The San Francisco call., 1910-01-09

Robert S. Critchell of Chicago has
been an insuranceman pretty much all
mis- life, but he served in the United
States navy on the Mississippi river
during the civil war He tells in this
little book "Recollections of a Fire
Insurance Man." all. sorts OF anecdotes
of a long and useful life, some OF
which are of historical interest. 1t
was only when he found himself par
TALLY disabled by a railroad accident
that he determined to set down his
"recollections" and among the many
volumes of "reminiscences to be found
nowadays n2ne is found which actually
covers the field done by Critchell. There
is some insurance talk, but not carried
to a point to bore the lay reader, and
the searcher for sidelights on American
history will find much to interest him
in the description of events on the
Mississippi. This book is written In
easy style and should find a number OF
admirers. published by the author,
las La Sale street. Chicago. s1.25.)
Poems" by Oscar Wilde. is collsc-
ton of the famous poets work which
has it's greatest interest in an intro
scott's writing is always easy and
graceful and this introduction is well
worth the reading. This edition con-
tains the Ballad of Reading Gaol."
also THE Harlot's House and many
others equally well known. (Brentano's
New York;
The copyright laws are very dis
turbing to the publishers of oscar
Wilde's poems. This same week brings
another volume of his verse marked
authorized edition. Robert Ross,
Wilde's literary executor deplores the
fact that other publishers prevent the
family from getting royalties. by
pirating certain poetry, but that seems
to be all they can do. This edition is
made very interesting by the addition
of two hitherto unpublished poems,
Pan" and "Desespoir," which makes
the book OF extra value. The book is
we'll arranged and quite complete and
bound uniformly with other OF Wilde's
works brought out by the same firm.
Gohn w. Luce & Co. Boston)
THE Book of Restoration Verse" Is
the third in a series of four books
which will be the greatest anthology
of English poetry ever published. The
first volume covered the Elizabe
period: the second the Georgian. and
the last will deal with the Victorian
age The books have been planned and
edited by William Stanley Braithwaite.
and his work has been well done.
Lovers of literature will appreciate
the tremendous amount of work neces-
sary to perfect these books and they
are sure to be used as authorities on
account of the high standing of their
compiler. The books are beautifully
and uniformly bound and well printed.
(Brentanos, New York. S2.50).
The object of the book entitled 'Mu-
sicology,'' by Maurice S. Logan, is to
furnish a practical and comprehensive
textbook or the theory and philosophy
of music for schools and for general
use. 1t deals with the science. rather
than the art. while most music text
books deal with the art. rather than the
science.
For school use it is intended to be
included IN the science course, rather
than in the music course. From the
educational standpoint, either of men
tai training or useful knowledge. the
science of music. as distinct from art,
is entitled to rank with the other sci
ences taught (Hinds. Noble & Ed
redge, New York. $1.s5.)