davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
NEGLECT OF ENGLISH CLASSICS.

1t is we'll understood that nobody in these
crowded days can expect TO know everything.
Many OF US daily acknow ledge, with no sense
OF shame, that we have never heard OF this or
that, and that we have not read such and such
a book; but there are certain immortal men
and works and certain currently famous or
notorious facts OF which all should be aware.
For instance, it seemed rather shocking that
an intelligent $50 called man of middle age
In a great Eastern city, though he had heard
OF Harvard College, thought il was sin Eng
land somewhere" aud did not know that
there was a town named Cambridge in Msssa-
Chusetts.
party of young people gave q legitimate
gasp when bright youth i'll his second year
in q great Eastern university acknowledged
that he had never heard of Bryn Mawr, and
asked if it was mixed school. Awhole COM
pany in an Enstern drawing-room changed
color little wnen q professor in Western
college said he had never heard OF Sarah
Orne Jewett. II was almost as bad as one Of
Horace Walpoles Miss Berrys," who had
never heard of Landor.
The New York Independent printed not
long ago a striking article by the president of
q Western university, in which he related a
certain literary experience OF his with one of
his senior classes. He took the words of Ten
nyson, cuIled from them q mass of ScripturaI
ILLUSIONS anu asked Inc CLASS what iIleSe a.
lusions meant. The ignorance OF these young
men was pitiful. Pearls before swine,'
"Jephthah's Daughter" Miriam" "Joshua
al Alalon," none OF these conveyed any sig
nitcance 10 more than O few Of this class OF
educated young men.
4 lady has recently found an old poem upon
Napoleon, written" she says, "in those days
when ali gentlemen wrote verses" DR.. Ed
ward E. Hale alludes in some of his remin-
iseences to the poetry which he, in common
with all his classmates, was continually learn
ing during his college days because knowl-
edge of the old English poets was then con-
man of culture.
We have changed all this. The repository OF
general information and general literature
common to all educated people, instead of
growing larger, seems 10 dwindle. In many
refined homes can be quoted without recogni-
tion by young people of college age, lines from
Hamlefs sollloquies, from Wordsworths S 'Im-
mortality" from Mllton's sonnet on his blind
ness, from Byron's "Invocation to the Ocean, -
even from tbs Twenty-thiTd Psalm and the
ffty-ffth chapter of Isaiah, those gems OF the
worlds poetic literature.
All oil these works and a hundred others
should be household words in every family.
No amount OF acquaintance with Whiteomb
Riley and Stephen Crane and Kipllng can
atone for ignorance OF these old immortal
compositions. Read both the old and the new
if you can, and see to it that they are familiar
in your homes; but if you cannot know both
kinds by all means take the old.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
A FALSE WIFE FORGIVEN.

ONE MANS VIEW - BY Leonard Merrick
1hlcaeo and New York: II erbert s. Stone q Co.
For sale in thus City by William Doxey, Palace
Hotel Price 81
Ihe one mans view referred to is the opin-
ION that an untrue wife should be pardoned
ana taken back If she wishes to return. Her
lot, successful lawyer, begs Many Cheriton
young woman with an absorbing ambition
TO become great actress, to be his wife After
she has failed in her efforts to get on the stage
she consents, but her ieeling for her lord is
one oil respect rather than love- A few wears
later the woman meets a man she does love
and elopes with him. After the death of her
paramour the husband takes the wife back to
his home and hearth
We all know what different aspects things
present from differing points OF view. and this
subject OF iorgiving wife has been occasion
ally handled SO cleverly as to make the reader
feel. at least while he was absorbed in the
story, that this was the nobler part for a trul,
strong man TO act. but this book fails to take
one TO that height. No doubt there are two
classes OF men who forgive-the larger class
because they are far baser than the average OF
mankind, and very limited class of rare
spirits because they are stronger and more
tenderly loving. Here as elsewhere 1t is true
that sometimes circumstances alter cases and
case can be so presented by sympathetic
writer as to make US sympathize with hus-
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
SPIRITUALlSM.

MEDIUMIST1C EXPERIENCES OF JOHN
BROWN, THE MEDIUM OF THE ROCKIES
BY John Brown. For sale in This City at the
office OF the Philosophical Journal. Plice SO
cents.
One OF the old pioneers of this State. who
was for long time a trapper of the Rocky
Mountains, has herein told a strange story OF
spiritualistic experiences He seems to have
possessed the power to leave his body and visit
distant scenes. On these trips he was ac-
companied By, and seemed largely under the
guidance OF, a spirit. Sometimes this spirit
would leave him for considerable periods
when it was undesirable to communicate
knowledge beyond human ken. The medium
had the gift of prophecy about many concerns
and repeatedly proved it white in the noun
tains, where his fellow-trappers were about to
kill him for q wizard. John Brown also had
the gift of healing by the laying on of hands.
The story is told with solemn earnestness and
every appearance of sincerity.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
THE BOOK OF WEALTH.

'The Book of Wealth." by Hubert Howe Ban
croft of San Francisco, Cal, setting forth the
resources of the world in print and pictures,
Will be completed this year. The work was
begun six years ago. twill be in ten sections,
making in all about 1000 iolio pages with
about 5000 illustrations produced through
the highest pictorial art, restoring as far as
possible in the limited space all that is best
worth preserving in the world" Each Sec
tion. besides 100 pages OF text and illustra-
tions, contains ten plates in fac-simile oil
and water colors, original etchings and
photographers. Among these are "phe
Hanging Gardens OF Babylon" Thomas
Moran; windsor Castle" G. H. McCord; "The
Tuierles in the Time of Louis XIV" w. Gran
vile Smith; "The Acropolis Restored c. Y.
Turner; "The Tai Mahal," C. A. Vanderhof,
and Square OF st. Mark Venice" E. Ben
venuto. The other ninety.four are by no less
worthy artists.
The first chapter of the first section opens
with drawing by E. H. Blashfield. represent
ing Chaldean goddess dispelling chaos.
Then begins in text and illustration history
of the dawn of civilization. The paiions OF
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18

loaded down with elaborate draperies. Any
thing less regal II is not possible to imagine,
and it seems almost an outrage on the dignity
of a human being to attempt to make spec
tacle OF such q physical wreck. Diadems and
royal robes assort i'll with age, disfgured
features and figure. Tradition says. she
wept to wear q crown Those who respect her
many sterling qualities are disposed to grow
pathetic over her being made show Of in her
unattractive old age
And "Lounger" administers sharp rap on
the knuckles to the writer OF the above in the
following well-turned paragraph:
"The shoemaker should not go beyond his
last. The function OF such journal as Vogue
is 10 print fashion-plates, sometim with the
names of the wearers OF the gowns beneath
them, and sometimes with the names of the
makers; to tell counter jumpers how to behave
when they find themselves in the same ele
vator with ladies, and to teacn 'ehappies'
how to suck the heads OF their canes, and how
to address their men servants, ii their fathers
have made enough money by honest labor to
leave them in position to have their trousers
ironed instead of ironing them themselves.
Nothing could be farther from its function
than to criticize a queen or tell her how to
dress. What makes such paragraphs as these
IDLY offensive is the fact that they are usu-
ally written by people who would grovel in
the mire for the privilege or kissing the hem
OF Victorias plainest gown. Is it good Amer
icanism,' by the way, to twit an old lady on
her loss of beauty, and call her a poor crea-
ture' when all the world is uniting to do her
hn
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
A USEFUL WORK.

a LIBRARY OF THE WORLDS BEST LIT.
ERATURE Edition de Grande Luxe. New
York: The International Society
This is an age of concentration and of time
saving. Any medium for the economy of la
Dor, time or space can be assured OF hearty
reception at the hands of the busy American.
More particularly is it the case when applied
to the so-called luxuries OF life, to which we
are 10th to devote the time SCI aside by the
more leisured people OF older countries.
So has it been in the matter of reading. rhe
cares of business, always and unavoidably
coupled with a sedentary occupation, leave
the man of affairs little inclination for that
diversity of reading which "maketh full
man" Added to shis there has been in late
years a multiplication of books upon all sub
jects that is really remarkable. During the
twelve months ending December 81, 1896, for
example, 10000 new books were received r;
the review desk of a New York newspaper.
and these did not include new editions of
standard works. Hence the problem natur-
ally arises, How is one TO keep pace with that
which is the choicest and best in the worlds
literary output? "Some books" said Lord Ba-
con, "are 10 be tasted. others to be swallowed,
and some few to be chewed and dgested."
Acting on this plan, some literary notabilities
on this continent have devised d work entitled
"a Library of the Worlds Best Literature"
the first volumes of which lin the Edition de
Grand Luxe) have been received at THE CALL
Office.
The work when completed will consist of
forty-fve volumes. It's title. "a Library OF
the Worlds Best Literature" is strictly de-
scriptive. To quote from The preface 10 the
first volume: lit means that what is offered
to the reader is taken from the best authors,
and is fairly represen tative of the best litera-
ture and of all iteIatures. 1t may be impor-
tant historically or because at one time it ex-
pressed the thought and feeling OF nation,
or because it has the character OF universal
ity, or because the readers OF to-day Will find
1t instructive, entertaining or amusing. The
work aims TO suit a great variety of tastes, and
thus TO commend itself as household COM
panion for any mood and any hour"
The editors of the work under review are
Charles Dudley Warner, Hamilton W. Mabie
/. Gilbert Runkle and George Henry Warner
all men of light and eading in the literary
world And it must not be imagined that the
quotations contained in the work represent
the opinions and prejudices Of four men.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
ARTISTIC HOME PRODUCT.

THE MISSIONS OF CALIFORNIA-By Laura
Bride Powers. san FraEcisc William Doxey,
the sign OF 7 he Lark. For sale in this City by
William Doxey, Palace Ho;el.
Told in language whose picturesque grace
well BELTS the romantic subject is this record
of the es stablishment of civilization and the
teaching of the worship OF God on these West
ern shores by the brave and p!ous Spanish
priests. IL is an inspiration to read of the
courage, persistence and heroic self abuega-
ton with which the old padres sought to lift
a race from degradation to righteousness and
the stable happiness of industrial skill. They
well deserved to have their memory perpetu-
ated by such lovingly appreciative tributes as
this eloquenty written and beautifully Illus
trsted little history Destows. Every home on
the Pacific Coast should have the story OF
brave endeayor in its library. az d every youth
and maiden should be urged to read of that
effort, prompted by a noble religious faith, to
save ana uplift a race. The author designed
this work "plea for the missions" hoping
that such interest might be reused as would
lead to the preservation OF the picturesque
ruins as heiriooms. One OF these she
aptly calls the Melrose Abbey OF the West.
SO much taste has been displayed by Mr..
Doxey in getting up this exquisite specimen
OF the bcokmaker's ART that his "sign of The
LARK" promises some day to rival the famed
"bodley Head" OF John Lane.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
THE BEST SUMNER BOOKS.

The summer girl OF '97 is not allowing her
sell TO fall behind the times in reading any
more than she is in dress. The society maiden
bound for the seashore has, besides her filmy
garments and vari-colored hammock, a per.
lect library OF prettily and oddly bound books.
The literary-looking person does not surpass
In the choice of these books either the day
when wiloly romantic tales between brilliant
covers OF fiashtIy illustrated paper was the be-
setting sin OF the ajority is passed, and now
the demand for the latest books from standard
publishers and we'll known writer's amounts
almo ost to crush.
1.-THE Martian,' by Du Maurer, has been out
only few days." said Mr.. Do1ey this week;
"but we have had all we could do to supply
the demand. With the apparent death of
Trilby,' after its authors demise, we fsncied
that the popular eye would lose sight of
everything he might have done. To the con-
trary, The Martian' was no sooner out than it
had a big run. Then James Lane Aliens
Choir Invisible is very popular with the
reading public at present, ana that, together
with Senkiewiecz's Quo Yad.S,' has sold
heavily all summer
Besides these three, which seem to be the
most read, we sell lot of Anthony Hopes
'Phroso'; 'Zlska, by Marie Corelli; The
Mutable Many by Robert Barr; Conan
Doyle's Uncle Bernac,' Beatrice Harraden's
'Hilda Strafford'; ON the Face OF The Waters
by Flora Anna Steele; Flames, by Robert S.
Hiehens; Housebolt on the Styx,' by John
kendrick Bangs: A Woman's Part in Revo-
luton by Mrs. John Hays Hamm ond; Kip
ing's Seven Seas Hardy's We'll Beloved
and Equality by Bellamy.' William Dean
Howells' Landlord at Lions Head has
steady sale, though not such a heavy one.
Pink Marsh Ade, and a Train Robbery by
Ford, are read by some. 1t is strange, too. but
the call for the paper editions of Omar
Khayyam has beer very heavy lately. We
are all out OF them now and have had a num-
Der of equests since the last copy was sold"
considering the length of time it has been
out, The Marian has had the most extern
sive sale" said Mr.. Robertson, "and il it con-
tinues, as it bids fair to do, we shall not be
able to supply the demand. The sale of books
has been good this summer. that is, the sale
of popular books not of standard works.
Such writer's as Hope, Doyle, Gil bert Parker,
Allen. Bangs, Crawford and Bellamy are very
popular"
With the exception of "The Pursuit of the
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18

antiquity are described and depicted from
economic, financial and artistic points of view
Then follows the next oldest civilization, and
the next. and so on, as the historic thread is
followed to the present day in America.
Throughout the book are the most authentic
portraits OF men and women great in the
worlds history. Persons associated with the
wealth of nations; not those who are and have
been the simple possessors of wealth, but who
have added to the earth's store of riches by
great accomplishments whether they them
selves have or had fortunes or not
In the subscription book for this work ap-
pear the autograph signatures of the Emperor
of China, Emperor of Japan, Count Ito, Khe-
dive of Egypt Shah of Persia, Sultan OF Tur-
key, Prince of Wales, Princess Louise, Emperor
of Germany, Emperor of Austria, Czarina OF
Russia, Queen of Holland and many lesser
royal lights. Then come President Faure
OF France, Duke of Westminste Duke
of Marlborough, Earl Rosepery, Mar
quis of Exeter, Lady Randolph Church
hill, and so on through long
list of titles. Following these are kings
aud lords of finance, with Baron Rothschild,
william K Vanderbilt, j. Pierpont Morgan,
c. p Huntington, John Jacob Astor, W. w.
Astor, Bradley Martin, Marshall Field, and a
long list that mos t exhausts the very limited
edition of ''The Book of Wealth.
Only 400 copies will be printed, nearly all
of which have already been subscribed for a.:
$500 copy for the irst-Cygne Noir-adition
of $50 copies, in ten sections, and at $1,000 a
COPY for the second edition OF $50 copies, in
the same number of sections Each section
will be bound in golden silk CLOTH The cover
OF each section in the first edition Will bear
an original water-color sketch by well-known
artist, set IN frame formed by the silk cloth.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
ASTONISHING NEGATIONS.

CONSTITUENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY
John +. Atwood, san Diego, Cal James Ed
ward Friend.
very little book of some three-score pages
which attempts the immense task of over
throwing many of mankinds long acceptedthe
ories of the universe. The afiimations of the
volume are few. the denials many. Some of
these denials are remarkable as daring depar-
lures from both theological and scientific or
thodoxy. The author tells US there is no de-
sign In the universe and therefore no great
designer. There is no first cause, if indeed
there is any cause, there is no ether, no such
things as inertia or gravi alton, no weight,
no chemical affinity. no cohesion nor solidity,
no attraction of any kind, and no laws of
nature. The affirma tions are that time space
and motion account sufficiently for all pnen-
omena and that there is nothing but these
three essentials Many Of the denials seem
merely disagreement about the terms by
which we shall call different phenomena.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
STILL MORE DIALECT.
MY WIFE'S AUsBAND-By Alice Wilkinson
Sparks. Chicago: Laird Il Lee, publishers. FUr
sale by all booksellers.

MY WIFE's RUsBAND-By Alice Wilkinson
Sparks. Chicago: Laird d Lee, publishers. Fur
sale by all booksellers.
My Wife's Husband" a new publication by
Alice Wilkinson Sparks, seems to be q very
successful study of incorrect grammar and a
charming disregard of all the rules that have
heretofore been in force in the spelling OF the
English language. 1t is very excellent OK
ample OF the extuseless literature now being
showered upon defenseless public, which no
one could read if he were so inclined, and
which no one wants to read. Just why these
beings who persist in thrusting dialect stories
upon Us ever lived TO perpetrate others after
the first one was published must be due to the
fact that vigilance committees are no longer
Ia vogue.
But "My Wife's Husband" is so much worse
than anything that has come TO hand for
long space OF time-is such labored attempt
at humor and such deplorable inaniiy that
words fail to transfer a thought OF what We
feel after perusing il.
prompted by decent respect for the
opinions of mankind" is the heading OF the
first chapter. Had the author the good taste
TO have placed it at the end OF the last chap
ter we would have conceded that the lady had
one claim upon consideration.
81 am goin' to write book. 1t haint nothin'
that I really want to DO; it's ben sort OF
forced upon me like; an
But there is no necessity 10 quote more
that is the beginning of the first chapter and
O sample OF all Why Mrs. Sparks h as spelled
any of the words correctly is almost as uuan-
Bile as why she wrote the book, and both
these questions pale beside the query as to
what could have induced a sen-respecting
publishing house TO allow their name to ap-
pear upon it,
In the beginning, which is about all one can
endure, the author, besides calling her work
b. the thrilling above m ntioned title, also
informs us that it is a touch of nature
Touches of nature dished up to US IN this style
are unpalatabe. Nature so totally disguised,
and without hint OF art or a flavor of com
mon sense, is not only liable to give one a
severe attack of mental Indigestion but also
TO render US doubtful of the writer's honesty.
But whether genuine or otherwise, we cer-
tainly deplore the taste of it
Surely it is about time that writers begin to
give to the waiting public specimens of what
they can do in their rare moments OF sanity
or cesse crowding the market We are sur
feited with the humor OF misspelled words
and incorrect grammar, and weary with puz-
zling over the vap.d heroes whose only claim
to recognition is their ability to speak broken
English and marry girl-both of which apy
one can do and not make much disturbances
over IL either
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
BOTANY MADE INTERESTING.

THE PLANT WORLD, ITS ROMANCES AND
REALiTIES-By Frank Vincent, MA New
York: d. Appleton 1t Co / or sale In this City
by William Doxey, Palace Hotel Price 81.
An interesting number of Appleton's series
of home reading books is this little work on
botany. II consists of mum Der of choice and
attention awakening extracts from writings
about the vegetable kingdom by many
authors. Such features are selected as are
strikingly instructive, picturesque and ro-
mantle. and they are well calculated to arouse
enthusiasm in students to pursue the sub
jects further. The book thoroughly accom-
plishes its object OF making botany enter
tanning reading.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
A VIGOROUS REPROOF.

We do not know the name of the gentleman
who writes in the New York Critic over the
pseudonym 1.-The Lounger,'' but we would
esteem it privilege to shake him by the
hand. He is man after our own heart and
we would that there were more OF his ilk con-
nected with the American press.
From a recent issue of Vogue, third-rate
society" sheet The Lounger clipped the
following exquisite piece of comment
1.-The latest photograph of Queen Wet oria,
duly approved by the august lady herself, is
pitiable sight. The poor creature p was the
involuntary ejaculation of sympathetic
woman on seeing proof of the portrait in an
English periodical. The elderly sad face
tricked out with diadem and other Jewels
the unsymmetrical body most nbecomingly
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
AN ODD GIRL.

THE BEAUTIFUL MISS BROOKE-By 2. z.
New York: D. appleton & Co. For sale in this
City by William Doxey, Palace Hotel Price 81
Louis ZangwiIl has here described an
American girl, who, while perhaps possible
enough we trust was not meant as type OF
the style OF young women our American GUS
tom of dispensing with chaperons has pro-
duced. Miss Brooke is sweet girl i'll some
ways, but while growing is somewhat too Tree
in dispensing kisses to the boys she liked, and
this habit is carried into mature life. The
author has portrayed rather complex speci-
men of womanhood, and the final explanation
of her life and motives will surprise the
reader, producing in him strange mingling
of dislike and admiration for her character
One is compelled 10 approve OF her for not be-
ing very much worse than she is.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI.

MAUDE-PROSE AND VERSE-By Christina
Rossetti. Ch cago: Herbert Stone Il Co. 70
sle in this City by William Doxey, Palace Hotel
Price 81.
This little book, which iS tale for girls
was written by Christina Rossetu in 1850
when she was about 10, and is now published
for the first time. 1t will be read with interest
by many merely because of the name on the
title page. A preface by her brother states
that the purpose in delineating Mauce was to
exhibit what Christina Rosseti regarded as
defects in her own character and life. The
prose of the book is of much simplicity. The
verse, which is mostly very sad or very re-
ligious, is beautiful both in rhythm and senti-
ment.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
A REPRINT.

GEORGIAN SCENES-By A Native Georgian.
New York: Harper & Brothers. For sale in
this City by A. NJ Robertson, Post street Price
81 go
This is new edition of collection OF
sketches which were much read and COM
mented on in the South years ago. 1t tells OF
humorous characters and incidents in the first
half century of the Republic. The dialect OF
the country people of Georgia is accurately
presented. One OF the best stories recounts
ght between two country DULLES.
The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
SCIENTIFIC.

PIONEERS OF EVOLUTION FROM THALES
TO HUXL Y-By Edward Clodd. New York:
j. Appleton Co For sale in this City by VIII
liam Doxey, Palace Hote. Price 81 80.
We are told in this volume that although
the theory of evolution as we define 1t is new
the speculations which made it possible are at
least twenty-five cen turies oldsIt tells the
story of the origin OF the Idea, of its long mr.
rest, of its revival in modern times aud Of the