The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-03
BOOKS WORTH READING
Valuable Works on Historical
and Sociological Subjects.
SOME SUGGESTIVE HINTS
The Writings of Justin Winsor and
John Fiske-Mr. Bryce's impress
sons of South Africa"-Treas-
ures of the Library.


Public Library about one-ffth have avail |
themselves of the privilege of obtaining
the extra standard cards. On this card
fiction and popular current magazines
may not be drawn, but any other issuable
book may be taken In this article men
ton will be made only of such books as
may be drawn on the standard card, as
well as on the regular card. We begin
with books of history, description and
travel.
The recent conflict between Greece and
Turkey has called attention to the clas-
sic backgrounds of Thessa1y. The ma
lions of Christendom were disappointed
in the record made as soldiers by the de-
scendants of the heroes of Thermopylae
and Marathon. Whether this disappoint
ment was on account of ignorance and
because too much was expected remains
to be seen. Those who interested in
solving the problem will be interested in
the "Battlefelds of Thessaly. with Per-
Sonal Experiences in Turkey and Greece"
by Sir Ellis Ashmean Bartlett. This is a
book of considerable size and appears
to have been carefully compiled and
written.
Among living writers we predict that
none will have more enduring fame than
the Rt. Hon. James Bryce. Twenty years
ago his Holy Roman Empire was "A
text book of recognized merit i'll some
of the best American colleges. 1t is now
admirable american Commonwealth"
This book is undoubtedly the abest treat
Use yet written on the people and the in
stitutions of the United States 1t seems
astonishing that a foreigner could so ac-
curately and sympathetically depict ev-
efything that concerns the life of our ma
ton. For many "A decade this book will
more than fill the place concerning the
last quarter of century in the United
States which De Tocqueville's "Democ-
ter. Mr.. Bryce's last work. impressions
OF South Africa, appears to be fully
worthy of the author. 1t exhibits his pow
er of exact observation careful analysis
sympathetic treatment and philosophical
expression to its full extent Moreover it
is very readable, all his books are.
No more interesting episode in history
can be cited than the romantic career
of THE Cid Campeador." Even more in
teresting il is made by the wealth of mys-
terry and legend with which it is sur
rounded. The record OF the Cid is the
climax of interest in the fascinating
tale of the long conflict between Chris
tan and Moor in the rugged hills and
sunny valleys of Spain. distinct contri-
button to history has Mr.. r. Fl. Butler
Clarke made in his volume on this fasc-
mating parsonage, the latest hero depicted
in the popular Heroes of the Nations
series
Another work of exceptional value is
Republic" by Baron Pierre de Couper-
tin. The history and tendencies of our
sister republic during the last % years are
treated with exceptional skill when we
| consider that this is practically contem-
| porary history. Both the success and
failure of the present form of govern
| ment of France in those particulars which
| contribute to a nations greatness are
! discussed in connection with the pecu-
| liar genius of the French people.
Thn thinn ntcS;p IF
Rocky mountains was undoubtedly fhe
| famous Father Desmet And in his story
| Montana is peculiarly interested, for here
| conferred his most enduring work. The
books he wrote are becoming scarce, and
| we rejoice at each new acquisition. Or
egon Missions and Travels Over the
| Rocky Mountains. 1856" yield to no 9TH
| er of his volumes in interest and is en-
| bellished by illustrations of unique
| value
Of the new books by Justin Winsor and
John Fiske we will speak together. Mr..
| Winsor has for quarter of a century
| held a leading position among both Amer
| lean librarians and American historians.
| As a librarian he has long been recog-
nized as having no superior, whether in
respect to scholarship or executive abil-
| ity. 1t was his force and ability which
| gave the Boston public library a pre-
| eminent position, which place was at
once lost when. through political compli-
| since been resumed. As a historian his
! style is dry. but his conclusions were I'M
| impeachable. Alone among American his
| torians with the single exception of Park
| man, he has written books whose state
ments will be hardly modified by later
discoveries and Investigations Mr.. Win
sorS death a short three months ago left
| a vacancy in the fields of library activity
and historical research which will not
| soon be filled. At the time of his death
| he had completed volume, which has
! just recently been issued from the press
| THE Westward Movement; the colonies
and republic west of the Alleghenies
| lT63-179S' continued the series of works
on the geographical history of America
| whose value will be appreciated more
and more as historical enthusiasm in
creases.
John Fiske has long been an associate
| of Mr.. Winsor assistant librarian at
| Harvard university, and succeeds him in
the Guardianship of the splendid colec-
ton. Despite his connection with one of
| the leading libraries of the country, Mr.
/ Fiske has made hardly any apparent i'm
| preston a librarian and is hardly
| thought of in that connection by the
members of the profession. AS an histo-
rian he is much better known than Mr..
| Winsor. though his work has far less
enduring merit While MIR. Winsor has
| pursued a special line of work and devel-
oped his subject systematically. Mr..
| Fiske has, apparently. without SO evident
/ method made special studies of the diff
/ ferent epochs scattered over the whole
range of United States history. Before
| their publication i'll book form his studies
have been given to the public in courses