Evening star., 1898-09-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.,

Lord Charles s Refesford % SB. sear and AfnEs a.
Wilson, author of ''Ironelatss in Action" !" with
Sketches arranged nn
Edward II. Fitchcw. Leiidon: Harmsworti
| Brothers. Washington: Brentanos.
One hundred and forty years ago this
month Horatio Nelson, who became Eng
lands greatest naval hero, was born.
Ninety-three years age NEXT month he died
in the cockpit of the ship Victory, while
on her decks the crew were alternately
cheering for the defeat Of the combined
French and Spanish fleets and mourning
for their loved commander, stricken in the
hour of his greatest triumph. The period
between these events is known as the time
| of England's most momentous achieve
ments on the sea- Nelson stands for the
| growth of the sea power which gave to
Britain control of the International situa-
ton for many decades, and nothing that
has happened since his death has served
to dim his memory or to reduce him from
the rank which he earned as the foremost
| seaman whom England ever gave to the
| world.
Nelson volumes have been frequently
| produced during the last few years. Capt
| Mahan's great work on the hero Of Trafal-
gar aroused the keenest admiration in Eng
! land, and served to supplement in a most
| satisfactory manner the prestige Of this
eminent American naval authority In for
| eign lands, inaugurated by his '.InfIuence
OF the Sea Power Upon History" The
present authors, themselves naval authori-
| ties of note, acknowledge in their preface
| the difficulty of following so mastery a
work as that of Mahan's, but they feel that
there is need for volume which shall
appeal to the general reader. who is not
concerned in the technical matter essential
| in complete, professional analysis of Mel
| sons genius and accomplishments
N5arf rf,,51,
| done. From the book-making point Of view
1t is indeed one of the most complete ac-
compiishments of many months. Its print
| is beautiful, the paper is of the best quail
1ty and the general treatment of the illus
tratlons is exceptionally fine. The illus
| trations themselves, several hundred in
number, alone mark the volume as monu-
mental. They portray not only every phase
OF Nelson's life, but introduce scores of the
prominent personages whose lives were in
any degree associated with that of the
naval hero. Nelson portraits are numerous
and In the aggregate afford a satisfactory
conception of the personality of the great
admiral. AS a necessary incident to the
illustration is series of portraits Of Lady
Hamilton, whose complex career coincided
with that Of Nelson at the most interest,"
ney portraits are reproduced, and thus the
pages Of the biography are lightened by
| many works of true art.
The literary work has been admira bly
performed. Lord Charles Beresford is to-
day fairly representative Of the British
naval spirit. He has become, indeed, in
minor measure, as far as modern oppor-
tunftieS have permitted somewhat of a
naval hero himself. He brings to his sur
vey of Nelson's life and achievements
spirit Of reverence for the truly great
things accomplished by the admiral and
his tenderness in treating of the less salts
factory incidents in Nelson's career involv-
ing his relations with Lady Hamilton, is
entirely justified by the frankness with
which he admits the necessity.
1t Is not essential that the work be noted
in detail. Lord Nelson's biography is in
general familiar. In this work it is re-
freshingly presented, with enough Of col
lateral history and gossip to throw a clear
light upon the true nature of the great
naval progress of England at the end of
the last century. 1t is interesting to note
the closing words of this splendid work
Which bear suggestively upon events which
have developed since the book left the
press:
'If we look for Nelson's trfe monument
we shall find 1t in the British empire of our
day. The sovereignty of the seas which he
won for US, and the prestige Of Trafalgar,
strong even now. after the lar~e of ninety
years made it possible and protected its
development. We can best 20 him honor
and repay the immeasurabie, debt which
we owe him, by remembering his teaching
by refusing to sacrifice duty to comfort,
and by persistentiy Strengthening the great
force which he led to victory
THE years pass and danger again threat
ems England. Her honor, her greatness
her interests are menaced in every direc-
ton. But now. as Of Old If we are true to
ourselves, we need have no fears Nelson's
example remains to all time to inspire US
with lofty devotion His body may be dust
but still, in all the worthy sons of his coun-
try
" His high faith burns on to light mems feet
Where death for noble ends makes dying sweet" "
THE MUSIC DRAMAS OF RICHARD WAGNER:
and his Festival Theater in Beyreuth. By AL
Conservatoire at Paris. Translated from the
French by Esther Singleton. With illustrations
and diagrams New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.
The biographical portion Of this volume is
relatively small, for the major part Of the
work is devoted to an analytical review of
the great music dramas" OF Wagner, but
throughout the pages the personality of the
master musician Is diffused to give an indi-
vidual flavor to every portion. The author
has sought to present guide to Beyreuth,
a help to those pilgrims who look forward
with eagerness to the great performances
in the festival theater in Bavaria. 1t is not
merely an aid to reach the place, but an in
depreciation of the colossal performances
they witness when they arrive. The writer
notes the vast volume of Wagnerian liter
ature which has been produced during the
past few years, and confeSSeS that he has
haVs discovered new material In documents
hitherto unexpected, and that these have
enabled him the better TO explain the mar
velouS symbolism of Wagners operas. In
cidental to the interpra tation of the music
dramas the author gives much interesting
information about the methods Of the Bey
reuth performances, the management of the
great companies and of the theater and
other details sure to be appreciated by the
admirer and student of Magnetism.
HALCTON DAYS IN NORWAY FRANCE AND
THE DOLOMITES. By William Dement, Lent.
New York: Bonnell, Silver & Co. Washington:
William Ballantyne & Sons.
Travel in Norway is less of a novelty
nowadays than 1t was a very few years
ago. Railways have help=d somewhat to
bring that interesting country nearer, and
the trend of travel has been further north
ward of late than it ventured to go hereto
fore. In this volume thu writer tells of
many exciting, edifyng and amazing expe-
riences in one of the most delightful lands
that ever tempted a stay-at-home out of his
domestic lines. Provincial France is in
soma respects a sealed book to the average
traveller Paris absorbs SO much of the at
tention of those who go to that countrys