The morning times., 1897-01-03
BOOKS and THEIR MAKERS
Canada, Neglected, Is Finally
Given a Worthy History.
NEW BOOK OF STEVENSON'S
Reviews of the Last Books to Take
Their Place on Library Shelves
During the Old Year.

@ANADA'S history is a closed book to
I most readers, even students. This is
because the library of the Domiaiuns
history is markedly limited, and the
majority and best of such books as
exist are unavaiia bic to English read .rs, as
, they We're written in French. These CON
siderations accent the Importance aId
assure the welcome OF a history OF the
Dominion OF Canada last week, published
by the Putnams, in their valuable Stories
of the Nations series. This volume might
have come earlier. Ii stands forty xth
in the list of histories, and yet its relation
to the United States and measured by the
interest, political and social, which we
should have in our Immediate neighbor, it
could have been well placed in the first five
or six.
The narrator OF this story OF Canada is
| DR.. j. q. Bourinot, a gentleman of official
| eminence and polite learning He gives eyl-
dence throughout this book OF his scholar
| ship and literary accomplishments. He has
written comprehensivey ia compressed
space, giving US sketchily, but completely,
a story which extends back TO the GAVIN
| of discoveries at the end of the fifteenth
| century, and covers the making Of prov
| ince almost cuextenSiye with the area OF
| the United states.
Canada is an important factor in inter
| national economy, especially to Us. IL is
| a magnificent unworked deposit Of riches
| which are awaiting further progress IN
! scientific engineering to our the realities
OF Persian dreams into the conqueror's
| lap. We are accustomed to look upon our
| Northern height or as frozen country
| scarcely worth while. No one can rise
| from a reading of DR.. Eourinots history
| retaining such ignorant and UNIV orthy
| prejudiceS. Canada is not only province
| OF present cmincnce and inmeaSufable
promise, but its past is one of highly col
ored romance which challenges the IN
| terest and admiration OF every reader. The
| Dominion has had its beginnings, growth,
! yicissitudes, wars heroes and history. The
early French explorers even developed the
| geography of our Mississippi valley for us.
| The story OF LaSalle and Joliet, Marquette
| and Champlain, Wolfe and n ontcalm :c-
! calls to everyone, in a vague way at least.
| spirited bravery and romantic adventures.
The conquest of Caulsia has been uIItl
| lately battling against primitive natural
enemies. The peaceful French peasantry
| had little TO engage them except the aG-
verse conditions OF climate and primeval
I nature. The slow building Of nation
| was interrupted but once by war Nf
man against man. Until dozen years
ago tie Canadians concerned themselves
! not at all with politics and lived lives
| that were epiCs in peace and domestic
| braN cry. But Us soon as the disengaged
! national mind wandered from its habitual
| considerations to new questions trouble
| began The Riel rebellion Of 50 was
| followed last year by the Introduction
| OF the school question into politics, and
! they seem TO presaGe period OF internal
| agitation for the hitherto Arcadian province.
! The seifishness and intrigues of politicians
| afford dry reading. Canada's best lis
tory Is IN her past, in the fortitude II
| pioneers, the conquest OF nature, the nd
ventures with the red men, the romance
| of Quebec, and the peace OF happy people.
! This IS the history which DR.. BourInor
| has written admirably and TO the certain
! pleasure Of every one into whose way
his work may come.