Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE UNITED STATES NAVAL. ACADEMY. BY
Park Benjamin. Of the Glass OF 1867, Illustrated.
| New York: g. l.. Putnams Sons. Washington:
Woodward & Lothrop.
Mr. Benjamin, after dealing for many
years with scientific subjects. now turns his
| hand to a theme which it is easy to per-
| reive dominates all others in arousing his
| sympathetic interest. for it is the theme of
| his alma mater, treated in manner to pro-
| luce complete record of its development
| and to insure a broad basis for future his
| torical studies of the evolution of the naval
| cadet from the make-shifts of early naval
| training. The story of the growth of
| this mode of educating youngsters for sea
| service is decidedly romantic for it includes
| the early days Of rough seamanshp the
| adventures of tender youths between decks
| The swash-buckling days of the roaring jack
| tar. the days of grog, of the press gang and
other accomplishments of the naval service
which have passed into tradition.
The story of the American Naval Acad-
| envy proper involves detailed considera-
| ton of conditions which have almost passed
out OF the recollection of living men. Mr.
Benjamin tells of the early struggles of the
naval officers progressive enough to advo-
cate a system of education for young Off
GERS. finally resulting in 1898 in the estab-
| lshment of a small class of young midship-
men at the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia
there founding the nucleus of the future
academy, which was begun by Secretary
Bancroft in 1915. Thenceforth the record is
one Of steady development, under the sue
ceSsive administrations of secretaries who
We're glad to follow the wise lead of Mr.
Bancroft The narration Of the chronology
cal record of the academy calls for a stir
| ring account of the trying days of 1860,
when the lads from the south were sum
moned home by family and state ties to
enter the service of the confederacy the
Naval A holm
there to be housed temporarily on vessels
awaiting the days of peace.
Many pictures add materially to the value
of the work. including portraits of famous
graduates and officers of the academy and
scenes about the establishment. A list of the
graduates from the beginning to the present
and of the instructors who have served at
the academy forms useful appendix.
HISTORY OF BANKING IN THE UNITED
STATES. BY. thu late John Jay Knox: Assisted
10y Corps of Financial Writers in the Various
States The entire work revised by Bradford
Elmer H. ioungman, associate editor. New
York: Bradford Rhodes & Company.
John Jay Knox was for five years deputy
controller of the currency, and for twelve
years thereafter controller. thus being for
seventeen years in the closest touch with
the banking affairs of the country. in an
official capacity. In 1884 he resigned from
the treasury to become president of Ma
y,
which position he occupied until his death
in 1892. 1t was his life ambition to pre-
pare complete history of American bank
ing, and this work was left uncompleted at
| his death. He had finished, however the
portion relating to national banking, leav-
ing mass of undigested material for the
preparation of the history of state banking.
The present work is careful edition of
his own history, together with a symposium
of historical reviews of state banking by ex-
frIi No i,,a
particular topics. Thus the project has
been completed to the best advantage in
the absence of the master mind that con-
ceived it. The result is most valuable
work of history and Of reference being in
fact. financial history of the United States
The editor adds an appreciative biography
OF MIR. Knox, taking pains to establish
clearly the late controllers precise connec-
ton with the currency law of 1873. made
famous by the charges brought subsequent
TO Its enactment that it surreptitiously
omitted the silver dollar from the coinage
list. 1t is shown that Mr.. Knox advocated
this omission in a most open manner for
several sessions before that at which the
law was finally passed, and that there was
ample public discussion of his project
Portraits of the countrys most eminent
official tinanciers embellish the pages of
this book which is at once compendium
OF facts and an entertaining record OF the
development of the present intricate and
efficient system of banking whereby the
business of the country is conducted on lines
THE TRUST PROBLEM. BY Jeremiah whipple
jerks. Ph.D. professor of Political Science Cor
nell University; expert agent United States In
9tstral o"nmssion; consulting expert United
Oure Phillips & Company.
The scope and purpose of this work are
best described in the authors own words
thus:
1T has been intended to present mainly
facts, and the judgments of those who.
from their intimate connection with the
corporations under discussion, either
members, rivals otherwise, are thorough
ly conversant with the facts regarding
them. The purpose of the book forbids Civ
ing much space to exact definitions and
classification, but under the word Trust
expressed in the title. included espe-
cially those organizations of capital which
have been called, whether wisely or not,
'capitalistic monopolies.' Neither railroads
nor telegraphs nor other public service cor
porations specially considered, but in
general trusts taken to mean manu-
featuring corporations with so great capital
and power that they are at least thought
by the public to have become a menace to
their welfare. and to have, temporarily, at
least, considerable monopolistic power. 1t
Is hoped that the prejudices which
common to all have not prevented a reason
able degree of fairness in seeing and de-
plotting both sides of this question, the good
as well as the evil. While 1t is proba BILE
that the book has been written chiefly
from the view point of the economist 1t
has been the intention not to ignore that
of the publicist and Of the citizen, who
think Of the practical as well as Of the de-
sirable In legislation and who keep in
mind the social and moral as well as the
business welfare of the people,"
CONCERNING oats; Ny Own and Some Others
By Helen II. winslow, editor Of The Club
woman Illustrated. Boston; The 7Lothrop
Publishing Company.
Cats have exercised a peculiar influence
on humanity from time imtpemorial. They
have been associated with unoanny things,
with the mysterious. with demoniac infiu-
ences, yet they havS become recognised as