The record-union., 1896-05-17

derSon, which is just out from the press
of Harper Bros, New York, in an ex-
ceedingly handsome volume, we have
some very delightful reminiscent writ
ing by a native of Sacramento, Mary
Anderson De Navarro, the distinguished
artist now retired from the stage. Mrs.
Narvarro tells the story of her dra-
matte life in a simple, effortless way,
that is altogether engaging. She tells
of her birth in this city, of her visit in
the hight of her dramatic career to Sac
ramento, and the splendid reception she
received here at the hands of Governor
Stoneman, the old Bric-a-Brac Club,
the Pioneers and citizens generally at
the Art Gallery. Though her audience
was surprisingly small the night she
played in her birth city, she speaks
most kindly and lovingly Of Sacramento
and its people, saying that though the
artist was not appreciated, evidently
the woman was honored, and in way
that will hnger in her memory as one
OF the sweetest events of her life. Miss
Anderson tells us of her entrance upon
her dramatic career very modestly and
very charmingly. She reciteS briefly her
early trials and successes, and dwellS
most upon the social events of her life;
her meeting with statesmen and SOL
diers, authors, artists and noblemen,
and the impression these made upon her.
There is some criticism of some of these
people, but it is very gentle. She dwells
especially upon her visit to and acting
at the home of Shakespeare, her meet
ing with Booth, Gladstone, Tennyson,
Irving, Barrett, Barnum, Wilkie Col
liRS, with letters from the latter and
from Booth, and her association and
correspondence with a host of literary,
political and dramatic notables. She
rather suddenly, from time to time,
drops off into philosophizing upon art
and its methods, and analysis of her
own art and emotions in dramatic ac-
fion. But these rests by the way" in
narrative are really invitations to full
reading of the volume, which has the
high virtue of not being one particle
self-laudatory, not a particle boastful.
On the contrary it is as modest as is
the graceful and honored actress whose
pen records the pleasant memories she
has of her stage life. Perhaps the most
interesting portion of this engaging
volume is that in which Nine Navarro
tells of her first visit to England, and
of the English public. Her triumph is
very delicately and modestly recorded
She gives the reasons for her retiracy
from the stage very frankly. Simply
and briefly it was growing distaste for
public life, and a longing for the do
mesticity which she now enjoys There
Is no reflection upon the stage in her ex-
PLANTATION, nor any depreciation of the
I,,+ !; l.
ness of the artificial life of the actress
Miss Anderson is unintentionally severe
upon the local press of Sacramento for
its criticisms of her on the occasion of
her visit to the place of her birth. She
was misinformed, that is all. Not all the
local press spoke lightly of her dramatic
work here. On the contrary the Rec
ord-Union" recognized her genius and
applauded her ability to the full of
merit, and it has the satisfaction Of real
izing that its judgment has been con-
firmed by the world at large that has
any knowledge of Our Mary and her
dramatic achievements. We shall re-
produce shortly in our dramatic col
umns extracts from the Memories. ~
1t is volume of uncut pages. royal
octave, contains several portraits; it is
put out in style highly creditable to
the publishing house of Harper Bros.
1.-The Mercantile Agencies Against
Commerce." is the title of paper-coy-
cred, large, compact volume by Will
lam Y. Chinn. 1t is from the press Of
Charles II. Kerr & Co, Chicago. It
opens with an introduction by Dudley
c. Wooten of the Dallas bar A sub
title of this unique work is in the form
Of the question, Are We a Nation OF
Swindlers and Liars?' Mr.. Wooten in
his remarks characterizes mercantile
agencies as monsters capable of and
doing infinite wrong and damage He
declares that the courts, as conserva-
tors of justice, have been led into grave
error wherever they have recognized
these agencies as in the line with pub
lie policy. LAS the essential factor in
all honest, healthy commercial credit
Is confidence and candor, so the dis
tlnguishing feature of the mercantile
agency is deceit, cowardice and Sc
crecy," says Mr.. Wooten. "Originat
ing in the commercial centers. where
corporate wealth and corrupt combina-
tions rule trade and credit, these agen-
cies have become a curse to all honest
commerce, a menace to individual en-
terprise and industry, and a perpetual
terror to every business that will not
pay tribute to their Golfers or acknowl-
edge allegiance to their tyranny. In
the train Of the larger establishments
have sprung up horde of lesser con-
Germs, disguised as collecting agen-
cies,' clearing houses commercial
bureaus, wherein pettifogging attor-
neys and irresponsible clerks compile
and disseminate a villainous litera ture
OF blackmail and extortion, in base imi-
aation of their metropolitan proto-
types"
The author himself speaks of the vol
ume as follows:
1.-THE main object herein is to arouse
one faculty of the understanding in re-
gard to a work which has been thrust
into the conduct of our private life--a
work which, as one of its representa-
tives said for it, is understood by few
the work of the mercantile agencies
Although claiming special privilege and
facilities, the exposition here given is
believed to be more substantial than
that commodity which, under the name
of confidential reports, is collected in
secret and sold to one part of the com
munity as the representation of the
character and responsibility of the
other. And these, whether affecting the
customers of the mercantile agencies, OF
the great body of citizens whose reputa-
fion is taken to make the material for
this traffic, but denied any understand
ing of what is done or said of them by
reason of a mystical assumption which