The times., 1897-05-30

that il is an indispensable history of cur
rent events In its way it is ali-eabrac-
Ing In the Annual for 1896, which was
receutly completed and was last week
given 70 the public, the searcher may fInd
a recital classified, OF all the Important
events Of the past year And only by
glance through the pages OF this book does
one realize what vast amount OF history
was made last year.
The most notable event of the year, To
Americans at least, was the Presidential
canvass in which were presented ISSUES
more important than any that have been
tried since the civil war The writer who
examines the book carefully viii find that
this subject has been treated very thor
oughly: not only are the various platforms
printed in full, and the results of the
ballots in convention, and the official
figures Of the result tall in the article
United states, hut the manner IN which
the canvass was conducted by the political
managers is describedin Il separate article
- hy Mr. oscar T. Austin, athor OF ''lnle
Sans Secrets who had unusual oppor
tunities for obtaining this information,
which is not generally open to the public
There is also an excellent sketch of the
new President. written by an old friend
and associate, with fine portrait on steel
and view Of his birthplace Sketches and
portraitS of the new Vice President ard
the unsuccessful candidate for the PreI-
dencv complete this memorable story
While this peaceful contest was pro-
crossing in our own country, there ferc
bloody struggles in other lands which
have excited the interest and the symlla-
thies Of the whole civilized world. the
effort of the Cubans to attain their inde-
pendence. more determined than any pre-
ceding one; the nurderous work IN Ar
meHia, and the then problemaucai strug-
ule i'm Crete-all these are set forth Win
as much accuracy as it is possible TO Oh
tain, considering the difficulties OF get
ting trust worthy information in any Such
case There is colored map of Cuba, and
a smaller one Of Crete is printed III the
text.
The Increased amount OF space at com
Inand in this volume has enabled the com
pliers to give somewhat more fuilnesS than
usual To the regular articles which con
stitute the bulk Of the matter. Every
country in the world, every State ma
Territory of our Union, and every great
religious denomination have fun trent
meut. showing what was done during the
wear and what was the condition at its
close.
The story OF the progressive sciences, too,
Is brought down to date Chemistry, meta
Iurgy, meteorology and physiology are
treated is usual by DIR. Youmans, editor u
Appleton's Popular Science Monthly The
progress OF astronomy is set forth by DT.
Swift, director of the Lowe observatory,
who hes long been noted for his IiSay
astronomical discoveries and has received
several of the highest prizes that are he
slowed for them The story OF The advance
ment OF physics is continued by DR. Arthur
E. Post wick. WHO'S an enthusiastic student
Of science and keeps his careful records
the year round. The greatest of recent
events in fms field is the discovery OF the
x-rays, or the RoentPen rays, and this
latest marvel il fully explained, with Illus
trations There is also a sketch OF the dis
coverer of these rays with portrait
Closely allied TO the work OF the scientists
IL physical ways is the completion OF Her
bert Spencer's great intellectual work, the
Synthetic Philosophy" The reader VIII
readily recall many Instances in which au-
thors have planned extensive works, and
then found that single life was insuffi-
cient for their completion Mr.. Spencer
presents one of the exceptional instances in
which the man has lived To complete the
work that he conceived in-youth and toiled
at until old age AS this marks an era in
scientific literature, there IS presented
sketch of Mr. Spencer and his work, from
the pen OF Prof. Hudson, Of Stanford Uni
versity, together with d fine portrait.
The subject Of geographical progress and
discovery is made specially interesting this
YEAR BY the expedition of Dir. Nansen, who
succeeded in getting little nearer TO the
north pole than any explorer who lad
gone before him The story is told with
illustrations the map of the polar regions,
showing both his projected route and tie
route that he actually traversed, and fac
smile of mis- own rude sketch. The move-
nlents, military and political, In the newly
opened continent of Africa present a pic
ture OF the constant endeavor of European
nations To secure territory for colonies n
different parts of the world, and each sac
cessive year shows some change of do,nia-
ion there The Annual presents new col
ored map of Africa, while the year 5 events
within it's borders are all duly set forth in
the text.
Among the special and occasional articles
the reader will note that on archaeology,
which describes the wonderful recent dis
coveries on the site of the oldest ciyiltza-
ton; that ON Bird Day." which VIII inter
est the young people; that on Confederate
veterans, which forms one of the pathetic
seuuels To the terrible story of the civil
war: that ON abandoned farms, a subject
that has engaged the serious attention of
many OF our economists; that on game pre-
serves, matter that is being atten ed la
none too soon By some of our wealthy cti-
zens:that on Marine Hospital Service which
is one OF the best and Yet one OF the least
understood of our great charities: that on
experimental psychology, which is certain
Iy very curious, if not practical subject:
thR. on Frederick Temple, the new arch
bishop of Canterbury: and that ON colleges
for women, which describes, with several
fine illustrations, the fourteen institute ms
of collegiate rank in our country that have
been founded for the education OF Young
ladles
IL is however, in the chronicle of deaths
that the compiler has the largest field
and that the reader is impressed with the
extent of the ravages of the grim reaper
during the past year. Harriet Beecher
Stowe, author OF the most widely circu-
lated novel that was ever written, went
peacefully to her rest after a. long life
George Du Maurier, author of the popular
''Trilhy," was also called away; and the
Royal Academy of Fine rts lost two sue
cessive presidents Lord Leighton and Sir
John Everett Mllais. Baron Hirsch, the
eminent philanthrophist must he added to
the list n must also that fayorite of the