The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-19
Books and Authors.

| Esarthstones" series in which Marriott
| Hariand makes study II the home life
| OF certain writer's and thinkers. In q very
| graceful preface, the author claims ian
| hereditary right 10 the more than friendly
| IN tent" which she feels in William Cow
per. The book Is dedicated to her ma
| ternal grandmother, who named the Vir-
ginia homestead TO which she came a
| bride Olney, in tender compliment to Cow
per- her fayorite poet. The dedication is
as follows:
1T seems good in my eyes, and not
| sentimental fantasy. that this loving
| study of william Cowper. as man and
| friend. should be dedicated TO the sweet
| memory OF the gracious gentlewOman
| from whom, as l Ike to believe l have
! inherited my love OF letters, and what
ever talent for story-making and story
selling | may possess"
In her own characteristic style, soften
| ed by "the touch of a vanished hand,
| Marion Harland traces the life Of the
| lonely, melancholy Cowper She tries
| 20 show the man as he was rather than
what he did. Early saddened by the
| death Of his mother. Cowper, sensitive
| child Of six years Of age, was turned out
upon the world. IL did not seem the
| fashion in those days for a father to
| burden himself with the care of his
! child. and the little fellow sobbed out
| his troubles alone, uncontrolled save By
| the words Of hirelings. A lonely child
| hood followed by an unhappy love al
| fair. was The prelude of early insanity.
| TO which there was an Inherited ten
| dency. After his recovery, new chap'
| ter in his life began with his acqualnt'
| ance with the Unwins, The author
| touches fully upon the remarkable al
| lection between Cowper and Mary
Irwin. TO whom the lines, ITO
| Mary were written. II was the best
| thing in Cowper's life and her devotion
| TO him was almost divine I'm IT'S tender
| ness and pity. The shadow OF Divine dis
| pleasure ever clouded Cowpers mind, and
| al times came down like pail shutting
out every ray Of hope, any idea or ala,
human or Divine. In his own words AN
nv themes Of misery may be summed in
one word He who hath made me. regrets
that ever He did. Many years have
passed since 1 learned this terribly truth
from Himself" In times OF sanity when
he realized the goodness and mercy OF
God he wrote many beautiful hymns, the
best known Of which, perhaps, are
There is a fountain filled with blood,
and
80. for a closer walk with God"
The author traces the influence upon his
mind OF such friends as John Newton, the
EXPONENT Of what in this day We would
cali muscular Christianity" Samuel Tee
den. gentle william UnVin, Lady Austen
and Lady Heskete Running like sill
yer thread through his shldowed life were
unobtruslve acts that proved the faithful
ness OF his early sweetheart, Theodore
Cowper The writer pays a graceful tfi-
butte 10 CoWpers literary style the force
OF his diotion, the aptness Of his imagery
and the perfect structure of his sentences
The work is written with a sympathetic
touch and loving appreciation which shows
that she too has fallen under the charm Of
C0wpers personality of which she writes:
Every writer who has undertaken a
biography OF William Cowper has become
his lover before the task was half done.
Ills ingenuousness, his pain, and his pa
tience the vein Of sDortiye humOr dartinS
across his darkest fancies like a fantastic
golden thread: the depth and constancy OF
his affections. the sweetness OF his sub
mission to reDroof when dealt by one he
Ioved-are 50 many anchors cast into our
hearts,
THE THEOLOGY OF CIVILIZATIONS.
BY Charles +. Dole. author OF THE
Coming People" New York and Bos-
ton: Thomas Y. Crowcll & CO. Bound in
cloth; l6 mo; gilt top; 2JG pages; price
81
As there are religions and theologies that
suit barbarous minds. so there must be
religious thought about the universe that
tits enlightened and civilized men, and
corresponds to the most humane standards
of life and conduct. The Theology Of civ
80. safra FTI n
sential ideas which must underlie a civiliz-
ed and civilizing type of religion. This
book has been prepared with the cOnyc-
ton that the subjects discussed do not be-
long merely to a small professional class
but that they are Of wide public interest
and importance The author has sought
10 treat them briefly and In simple lam
erIage with an earnest desire 10 set forth
only those truths which appeal both 10 the
reason and the moral sense lie has taken
pains TO show The direct bearing of these
truths of religion up0n the social, political
and economic problems OF our time. IL l.
his belief that there can be no lasting and
vigorous civilization which is not inspired
by q noble and persuasive religion; ana
that such a religion must rest on the bed
rock OF thoroughly fearless, rational and
consistent thinking.
Contents-The Realm OF Doubt; The
Moral structure of the Universe; The
World Of OppOsites: Thorough going me
ism: The Good God: Great Questionsl \
Rational Optimism: The beginnings OF
Personality: What Personality Is; The
Cost OF Personality: The Religion Of the
Child and the Religion OF the Man; Inc
Process of Civilization.
.-or,c,~x, yrrrr, NorrN-c INVENTOR
Bv Edward s. Ellis. author Of "Stand-
ard History Of the United states. " "Deer-
foot Series" boy Pioneer Series" etc.
New York Fords. Howard & Hubert.
Bound in cloth. illustrated, 2s7 pages
price sl25.
DORSEY. the Young Inventor" IS the
tale Of a wide-swake country boy. whose
,father's occupation OF brick-making in
cites his native ingenuity and starts him
on 4 career OF clever contriFlng OF ianoi-
saving devices. The boys character IS
frank generous. and manly, so that all
his adventures-at home in school, IN
city wandering. with other boys Wilh pur-
loiners o mis- inventions. amid hls iin-
.rs business mishaps. etc.-keep the read |
ers symnathies with the youthful hero
from start TO finish. The amount OF In
formation the author contrives 10 impart |
,bout the realm OF invention and the |
modes OF inventing will be or Keen inter-
rst 70 anv boy OF Ingenious turn OF mind, |
ana viii arouse new ideas in many care |
less head. There is plenty Of boy fun, |
nnpber ~ curious characters appear, a |
delIghtful home atmosphere and an In
sniring school-teacher shows how Young |
brain NAV be helped by sympathetic ell
ders and the whole current of the MARIA
tive flows so freely and joyously that 1t |