The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-15

Classes - Nelson's Life Again
Narrated--Capt. Mahnn's Book
on the War of 1S12-A Remark
abIe Fall in Prices at LandOn
SOLICITATIONS That Change.
Correspondence The st. Paul Globe
NEW YORK, May 13.-Unless this
war with Spain comes to an end speed
lily, we may look for few books of large
general interest from any of the great
houses. More and more do l hear re-
ports of the serious decline in demand
for books which treat neither of naval
nor of military topics. neither of Spain
nor of Cuba. But the publishers must
continue to do business. This kind of
trade, like many other kinds, must go
on in one way or another else disaster
will follow. One of the best known
names in the trade said to me not many
months ago: "A publisher is like a
man who has hold of the tail of a bear;
he must hold on, or go to destruction"
And so we find that among the new
ventures-those few which publishers
dare to make-are books that relate to
war or to heroes of war. An Ameri-
can publisher has been found for Lord
Charles Beresford's biography of Mel
son, and this, notwithstanding the fact
that Capt Mahan's life of Nelson-one
of the ablest pieces of biographical
writing produced in this country in
twenty years-was brought out only
about one year ago; Notwithstanding
also the fact that Mr.. Loughlin, about
the same time, published a life of Nell
son. 1 cannot fancy Lord Charles
Beresford writing an epoch-making
book on Nelson. Capt. Mahan did that
piece of work, and did it all too well.
Copper has done it we'll also. Surely,
with these classics, there was no i'm
mediate demand for a new book. But
Lord Charles has undertaken it, and,
as Lord Charles is a rear admiral in the
British navy, his work is certain of
sale in England. But will Americans
want it? Most likely they will. for
Nelson now, with Dewey's victory be-
fore us, is very much in evidence.
Capt Mahan has recently returned to
this country from Italy, where he vas
engaged on another book in which he
was to set forth the influence which
sea power has exerted in the history CT
modern Europe and America. He has
beer. called to Washington. For the
time being his literary labor must
cease. His new undertaking, believe,
relates to the war between this coun-
try and England in 1872. Certain it is
that in that record the United States
have something very much to their
credit as a sea power. DeWeys victory
Is not our first great success on the sea.
John Paul Jones made a record for us
more than a century ago with his Bon
Homme Richard, and England was his
foe. Councillors Perry, cambridge and
AIcDonOugh are other names that recall
American naval glories that will not
die. And there was Decatur and the
fight he waged for free commerce in the
MediterraEean-that fight won by him
against he Barbary corsairs, whom en-
peroTs aGd kings alike. whom popes and
admirals for several centuries had IN
vain sought to crush.
But these are not the only war books
In prospect. Reading q long list of an
rouncenents q few days ago, noted
also that a life of Saladir was in prep
aration; that a popular edition in paper
covers. was about ready of Richard
Harding Davis Cuba in War Times, ~
and that new edition had been called
for of a romance of future warfare,
that was first published two or three
years ago, when l imagine that its sue
cess was limited. But those were pip
ing times of peace and times Eo'.
have changed. Hence we may hearOf
more pronounced success for this book,
which is called THE Final War; an
Historical Romance of the Near Flu
ture.'
But with new war books in prepara-
tion there continues to be a large sale
for many old ones. 1 have already sent
to The l o e lists of books on the
navy and books on Spain and Cuba. 1t
is time that readers had list restricted
to matters purely military. Cuba is 10
be invaded now-at the very hour I am
writing United States soldiers may be
almost ready to disembark from steam
er transports to tread the soil that once
was SPANS, but can neVerniOre be hers.
The war therefore that remains may be
largely military rather than naval-the
Cape Verde fleet is shy of us-and
hence the list l will now give First will
he named several books relating to
heroes of military warfere-all Amer
leans and nearly all men who were
eminent in that colossal war which was
fought within our own territory and o.
which 50 many of Us still possess vivid
recoliectionS:
James Grant Wilson. 12mo. s1.5o. Each
illustrated. Gen. Taylor. By Maj. Cen.
Q. o. Howard. Gen. Jackson. By James
Parton. Gen. Greene. By Capt Francis
Hughes. Gen. Thomas. By Henry Cop
pee. Gen. Scott. By Gen. Marcus J.
Wright. Gen Washing on. By Gen.
Bradley T. Johnson. Gen. Lee. By Gen.
EitZhGgh Lee. Gen. Hancock Ry Cen
Francis a. Walker. Gen. Sheridan. By
Gen. Henry Z. Davies. Gen. Sherman.
BY Gen; NJ. F. Force. LAppleton.)
eracy. 1S07-1S70. By Alexander White
illustrated. Putnams.) $3.50.
stonewall Jackson: A Military Biography.
cences. By Rev. J. William jones' Maps
and portraits. Svo. IS. {Appleton.)
Memories of Gen. William 7. Sherman. By
Himself. Two volumes. -. So. apple
Life q Gen; Albert Sidney Johnston. By
Svo. Maps. S.. Appleton)
Personal "reminiscences: Anecdotes and Let
ters Of Gen. Robert E. Lee. BY Rev. ].
William Jones. Svo. So. tAppleton)
The Sherman Letters. Correspondence be-
tween General and Senator Sherman from
1887 to 1891. Edited by Rachel Sherman
Thorndike. Portraits. Svo. (Scribner.) 81.
The Life of Mai. Gen. George H. Thomas.
By Thomas D. Van Horne. Svo. Por-
trait and maps. (Scribner) 3d.
Among books that deal with the his
tories Ct wars. apart from sketches o.
individual lives, these may be named:
Battles of the American Revolution. By
Henry B. Darlington. Illustrated. Svo.
Barnes) SIS.
Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution BY
Benson ]. Losing. vols. Harper0
by prominent generals and civilians on
both sides. u vols. (Scribners) Per