The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-09
INTERESTING READING.
Some Books That Throw Sidelights ON
the Expansion of British Territory.

We have in our public library a collec-
ton of books that depict the expansion Of
the British empire in a powerfully original,
terse, unliterary way, and yet in way
very delightful to the reader. These books
are written by civil and military officer
of the empire and show how British rule
pie suppose for it is hard to lay finger
on any land that England has taken I'M
justly; but through England's kindness, fair
ness and general good ruling. Even Bonn
bay was a part of Catharine of Braganza, g
dowry when she married Charles II, and
Calcutta was purchase, and if such cities
as these become populous with natives, it
is because natives like to live under Brit
ish rule. The English love of nature and
love Of art and appreciation of race and
perfect honesty in depicting native races.
give the above mentioned books a sovereign
charm. In these fine works are to be found
no Uncle Toms Cabin negroes, no Feni-
more Cooper Indians, but real living hu-
man beings delineated, as they are, with
perfect veracity. 1t would be hard to dis
cover a better picture Of the negroes of
Africa, their emperors elected by them
selves, their huge armies, their farms. their
herds, their villages, their unparasitic indie
pendent, comfortable lives, than that con-
tanned in Colonel Sir Henry Colviiles Land
of the Nile Springs an account of his cam
paign in Uganda. 1.-THE Siege of Agra" by
Mark Churchill, British judge in India. is
fascinating portrayal of the Indian mu-
tiny in which swift rushing incidents are
interspersed with constant delight in In
dian architecture, Notwithstanding, ami
NAL life and landscapes, the whole being
written with dignified simplicity and with
the careful understatement peculiar to a
truth teller. Rural Life in Bengal" by tho
superintendent of an indigo plantation in
Bengal,puts the reader in possession OF, to us
the fresh, unhackneyed life of Asiatics, life
without roads, without politicians, without
government save that of their own antique
village system under their own hereditary
mead man. Burmah, by a Burman" is a
cheerful book about that gayest of races.
the merry making, harmless Burmese.
.Hodson's Horse" is the story of a crack
Indian cavalry regiment under the most ter
rible ordeals. Among scores of such books
some OF the best are devoted to the north
western frontier Of British India. In keep
ing open the mountain passes of this bound
airy to the commerce of the world, and in
putting down the banditti robbers and muir
derers OF the border, many a skirmish,
An interesting biography of this sort is the
life of Sir Bartle Frere, who had a genius
roadless fighting countries into rich. no yra
lous, peaceable communities. and this book
shows, moreover, how the trade between
L ana the coast OF Africa, opposite, has
given them a foothold in Africa The life
OF General Lord Roberts is a biography of
Kipling says. They take a foreign country
for their fatherland." with the zhob
Field Force is a book of Afghan fighting
Mr. Fall, and embellished with the sketches foi1ea
and maps that British officers seem invari-
ably able to draw. with Kelly to Chitral -
by Lieutenant Beynon. is a charming book
OF war adventure. description of forced
march to the relief of Chitral. over noun
tails. through waist-deep. freezing streams.
through waist-deep SHOWS. then droppin .,
down into hot valleys, once caught in q
disastrous ambush. and camping late of
nights In an enemys country A capital
officer, who speaks with the most profound
respect of his fellow-officers. Youngsters
like himself and with deep affection of his
colonel, and of his men, native and British.
as of athletes in the finest training. afI1,
letes carrying heavy loads, cannon and ev-
erything else. up and down almost impas-
cold, and without whimpering. Lieutenant
Beynon's volume appears to be COMPLIED
from letters to his mother and you think
so filled with a boys Jokes. a boys e1isto
and zest in life: he would not have written
them to a scrupulous old person What hap
piness she must have in her decent. dutiful
and gentlemanly son. One Incompatible Az
CHAN book is Lights and Shades of Az
chan Life by 81 John Gore published by
out, with q vengeance. Imagine two geftle-
men with fifty attendants camping near the
SHOWS OF the Himalayas sometimes de-
scending to woody valleys or to farm lands
among the highlands and living with All
the variety of adventure and change OF
many weeks. The hook Is finished work.
the grammar. paper and printing are alto