Evening star., 1898-03-04
new rUsLrcArsoSs.


Hen.y Holt Company. wsshinstsa: Wm.
American literature Is a recent institu-
tion. so recent, indeed. that some hyper
critical observers have been prone to re-
1ect the title altogether. But, as Mr. Pam
coast observers In his PREDATORY treatment
OF this subject. the literature that has
been produced on this continent has its
roots in the books Of the past, Just as
English literature is rooted In the far-away
years. The newness Of this nation as
compared with others Of the east does
Eot necessarily bar It from participation
In the worlds work Of book making, and
what is better and more enduring, the
worlds work Of literature making. The
Americans, meaning the citizens of the
American republic, are a new people only
in their national relations, and the In.
stiEcts that inspire the production of lit
erature are the results Of centuries Of
development, to which the dweIlers upon
this continent have been equally subject
with those whose ancestors remained in
the old world. The change Of scene in
VOWED no debarment from the honor and
glory of adding to the record of worthy
and lasting works in letters.
Hence American literature, as a distinct
Institution or group of works. Is to ne
considered primarily as coincfdental with
American history, as, indeed, should the
literature Of any land or time The pres
ent volume proceeds upon that lire. l.
seeks to infuse into the contemplation OF
the main subject an appreciation Of the
historical conditions, the personal ele-
ments and the general circumstances that
have contributed to the growth of a truly
worthy aggregation Of living literary
works. This task has been well perform
ed. The Introduction to such a subject
is necessarily brief in its relation to each
irdfvtdual contributor to American ntera-
ture. but it is thorough in whatever It
touches. The atmosphere created is one
Of sincere respect for the chief workers
In this field. The book is more than a cat
a!ogue of books and authors. 1t Is q re-
view OF the history Of American letters
from the first beginnings Of civilization
on this continent. 1t Is well illustrated
with portraits and is made the more con-
venient by reason of a series of tables ami
a full index.
THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF INDIANA;
From the Earliest Explorations By the French
to the Present Time; Cont aiming Account
Of the Principal Civil, Political and Military
Event Events from n 1T I7ss to 1897 gy William Henry
B. L. Blair Company.
Indiana Is a remarkable state, not alone
in its own resources and in the record it
has written for itself In the American
Union, but also in the love in which 1t Is
held by every son and daughter of the
commonwealth. "Hoosiers' are proud of
their state, Of its history and its achieve
ments. They are proud to be known by
this distinctive name. They dwell fondly
upon the natural beauties Of the state and
speak tenderiy the names Of the famous
men whom Indiana has produced. 1t is
therefore fitting that there should now be
a history of Indiana, in order that all the
world may understand why it is that its
people are SO loyal to Its fame and men,
ory. The two volumes that have just
rnrrh suh pfofr,
set forth. from both the literary and the
mechanical standpoint. This work is ex-
ceilently well done In practically every
respect. Naturally, it is written by an In
having approached his work with proper
appreciation of its magnitude and its i'm
portance. His modesty is tempered only
by his enthusiasm for his state, which is
likely to infect the reader even from Texas
or Maine. Indfanas history takes the
reader back into Indian days, as the his
tory of a state with such a name is ap-
propriately calculated to do. The exact
origin of the state, the precise point of set
tlement by white men, is matter of
some dispute. but wherever 1t was begun
and by. whom, Indiana Is now recognized
as one of the nations bulwarks, and this
history goes to show how well it has earn
ed that position.
OUTLINES OF SOCIOLOGY. By Lester F..
I. Psychic Factors Of Civilization, etc. New
I York: The Macmillan Company.
Prof. Wards present volume includes
the matter embraced in series of lectures
delivered at the School of Sociology Of
the Hartford Society for Education Exten-
sion in 1894 and 1895. These lectures ap-
peared in the twelve issues Of the Amer
lean Journal of Sociology ranging from
July. 1895. to May, 1897. The author in
dicates a measure Of embarrassment in
naming his work, and to meet this condi-
tion he divides the book into two parts
calling the first Social Philosophy and
the second Social Science" The earlier
chapters show what sociology is not, while
the later ones set forth in broad outlines
what sociology is. The author says in his
preface:
These two objects are of prime import
ance in the present state OF opinion re-
specting this science, when so many con-
fiicting views are current as to its true
nature and scope. No question is more
frequently asked me than how ! would
define sociology: and nevertheless I have
observed that contemporary works on So
ciology TEEN with definitions of the sci
ence, many entirely different ones occur
ring in the same work. Indeed I am about
the only one who has written on the SUBJ
ject who has not ventured one more
definitions. This has been because it has
been apparent to me that it is not defini-
tions that are needed, but clear explana-
tions and definite deliminations of it's field.
1t Is these that the present work aims to
supply from the standpoint of its author,
who would not thereby deny the claims
of others who look at the subject from
other StandDoints.
THE NEW PCRlTANISM: Papers presented dur
ing the SemfCentennial Celebration of Ply
mouth Church. Brooklyn, n. Y. QS47-1S37. Ey
Lyman Abbott, Amory II. Bradford Charles
A. Berry. George A. Gordon Washington Glad
den and Wm J. Tucker. with an Introduction
BY Rossiter W. Raymond. New York: Fords,
Howard Hubert. Washington: WIN. Ballan-
tyne h Sons.
This is more than a memorial volume
dedicated to the hoEor of the great preach
er or to that of the church with which his
name Is identified. 1t Is contribution to
the literature of theology. Dr. Abbott's
discourse on ''Thc New PuritanIsm" gives
a running history Of Calvinism and its
gradual notifications. especially In Amer
lea. DIR. Amory H. Bradford of Montclair
sets forth the essential principles of Puri.
tanism, their effect in history and the
urgent need of their emphasis In the mod
ern world DR.. Charles A. Berry of Wolver-
hempton, England, eminent as a pulpit
orator. and the official head of the Con-
gregational Union Of England and Wales,
aa oil of tho Int