The herald., 1896-03-22


Long as thy God is God above,
Thy brother every man below
So long, dear land of all my love,
Thy name shall shine, thy fame shall glow.
SIDNEY LANIER.
4 4 4
The fault of the average novel of the
day lies so much more in matter than
in manner that it is uprising to run
across an author who mas something to
say and is not lacking in power of eA-
preston. Exasperating to the general
reader Jerkiness and incoherency may
be, ut 0, how much more welcome to
the eviewer, if they cover any reality
Of purpose, than the volumes of we'll
written inanities with which the edi-
torial table often groans!
4 =
The Waste Basket is the newest maga-
zine venture. published in Detroit, and
devoted to the interests of writer's of
the coming century.
\ r
JINGo LITERATURE-What the recent
war talk among the nations of the earth
is leading up to is we'll set out in an
editorial in the current number of the
Outlook. 1t points out that we are
following-so far as our noisy debaters
in congress go-the footsteps of Italy,
for instance, in our desire to have a
costly fleet and be recognized as a
great fighting power. Yet Italy is to-
day beaten and bankrupt country
beaten and bankrupt solely because
she departed from the traditional lines,
and was led into the "Triple Alliance"
that wsg to set the pace for all Euro
pean progress and destiny. Probably
we shall awaken from the mad dream
ing Of wars thut keeps us feverish
now, out meantime the business of con-
serva live men is to try and arouse the
nation to an awakening of reason.
y y r
Ole of the presidents most con-
eistent critics, so far as some political
acts are concerned, is moved to read a
sharp lesson to some western con-
eressmen who have been assailing his
speech before the board Of missions.
The editor produces the extracts
that we're objected to, an points out
that they do not prove or tend to
prove that the president was either Bit
ter or narrow in any utterance, but
was sound and philosophical through
out. The article closes by declaring
that the speech was on lofty plane,
and one which ought to have given sat-
isfaction to the whole American people.
It was an honor to him and to his Of
fee; but the criticisms passed upon it
are shame to those who make them
and to the Offices which they unwor-
thily fll." 1t is gratifying to note the
recent general Improvement in edi-
torial treatment Of the executive.
Flippant and brutal paragraphs are
n tquite 80 much the fashion as they
were few months ago.
d Il T
pleton & Co. For sale by stoll & Thayer.
This little paper-covered volume is
really what its alternative title names
1t romance of civilization. George
Ebers has written many engaging
novels, and as mere story-teller has
shown great resources. But his books
are more than stories. At the base of
the recital OF incident, or the picture of
the Imagination, is vein of thought
that is rich in suggestion. The Blue
Pike is a famous old tavern, and the
scenes enacted about i that make up
the material of the present story hap
pened long ago; but they are very
powerfully portrayed, and fine story
ia the result.
KENTUCKY CARDINAL. By JAMES LANE
ALLEN. Harper & Brothers. For sale by
Scott & Thayer.
This is a delightful little volume,
beautiful in make up and ingeniously
illustrated. The description of the
life in the quiet rural region in which
the scenes of the story are laid, is
charming throughout. Not even John
Burroughs has finer ear for summer
bird notes than this author of ours;
nor has Mr.. James ever done better
bit of literary portrait work than is
here done in the character of Georgiana
Cobb.
The book is much more a study than
story, but it is enough to make it one
of the best little ventures of the year.
1t can be heartily commended to every
lover of neat literary work.
BROADER GERARD. By A. CONAN DOYLE
D. Appleton IL Co. For sale by stott &
Thayer.
So long as Dr. Doyle keeps to his line
Of fiction, the inventive line, as in
Sherlock Holmes, he has hardly a
rival, but his is a halting gait when he
enters the domain of psychological
prospecting. as ic the case Of The Stark
Monroe Letters.
In the present volume we have him
at his best again, and we follow the
varying fortunes of Brigadier Gerard
with unf1agging interest," Although
practically connected story, and
many striking phases of life under the
First Empire are brought out in these
thrilling adventures. A striking char
acter, strong but simple, is here por-
trsyed. and from the first to the last
page it is recital of events that are
wholly charming and engrossing.
2 4 4
KoKoRo; HINTS AND ECHOES OF THE
! JAPANESE INNER LIFE. By LAFCADIo
HEARN. author Of Glimpses OF Unfamiliar
Japan, Out of the East, etc. A notice bly,
beautiful book, 16mo, gilt top, 81. %,
Houghton, Miiilin & Co.
Here is indeed new book, made up
from series of very keen and striking
papers on the inner life of Japan-Kor
koro, the heart, 1.-The heart of things"
There are fifteen topics treated of in
all, and yet one connected treatise in
fact. The most striking paper is
The Genius of Japanese Civilization,
and this is the way it opens: without
losing single ship or single battle,
Japan has broken the power Of China.
made new Korea. enlarged her own
territory and changed the whole politi.
cal face of the East" And thus we
said, "here is indeed a new book" 1t
is Japan since the great conflict that
has made her plOriOna AMONG tha ma.