The herald., 1896-10-04

acquitted, the burly miller did not re-
gain favor until the little nurse, whom
Grath had now come to love, brought the
tidings to the village of Undervale that
dying confession about the attempt to
murder the keeper, which cleared up all
the mystery. And this brings in sight
the end of a pretty story, story that
can be commended as wholly clean,
simple and charming.
THE LAW OF CIVILIZATION AND
DECAY, AN ESSAY ON HISTORY.
By Brooks Adams. The Macmillan
Co., New York.
Here Is volume of great promise, be-
cause 1t treats of the vital issues of the
day in a reasonable compass and upon
a well considered plan. The arrange
ment of the matter Of the book is we'll
nigh perfect, and it has very ingenious
and generous index.
In the preface Mr.. Adams-an Adams
who writes Quincy, Mass. after his
name, and has long been known to mag
azine readers-sets forth the main ideas
of the work, insisting before and above
all else that the essay is free from any
preconcerted bias The ruling topic
Of the volume is Modern Capitalization
and the governing forces in the world,
such as landlordism. The money power,
etc., are kept constantly in view as the
discussion goes on. Not the least
timely and forcible feature is the con-
sideration of banking, coinage and cur
rency questions as affecting business
and civilization in the worlds history.
In a broader way of treatment Mr.. Ad-
ans considers all the factors of civil
zation and the things that have marked
it's occasional arrested development and
decay. Especially interesting is his
treatment Of the influence of savagry
upon civilization, by the Introduction of
new blood and new forces into the COM
munity
The book comes to us too late this
week for the full treatment it deserves,
but it will be considered again and be
quoted from, as opportunity offers.
Meantime it has our hearty endorse
ment as meaty volume.
LOU. A novel, By Baron Won Roberts.
Translated from the German by Jessie
Haynes. New York: American Pub
fishers corporation.
This large and finely printed volume
from the American Publishers corpora
ton deserves a fuller mention than the
two which have been noticed above, and
greater praise, as we'll. Less than
score of years ago German literary cir
cles were made aware of new star in
the person Of Baron Won Roberts, who
had already made a name for himself
as soldier He was, at the time of
which we speak, forty years old, AMI
although he had been devoted student
and had written not a little, he was
wholly unknown to the literary world.
In 1882 a grand prize was offered in Ber
lin for. the best short story. How Won
Roberts won it, and at once became
known as the father of the modern short
story in Germany is entertainingly told
1NvyA n md Noc tv,f fbn for to
the volume before us. "It" was the title
Of the story which captured the prize
and the public at the same time, and it
was rapidly followed by For His
Names Sake" "Revanche," and others.
Lou" is slave, and the story opens
a colOrless nobleman, is found dead in
his apartments, the whole affair being
shrouded in deepest mystery. A more
eloquently told and captivating story we
have not read in many day. 1t shows
the simplicity and thoroughness of
treatment always to be found in the
best German literature.
THE STATEMENT OF STELLA MA
BERLY, by F. Anlsey. author of The
Giants Robes, etc. D. Appleton 6,
Co., New York.
Here is a girls sketch of herself, and
what happened to her in a somewhat
troubled If not remarkable career-a
girl who had "a kind of irregular beau
ty, the cleverness and audacity which
girls admire in one another, and, too,
the crowning charm of uncertainty and
caprice"
She was, at her coming out-this is
an English story, with much of the cos
mopolitan in it-"soon surrounded by
well groomed, sport loving young Eng
lishmen, not by any means intellectual,
and who, under the influence of senti-
ment, seemed more stupid than they
really were.'
Well, the recital, the Statement"
goes on, full Of worldly wisdom as the
events of life open, but with increasing
uncertainty, to rather unhappy end
ing. 1t is story without dialogue, but
the experiment appears to be quite sue
cessful. q
MEMORIALS OF A SHORT LIFE:
A Biographical Sketch of W. r. A,
Gaussen, With Essays on Russian Life
and Literature. Edited by the Bish-
op of Stephney.
Here is very handsome volume, pub
lished by T. Fisher Unwin, London, and
whose full purpose is set forth in the
above title. The Introduction, by Bish-
op Borwne, gives a charming account
of the young English scholar, who had
determined to make Russia better
KNOWN TO the world than it had ever
been. The volume contains, besides the
introduction referred to, a memoir of
Gaussen, by his sister, two lectures on
Russian life and literature, a series of
most interesting letters, and q transla-
ton, The Curse of Talent.
1t is most charming hook, and pret-
tily illustrated.
A LONELY MAID, by the Duchess (Mrs
Hungerford.) j. B. Lippincott Co.
Philadelphia
This is No. 1856 of the Select Library
series, one Of the best lists of novels. by
the way, that has ever come before the
reading public, as has been SO often
said of them.
The Duchess has written something
hike two dozen long stories, of which this
is an average in scope ana STYLE 1t is
not, as every reader knows, the highest
order of romance, but there is a. certain
popularity in the treatment of her SUBJ
ject that makes each new volume well
l5me to large list of readers We
cannot praise the Duchess" but that
does not matter, perhaps, since She has
gone on so long without the help of
critics.
A COURT INTRIGUE, by Basil Thomp-
son. d. Appleton g. Co., New York.
This is No. POI of the famous Town
and Country Library series, and is a
most original and striking story. The
scene opens in Brittany. A young Eng
lishman was on pleasure trip In this
remote part of the continent, and his Gu