The record-union., 1896-04-05

loves as true woman should. and is
called upon to suppress, not sacrifice,
some Of her dearest beliefs. Chief among
these was the belief in healing power
through prayer and faith. 1t is not
exactly Christian Science story, but
borders closely upon Il. The character
Of Deodora is not that, however, of a
fanatic or bigot. A more lovable,
frank, konest and gentle character in
woman has never been depicted by a
female writer. So, too, the David of
the little story is an admirable man,
one virile and erect with native dig
nifty and open and loving with the sin
cerity of true manhood. All in all, it is
a lovely story and one full of good les
sons, very helpful, very comforting, and
brilliant with the example of resigna-
ton, cheerfulness and love that beams
from the sincere Christian life. that
moves in the hope and cheer Of sunshine
and peace.
Russian Portraits" is the title of one
of the "Autonym Library" press Of G.
p. Putnam's Sons, New York. It is by
Vte. E. Melchoir de Vogue of the
French Academy, and is translated by
Elizabeth L. Cary. The translator has
given us a pretty and interesting
sketch of the author. He comes Of the
French nobility, was born in '4S near
Annonay, fought in the Franco-Prus-
sian war, was wounded and made pris-
oner and received military decorations
for bravery in the field In II he en-
tered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and served at Constantinople, and at
st. Petersburg from '76 to 'S2. During
this period he gained an intimate
knowledge Of Russian affairs and the
people. Here, too, he fostered his hu-
manitarian ideas, which are we'll re-
flected in this little volume. 1t is his
creed that the literature of a nation
should come close to the people. 1t is
his belief that there should remain no
divorce between the obscure multitude
and the little sects of literary men, an
expression that sounds strangely from
one who comes Of a class that holds it
self as exclusive and aloof from popular
sentiment. In politics the Vicomte has
been, since 1890, Republican Conser-
vative, and as such he became a mem
Der of the Chamber of Deputies of
France in 1893. "His tales" says the
translator, "of Russian peasant char
acter are invested with that fine sin
cerity and freedom from self-conscious-
ness that give stability to art That
which portrait painter should be, he
is; and because he has made portraits
in the true sense Of the word, of his Rus
sian types, drawing forward their in
most characteristics, l have ventured
somewhat freely to translate the title
Of this collection as Russian Por-
traits
''The light grace of the French idiom
is usually, and, I am tempted to be-
lieve, unavoidably, crushed in it's trans
fer to the English tongue. But trust
that through even so imperfect an inter-
Iretation as I have been able to give
that beauty of style which depends
upon the beauty Of the thought, will
not be wholly lost from M. de Vogue's
pages"
"The Rule Of the Turk and the Arme-
nian Crisis is the title of volume
from the press of G. P. Putnam's Sons,
New York, by Professor Frederick D.
Greene. It is profusely illustrated. It
is of absorbing and tragic interest. It
Is story Of outrage, persecution for
faiths sake and of legalized murder.
that makes the coldest blood boil with
Indignation. AS Josiah Strong, who
writes the Introduction, well says, it is
an important book, dealing with a
burning question, and in a way to COM
nand public attention and inspire pub
lie confidence. Professor Greene was
thoroughly equipped for his task Birth,
residence and travel in Turkey have
made him personally acquainted with
the situation which he discusses, and
the independence Of his position ena-
hles him to write without restraint and
without prejudice. After nearly four
years of service as a missionary of the
American Board in Van, the center of
Armenia, during which no criticism of
his course was ever made either by the
board or by the Turkish Government
he was recently ordered by his physi-
clan to return to America. Having re-
signed his connection with the Ameri-
can Board, he writes as the represent
ative of no society, religious or politi-
cal, and is connected with none. In is
suing this book he is simply discharging
what to him is personal and unavoid-
able obligation, and as he frankly
avows its authorship, it will be impos-
sible for the Turkish Government to
hold anyone else responsible for 1t.
The author shows that the case of
the subject races in the Ottoman EN-
pire is desperate, that there Is no hope
OF reform from within, and that relief
must therefore come through the inter-
ference of the Powers of Europe. Their
action depends largely on the support
of the public Public opinion" there
fore, must be brought to bear upon
this case," as Mr.. Gladstone said in the
House of Commons six years ago. Since
then there has been added a new chap
ter of horrors, and the demand for de-
clsive action in the name Of our COM
mon humanity has become more urgent
The facts furnished by this book ought
to arouse such public opinion as will
justify and compel prompt and efficient
action on the part of the Powers.
From w. F. Purnell, Sacramento, we
have "The Bachelor and the Chatting
Dish," a volume by Deshler Welch. It
is illustrated by Francis Day and George
R. Hahn, and is from the press of F.
Tennyson Nicely, New York and Chi
cago. 1t contains many valuable reci-
pes gathered from Fascinating sources
in cookery records Of "triumphs of
well-known bon-vivants in clubs, yacht
ing circles, army and navy, and the
dreams Of fair women-Heaven bless
'em!" It is an amusing book, a clever
'one, and gives its directions in such a
witty way, and with so much anecdote
woven in, that it is a pleasure in an off,
hour to read it here and there. We