The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06


liam Penn. Twenty years ago Robert
Louis Stevenson picked up a copy OF this
little book at a bookstalI in San Fran
cisco. Some time later he sent it to a
friend, Horatio w. Brown, with this note:
IF ever in all my human conduct l have
done better thing to any fellow creature
than handing ON TO you this sweet, digni-
fed, and wholesome book, l know l shall
hear o: it on the last day. There
is not man living, no, nor recently dead,
that could put with so lovely spirit SO
much honest, kind wisdom into words"
TIE June Truth" will contain some re-
markable color reproductions of Dolph's
famous Cat and Dog" pictures.
r. H. Russell has in press and will issue
shortly another book of clever drawings
by Frank Verbeck. The title will be "A
Handbook OF Golf for Bears" and to
those acquainted with Mr.. Verbeck's hui
NOR it is suggestive.
Dodd, Mead & Co. announce the publ
cation early in May, of THE international
Year Book a compendium of the worlds
progress for the year 1899. This Year
Book, like the one for 1895 issued by the
same firm, has been edited by Frank
Moore Colby, NJ. A, professor of economics
in New York University.
The volume covers the worlds history
for the year 1899, one of the most import
ant in the century, as it has fixed the
colonial policy of our own country; tested
England's national strength determined
very largely the future of Africa; settled
in a measure the problem of the Jew in
France: and has enabled Russia to COM
plete the most stupendous business and
military enterprise which has ever been
attempted.
The volume contains 900 pages. with
maps and illustrations and treats, among
other subjects. such questions as: The
War in the Transvaal; The Hague Confer
ence; Aerial Navigation; Trusts; Tire
Drama; Experimental Psychology: Recon-
stsuction in Cuba; Motive Power; Gen.
Leonard Wood; Lyddite; Education;
Paris Exposition; Liquid Air; Wire
less Telegraphy; and Automobiles, etc,
etc.
Rand, McNally & Co.. Chicago ard New
York, have in press and will issue during
April Uncle Sam Abroad" by ]. E. Con-
ner. This is a book prepared in the form
of a series of University Extension lee
lures on the diplomatic and consular ser
vice Of the United States.
The Putnams announce South
Africa and the Transvaal War"
by Louis Creswicke, TO be writ
ten on somewhat original plan.
It will be issued in six volumes sold sep
arately. The first volume includes full &C
counts OF the early struggles of the Beers,
the Zulu war. the first Transvaal war
Qaing's Mex and Majuba HID, the Ma
tabele campaigns. the settlement of Rho
III.
series of events eliminating in the pres
ent war The second volume will contain
the first portion of the narrative OF the
war down to the battle of Colenso. Deem
Der 10, 1899. Volume three will deal with
the colonial contingents engaged in the
war In volume four the thread of the
wars narrative will be resumed, and so
on, further volumes being presented as
history is made for them.
In the May number of '-CasselTs Little
Folks quaint Chinese fairy tale appears.
1t is quite genuine tbeing written by
Chinese gentlemen resident in England),
and is full of interest. Here is an extract:
Tan Eng was overcome with grief: He was
alone in the world. lie had no friends, and was
as poor a church mouse. His father must nc
buried in order that his soul might have peace
But he had no money. and no one would trust
him with a loan. Whatever it cost him, tie
would do his duty. Drying his tears. he made
himself ring Of grass which he fixed pole,
and carried it through The streets, calling out:
Il will sell myself in order to bury my father.
Who'll buy. who'll buy?'' rich named 10
took pity on him and Fought him for forty taels.
Tan Eng was delighted He did not care if ne re-
manned a slave all his life. long he could
do his duty by his father. lie bought a nice
coffin and 4 suitable plot OF ground and buried
his father. After The funeral he gave himself
up TO Lo and became slave
Little Brown &c. publish Empress
octavia.' a romance of the reign of Nero.
by Wilhelm Walloth, author of The
Kings Treasure House." etc. The work is
from the German by Mary ].
Stafford. N=ro and the various members OF
his court-Petronius, Seneca, Tigellinus.
Poppaea Sabins, and others-are intro
duced, and also the Empress octavia,
whose love for a young Greek sculptor
forms the theme of the story.
Doubleday. Page 6 Co.. New York, have
in press The Hearts Highway" a ro
nance of Virginia in the seventeenth CEN
fury by Nary E. wilkins.
Mr. Henry Harland's forthcoming book
is entitled The Cardinals Snuff Box
In the course of an article on Cowper on
the centenary of his death, the London
Times" says:
What we would point out Is that those WHO
speak only OF Cowper as the exponent OF meagre
nd narrow ideas. who lived and died within the
pale Of an aesthetic community, are blind 10 the
larger halt OF Il gifted, comprehensive nimble !
spirit. able to pass swiftly from one region 10
another; an Englishman OF Englishmen. who |
clothed in manly verse the ideas Of his race as
TO civic duty: a poet with incomparably wider
ideas Of the range OF his art than many OF those
who are hard upon the trivldlIty and nSrrowness
o. his ideas The siekly recluse, timid and ny |
pochcndriac, pressed down with despair lnSe-
Nous in inventing subjects Of woe. and finding /
at times no solitude complete enough to shelter |
him from the gaze Of his fellow beings. could on
due occasion speak the sentiments of his country !
as no poet has done since Miiton-Could express /
fhe creed OF orderly liberty. the doctrines o.
freemen living in an ancient land. with feryor |
and felicity which none have since surpassed |
Enough and too much. has been said OF the de- |
spondent cast Of his thoughts and the limitl- |
lions Of his creed, an Affirmation full OF pain |
and patience When some trial trouble pro- |
ieundly stirs the whole nation, how far off and |
seem cunning spinners OF erotlc fan |
tastes. adopts in expressing sounds in terms OF
odors and odors in terms OF sight, how modern |
becomes this poor lisping, stammering tongue.
this simple singer of q manly lay. Mr.. Birrell |
has said that there is mo idyllic nonsense in |
Cowper's poetry" There is an amazing stock OF |
robust sense in all OF it, and especially when he |
turns to public themes and speaks of his country, |
''her magnificent and awful cause or proCains |
his pride that 'Chstham's language his |
mother tongue aud VOTES great name Compltriot !
with his own and, thinking Of those 1ms that |
have set exclaims "Ohi rise some Otb5r SUCH or |
al that We have lett is empty talk of old achieve
inents and despair OF new No one speaks OF |
freedom with more sturdines9; and, intensely |
patriotic though he is and proud Of the magni |
tude OF the empire he hopes thar where Brtain's
power i felt, mankind may feel her mercy too |