The Portland daily press., 1900-10-04

WulCu Uterus OF 6ypQOllsm II M0QOal
and Moral Culture, is not issued in de-
fence of the therapeutic efficiency of hyp-
notism, for the author has confined him
self chiefly to "a consideration of the
Importance of suggestive treatment in
moral obliquity. and in the development
and exaltation of mind power"
The first chapter of his little book con-
tains reply to the questions, what is
hypnotism, and how produceds'' In
testing the availability of hypnotic sug
gestion a as means OF removing criminal
impulses, and substituting conscience
sensitiveness, thu author was convinced
that the results of his Investigations
would be Of deep interest to the men and
women of his profession, but he was as
tonished at the sensation, created In
this country, and in Europe, by reports
of his proceedings IN the columns of the
daily press. He therefore prepared the
present volume in order to give full and
authentic information in regard TO hyp-
motto suggestion, and he wishes 1t IN
derstood that the position taken in regard
to the constructive treatment, while high
and tenable, is not in the slightest de-
gree at variance with the purest Chris
tian belief and practice.
The DIshonor Of Frank Scott Is book
OF plot so extraordinary that 1t Is not
easily handled by the critic. while at the
same time 1t is so very remarkable that
1t is sure to attract much attention. The
author cannot be accused of repression,
but on the contrary there is the utmost
frankness In detail, and very unnecessary
exploiting OF facts and of scenes, which
are usually concealed altogether, or
touched upon with extreme delicacy and
hesitation. Yet the talent of the author
is so conspicuous, and the character OF
Frank Scott is so cIeverly drawn, that
one hardly knows whether to praise ex-
trayagantly, blame unstintedly, or con-
sign the entire work to absolute obscur-
ity.
It is difficult to realize that man,
without being positively vile can work
so mu3h evil 30 himself and others as did
Lord Francis Fetherston- Scott; and yet
all his errors came from a desire to make
others happy, from an affect1onate nature
easily won to love- and a weak shrinking
from seeing, or experiencing suffering.
Thus he was constantly doing i'll that
good might come OF it, which Of course
resulted in disaster to all concerned. One
is astonished in reading the book that
anything so good can be so bad, and that
anything so bad can be so good,
The WhiIomville Stories, by the lament
ed Stephen Crane, have been gathered
into a pretty volume with a frontispieee
which is striking portrait OF the au
thor. The Illustrations are copious and
by Peter Newell. The extraordinary
performances Of the fangel child,'' the
lynx-hunting OF Jimmie Trescott and
Willie Dalzell, the Maoyak twins, Dan
Earle, and other never-t -be-forgotten
speciments of the modern youngster, riot
and royster on every page of this most
amusing and entertaining volume Of
stories about children, which are quite
1-worthy of their talented author.
Amina Wills, by Marya Rodziewioz,
translated by S. G. de Scissor, is an in
teresting tale of the great Siberian Steppe,
and has an additional value as helping
us to knowledge and understanding of
she empire of the Czar. ''This transla-
ton, % says M. de Scissor, ''will serve
another noble purpose; it will make the
English-spsaking people familiar with
Polish author who, although she does
not write so powerfully as the fantasti-
calIy heroic Henryk Sienkiewioz, yet pos
sesses great literary merit - Aid this is
quite true, for Miss RodzieWiez- s novel
certainly teaches us much, and In a de-
Iightful manner, of the real conditions
of life in Siberia, OF which she draws
| vivid and convincing pictures.
The story is far from being cheerful
one, for the hero, Mrozowiecki "a prize
should be offered to anyone who can
properly pronounce his name), is tor
ment9d by every possible misfortune, and
is the viobim of adversity in endless
forms, so that when, at last, happiness
comes to him, one really wonders if it be
not too late for pleasure or enjoyment.
The story has no plot to speak OF, but
the characters are interesting and we'll
sketched, while the unusual environ
ment adds piquancy and flavor to it all.
portland: Lor1ng, Short & Harmony
A very charming and attractive story
for girls is Amanda NJ. Douglass A Lit
tie Girl In Old Washington. 1t is
bright, wholesome and CHEEKY, and de-
soribes the daily life of the Masons, de-
lightfully large and interesting family
living in the Vicinity OF Washington.
Squire Mason has married Mrs. Bouvier,
a lovely young widow with one little
girl, and when the story opens the pretty
stepmother and her small daughter have
just been introduced to the Mason boys
and girls, and 1t promises to be a happy
and united household, What happens,
and how it all turns out, we leave for the
girls, who viii read the book, to ascer-
tain. cortland: Loring, Short & Har
mon.)