The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-04
LITERARY NOTES.

LITERARY NOTES.
To thoughtful men who feel that they
cannot afford to neglect information on
the rapid change of political motive,
Prof. Jesse Mays Political Parties in
the United States will be book to be
read. The first testing of the fully devel-
oped American system of political parties
occurred in the contest which arose re-
specting slavery during the Mexican War.
The two parties had only recently become
fully organized when called to face the
new situation. In an attempt to grapple
with the new issue the party system failed,
and the civil war was the result. We
proach of the War of Secession from the
standpoint of STUDENT of the practical
working OF the party .vstem. Introducing
chapters sketch the origin and nature of
political parties in modern democratic
states; their relations to democracy and
10 despotism; the form of party organiza-
ton as influenced or controlled by the
form OF government in the various States,
with detailed account of the rise of the
peculiar American party system. The
DOCK is not written to defend this sys-
tenn, but to explain its manner OF work
ing and to secure a fuller recognition OF
Its Importance. 1t appears that in the
American system there is room for two,
and only two. great party organizations.
The tendency of the so-called third
party organizations is shown to be to con-
fuse the voter and to promote immoral po-
htical conduct. Prof. Macy is professor
OF political science in Iowa College, and
has already won some distinction in his
heid by his Commentary on the English
Constitution" The Macmillan Company
publish his books.
Perhaps the most timely article in NC
Clure's Magazine" for November is "A
Woman's Diary of the Siege of Pekin," by
MIS-. f. X. Lowry, one of the besieged
missionaries in the legations last summer.
This vivid narrative by an eyewitness of
most of the events described is sure to
command attention at time when the
eyes OF all the world are turned to the
far East 1t is in true sense history
from the original documents.
The Hoosiers' is a book by Meredith
Nicholson which sets forth the beginnings
OF culture in Indiana, from the settle
ment of the territory; describes the Hoo
sier type and dialect, and the early CEN
tres of agitation and enlightenment, such
as New Harmony; and, after thus study
ing the environment and it's pioneer ante
cedents, examines the literary product
with much fullness and detail. Edward
Eggleston. James Whitcomb Riley, Gen.
Lew Wallace. Maurice Thompson, and n
few younger writer's receive most specific
attention. AS the first formal study of
literary conditions and successes in the
West, the work, which draws from its
original sources for the first time. may be
expected to meet with very cordial well
come. 1t will be issued by the Macmillan
Company in the series of National Stud
les of American Letters" which is edited
by Prof George e. Woodbury. and of
which "old Cambridge" by Thomas Went
worth Hisginson. and Brook Farm by
Lindsay Swift are already published.
The appearance of a new book by Ed
ward Bellamy. whose death occurred
three or four years ago. is exciting a
good deal OF interest. THE Duke of
Stockbridge" was really written before
Looking Backward was conceived. 1t
was undertaken as a historical romance
and thus is the pioneer of the whole
brood Of romantic historical novels. 1t is
romance of the Berkshire Hills, among
which Mr.. Bellamy spent his life. The
theme is that curious post-Revolutionary
episode called "Shays' Rebellion in
which the discouraged debtor farmers re-
volted furiously against the courtly aris-
tocrats Of the old New England towns
The times were the hardest this country
had known and the rich were foreclosing
fha for ,pI 81,
foul jails with debtors. These conditions
of injustice, which the making of the sto-
ry brought SO pointedly before the au-
thor's mind, stirred him nightly and
Looking Backward was undertaken as
soon as this story was finished. Mr.. Bel
lamy decided, however. to withhold the
romance until after the new book was
completed; then 1.-THE Duke of Stock
bridge" would not be regarded merely
as romance, but would be an illustration
of the need of the great human revolution
which Looking Backward stands for.
The authors failing health, however,
postponed its publication still further I'M
til just before his death he gave permis-
sion for its bringing forth.
Prof.-John Martin Vincent's revised and
enlarged edition of his Government in
Switzerland has just been issued by the
Macmillan Company. His earlier volume
having been recognized as the most COM
plete description of government in Switz-
erland. the author has enlarged and re-
vised the work to meet the increasing in
terest in Swiss institutions. The present
of chapters and the entire re-
writing OF many subjects make of it, in
fact. new book. A sketch of the consti
tutional history of Switzerland leads up
to the present Government. The relations
of the cantons are constantly compared
with those of the United States and other
Federal Governments. The legislative and
executive authorities of state and nation
are carefully analysed and afford many in
structive points in the problems of poll
tics.
Rand, McNally & Co.'S new Junior Lii
brary, which has just been completed, |
promises great treat for young read rs
All the books are by the best authors; are
fully illustrated with pictures from orig
inal drawings, which have been repro
duced in black and white and in colors,
and the specially designed covers are in
colors The books are strongly bound in
cloth and are large 12mo in size. The
library comprises the following titles:
"Aesop's Fables "Andersen's Fairy
Tales "Black Beauty" Cast Up BY the
Sea-" Green Mountain Boys Robinson
Crusoe," Scottish Chiefs" Tales from
tom Browns School Days"
Treasure Island,' and "kipling Boy
Stories"
The special holiday edition of Kings
ley's delightful child story, THE Water
Babies" will be issued this fall by Rand.
McNally e. Co. II will have an appro-
pirate cover design, nearly hundred
text illustrations. and eight half-tones in
color. while the letter press will he print
ed from entirely new plates. 1t will he