The San Francisco call., 1899-12-03

tons in Spanish American complications.
IL any one can escape the feeling that
mere Is compilation Of newspaper clip
pings. chiefly from the most unreliable OF
the yellow journals. he may succeed
where the reviewer fails-for then he ray
get some pleasure from the perusal OF
mere political gossip Chapter twelve. on
Inc Passing OF Spain" reveals Mr. BAN
crotts utter lack Of n true historians
fairness and sympathy for the virtues of
Spain and the Spanish people Re reveis
In Ntuperative epithets and sweeniug con-
demnation OF our late unfortunate foes.
lie asserts that modern civilization Ovv,
less 10 Spain than 20 any other nation on
EARN that spaniards never discovered
anything-none of them exccp. Balboa.
ard he deserved no credit; that an Span
ish colonial policy was based ON chicane:
that even her home Government D. found
ed on fraud and sclf-frickery. Like the
two following chapters on "The Far
East" and Europe in Asia" this is a
travesty on serious study OF "a great his
toric development.
For the rest OF the book through hun
dreds OF pages (and the reviewer has per-
formed the labor OF reading them alU. one
finds only new forms OF the faults which
have detained us In these comments and
Illustrations One set OF chapters could
have been compiled out OF physical and
commercial Biographies. Another scricA
bear the earmarks Of extraction from cur
rent consular reports. A final group re-
cites romantic incidents Of famous cNpIor-
ations and piratical cruises In the Pacific
Where MIR. Bancroft meant tO be taken
less seriously. where there a. some leriti-
mate scope Cor fine writing" his book ls
less distasteful
To the cursOry reader who seeks first of
all 20 be amused. who is 500 thoroughly
debauchcd by the novel and newspaper
habit that he cares not what hc reads if
only IL entertains him by rejecting cur
rent fictitious eXaltatiOn. 10 such "a reader
The New Pacific is succulcut fodder.
And no book Is ever wholly bad-uot
even this. But II makes the judicious
grieve
Mrs. Sara Yorke stevenson's MAXI
milan in Mexico" is an interesting pie
ture Of life in the City of Mexico during
the reign OF the Emperor Maximniau
The tragic story is tOuchingly told and
the attraction Of Maximilan's character
to those who knew him personally is
made beautifully clear. Wherever ne was
known he was loved. In far away haci-
endas in Mexico you will find to-day
handkerchief that had been dipped in his
life-blOOd placed or the altars of their
little chapels. one OF the Mexican maids
Of honor TO CarlOtta. the daughter of Don
Manuel Salceda Of the Hacienda of Tul-
tenango. died OF a broken heart after the
execution OF Macmillan.
In Justice TO the ill-fated Emperor and
Empress II would have been well 20 mem
tion some OF the many improvements
made by them I'm the City OF Mexico The
Zocalo was transformed from a dreary
square 10 a beautiful park by CarlOtta.
and the famous PaseO was planned and
4. -
lCtta established many charities in tho
city. and some Of them she still sustains.
An interesting bit Of gossip related In
Mexico rs not mentioned by Mrs. Steven
son That Is. that when Colonel Lopez.
the betrayer of Macmillan, called on Mr..
Nelson. our Minister when Juarez was
President. expecting a cordial reception.
he was promptly kicked down stairs.
Mrs StevensOn's work Is credltably
done. in both manner and matter.
a. l.. K
CThe Century Company. New York;
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han. II. $. Stone & Co.. Chicago.
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About the Weather" by Mark W. Har-
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THE Half Back" by Ralph II. Barbour
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THE Territorial Acquisitions OF the
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THE Letters OF Robert Louis Steven
SON. selected and edited by Sidney Col
win. c. Scribner's Sons. New York. two
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THE Stones Of Paris" by Benjamin FL
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THE Memoirs Of Victor Hugo" trans
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They That Walk I'm Darkness" !" BY I.
ZanGwill. The Macmillan Co.. New York;
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