The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-25


ord Of large success and shows real
genius. There is no use trying to make
a man or woman famous before he or she
has won any laurel Wreaths. And then I
some one may write book and itsmay on
publication be what is called a sue
cessful hit" and never write another
which the public will care to read. His
genius has exhausted itself in a single
effort. Mental sterility follows
NEW BOOKS.
GREECE 4s sE RSsa sosNa
William p. Curtis, author OF The True
Thomas Jefferson" etc. Chicago: Fleming II |
Revell company. Price So. |
This volume contains the series Of let
ters written by Mr.. Curtis for the Chicago
Record Herald from the Balkan peninsula
in 1901. He is an experienced traveller and
observer as the former volumes narrating
his experience in other countries show.
The first portion of the book relates to
the sultan and Constantinople, the seat
Of the rottenest and most iniquitous gov
eminent on the earth, kept in place only
by the jealousy Of the European powers.
who consent to the existence Of the cruel
monster In Yildiz Kiosk to keep Russia
from occupying Constantinople, chiefly,
and generally to stave off a continental
war over the territory of the "Sick Man
A sketch of the. histories Of Bulgaria,
Servia, Bosnia and Greece follows, show
ing how, at intervals during the nine
tenth century, mainly by the aggression
and intrigues of Russia, province after
province has been wrested from Turkish
control, notably Greece, thru the interpo-
sition of the European powers during the
Greek war for independence, and in 1878
when the Russo Turkish war brought the
Russian troops in sight of the dome Of
Sota to-, C~sa1< o,o ks,o>,~
Britain stopped the effectuation of the
treaty Russia had made with Turkey, and
brought about the Berlin congress, which
took from Turkey and apportioned among
the powers, Cyprus, a portion Of Armenia,
and Servia. Bosnia and Herzegovina, and
set up Bulgaria as an Independent princi-
pality practically, and made Rumelia
tory Of Greece at Turkeys expense Mr.
Curtis incidentally IN these pages shows
the various factors of disturbance on the
Balkan peninsula which are surely lead
ing to the final blotting out Of Turkey
from the map of Europe and the inforrna-
ton as the conditions in Turkey which he
gives enables the student of the present
ominous troubles to trace them to the
proper source. The condition of the
Christian population is deplorable and it Is
shown that the European powers are
chargeable with a heavy load of guilt by
their delay in putting a stop to the in
famous system which blights every land
where it dominates. Mr.. Curtis most
Interestingly describes the people Of the
Balkan states and their customs and
ambitions and gives details of the Turk
| ish method of government. The volume
| is well illustrated. It Is valuable as a
| guide to a region sooner or later to become
AT THE HEART OF OLD PELEE I By Paul
Chambliss. Illustrated. New York: F. Ten
! nyson Nelly, No. 40 West Thirty fourth street.
| Price $780,
A love story based on the terrible erup-
tion Of Mont Pelee last year might be
Iexpected. This one Is sxolcanic, tragical
Ifull OF the dramatic, the procuring cause
of all the trouble being that a man having
made love to a pretty New York girl in a
conservatory and kissed her, she permit
ting, for she loved him, he, soon after
the girl having been called away, made
/ love and kissed her adopted sister who
was just as pretty, he thinking truly
that she was the other. Developments
occur and the first girl assumes that Els
nond has proved false and, broken
hearted, she ,steams for Martinique with
her father. Esmond's home is In Mar
Unique and Mae goes there and fondles
the books he had used. When Pelee de.
tonates she is in the line of destruction
and In the time Of her direst terror Els.
mond comes to her and both struggle thr,
the valley Of the shadow, from death tt
life.
HISTORY OF WILLIAM PENN. By "
Hepworth Divan, author OF "New America,
etc. New York: New Amsterdam Book com
pany. Price 81.
William Penn was not a stranger t,
the assaults of calumny. Lord Macaule,
charged him with heartlessness and ven
atty, but M. Dixon effectively dispose
of Macauley's treatment Of Penn, who, Ii
the pages of every candid biographer AM
historian will always be reverently cred
tied as an effective champion of lib
erty Of conscience and a philanthropis
who coud not be ridculed out of the con
scientious performance of duty. PEN
, suffered for his fealty to righteousness
, His parents graduated from Puritanisn
, and Admiral Penn followed the royals
/ cause and the son. while at Oxford wa
) converted to the views of George Fo:
i and the Quakers. His father could no
i change PENIS serious views and tn
young man was imprisoned for his faith
) but continued to contend for freedom O
t worship and of speech and freedom o
the press. He secured a royal grant o
vast territory and named it "Sylyania
/ to which name King Charles prefxed tn
? name Penn" and the colony becam
, Pennsylvania" Penn went to the ter
I ritory In 1852 and proceeded to bull
! Philadelphia. The founder Of the grea
: commonwealth Of Pennsylvania, the ter
:, ritory of the original grant having bee
. acquired by honest negotiations with tn
I Indians. Penn enjoys the inextinguishabl
honor as. the champion Of human rights {
9 a practical kind. Mr.. Dixon's bograp h
:, is deeply interesting and admirably writ
I ten.
= LITERARY NOTES