The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31

needs a whole library at his elbow. and
can work better in a library alcove than
az nome If he Is given a desk and n chair
and Is provided with fair light. moderate
warmth and tolerable air The require
ments or the public are essentially differ
ent They want books 10 read aloud. 20
"nuse themselves with. TO educate them
selves by. not TO refer to- III the $1,000
Volumes In the main stock are for schol-
"rIy use the expense OF providing machin-
cry for circulating them outside Of the
'"Tary may be cut of at once. special
provisions made for accommodating stu
uents and something saved for books. 10
should not be forgotten that the books
which 20 into general circulation seldom
are M 10 become part OF a library %
reference. The view which looks at the
numbers of a library as representing tho
accretlon Of years from purchases made
10 suit popular interests is a completely
erroneous one. The principles which direct
the administration or a reference library
ulfter essentially from those which direct
ihe administration of a circulating library
Tor the general public. The statistics of
our public library here suggest the qucs-
ton whether the two departments should
not be sharply divided
(Published by the Free Public Library
OF San FranciscoD
II is pleasant 10 welcome Mr.. Doxcy's
more. The DoXcy Book Company OFFER
as the first Of q series az Lark Classics
kipline's "Maudalay." with Illustrations
by Robert Edgren and a cover design by
Porter Garnett. Mr.. Edcrcn's residence
In Burmah has qualified him 20 make au-
thentc Representations Of the scene OF the
poem. and from his pictures we learn
that KiplinG's brown maiden is % he im-
agined as comely but plump and even a
little dumpy. CThe DoNey Book Company.
San Francisco. e. ccnts).
The Doubledav-McClurs Company pub
lish a reprint of Charles Eende's lively
work. Peg Wellington" with many d.
lustrations by Hugh Thomson. and an IN
PRODUCTION by Austin Dobsou. Mr. Dob
sons Introduction Is as graceful and as
scholarly as his studies always are. and
Mr Thomsou's delicatcIy humorous draw
ings add a new charm o. tho story %
witty. wayward and warm-hyarted Mar
garet Wellington"
The second volume oC Eiok's History
of the People of the Netherlands" now ap-
pears iu translation by Ruth Putnam.
from the house Of q. l.. Putu4m's Sons.
The former volume OF the translation
dealt with the periods from the earliest
times 90 the beginning OF the fifteenth
century. This carries on the history to-
1858. down 10 the departure OF Philip M
for Spain. Petrus Johannes Blok is pro-
fessOr of Dutch history in the University
Of Leydcn. quite naturally DO loves 90
unravel the mysteries OF detailed develop
ment I'm ali the petty provinces which
make up thar compound stat. which i5
vaguely known as The Netherlguds Much
the same difficulties oouly in au Intensified
degrCeJ that confront the writer 0f Ameri-
can history I'm treating the rise of those
colonies which bccIme the United States
OF America had 90 be met iu the handling
author may give "a minute account of each
individual community. Philosophical
grasp and culightenlnE generalization
then take secondary place. Or one may
exploit his material by some skiIlful topt-
cal method. taking cross sections or terri
tory and chronology. In such a case the
chronicles Of humble things drop out OF
view. The plan of the book under review
shows preference for minute and unreal
isuc treatment of each political entity
However important 10 home loving
Dutchmen. however significant 10 minute
and labOrious students. such a method
will discourage most readers. The great
merits of BlOk's work consist I'm his clear
exposition Of the reasons contributing 20
the rise Of the Burgundan power-in in the
Netherlands; his account Of the orgauiZa-
tion Of the Burgundian monarchy Itself
in the days Of Charles V and Philip IT,.
and especially I'm his description of reIi--
ious. economic and social conditions In the
Burgundian period. A discussion OF his
torical authorities in a valuable appendix
cannot reconcile the student 10 the COM
plete absence OF footnotes. A good man
and index are comprised in this second
volume.