The times., 1897-07-11
impression of large hearts and valiant

rode to the festival lists on mean nag,
while the populace cried, ''How Is this.
the son of u chevaiier; be is mounted on
miller's horse?n or ..He is better fitted
to drive a team than take part in O
tournament or "He is fit only TO eat
soup!'' But the youth has the heart OF a
hero. lie sees his cousin, mounted SUI
perbly, on spirited horse, clad in shining
arInor. be begged that he might ride
into the contest on bis cousins horse and
clad in his mail. And the generous youth
acceded, else would no fair lady's eye
twinkle for the unfortunate one; else would
no fair lady's hand wave his colors.
AS the trumpets blew he rode into the
lists, and was challenged by oheyaIier.
He killed his horse at the first blow and
unseated the rider. Behold d valiant
squirrel exclaimed the heiaIds. But they
could not give his name, as he kept his
visor Gown. One after another there came
challengers before him, and he vanquished
item all; but he would no t raise his visor ill
victor unhelmetcd him.
Then came another challenger But the
youth in the borrowed mail recognized the
arms upon bis shield as those of h.s father,
and, lowering the point OF ms lance courte-
ously, he passed him and returned to his
position. He was at once challenged by an
other chcvaIier, who thought his action had
been prompted by fear. But even ne was
unhelmeted. Thus the youth ran fifteen
Courses successfully, when, in the sixteenth,
he was unhelmeted by Norman chevalier
orgreatskili, and was recognized as Rerlraed
de Guesclin.
That tournament was the turning point
So -
the ill-favored ohild OF large family, but
full of valor and full Of ambition Hence
forth he was to become famous as the savior
or Franae. "a national hero, important TO
French history Of the fourteenth century as
was Joan of AIc to the fifteenth.
The first succinct, readable life, given
English readers, of the famous constable If
France is that recently prepared by Enoeh
Vine Stoddard. Scattered and fra gneuta "
chronicles of his achievement are found in
TroissaTt and Cuvelhier, but the present
work presents all the IL tier coheTen tly and
CLOSED with thecharm CT a GracefulIiteTary ry
style.
The life of Guesclin is in part history cf
the decadence of that chivalry which at
tanned its maximum in the twelfth and Jnir-
teenth centuries. The gentler influences
which it ithadcxcited over a rude and ignorant
society, initS brilliant pageaats, its romance,
the songs of its tToubadOurs andfts devot ion
to wc:nen, were, Gays Stoddard, declining
and preparing TO make way for the 0ncGm-
ing Of an oIder ia which tie tights Of the
weak were to he ebetterprotected. The cross
bow, the battleaxe and the coat of mail
We're TO disappear before the power of gun
powder and military force was 70 be en-
plcyeG TO sustain and not TO desstTOy the
rights of the citizen
This offspring of Brittany is held in
national reverence as man who carried
his country through one of it's most trying
epochs. BE was the first TO feel the
resistance OF English military ascendaucy,
which again woald in the next century
have overwhelmed France but for the
Maid OF Orleans. His chivalry and patriot
ism enshrine him in an atmosphere almost
lesendery. be was a great and loval
captain, who, by the success of his arms.
lifted his native land from the depths Of
distress and dependency. and replaced her
firmly IN her place among the great nations
OF the earth. France does not forget that.
Guesclin is remembered, not merely as a
hero, but as a savior New York: G P
The recent tendency 10 better appre-
citation OF the blessings which nature holts
out FOR those who cherish her acquaintance
has gradually given growth TO the natural
lists library until it is now Of really as
tonishing proportion. The most signifi-
cant feature Of the book output for the
current year is the ascenGancy OF nature
looks breathing the science or the romance
Of the open air
To the already long list is added, this
month, another work OF value tothe scientist
and stimuIative of studlouS interest in the
mind Of its posSesSor and reader It is
Prof ComstOcE's ''Iusect Life" The work
is orderly, classified and built together
with appreciation for synthetic proportions,
textbook and book of reference, vet a
work which the author designs should
lead the reader into the fields and forests
forrccreation rather than study He makes
strong plea on this point He urges
teachers TO eligendcr interest and abandon
the cTamning system. To this end ne has
made his treatise as simple and attractive
as possible.
The work is divided into two rarts
In the second part are given general di
reCticns for collecting anti preserving in
sects II is designed that that portion
of the book VIII be used merely for refer
ercc aS occasion may require. In the
first part is outlined course Of study of
insect life. There are treated the parts
Of an insect, the beginnings Of a collection
and the interesting study of the metaInor-
phoses of insects, the classification Of the
insects and their near relations. then
follow chapters Gu the structure and HABITS
of insects living in particular localities,
as pond life, broot life, orchard life, forest
life and roadside life.
The study of insects is a powerful stirnu-
lus to intellectual growth. It has the
fascination of a curiosity, and the les
sons Iearnedin observation of Gods myriad
of minutiae reveal moral lessons OF eff
fecting import. Prof. Comstocks method
and experience as reflected in his work
on insect life deuomipate it one Of the
most interesting and valuable books in
this category. New York: d. Appleton
< Co. Washington: Woodward < Lothrop)
4 name whichmea more than any other
modern d;vine's TO those converSant with
the literature Of mode III missionary work, is
tlat of the Rev. Arthur T. PiersOn. He has
written a whole library on religions prop
Uganda and his books are among the most
plizeG of religious Bibliophiles. A new book
frcu his pen is thus acCountably interesting
and import His last is little dCCdeoimo
with the interrogative title: shall we
continue in siu? a vital question for he
levers answered in the WoTd Of God"
The book is the substance of addresses de
livered in Great Britain and Ireland in
1896. The topic of the book is ST. Paul's