The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-10
BOOKSTORE CHAT.
Recent Issues OF . MiscolIsnsous Kind
Of Contemporansous Interest.

supremacy In uctlon WrltlnR ny Aihcricon
authors, was more satisfying than any
other of the winners of the muniflcent
purses 1t was entitled "a Romance Of
Old New York, and Mr.. Edgar Fawcett
was tho author. 1t had for its central
figure Aaron Burr In his retirement after
the killing Of Hamilton ami the gracious
picture presented Of this always pictur-
esque man In an environment OF youth
and manliness and beauty making
thread through a charming love story is
delincated in decidedly impressive fash
ion This altogether charming and most
readable story is now available in book
form from the publishing house OF the
J. B. Lippincott Company, dainty
volume for sale by Preston a. Rounds
for sl.
1t Is always interesting TO learn what
other people think OF us. The quality OF
what might be esteemed sufficient author
ity is not at all necessary TO the interest.
Americans have had frequent opportunity
to find out how foreigners of various de-
gree regard them and SO long as they do
not feel that their reviewers are patron
izing them they can endure no end OF
criticism with equanimity and get deal
of enjoyment from a view Of themselves
through foreign spectacles An un-
known writes from n French point of
view of America and the Americans"
in gay appearing and altogether gay
volume bearing that title just issued by
Charles Scribner's Sons and for sale by
Preston and Rounds for %. The attrac
tive book claims To be, and it apparently
is, the almost literal reproduction OF
diary kept by n bright man during
somewhat extended sojourn among us
natives. The STYLE accordingly, Is oft
times jerky though the freshness of the
impressions thus jotted down, and so
sometimes subject TO a later revision and
qualification, Is on the whole very happy.
The unknown visitor is undoubtedly
man of the world with years of experience
in good society as 1t is on two continents.
He is not crank or pedant He re-
strains himself as well as may be from
trary, he comes to the country receptive to
impressions and disposed to take pot
luck He finds much to his liking and is
not out of temper with what does not al
ways suit him. He is gracious without
being supercilious and bright without be-
ing "sinarty." On the whole the aver
age American of wholesome mind and
some intelligence will find that he agrees
with the writer in great many respects
and is disposed to welcome him to the
family circle Of us Americans for taking
things altogether so genially and SO COM
fortably quite as we do ourselves. He
discovers with much cleverness salient
factors in our civilization and society, but
does not presume, nor Is he misled, to form
general opinions from individual instances
that come under his observation. He Is
evidently good fellow and he has written
book that every American can pro-
foundly enjoy in the reading.
DR. j. r. Hayes, medical examiner Of
the Bureau Of Pensions etc, has written
concise and readable book entitled
"How to Live Longer and Why We do
not Live Longer" that commends itself
for its brevity, clearness and absence Of
bosh. 1t is published by the Lippincott
Company and is for sale by Preston a.
Rounds for 81. Assuming the probable
correctness of Professor Bichat's rule that
the age possible to be reached by an
animal is six times the age that repre-
sents the period of growth Of the animal
and that, accordingly, man should have
an expectancy of from l0S to 100 years,
the writer proceeds to show what manner
of life offers the best prospect Of attaining
to that full measure Of years and what are
the elements of failure in RESPECT TO such
attainment. The theory Is that, barring
accidents and epidemic diseases, the
human being should wear out harmon
iorisly and equally and finally lay him
down to die pcaccably with all his organs
expiring together, and all his functions
comfortably ceasing to operate--somewha
after the fashion of the simultaneous
collapse of the parts of the famous zone
hoss shay" The doctor rather staggers
the hopes of his reader thus aroused by
pointing out how much must inevitably
depend upon hercdity and how one can
hardly escape the inherited weaknesses
handed down by ones fathers for which
one Is in no way responsible, but the
consequences of which are not TO be
avoided whatever regime we may pur-
sue. On the whole however, he offers n
fair chance to every man of ordinary
health and strength and his suggestions
have no terrors for tho average whole
some bodied and intelligent man. He
furnishes practical advice for both sexes
and altogether makes kindly, consider
ate and intelligiblc family physician of
himself for all who rcad his book He
has no fads to pursue and leaves deal
To tho common sense of the reader for
application in the individual case. And
what's more what no tells Is
told most entertainingly so that the
book invites its own reading from
pagc to page and so like good doctor lac
banofIta Won without first disturbing yot