The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-05

even occasionally DeTlOTms tne hCTDuhbiO iNesNA
turning his back upon himselt; but we prefer
to take the pleasanter course of treating him AZ
q benefaotor OF his species. q subtle humorist
whose unpremeditated efforts cntite him TO
rank among the choice spirits whose mission 10
is to amuse; wherein. perchance, we pay him .
greater compliment than we could by placing
him among our mere instructors. Mr.. Mathews
Is n prolific writer and ono who will. we trust,
long continue to Givo us the benefit OF his rofco-
tlons, and we feel that our humble efforts Will
in no wise deter him. for no may well say
with Bcnedick shall quips and sentence
and these paper bullets of tho BRAY.
awe q man from his humor2 MOI" And 50 we
are emboldcned TO select one or two gems from
the treasure house he has laid open to us. What
could be finer than the following picture of the
first violinist. in the opening lines of the bookf
"**+ All pomp, fire, hustle, enthusiasm. energy.
Now waving his bow high In the air, he silently
guides the harmony; now rapidly tapping on
the rest board. he hurrics the movements;
and again, bringing the violin to his shoulder.
he takes the leading strain, and high above the
crash of sounl, above the shrill blast of the
trumpet, tho braying of the horns. the ear
piercing notes of the hfe, the sobbing OF oboes.
the waiting of violoncellos, and all tho thun-
ders of the orchestra are heard, distinct.
and clear. the shrieking notes OF the fret
violin. Dressed In unimpeachable broedcloth.
with kids and linen of immaculate purity.
stamping his feet, wagginR his head "
and beating time with mad energy. he enters
heart and soul into the music, oblivious of all
things else: and all because he is the leader, and
plays the first violin"
After that magnificent rhetorical burst, de-
s%criptive OF the music OF the orchestra, how
effective is the sudden descent 10 the artists
"unimpeachable broad CLOTH" and his kids
= +" = OF immaculate purity tho. as to the
latter. we are left in doubt whether our author
refers to tho musicians growing family or not.
We hardly think he would have us be-
lieve that an artist SO inspired would
attempt to play the fiddle with his
gloves on. A finc contrast 10 provided in the
companion picture of the man who plays second
fiddle, whose "eye you never see in a fine frenzy
rolling, glancing from heaven to earth. from
earth to heaven, nor does his facile hand run of
in roulades of melody" in which the fiddler
is at least lucky in that his facile hand does
not run of, in roulades or otherwise for he as
suredly needs it in his business.
In a chapter on Concentration or Oneness
of Ain" Mr.. Mathews gives, In the case of -
learned American chemist. q remarkable in
stance Of what may be achieved by patient per-
severance: Beginning life as an obscure school,
master, and porting over Silliman's Journal by
the light OF n pine knot in n log cabin,
he was ere long performing experiments In
electromagnetic to English Earls." What
n vista of possibilities is here opened up Does
not the very brain reel nt the plation OF
the measureless wealth and fame that await tho
s~choolmaster who can. by the application of
INSTRUMENTATION TO English Earls." or
otherwise, succeed in infusing vitality into the
House of Lords? 1t is with reluctance that we
are compelled, by the exigencies Of space. to
leave this fascinating book. giving. in conclu-
sion. one extract from an altogether delightful
chapter on the Importance of Manner" 1T
Is related OF the late Mr.. Butler. of Providence,
X. l., that he was so obliging as to re-
open his store one night solely to supply a lit
tie girl with a spool Of thread which she
wanted. The incident took wind. brought him
a large run Of custom, and he died q millionaire,
after subscribing SAC. 600 toward founding Q
hospital for the insane.'
In Game Of Consequences" tho Merriam
Company Mr.. Albert Kinross tells the story Of
another woman who did" and we will do him
the justice 10 admit that he tells 1t frankly for
the sake of telling it, and does not seek shelter
behind the stalking-horse of any alleged moral
purpose, as did Nj. Grant Allen-wha
by the way, has much to answer for.
Jessica Clarke is a young woman with sea-
green eyes, fluffy hair. and absolutely no moral
principles. Left 10 make her own way In thu
world, she decides, after a short experience as
eoverness, that there are lots OF good things to
be had II only one is not too scrupulous as to
the means OF getting them. Having captured
the wandering affections Of a somewhat wooden
Captain of cavalry. this up-to-date young
woman throws herself into his arms and pro-
poses that. as marriage is out Of the question,
they should make other arrangements. These
other arrangements resolve themselves into q
suitable allowance and a cottage by the
Thames. where the green-eyed one set
ties down under the protection of tine
C~aptirg'-there is an atmosphere of mid
dle-ciass cockney g%entility about the book
that seems to make this spelling Of the gallans
warriors title more APPROPRIATED. After a few
months the Capting" goes to Switzerland,
where he spends "A great deal of time. and fills
a number ofpaGes of the book in talking three
volume-noVel philosophy with an ~ingenue,
while the Creen-eyed one beguiles her loneli-
ness in harmless dalliauce with n sentimental
and highly moral young man. Eventually she
and 1.-The Capting' go through the formulity of
a post-dated marriage ceremony, md the book
ends just ut the point where il might have be-
gun to grow interesting. as the reader may be
curious to know how such a union will work out.
Probably the case was summed up by the
melancholy Jacques in his benediction 70
Touchstone and audrey:
You 10 wrangl!ng; for thy loving voyage
Is but for two months victualled!
Those who love the larger life of the forest
and the mountain side. the scent Of the pine
trees. and the music of the running stream will
find something of them all in the little volume
of verso entitled "Haunts of Wild Game"
Charles Barker Bradford. The author, Mr..
Isaac Mcclellan, is the Nestor Of American
s%portsmen. and the fact that no is hale and
hearty to-day, Mt 80 years of age, is eloquent
testimony to the healthfulness OF that outdoor
life OF which he sings so well. Wild fowl shoot
ing, bear, moose, and deer hunting, the haunts
OF the wild turkey, and the life and habits Of
the lone gray wolf are but a few of the good
things that form the subject matter of these
verses, while best of all are the many num-
bers devoted to salmon, trout, bass. and pickerel
fishing.
Equally good In its way is the series of prose
essays by Mr.. Robert I. Morris. entitled Hop
kins's Pond, and Other Sketches" (Putnnms).
wherein the author discourses pleasantly ON