The Portland daily press., 1900-06-09
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

A Ball Players Career, by Adrian G.
Arson, is the most pretentious addition
to baseball literature yet published. Com
ing as 1t does from the man who was for
"a score of years the most prominent
figure connected with the American ma
tional game, the appearance of the book
has been looked forward to with genuine
interest and very considerable curiosity.
As player and manager Captain Anson
was an ornament to the game which
suffered when he was forced out of it, but
when he took up the pen after laying
aside the bat stick the experiment was
considered an exceedingly doubtful one
by those who knew him. 1t must be
said, however, that the book is an agree
able disappointment. Capt, Anson has
told his story simply, dramatically ana
to an interesting way. Now and then
he essays passage of fine writing but on
the whole he has related what he has to
say Just as one would expect an ordinary,
plain spoken man to tell 1t, and that is
more than many who make more preten-
ton to literary abilities than Capt. An
son does, can do.
As the author has been connected with
professional ball since its inception, the
book becomes u history of national league
from its organization, with all its for
tunes and misfortunes Much space is
devoted to the trip abroad by Chicago
and all American teams, which on the
whole Is rather interesting but might
have been made just as much SO with less
words. Capt. Arson devotes the con-
Guiding chapters of his volume to his
troubles with Messrs. Hart and Spauld-
ing of the Chicago club. For the time be-
ing while this controversy is fresh in
the mind of the base bali public his side
of the case will be read with as much in
terest as anything in the book. In a
short time, however, that will have be-
come merely an incident, while the his
tory of the greatest professional sporting
organization in the world will always be
of interest to Americans. For this reason
Capt. Arson could have made his book
of more permanent value by devoting the
pages upon which he amplities his
troubles to other matter. The book is
published by the Era Publishing Co. of
Chicago. portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony
The Nicaragua Canal, by W. K. Sim
mons Mr.. Simmons in this volume gives
an account of the people, customs and
government of Nicaragua and a history
of the canal from its inception to the
present day. The government surveys
and the work are yet to be done. In view
of the recent Hay Pauncefote Negotia-
tions the work is of more than ordinary
interest and Importance. The title OF
this book may not be- alluring to the gen.
eral reader, but he will find it very en-
tertaining. There are interesting ao-
counts of the people and their customs,
and vivid pictures of that land of the
great water way, the gateway between the
oceans ANYONE, says the author, "who
enjoys grand and beautiful scenery
would be delighted with this country. The
perennial tropical forest, with its gigan-
tic trees, it's sxuberant vegetation, ex-
quisite forms and glowing colors. Is liv-
ing wonder. Magnificent tree ferns de-
light the eye with their graceful elegance
and the ground Ia sometimes carpeted
with flowers that have fallen from invis-
ible tree tops, filing the air with delic.
ious fragrance. High over head from the
lsaflsss trunks of grand trees, orchids
flashed like rubies or garnets set In en-
eralds. Brilliant butterflies and birds
Of gorgeous plNmage, excited mingled
feelings of wonder and delight. "Nicar-
aqua, the author says, has unusual at.