The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-04

'''' ~ wv III lilt Ills pSTlOQ OF
prosperity in the insurance and real estate
business is less likely to interest others.
In this book, however, he relates the ex-
periences and impressions Of a tour around
the world which he took with his wife after
he had made his pile and reached his sixtieth
year be discovers many things that bet
ter equipped travellers had seen long before
| him and sees what he comes across through
the eyes Of hustling Chicago insurance
agent. 1t Is likely that his book will be well
come to his personal friends: 1t may convey
information 10 the Iowa circles that first
saw It in weekly letters 10 their county paper,
possibly It may enlighten Chicago. To
the world at large, however, It must seem
one OF those books that had better never
have been written.
An alphabetical list Of 'The Worlds
Commercial Products Ia Issued by Sir
Isaac Pitnan 4 Sons. With each article
we find Its name in French, German and
Spanish, n brief but clear description Of
what 1t Is. the place where II is made or
found, and often the figures Of iInportations
or expectations In the British markets
1t seems to be very well made and useful
little book
Perhaps there may be surfeit OF 'The
Little Flowers OF st. Francis Of Assist in
time, We have them now for some in
Fcrutable reason rendered into English
verse; by James Rhoades (E. P. Dutton
4 Coz Mr.. Rhoadea we know only from
frequent contributions Of dismal, hope
less VERSE; favoring the sonnet form, to
the London daily newspapers. The form
he employs here Is that regarded by some
as blank verse namely, the printing OF
prose in evenly divided lines, often with
little thought Of rhythm. There Is nothing
in the unfortunate little Italian book to
warrant suoh treatment.
A visit paid to John Burroughs by
Clara Barrus, NJ. D., Is related with exces-
sive laudation and little discretion in a
pamphlet published by the Poet Lore Com
pany Of Boston called 'The Retreat OF a
Poet Naturalist" Naturalists seem 10 be
exciting as much hysteria as pianists do
nowadays. We imagine the outcome OF
this publication will be that Mr.. Burroughs
will guard more carefully against PEOPLE
who wish 10 look at him IA a curiosity.
A series Of interesting historical inyesti-
"a tons made by the Rev. DR.. Thomas j.
Shahan. professor OF church history In the
Catholic University at Washington. Is pub
lished under the title Tho Middle Ages
t3enzigar Brothersl. Tho essays show the
ripe fruits OF Catholic scholarship, and as
nearly all deal with time when Chris
tanity was ono, should be received with
open mind by Protestants too. Among the
topics treated by DR. Shahan are Gregory
the Great, Justnian, Islam, the Cathedral
builders. the Crusades, the Italian rennIs-
., l., .
OF the Middle Ages, He writes excellent
and readable English, which some his
torians do not.
Mr. Archer Butler Hubert breaks away
from past history In his latest volume, THE
Future of Roadmaking In America" The
Arthur II Clark Company. This ia a col
lection OF papers by various hands on a
Jet Of great Importance, good roads.
and the need and timeliness Of the pleas they
present may Justify the inclusion of the
book in 'The Highways Of America" e4ries.
It may be an indication Of how wide
spread Canadian French has become in
New England that we receive n volume
Of sketches In French. written by priest
OF ST. Hyacinthe and beautifully printed
at Fall River, Mass 1t is called 'Pastels,
by Henri DIARIES, pseudonym Daniel
V. Wien, New York;. The sketches are all
OF a religious character, many Of them
really short sermons, and are told very
gracefully.
For once we must find fault with a serle.
published by J. NJ. Dent & Co. We do not
believe that the Temple Topographiess
Justify their existence, While the places
selected may be typical. the authors who
write about them treat them in a conven-
tional manner that oonceals what nav be
characteristics Broadway which Mr..
Algernnn Gissing describes. Is a village
and -Evesham. by Mr. Edmund II. New
a small town (E. P, Dutton Il Col Each
Is visited by strangers to whom these
volumes may be welcome guide books
but neither is importan, enough as pre-
sented hero to arrest attention.
The life Of Shakespeare is retold for the
use Of youth by Mr.. Tudor jerks In in
the Days of Shakespeare "a 8. Barnes
a Coz. It is interpreted with criticism OF
the plays and with much of the general
information about the time AIr. jerks
has too much knowledge OF how little is
known about Shakespeare to allow him to
take the leading part in the book
One great historian is said 10 have given
up completing his history OF Rome because
he would not read the mass OF Christian
historical literature which would have
to be slfted We shudder TO think of the
countless volumes Of dead eloquence that
must have been looked into by DR.. Edwin
Charles Dargan before writing a History
of Preaching CA. c. Armstrong & som.
He begins with the Apostolic fathers and
stops with the Reformation, the latter
period, perhaps tho moro Interesting.
taking up half the volume 1t was probably
as we'll 20 stop before the age Of the great
Scottish and Puritan preachofp. with t'aeir