The record-union., 1898-06-23
new PUBLICATIONS.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Poems by Edmund S. Holbrook'' is
the title of a handsome volume from
the press of r. r. Donnelley & Sons,
Chicago, and published by Way & VIII
Jams for Florence Holbrook, Chicago.
The collection is divided into devotion
al, patriotic and personal poems with
an appendix Of miscellaneous poemS AMI
two concerning the great Chicago
fire. Mr.. HOlbrook was a man greatly
beloved and respected, and occupying a
very distinguished position in the liter
ary circles of the West. He was born
in 1916 in Massachusetts, was gradu-
ated at Amherst and soon became ia
nous as an anti-slavery orator. He
is was who engaged in a celebrated
debate with Henry A. Wise OF Vir-
ginia, and vanquished him. In 1913 he
was admitted to the Richmond, Va,
bar. Thence he moved to Illinois. He
engaged in the Mexican war as a vol
unteer and won distinction in the field.
He settled in Chicago in 1860. He was
richly endowed with splendid vitality
and gave full rein to his love for litera-
ture, entering into it's study with a
love and energy rarely surpassed. His
soul found relief in song and he in
dulged it freely. His muse did not es-
say lofty flights, nor assume prophetic
power greatly. 1t dealt rather with
realities and things of common life. His
poems are distinguished more by sim
cerity, earnestneSs plain truth dealing
and recital than by fanciful flights. His
devotional poems, however, rise SUI
periOr to any other of his writings and
breathe most Of poetic thought and as
piratiOn.
The ninth number Of Fifty Years of
Masonry in California" George Spauld-
ing & Co., San Francisco) is just out
1t is fully abreast with its predecessors
in beauty of letter press and excellence
of illustration. These are about evenly
divided between portraits of notable
Masons and interiors of Masonic lodge
rooms.
We have from the 'Medico Legal
Journal" (New York; a reprint of CLARK
Bells IL. d., brief for the cigarette,
entitled, The Truth About Cigar
ettes." His findings are at variance
with popular opinion concerning the
cigarette. The monograph claims to
set forth all that is scientifically Known
about the composition and the use of
cigarettes. The main defense is that
the cigarette is not poison charged, as
is alleged. and that it does not produce
to the extent supposed-indeed,
never does cause insanity
The thirty-third volume of the New
Series of the Century Magazine"
tNew York; is at hand in bound form.
1t embraces the numbers of the maga-
zine from November 1897, to April,
1898. 1t is scarcely necessary to say
more Of this volume than the Record
Union has expressed concerning others
of this American magazine-it is one Of
the foremost Conservatives of choice
current literature and illustration. 1t
is a volume that graces any library
and largely is a history of the times in
art. poetry, literature, travel, fiction,
biography and American anecdote, as
we'll as in criticism
The Century Company's (New York;
two-volume edition of Dr. s. Weir
Mitchell's novel, Hugh Wynne, Free
Quaker comes with gilt tops and un
trimmed edges and in handsome en-
bossed muslin. The novel is one that
has had more generous and commenda-
tory criticism from the reading public
than any other of its day, if perhaps
we except one other. 1t comes very
close to the American heart because it
deals with scenes and personalities of
the time of the American revolution.
Hugh Wynne, the hero of the tale.
being announced as Sometime Brevet
Lieutenant Colonel on the staff of his
excellency, General Washington" DR..
Mitchell is equally a favorite writer as
an essayist, a poet and a novelist, but
we place the present fiction as the chief
of all his writings. for originality, vigor
and grace. Its personal drawings have
not been surpassed in the days Of the
accomplished author.
1t was to have been expected that
the present war would give birth to
novels dealing with the probabilities
and possibilities to grow out Of it. Louis
Tracy has given us the first of these
in The Final War;" press of G. p.
Sons, New York. 1t is full of
action and the story of the struggles of
the nations of to-day is graphically
told. 1t aims to describe with fidelity
and dramatic vigOr and brilliancy-and
with much succeSs-the international
at the close Of the pres
ent century-as they may be, in which
European powers becoming jealous of
Great Britain, the latter unites with
the United States in close alliance, and
fights to a successful result, the plant |
ing of democracy in broader fields, and |
the conquering of a peace in which |
goes down. 1t has a love |
story running through it, and there is |
enough of international politics, war |
by land and sea. gallant deeds and |
heroic achievements in the volume by |
recital to satisfy the most morbid taste. |
1t is an amusing book, it is so bold and |
revolutionary ap1 docb;n, Tho u;ld.