The Catholic bulletin., 1914-05-02

The Russian Empire of Today and
Yesterday: By Nevin o. Winter.
Published by L. c. Page & Co., So
Beacon Street, Boston. Price, $500
net.
Russia is, perhaps, less known to
the average American than any other
country in Europe. Owing to the con-
ditions that prevail there it lies out
side the beaten path of tourists and
travellers who sojourn in Europe. For
this reason description of the coun-
try and its people from the pen of
one who has familiarized himself by
actual observation and study with the
conditions that obtain today in the
land of the Gar is of peculiar inter-
the most important events in the past
history of Russia but he gives the
reader survey of the social, political
and economic conditions of the pres
ent. He tells us that he went to Rus
sia unprejudiced by the preconceived
from unreliable writer's and gives us
opinions formed at first-hand on
phases of Russian life and activity
about which the general reader wishes
reliable information. The book will
amply repay careful perusal and study
for the amount and variety of up-to-
date information about Russia and
things Russian which it contains. The
| sixty-two illustrations are explana-
tory and supplementary of the text.
Poland Of Today and Yesterday: BY
Neyin o. Winter Published by l..
c. Page G Company, SO Beacon
Street, Boston. Price, $500 net.
Mr.. Winter, who has travelled ex-
tensively in Poland and observed con-
ditions carefully and described them
accurately has produced a very read
| able and informing volume of $50
| pages in which he reviews the history
of Poland, past and present, and the
causes which resulted in it's partition.
He also gives a comprehensive sur
vey of the social, political and eco
nomic conditions which prevail in that
country today. In the closing chap.
ters he deals with Polish literature
and art, and with the immigration OF
Poles to the United States. The story
Of Poland's aspirations and struggles
for nationhood is an interesting one
and the writer tells it in fascinating
way. A century of oppression has
not lessened the patriotism Of the
Poles and the recital of the efforts
made by these liberty-loving people
to regain their lost prestige cannot
| fail to prove of absorbing interest to
all who know how much America owes
to the Poles. The book is copiously
illustrated and the press work and
binding is a credit to the well-known
firm of L. G. Page & Co.
John 5unyan's Dream Story: BY
James Baldwin. Published by the
Americon Book Company, New
York, Cincinnati and Chicago
Price, 35 cents.
The Pilgrims Progress is here re
told for children in form adapted to
school reading. Wherever it has been
/ Duuy OWn "OIuS nave
4 been retained and much care has been
taken to preserve the beautiful and
quaint style of the original. Oh
course, much abridgment has been
necessary, and whatever the modern
reader would be tempted to skip has
been left out or rewritten. The result
Of this editing is that John Bunyan's
Dream Story becomes a delightful
fairy tale, poetic in form and surpass
ingly interesting.
Kwahu, the Hopi Indian: BY B. N
Moran. Published by the American
Book Company, New York, Cincin
natl and Chicago. Price, so cents
This supplementary reader for the
sixth school year affords true por
trayal of life and manners in an an
cient pueblo before the Spanish con
quest Of the Southwest. At the same
time it is vivid and entertaining
story of the boyhood and youthful ad
ventures of the hero. The home life
of the Hopi Indians is described, with
their religious observances, trading
hunting, witchcraft, wooing and mar
riage ceremonies, war and battle, anC
funeral ceremonies, together with
some account of their legends.
|