
| life end death. and monsters. We We're
Interested i'm what the author narrates
/ about the little ones" but even with
them he connects a great many things
! that ara absurd, and when H. takes them
up 20 Heaven elephants and other ami
mails are allowed 20 enter with them
The most ineligible chapter In the book
| r. entitled "a grOiesque tragedy" and con-
/ tains an account. Of an awful quarrel
/ and fight between two nude skeletons
man and neglected wife. She first ties up
| his shattered knee. but ends by breaking
/ his other leg with n stick. Their recrimi-
! nations border on vulgarity. The au-
/ thor may have intended this as "a severe
/ satire upon certain marriages in high
| life. The husband had been a lord.
| THE sCALAWAG. BY Grant Allen. au-
| thor of Blood Royal" etc New York:
The Cassell Publishing Company. 437
pages.
This work can be well recommended for
| Its style. its story. and its import. Many
| persons might be misled by its title and
| be set TO recalling that nelarous charac-
/ ter who figured amongst us during our
| woful days of reconstruction. But here
We have something almost entirely Eng
4 iish A certain Philadelphia million
heiress somewhat of the paryenue order.
| IL introduced, and she tries to buy our
here. Paul Gascoyne, for the baronetcy
| TO which he is entitled. but which the
| acknowledgement and misconduct OF his
ancestors. including his own father, have
| rendered worthless. But Paul refuses TO
walk into her paIlor." marries a highly
| estmable woman, without fortune. and
has TO struggle for a living. At length
| he is enriched by the Will OF Il curious
| old man, who loved him. Then he and
| his Nea were reinstaied I'm his barony
and enjoyed and adorned his title.
THE SECOND JUNGLE BOOK. BY
Rudyard Kipling. Decorated by John
Lockwood Kipling. G. j. L. New York
| The Century Company. 32i pages.
Price $3.50.
Those who have read Kipling's Jungle
Book" which. 1t has been welli said. has
become "a classic In juvenile literature.
will need TO urging TO peruse the present
volume. The Second Jungle Book" like
| the first, Is addressed u children. but