the san francisco call (san francisco, calif.) 1895-09-22...

1
NEW BOOKS. Twenty thousand dollars is the tidy > little sum that the Century has paid Mrs. Humphry Ward for a new novel, and she retains the right to publish the fiction in book form. "Literature of Decadence" is the an- nouncement of a startling poster in one of Poxey's windows. Under this title are arranged the works of Ibsen, Nordau, John Oliver Hobbes, l'aul Yerlaiae, Richard Le Gallienne, Phil ZUJghels, sketches by Au- brey Beardsley, John Sloan, Hazenplug Pissaro and others of that school, and such tip-to-date producers as the Echo, Mcods, the Lark, the Philistine, the Evergreen, Bibelot and the Chap Book. While these workers in the field of modern thought may he justly considered end of the cen- tury representatives it is not fair to class them all with the decadence group led by I bsen and Nordau. Quite a majority of these young people have healthy brains in their skulls and healthy thoughts in their brains. Annie Laurie's book, "The Little Boy Who Lived on the Hill," is almost ready for publication. It will be illustrated by Swinnerton. John Burroughs says some excellent •words in Stone & Kimball : s last Chicago Chap Book. The difference between a precious stone and a common strut' is not an essentin.l difference not a difference <>f substance, but of arrange- ment 01 the particles— the crystallization, says Mr.Burroughs. Insubstance the charcoal and the diamond are one, but inform and effect how widely they differ. The pearl contains nothing that is not .found in the coarsest oyster shell. Two mi'n have the same thoughts; they use about the same words in expressing them ; yet with one the product is real literature, with the other it is a platitude. The difference is all in the presentation; a liner and more com- pendious process has pone on in the one case than in the other. Tne elements are better fused and knitted together; they are in some way heightened and intensiiied. Is not here a clew to what we mean by style? Style trans- forms common quartz "into an JEgyptian pfhble. We are apt to think of style as something external, that can be put oii, something in and of itself. But it is not; it is in the inmost texture of the substance it- self. I'oiish, choice words, faultless rhetoric are only the accidents of style. Indeed, perfect workmanship is one thing; style, as the great writers have it, is quite another. It may, and often does, go with faulty workmanship. It is the use of words in a fresh and vital way, so as to give us a vividsense a new spiritual force and personality. Inthe best work the style is found and hidden in the matter. * * One fault that I lind with our younger and more promising school of novelists is that their aim is too literary; we feel that they are striving mainly for artistic effect. * ** Their seriousness is mainly an »rustic seriousness. It is not so much "that the}- have something to say as that they are tilled with a desire to say something. Nearly all our magazine poets "seem tilled with the Fame desire. What labor, what art and tech- nique, but what a dearth of feeling and spon- taneity! I read a few lines or stanzas ar.<l then stop. I see it is only deft handicraft, and that the heart and soul are not init. One day my boy killed what an old hunter told him was a mock dock. Itlooked like a duck, it acted like a duck, it quacked like a duel;, but when it came upon the table— it mocked us. These mock poems of the magazines re- mind me of it. INDEPENDENT PAMPHLETEERING. At no time in the literary history of the century has there been such a tendency upon the part of young writers to rash into print independently of the established avenues of literary publicity. It would seem as though America had periodicals in abundance to minister to the mental requirements of the public, or even to furnish an outlet for the energies of those afflicted with scribenditis. Ap- parently, however, we have not, for neariy every month sees the advent of a new yen- ture in this line. It re not alone that we have Moods, Chips, The Chap Book, The Bibelot, The Philistine, Keynotes, The Evergreen and The Lark, but we are being flooded of late with nickel publications of every sort, homeopathic doses of thought, done up in artistic sbape and printed on the best of hand-made paper, with all the accessories of line and rubric known to the printing trade, but homeopathic doses nevertheless, and the most of them, itis to be confessed, dear at the nickel or the dime that are the regula- tion price for them. We seem to be enter- ing upon an era of independent pamphlet- eering, wherein every man, woman and child having something to say puts it forthwith into a thin little volume and sends it forth to find an audience with ihe public. It is a question whether these thin little volumes do find an audience. Book-buy- ers, as a rule, do not care for these little books. They desire volumes that have, so to speak, "a presence" books which they can arrange upon their library shelves, and to which they can point with pride, as it were, as evidences of literary taste. They want books to possess weight and proportion in the tangible and realistic as well as the figurative sense. Only the few fittd mental pabulum in the work of the independent pamphleteer, who is usually such because, as hinted above, he is denied transportation along the recog- , nized highways of literature. But itis to be feared that there is gener- ally some reason for this denial. Candor compels the admission that the pretty lit- tle pamphlets of individual expression are for the most part thin in contents, as well as in proportion. The keynote of the age is expression, an eminently useful word in its way, but by no means equal to the task lately put upon it of bearing the vagaries of a generation. The tendency of the age is to come before the world with its thoughts, or, lacking these, with its feel- ings. This is eminently true of our younger writers, who are "mainly responsi- ble for the all-pervading pamphlet. The burden of this sort of literature is woe, woe, and yet more woe. Our young friends fling their intellectual anatomy about with a recklessness that would be amazing were it not so readily understandable. It is merely a part of the general desire of the ego of the age to make itself known, to give itself expression. Like most neuroses, this condition brings melancholy, the sure prerogative of youth and inexperience, and the corresponding misapprehension that individual emotion is of interest to the world at large. Our young writers who run to pamphlets have a grievance against the publishing part of the world. They believe there is a "conspiracy of silence" against them, and thej' are fain to scale the battlements and storm the castle of Public Opinion unaided and alone. A characteristic of the group is an evident and painful lack of reading, of study, of coherent and consecutive thought. They have no mental back- ground, everything they write is in the foreground. They are contemporaneous to a degree, and correspondingly impatient of that which has gone before them. Thus it comes about that we have ar- rived at what may be called a neurotic scnool of literature, whose aim itis to pro- duce the outre, the bizarre, the quaint, but which only succeeds, as a rule, in giving us ihe overstrained, the ill-digested and the unspeakably melancholy. "Expression for expression's sake" is its watchword, a watchword as false as is that other cry of certain schools, '"art for art's sake." A mental colic, according to this school's reasoning, is as legitimate a subject for expression as are any of the higher pro- cesses of mentality; and, judging from the published matter of our pamphleteers, is far more frequent. One hesitates to be harsh, but the thought thrusts itself upon the mind that what most of these young writers need is not publishers, but pep- permints. THE GENESIS OF CALIFORNIA'S FIRST CONSTITUTION. This is a monograph in the series of Johns Hopkins University studies inpolit- ical science. It is a stud3 r in constitution- making by Professor Rockwell D. Hunt of the University of the Pacific. It is an in- telligent study of a subject of great inter- est. The dramatic events of the history of California prior to the American conquest are first briefly sketched. The political and constitutional as well as the social conditions of territorial Cali- fornia were unique. Never were law and administration more needed ; seldom has an enlightened community endured so inade- quate a legal system and so precarious an administration. The early Californian leaders (Castro, Vallejo and Pico) were too discreet to attempt an expulsion of the Americans after the conquest; and the Americans were not permitted to throw off the unsavory Mexican law. The persistent desire for admission into the Federal Union was itself doubtless a bar to the much-needed local organization. The pro- found National significance of this new ac- quisition at a time when there was but one question in American politics is the key that must oe constantly in the hand of the student who would gain a comprehensive view of the local distracted situation. Slave extension created California: Cali- fornia effectually checked slave extension. The American population of California during 184<i and 1847 was very small, widely scattered, and altogether in a position extremely disadvantageous for edicient, united political action of any kind. But it had become evident to the settlers that the coun- try was destined to be permanently American; and it is not surprising that a clamor began to arise tor American laws and institutions, and that expressions of dissatisfaction with the impotent Mexican Government and seemingly harsn military rule grew louder and louder. It cannot be charged to the discredit of the early settlers that they thus manifested dissat- isfaction with the existing order of things, and evinced an earnest and persistent de- sire for organized government. They were, for the most part, honest, energetic and intelligent pioneers who had been accus- tomed to law and order. California being no longer under the corrupt and despotic rule of Mexico, they were not unreasonable in expecting better things from the United States. But their greatest grievance was the very want of law adequate to the pro- tection of life and property, ana to the complete administration of justice. As ttie population increased, causes for disaffec- tion multiplied. Those Americans who had lived under the Mexican regime had learned to accommodate themselves meas- urably to the existing conditions and to the use of the Spanish language; but in proportion as the American population in- creased after the conquest, and gradually gained the ascendency of numbers, it was unreasonable to expect the new comers to adapt themselves to the effete Mexican laws, at best only partially perpetuated and imperfectly administered, and labor- iously to acquire mastery of a language plainly and speedily being superseded by their own English." "While awaiting news of the close of the war with Mexico and a scheme for civil government from Washington came the discovery of gold. The news was being disseminated, the tide of immigration had begun. The already growing desire for organized government was greatly accel- erated. The need was almost infinitely in- creased and better administration of jus- tice seemed to be absolutely imperative. Could honest Americans hope longer for the promised civil organization from Washington, or should they themselves take the initiative? In the spring of 1849 General Hiley superseded Colonel Mason as de facto Gov- ernor of California. He recognized the grave difficulty of undertaking to admin- ister the civil affairs in a province which was neither a State nor an organized Ter- ritory; he desired to keep the military au- thority, so intolerable to the people, as perfectly hid from view as possible. While the undisputed fact of his military authority was itself offensive to leading settlers, they denied that he possessed any- civilauthority whatever. But as chief ex- ecutive of the province, he must needs act in civil capacity; hence arose the contro- versial conflict between de facto (or ex- officio) Governor and people. While Gen- eral Riley awaited the liual news from Congress, the people of the several districts proceeded, with characteristic American regularity, in their arrangements for a civil government proceeding from their own initiative. Immediately on learning that Congress had the third time failed to make provision for the government of California, General Riley asserted his civilauthority in a most emphatic manner by issuing a call for a general constitutional convention, and by proclaiming the so-called legislative As- sembly of San Francisco, the head and front of the settlers' movement, to be an illegal and unauthorized body. The As- sembly, on its part, prGte-ted against Rilev's intervention, and reasserted what it believed to be its undoubted right viz., the right of self-government, in default of suitable government by the United States. The issue was sharply defined; bin the citizens were too much in earnest in their desire for efficient government to allow themselves haughtily to stand out against the de facto Governor and hold themselves aloof from his really practicable measures just announced; therefore, they were not long in acceding to his time and place for the convention. The convention met September 1, lS4f>, in Colton Hull, Monterey, and concluded its labors October 13. The author sketches in- detail the salient features of the conven- tion, and adds that a hish order of skill was required to bring to completion a sat- isfactory constitution for a commonweal tli whose history was absolutely unique and whose early admission into the Union was seen to be extremely doubtful. It was for- tunate that the convention was ruled by no demagogue, no faction, no party. The mixed character of ttie personnel proved a safeguard. The claimsof Northern senti- ment and Southern chivalry had to be re- garded ; ardent Americans fresh from "the States" were tempered by older pioneers and Hispano-Californians; all were com- pelled to subn'it to repeated compromise, and t bus a moderate, judicial and workable constitution was created. The achievement illustrates the great capacity of the American people for self- government. The' constitution offered to the .citizens of California for their con- sideration and their votes sprang imme- diately into great favor, and the members of the convention were warmly praised for having done their work faithfully and "ad- journed with unimpaired goodwill." The document received the highest commenda- tions from all sources, as the "embodiment of the American mind, throwing its con- victions, impulses and aspirations into a tangible, permanent shape." It made California a free State. It was advanced, liberal, and thoroughly demo- cratic; founded upon social and political equality, it was enlightened in its pro- visions for education and catholic in its guaranty of religious freedom. All political power was declared to he inherent in the people, and all officers of the Gov- ernment were made elective. Although the achievement of an assembly extremely heterogeneous and in the main unused to law-making, it embodied the principles of the best political and jurisprudential philosophers; and, contrary to the ex- pectations of some of its framers, it en- dured for thirty years as the fundamental law of the empire State of the Pacific. EDITH; A STORY OF CHINATOWN. This is a little tale written with the avowed purpose of enabling San Francisco to "see herself as others see her." The author, Harry M. Johnson, declares that "ifthe residents of the larger Pacific Slope cities could be brought to realize the shocking condition of the moral atmos- phere of their communities, they would not be slow in mending the existing state of affairs, which has been of such long standing that, through its very familiarity, ithas lost its hideousness to native-born Californians and oldresidents." The pecu- liar evils to which he alludes are certain I conditions that in times past have pre- vailed on the outskirts of Chinatown. Mr. Johnson's effort for the purification of the Pacific Coast is well-meaning, but curiously unintelligent. His little book is written out of a fullness of ignorance of a very great subject. There are thousands of residents of the Pacific Slope who could cap his story with others far more heart- rending, of far less fortunate sequence, and who coultl assure him that the people of San Francisco are very much alive to the plague spot that exists in the City's heart, and would like nothing better than, un- hindered by Eastern legislation and senti- mentalism, to wipe it out of existence. But while Mr. Johnson talks about China- town his story deah merely with a block or two of Dupont street. A young girl leaves a happy home in company with a villain, and when he is wearied of her she drifts into Dupont street, where she is dis- covered and rescued. The story is in itself highly improbable; the conception of such a girl in such a situation is wholly illogi- cal. Mr. Johnson allows his romantic fancy to run away with his common-sense, so far as his portrayal of Edith is con- cerned. As a consequence his story is in itself so absurd as to defeat its own entirely laudable end, namely, castigation of the back of evil. If the author willvisit San Francisco again the management of The Call will undertake to see that he is afforded ample opportunity to investigate Chinatown from the inside, and that he is given an insight into the Chinese question in all its bearings. Once in a position to speak intelligently it is only fair to suppose he will modify his assertion that Cali- fornia's citizens are ignorant of or calloused to the e7il that exists in our midst. [Bos- ton: The Arena Publishing Company. Price 75 cents. J A GALLOWAY HERD. In that set of young Scotch novelists which now forms so brilliant a galaxy in the literature of the day there is none wiio rose more rapidly to fame or acauiretl more promptly a wide circle of readers tban S. K. Crockett, the author of "The Stickit Minister" and "The Raiders." The publication of his new novel, "A Galloway Herd," willtherefore be regarded as one of the literary events of the season. Itis one of the longest stories he has yet written, and will take rank among his more ambitious works. It will not, how- ever, add much to his fame or give en- couragement to those who have looked to Bee him crow into a really great novelist and do for thid generation what Dickens, Thacueray and George Eliot did for the one just passed. It would appear from this story that Crockett's talent does not go much further ttian to enable him to depict the humorous side of Scotch character. This, oi course, is a talent not to he scorned. A new humorist whose genial eyes see the lov- able aspects of human nature, even in the roughest guise, and who teaches us to laugh with sympathy and not with de- rision at mankind, will never be without honor in this melancholy world, where laughter is needed as a medicine, and where it is too often furnished by those who make it a mockery instead of genuine delight. In the characters of "AGalloway Herd" we have the true humor that pleases and does not hurt. The Scotch farmers of Dumfries will not resent this picture of their homes, their deacons and their fam- ilies. Itis the story of a quiet, well-ordered farm into whose household there has been introduced by the accidents of life a mother and a baby boy involved in the meshes of a London tragedy. Around these two are centered the main incidents of the story, but they are by no means the most inter- esting. In fact the tragic element is the weak part of the book. The real charm lies in the stories of the ordinary farm life, the frolics of the boys and the courtship of one of them. It is these sketches that carry the interest of the reader along until the plot of the tale is played out, the vil- lain killed and the heroine happily mar- ried. ["A Galloway Herd," by S. R. Crockett, 12 mo., 208 pages, cloth $1. K. . Fenno & Co., 122 Fifth avenue, New York.] ZANGWILL'S LATEBT THOUGHTS. I. Zangwill is writing for the Chicago Chap Book his impressions of the English elections, but, of course, finds a chance for a great many other items that interest Americans more than British politics ever can hope to do. Here are some selections from his latest utterances: A country has the politicians it deserves. I have heard the most ignorant girls rage against Mr. Gladstone; damsels in tneir teens who knew nothing of life or its problems, nor could have studied any question for themselves; pretty girls withal, but who at the mention of the veteran statesman took on the avenging aspect of the Eumenides. It was a girl of quite another temper who re- plied to me "when, talking over old times and old discussions, I Raid I had not yet become a socialist: "I don't think you ever knew what you were." I winced as at a just reproach, yet when I had left her the retort occurred to me (as retorts will, when too late) that there was no particular merit in being a "what"; that I men were not necessarily " T iats" or '"ites;" that thoughts did not fit into pigeonnoies, and that if there was any merit in the matter it con- sisted rather in preserving free play and elas- ticity of mind. Because certain men had put certain ideas into the world it did not follow that every other man had definitely to accept or reject each and all of them, and to become an " 'ite" or an "anti-'ite" in so doing. Plague take great menl What right had they to force one into the jury-box? Still less was it com- pulsory to return a verdict if,as the vulgar were apt to think, the acceptance of any one '"ism" precluded the acceptance of another, so that to be an Ibsenite was synonymous with detesting the dramas of Sardou, and to be a Wagnerite involved a horror of Mendelssohn. It was only the uncultured who held their artis- tic and political creeds with the narrowness of Little Bethel, importing into thought and esthetics the zealotry they had lost in religion. The book of experience, thought I, is noi an encyclopedia, with every possible topic neatly ranged in alphabetical order; it is no A B C time-table, with the trains dock- eted for the enlightenment of the simple; 'tis rather an encyclopedia torn into a million million fragments by kittens and pasted to- gether again by infants, so that all possible things are inextricably interfused, every one with every other; 'tis a Bradshaw edited by a maniac, where the trains that start hut don't arrive are not even distinguished from the trains that arrive but don't start. Wherever persons are conscious of the inhnite complexi- ties of things they will be found cautious of creed and timid of assertion. You have prob- ably noted that at Waterloo station, in London, no porter willever bind himself to a definite statement concerning any train. Itis only the artistic who hold that black is black and white is white, unconditionally, irretrievably. SIOO FOR A NAME. The Authors' Publishing Company, 1293 Broadway, New York, will give $100 cash to the person who shall send the most appropriate title for the following National poem, which is to constitute the opening page of the forth- coming 2d American edition of Foster's poems, a 130-page volume, to be published the first week in December. The title will be passed upon by three compe- tent, disinterested judges, and the name of the Buccessful competitor and the title chosen by the judges as being the most appropriate for the poem, will be announced in the New York newspapers on Sunday, December 1, 1895, un- der the head of New Publications: BY ARDKNSE3 FOSTER. White child of Briton's womb, Columbia! Famed New World sovereign, and the world thy guest, Nor walls but walls of Peace to sentry thee. Nor jeweled crown more mighty than thy crest. Nerved, steel-winged eagle, and Invincible, To emblem thee at thy majestic shrine Of Science, sweeping ken. enlightenment, Where Liberty and Progress intertwine. Columbia! recurrent pregnant maid, And bosom throbbing withripe harvest-heat, Till multitudes from "thy flush garners feed, And on thy shores Creation's races meet. Grand nations pay thee homage: 'tis their will, Whose ]>eople» knock ai thybroad harbor-gates, As ships of might come in, saluting thee; And writ in water are the racial hates. Puissant kings disarm before thy doors, Nor war-dipped javelins touch thy Pllgrlm-womb: Whence came the sonsof Human-Brotherhood, And laid the vanquished war-god in his tomb. Once-blood-wet-battle-fields take seed, conceive, And burst withrank on rani; of festal-grain. Inwoven tillthy brow is garlauded May poets share the laurel in tny reign? Queen, chaplet-crownea, bright gem of hemis- pheres, Prond victor In the world's momentous wars, That tribes of Clod might rally with tiiy sons. And know tue franchise of thy stripes and stars. BEADRIFT. A dainty little booklet of verse by Her- bert Bashford, bearing the name of Bea- drift, comes to us from the press of the Commercial Printine Company of Tacoma, and the contents show, within a limited range, a true poetic sentiment and no in- considerable skill in the accomplishment of verse. None of the poems are lone, several are only quatrains, and they deal mainly with minor emotions or descrip- tions of certain poetic aspects of sky and sea around Puget Sound. A good example of the more serious moods of the author, as well as an illustration of his ability to handle the sonnet form of verse, is found in this: TF SHK SIIOI'LD BIT!. If she should die— the thought of utter gloom Aucl uiiidlil griff thronKli all my yenrs is this. 1 shudder, Hod ! Whut loneliness lo miss Her loving presence from our cozy room. And know withina damp and darkened tomb There lies the heart 1 draw in rapturous bliss '(Jainsi. my own. the tender cheek 1 kiss. Whereon a crimson flower is vow in bloom. Kach bird would follow In her spirit's Hitfht, At break of dawn the rose shed tears of woe, Its trembling lips held upward to the sky, A star in heaven shine with such a light, 'Twonld be a-marvel to the world below If she should die—if my loved one should die. THE JONESES AND THE ASTEBICKS. Of the writing of satires on society there will never be an end. In that brilliant world where the passions, hopes and fears of human hearts are confined within the limits of conventional respectability and where even the truest have to be more or less hypocritical, there are ever arising oc- casions to exercise the skill of those who delight in shooting folly as itHies. One of the lighter forms of this satire is found in the "Joneses and the Astericks" by Gerald Campbell, which has evidently been pub- lished for society people themselves, as it appears in all the luxury of heavy paper, broad margins, attractive illustrations and handsome binding. It contains the love story of the daughter of an ambitious mother and is told in a series of mono- logues, each chapter being made up of the talk of some one of the principal charac- ters. It aims to be no more than light reading for leisure moments and will serve well for that purpose, inasmuch as there is nothing in it that can be called heavy or even serious. While not witty it is not dull. The characters though commonplace enough in London society are not prosy and the story ends happily for everybody concerned. [The "Joneses and the Aster- icks," by Gerald Campbell. London, John Lane; New York, the Merriam Company; 201 pages, 12 mo., price $125.] PAMPHLETS CONCERNING ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. Senor Juan A. Alsina, General Commis- sioner of the department of Immigration of Argentine Republic, is doing good work for his country in sending out broadcast pamphlets relating to the resources of the various provinces. They are published for free distribution and are printed in Eng- lish, Spanish, German and Italian. They contain just the information desired by prospective immigrants or capitalists seek- ing for favorable investments. From two publications at hand it is learned that the provinces of Snlta and La Rioja are among the richest in minerals, of most fertile soil and containing forests of valuable timber. The climate is described as extremely mild, with rare frosts. Oranges, olives, figs, grapes and many fruits familiar to Californians are here produced. Wine- making is extensively carried on, but the methods are exceedingly primitive, the old system of treading the grapes being followed. Women do this work and get 60 cents a day. The naturalization laws of Argentine are interesting. Besides the usual method of securing citizenship by two years' resi- dence foreigners who have rendered service as follows may become naturalized : Having served in the army or navy, or as- sisted in a military engagement in defense of the nation. Having established a new industry in the country or introduced a new invention. Being contractor for or constructor of rail- ways in any of the provinces. Forming part of the colonies now established, or which may be established in future, be they in the national or provincial territories, pro- vided that such person possess real property in them. Inhabiting or poDulating national territory on the frontier lines or outside of these. Having married an Argentine woman in any of the provinces. Exercising the callingof professor or teacher inany branch of education or industry. These books may be obtained by ad- dressing the Commissioner of Immigration at Buenos Ayres. AMERICAN STUDENTS HONORED. As is its annual custom, the "Annals of the American Academy" contains a list of the students in American colleges who have obtained during the past year the degree of Ph.D. for work in political and social science, economics or history, to- gether with a list of the appointments for the coming year to fellowships and post- graduate scholarships in the above sub- jects. From these lists we see that forty- one students receiveu the degree of Ph.D. from fourteen universities. Johns Hop- kins conferred this degree on twelve stu- dents; Columbia, Cornell and Yale each on four students; universities of Chicago, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each on three students; University of Worcester on two students, and the universities of Brown, Harvard, Lombard. Michigan, Washington and Lee and Western Re- serve on one student each. At nine uni- versities fifty-nine students have been ap- pointed to fellowships and post-graduate scholarships for the coming year in politi- cal and social science, economics or history. Tne University of Chicago has appointed twenty-two students; Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins aod University of Wiscon- sin, each seven; Cornell, five; University of Indiana, two; and Bryn Mawr and Uni- versity of Mississippi, each one student. CAPTAIN MANDEVILLE. Those who like their sensational litera- ture after the recipe for ladies' toddy, "hot, strong and plenty of it," willlintt their tasto exactly suited in this story by John R. McMahon. Mutiny on the high seas, robbery, the marooning of a sea cap- tain on a coral reef in midocean, eleven murders and a perfect charnel-house of correlated horrors are a few of the minor incidents that make up the narrative. The story is interesting as evidencing the au- thor's curious familiarity with a wide range of rather extraordinary subjects. One is continually moved to wonder, read- ing his book, how Mr. McMahon could know so much and make such unprofit- able use of his knowledge. The ability to construct so good a story, in certain re- spects, as "Captain Mandeville," should produce something much superior to the sort of thing this is. [New York: G. W. Dillingham. Price 50 cents.] THE TEMPLE SHAKESPEARE - " KING RICHARD III" AND "KING HENRY V." Here are two more volumes of the con- venient edition of the great author now being issued by the Aldine house, Lon- don. The edition is extremely artistic, each volume containing one tine etching, and the typography is superb. There are abundant notes, perhaps not so numerous as in Rolfe, but sufficient for allpurposes, and there is a summarized bibliography of history and criticism bearing on each play. [Macmillan &Co., London and New York. For sale by William Doxey.] INEZ-A TALE OF THE ALAMO. This is a reprint in popular paper-covered form of one of Augusta J. Evans' novels. The tale possesses the usual attributes of that author's fiction, but has never ac- quired the popularity of "St. Elmo" and "Beulah" and some* of her other books. Because it is a tale of the Alamo, of senti- ment groping about the scene of that hor- rid butchery, it will always be read whrrever burn the fires of American pa- triotism. [Published by G. W. Dilling- ham, New York: For sale by the San Francisco News Company.] A START IN LIFE. "AStart in Life,"by Hcnore de Balzac, is the beginning of a series of republica- tions by Roberts Brothers of Boston. The present edition is in library binding, with led top. The familiar dedication appears. TO I,AI7RK. Let the brilliant and modest mind that gave me the subject of this scene have the honor of it. Her brother. Dm Balzac. The entire catalogue of Balzac's novels will be reproduced in this manner. The present volume contains 421 pages. [For saie by Roberts Brothers, Boston, and by all booksellers; ?150.] THE BIBELOT. The September number of this attractive booklet contains that charming story of the poet Dante Rossetti, "Hand and Soul,"' a reprint that all admirers of the best in literature will appreciate. It is the only tale that this much-admired poet ever wrote, or at least the only one which it is known that he ever completed. Its deli- cate imagery, its masterful language, all give the suggestion that the mind now for- ever silent might have accomplished much for our prose literature had itbeen so di- rected. [Published by Thomas B. Mosher, Portland, Me.] HISTORY OF PRINTING. Pietro Rossi appears to have been one of the fortunates who made money at the late Midwinter Exposition, for he has re- turned to this City for the purpose of establishing a depot for the sale of artistic Italian, Venetian, French and English rare publications, originals and reproduc- tion-'. One of the publications just issued by Signor Rossi is a 'History of the Art of Printing During the Renaissance in Italy," bearing evidence of the effect of the artistic hanil of 1 Idas Manutius in the development of the Art Preservative. For sale by Pietro Rossi, 120 Sutter street, San Francisco. READINGS AND RECITATIONS FOR JEW- ISH HOMES AND SCHOOLS. This is a volume of selections compiled by Isabel E. Cohen, designed for the pur- pose stated in the title. The object is for potn entertainment and instruction, and it would appear that the computer has well fulfilledher purpose. There are selections from Scott. Longfellow, Bryant, Moore, Addison, Whittier and others, as well as from the works of leading Jewish writers, including Disraeli and Emma Lazarus. [The Jewish Publication Society of Amer- ica, Philadelphia.] COT'XT LEO TOL- STOI . Author of ".Master and Mvii," etc. I.OUTS rot* PERL'S, Author of ••Kline Wre," "Koot3teDs of Fate," "Majesty," etc. HERMAN'?? SUDER- MANN, Author or 'Tha Wish," etc. TARMA, Atitliorof "Not Counting tlie Cost," etc. MISS L.DOUG ALL, Author of "The Met*- mall." "Tlim Zeit- geist," "Beggars All," etc. MISS F. F. MOXTRE- . SOR, \u25a0 Author of "Into the II t git way a ami II edges." Opie Bead. JOHN H. HOLMES, EDITOR OF THE BOSTON HERALD AND PRESIDENT OF THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATED PRESS. [From the JVeiv York Fourth Estate.] Mr. Zang-will. [Drawn by Fred Richardson for the Chap Book.] Hon. Ig-natius Donnelly. SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT. The Remains of F. J. Griffith a,, a Young Civil Engineer, Found in the Kay. The remains of F. J. Griffiths, a civil engineer aged 19 years, were recovered from the bay yesterday morning. -William. Conlon, who lives at the corner of Twenty- third and Point Lobos avenues, was walk- ing along the beaoh near Fort Point, when be saw the remains and notified the police. The body was removed to the Morgue. Yonnc Griffiths lived with his parents at 2507 Larkin street. . His father,- Apthony J. Griffiths, is a claim-adjuster for the Market-street Railroad Company. Ac- cording to him the yonne man was meas- uring, some lilling-in work that had been completed near Meiggs wharf, and acci- dentally fell in and was drowned. He also insists that the son had a happy home, and that there could consequently be no occasion for suicide. The boatmen and others who frequent Section Bof the seawall- say that, yonng Griffiths deliberately jumped into the bay. A fisherman who was sailing past in his smack attempted to save him by throwing a rope. The young man refused to take the rope, and waved the boat away. A boat was put out from the Merchants' Exchange landing, but when it got within two feet of urillilhs he sank and did not come up again. It is said that there was a love affair in the case. The young man's passion was not reciprocated, and he grew despondent. Hl3 family and relatives deny the story, and say there is absolutely no foundation for it. An inquest will be held by Coroner Hawkins, when all the facts in the case will be brought out. \u25a0 \u2666 \u2666 New Corporations. The Pacific Coast Bicycle Company whb in- corporated yesterday. On a $100,000 capital stock, $00,000 has been subscribed as follows: J. R. Cole, $27,500; C. P. Johnson, $ 27,500; Thomas R. Knox, J. T. Morrison, \V. L. liel- dert, Samuel 0. Foltz and J. W. Young, $1000 each. The Jackson Gate GoM Mining Company has been incorporated by Frederick C. Sieb'i and others, with $2500 subscribed on a $200,000 capital stock. * Tbe real and personal property in this country is assessed at $17, 139,903,495. THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1895. 17 ARE YOU A FAMILY MAN? If you are, this is the time of the year when you should be more careful of the health of your wife and children than at any other season. And you must not neglect yourself either. If any one of the household is a little under the weather, it is your bounden r duty to attend to the matter at once. Times aren't very good, and you needn't incur a doctor's bill. Just take time by the forelock and order a case of Dr. Henley's Celery, Beef and Iron, and have it in the house, even if no one : is sick at this moment. It stops chills and ' colds, promotes proper circulation, and is invaluable to keep you healthy when you are well. It contains Celery \u0084 for the nerves, Beef to sustain the system and Iron to purify and enrich the blood. You have a duty to perform. See to it now or prepare to repent >w it- X i \u25a0 " ..' \u25a0-.... .. \u25a0.i \u25a0..- \u25a0 ; .. \u25a0 \u25a0 . iiiiiimmmm^ And you don't want to "let matters run" .•V.until they get so serious that life itself is in danger. At the slightest sign of a cold take the remedy as directed on the bottle. Half a wine- \u25a0i glass or a third for children. Dyspepsia, nervous troubles, general debility and insomnia fly be- fore this grand tonic, system builder, nervine and blood purifier, as mist does before the morn- ing sun. DO YOUR DUTY LIKE A MAN. Henley's, Remember No Substitute.

Upload: truongthuy

Post on 16-Mar-2018

216 views

Category:

Documents


2 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: The San Francisco call (San Francisco, Calif.) 1895-09-22 ...chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1895-09-22/ed-1/seq-17.pdf · them all with the decadence group led by Ibsen

NEW BOOKS.Twenty thousand dollars is the tidy

> littlesum that the Century has paid Mrs.Humphry Ward for a new novel, and sheretains the right to publish the fiction inbook form.

"Literature of Decadence" is the an-nouncement of a startling poster in one ofPoxey's windows. Under this title arearranged the works of Ibsen, Nordau, JohnOliver Hobbes, l'aul Yerlaiae, Richard LeGallienne, Phil ZUJghels, sketches by Au-brey Beardsley, John Sloan, HazenplugPissaro and others of that school, and suchtip-to-date producers as the Echo, Mcods,the Lark, the Philistine, the Evergreen,Bibelot and the Chap Book. While theseworkers in the field of modern thoughtmay he justly considered end of the cen-tury representatives it is not fair to classthem all with the decadence group led byIbsen and Nordau. Quite a majority ofthese young people have healthy brains intheir skulls and healthy thoughts in theirbrains.

Annie Laurie's book, "The Little BoyWho Lived on the Hill,"is almost readyfor publication. Itwillbe illustrated bySwinnerton.

John Burroughs says some excellent•words in Stone & Kimball:s last ChicagoChap Book.

The difference between a precious stone anda common strut' is not an essentin.l difference

—not a difference <>f substance, but of arrange-ment 01 the particles— the crystallization, says

Mr.Burroughs. Insubstance the charcoal andthe diamond are one, but informand effect howwidely they differ. The pearl contains nothingthat is not .found in the coarsest oyster shell.Two mi'n have the same thoughts; they useabout the same words in expressing them ;yetwith one the product is real literature, withthe other it isa platitude. The difference is allin the presentation; a liner and more com-pendious process has pone on in the one casethan in the other. Tne elements are betterfused and knitted together; they are in someway heightened and intensiiied. Is not here aclew to what we mean by style? Style trans-forms common quartz "into an JEgyptianpfhble. We are apt to think ofstyle as something external, that can be putoii, something inand of itself. But it is not;it is in the inmost texture of the substance it-self. I'oiish, choice words, faultless rhetoricare only the accidents of style. Indeed, perfectworkmanship is one thing; style, as the greatwriters have it, isquite another. Itmay, andoften does, go with faulty workmanship. Itisthe use of words ina fresh and vitalway, so astogive us a vividsense o£ a new spiritual forceand personality. Inthe best work the style isfound and hidden in the matter.

• * *One

fault that Ilind with our youngerand more promising school of novelistsis that their aim is too literary; wefeel that they are striving mainly for artisticeffect. * * *

Their seriousness ismainly an»rustic seriousness. It is not so much "thatthe}- have something to say as that they aretilled with a desire to say something. Nearlyall our magazine poets "seem tilled with theFame desire. What labor, what art and tech-nique, but what a dearth of feeling and spon-taneity! Iread a few lines or stanzas ar.<lthen stop. Isee it is only deft handicraft,and that the heart and soul are not init. Oneday my boy killed what an old hunter toldhim was a mock dock. Itlooked like a duck,itacted like a duck, it quacked like a duel;,but when it came upon the table— it mockedus. These mock poems of the magazines re-mind me of it.

INDEPENDENT PAMPHLETEERING.At no time in the literary history of the

century has there been such a tendencyupon the part of young writers to rashinto print independently of the establishedavenues of literary publicity.Itwould seem as though America had

periodicals in abundance to minister tothe mental requirements of the public, oreven to furnish an outlet for the energiesof those afflicted with scribenditis. Ap-parently, however, we have not, for neariyevery month sees the advent of a new yen-

ture in this line. Itre not alone that wehave Moods, Chips, The Chap Book, TheBibelot, The Philistine, Keynotes, TheEvergreen and The Lark, but we are being

flooded of late withnickel publications ofevery sort, homeopathic doses of thought,

done up inartistic sbape and printed onthe best of hand-made paper, with allthe accessories of line and rubricknown to the printing trade, buthomeopathic doses nevertheless, and themost of them, itis to be confessed, dear at

the nickel or the dime that are the regula-tion price for them. We seem to be enter-ingupon an era of independent pamphlet-eering, wherein every man, woman andchild having something to say puts itforthwith into a thin little volume andsends itforth to find an audience with ihepublic.Itis a question whether these thin little

volumes do find an audience. Book-buy-ers, as a rule, do not care for these littlebooks. They desire volumes that have, soto speak, "a presence" —books which theycan arrange upon their library shelves,and to which they can point with pride, asit were, as evidences of literary taste.They want books to possess weight andproportion in the tangible and realisticas well as the figurative sense. Only thefew fittd mental pabulum in the workofthe independent pamphleteer, who is

usually such because, as hinted above, heis denied transportation along the recog-,nized highways of literature.

But itis to be feared that there is gener-ally some reason for this denial. Candorcompels the admission that the pretty lit-tle pamphlets of individual expression arefor the most part thin in contents, as wellas in proportion. The keynote of the ageis expression, an eminently useful word inits way, but by no means equal to the tasklately putupon itof bearing the vagariesof a generation. The tendency of the ageis to come before the world with itsthoughts, or, lacking these, with its feel-ings. This is eminently true of ouryounger writers, who are "mainly responsi-ble for the all-pervading pamphlet. Theburden of this sort of literature is woe, woe,and yet more woe. Our young friendsfling their intellectual anatomy about witha recklessness that would be amazing wereit not so readily understandable. Itismerely a part of the general desire of theego of the age to make itself known, togive itself expression. Like most neuroses,this condition brings melancholy, the sureprerogative of youth and inexperience,and the corresponding misapprehensionthat individual emotion is of interest tothe world at large. Our young writerswho run to pamphlets have a grievanceagainst the publishing part of the world.They believe there is a "conspiracy ofsilence" against them, and thej' are fainto scale the battlements and storm thecastle of Public Opinion unaided andalone. A characteristic of the group is anevident and painful lack of reading, ofstudy, of coherent and consecutivethought. They have no mental back-ground, everything they write is in theforeground. They are contemporaneous toa degree, and correspondingly impatient ofthat which has gone before them.

Thus it comes about that we have ar-rived at what may be called a neuroticscnool of literature, whose aim itis to pro-duce the outre, the bizarre, the quaint, butwhich only succeeds, as a rule, in giving usihe overstrained, the ill-digested and theunspeakably melancholy. "Expression forexpression's sake" is its watchword, awatchword as false as is that other cry ofcertain schools, '"art for art's sake."

A mental colic, according to this school'sreasoning, is as legitimate a subject forexpression as are any of the higher pro-cesses of mentality; and, judging from thepublished matter of our pamphleteers, isfar more frequent. One hesitates to beharsh, but the thought thrusts itself uponthe mind that what most of these youngwriters need is not publishers, but pep-permints.

THE GENESIS OF CALIFORNIA'S FIRSTCONSTITUTION.

This is a monograph in the series ofJohns Hopkins University studies inpolit-ical science. Itis a stud3 rin constitution-making by Professor Rockwell D. Hunt ofthe University of the Pacific. Itis an in-telligent study of a subject of great inter-est. The dramatic events of the history ofCalifornia prior to the American conquestare first briefly sketched.

The political and constitutional as wellas the social conditions of territorial Cali-fornia were unique. Never were law andadministration more needed ;seldom has an

enlightened community endured so inade-quate a legal system and so precarious anadministration. The early Californianleaders (Castro, Vallejo and Pico) were toodiscreet to attempt an expulsion of theAmericans after the conquest; and theAmericans were not permitted to throw offthe unsavory Mexican law. The persistentdesire for admission into the FederalUnion was itself doubtless a bar to themuch-needed local organization. The pro-found National significance of this new ac-quisition at a time when there was but onequestion in American politics is the keythat must oe constantly in the hand of thestudent who would gain a comprehensiveview of the local distracted situation.Slave extension created California: Cali-fornia effectually checked slave extension.

The American population of Californiaduring 184<i and 1847 was very small,widely scattered, and altogether in aposition extremely disadvantageous foredicient, united political action of anykind. But it had become evidentto the settlers that the coun-try was destined to be permanentlyAmerican; and it is not surprising that aclamor began to arise tor American lawsand institutions, and that expressions ofdissatisfaction with the impotent MexicanGovernment and seemingly harsn militaryrule grew louder and louder. It cannotbe charged to the discredit of the earlysettlers that they thus manifested dissat-isfaction with the existing order of things,and evinced an earnest and persistent de-sire for organized government. They were,

for the most part, honest, energetic andintelligent pioneers who had been accus-tomed to law and order. California being nolonger under the corrupt and despotic ruleof Mexico, they were not unreasonable inexpecting better things from the UnitedStates. But their greatest grievance wasthe very want of law adequate to the pro-tection of life and property, ana to thecomplete administration of justice. As ttiepopulation increased, causes for disaffec-tion multiplied. Those Americans whohad lived under the Mexican regime hadlearned to accommodate themselves meas-urably to the existing conditions and tothe use of the Spanish language; but inproportion as the American population in-creased after the conquest, and graduallygained the ascendency of numbers, it wasunreasonable to expect the new comers toadapt themselves to the effete Mexicanlaws, at best only partially perpetuatedand imperfectly administered, and labor-iously to acquire mastery of a languageplainly and speedily being superseded bytheir own English."

"While awaiting news of the close of thewar withMexico and a scheme for civilgovernment from Washington came thediscovery of gold. The news was beingdisseminated, the tide of immigration hadbegun. The already growing desire fororganized government was greatly accel-erated. The need was almost infinitely in-creased and better administration of jus-tice seemed to be absolutely imperative.Could honest Americans hope longer forthe promised civil organization fromWashington, or should they themselvestake the initiative?

In the spring of 1849 General Hileysuperseded Colonel Mason as de facto Gov-ernor of California. He recognized thegrave difficultyof undertaking to admin-ister the civil affairs in a province whichwas neither a State nor an organized Ter-ritory; he desired to keep the military au-thority, so intolerable to the people, asperfectly hid from view as possible.While the undisputed fact of his military

authority was itself offensive to leadingsettlers, they denied that he possessed any-civilauthority whatever. But as chief ex-ecutive of the province, he must needs actincivil capacity; hence arose the contro-versial conflict between de facto (or ex-officio) Governor and people. While Gen-eral Riley awaited the liual news fromCongress, the people of the several districtsproceeded, with characteristic Americanregularity, in their arrangements for acivil government proceeding from theirown initiative.

Immediately on learning that Congresshad the third time failed to make provision

for the government of California, GeneralRiley asserted his civilauthority ina most

emphatic manner by issuing a call for ageneral constitutional convention, and byproclaiming the so-called legislative As-sembly of San Francisco, the head andfront of the settlers' movement, to be anillegal and unauthorized body. The As-sembly, on its part, prGte-ted againstRilev's intervention, and reasserted whatit believed to be its undoubted right—viz.,the right of self-government, in default ofsuitable government by the United States.The issue was sharply defined; bin thecitizens were too much in earnest in theirdesire for efficient government to allowthemselves haughtily to stand out againstthe de facto Governor and hold themselvesaloof from his really practicable measuresjust announced; therefore, they were notlong in acceding to his time and place forthe convention.

The convention met September 1, lS4f>, inColton Hull, Monterey, and concluded itslabors October 13. The author sketches in-detail the salient features of the conven-tion, and adds that a hish order of skillwas required to bring to completion a sat-isfactory constitution for a commonweal tliwhose history was absolutely unique andwhose early admission into the Union wasseen to be extremely doubtful. Itwas for-tunate that the convention was ruled by

no demagogue, no faction, no party. Themixed character of ttie personnel proved asafeguard. The claimsof Northern senti-ment and Southern chivalry had to be re-garded ; ardent Americans fresh from "theStates" were tempered by older pioneersand Hispano-Californians; all were com-pelled to subn'it to repeated compromise,and t bus a moderate, judicial and workableconstitution was created.

The achievement illustrates the greatcapacity of the American people for self-government. The' constitution offered tothe .citizens of California for their con-sideration and their votes sprang imme-diately into great favor, and the membersof the convention were warmly praised forhaving done their work faithfully and "ad-journed withunimpaired goodwill." The

document received the highest commenda-tions from all sources, as the "embodimentof the American mind, throwing its con-victions, impulses and aspirations into atangible, permanent shape."Itmade California a free State. Itwas

advanced, liberal, and thoroughly demo-cratic; founded upon social and politicalequality, it was enlightened in its pro-visions for education and catholic in itsguaranty of religious freedom. Allpoliticalpower was declared to he inherentin the people, and all officers of the Gov-ernment were made elective. Althoughthe achievement of an assembly extremelyheterogeneous and in the main unused tolaw-making, it embodied the principles ofthe best political and jurisprudentialphilosophers; and, contrary to the ex-pectations of some of its framers, it en-dured for thirty years as the fundamentallaw of the empire State of the Pacific.

EDITH; A STORY OF CHINATOWN.

This is a little tale written with theavowed purpose of enabling San Franciscoto "see herself as others see her." Theauthor, Harry M. Johnson, declares that"ifthe residents of the larger Pacific Slopecities could be brought to realize theshocking condition of the moral atmos-phere of their communities, they wouldnot be slow in mending the existing stateof affairs, which has been of such longstanding that, through its very familiarity,ithas lost its hideousness to native-bornCalifornians and oldresidents." The pecu-liar evils to which he alludes are certainIconditions that in times past have pre-vailed on the outskirts of Chinatown.

Mr.Johnson's effort for the purificationof the Pacific Coast is well-meaning, butcuriously unintelligent. His littlebook iswritten out of a fullness of ignorance of avery great subject. There are thousandsofresidents of the Pacific Slope who couldcap his story with others far more heart-rending, of far less fortunate sequence, andwho coultl assure him that the people ofSan Francisco are very much alive to theplague spot that exists in the City's heart,and would like nothing better than, un-hindered by Eastern legislation and senti-mentalism, to wipe it out of existence.But while Mr. Johnson talks about China-town his story deah merely with a blockor two of Dupont street. A young girlleaves a happy home in company with avillain,and when he is wearied of her shedrifts into Dupont street, where she is dis-covered and rescued. The story is in itselfhighly improbable; the conception of such

a girl in such a situation is wholly illogi-cal. Mr. Johnson allows his romanticfancy to run away with his common-sense,so far as his portrayal of Edith is con-cerned. As a consequence his story is initself so absurd as todefeat its own entirelylaudable end, namely, castigation of theback of evil. Ifthe author willvisit SanFrancisco again the management of TheCall will undertake to see that he isafforded ample opportunity to investigateChinatown from the inside, and that he isgiven an insight into the Chinese questionin all its bearings. Once in a position tospeak intelligently it is only fair to supposehe will modify his assertion that Cali-fornia's citizens are ignorant of orcalloused

to the e7il that exists in our midst. [Bos-ton: The Arena Publishing Company.Price 75 cents. J

A GALLOWAY HERD.In that set of young Scotch novelists

which now forms so brilliant a galaxy inthe literature of the day there isnone wiio rose more rapidly to fame oracauiretl more promptly a wide circle ofreaders tban S. K. Crockett, the author of"The Stickit Minister" and "The Raiders."The publication of his new novel, "AGalloway Herd," willtherefore be regardedas one of the literary events of the season.Itis one of the longest stories he has yetwritten, and will take rank among his

more ambitious works. It will not, how-ever, add much to his fame or give en-couragement to those who have looked toBee him crow into a really great novelistand do for thid generation what Dickens,Thacueray and George Eliot did for theone just passed.

It would appear from this story thatCrockett's talent does not go much furtherttian to enable him to depict the humorousside of Scotch character. This, oicourse,is a talent not to he scorned. A newhumorist whose genial eyes see the lov-able aspects of human nature, even in theroughest guise, and who teaches us tolaugh with sympathy and not with de-rision at mankind, will never be withouthonor in this melancholy world, wherelaughter is needed as a medicine, andwhere it is too often furnished by thosewho make ita mockery instead of genuinedelight.

Inthe characters of "AGalloway Herd"we have the true humor that pleases anddoes not hurt. The Scotch farmers ofDumfries will not resent this picture oftheir homes, their deacons and their fam-ilies. Itis the story of a quiet, well-orderedfarm into whose household there has beenintroduced by the accidents of lifea motherand a baby boy involved in the meshes ofa London tragedy. Around these two arecentered the main incidents of the story,but they are by no means the most inter-esting. In fact the tragic element is theweak part of the book. The real charmlies in the stories of the ordinary farm life,the frolics of the boys and the courtship of

one of them. Itis these sketches thatcarry the interest of the reader along untilthe plot of the tale is played out, the vil-lain killed and the heroine happily mar-ried. ["A Galloway Herd," by S. R.Crockett, 12 mo., 208 pages, cloth $1. K..Fenno &Co., 122 Fifth avenue, New York.]

ZANGWILL'S LATEBT THOUGHTS.I. Zangwill is writing for the Chicago

Chap Book his impressions of the Englishelections, but, of course, finds a chance fora great many other items that interestAmericans more than British politics evercan hope to do. Here are some selectionsfrom his latest utterances:

A country has the politicians itdeserves. Ihave heard the most ignorant girls rage againstMr. Gladstone; damsels in tneir teens whoknew nothingof lifeor its problems, nor couldhave studied any question for themselves;pretty girls withal, but who at the mention ofthe veteran statesman took on the avengingaspect of the Eumenides.Itwas a girlof quite another temper who re-

plied to me "when, talking over old times andold discussions, IRaid Ihad not yet become asocialist: "Idon't think you ever knew whatyou were." Iwinced as at a just reproach, yetwhen Ihad left her the retort occurred to me(as retorts will,when too late) that there wasno particular merit in being a "what"; thatImen were not necessarily "Tiats" or '"ites;"

that thoughts did not fitinto pigeonnoies, andthat ifthere was any merit in the matter itcon-sisted rather in preserving free play and elas-ticity of mind. Because certain men had putcertain ideas into the world it did not followthat every other man had definitely toacceptor reject each and allof them, and to becomean

"'ite" or an "anti-'ite" inso doing. Plague

take great menl What righthad they to forceone into the jury-box? Still less was itcom-pulsory to return a verdict if,as the vulgarwere apt to think, the acceptance of any one'"ism" precluded the acceptance of another, sothat to be an Ibsenite was synonymous withdetesting the dramas of Sardou, and to be aWagnerite involved a horror of Mendelssohn.Itwas only the uncultured who held their artis-tic and political creeds with the narrownessof Little Bethel, importing into thought andesthetics the zealotry they had lost inreligion.The book of experience, thought I,is noi anencyclopedia, with every possible topicneatly ranged in alphabetical order; it isno A B C time-table, with the trains dock-eted for the enlightenment of the simple;'tis rather an encyclopedia torn intoa millionmillion fragments by kittens and pasted to-gether again by infants, so that all possiblethings are inextricably interfused, every onewith every other; 'tis a Bradshaw edited by amaniac, where the trains that start hut don'tarrive are not even distinguished from thetrains that arrive but don't start. Whereverpersons are conscious of the inhnite complexi-ties of things they willbe found cautious ofcreed and timid of assertion. You have prob-ablynoted that at Waterloo station, in London,no porter willever bind himself to a definitestatement concerning any train. Itis only theartistic who hold that black is black and whiteis white, unconditionally, irretrievably.

SIOO FOR A NAME.

The Authors' Publishing Company, 1293Broadway, New York, will give $100 cash tothe person who shall send the most appropriatetitle for the followingNational poem, which isto constitute the opening page of the forth-coming 2d American edition of Foster's poems,a130-page volume, to be published the firstweek inDecember.

The title willbe passed uponby three compe-tent, disinterested judges, and the name of theBuccessful competitor and the title chosen bythe judges as being the most appropriate forthe poem, willbe announced inthe New Yorknewspapers on Sunday, December 1, 1895, un-der the head of New Publications:

BY ARDKNSE3 FOSTER.White child of Briton's womb, Columbia!Famed New World sovereign, and the world thy

guest,Nor walls but walls ofPeace to sentry thee.Nor jeweled crown more mighty than thy crest.

Nerved, steel-winged eagle, and Invincible,To emblem thee at thy majestic shrineOf Science, sweeping ken. enlightenment,Where Libertyand Progress intertwine.

Columbia! recurrent pregnant maid,And bosom throbbing withripe harvest-heat,Tillmultitudes from "thy flush garners feed,And on thy shores Creation's races meet.

Grand nations pay thee homage: 'tis their will,Whose ]>eople» knock ai thybroad harbor-gates,As ships of might come in, saluting thee;And writin water are the racial hates.

Puissant kings disarm before thydoors,Nor war-dipped javelins touch thy Pllgrlm-womb:Whence came the sonsof Human-Brotherhood,And laid the vanquished war-god inhis tomb.

Once-blood-wet-battle-fields take seed, conceive,And burst withrank on rani; of festal-grain.Inwoven tillthy brow is garlauded •May poets share the laurel in tny reign?

Queen, chaplet-crownea, bright gem of hemis-pheres,

Prond victorInthe world's momentous wars,That tribes of Clod might rally withtiiy sons.And know tue franchise of thy stripes and stars.

BEADRIFT.

A dainty little booklet of verse by Her-bert Bashford, bearing the name of Bea-drift,comes to us from the press of theCommercial Printine Company of Tacoma,and the contents show, within a limitedrange, a true poetic sentiment and no in-considerable skill in the accomplishmentof verse. None of the poems are lone,

several are only quatrains, and they dealmainly with minor emotions or descrip-tions of certain poetic aspects of sky andsea around Puget Sound. A good exampleof the more serious moods of the author,as well as an illustration of his ability tohandle the sonnet form of verse, is foundin this:

TF SHK SIIOI'LD BIT!.

Ifshe should die— the thought of utter gloomAucl uiiidlilgriff thronKliallmy yenrs is this.1 shudder, Hod !Whut loneliness lomiss

Her loving presence from our cozy room.Andknow withina damp and darkened tomb

There lies the heart 1draw inrapturous bliss'(Jainsi. my own. the tender cheek 1 kiss.

Whereon a crimson flower is vow inbloom.Kach bird would follow In her spirit's Hitfht,

At break ofdawn the rose shed tears of woe,Its tremblinglipsheld upward to the sky,A star inheaven shine withsuch a light,

'Twonld be a-marvel to the world belowIfshe should die—ifmy loved one should die.

THE JONESES AND THE ASTEBICKS.

Of the writingof satires on society therewill never be an end. In that brilliantworld where the passions, hopes and fearsof human hearts are confined within thelimits of conventional respectability andwhere even the truest have to be more orless hypocritical, there are ever arising oc-casions to exercise the skill of those whodelight in shooting folly as itHies. One ofthe lighter forms of this satire is found inthe "Joneses and the Astericks" by GeraldCampbell, which has evidently been pub-lished for society people themselves, as itappears inall the luxury of heavy paper,broad margins, attractive illustrations andhandsome binding. Itcontains the lovestory of the daughter of an ambitiousmother and is told in a series of mono-logues, each chapter being made up of thetalk of some one of the principal charac-ters. Itaims to be no more than lightreading for leisure moments and willservewell for that purpose, inasmuch as there isnothing initthat can be called heavy oreven serious. While not witty it is notdull. The characters though commonplaceenough in London society are not prosyand the story ends happily for everybodyconcerned. [The "Joneses and the Aster-icks," by Gerald Campbell. London, JohnLane; New York, the Merriam Company;201 pages, 12 mo., price $125.]

PAMPHLETS CONCERNING ARGENTINEREPUBLIC.

Senor Juan A. Alsina, General Commis-sioner of the department of Immigrationof Argentine Republic, is doing good workfor his country in sending out broadcastpamphlets relating to the resources of thevarious provinces. They are published forfree distribution and are printed in Eng-lish, Spanish, German and Italian. Theycontain just the information desired byprospective immigrants or capitalists seek-ing for favorable investments. From twopublications at hand it is learned that theprovinces of Snlta and La Rioja are amongthe richest in minerals, of most fertile soiland containing forests of valuable timber.The climate is described as extremelymild, with rare frosts. Oranges, olives,figs, grapes and many fruits familiar toCalifornians are here produced. Wine-making is extensively carried on, but themethods are exceedingly primitive, theold system of treading the grapes beingfollowed. Women do this work and get60 cents a day.

The naturalization laws of Argentine areinteresting. Besides the usual method ofsecuring citizenship by two years' resi-dence foreigners whohave rendered serviceas follows may become naturalized :

Having served in the army or navy, or as-sisted ina militaryengagement in defense ofthe nation.

Having established a new industry in thecountry or introduced a new invention.

Being contractor for or constructor of rail-ways inany of the provinces.Forming part of the colonies now established,

or which may be established in future, be theyinthe national or provincial territories, pro-vided that such person possess real propertyinthem.

Inhabiting or poDulating national territoryon the frontier lines or outside of these.

Having married an Argentine woman inanyof the provinces.

Exercising the callingof professor or teacherinany branch of education or industry.

These books may be obtained by ad-dressing the Commissioner of Immigrationat Buenos Ayres.

AMERICAN STUDENTS HONORED.

As is its annual custom, the "Annals ofthe American Academy" contains a listof the students inAmerican colleges whohave obtained during the past year thedegree of Ph.D. for work in political andsocial science, economics or history, to-gether witha list of the appointments for

the coming year to fellowships and post-graduate scholarships in the above sub-jects. From these lists we see that forty-one students receiveu the degree of Ph.D.from fourteen universities. Johns Hop-kins conferred this degree on twelve stu-dents; Columbia, Cornell and Yale eachon four students; universities of Chicago,Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each onthree students; University of Worcesteron two students, and the universities ofBrown, Harvard, Lombard. Michigan,Washington and Lee and Western Re-serve on one student each. Atnine uni-versities fifty-nine students have been ap-pointed to fellowships and post-graduatescholarships for the coming year inpoliti-cal and social science, economics or history.Tne University of Chicago has appointedtwenty-two students; Columbia, Harvard,Johns Hopkins aod University of Wiscon-sin, each seven; Cornell, five; Universityof Indiana, two; and BrynMawr and Uni-versity of Mississippi, each one student.

CAPTAIN MANDEVILLE.Those who like their sensational litera-

ture after the recipe for ladies' toddy,"hot, strong and plenty of it," willlintttheir tasto exactly suited in this story byJohn R. McMahon. Mutiny on the highseas, robbery, the marooning of a sea cap-tain on a coral reef in midocean, elevenmurders and a perfect charnel-house ofcorrelated horrors are a few of the minorincidents that make up the narrative. Thestory is interesting as evidencing the au-thor's curious familiarity with a widerange of rather extraordinary subjects.One is continually moved to wonder, read-ing his book, how Mr. McMahon couldknow so much and make such unprofit-able use of his knowledge. The ability toconstruct so good a story, in certain re-spects, as "Captain Mandeville," shouldproduce something much superior to thesort of thing this is. [New York: G. W.Dillingham. Price 50 cents.]THE TEMPLE SHAKESPEARE

-"KING

RICHARD III"AND "KINGHENRY V."

Here are two more volumes of the con-venient edition of the great author nowbeing issued by the Aldine house, Lon-don. The edition is extremely artistic,each volume containing one tine etching,and the typography is superb. There areabundant notes, perhaps not so numerousas in Rolfe, but sufficient for allpurposes,and there is a summarized bibliography ofhistory and criticism bearing on each play.[Macmillan &Co., London and New York.For sale by William Doxey.]

INEZ-A TALE OF THE ALAMO.

This is a reprint in popular paper-coveredform of one of Augusta J. Evans' novels.The tale possesses the usual attributes ofthat author's fiction, but has never ac-quired the popularity of "St. Elmo" and"Beulah" and some* of her other books.Because itis a tale of the Alamo, of senti-ment groping about the scene of that hor-rid butchery, it will always be readwhrrever burn the fires of American pa-triotism. [Published by G. W. Dilling-ham, New York: For sale by the SanFrancisco News Company.]

A START IN LIFE.

"AStart inLife,"by Hcnore de Balzac,is the beginning of a series of republica-tions by Roberts Brothers of Boston.The present edition is in library binding,with led top. The familiar dedicationappears.

TO I,AI7RK.

Let the brilliant and modest mind that gave methe subject of this scene have the honor of it.Her brother. Dm Balzac.

The entire catalogue of Balzac's novelswillbe reproduced in this manner. Thepresent volume contains 421 pages. [Forsaie by Roberts Brothers, Boston, and byall booksellers; ?150.]

THE BIBELOT.

The September number of this attractivebooklet contains that charming story ofthe poet Dante Rossetti, "Hand and Soul,"'a reprint that all admirers of the best in

literature willappreciate. It is the onlytale that this much-admired poet everwrote, or at least the only one which itisknown that he ever completed. Its deli-cate imagery, its masterful language, allgive the suggestion that the mind now for-ever silent might have accomplished muchfor our prose literature had itbeen so di-rected. [Published by Thomas B.Mosher,Portland, Me.]

HISTORY OF PRINTING.

Pietro Rossi appears to have been one ofthe fortunates who made money at thelate Midwinter Exposition, for he has re-turned to this City for the purpose ofestablishing a depot for the sale of artisticItalian, Venetian, French and Englishrare publications, originals and reproduc-tion-'. One of the publications just issuedby Signor Rossi is a 'History of the Artof Printing During the Renaissance inItaly," bearing evidence of the effect ofthe artistic hanil of1Idas Manutius in thedevelopment of the Art Preservative. Forsale by Pietro Rossi, 120 Sutter street, SanFrancisco.

READINGS AND RECITATIONS FOR JEW-ISH HOMES AND SCHOOLS.

This is a volume of selections compiledby Isabel E. Cohen, designed for the pur-pose stated in the title. The object is forpotn entertainment and instruction, anditwould appear that the computer has wellfulfilledher purpose. There are selectionsfrom Scott. Longfellow, Bryant, Moore,Addison, Whittier and others, as well asfrom the works of leading Jewish writers,including Disraeli and Emma Lazarus.[The Jewish Publication Society of Amer-ica, Philadelphia.]

COT'XT LEO TOL-STOI.

Author of ".Master andMvii,"etc.

I.OUTS rot*PERL'S,Author of ••Kline Wre,"

"Koot3teDs of Fate,""Majesty," etc.

HERMAN'?? SUDER-MANN,

Author or 'Tha Wish,"etc.

TARMA,Atitliorof "NotCounting

tlieCost," etc.

MISS L.DOUG ALL,

Author of "The Met*-mall." "Tlim Zeit-geist," "Beggars All,"etc.

MISS F. F. MOXTRE-.SOR, \u25a0

Author of "Into theII tgit waya amiIIedges."

Opie Bead.

JOHN H. HOLMES, EDITOR OF THE BOSTON HERALD ANDPRESIDENT OF THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATED PRESS.

[From the JVeiv York Fourth Estate.]

Mr.Zang-will.[Drawn by Fred Richardson for the Chap Book.]

Hon. Ig-natius Donnelly.

SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT.The Remains of F. J. Griffitha,,a Young

CivilEngineer, Found in

the Kay.

The remains of F. J. Griffiths, a civilengineer aged 19 years, were recoveredfrom the bay yesterday morning. -William.Conlon, who lives at the corner of Twenty-third and Point Lobos avenues, was walk-ing along the beaoh near Fort Point, whenbe saw the remains and notified the police.The body was removed to the Morgue.

Yonnc Griffiths lived with his parents at2507 Larkin street. .His father,- ApthonyJ. Griffiths, is a claim-adjuster for theMarket-street Railroad Company. Ac-cording to him the yonne man was meas-uring,some lilling-in work that had beencompleted near Meiggs wharf, and acci-dentally fellin and was drowned. He alsoinsists that the son had a happy home,and that there could consequently be nooccasion for suicide.

The boatmen and others who frequentSection Bof the seawall- say that, yonngGriffiths deliberately jumped into the bay.A fisherman who was sailing past in hissmack attempted to save him by throwinga rope. The young man refused to takethe rope, and waved the boat away. Aboat was put out from the Merchants'Exchange landing, but when it got withintwo feet of urillilhs he sank and did notcome up again.It is said that there was a loveaffair in

the case. The young man's passion wasnot reciprocated, and he grew despondent.Hl3 family and relatives deny the story,and say there is absolutely no foundationfor it. An inquest willbe held by CoronerHawkins, when all the facts in the casewillbe brought out.

\u25a0—

\u2666

—\u2666

•New Corporations.

The Pacific Coast Bicycle Company whb in-

corporated yesterday. On a $100,000 capitalstock, $00,000 has been subscribed as follows:J. R. Cole, $27,500; C. P. Johnson, $27,500;Thomas R. Knox, J. T. Morrison, \V. L. liel-dert, Samuel 0. Foltz and J. W. Young, $1000each.

The Jackson Gate GoM MiningCompany hasbeen incorporated by Frederick C. Sieb'i andothers, with $2500 subscribed on a $200,000capital stock. •—*—•

Tbe real and personal property in thiscountry is assessed at $17,139,903,495.

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1895. 17

ARE YOU A FAMILY MAN?If you are, this is the time of the year

when you should be more careful of the healthof your wife and children than at any otherseason. And you must not neglect yourselfeither. If any one of the household is a littleunder the weather, it is your bounden rduty toattend to the matter at once. Times aren't verygood, and you needn't incur a doctor's bill.Just take time by the forelock and order a caseof Dr. Henley's Celery, Beef and Iron, and haveitin the house, even if no one : is sick at thismoment. It stops chills and ' colds, promotesproper circulation, and is invaluable to keep youhealthy when you are well. It contains Celery \u0084

for the nerves, Beef to sustain the system andIron to purify and enrich the blood.

You have a duty

to perform. See

to it now orprepare to

repent

>w it-

Xi \u25a0 "..' \u25a0-.... .. \u25a0.i \u25a0..- \u25a0 ; .. \u25a0 \u25a0 . iiiiiimmmm^

And you don't want to "let matters run" •

.•V.until they get so serious that life itself is in• danger. At the slightest sign of a cold take theremedy as directed on the bottle. Half a wine-

\u25a0i glass or a third forchildren. Dyspepsia, nervoustroubles, general debility and insomnia fly be-fore this grand tonic, system builder, nervineand blood purifier, as mist does before the morn-ing sun. DO YOUR DUTY LIKEA MAN.

Henley's, Remember —No Substitute.