The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-20
BOOK NOTICES.

THE French Revolution and the English
Poets" a Study in Historical Criticism"
by Albert Elmer Hancock. instructor in
English in Haverford College. Henry Holt
& Co., New York. publishers. Cloth. AS
stated in the title, this work is a study in
historical criticism, an attempt 10 revive
the atmosphere in which the poets lived
with the view of showing their work in
its processes of growth. 1t aims also to
point out how the ideas of the French
revolution were, in a large measure. the
foundation of their views of life. The po-
sition is taken that the work of the
French writer's had very strong influ-
ence upon the thought of England, espe-
cially such French writer's as Helviuus
Holbach and Rousseau. The political phi
losophy of William Goodwin, the apostle
of English radicalism, whose book, THE
Political Justice" was the Bible of the
English reformers. The author then
brings out with emphasis the following
points in regard to the poets: Shelley
wrote his Queen Nab" under the spell
and inspiration of Nolney's Les Ruines,"
a French popular exposition of the phi
losophy of the revolution, and under the
stress of enthusiasm for Holbachs "Sys-
posed that Goodwin was responsible main
ly for Shelley's >radicalism. Goodwin
is largely acquitted of this. The difference
between Shelley's and Rousseau's ideas of
the future and the Golden Age is point
ed out. 1t is shown that Byron is the
direct, intellectual and emotional descend
ant of Rousseau-the Rousseau of the lat
er generation of the revolutionists. He is
not however, so much revolutionist as
a me- 10 "a nlaO
construction His significance is due 10
his courageous defiance of the reactonary
policy of the holy alliance. Wordsworth
is placed in the position of being one of the
first of the transcendentalists in England.
He discovered as he thought, a philoso-
ply of life which would prove an anodyne
for the despair and pessimism which fol-
lowed the failure of the revolution. This
discovery shows why Wordsworth took
his iabolfous and pedantic Excursion" 50
seriously, and why he considered it his
magnum opus-a judgment assented to by
no later critic. The author deals with
CCleridge by tracing the development
of his political ideas. Coleridge was ac-
cused of being a lost leader and a rene
gade. This was unjust. His acceptance
OF French philosophy has been greatly
exaggerated. His change of attitude was
due 60 the logic of events, and his atti-
tude was critical and eclectic at all times.
The work is one that will command a
great deal of attention from scholars.
"a Trooper of Gallahad," by Capt.
Charles King, U. S. A. ]. B. Lipplncott
Company, publishers. Cloth 81. 1t is I'M
necessary to say that this story is deep
ly interesting one. All of Capt Kings
stories are interesting and of a high
standard. This story is no exception. AS
the title indicates il deals with phases of
army life and the pictures presented of
that life are very graphic. OF the many
who will read the story it is safe to say
that none will be disappointed.
The Haven & Stout Red Manual of
Statistics and Telegraphic Code, 1899. Hav-
en- & Stout. Bankers, No. Nassau street.
New York city. This interesting publication
is of very considerable value to all who
are interested in railroads and the crops.
Its contents embrace detailed statistical
information brought down to the present
time, regarding the principal railroads of
the country, their finances and earnings,
well as similar data concerning the
leading street railways and Industrial COM
panies. The latter department is especially
full and affords in compact form, infor-
nation concerning the industrial combna-
lions whose organization has been COM
pleted since Jan. l, 1899 In fact, the Red
Manual gives without question, the fullest
exhibition of such concerns and their Sc
curities, now in print.
In addition the volume embodies all quo
tations for a series of years in the New
York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago. Bal
tlmore and other markets of the country,
and in the principal mining stock markets
and complete record of prices and stats
tics of grain, cotton and petroleum, as
well as other financial information which
is of value to investors and the general
public.