The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-11-13
Literary Notes.

LltOlulJ 1'V'Oo'
THE UNITED STATES N II ohlENA
1be nature OF the economic problem bS
Charles 4. Conant- Price, Sl-o- Iuo-
fishers: Houghton, Miffiin < Co, BoS-
ton.
Mr.. Conant's reputation as an accurate
ami able student OF political ecoHohas
and writer upon economic ana nudhclal
questions Is increased by his clear treat
ment OF the new problem involved IN me
possession OF the Philippines. MI Conaht
applauds and defends the wide departure
from American tradition upon the ground
that il is necessary TO procure . market
for our manufacturing establishments
and employment for labor, He does no.
think the doctrine of the consent O. the
governed" was seriously meant Dy our
fathers. but says that the English
speaking races are pre-eInlnentiy prdc-
teal rather than severely logical.
Mr.. Conant has given the pest delense
Of the new policy that has been put IN
operation BY the large business and man
ufacturing interests. II one could nave
the optimism Of Mr.. Conant and could
put questions of trade expansion above
the sacredness of human life he might
be ready to follow Mr.. Commits clear
! and able exposition Of the economical pol
icy.
TIE HOUSE or EGREMOET. \ novel,
hv Mollie Elliot Seawell. Price $50.
Illustrated by C. NJ. Relyea. Publishers:
Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.
If you wish to make a novel"go' you
must call it a historical novel and weave
in enough history to make the reader
faat Drlc nn1 fJn 10
gins. It is a healthy sign that the his
torical novel has taken the place of the
religious novel or the socialistic novel
The last two were the rage in their day
and will return when the wheel of tickle
taste revoIveS again. But for the pres
ent time the historical novel is all the
rage. Miss Seawell has made a hit-a
palpable hit-with her The House OF
Egremont." 1t may not have all the run
of Richard Carvel' or Janice Meredith
/ it will depend largely upon whether II
touches the popular fad-but 1t is ORA
! matte. fascinating and deeply interesting.
1t is q romance Of the seventeenth cen
tury, dealing with the friends Of the
exiled Stuarts, and aboundS in adventure.
WIT AND WISDOM OF THE TALMUD,
edited by Madison G.. Peters. Price
ST. GO. Publishers: The Baker & Taylor
Co., ) and 7 East 10th St. New York.
Mr.. Peters says that while gathering
facts for Justice to the Jews he chanc-
ed upon so many wise provebs, witty say
ings. beautiful parallels, and quaint le-
! gends of the Talmud that he became in
tenSely interested in this remarkable 1T
erary production of antiquity He found
that few educated men knew anything
CT the Talmud except a few sentences
now and than He has given in alDh3-
betical order the wise proverbs of the
) Talnud. for example, the first two under
the headline of Actions are:
actions speak louder than words
Judge a man by his deeds, not by his
words
DR.. Peters compilation places hundreds
of these within the reach of English
speaking people and forms an attractive
reference book Of apt and striking quo
tations from a hitherto somewhat mac
cessible source.
To show how little is known of the
Talmud it is related that after a lecture
at a Western university, by q well-known
Rabbi, one Of his hearers went to him
and said: Il came to hear The TalmUd,
in order TO know what kind of mud it is,
confessing his utter ignorance as TO the
very name.
A SUMNER JOURNEY TO BRAZIL, by
Alice r. Humphreys, with sixteen full
page illustrations. cloth, II mo. Price,
S1.25. Publishers: Bonnell, Silver & Co.,
"a West 22d St, New York
The author has enjoyed exceptional ad-
vantages for knowing Brazil, having first
visited the Empire of Brazil when Dom
Pedro was at his best; then in the criti-
cal period following the revolution; and
last when the era of discord had culmi-
mated and the first civilian President was
peacefully elected. She draws a contrast
between the Imperialism Of Great Brit
ain and the American ideal Of govern
ment.
When Conger was Minister to Brazil,
the United States IN protecting American
s~hirring ended the Brazilian republics
most serious revolt. But the United
States interference in Brazilian affairs
went TO further, says Mrs. Humphreys,
] emphasizing the difference between our
treatment of Brazil and the Philippines.
II it is right to steal any country whose
trade is desirable, Brazil offered better
"nickinss' than the Philippines.
You will learn more about Brazil. its
past. IS civil government. its religious in
stituti0ns. the yitalizing influence Of tho
labor Of the Missionaries than in aDy
other short book We have seen. If i told
IL an interesting and plain manner. With
out any preaching or attempt to teach.
ihe book contains many suggestions of
value 20 merchants who may have inter
national relations with South America
10 rhIa1fhroIiSts and 10 missionary
readers.
Mary Johnston, whose second book. s.To
Have and To Hold is now in lis o7Gtb
thousand. viii bring out her new story.