325 Methods of Social Reform, by William Stanley Jevons. (1883.) This volume appeared, with a preface by the author's wife, after his too early death in 1882, the papers composing it having already been published in the Contemporary Review. Professor Jevons takes the view that the possible methods of social reform are well-nigh infinite in number and diversity, becoming more numerous as society grows more complex, and that the recognized methods at any given time are to be used not disjunctively but collectively. In this volume, he considers Amusements, Public Libraries, Museums, «Cram» (in its university sense), Trades Societies, Industrial Partnerships, Married Women in Factories, Cruelty to Animals, Experimental Legislation, and the Drink Traffic, Systems of Conveyance of Documents, other than the Post-Office under government control, the Post-Office Telegraphs and their Financial Results, Postal Notes, Money Orders and Bank Checks, a State Parcel Post, the Railways and the State. His Inaugural Address before the Manchester Statistical Society, his opening address as president of section (1864.) A work of great research and admirable exposition of interesting facts; showing how human action, such as the clearing away of forests, the drainage of land, the creation of systems of irrigation, etc., very greatly modifies the conditions belonging to the surface of the earth. Not only are the matters treated of great practical importance, but the pictures of conditions and changes in different lands, and over the many varieties of the earth's surface, are very entertaining. The work became at once a standard with international recognition; a considerably enlarged Italian edition was issued at Florence in 1870; and a second American edition, with further changes, appeared in 1874. In this final form the title was altered to (The Earth as Modified by Human Action. The earlier title was peculiarly appropriate; as it is not the earth only which the modifications by the hand of man reach, but the course of nature, climate for example, in connection with the earth, or vegetation wholly created by human action. In every way the book is a most suggestive one. C of the British Association, and a paper Sandford and Merton, by Thomas on the United Kingdom Alliance, economic science and statistics, are also given. Libraries he regards as one of the best and quickest paying investments in which the public money can be used, attributing the recent advance in British library economics and extension largely to American example. The paper on 'Cram takes the view that while the method of university examinations is not perfect, it is the most effective known for enforcing severe and definite mental training, and of selecting for high position the successful competitors; while any system of preparation for the examinations that leads to success is a good system. He favors co-operation and profit-sharing, but opposes government ownership of the railways. In all his work, Professor Jevons has shown that his practical and exact mind is always informed by a spiritual and ethical influence that gives his conclusions a special weight on their moral side; and this work, written with great clearness and attractiveness, is no exception to the rule. Man and Nature; or, PHYSICAL GE OGRAPHY AS MODIFIED BY HUMAN ACTION. By George Perkins Marsh. Day. The history of Sandford and Merton has afforded entertainment and instruction to many generations of boys since its first publication about 1780. Portraying the social ideas of the English of more than a hundred years ago, it can hardly be regarded, in the present day, as exerting a wholesome influence,in fact, it is chiefly remarkable for its tone of unutterable priggishness. Master Tommy Merton in this story is the son (aged six) of a wealthy gentleman who dwells chiefly in the island of Jamaica. Tommy's short life has been spent in luxury, with the result that he has become an unmitigated nuisance. Harry Sandford, on the contrary, though the son of a poor farmer, was even at an early age replete with every virtue; and when the two boys are placed under the instruction of a Mr. Barlow, an exceptionally wise and good clergyman, he is continually used as an example to the reprehensible Tommy. Morals are tediously drawn from every incident of their daily lives, and from the stories which they read in their lesson books. The Gentleman and the Basket-Maker'; 'Androcles and the Lion'; 'History of a Surprising Cure of the Gout,' and other stories of a like nature, form the food on which these young intellects are nourished. Not the least remarkable feature of the book is the polished language used by these children of six years of age; and this juvenile can now only be regarded as an excellent example of the literature with which our grandfathers and great-grandfathers were regaled in their youth. Thomas Day is said to have been a man of an eccentric turn of mind, and to have educated two foundling girls with the idea of marrying one of them. The marriage did not take place, and he gave them each a portion and married them to tradesmen; he himself marrying a Miss Milnes in 1778, when he was thirty years of age. He died eleven years later, through a fall from his horse which he was trying to break in upon a system of his own. The Scouring of the White Horse, by Thomas Hughes. The colossal image of a white horse, hewn upon the chalk cliff of a Berkshire hill, is a lasting monument of the battle of Ashdown. It was constructed in the year 871, by King Alfred the Great, marking the site of the turning-point of the battle, and is the pride of the county. The "pastime» of the scouring of the white horse was inaugurated in 1736, and has been held at intervals of from ten to twenty years ever since. The whole countryside makes of it the grand holiday of Berkshire. The farmers for miles around, with pick and shovel, remove the accumulations of soil from the image, so that it stands out in bold relief, clear and distinct as when first completed. After this is accomplished, the two succeeding days are devoted to athletic sports, horse and foot races, climbing the greased pole, wrestling matches, and backsword play. The hill is covered with booths of showmen and publicans, and rich and poor alike join in the festivities of the occasion. The particular "pastime» recounted in this book occurred in 1857; and the experiences of a prosperous Berkshire farmer and his guest, a former schoolmate, lend a personal flavor and interest to the story. The book is made for boys, and no writer excels Mr. Hughes in the vivid description of manly spurts: like his exciting accounts of the cricket match and the boat-race in his famous Tom Brown' stories, and 'The Scouring of the White Horse.' Alic lice in Wonderland, and Through the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll (Charles L. Dodgson). ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND.-Alice, a bright well-behaved little girl, quite normal in every way, is the heroine of this fantastic tale, the great charm of which con-į impossibilities. By following an extraor sists in the perfect plausibility of all its dinary rabbit down into a rabbit hole, she finds herself in a land where unreal things seem real. But however absurd the doings of the inhabitants of Wonderland, she is never surprised at them. Her mistakes at first barely save her afterwards she meets many queer anifrom drowning in her own tears; but mal friends besides a crusty old Duchess, a mad Hatter, a sleepy Dormouse, and a March Hare with whom she has strange experiences, and finally they take her to play croquet with the Queen of Hearts. During a trial by jury at the court of the Queen, Alice becomes excited and calls every one there nothing but a pack of cards. As they rise into the air and come flying down upon her, she awakes and finds herself beside her sister on a bank where she had fallen asleep. THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS.-The next time Alice dreams, she steps through the lookingglass; in this land the people are all chessmen, and the country is divided up like a chessboard, with little brooks and hedges marking the squares. She travels extensively as she moves in the game, and is crowned queen at the end. This dream also comes to a climax by the violence of her resentment against so much nonsense, and she wakes suddenly. Besides kings, knights, pawns, and the other pieces of the game, there are more eccentric animals and people who have something to say. The careless White Queen and the fiery-tempered Red Queen are very amusing, and Tweedledum and Tweedledee are responsible for the song of The Walrus and the Carpenter'; where, to quote the Duchess, one has to "take care of the sense, and the sounds will take care of themselves." When Valmond Came to Pontiac, a novel, by Gilbert Parker published in 1895, has for its motive the In Napoleonic glamour which still en- «Valmond stood over his body, and drew a pistol. 'Surrender, Monsieur!' said the officer, or we fire!> Barriers Burned Away, by Edward Payson Roe, after appearing as a serial story in the New York Evangelist. was published in book form in 1872. Of a cheap edition, issued ten years later, 87,500 copies were sold. It was the author's first novel, and its great popularity led him to adopt story-writing as a profession. The plot of this book is very simple. Dennis Fleet finds the support of his mother and the younger children devolving upon him, after the death of his father. Seeking work in Chicago, he finds it impossible to secure a position suited to his social rank and education. After many hard experiences, he is hired to shovel snow in front of a fine-arts shop where he afterward becomes a porter. Though he cheerfully performs the humblest duties, his superiority to them is evident. His employer, Mr. Ludolph, a rich and money-loving German, finds him valuable enough to be made a salesman. Mr. Ludolph is a widower, having an only daughter, Christine, with whom Dennis falls in love. She treats him contemptuously at first, but soon discovers his trained talent for music and knowledge of art. He rises above the slights he receives, and makes the impression of a nobleman in disguise. Then follow an estrangement and a reconciliation. The most noteworthy feature of the novel is the striking description of the Chicago fire. (Never! A Napoleon knows how to Alone, by Mrs. Mary Virginia Terhune die! came the ringing reply, and he raised his pistol at the officer. 'Fire!' came the sharp command. (Vive Napoléon!' cried the doomed man, and fell, mortally wounded.» Valmond also, refusing to surrender, is shot. Dying, he confesses that he was the child of Italian peasants, reared as a page in the house of Prince Lucien Bonaparte. After his death, however, it is discovered that he was really what he made pretense of being, the son of Napoleon, born at St. Helena. (who is better known by her penname, "Marian Harland"), was her first novel, and appeared in 1854, when she was twenty-four. The scene is laid in Richmond, Virginia, where Ida Ross, an orphan of fifteen, goes to live with her his daughter guardian Mr. Read, and Josephine, a girl of her own age. With the Reads, who are cold, worldly, and reserved, the impulsive and affectionate Ida is extremely unhappy. Fortunately her life is changed by friendship with a schoolmate, Carry Carleton. In the wellbred and kindly households of the Carletons and their relatives, Ida finds friends and lovers. When the girls enter society, Josephine becomes jealous of Ida's greater attractiveness, chiefly because a certain Mr. Lacy falls in love with her. Misunderstandings ensue. Ida gives up her lover, and returns to the home of her childhood to devote her life to philanthropy. But the misunderstandings are merican, The, by Henry James, was published in 1877. It was the novel explained, and the well-disciplined recluse A" is married to Mr. Lacy. The book had a very great vogue, and made a reputa-ist's third book of fiction, a volume of short tion for the author. It is simple in plot, contains a transcript of every-day life, and is deeply religious in tone, but belongs to a fashion in fiction which no longer prevails. Ar rmorel of Lyonesse, by Walter Besant, published in 1884. The scene is the Scilly (or Lyonesse) Isles (twenty-five miles south of England). Alone on one of these (Samson) lives an old woman of nearly a hundred, Ursula Rosevean, with her great-great-great-granddaughter Armorel and the Tryeth family of four. To them come Dick Stephenson and Roland Lee, the latter an artist saved from shipwreck by Armorel. Roland finds a strong attraction in Armorel, and remains at the islands three weeks. He returns to London, where, later, Armorel is instrumental in extricating him from a network of evil in which he has become involved through one false step. The intricacy of the plot is worthy of Wilkie Collins. Sandra Belloni, by George Meredith. of This musical novel was first published in 1864, under the name (Emilia in England.' The Greek Pericles, ever in search of hidden musical genius, finds it in the voice of Emilia Sandra Belloni, while visiting Mr. Pole. Pole has squandered the money held in trust for Mrs. Chump, a vulgar but kind-hearted widow, and is therefore forced, with his children, to submit to her attentions. Wilfred Pole, his son, loves Emilia, but means to marry Lady Charlotte. Discovering this, Emilia wanders away, loses her voice, and is rescued from starvation by Merthyr Powys, who has long loved her. He goes to fight for Italy. The Poles are brought to the verge of ruin by Pericles. Emilia's voice returns. Pericles saves the Poles, on her signing an agreement to study in Italy for three years and sing in public. Wilfred hears her sing, casts off Lady Charlotte who favors the Austrians, and throws himself at Emilia's feet. She now realizes his inconstancy and Merthyr's nobility, writes to the latter that she loves him, and will tales and a novel preceding it. The central character, Christopher Newman, is a typical product of the United States: cool, self-confident, and able, impressing, by the force and directness of his nature, all who come in contact with him. Having made his fortune, he is traveling in Europe for pleasure. He falls in love with a Parisian lady of noble birth, who is half English,-Madame de Cintré, a widow; and she comes to care for him enough to disregard the mésalliance, even to engage herself to him. The obstacles in the way of their marriage give rise to many dramatic incidents. Iton Locke, by Charles Kingsley, was published in 1850, when the author was thirty-one. It was his first novel, and like 'Yeast,' which closely followed it, showed Kingsley's broad humanitarianism, unconventionality, interest in and sympathy for the wrongs of the English working classes. It made a great stir, and did much in England to turn the thoughts of the upper ranks to their responsibility for the lower. Its hero is a poet-tailor of a mystic turn-Alton Locke, Tailor and Poet, is the full title; he feels deep in his soul the horrors of the sweating system and other abuses which grind the poor, and devotes himself to their amelioration. "I am," he says of himself, "a Cockney among Cockneys »: he is sketched from his boyhood in a mean, suburban quarter of the city, through his struggle for education and maintenance, which brings him into contact with the case of the toiling city masses, to his leadership of their cause, his advocacy of Chartism, and final failure to realize his dreams. The purity, ideality, and altruism of Locke and his friends Crossthwaite, MacKaye, Lady Ellerton, and Eleanor, make them inspiring prophets of the war of the Emancipation of Labor. The story is full of vigorous, earnest, eloquent preaching, and would now be called "problem fiction" of the frankest sort; and it is also often dramatic and thrilling. be his wife at the end of the three years Age of Reason, The, by Thomas Paine, for which she is pledged. The story contains all of Meredith's marked mannerisms; but also flashes with wit, and is full of life and vivacity. was first published in a complete edition on October 25th, 1795. In 1793 the First Part appeared, but no copy bearing that date can be found. When 329 sequentially connected, they are yet so arranged as to illustrate the author's purpose, to address his thought to the unspiritual but reflecting mind of the supposed pilgrim, who is led from worldlymindedness to the acceptance of spiritual religion. Coleridge takes up the argument on the pilgrim's (imputed) principles of worldly calculation. Beginning with religion as Prudence, resultant from the sense and sensuous understanding, he ascends to the ground of morality, as inspired by the heart and conscience, and finally to Spiritual Religion, as presented by reason and the will. it went to press the author was in prison, | with commentaries. While these are not in France, having been arrested almost at the hour of its completion. Referring to this in the preface to the Second Part, he writes:-"Conceiving . that I had but a few days of liberty, I sat down and brought the work to a close as speedily as possible; and I had not finished it more than six hours, in the state it has since appeared, before a guard came there about three in the morning, with an order signed by the two committees of Public Safety and Surety General for putting me in arrestation as a foreigner, and conveying me to the prison of the Luxembourg. I contrived on my way there to call on Joel Barlow, and I put the manuscript of the work into his hands, as more safe than in my possession in prison; and not knowing what might be the fate in France either of the writer or the work, I addressed it to the protection of the citizens of the United States." His motive in writing the book is thus set forth in the first chapter:-"It has been my intention, for several years past, to publish my thoughts upon religion; the circumstance that has now taken place in France of the total abolition of the whole national order of priesthood, and of everything ap pertaining to compulsive systems of religion, and compulsive articles of faith, has not only precipitated my intention, but rendered a work of this kind exceedingly necessary, lest, in the general wreck of superstition, of false systems of government and false theology, we lose sight of morality, of humanity, and of the theology that is true." He goes on to state his creed, his belief in one God, in the future life, in the equality of man, and in the duty of benevolence. Part First consists of an inquiry into the bases of Christianity, its theology, its miracles, its claims of revelation. The process is destructive and revolutionary. In Part Second, the author makes critical examination of the Old and New Testament, to support the conclusions and inferences of Part First. Yet the work is not wholly negative. "The Word of God is the creation we behold.» Lanthenas's French rendering of Part First contains this remarkable reference to Jesus, found presumably in the lost original version: "Trop peu imité, trop oublié, trop méconnu.» This argument is by no means patent to the casual reader, for the author addresses himself to the heart rather than to the reasoning faculties. The doctrines of the book are held to be those of the Church of England, broadly interpreted. The language is choice; and notwithstanding the philosophical and somewhat sententious nature of the treatment, the book is eminently readable, exhibiting. in several passages, Coleridge's prose at its best. Self Help, by Samuel Smiles. This book, first published in 1859, has held its popularity down to the present. It was the second of a series of similar works. 'Self Help' is a stimulating book for young people, written in an interesting manner; and while full of religious feelThe tenor of the ing, is free from cant. work may be judged by a quotation from the opening chapter: "The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the true source of national vigor and strength. Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, but help from within invariably invigorates." The book abounds in anecdotes of celebrated men,-inventors, scientists, artists, soldiers, clergymen, and statesmen: Minton and Wedgewood, the potters; Arkwright, Watts, and Peel; Davy, Faraday, Herschel, and many others, among scientists; Reynolds, Michael Angelo, Haydn, Bach, Beethoven, and others in the arts; Napoleon, Wellington, Napier, Livingstone, as examples of energy and courage. The various chapters dwell upon National and Individual SelfHelp; Application and Perseverance; |