The record-union., 1896-12-27

aoter of glaciers. the work of under
ground waters and what the sea does
to the land by erosion and other forces.
The interior of the earth is disclosed
| with its volcanic operations; coral reefs
and islands are explained and analyzed.
Fossils are examined and located their
| n'odincations traced to their causes and
their Importance shown In their revela-
| ton of the earth's age and growth.
Many of the less known fossils are
| Identified and false inferences refuted.
| The physiognomy of continents, mount
aims, coast lines, is delineated in a
| graphic manner, showing how character
| is impressed upon rock masses and val
| leyS. Many of the useful and more
common metals and minerals are con-
| sidered commercially and scientifically
| as are also building stones, soils and
| fertilizers. The work is comprehensive
| if not exhaustive. Into the space allot-
| ted is compacted a wealth of geological
| Information.
| Lyrics of Lowly Life" Poems By
| Paul Laurence Dunbar. With an in
PRODUCTION by W. d. Howells. 12mo.
| cloth, with portrait, 81 -. Dodd. Mead
& Co., publishers 149 Fifth avenue
New York. William Dean Howells has
written an introduction to this volume
of poems by Mr.. Dunbar, the young
negro poet. Mr.. Howells is not alone III
| his generous appreciation and recog-
milton of his work: indeed, he has
men of letters. The work is a most re-
/ ,.lyol Ill nd f,,1 1afi ion
There are three things illustrated in
| Mr.. Dunbar's volume, which will be OF
special interest to the scientific students
of his race; the negro's gift in telling a
story illustrated in the humorous and
dialect pieces; the negrO's serious rev.
| alation of his pa assion of love, and per-
| haps of far greater Importance just at
present, the negro's sense of verbal mel
| ody. OF the last, the entire collection
| of poems is a triumphant, well-nigh un-
| erring demonstration. If amy other
| member of his race has attained any
| more flexible or more obedient COM
| mand over metrical form, in fitting the
outer grace to the inner grace, any
| more varied shifting of the measures
to suit the varying fancies, any broader
| sweep across some of the illimitable
| states of meditation, any deeper yearn-
| ing of the great nights of the spirit. We
| would be glad to know where such work
| is to be found outside of the present
| volume. These poems should be as pop
| ular as those of James Whitcomb Ri
| ley, which, indeed, they resemble in not
few ways.
| Dragons and Cherry Blossoms is a
handsome volume by Mrs. Robert c.
Norris (New York: Dodd. Mead & Coz
1t is a beautifully printed, richly illus
| trated little book on Japan and her
| people. The pages are the result OF
| Mrs. Morris observations in Japan. In
very easy, graceful text she tells us of
| her first view of Japan, and the pain
| full surprise the Anglo-Saxo part of
| Yokohama gave her where she landed
expecting at once to step into Oriental
ism. She recites how her surprise passed
| away when she discovered the real city
| of her experiences in shopping; of a
| dinner of forrnality at kioto; of a
glimpse she had of royalty, and besides,
| there are several sketches most restful
| to read and giving US a pleasant look
| Into some of the customs, manners and
| domestic concerns of japanese life. A
| dainty, an attractive and a most read
| able volume.
| Some important questions of revenue
policy will be treated by David A Wells
| in the installment of his Principles of
| Taxation" to appear in Appletons'
| On. y Popular Science Monthly" for
| January. Among these are the use of
| the taxing power for purposes ulterior
! to providing for the expenses of the
| Government such as supporting par
| ticular industries, enforcing morality
| controlling paper currency, etc.
Il
| The Order of the Kings Daughters
| and Sons is described in an interesting
| and we'll illustrated article in Frank
| Leslie's Popular Monthly" for Janu-
| ary (New York;. The author is Louise
| Seymour Houghton, one of the leading
spirits in the organization. 1t contains
| portraits of the principal officers and
many attractive views. Another i'm
| portant paper in this number is one on
| Bryn Mawr College, by Madeline
| Vaughan Abbott, Secretary of that in
J stitution. 1t is the third article of the
series on American Universities and
| Colleges and is profusely Illustrated
with interior and exterior views of the
| buildings. General Thomas l.. Rosser
| contributes an able article on Personal
| Traits of Robert f. Lee" and there are
| papers on Canoeing Down the Rhine, -
The Egyptian Army The Philippine
| Islands" and Among the Waikato
| Maoris," all splendidly illustrated.
| Frank Lee Farnell, the editor of the
| magazine, writes of Books as Christ
mas Presents; there is some interest
! ing matter about plays and players;
| several excellent short stories are given.
| with an installment of Edith Sessions
| Tupper's fascinating serial. Father
| John" and the young folks department
| is as attractive as ever.
! "Macmllan's Magazine" for Decem-
| Der (Macmillan IL Co. New York and
| Ieondon) has these articles, all choice
| literature, than which Macmillan pre-
sents no other: The Secret of Saint
Florel' chapters XXIV.-XXVI); The
| Capital Of Paris" Christmas at By
| land" The Molly Maguires." "A Win
| Ter ; W ak. SneiIey al IrefnddOc. -
| A Race for Life The Roman Church
in French Fiction" "A Study in Colo
rial History
| 1T scarcely requires prophetic vision
to foresee the time when the art of
sleeping viii be Taught and studied as
! systematically in our schools of sci
ence as the physiology Of our nutritive
| and nervous systems. From the pre-