The record-union., 1897-06-13

receive at least respectful cOnSidera-
ton. Professor Charles H. Cooley, of
the University of Michigan, has recent
ly printed a pamphlet, entitled Gen
lus, Fame and the Comparison of
Races" publications of the American
Academy of Political and Social
| Science, No. 1917, Philadelphia, 35c),
Which forms an interesting contribu-
ton to this subject He fixes what is
meant by the term genius, the intel
lectuaI and social conditions under
which it arises, and endeavors to as
certain whether the production of great
men is a proper criterion of the excel
| Ience of various races. 1t is not so
/ much the results of the inquiry as the
attitude of the writer which will at
/ tract attention. There is always
something vague and uncertain about
such speculations, which prevents their
| carrying conviction, yet the subject
matter is so intensely attractive that
they are always received with interest.
| In Munich a prominent painter and
architect, H. Won Berlepsch, is now en-
, gagged in ceramic work, and is more
! over, very accomplished designer of
art furniture; while another Munich
+ artist 7. ROSl, a few weeks ago ex-
hibited some most successful wall-pa-
! pers. The new artistic poster move
ment, which by endeavoring to instilI
something of beauty into everyday life,
plays an important part in this con-
nection, is also arousing increased in
/ terest in Munich
AT Leyden no art club exists, but in a
delightful building Of the sixteenth CEN
tury the Lakenhal, which is used as
the Communal Museum, a beautiful
lighted hall was built some years ago
for the pictures of that collection. In
this hall the intelligent and indefatiga-
BILE cOnservator of the museum. c.
Verster, frequently organizes exhi-
bltions of art. One of the last collec--
tons, which took place in January, con-.
sisted of collection of paintings and
chalk drawings by S. Moulyn, a young
artist of The Hague Having made
serious and close studies of nature he
expresses in his picturesque bits of
landscape a singularly refined feeling
and proves himself a painter full of
promise.
Few books ever written have had so
large a sale as General Lew Wallace's
'Ben-Hur." The book had a singular
origin. Before and for some time after
the Civil War-I tell the story as the
author told it to me-General Wallace
was inclined to be skeptical on religious
subjects, particularly as to the divinity
of Christ. Chance one day threw him
in conversation with Robert G. Inger-
soil. Their conversation turned on re-
ligious topics, and Ingersoll presented
his views. Wallace listened, much i'm
pressed, but in the end remarked that
he was not yet prepared to agree with
Ingersou on the non-divinity of Christ
His companion urged Wallace to give
the matter careful study, declaring that
after so doing he would accept the In
gersoll view. After parting Wallace
turned the matter over in his mind and
resolved to give it the most thorough
investigation. For six years he.
thought studied and searched. THE
result Of my long study" said the
General, was the absolute conviction
that Jesus of Nazareth was not only
a Christ and my Savior, but that He
1 was also my Christ. my Savior and my
Redeemer That fact settled in my
own mind, began the writing of Ben
J Hur' "
But the book, when. finished, did not
easily find its way into print. A pre-
vious work of the author brought out
by Boston house had proved little
less than a failure, and this, firm po-
litely but positively refused to have
anything to do with "Ben-Hur." After
that it knocked yainly at the doris of
! several publishing houses. The Har-
! per's, doubtful also of its success,
! finally agreed TO publish it if General
! Wallace would secure them against
possible loss. This he agreed to do.
and the book was printed and placed
/ on the market. For a time it hung
! fire. At the. end of the first year less
! than 5000 copies had been Sold, and
1.-the book, was believed by, the pub
! fishers to have reached its -lmit.' Then
/. it fell into the hands of President Gar
/ field, who sat up over night to read
| it, and promptly heralded its praises
/ to the world. Results: --':Ben-Hur'' be-
! gan to sell, first in moderate quanti-
| ties then orders came for hundreds,
/ and soon the plates of the book were
/ seldom lifted from the presses. For
+ sixteen years the book has kept sell
! ing steadily, and more than $4,000
i copies of the popular edition have been
/ sold up to date. General Wallace's