The National tribune., 1896-06-04
RECENT LITERATURE.

THE WHITE VIRGIN. BY George GissIng. Pub
iished by Rand, MoNslly & Co. Chicago.
THE MIGHTY ATOM. By Marie Corsr Pub
li]hed by J. Il. Lippincott Co.. Philadelphia. For
sale by Breniano. Washing, Price Sl.e5.
Marie CorelIi is putting out a good many
stories these days but none OF these new ones
seem to have so much power as her earlier pub
i'cations; albeit, this is q pretty story, told
with certain charm. The story is Of the
short life of 4 precocious, sweet-tempered boy,
whose father wished him to become a brilliant
scholar in the classics and sciences and 10 be
educated without any religious beliefs what
ever. Tho little fellow studies and ponders
over what it all means, and ends his own life
when he is about IL years old, and SO the story
is finished.
REGENERATION. Published by G. p. Putnsm's
sons New York. For sale by Woodward x
Lothrop, Washington. Price ST.
reply TO Max Nordau's Degeneration"
with an introduction by Professor Butler. Of
Columbia College. The author, whose name IS
not known, in q series Of easy-going arguments,
replies to Nordau's various assertions as TO the
tendencies Of our times. and TO his criticisms OF
Tolstoi, Wagner. and Ibsen. He accuses Nor
dan OF lacking logic and n sense of humor. of
having undenably German prejudiees, and Of
lacking wisdom in general. The philosophy OF
the book is easy and simple, with none of the
brtliiaDcy that undoubtedly characterizes Nor
dsn's writings. bntpossessing a good deal ofcOm-
mon sense. The author is IN English man, and
not without prcjudices; though perhaps English
preJudiccs are more reliable than German. The
book is interesting. We are living in an age OF
corresponding aims and wants and of increased
skill in all activities to supply them :; OF social
problems growing more and more complex and
an increasing interest IN higher ethics; of mar
veious sciences and broadening creeds. Nor
dau challenged it all, and though we are most
of US more optimistic than he, we still recog
nize some excuse for his work while we seek
ont arguments to prove his false.
THOSE GOOD NoRMANs by "Gyp." Pub
lisiied By Rand, MeNaly & Co.. Chicago. Price
"Gyp." one Of the cleverest and best known
of French writers of the day, has in this. her
latest volume, taken for her theme Norman
family of recently acquired wealth, trying to
make its way into the inner circles Of fashion
able society. The characteristic trait of all
" Good Normans" skill in commercial affairs
a skill that seems 10 amount TO an absorbing
love of good bargain, or, in homely lam
guage, to "stinginess lis keenly depicted.
The characters Of the story are the father,
Monsieur Detrac, man. good hearted enough,
rather pleasant jovial, good looking; Ma
dame, the mother, coarse in manner, looks
and conversation, exceedingly anxious to es-
tablish herself among the fashioDabies and
supremacy unconscious of snubs dictatorial to
her husband and children and hard 10 her
servants; the three children, a coarse elder
son, an impertinent younger one, and a girl,
Ameniade, who is the most lovable of all. She
has wit, beauty and honesty. She, however,
shows herself also good Norman" as she
admits herself with q little regreiful note in
the last sentences of the hook when she prom
ises to marry an insignificant, rude little fell
low who comes of titled family. The diaIog
stll Nf II -
the family discussions and social episodes are
most excsllently depicted.
AN ART FAILURE. BY John w Harding
Published by f. Tennyson Nicely, New York.
For sale by Woodward & Lo,hrop. Washington.
Price 81.
story Of the Latin Quarter in Paris An
American artist. a rich Euglshrnan with Doeti-
cal aspirations and the Americans sweetheart,
are the chief characters. The Amer
lean, who has been dsowned by his parents
because he sticks to his art work. fails with his
pictures and after nearly starving and freezing |
TO death, attempts to make way with his life. |
Madeline, famous model, whose lover has for |
'aken her and who is on tho bridge for the /
same purpose as the artist, forgets her own woe,
saves the American, takes him homo, nurses |
b i'm. and keeps him in comfort with her earn
Egs as model. When he is well again she bids |
him farewell forever, but he has fallen In love |
with her in the meantime. and implores her to |
marry him, which she does. They have a short |
lime of happiness together, and then failure |
md poverty return, and suicide is again re-
sorted to, successfully by the wife, the husband |
being saved by the big Englishman, who sends |
him back to America. Madeline is an interest |
ng character. simply portrayed. She has
enough truth in her TO turn from her past life, /
With its careless loves, to the new one as wife /
If the American, and to maintain her position /
with dignity and honor
Magazines and Notes.
The Recognition Of Cuban Belligerency is /
he title of an essay by Prof. Amos s. Hershey,
ust issued by the American Academy OF Po-
itical and Social Science. The purpose of the
,aper is to demonstrate the undoubted right /
md propriety on the part of the United States
government to accord beligerent rights to
he Cuban insurgents. Price Is cents. Address
he American Acamedy of Political and Social
science, Philadelphia.
The Metric System, which has recently been
'efore both Congress and the British Paria-
nent, is discussed by Herbert Spencer in q |
cries of letters to appear in Appleton's Popular
Science Monthly for June. Mr. Spencer vigor-
'usly opposes the further spread of the system,
nd DOintS the adj To- o,a hosaJ or,