The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-05

from the press, Will take up tne perIoU
between the death of Louis XIV and the
consulate of Napoleon BOnaparte. Mr..
Watson's treatment of history is from
new and entirely modern point of view
The well known political leader says
in his preface that it has been his pur-
pose to lay before his readers "a clear
narrative of the gradual development
of a great peOp1e-to note the varying
forms of government, to trace the an
cient origin of modern laws and customs,
to mark the encrOachmentS or abSo-
lutism upon popular rights, TO describe
the long continued struggle of the many
to throw off the yoke Of the flew, to
emphasize the corrupting influence of
the union between church and state;
to illustrate once more the blighting eff
fects of superstition, ignorance, blind
obedience, unjust laws, confiscation un-
der the disguise of unequal taxes, and
a systematic plumber year after year
of the weaker class by the stronger.
The author is in very keen sympathy
with the mass of the people, and for the
first time the historical point of view of
the labOrer and mechanic is presented
in a style that is bold. racy and I'M
conventional. 1t is a vigorous and dem
ocratic presentation of history. Each
volume has about 700 pages and is sold
for $3.50.
The Macmillan company will publish
Immediately a paper-covered edition of
THE Choir Invisible" consisting of fifty
thousand copies. This means that near
ty two hundred thousand copies of this
popular novel will have been sold before
the new book which James Lane Allen
is now writing will have left the press
in the autumn. The title of Mr.. Aliens
forthcoming novel is The Mettle of the
Pasture"
''His Baptism of War, Among Cubans
Insurgents and Spaniards, is the title
of a new novel by Edgar r. Hoadley,
issued by F. Tennyson Nicely, New
York 1t is a stirring story of war times
in Cuba, and appeals not only to the
soldier who went to Cuba, and is IA
miliar with its scenes. but to the boys"
who hoped to go and had to remain at
home. All lovers of a story with go"
in it will be entertained by it's vivid de-
scriptions of chivalrous actions and
heroic deeds by flood and field.
=
The extraordinary popularity of "Cas-
sells Little Folks in England, and the
growing demand for it in this country,
have induced the publishers to issue an
American edition. 1t is so admirably
adapted for the purpose for which it
was designed that nothing but praise
can be accorded alike to the matter
which is provided for the youthful read
ers, and the exquisite pictorial cuts with
which it is Illustrated and enlivened.
Each part has a eolored frontispiece;
and illustrations, many of them printed
in color, abound on nearly every page.
The young folks will be sure to be de-
lighted with it's contents. 1t sells at the
popular price of 10 cents, or $3.50 a year.
His Brothers Crime. a new American
novel by John R. Musick, author of the
Columbian Historical Novels" deals
to great extent with the question
most interesting to all Americans-the
social or labor question. The story
opens with the end of a strike at the
great Burlington Iron works, in which
most of the strikers are taken back;
but Alfred Grayson and his young
brother Willie, on account Of the per-
Sonal feelings of the manager, are re-
jected. For an insult to his wife AL
fred Grayson kills the manager. His
young brother takes the crime on him
self and becomes a wandering fugitive
from justice. In the course of his wan
derings he meets with some startling
adventures. The misunderstanding in
the story shows the hand of a master
Willie GraysOn is one of the nobest of
men ever presented in fiction. He bears
his burdens and wrongs without COM
plant, but, like Jean Vatican, is ever
pursued by the unwearying hand of
fate. When finally sent to states pris-
on for another offense. of which he is
innocent, he never murmurS. The moral
taught in this novel if practiced would
soon end all strife between labor and
capital. In strong contrast is the Bir-
mingham manager whose thousands of
workmen love him, compared with the
cold, selfish manager of Burlington
who grinds down his employees until
they are the most miserable slaves.
The book has a pleasant ending well
as an ideal moral. F. Tennyson Nicely,
Publisher, New York.
All the older Kansans will be inter
ested in the handsome volume of "Po-
ems, by Richard Realf," just issued by
the Funk & Wagnalls company, New
York. The work is edited by Col Rich
ard ]. Hinton, the poets intimate friend
and literary executor and is sold for
$3.50 Realf's life was such an event
full one, such long period of storm and
stress, that it is marvellous that he
found time to write half the poems that
he did. He was but A years old when
he died. Born in 1884 in England of
good but humble parents. reared and
educated through the munificence of
wealthy friend of the family amid Gull
tured surroundings, he came to New
York in 1854, and took a position with
the philanthropic Mr.. Pease at the
Five Points House of Industry. Soon
after reaching this country his sympa-
thies were enlisted in the anti-slavery
cause, and, in 1850 he went to Kansas
as newspaper correspondent, writing
for the New York Tribune and other
journals. In 1857 he Joined the then
embryonic John Brown movement.
Perhaps the best, most finished of his
longer poems is the one entitled "Indi-
rection." The first Stanza is as fol-
lows:
Fair are the flowers and the children.
but their subtle suggestion is fairer;
Rare Is the roseburst of dawn, but the
secret that clasps it is rarer;
Sweet the exultance of song, but the
strain that precedes it is sweeter:
And never was poem yet writ, but the
meaning administered the meter"
IAN Odd Little Lass" is the name of
dainty volume by Topeka woman.
Mrs. Jessie Wright Whitcomb, author
of Philip Leicester" etc. Illustrated
by Ida Waugh. The book is published
by the Penn Publishing company. of
PHILADELPHIA. and the story shows how.