The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-08

n
are we going 10 avoid admission? Let
us take an hour or SO and try to recall
Tho name of any work published in the
last two decades which shows signs Of
survival; and then, having failed to do,
so, let us try to find the season that our
present-day writings are doomed to OBJ
lvlon while the work of the oldwriters
promises to live Forever. We must turn
at last to the only possible explanations:
.1..ere were giants III those days
Yet we boast this as the century of
centuries. 20 vanitas!''
TYPES OF NAVAL OFFICERS. BY a.
Il Manan, Captain U. .. n. Little,
Brown & Co, Boston.
In Types of Naval Officers, Captain
Alfred L. Manan has given US book
which is almost, if not quite. as interest
ing 10 the neral reader as to the sailor
Captain Mahan tells us of the naval cap
tains OF the eighteenth century, with a
glance backward and forward. He opens
his book a Il very admirable, though,
at times Somewhat too technical, paper
/ upon Naval Warfare at the Beglnning
of Inc Eighteenth Century In +tHis ne
discusses the conditions of naval aiiairs
at the 1eTlCU. siioH'iS
amples-among others Bynss fight on
Minorca-thc weaknesses OF. the English
navy at that time. He then takes up
the great adrlirals Of the century, ana
in a most interesting and 2.cid series OF
papers, tells us of the theories, practices
and great battles of Hawke, rooney
Howe Jeryis, Saumarez, ana Pellew.
In his treatment Of his subject, Captain
Mahan is rarely technical and always
comprehensive. Thus the non-profes-
sional student Of naval warfare is en7
abie6 easily to follow the author, WINE
the general reader can thoroughly ENJOY
the descriptions of the ranoeuvres ana
battles Captain Nahan Of course writes
rather as a critic than as historian,
vet his work is of value in the latter as.
meet as we'll No better DESCRIPTION OF
the engagements which he lnciudess las
ever been written; and this is nor
strange, since il is the worn Oh a man
who is thoroughly acquainted Win 81 an
the ,ninutiae OF his. profession. 4 ne
practical value of the work i'll these
times Of steam ana armor may be doupt-
ed nv some but this 0oubt is paseu on
error, since the principles OF naVai war
fare are invariable, however the condi-
+ions may change. Just as the piiiiCi-
nles of strategy did not alter from the
tti,oe If Caesar and Inn bal to that OF
Sano1eon. only the application being dli-
fcrrnt. so in naval warfare the theory
r,1-st always remain substantially the
same Tactics may vary. but suatesS
never: and the principles winch Won
glory for Howe and JerVis ana Neisoh
are those which must be applleo 20 Ky; ie
ban61inr of fleets of the present day, II
1-ir+o,-y is TO result. Therefore Captain
eral7an,s book has a present value apart
from it's inherent interest, and can De
necd for purposes of comparison as Wen
rs for instruction. "; ~,
THOMAS WOI-SEY. I-EHAItl AM NE-
I7OPArFR. By Ethelred l.. Iauhtoh.
John Lane. New York.
". have before us a monogram GA
THOMAS Wolsey. written by ttheifeo -.
Taunton and rGGoNshCd by John Lane,
vo,,ld he difficult TO speak too hlshiE VI
tho form in which this work Is lssu 60
TIE tinding is handsome and cuIapie' "
naI,.r and Typography are eHcell.iit' CIV
he nook is filled with admirable POT
,,.Sf+s Of IN, chief personaGes with whom
T-Crep,r had TO CO. all the portraits pc
;,,,. tai;ep from the most authentic PIC
+,,r.-s NJ these people. II is a. volume Oh
v.1yoe, appearance the publisher may wen
be proud. -,,a+1,;,r
IN r,e said both in commentator ana ~
Ttsnraise For the first, AIr. Taunton
80 e,.identlv given much time and labor
n INC perfection of his knowledge upon
4l,c subject OF which he writes he gives
:. many details OF value, and he CITES
7ocun7er,ts OF which few general readers
hava 90 much as heard. Esneaa!Iy 10
his tho case in dealing with the divorce
~ Henry VIII. and Katherine OF ArTason:
! there is in the charter devoted 10 1l i:,,
s,,p,icct . wealth of information that VII!
n, noyrl TO most Of us. This fact makes
| the book of great value to the historlcai
student and serves to throw light upoh
| ono or the most obscure matters OF Eng
| lish history. =
CULTURE AND RESTRAINT. BY Hugh
/ Pack. FLEMING II. Revell Company,
New York. Of
The problem which Hugh Blsck-one OF
the most noted preachers in scotia scotland,
has set himself to solve in Culture ana
/ Restraint'' is one which presents many
! dir7culties. It is in brief the question as
! Ia how far a man is justified in coeE-
! Ing the dictates Of his nature in the mat ma.
! Ter Of sclf-culture. There are many tore
| bio thinkers who hold that se'f-denlaisls
/ the highest form of life. while others.
| equally earnest and able hold that,i IS
| the duty OF a man to develop all the pow
/ ers that lie within him. OF course the
| problem NAV be broadly stated as .he
! question OF the superiority OF ascetclsm