New-York tribune., 1910-02-05
Mr. Ellington Ball, who is an authority
cn Irish literature and history.


IN irish literature and history.
Major Martin Hume. whose historical
works are always anticipated with pleas
ure. Is at work upon new biography OF
Oueen Elizabeth. The seventh volume
OF his calendars of Spanish state
papers' also approaches completion. IL
covers the reign of Edward VI. Major
uumes promised lectures on Europe
Debt to Medieval SPAIN will no doubt
he issued in book form after their de-
livery at Cambridge University.
Mr.. Thomas A Janvier's book, leg
ends of the City of Mexico" has just
been published by the Harpers. These
nicturesalIe stories of picturesque spot
have been gathered together by the au-
thor during the last twenty-five years
gathered, il should 90 added. from the
lips Of venerable citizens. Drawings by
The late Waiter Appleton Clark accom-
pany the text
Or. Guido Biagi's lately published
Men and Manners of Old Florence
contains an odd parallel to the modern
story of an orator who, in trying to bring
a dissatisfied audience together on the
score of won1ans rights, asked wildly:
Ibid any Of you ever know 9 perfect
woman?" Yes one,' said meek voice
In the crowd "Vho was it?" asked the
orator. And the meek voice replied;
my husbands first Wife Here Is the
maxim of the long dead Florent1ne
,nfA al
DR. Bagi:
IT thou art able. beware of taking
widow woman for thy wife. because thou
wilt never be able to satisfy her, and every
may may ask Of thee she viii say: My other, hus,
thou hast already had another wife. thou
mayest take her with greater safety, ana II
she saith, MY other husband did not treal
me thus" or Blessed he the soul or SO
and-So," thou canst reply, Blessed be the
soul of Madonna So-and-So, who did not
cause me this tribuation every Day
Under the title of The Heart of Our
Country" (Chicago and New YORK;
George r Cram) DR.. Eugene Murray
Aaron has prepared a. massive foIlo
which is in some sort library by itself.
The purpose of this book is to bring
home to the general reader, in straight
forward terms, the vital energies of our
administrative fabric. The author be-
gins by exposing the nature of the fed
cral government as source Of organic
power He then describes the city of
Washington and the District of Colufl-
bia, showing how the nation established
its central home and has since developed
It, The character of Congress is next
set forth, and then, in series of chap
ters this historian treats Of the Presi-
dent and the White House, the Supreme
Court, the Library of Congress, the De-
partment of State, the Department OF
the Treasury. and so on until all the
branches of the government have been
surveyed. They are more than surveyed.
The practical working significance Of
each department is brought out in its
essential details. and with the aid of an
extraordinary number OF good halftone
illustrations the very form and move
nent Of the work that goes on at 1.-The
Heart of Our Country" are made clearly
tangible. Following all this comes a
collection of excellent maps. both of the
United States and of all the other coun-
tries Of the world and with these there
are good indexes and gazetteers. In an
appendix information is supplied as to
the state requirements governing the
elective franchise. the salaries of the
principal federal officials and divers ether
items In addition to the text of the
Constitution of the United States we
lave the Declaration Of Independence In
facsimile This volume Of nearly six hun
dred large pages is, of course. rather
heavy, but it is stoutly bound, and SO is
made comparatively easy to manage. It
Is highly useful compendium, and.
thanks to its well chosen pictures. is also
a rich source of serious entertainment.