The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-31

S~s@ eAe NNaNA - -
death.bod scene, which may DO realism, but
which ls certainly not art, and which, to
the uninitiated. appears to have little connec-
ton with the subject of waysido courtships.
There lie some art In one or two Of these sketches.
but, as a whole, they are neither stimulativo
nor exhilarating, and their value as mere
studies In realism 10 lossened by the authors too
obvious desire to preach and to obtrude his own
personality between the reader and his charac-
ters.
Messrs. Flood and Vincent, Nashville, Pa,
publish for the Chautauqua Literary and Sci
entilc Circle nvo volumes which form the
course OF required literature for ls97-9s.
These are Imperial Germany Roman and
Medieval Art" Roman Life In Pliny's Tine
MEDIEVAL Europe" and The Social Spirit In
America" In the preface to this edition of
Imperial Germany" the author, Mr.. Sidney
whitman, states that in revising tho book,
which was originally published In 1883, he has
had much assistance from tho notes and cor
~rectlons made BY Prince Bismarck on the mar.
gin Of his own copy Of the first edition, and that
he has endeavored ito carry the subject up
to date" as far az possible. To all his
work Mr.. Whitman brings more Of the
vigor OF the journalist than OF the calm and
critical Judgment of the historian. and this
book, though eminently readable, Is marred by
traces Of partisanship. here and there. that
lessen it's value az a work of history. His strong
anti-Cathoiic bias and his hatred Of Austria and
tho Hapsburgs make Of him often an advocate
rather than q judge. One Of tho best OF his
chapters is that on Bismarck. Though written
from the standpoint o a devoted admircr OF tho
man Of blood and iron, this gives q crisp and
we'll condensed summary OF the great states
mans career, from the first entry into politics Of
the sturdy Prussian Junker, overlooking with
animal Spirits and demonstratively aggressive
I'm hia Inst for combat throuuh tha otrnuula
with Austria and the war Of 1870. up to
the time whom the grand old warrior retired
to the privacy Of Friedrichsruh. A chapter
on tho army contains many statements that,
though true enough In 1883, are not equally APP
plicable TO tho state Of things during tho last
few years Of the present regime, while. In giving
his estimate OF the present Emperor, Mr.. Whit
man is so extremely cautious rs to leave us In
some doubt as to his sincerity. "While many
he says. were inclined to credit the young
monarch with bellicose leanings-and this was,
perhaps, the most prevalent opinion also outside
Germany-thos Of his admirers who had en-
joyed opportunities for forming q personal opin-
lon did not hesitate to aver that their youth
full monarch would turn out to DO nothing
less than a Frederick the Great all along the
line. Already to-day IL is sufficiently apparent
that those who distrusted the Emperor becauao
of his supposed warlike proclivities did him an
Injustice" The books greatest fault lies In its
lack Of systematic arrangement, its chapters on
Social Life, the Aristocracy. the Press. Com
merce and Manufactures. &c, consisting OF o
mass OF often disconnected notes, and Including
many nero trivialities unworthy Of q place in
what aspires to be q serious work. 1t is, how
ever. interesting. as we have said. and except in
tho one case already noted, Mr.. Whitman ex-
presses his opinions fearlessly.
Roman Life In Pliny's Time" which Is trans
lated by Miss Maud Wilkinson from the French
Of NJ. Maurice Pellison. 10 q fresh and stimula-
tive study Of Roman manners at the end Of tho
first century Of the Christian era. The everyday
life OF the people, their amusements, their
methods Of transacting business, their social
customs, and the daily round Of visits to tho
baths, the theatre or circus. and the schools, are
all described with that vivacity and grace of
treatment that render the work Of so many Of
the modern French commentators and historians
infinitely more readable than that OF the Ger
mans. who. until recently. have had possession
of the held and whose treatment OF their sub.
jocts 10 too often apt to be equally exhaustive
and exhausting. NJ. Pellison's work Ia mainly
based upon the Incompatible letters OF tho
younger Pliny, while quotations hero and there
from Juvenal and Martial. some Of which are In
the English OF Dryden and Elton. add q touch
of color to the picture. In the anal chapter
the value OF Pliny's testimony 10 consid-
cred and his cheerful optimism contrasted
with the cynical ratings of Juvenal. "we
shall not and" says NJ. Pellison, "in
Pliny's writings those lightning flashes. swift
and penetrating, which reveal the most hidden
recesses In the soul of q man. Nor. on the other
hand. shall we have TO make any allowance in
drawing our conclusions from Pliny's testI.
mony for the tendency to which moralists are
liable Of unfair suspicion in Judging men. For
30 great is the pleasure In discovering the &C.
cret motives for actions that one is tempted to
imagine them whore they do not exist. After
all there is more Justice and business in the
good will Of a Pllny than In the rage OF n
Juvenal. The exaggeration in the praises be.
slowed by Pliny upon his friends. In which tbe
polished complaisance of the man appears. leads
US not SO far from the truth as the exaggeration
OF Juvenal's invectives." M. PelIison's volume
10, on the whole, not unworthy OF comparison