The San Francisco call., 1905-01-29

England some of the best credited grit
les hailed the peculiar poems of Whit
man as something beyond the ordinary
scheme of verse in beauty of sentiment
and sonorous roll of meter. Differ
ences, first as wide as the ocean itself,
have gradually become reconciled
under the influence of a more dispas-
sionate study of Whitman, however,
and to-day nearly all are ready to ac-
knowledge him as a strong factor 10
be reckoned with in the appraisement
of American letters.
Plat gives a very thorough review
of the life of his subject, dwelling par
ticulariy upon that peculiar gaucherie
of the man which set him so definitely
apart from the. plane of his fellows. A
frequenter OF bohemian beer halls. a
dilettante at carpentry as at school
teaching, one who cared not a whit for
the opinion of Others. but who kept
jealousy before him his opinion of
himself-the biographer sets forth
Whitman's peculiarities- with lively
pen. A brief estimate of the mans
ideals closes Platt's little volume. OF
Whitman's ethics. so often in. question,
he has this TO say:
'Whitman's ethics is not of the letter
but of the spirit. He never breaches.
With Thou shalt not he has no con-
cern. He knows nothing of arbitrary
rewards and punishments. He says
little or nothing of duty. This spirit
is nothing that can be expressed in
formula or represented by dogma, or
proved by logic. 1t is life-a life of
faith without dogma, of acceptance
without argument, of love Of nature
and of man, without exception or limi-
tation"
(small, Maynard & Co., Boston; cloth
75 cents.)
Florence Elizabeth Maybrick, the
American woman whose release from
an English penitentiary recently sent
a wave of sensational journalistic ac-
tivity spreading over the country, has
written book on her experiences as a
condemned murderess which she has
entitled Mrs. Maybricks Own Story
My Fifteen Lost Years" The book
has no excuse for publication other
than the great public's morbid curl
osity. This 1t will, of course, satisfy
quite completely. Aside from this
element the book has nothing to dis
tinguish it from similar panderings to
sensation that were written about the
Theodore Durrant case here in San
Francisco, about the theater fire in
Chicago and the Slocum disaster in
New York. Mrs. Maybricks case was
indeed a startling one. She was con-
demned by a Judge who was later
deemed insane and her life in Woking
and Aylesbury jails in England was
rendered doubly hard by the fact that
so many people on this side of the
Atlantic were holding out the delu-
sive promise of release. But the mar
ration of these facts gains its whole
weight of popularity with readers be-
cause Mrs. Maybrick is the narrator.
The public will read the book in
trains and street cars. but 1t will not
put the same on the shelves of it's
library.
(Funk & Wagnalls Company, New
York; illustrated; price 81 20.)
Truth and Freedom" by Thomas
Hebblewhite comes to me for review.
It is a book for Christian Scientist
readers. OF Christian Science know
nothing and hence must freely ac-
knowledge my disability to give Mr..
Hebblewhite's book a conscientious
review. Part of this volume 1 could
understand: the grouping of Bible
texts under headings indicative OF the
different moralities. To this are ap-
pended quotations from the vedas and
which seem to have bearing upon the
doctrines of Mrs. Eddy in one way or
another. A chapter upon the history
and aims of Christian Science brings
some light to those in darkness and
/ would recommend it to those who
desire even an imperfect acquaintance
with the creed. The authors alpha
What is Christian science? may be il
Illuminating to some. They run thus:
Absolute. All-Science.
bible, Beautiful Science.
Christ, Celestial Science.
Divine Science.
Eternal, Exact, Evangelical Sci
ence.
Fundamental, Fraternal Science.
God. Genuine Science" etc.
(Whitaker & Ray Company. San
Francisco; price 81 50)
Josiah Keep, professor OF natu. IL
science at Mills College, has published
q complete handbook for western con-
biologists under the title West Amer
lean Shells" Professor Keeps former
volume, West Coast Shells. the pub
lished edition of which has become ex-
hausted, is herein revised and enlarged,
with place given for the Recognition
of many recently discovered species
and with the latest system of nomerl-
clature incorporated. The book Is de-
signed for the use Of beginners in the
science; it's descriptions, devoid e any
great particularization and minute
ness of distinction, are well adapted
to the understanding of those yet in
the rudiments of conchology. At the
end of his book Professor Keep has
supplied an exhaustive table of spe-
c:es for the use of collectors.
Whitaker & Ray Company, San
Francisco; illustrated; price $2.)
SIDE
Talks With Authors