Evening star., 1898-12-23


Mo3rs in Spain, etc. Illustrated. New York
G. T. Putnams Sons. Washington: Brentano's s
Saladin has long been n figure of ro-
| mantle history with en0Ggh of vague
ness about. his personality to render 1t
more interesting to readers. Scott in the
'"Talisman' treats of this remarkable per-
sonage at some length, but without suffi-
cient historical accuracy to have cOntri-
buted more than a moiety to the record.
| Indeed, there has until now been a dearth
of information based upon fact about Sala-
din, who was born in 113S and died in 1892,
over seven centuries ago. He was master
of broad sphere in his day, sultan of
Egypt and of Syria, an emperor, stern de-
fender of the Moslem faith. During the
crusades he came in close contact with the
| Europeans. King Richard the Lion-Heart-
ed, met him several times and carried with
him to England an account of the sultan's
chivalry and generosity and justice which
formed the foundation of the tales of
romance which were woven about this
knight of the southland. The present
author has gathered into a delightful vol
ume account of Saladin's life and times.
compiled mainly from contemporaneous
sources. He has found the works of sew
eral biographers swho wrote from their
personal knowledge of the emperor sultan
and this, the first history of Saladin put
into the English language, is consequently
of rare value and interest.
HISTORIC NEW YORK; Being the Second Series
of the Half-Moon Series. Edited by Maud Will
der Goodwin. Alice Darlington Royce, Ruth
Putnam and Eva Palmer Brownei Illustrated.
New York: g. p. PutDam's Sons. Washington:
Brentano's.
The recent enlargement of the metropolis
by the absorption of Brooklyn furnishes an
effective foreground for this picture of his
toric New York which the Putnam press
is unfolding The .'Half-Moon Series,' ad-
mirably named and handsomely presented,
will if completed in the same ratio of fidel-
ity and completeness which has already
been established, become one of the land
marks of American literature. for it is a
compila ton, in most excellent form, of the
details of life in the old city in the be-
ginning. 1nasmuch considerable history
had its origin there, and as the city has
from the first exercised most potent in
fluence upon the commercial career of the
country, it is fitting that its story should
be thus told. The 'Haif-Moon'' papers are
by special Investigators. In this series are
contained the monographs on Slavery in
New York, Tammany Hall, Old Prisons and
Punishments. the New York Press of the
Eighteenth Century, Bowling Green, Fam
lily Names and Their Origin, Old Taverns
and Posting Inns, the Doctor in Old New
York. Early Schools an1 SchOolmaSters, the
Battle of Harlem Heights, Breuckelen and
the Neutral Ground
THE CUBAN AND PORTO RICAN CAMPAIGNS.
BY Richard Harding Davis F. Il. e., author of
Soldiers of Fortune Gallagher and Other
Stories, The Princess Aline" etc Illus
tratcd. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Washington: BrentIDO's-
Mr.. Davis war work is today almost as
well known as the war work of the Ameri-
can soldiers Perhaps that is because of
Mr.. Davis reputation as writer, perhaps
,f tIo, ,,,i,r
ne had the good fortune to occupy some
what prominent position among the corre-
spondents at Tampa and on the bridge of
the New York. At all events, the book
now published, containing the articles
which have already appeared serially. is an
always Interesting, at times graphic, and
occasionally exceptional account of a re-
markable warfare. The pictures not
altogether satisfactory in some respects,
but they have the merit of authenticity,
being reproduced from snap shots by the
author Mr.. Davis had a unique opDor-
tunity and when the difficulties are all
taken into account. he is now found to
have made the most of IL.
FIGHTING FOR HUMANITY; or. Camp and Quar-
ter Deck. BY Gen Oliver otis Howard, L. s..
\. New York: +. TennysOn Neely.
Cen Howard here tells with force and
the earnestneSs which is so striking q part
of his character the story OF the evangelical
and relief work conducted during the war
with Spain by the international committee
of the Young Mems Christian Association.
This is a phase of the campaign which is
not revealed in the official reports, and,
indeed is only appreciated in the full by
the reading of such a work as the pres
ent. The independent volunteer OrganiZa-
tons greatly aided the government in car
ing for the moral and physical welfare of
the soldiers and sailors, especially in view
of the embarrassments heaped upon the
national agencies by the pressure of time.
There is much personal reminiscence in
the work, which is interesting and instruc-
tive
OUR NAVY IN THE WAR WITH sPAIN By
John X. Spears, author of The History of Our
Navy With more than one hunlre'i illustra-
tions. New York: Charles Scribncr'S Sons.
Washington: Brcntano's
This is virtually a history of the war,
for the navy's part in that contest was
dominant and absorbed most of the pub
lie interest from start to finish. From
the brilliant victory at Manila bay to the
destruction of Cervera's squadron at San
tiago the story is told with historical care
and patriotic feeling. 1t is made up from
official reports and verified newspaper ac-
counts. The author cOnfeSseS to the chance
of error, writing as he does near to the
events, but he has taken every possible
precaution against misstatement. The book
will serve timely purpose and will be of
service in after years, when the scientific
history of thu war is complied.
THE AMERICAN PASSPORT; Its History and a
Digest of Laws. Rulings and Regulations Gov
crning Its Issuance by the Department of State.
Washington: Government Printing Office.
No name appears as author on the title
page of this " 1rk, which gives general &C
cess to multitude of valuable facts. An
other page, however, contains reprints of
two letters showing that the digest was
prepared by Mr.. Gaillard Hunt, passport
clerk of the Department of State, and or
dercd to be printed 10y former Secretary
Sherman. There is much historical matter
contained il the description of the pass
port system and the book is worthy of
preservation guide as we'll as record
Of the forms in use between nations to iden-
tify travelling citizens.
MAIDS. WIVES AND BACHELORS BY Amelia
T. Barr. author of Jan Ncddcr's Wife, A
lio'v Of uraI Ige lilDDOn,' etc. New York: Dodd,
Mead * Company.
There is a suggestion of Gail Hamilton's
vigorous and trenchant style in this treat
ment of various phases of womankind The
u