Evening star., 1898-04-29
NEW pusnscArIoys.

y
has assailed some Of ahe most difficult and
dangerous geographical problems the world
affords, and even Row He is in Africa, that
great continent that IS, ,succumbing to the
| researches of civilisaa, pan at such a COM
paratively rapid rates Ehe journey that is
| described in this vsld1ne was over a route
seldoai- approach edi bydw men for the
traditional reason 'itg grave perils. Few
whites have ever penetrated Thibet. The
dead line of prohibition has been drawn
around 1t far more succ essfully than in other
parts of the world. Even the dread of the
climatic evils of Africa and the polar
regions has not sufficed to prevent endeavors
as effectively as has the sheer exclusive
ness of the Thibetans. Mr.. Rockhill of this
city, now minister to Greece, penetrated
far into the interior with serious difficulty
and oft en- at the peril of his life. The re-
fusal of these people to be visited by Euro
peans or Americans, to associate in any
manner with the ideas Of occidental pro-
gress, or to learn II. the least from their
more enlightened and liberal neighbors who
have already succUmbed in part to the
influence of enforced association with
advanced Thought and works, has deferred
many an explorer from veflturng far be-
yond the narrow limits of colonization
along the eastern and southern edges of
the continent But Prince Henri seeks the
perils of just uch problems. His book of the
tour is consequently the more interesting
than though it treated of a commonplace
enterprise. 1t is memorable volume it's
beauty a beck being enhanced by the
striking value of its contents. 1t describes
the mode of travel in this land without
tramways and almost without roads and
bridges. 1t shows how difficult is the first
step toward a suspicious, treacherous race
1t reveals the vast possibilities of the great
area for cultivation and expansion. There
are many passages that tell of exciting
adventures with the natives, while the
journey itself was not without it's attend
ant dangers from the elements and the
roughnesS of the way. The tourists did
not go far into Thihet. They merely skirt
ed the southeastern corner. Their route
began at Hai-phong. seaport in Ton
kim or French China, and progressed
thence by northwesterly course into China
proper, reaching a. climax of northerly
progress at Atentse, Thibet, whence the
course led the travellers southwesterly to
| the Bramaputra river. and by way of that
stream to Calcutta This range brought
them into contact with many different peo-
pies and enabled them to study many
phases Of barbarism and standardization.
There are many matters of valuable
scientific character in the volume, which
is by no means devoted to a mere narra-
tion of the journey as a pleasure excur-
sion. Geographical and geological observa-
tions are noted and series of appendices
follows the main text with various tech
nical details from the notes of Prince Hen
ri and his companions, Lieut.. RouX of the
French navy and M. Briffaud, a dweller
in the French Asiatic colony.
v CRKINGMEN's INSURANCE BY william
Dor. New York: 9hon,as Y: Crowell & Com
rany. ~
Mr. Willoughby has attracted wide at
tention by his researches along this line
OF sociology and eoeuomics. He is Wash
ingtenian, having 'gsaeeto Johns Hopkins
University from the washington High
School. Upon his gTad4ation from the uni
versity. where he Janaertook a deep study
of conditions affecting Chhe workinsmen. he
became connected f~itfP1he department of
labor, and his wofk there has been of "a
character to insure bin an attentive au-
dience when he " rtsss Of such a subject as
''Wofkingmen's INSURANCE. which is prac
ticaNy untouched Dy the economists. Mr..
WiiIoughby notes Tie IfactfcaI absence OF
information on thiS1 iaSic in this country,
and his work shows 5tbornug ughness in find
ing facts and figures concerning every
phase of the 7Guess4ansHsd every country.
This tehdeateqon tsai part of'ti1e estate o..
compel thu work iz9grieAr 'toc insure thcnl-
selves against fdpasRssdl Is coming to be
recognized as enenofrthe most pronounced
movem ants of the times promising whole
some results in the future The -.book is
tcs refully prepared, as BELTS SO Important
subject. and the tables given are of high
statistical value. - f ;-.- -.s~. 3
LA SANTA YERBA; Preluded by a. Few Choice
Notices From a. LoHers of II the Indian Weed From
Day. By William L. Shoemaker. Boston:
Copeland Il Day.
Tobacco has inspired many a poet and
likewise many writer of prose, and Mr..
Shoemaker, eld and well-known resi-
dent of the capital city. has found in the
weed the suggestion and impelling force
for an entire volume of captivating verse.
Ina
erly contrived contents, but also for its
| makeup in material and style. 1t Is an
| excellent reproduction of the book-making
art Of a century or more ago. and thus
preserves much of the atmosphere of the
times when tobacco, la Santa Yerba,"
vas a comparative novelty. The selections
| from the writer's who have mentioned the
weed are well chosen and give the pres
/ ent poet an admirable background of good
company for his present efforts. The poet
| ic entities are brief. and many comprise
but single stanza. Cne of the latter
class. which may serve to indicate the
style of the work, runs thus
'-Of flowers the fairest and sweetest that breathe
For the head Of the gin love dearly
garland I'll twine; but my pipe shall wreathe
For my own blue tobaeeoemoke merely"
| TOLD IN THE COFFEE HOUSE,; Turkish Tales.
Collected and Done Ihto' English by Cyrus
Macmillan Company
- = v
DR.. Adler has devoted much time to
study of oriental subjects, and thus the
present small volume, though slight In
its proportions and purposes. is neverthe-
less indication of a close consideration
for the fine points of the Turkish tempera-
ment. In his preface DR.. Adler notes that
| most of the stories were collected by Mr..
Ramsay, Who has had a long residence IN
onstantjnople-- The stories are virtually
mere proverbs or fables, some very short,
all containing sound morals and often
pointing sharp preccpts of justice, human
ity and uprigktness.sr The stories are told
constantly in the coffee houses of the
Turkish capital, passing from mouth to
nc nth until they obtain the substance of
recorded facts. a--'s is+f
A COURSE IN GERMAN COMPOSITION. con-
NE1tSAflON AND GRAMMAR REVIEW: For
Use ia Schools and Colleges By Wilhelm
Bernhardt, Pb,D,, formerly director Of Ger
in the High Schools OF Washington. Bos-
ton: CHM L. Co.. ~ go"
DR.. Bernhardt's, tepatation as the pro-
ducer Of valuable ts III books for the teach