Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-03

Cana doubled the Cape or Good liope'
in 1917 Martin Luther nailed upon the
door OF the Wittenberg church his ue-
nunciation OF papal indulgences; In ltoO
the Wars OF the Roses closed with the
battle OF Bosworth. and the accession
TO the English throne OF the Tudor dy-
nasty. In 1873 William Caxton estap-
lIshed a printing-press in London the
first fruition among the English people
OF the benedictions Of Guttenbergs great
invention in the closing years OF the hrst
half of the century. 1t was the epoch
OF the Reformation, and its consequent
wars. OF the renaissance OF art IN ltaly,
and the opening TO European shipping
through the great highway or the seas
OF commerce With Asia and America
This book is too small volume TO con-
TAIN moro than a brief resume OF the
history OF the century. and II does not
profess TO do more than 10 give briet
outline OF Sir Thomas More'S lie anu
services with a birds-eye. view OK the
leading incidents OF contemporary MS
tory, and the most prominent actors
IN Church and state. We can only re-
greet that our author circumscribed MS
labors within so narrow a compass. IRIS
small volume gives abundant evidence
OF his preparation and ability for much
more extended and ambitious venture
into the historical field.
His view Of the life and character OF
Sir Thomas More shows a most friendly
estimate OF his high personal merit ana
a charitable conformation OF his partci-
nation In the errors Of his day. This es-
innate Of More's worth Is not singular
one. The common consensus Of pos
terity accords to him more. perhaps
than to any other public man or tne
Tudor regime, a loving reverence. lie
was pure in private life, brave and In
corruptible in high public Office, ana
sacrificed his life to stern fidelity TO
principle.
The chapters devoted to the events and
men of his continent are very con-
densed. but are delightful and graphic
pictures. Especially so are those de-
voted to the Italian Renaissance, with
the brief biographical sketches Of MI
chael Angelo, Da Vinci. Correggio. RAJ
phael, and Machiaveli. His description
of the rise and elimination Of the Me-
dici dynasty in Florence IS made the
occasion of some we'll chosen words oil
warning TO men Of our own time and
country, which commend themselves TO
thoughtful consideration.
The great religious movement OF the
century is, of course, prominently set
mus, etc, and the incumbents of the
Papai See are presented with discrimi-
mating care.
The volume is full Of interest, and we
lay it down after few hours Of great
literary pleasure, with a sincere regret
that there was not more Of it 10 read.
A. BIBLOGRAPHY OF TEXAS. Being
a Descriptive List Of Books, Pamphlets,
and Documents Relating to Texas
in Print and Manuscript, Since 1886, In
Guiding a Complete COLLATION. OF the
Laws. with an Introductory Essay on
the Materials OF Early Texas History
BY c. w. Rains, Member OF the Texas
Historical Society, Member Texas
Academy OF Science. Austin, Texas
Published for the Author by the Gam
mel Book Company. 1896.
This is a highly-creditably printed vol
! ume of 2s5 pages. royal octave, in d
limited edition Of 800 copies. Price, ST.
The compiler, a graduate Of Princeton
! College, served throughout the late war
| 1876, and has since usefully served his
| state as county judge OF Van Zandt and
Wood counties. and as superintendent
| of public instruction for the former
| county
He has been, for a number OF years
| engaged with preparation Of the biblio-
graphy, and has had the further advan-
tage of reference for four years in the
| State Library.
The list Of books IS comprehensive, and
! includes fully 1000 authors, and more
than 100 titles In English, French, Span.
fish, German, etc.
There is also d collation. Of the laws
newspapers Of the republic, and Of an
cent manuscripts.
The true student will appreciate the
value of a photography Possibly, the
most complete Of such works Of any OF
the States Of our Union is that Of Ohio
published some years ago, by Peter @
| Thomson, of Cincinnati There are bib
| Biographies - some OF the other States
but Of the Southern States, thus far
that under review and one Of NORTH
Carolina, by the indefatgable Professor
Stephen =. Weeks, now Of the Bureau
OF Education, Washington, have only
been published. Mr.. John Paul, OF Har
risonburg, however. has prepared one OF
| Virginia, which, 1t IS hoped, she Will ere
long be sustained to publish.
sPALDINGs BASEBALL GUIDE FOF
1896. Copiously and Handsomely
Illustrated. Baseball Statistics, Re
cords, and Points Of the Game, in Pitch
ing Batting Fielding, and Base-Run
ming. Statistics of the Minor Leagues o.
the Country and the College Records
Those of Yale and Harvard for Twenty
Years Past. In Short, a Baseball
Manual. Almost Indispensable to Al
Who Would Understand the Game, anC
Follow the National League Through
the Seasons Playing. American Sports
Publishing Company, pa Broadway
New York City. Pp. zoo Ten Cents.
Tn RehaIf Of Poyerty