It was by him that first to the Babylonians, and en to the
the Deluge was brought, and for it the Hebrews, the idea of a Hades, or Tar-
good Ea, and kindly Sin, and Merodach taros, or Hell.
the Deluge was brought, and for it the Hebrews, the idea of a Hades, or Tar-
good Ea, and kindly Sin, and Merodach taros, or Hell.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v30 - Guide to Systematic Readings
Owens, William Burton, Charles modern tongues, since he stood for a
Burke, Julia Dean, James E. Murdock, civilization unapproached in cosmopoli-
and Edwin Forrest. Then the
tan character since the age of Sophocles.
shifts to London and Paris.
Once more
Judged by his own presentment, he was
at home, we make acquaintance with an epitome of that world which sprang
Rip Van Winkle, and the climax of the from the marriage of Faust with Helen.
master's creative
power. Again he He, like his contemporaries, was a “nat-
ranges the world as far as Australia, ural» son of Greece; witnessing to his
Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand, wayward birth in his adoration of beauty,
coming home by way of London. Of so in his violent passions, in his magnifi-
wide a life the scenes were many and cent bombast, in his turbulent, highly
varied, and a great number of the chief colored life, in his absence of spirituality,
masters and notable ladies of the stage in his close clinging to the sure earth.
for half a century come up for mention; He was most mediæval in that whatever
and always, in report of scenes or por- feeling he had, of joy in the tangible
trayal of character, a refinement both of or fear of the intangible, was intensely
thought and of style gives the narrative alive. « This is no book: who touches
a peculiar charm.
this touches a man. )
The young
scene
## p. 16 (#52) ##############################################
16
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
enne.
Napoleon Bonaparte, Memoirs of, by
Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourri-
(1829-31; New York, 4 vols. , 1889. )
An exceptionally entertaining narrative
of the career of Napoleon, from his boy-
hood and school days in Corsica to his
final overthrow in 1815; the work of a
schoolfellow of the young Bonaparte, who
became in April 1797 the intimate com-
panion and private secretary of the then
successful general in Italy, and contin-
ued in this close and confidential position
until October 1802, but then suffered
dismissal under circumstances of a bit.
terly alienating character, and finally
wrote this history of his old friend under
the pressure of very mixed motives, -
pride in accurate knowledge of many
things in the earlier story, and in his
early companionship with Napoleon; de-
sire, perhaps, to come much nearer to
true history than the two extremes of
unqualified admiration and excessive
detestation had yet done; and no small
measure of rankling bitterness towards
the old comrade who never relented from
that dismissal with discredit in 1802, nor
ever again permitted a recurrence of per-
sonal intercourse.
Metternich said at the time of their
publication that Bourrienne's Memoirs,
though not brilliant, were both interest-
ing and amusing, and were the only
authentic memoirs which had yet ap-
peared. Lucien Bonaparte pronounced
them good enough as the story of the
young officer of artillery, the great gen-
eral, and the First Consul, but not as
good for the career of the emperor. The
extreme Bonapartists attacked the work
a product of malignity and men-
dacity, and a suspicion in this direction
naturally clings to it. But whether
Bourrienne did or did not inject con-
venient and consoling lies into the story
of his long-time friend and comrade,
whose final greatness he was excluded
from all share in, and whether he did
or did not himself execute the (Memoirs)
from abundance of genuine materials,
the book given to the world in his name
made a great sensation, and counts, both
with readers and with scholars, as
notable source of Napoleon interest and
information. «Venal, light-headed, and
often untruthful,” as Professor Sloane
pronounces him, Bourrienne neverthe-
less remains one of the persons, and the
earliest in time, who was in the closest
intimacy with Napoleon; and his history
might have given us even less of truth
if he had kept his place to the end.
Red Cockade, The, by Stanley J. Wey-
is romance
filled with exciting incidents of the
stormy times of the French Revolution.
The hero, the Vicomte de Saux, is one of
the French nobility. His sympathy with
the troubles of the French peasants
leads him to adopt the Red Cockade, not-
withstanding his ties of blood and his
engagement to marry a young woman
of a prominent Royalist family. He is
constantly torn between loyalty to his
convictions and to the woman th he
loves, and is often placed in situations
where he is obliged to save Mademoi-
selle de St. Alais from the rage of the
mob.
As the Vicomte de Saux refuses to
join the Aristocrats, the mother and one
brother of Mademoiselle de St. Alais de-
nounce him utterly. But Denise herself,
after having been saved by him from
her burning château, loves him intensely
and is true to him, though her relatives
have betrothed her to the leader of the
Royalists. The other brother Louis,
from his old friendship for the Vicomte,
upholds his sister. The book closes with
scene in the room where Madame
de St. Alais lies dying from wounds
received at the hands of the mob. Her
elder son has been killed by the revolu-
tionists. With the mother are Denise
and Louis, and also the Vicomte de
Saus. In her last moments she gives
Dénise to her lover. After their mar-
riage the Vicomte and his bride retire
to their country place at Saux. The
man to whom Denise was betrothed out
of vengeance
to her lover, disappears
after the overthrow of his party.
Memoirs of Count Grammont, by An-
thony Hamilton. These memoirs
were first given to the public in 1713,
though the collection was begun as early
as 1704. Hamilton was possessed of rare
literary ability; and being brother-in-
law to Count Grammont, was chosen
by him to introduce him historically to
the public. The author asserts that he
acts merely as Grammont's secretary,
and holds the pen at his dictation; but
although this may be partially true, the
ease and grace of the text prove it to
be Hamilton's own work. The memoirs
relate chiefly to the court life at the
time of Charles II. , and describe the
a
as
а
)
## p. 17 (#53) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
17
France, that our readers will be glad
to see this sketch of his life and work
before the production of this book, by
a literary authority of the first rank;
and it is properly appended here.
war
intrigues and love affairs of the King
and many of the courtiers. Grammont's
adventures and experiences in love and
are minutely and graphically set
forth, and he is depicted as a brilliant
and fascinating gentleman. Hamilton
says of him, that he was the admira-
tion of his age, and the delight of every
country wherein he displayed his enga-
ging wit, dispensed his generosity and
munificence, or practiced his inconstancy. )
Among the many who figure prominently
at this period in the profligate couft of
Charles II. , are the Duke of York, the
Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of St.
Albans, George Hamilton, Lady Shrews-
bury, the Countess of Castlemaine, the
Duchess of Richmond, and the various
ladies in waiting on the Queen. A
French critic has observed that if any
book were to be selected as affording the
truest specimen of perfect French gay-
ety, the Memoirs of Grammont) would
be chosen in preference to all others.
Macaulay speaks of their author as the
artist to whom we owe the most highly
finished and vividly colored picture of
the English court in the days when the
English court was gayest. ”
Reds
eds of the Midi, The, by Félix Gras,
translated into English by Mrs.
Thomas A. Janvier, is a strong story of
the French Revolution, published in 1896.
One Pascal La Patine, in his old age,
night after night, in the shoemaker's
shop, tells the story of his youth. His
father was killed by the gamekeeper of
the Marquis; he himself was forced to
fly for his life. Longing to be revenged
upon the aristocrats, he joins the “Reds
of the Midi » (the insurgents of South-
ern France), goes to Paris, sees all the
horrors of the Revolution, rescues the
daughter of the Marquis from the guil-
lotine, loves her in silence, enlists in
Napoleon's army, and after fighting in
Spain, Egypt, and Russia, returns to his
native village of Malemort to end his
days, firm in the faith that Napoleon
has never died. It was in Malemort
that Gras was born: the Prologue is
pure autobiography, and many of the
characters are drawn from life. There
is a vivid picture of the famous Mar-
seilles Battalion, «who knew how to
die," and a passing glimpse of Napo-
leon.
This now famous story is by an au-
thor so little known outside of Southern
FÉLIX GRAS
By Thomas A. JANVIER
Félix Gras, the son of a Provençal
farmer, was born May 3d, 1844, in the
little town of Malemort, five-and-twenty
miles to the eastward of Avignon, among
the foothills of the French Alps. His
schooling, stopping short of the univer-
sity, ended when he was seventeen years
old. Then he came back to his father's
farm; and there he might have lived his
life out had not his outrageous neglect of
his farm duties, that he might range the
mountains with his dog and gun, led
to his disciplinary dispatch to Avignon,
three years later, to be bound 'pren-
tice to the law. In his case the ways of
law led directly into the ways of litera-
ture. The notary to whom he was arti-
cled, Maître Jules Giéra, was himself a
writer of merit, and was the brother of
Paul Giéra, one of the seven founders of
the Félibrige, the society of Provençal
men of letters, having for its leaders
Joseph Roumanille and Frédéric Mistral,
which has developed in the past thirty
years so noble a literary and moral re-
nascence, not only in Provence, but
throughout the whole of Southern France.
With one of these leaders, Roumanille,
his sister's husband, he was already inti-
mate. And so his coming to Avignon
and entry into the lawyer's office was
his entry into the most inspiring literary
society that has existed in modern times,
that has had, indeed, no modern par-
allel in its vigor and hopes and enthusi-
asms, save perhaps in the Pre-Raphaelite
Brotherhood; and that has had no mod-
ern parallel whatever in its far-reaching
results. His association with such com-
panions, with whose aspirations he was
in close sympathy, quickly produced its
natural consequences : he accepted law
as his profession, but he made literature
his career.
He has justified his choice. His first
important work, an epic poem in twelve
cantos, Li Carbounié) (1876), treating
of the mountain life for which his affec-
tion was so strong, placed him at the
head of the younger generation of Féli.
bres; and his succeeding epic, (Toloza'
XXX-2
## p. 18 (#54) ##############################################
18
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
-
(1882), with his shorter poems collected ton of Le Temps, has achieved only a
under the title 'Lou Roumancero Prou- moderate success. But if a critic was
vençall (1887), placed him second only right in affirming (what needs modify-
to the master of all Provençal poetry, ing to-day) that the verdict of a foreign
Mistral. The theme of (Toloza) is the nation is the verdict of posterity, Félix
crusade of Simon de Montfort against Gras — having won the approval of two
the Albigenses, treated with a fervent foreign nations at a single blow — is
earnestness that is in keeping with the sure in time to hold among French writ-
author's own fervent love of liberty in ers a commanding place. Probably the
person and in conscience, and with the recognition of his right to this place will
beauty that comes of a poetic tempera- be hastened by the publication of the
ment equipped with an easy command work upon which he is now engaged:
of poetic form. These same qualities a sequel to Li Rouge dóu Miejour,'
are found in his shorter poems, which treating of the White Terror, the Roy-
have also the dramatic intensity and the alist reaction in the Midi which fol-
thrilling fervor of a born ballad-singer lowed upon the excesses of the Reds.
whose tongue is tipped with fire. Not But even
now, in his own southern
less excellent is his collection of stories country, his position is secure. Since
in prose — the prose of a poet, yet racy August 1891 — in succession to Rouma-
and strong — 'Li Papalino) (1891), which nille, who succeeded Mistral — he has
have the ring of the novella of Boccac- been the Capoulie, the official head of
cio's time. In these his delicate firm- the Félibrige. In his election to this
ness of touch is combined with a brill- office he received the highest honor that
iancy of style that presents his dramatic can be bestowed upon a poet by his
subjects with all the vivacity of the early brother poets of the South of France.
Italian tale-tellers, but always with a
flavor distinctively his own. The papal Marriage of Loti, The (Le Mariage de
court of Avignon is alive again before Loti), by Louis Marie Julien Viaud
our eyes, with its gallantries, its trage- (“Pierre Loti”), was first published in
dies, its gay loves and deadly hates, its 1880 under the title Rarahu,' the name
curious veneering of religious forms of its heroine. While not one of Loti's
upon mediæval sensuality and ferocity. strongest books, it shows his power of
Yet his greatest popular success, Li re-creating the peculiar atmosphere of a
Rouge dóu Miejour) (1896), has been remote island visited during his long
achieved on lines differing widely from connection with the French navy. There
all his earlier work, and has come to is a curious mingling of fact and fiction,
him from outside of his own country. difficult to disentangle, in this glowing
This is a story of the French Revolu- study of Tahiti in the declining years of
tion, told autobiographically from the its Queen, Pomaré IV. A photograph
standpoint of a South of France peas- of the South Sea maiden of fourteen,
ant,-a departure in historical romance whose passion for Loti neutralized his
which has curiously modified the popu- love for Princess Ariitea, and finally
lar estimate of that political agony by captured him, is still in existence; and
presenting it from a totally new point Rarahu's whole mournful history is trace-
of view. Being translated into English, able in the wistful features and flowing
( The Reds of the Midi) was published hair. It is not so clear whether the large
in America, and subsequently in Eng- single blossom worn over
ear is
land, before it was published in France the hibiscus flower she had on when she
in either Provençal or French; and it first met the young officer, or the white
has been so warmly received in both gardenia that became her favorite orna-
countries that it has passed through six ment. A victim of the extraordinary
editions in America and through four in blending of primitive with conventional
England, where it has won a strong conditions that prevailed in the Society
indorsement from Mr. Gladstone, within Islands in 1872, this child of nature,
a year. In France, on the other hand, strikingly beautiful, but still more re-
the Provençal edition has made but little markable for her poetic imagination and
stir; and the author's own version in profound love for Loti, is placed for a
French, Les Rouges du Midi," although while on a better social footing than the
stamped with the hall-mark of literary usual so-called Tahitian marriage could
excellence by publication as the feuilles | give. Loti's sincere love for the half-
one
sd
## p. 19 (#55) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
19
taught savage, able to read in her Poly- Torquilstone. After her release she is
nesian Bible, and intelligent enough to united in marriage to Ivanhoe, through
be saddened by the intellectual gulf be- the effort of King Richard. While the
tween them, does not prevent him from Lady Rowena is a model of beauty,
laying down laws for her conduct during dignity, and gentleness, she is some-
his absence, without the slightest inten- what overshadowed by Rebecca, who
tion of observing similar ones. If Loti was Scott's favorite of all his characters.
is unconscious of the moral inconsist- She is as generous as her father is
ency, Rarahu is not; and after his final avaricious; and although loving Ivanhoe
departure she ceases - not indeed to pine with intense devotion, realizes that her
for him, but to be true to his mem- union with him is impossible. She no-
ory and precepts. Ground between the bly offers to the Templar Bois-Guilbert
upper and nether millstones of desertion any sum that he may demand for the
and temptation, she dies at eighteen of release of the imprisoned Rowena. A
consumption, retaining only the Queen's strong scene occurs when she defies this
pity and the affection of her cat Turiri, infatuated Crusader, and threatens to
- a good study of a cat by a true philo- throw herself from the turret into the
felist, who has devoted a volume to his court-yard. Bois-Guilbert carries her to
own cats,
This Tahitian idyl is slight; the Preceptory of Templestowe, where
its charm lies in the delicate analysis she is convicted of sorcery on account
of moods and emotions growing directly of her religion, her skill in medicine, and
out of island life and scenery. Its ori- her attractiveness. Condemned to the
ginality suffers somewhat in the read- stake, she is permitted a trial by com-
er's imagination, after the classic (Typee ) bat, and selects Ivanhoe for her cham-
of Herman Melville, whose voyage to pion. Rebecca is pronounced guiltless
the Marquesas was made in the fifties; and free.
but its merits are its own.
Another important character is Rich-
ard the Lion-Hearted, who returns to
Ivanhoe, one of Sir Walter Scott's most England from Palestine at the moment
famous novels, was written and pub- when his brother's conspiracy against
lished in 1819, a year of great domestic him is most rank. Disguised as the
sorrow to its author. The manuscript is Black Sluggard and the Knight of the
now at Abbotsford; and according to Fetterlock, he performs feats of valor
Lockhart, is a remarkable and character- at the Ashby Tournament and as the
istic specimen of his penmanship. Im- Black Knight, wanders through Sher-
mediately after its appearance, Ivan- wood Forest and holds high revel with
hoe) ime a favorite, and now ranks the Hermit of Copmanhurst, the jovial
among the most brilliant and stirring of Friar Tuck. Through Robin Hood he
romantic tales. Sir Wilfred, Knight of escapes assassination, and conducts the
Ivanhoe, a young Saxon knight, brave, successful siege against Torquilstone
loyal, and handsome, is disinherited by Castle. Maurice de Bracy, a conspirator
his father, Cedric of Rotherwood, on against King Richard, is a suitor for the
account of his love for Rowena, a Saxon hand of Rowena; Front de Boeuf is a
heiress and ward of Cedric's. Ivanhoe brutal baron in league with Prince John;
is a favorite with Richard I. , Ceur-de- Cedric the Saxon, Ivanhoe's father, sup-
Lion, has won renown in Palestine, and ports Athelstane's suit for Rowena, de-
now returns in the disguise of a palmer siring to see the Sasons reinstated; and
to see Rowena at Rotherwood. Under Isaac of York, the wealthy Jew, is a
the name of Desdichado (The Disinher- well-drawn character. Gurth, Cedric's
ited), he enters the lists of the Ashby swineherd, who is generally accompanied
Tournament; and having won the vic- by his faithful dog Fangs, is a typical
tory, is crowned by the Lady Rowena. feudal retainer; Wamba, Cedric's jester,
He is wounded, however, and returns is another; and Ulrica, a vindictive old
to the care of his friends Isaac of York, Saxon hag, who perishes in the flames
a wealthy Jew, and his daughter Re- of Torquilstone Castle to which she sets
becca. The latter tends him, and loses fire, is one of those strange, half pro-
her heart to this chivalrous knight. On phetic, half weird women whom Scott
returning from the Tournament, Row- loves to introduce into his stories.
ena is
ptured the enamored De II the scenes in Sherwood Forest,
Bracy and confined in the Tower of Robin Hood's men perform feats of
## p. 20 (#56) ##############################################
20
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
umes.
as
archery and deeds of valor, drawn from nology of the successive dynasties. The
the Robin Hood ballads and legends. figures settled upon by Professor Petrie,
Retainers, lords and ladies, knights, in his first volume, show seventeen dynas-
"Templars, monks, priests, prisoners, jail- ties ruling from 4777 B. C. to 1587 B. C. ,
ors, and men-at-arms are introduced ; and and Dynasty XVIII. carrying on the his-
the book is full of brilliantly colored tory to 1327 B. C.
It is thus the story of
pictures of the period which abounds in 3,450 years which he tells in the two vol-
contrasts between the Saxons and the
The history of the seventeenth dy-
Normans.
nasty (1738-1587 B. C. ), and of the eigh-
teenth, told in Vol. ii. , are especially
Jews
vs of Angevin England, The, by
Joseph Jacobs. (1893. ) A most inter-
important; and for these, no record or
monument has been left unnoticed.
esting volume of «Documents and Rec-
ords from Latin and Hebrew sources,
Egyptian Princess, An, a German his-
printed and manuscript, for the first time torical romance by Georg Ebers, was
collected and translated, with notes and published in 1864. Its scenes are laid in
narrative forming an exhaustive history Egypt and Persia, toward the close of the
of the Jews in England, from the Nor- sixth century B. C. The narrative follows
man Conquest to the year 1206. Mr. the fates of the royal families of the two
Jacobs finds no evidence that the Jews, nations, tracing the career of the head-
as a class, were known in England until strong, passionate Cambyses, from the days
they were brought in by the Norman of his marriage with the Egyptian prin-
kings. It was not until the accession
cess Nitetis, whom he was deceived into
of Henry II. , 1154 A D. , that they began accepting as the daughter of Amasis, King
to have a specially English history. It of Egypt, down to the times when, his
is substantially a history of their position ill-fated bride taking poison, he himself
usurers in the service of the Royal humbles the arms of Egypt in punish-
Treasury. The whole story of the Jews ment for their deception; and, dissipated,
in England goes on to their expulsion in violent, capricious, the haughty monarch
1290; and Mr. Jacobs estimates that a meets his death, Darius the Mede reign-
score of volumes would be required to ing in his stead. A figure of infinite
complete their history on the scale of pathos is the gentle Nitetis; with pitiful
the volume which he has executed. It patience meeting the cruel suspicions of
is thus a beginning only which he has Cambyses, and content to kiss his hand
made; but it is a very valuable begin- in her death agonies, the result of his in-
ning, as it enables him to indicate clearly temperate anger.
what were the notable aspects of English Another interesting character is Bartja,
Jewish life.
the handsome and chivalrous younger
brother of Cambyses, of whom the King
Esypt, A History of. Vol. i. , from the
Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Dy-
is so unjustly jealous. His love for Sap-
nasty. Vol. ii. , During the Seventeenth
pho, granddaughter of the far-famed Rho-
and Eighteenth dynasties. By W. M.
dopis, is one of the most genuine con-
Flinders Petrie. These volumes are the
ceptions in literature. Several historic
first of a series of six intended to embrace
characters are introduced and placed in
the whole history of Egypt down to mod-
natural settings, notably Crosus, mentor
ern times. A third, by Professor Petrie,
of the unhappy Cambyses; and Darius,
will complete the period of the Pharaohs,
whose future greatness is foreshadowed
Other writers will add volumes on Ptole-
in an early youth of discretion and prow-
The author has drawn a faithful
maic Egypt, on Roman Egypt, and on
Arabic Egypt; the design of the whole
picture of the times, having made a pro-
found study of his sources. The dialogue
work being to supply a book of reference
which shall suffice for all ordinary pur-
is sparkling, and the characters are han-
poses, but with special attention to facts
dled with precision and delicacy.
and illustrations which are new, and with Nippur; or, Explorations and Ad.
the utmost care to throw as much light as ventures on the Euphrates. "The
possible upon Egyptian dates. There is Narrative of the University of Pennsyl-
no intention of including a history of art, vania Espedition to Babylonia, in the
civilization, or literature; the one pur- Years 1888-90. ) By John Punnett Pe-
pose of the work is to get into as accurate ters. Vol. i. : First Campaign. Vol. ii. :
shape as possible the history and chro- Second Campaign (1897. ) The latest
ess.
## p. 21 (#57) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
2 I
and most remarkable story of Babylon- also that the new vistas of ancient his-
ian exploration and discovery, carrying tory opened by the work recently done
back to a most unexpectedly early date in Babylonia have shown us men in a
the distinct records of human history high state of civilization, building cities,
and of developed culture. In the lower conducting conquest, and trafficking with
valley of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, remote lands, two thousand years before
both civilization and religion, literature the period assigned by Archbishop Us-
and science, had four conspicuous seats sher's chronology for the creation of
in cities which flourished not less than the world. The culture was Babylon-
eight thousand years ago. They were ian, and Nippur was its darkest devel-
Eridu, the most southerly and westerly, opment.
the seat of the worship of Ea, a god
of Beneficence, and of Merodach his son, Babylonian Influence on the Bible
especially known as a god of Mercy; and Popular Beliefs; by A. Smythe
Ur, the seat of the worship of the moon- Palmer, D. D. (1897. ) A small volume
god, Sin, one of whose seats was Sinai, specially devoted to showing how the He-
and especially a god of goodness, the
brew Mosaic books evince «familiarity
moon-deity being regarded as the Father- with the great religious epics of Baby-
God, to whom the sun is a son and the lonia, which go back to the twenty-third
evening star a daughter; Erech, farther century B. C. ,- to a date, that is, about
north, the seat of the worship of Ishtar, 800 years earlier than the reputed time
the evening and the morning star, con-
of Moses )); and how, in consequence of
ceived as the equal of her brother, the this familiarity, “Babylonian ideas were
sun, and the magnificent ideal of female worked into these early Hebrew docu-
character at the highest level of divin- ments, and were thus insured persistence
ity; and Nippur, the most northerly and
and obtained a world-wide currency. ”
easterly, and the seat of the worship of That Babylon still survives in our cult-
Bel, or the sun,-conceived, not as son ure,” is Dr. Palmer's general conclusion.
to the moon-god, but as a supreme god, He especially devotes his work to show-
represented by the setting sun, and most ing how the Babylonian conception of
especially revealed in the flaming red- Tiamat was reproduced in the Hebrew
ness of his setting in times of excessive conception of Tehom, «the Deep”; how
heat and drought; the Angry En-Lil, or the Babylonian idea of the Deep, sug-
“Lord of the Storm,” who caused all the gesting the Dragon of the Deep, gave
weather troubles of mankind, -desolat- the Hebrew mind its idea of Satan; and
ing winds, violent storms, floods, drought, how again the idea of the Deep became,
and all injuries.
It was by him that first to the Babylonians, and en to the
the Deluge was brought, and for it the Hebrews, the idea of a Hades, or Tar-
good Ea, and kindly Sin, and Merodach taros, or Hell. Dr. Palmer makes prom-
the Merciful, charged him with cruel inent these points: (1) that “the Hebrew
injustice; and the Babylonian Noah, record of the creation is based on the
making a sacrifice after the flood, in- more ancient accounts which have been
vited all the gods except En-Lil. As preserved in the Babylonian tablets);
god of the red sunset the nether-world (2) that «religious conceptions of the
was his, ruled by a son who was of like Babylonians, suggested by phenomenal
cruel temper with his father.
aspects of nature, especially the Sun, lay
Nippur is thus the original seat of the at the base of the Hebrews' early faith”;
conception of a god of anger and a reli- (3) that “the Great Deep was consti-
gion of fear. It was a great and flour- tuted a symbol of lawlessness, was
ishing city as long before Abraham as personified as a dragon or great ser-
Abraham is before our day. Its temple, pent,” and “became a symbol of moral
commonly known as the House of En- evil; (4) that among the Hebrews
Lil, Dr. Peters says, (just as the temple this serpent or dragon introduces sin);
at Jerusalem was called the House of and (5) that this Chaos-Dragon contrib-
Yahweh,) had stood for about five thou- uted shape to later conceptions of the
sand years, when it fell into ruins about Devil. ” He further says, with reference
or before 150 B. C. Dr. Peters speaks of to the mediatorial god, Merodach of
the close connection existing between Babylonian belief: "It has often been
Babylonian and Hebrew civilization, le- remarked that Merodach, as mediator,
gends, myths, and religion. ” He states healer, and redeemer, as forgiving sin,
## p. 22 (#58) ##############################################
22
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
to
defeating the Tempter, and raising the
dead, in many of his features foreshad-
owed the Hebrew Messiah)); and also :
<< The Babylonians themselves seem
have considered their Merodach (or Bel)
and the Hebrew Ya (Jah – Jehovah) to
be one and the same. In such sugges-
tions of study as these, Dr. Palmer's
pages are very rich.
Babylonian Talmud, New Edition of
the. English Translation; Original
Text Edited, Formulated, and Punctu-
ated: by Michael L. Rodkinson. Revised
and Corrected by the Rev. Dr. Isaac
M. Wise, President Hebrew Union Col-
lege, Cincinnati, Ohio. Five volumes
published (1896-97); to be completed in
about twenty volumes. An edition in
English translation of the whole Talmud
thoroughly cleared of confusion and cor-
ruption, and brought into a readable and
intelligible form, in which it can be un-
derstood in its vast range of interest, and
judged upon its real merits as the great
Jewish encyclopædia of religion, ethics,
education, law, history, geography, medi-
cine, mathematics, and in fact knowledge
and opinion on every branch of thought
and action. Dr. Wise speaks of the work
as «Rodkinson's reconstruction of the
original text of the Talmud »; which is
confessed to have been in a very bad
state, from irrelevant matter thrust in by
later hands and even by hostile hands,
and from corruptions such as works ex-
isting for ages in manuscript, and suc-
cessively copied by scribes sometimes
careless of accuracy and often free with
changes or additions, are liable to. Dr.
Rodkinson's perfect mastery of the He-
brew, and his comprehensive knowledge
of the true Talmudical facts, with his
admirable grasp of high ideals, and con-
fidence that they are the ideals of his
race and of the Talmud, have enabled
him to reconstruct the original text and
to give a clear and readable rendering
of it in English, by which for the first
time the Talmud is made as accessible to
Anglo-Saxon readers as the books of the
Old Testament. In his representation,
“the Talmud is not a commentary on
the Bible. It is not a body of dogma
to be enforced, but of opinions to be
considered; (not the decisions, but the
debates, of the leaders of the people;)
(not a compilation of fixed regulations,
but a book of liberty, both mental and
religious,” knowing «no authority but
conscience and reason. " The extreme
freedom of suggestion and statement used
by those who speak in it, the special rea-
sons for many of its laws, such as the
desire to break from the neck of the peo-
ple the yoke of the priests, and the vein
of humor running through much that
seems most objectionable, are insisted on
by Dr. Rodkinson as showing that “noth-
ing could be more unfair, nothing more
unfortunate, than to adopt the prevailing
false notions about this ancient encyclo-
pædia. ”
Dr. Rodkinson's work is thus not only
a definitive English-Hebrew Talmud, for
popular reading as well as for study of
Jewish lore of every kind, but i. is an in-
terpretation to the modern mind of a vast
monument of Hebrew life and thought,
the value of which cannot be exaggerated.
Vols. i. and ii. give (Tract Sabbath,' in
390 pages. Vol. iii. gives (Tract Erubin,
of 250 pages, in which are embodied the
famous Rabbinical devices for getting
round the prohibitions of (Tract Sabbath. )
Vol. iv. has (Tract Shekalim,' which is
all about a sacred half-shekel tax, paid
by every Israelite at twenty years of age;
and “Tract Rosh Hashana) (or New Year),
232 pages. There are twelve of these
(Tracts, forming the first section of the
entire work, called Moed? (Festivals).
The whole of Dr. Rodkinson's colossal
task includes a new Hebrew text; some
parts of which, to fill gaps in the com-
mentary sections, he has himself composed
from materials given in the Palestinian
Talmud or in Maimonides. The entire
work is sufficiently advanced to make its
early completion secure. The reader of
Dr. Rodkinson's own writings easily rec-
ognizes in his mastery of English style,
and his high mental and ethical qualifi-
cations, ample assurance of his ability to
make his Reconstructed Talmud an ade.
quate text-book of the learning and the
liberal spirit of modern Reformed Juda-
ism. To Christian scholars, teachers, and
students of liberal spirit, his work must
be most welcome.
It may be briefly added here that there
are two forms of the Talmud; namely,
the Babylonian and the Palestinian.
There first grew up a body of expla-
nations and supplementary ordinances
called Mishna, or teaching, designed to
mark the application of Mosaic law or
to supplement it. The impulse to this
Mishnic development began in Babylon,
during the exile there; it dominated the
## p. 23 (#59) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
23
return to Jerusalem under Ezra; and it Consent of the Corporation in England
was brought to a final result by Rabbi for the Propagation of the Gospels among
Jehudah Hannasi, about 160 A. D. After the Indians of New England. ”
the conclusion of the Mishna, there grew Some of the Indian words used by
up two bodies of further explanation, Eliot are so extremely long that Cotton
called Gemara, one at Babylon and the Mather thought they must have been
other in Palestine. The Mishna thus stretching themselves ever since the con-
came to exist in three greatly differing fusion of tongues at Babel. A second
forms: Mishna by itself, and Mishna as revised and corrected edition was printed
embodied with Gemara in the Talmud in 1685, only twelve copies of which are
of Babylon or that of Palestine. Dr. known to exist. An edition with notes
Rodkinson deals with the Babylonian by P. S. Du Poneau, and an introduc-
form of Mishna and Gemara.
tion by J. Pickering, was published in
Boston in 1822. When the original edi-
tion
Indian Bible, The, by John Eliot, “The was issued, twenty copies were
Apostle to the North-American Indi- ordered to be sent to the Corporation,
ans. ) This first Indian translation of the with the Epistle Dedicatory addressed —
Bible was in the dialect of the Naticks, “To the High and Mighty Prince Charles
a Massachusetts tribe of the Algonkins, the Second by the Grace of God, King
and was made under the auspices of the
of Great Britain, France, and Ireland,
Corporation for the Propagation of the Defender of the Faith, etc. The Com-
Gospels among the Indians of New Eng- missioners of the United Colonies in
land, Eliot sending the sheets to England New England with all Happiness: Most
for approval as they came from the Dread Sovereign, etc. ! )
printing-press in Cambridge, Massachu- The commercial as well as the reli-
setts.
gious rivalry of England with Spain
The New Testament appeared first, creeps out in the Epistle which com-
in 1661; and two years after, the entire pares the fruits of the Spanish Con-
Bible, with the following title: –
quests in America. brought home in gold
and silver, with these fruits of the
MAMUSSE
colder northern clime as much better
WUNNEETUPANATAMWE
than gold as the souls of men are more
worth than the whole world ! »
UP-BIBLUM GOD
Henry the Seventh's failure to become
the sole discoverer and owner of Amer-
ica finds its compensation in the discov-
NUKKONE TESTAMENT
ery unto the poor Americans of the True
and Saving knowledge of the Gospel,
WUSKU TESTAMENT
and “the honour of erecting the King-
dom of Jesus Christ among them was re-
NE QUOSHKINNUMUK NASHPE
served for and does redound unto Your
WUTTINNENMOK CHRIST
Majesty and the English Nation. After
ages will not reckon this inferior to the
JOHN ELIOT
other - May this nursling still suck the
CAMBRIDGE: PRINTENOOP NASHPE breast of Kings and be fostered by Your
SAMUEL GREEN KAH MARMADUK JOHN.
Majesty! »
SON 1663
A copy of the edition of 1663, with
the Epistle Dedicatory, was sold in 1882
The English of which is: «The Entire -
for $2,900.
His Holy - Bible God — containing – the
Old Testament — and the - New Testa-
ment - translated by — the Servant of in (and in Chiapas and Yucatan).
Christ -- called – John Eliot — Cambridge: By John Lloyd Stephens. (2 vols. , 1841. )
printed by - Samuel Green and Marma- The story of a journey of nearly 3,000
duke Johnson 1663. ”
miles, including visits to eight ruined
The English title also adds: «Trans- cities, monuments of a marvelously in-
lated into the Indian Language and teresting lost civilization; that of the
Ordered to be printed by the Commis- Maya land, the many cities of which, of
sioners of the United Colonies in New great size, splendor, and culture, rivaled
England at the Charge and with the those of the Incas and the Montezumas.
NANEESIVE
KAH WONK
Central America, Incidents of Travel
## p. 24 (#60) ##############################################
24
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
Ten editions of this book were pub- the lives of those who have made use of
lished within three months. Two years
them; the writers who are authorities
later, Mr. Stephens supplemented this upon the several subjects; societies inter-
first adequate report of the character of ested in them; and critical statements of
Central American antiquities by a sec-
existing knowledge and the conditions
ond work, his (Travel in Yucatan,' in bearing upon future study. The work is
which he reported further explorations chiefly designed for, and chiefly useful to,
extended to forty-four ruined cities. At writers rather than readers of history:
an earlier date he had published «Travel to each of the former it may save months
in Egypt, Arabia Petræa, and the Holy or perhaps years of search for materials,
Land? (2 vols. , 1837), and Travel in
and the constant duplication of such re-
Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Poland' (2 searches already made. It is in fact a
vols. , 1841).
co-operative bureau of first-hand sources.
It begins with the earliest facts known
Centro
ntral America, by Ephraim George about the whole continent and its abo-
Squier. Notes On: 1854. • The States riginal inhabitants, including a discussion
of: 1857 Two works by an American of the pre-Columbian voyages; describes
archæologist of distinction, who, after a
the different discoveries and settlements
special experience in similar researches by European nations, - Spanish, English,
in New York, Ohio, and other States, en-
French, and Dutch; and the rise and
tered on a wide and protracted research history of the United States, down to
in Central America in 1849; published the close of the Mexican war and the end
a work on Nicaragua in 1852; and later
of the year 1850. For the rest of the con-
gave, in the two works named above,
tinent the history is continued down to
a report of observations on both the an-
about 1867. The authors engaged in this
tiquities and the political condition of
work are distinguished each in his own
Се tral America, the of which has
field of study, and much valuable mate-
been widely recognized. The Serpent rial of an archæological and genealogical
Symbols) (1852) of Mr. Squier attracted
character was furnished to them by the
attention as a study of great value in
leading learned and historical societies.
the baffling science of primitive reli-
In bibliography there is, along with other
gion and speculation on nature; and his
important matter, a careful collation of
(Peru: Incidents and Explorations in the
the famous Jesuit Relations »; and in
Land of the Incas) (1877), was the re-
sult of exhaustive investigations of Inca
cartography - a subject of which Mr.
Winsor had long made a special study –
remains, and a most valuable contribu-
the work is noticeably strong. The pub-
tion to knowledge of ancient Peru.
lication extended over the years 1884-89.
A"
merica, The Narrative and Critical
History of, edited by Justin Winsor.
A"
This history was prepared upon a co-
merica. Periods in the Modern His-
tory of, by John Fiske.
operative plan (which the editor had pre- THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 2 vols. ,
viously adopted for his Memorial History 1892. The initial work of Mr. Fiske,
of Boston'), of dividing historical work designed to serve as the first section of
into topical sections, and assigning these a complete History of America. It very
divisions to different writers, each emi- fully and carefully covers the ground of
nent in his own department, all of whom aboriginal America in the light of recent
worked synchronously, thus bringing the research; and of the long and slow pro-
whole work to rapid and accurate com- cess through which the New World be-
pletion. Each chapter has two parts: first came fully known to the Old.
The story
a Historical Narrative which groups the of voyages before Columbus by the Portu-
salient points of the story, and guese, and of what Cabot accomplished,
bodies the result of the latest researches; is given at length; the part also which
second, a Critical Essay by the editor, Vespucius played, and the questions about
which, with the appended notes on specific it which have been so much discussed.
points, is a new procedure in historical Mr. Fiske's estimate of Columbus does not
methods. In these critical essays are set depart very much from the popular view.
forth the original sources of the preced- He gives an account of ancient Mexico
ing narrative,- manuscripts, monuments, and Central America, and a full sketch of
archæological remains, -- with full accounts the conquest of Mexico and Peru. The
of their various histories and locations; work thus makes a complete Introduction
(
-
em-
## p. 25 (#61) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
25
to American history as most known to ists were dealt with at the close of the
English readers: the history of the plant- war, and of the course of events in Great
ing of North America in Virginia, New Britain upon the close of the Revolution,
England, New York, Delaware, Pennsyl- conspicuously illustrates his method, and
vania, Maryland, and the Carolinas. his mastery of the materials of a story
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. This vol- second to none in our whole national his-
ume, originally intended for beginners tory in both interest and importance.
in history, owes its vogue to the author's
terse and flexible vernacular; his sense An
merica, A History of the Civil War
of harmonious and proportionate literary in, by Philippe, Comte de Paris. In
treatment; and that clear perception of the summer of 1861, Philippe, Comte de
the relative importance of details, and Paris, joined the Northern army, rather
firm yet easy grasp of principles and sig- as a spectator than as an active partici-
nificant facts, resulting from the trained pant in affairs.
He was appointed to
exercise of his philosophic powers. “The McClellan's staff, and for a year followed
American Revolution was first published the fortunes of the North. He returned
in 1891; but the edition of 1896 is “illus- to France with much valuable material
trated with portraits, maps, facsimiles, concerning the history of that first year,
contemporary views, prints, and other to which he added, between 1862 and
historic materials. » This work exhib- 1874, an equal amount of important in-
its a delightful vivacity and dramatic formation bearing upon the remaining
skill in the portraiture of Washington years of the War. In 1875 the first vol-
as the central figure of the American ume of the translation was issued. Three
revolt against the arbitrary government other volumes appeared, in 1876, 1883,
of George the Third. A full treatment and 1888, respectively. The banishment
of the earlier tyranny of the Lords of of the Comte de Paris from France cut
Trade, leading up to the crisis, is followed short the work, which has never been
by Washington's entrance on the scene, finished, but ends with the close of the
at Cambridge, as commander-in-chief of
account of the Red River Expedition
the American forces. The military gains under General Banks.
of Washington in spite of the enemy's The historian writes from the point of
large resources, and the varying fortunes view of an unprejudiced spectator. His.
of the patriot army, leading down through object was not to uphold one side or the
the discouragements of Valley Forge and other, but to present to Europe a clear
up again, through the campaigns of the and impartial account of one of the most
South and of Virginia, to final success, momentous struggles in history. As his
are shown by Mr. Fiske with remarkable work was addressed primarily to a Euro-
clearness and skill. Finally he points out pean audience, much space is devoted to
the broad results to all future civilization the conditions which brought about the
of the triumph of the Colonial cause, in conflict, to the formation and history of
the surrender of Cornwallis. His point the United States army, and to the char-
of view is one with that of John Morley, acter of the country which was the scene
who says : «The War of Independence of action. His is an essentially military
was virtually a second English Civil War. history: marches and countermarches are
The ruin of the American cause would described with an amount of detail which,
have been also the ruin of the Constitu- but for the admirable clearness of style,
tional cause in England; and a patriotic would sadly confuse the lay mind. In
Englishman may revere the memory of his judgments, both of men and of events,
Patrick Henry and George Washington, the Comte de Paris is very impartial;
not less justly than the patriotic Ameri- though a slightly apologetic tone is often
can. ”
adopted in regard to the Administration,
THE CRITICAL PERIOD OF AMERICAN and a certain lack of enthusiasm appears
HISTORY, 1783-1789. In this volume Mr. towards many officers of Volunteers, no-
Fiske's powers are especially tested, and tably in the later years of the war. This
his success in a great task conspicuously attitude of mind was doubtless due to his
shown. The study which he makes of natural prepossession in favor of a regu-
the characters of the two contrasted origi- lar army and an unchanging form of gov-
nators of policies, Washington and Jeffer- ernment.
son, of the economic problems of the time, All things considered, this history re-
of the way in which the Tories or Loyal- mains the standard military history of
## p. 26 (#62) ##############################################
26
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
(
the Civil War. Its clearness, impartiality, discussion of the strength and weakness
and scientific precision assure its position. of democratic government as it exists in
the United States. » Part vi. is confined
America and the Americans, from a
to non-political institutions: the aspects of
French point of view, is a swift ex-
society, the intellectual and spiritual forces
ternal judgment of civilization as seen in
the United States of to-day. The spec-
upon which depend the personal and po-
litical welfare of unborn generations of
tator, whose knowledge appears too in- American citizens; and upon whose suc-
timate to be that of a foreigner and a
cess or failure rests the promulgation of
tourist, passes in review the streets, hotels,
American democratic ideals and principles
railroads, newspapers, politics, schools,
homes, children, habits of thought, and
among the nations. The work is lucidly
written, free from technicalities, and fluent
manners and customs of social life, chiefly
in style, so that it is as easy for the iaity
in the larger cities and watering-places
of the country. He sets down naught in
to comprehend, as for those initiated by
practical experience into the workings of
malice, even if he extenuates nothing.
our government. The chapters dealing
In the mirror which he holds up, the
with the professional and social sides of
candid American sees himself at full
American life, and especially those devoted
length, as a very imperfectly civilized per-
to the American universities, have been
son, extravagant and superficial, placing enthusiastically received by Americans, –
far too much value on money and the
some American universities accepting the
material things of life, and far too little
work as a text-book in their schools of law,
on genuine refinement and culture. The
economics, and sociology.
book is extremely entertaining, and the
reader who takes it up in the proper frame Am merican Contributions to Civiliza.
of mind will not only read it through, tion, and Other Essays and Ad-
but be apt to make the comment of Ben- dresses, by Charles W. Eliot: 1897. A
edick: Happy are they who hear their collection of miscellaneous addresses and
detractions, and can put them to mend- magazine articles, written during the last
ing. ”
twenty-five years by the president of Har-
American Commonwealth, The, by
vard University; not, however, including
James Bryce (the eminent historian any educational papers. The American
of the Holy Roman Empire) is a study
Contributions) is the subject of the first
of the political, social, and economic feat-
only, out of about twenty papers. There
ures of what its author calls the nation
are included also the very remarkable
of the future”; and the most important
set of inscriptions prepared by President
Eliot for the Water Gate of the World's
study since De Tocqueville's Democracy. )
Fair; that for the Soldiers' Monument
Mr. Bryce deals with his subject in six
on Boston Common; and those for the
grand divisions : Part i. treats of the fed-
Robert Gould Shaw monument, commem-
eral government, — its esecutive legislat-
ive, and judiciary departments, with a
orating the 54th Regiment Massachusetts
Infantry. Through the entire volume there
survey of their powers and limitations ;
the relation existing between the federal
appear a grasp of conception, a strength
and refinement of thought, and a clear-
government and the State governments;
ness and vigor of style, very rarely found
constitutional development and its results.
Part ii. considers the State governments
in writers on themes not involving im-
(including rural and city governments),
agination or making appeal to feeling.
their departments, constitutions, merits, An
merican Crisis, The, is the general
and defects. Part iii. is devoted to the name given to a series of political arti-
political machinery and the party system, cles by Thomas Paine. These articles are
giving a history of the origin and growth thirteen in number, exclusive of a (Crisis
of political parties; their composition; their Extraordinary ) and a "Supernumerary
leaders, past and present; and their exist- Crisis. The first and most famous, puo-
ing conditions and influences. Part iv. is lished in the Pennsylvania Journal, De-
concerned with public opinion,- its nature cember 19th, 1776, began with the famous
and tendencies; the means and causes for sentence, «These are the times that try
its control of all important issues in the men's souls. ) “It was written during the
various sections of the Union.
Part v.
retreat of Washington across the Dela-
gives concrete illustrations of the matters ware, and by order of the commander
in the foregoing chapters, together with a was read to groups of his dispirited and
## p. 27 (#63) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
27
suffering soldiers. Its opening sentence the fundamental myth in the religious
was adopted as the watchword of the lore of American nations; and declares
movement on Trenton, a few days after his opinion that in this native American
its publication, and is believed to have in- belief there was a germ of religious and
spired much of the courage which won that moral evolution which should not have
victory. ” The second Crisis) is addressed been sacrificed, and that “the native
to Lord Howe on the occasion of his tribes of America have lost ground in
proclamations to the American people, in morals and religion” since their contact
the interests of Great Britain. The third with the Christian white race.
(Crisis) is dated April 19th, 1777, two days
after the appointment of Paine to the A"
merican Political Economy, by the
late Professor Francis Bowen of Har-
secretaryship of the Committee of Foreign
Affairs. The fourth appeared shortly after
vard University, is a standard treatise on
the subject, widely used as a text-book
the battle of Brandywine, in the fall of
in colleges, and one of the most exhaust-
1777. The fifth was addressed to Gen-
ive studies of American economic condi-
eral William Howe, and was written when
tions ever made. The author frankly
Paine was employed by the Pennsylvania
takes his stand on the ground that while
Assembly and Council to obtain intelli-
there are a few abstract scientific princi-
gence of the movements of Washington's
ples governing political economy, it is
army. The sixth was addressed to the
British Commissioners appointed to treat,
essentially a practical science to be ex-
amined in relation to each country by
consult, and agree, upon the means of
itself, if wise conclusions are to be reached.
quieting the Disorders » in the colonies.
That is Professor Bowen's method with
The seventh and eighth addressed the
respect to the United States; and he is a
people of England; and the ninth, no par-
ticular person or body of persons.
Burke, Julia Dean, James E. Murdock, civilization unapproached in cosmopoli-
and Edwin Forrest. Then the
tan character since the age of Sophocles.
shifts to London and Paris.
Once more
Judged by his own presentment, he was
at home, we make acquaintance with an epitome of that world which sprang
Rip Van Winkle, and the climax of the from the marriage of Faust with Helen.
master's creative
power. Again he He, like his contemporaries, was a “nat-
ranges the world as far as Australia, ural» son of Greece; witnessing to his
Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand, wayward birth in his adoration of beauty,
coming home by way of London. Of so in his violent passions, in his magnifi-
wide a life the scenes were many and cent bombast, in his turbulent, highly
varied, and a great number of the chief colored life, in his absence of spirituality,
masters and notable ladies of the stage in his close clinging to the sure earth.
for half a century come up for mention; He was most mediæval in that whatever
and always, in report of scenes or por- feeling he had, of joy in the tangible
trayal of character, a refinement both of or fear of the intangible, was intensely
thought and of style gives the narrative alive. « This is no book: who touches
a peculiar charm.
this touches a man. )
The young
scene
## p. 16 (#52) ##############################################
16
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
enne.
Napoleon Bonaparte, Memoirs of, by
Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourri-
(1829-31; New York, 4 vols. , 1889. )
An exceptionally entertaining narrative
of the career of Napoleon, from his boy-
hood and school days in Corsica to his
final overthrow in 1815; the work of a
schoolfellow of the young Bonaparte, who
became in April 1797 the intimate com-
panion and private secretary of the then
successful general in Italy, and contin-
ued in this close and confidential position
until October 1802, but then suffered
dismissal under circumstances of a bit.
terly alienating character, and finally
wrote this history of his old friend under
the pressure of very mixed motives, -
pride in accurate knowledge of many
things in the earlier story, and in his
early companionship with Napoleon; de-
sire, perhaps, to come much nearer to
true history than the two extremes of
unqualified admiration and excessive
detestation had yet done; and no small
measure of rankling bitterness towards
the old comrade who never relented from
that dismissal with discredit in 1802, nor
ever again permitted a recurrence of per-
sonal intercourse.
Metternich said at the time of their
publication that Bourrienne's Memoirs,
though not brilliant, were both interest-
ing and amusing, and were the only
authentic memoirs which had yet ap-
peared. Lucien Bonaparte pronounced
them good enough as the story of the
young officer of artillery, the great gen-
eral, and the First Consul, but not as
good for the career of the emperor. The
extreme Bonapartists attacked the work
a product of malignity and men-
dacity, and a suspicion in this direction
naturally clings to it. But whether
Bourrienne did or did not inject con-
venient and consoling lies into the story
of his long-time friend and comrade,
whose final greatness he was excluded
from all share in, and whether he did
or did not himself execute the (Memoirs)
from abundance of genuine materials,
the book given to the world in his name
made a great sensation, and counts, both
with readers and with scholars, as
notable source of Napoleon interest and
information. «Venal, light-headed, and
often untruthful,” as Professor Sloane
pronounces him, Bourrienne neverthe-
less remains one of the persons, and the
earliest in time, who was in the closest
intimacy with Napoleon; and his history
might have given us even less of truth
if he had kept his place to the end.
Red Cockade, The, by Stanley J. Wey-
is romance
filled with exciting incidents of the
stormy times of the French Revolution.
The hero, the Vicomte de Saux, is one of
the French nobility. His sympathy with
the troubles of the French peasants
leads him to adopt the Red Cockade, not-
withstanding his ties of blood and his
engagement to marry a young woman
of a prominent Royalist family. He is
constantly torn between loyalty to his
convictions and to the woman th he
loves, and is often placed in situations
where he is obliged to save Mademoi-
selle de St. Alais from the rage of the
mob.
As the Vicomte de Saux refuses to
join the Aristocrats, the mother and one
brother of Mademoiselle de St. Alais de-
nounce him utterly. But Denise herself,
after having been saved by him from
her burning château, loves him intensely
and is true to him, though her relatives
have betrothed her to the leader of the
Royalists. The other brother Louis,
from his old friendship for the Vicomte,
upholds his sister. The book closes with
scene in the room where Madame
de St. Alais lies dying from wounds
received at the hands of the mob. Her
elder son has been killed by the revolu-
tionists. With the mother are Denise
and Louis, and also the Vicomte de
Saus. In her last moments she gives
Dénise to her lover. After their mar-
riage the Vicomte and his bride retire
to their country place at Saux. The
man to whom Denise was betrothed out
of vengeance
to her lover, disappears
after the overthrow of his party.
Memoirs of Count Grammont, by An-
thony Hamilton. These memoirs
were first given to the public in 1713,
though the collection was begun as early
as 1704. Hamilton was possessed of rare
literary ability; and being brother-in-
law to Count Grammont, was chosen
by him to introduce him historically to
the public. The author asserts that he
acts merely as Grammont's secretary,
and holds the pen at his dictation; but
although this may be partially true, the
ease and grace of the text prove it to
be Hamilton's own work. The memoirs
relate chiefly to the court life at the
time of Charles II. , and describe the
a
as
а
)
## p. 17 (#53) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
17
France, that our readers will be glad
to see this sketch of his life and work
before the production of this book, by
a literary authority of the first rank;
and it is properly appended here.
war
intrigues and love affairs of the King
and many of the courtiers. Grammont's
adventures and experiences in love and
are minutely and graphically set
forth, and he is depicted as a brilliant
and fascinating gentleman. Hamilton
says of him, that he was the admira-
tion of his age, and the delight of every
country wherein he displayed his enga-
ging wit, dispensed his generosity and
munificence, or practiced his inconstancy. )
Among the many who figure prominently
at this period in the profligate couft of
Charles II. , are the Duke of York, the
Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of St.
Albans, George Hamilton, Lady Shrews-
bury, the Countess of Castlemaine, the
Duchess of Richmond, and the various
ladies in waiting on the Queen. A
French critic has observed that if any
book were to be selected as affording the
truest specimen of perfect French gay-
ety, the Memoirs of Grammont) would
be chosen in preference to all others.
Macaulay speaks of their author as the
artist to whom we owe the most highly
finished and vividly colored picture of
the English court in the days when the
English court was gayest. ”
Reds
eds of the Midi, The, by Félix Gras,
translated into English by Mrs.
Thomas A. Janvier, is a strong story of
the French Revolution, published in 1896.
One Pascal La Patine, in his old age,
night after night, in the shoemaker's
shop, tells the story of his youth. His
father was killed by the gamekeeper of
the Marquis; he himself was forced to
fly for his life. Longing to be revenged
upon the aristocrats, he joins the “Reds
of the Midi » (the insurgents of South-
ern France), goes to Paris, sees all the
horrors of the Revolution, rescues the
daughter of the Marquis from the guil-
lotine, loves her in silence, enlists in
Napoleon's army, and after fighting in
Spain, Egypt, and Russia, returns to his
native village of Malemort to end his
days, firm in the faith that Napoleon
has never died. It was in Malemort
that Gras was born: the Prologue is
pure autobiography, and many of the
characters are drawn from life. There
is a vivid picture of the famous Mar-
seilles Battalion, «who knew how to
die," and a passing glimpse of Napo-
leon.
This now famous story is by an au-
thor so little known outside of Southern
FÉLIX GRAS
By Thomas A. JANVIER
Félix Gras, the son of a Provençal
farmer, was born May 3d, 1844, in the
little town of Malemort, five-and-twenty
miles to the eastward of Avignon, among
the foothills of the French Alps. His
schooling, stopping short of the univer-
sity, ended when he was seventeen years
old. Then he came back to his father's
farm; and there he might have lived his
life out had not his outrageous neglect of
his farm duties, that he might range the
mountains with his dog and gun, led
to his disciplinary dispatch to Avignon,
three years later, to be bound 'pren-
tice to the law. In his case the ways of
law led directly into the ways of litera-
ture. The notary to whom he was arti-
cled, Maître Jules Giéra, was himself a
writer of merit, and was the brother of
Paul Giéra, one of the seven founders of
the Félibrige, the society of Provençal
men of letters, having for its leaders
Joseph Roumanille and Frédéric Mistral,
which has developed in the past thirty
years so noble a literary and moral re-
nascence, not only in Provence, but
throughout the whole of Southern France.
With one of these leaders, Roumanille,
his sister's husband, he was already inti-
mate. And so his coming to Avignon
and entry into the lawyer's office was
his entry into the most inspiring literary
society that has existed in modern times,
that has had, indeed, no modern par-
allel in its vigor and hopes and enthusi-
asms, save perhaps in the Pre-Raphaelite
Brotherhood; and that has had no mod-
ern parallel whatever in its far-reaching
results. His association with such com-
panions, with whose aspirations he was
in close sympathy, quickly produced its
natural consequences : he accepted law
as his profession, but he made literature
his career.
He has justified his choice. His first
important work, an epic poem in twelve
cantos, Li Carbounié) (1876), treating
of the mountain life for which his affec-
tion was so strong, placed him at the
head of the younger generation of Féli.
bres; and his succeeding epic, (Toloza'
XXX-2
## p. 18 (#54) ##############################################
18
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
-
(1882), with his shorter poems collected ton of Le Temps, has achieved only a
under the title 'Lou Roumancero Prou- moderate success. But if a critic was
vençall (1887), placed him second only right in affirming (what needs modify-
to the master of all Provençal poetry, ing to-day) that the verdict of a foreign
Mistral. The theme of (Toloza) is the nation is the verdict of posterity, Félix
crusade of Simon de Montfort against Gras — having won the approval of two
the Albigenses, treated with a fervent foreign nations at a single blow — is
earnestness that is in keeping with the sure in time to hold among French writ-
author's own fervent love of liberty in ers a commanding place. Probably the
person and in conscience, and with the recognition of his right to this place will
beauty that comes of a poetic tempera- be hastened by the publication of the
ment equipped with an easy command work upon which he is now engaged:
of poetic form. These same qualities a sequel to Li Rouge dóu Miejour,'
are found in his shorter poems, which treating of the White Terror, the Roy-
have also the dramatic intensity and the alist reaction in the Midi which fol-
thrilling fervor of a born ballad-singer lowed upon the excesses of the Reds.
whose tongue is tipped with fire. Not But even
now, in his own southern
less excellent is his collection of stories country, his position is secure. Since
in prose — the prose of a poet, yet racy August 1891 — in succession to Rouma-
and strong — 'Li Papalino) (1891), which nille, who succeeded Mistral — he has
have the ring of the novella of Boccac- been the Capoulie, the official head of
cio's time. In these his delicate firm- the Félibrige. In his election to this
ness of touch is combined with a brill- office he received the highest honor that
iancy of style that presents his dramatic can be bestowed upon a poet by his
subjects with all the vivacity of the early brother poets of the South of France.
Italian tale-tellers, but always with a
flavor distinctively his own. The papal Marriage of Loti, The (Le Mariage de
court of Avignon is alive again before Loti), by Louis Marie Julien Viaud
our eyes, with its gallantries, its trage- (“Pierre Loti”), was first published in
dies, its gay loves and deadly hates, its 1880 under the title Rarahu,' the name
curious veneering of religious forms of its heroine. While not one of Loti's
upon mediæval sensuality and ferocity. strongest books, it shows his power of
Yet his greatest popular success, Li re-creating the peculiar atmosphere of a
Rouge dóu Miejour) (1896), has been remote island visited during his long
achieved on lines differing widely from connection with the French navy. There
all his earlier work, and has come to is a curious mingling of fact and fiction,
him from outside of his own country. difficult to disentangle, in this glowing
This is a story of the French Revolu- study of Tahiti in the declining years of
tion, told autobiographically from the its Queen, Pomaré IV. A photograph
standpoint of a South of France peas- of the South Sea maiden of fourteen,
ant,-a departure in historical romance whose passion for Loti neutralized his
which has curiously modified the popu- love for Princess Ariitea, and finally
lar estimate of that political agony by captured him, is still in existence; and
presenting it from a totally new point Rarahu's whole mournful history is trace-
of view. Being translated into English, able in the wistful features and flowing
( The Reds of the Midi) was published hair. It is not so clear whether the large
in America, and subsequently in Eng- single blossom worn over
ear is
land, before it was published in France the hibiscus flower she had on when she
in either Provençal or French; and it first met the young officer, or the white
has been so warmly received in both gardenia that became her favorite orna-
countries that it has passed through six ment. A victim of the extraordinary
editions in America and through four in blending of primitive with conventional
England, where it has won a strong conditions that prevailed in the Society
indorsement from Mr. Gladstone, within Islands in 1872, this child of nature,
a year. In France, on the other hand, strikingly beautiful, but still more re-
the Provençal edition has made but little markable for her poetic imagination and
stir; and the author's own version in profound love for Loti, is placed for a
French, Les Rouges du Midi," although while on a better social footing than the
stamped with the hall-mark of literary usual so-called Tahitian marriage could
excellence by publication as the feuilles | give. Loti's sincere love for the half-
one
sd
## p. 19 (#55) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
19
taught savage, able to read in her Poly- Torquilstone. After her release she is
nesian Bible, and intelligent enough to united in marriage to Ivanhoe, through
be saddened by the intellectual gulf be- the effort of King Richard. While the
tween them, does not prevent him from Lady Rowena is a model of beauty,
laying down laws for her conduct during dignity, and gentleness, she is some-
his absence, without the slightest inten- what overshadowed by Rebecca, who
tion of observing similar ones. If Loti was Scott's favorite of all his characters.
is unconscious of the moral inconsist- She is as generous as her father is
ency, Rarahu is not; and after his final avaricious; and although loving Ivanhoe
departure she ceases - not indeed to pine with intense devotion, realizes that her
for him, but to be true to his mem- union with him is impossible. She no-
ory and precepts. Ground between the bly offers to the Templar Bois-Guilbert
upper and nether millstones of desertion any sum that he may demand for the
and temptation, she dies at eighteen of release of the imprisoned Rowena. A
consumption, retaining only the Queen's strong scene occurs when she defies this
pity and the affection of her cat Turiri, infatuated Crusader, and threatens to
- a good study of a cat by a true philo- throw herself from the turret into the
felist, who has devoted a volume to his court-yard. Bois-Guilbert carries her to
own cats,
This Tahitian idyl is slight; the Preceptory of Templestowe, where
its charm lies in the delicate analysis she is convicted of sorcery on account
of moods and emotions growing directly of her religion, her skill in medicine, and
out of island life and scenery. Its ori- her attractiveness. Condemned to the
ginality suffers somewhat in the read- stake, she is permitted a trial by com-
er's imagination, after the classic (Typee ) bat, and selects Ivanhoe for her cham-
of Herman Melville, whose voyage to pion. Rebecca is pronounced guiltless
the Marquesas was made in the fifties; and free.
but its merits are its own.
Another important character is Rich-
ard the Lion-Hearted, who returns to
Ivanhoe, one of Sir Walter Scott's most England from Palestine at the moment
famous novels, was written and pub- when his brother's conspiracy against
lished in 1819, a year of great domestic him is most rank. Disguised as the
sorrow to its author. The manuscript is Black Sluggard and the Knight of the
now at Abbotsford; and according to Fetterlock, he performs feats of valor
Lockhart, is a remarkable and character- at the Ashby Tournament and as the
istic specimen of his penmanship. Im- Black Knight, wanders through Sher-
mediately after its appearance, Ivan- wood Forest and holds high revel with
hoe) ime a favorite, and now ranks the Hermit of Copmanhurst, the jovial
among the most brilliant and stirring of Friar Tuck. Through Robin Hood he
romantic tales. Sir Wilfred, Knight of escapes assassination, and conducts the
Ivanhoe, a young Saxon knight, brave, successful siege against Torquilstone
loyal, and handsome, is disinherited by Castle. Maurice de Bracy, a conspirator
his father, Cedric of Rotherwood, on against King Richard, is a suitor for the
account of his love for Rowena, a Saxon hand of Rowena; Front de Boeuf is a
heiress and ward of Cedric's. Ivanhoe brutal baron in league with Prince John;
is a favorite with Richard I. , Ceur-de- Cedric the Saxon, Ivanhoe's father, sup-
Lion, has won renown in Palestine, and ports Athelstane's suit for Rowena, de-
now returns in the disguise of a palmer siring to see the Sasons reinstated; and
to see Rowena at Rotherwood. Under Isaac of York, the wealthy Jew, is a
the name of Desdichado (The Disinher- well-drawn character. Gurth, Cedric's
ited), he enters the lists of the Ashby swineherd, who is generally accompanied
Tournament; and having won the vic- by his faithful dog Fangs, is a typical
tory, is crowned by the Lady Rowena. feudal retainer; Wamba, Cedric's jester,
He is wounded, however, and returns is another; and Ulrica, a vindictive old
to the care of his friends Isaac of York, Saxon hag, who perishes in the flames
a wealthy Jew, and his daughter Re- of Torquilstone Castle to which she sets
becca. The latter tends him, and loses fire, is one of those strange, half pro-
her heart to this chivalrous knight. On phetic, half weird women whom Scott
returning from the Tournament, Row- loves to introduce into his stories.
ena is
ptured the enamored De II the scenes in Sherwood Forest,
Bracy and confined in the Tower of Robin Hood's men perform feats of
## p. 20 (#56) ##############################################
20
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
umes.
as
archery and deeds of valor, drawn from nology of the successive dynasties. The
the Robin Hood ballads and legends. figures settled upon by Professor Petrie,
Retainers, lords and ladies, knights, in his first volume, show seventeen dynas-
"Templars, monks, priests, prisoners, jail- ties ruling from 4777 B. C. to 1587 B. C. ,
ors, and men-at-arms are introduced ; and and Dynasty XVIII. carrying on the his-
the book is full of brilliantly colored tory to 1327 B. C.
It is thus the story of
pictures of the period which abounds in 3,450 years which he tells in the two vol-
contrasts between the Saxons and the
The history of the seventeenth dy-
Normans.
nasty (1738-1587 B. C. ), and of the eigh-
teenth, told in Vol. ii. , are especially
Jews
vs of Angevin England, The, by
Joseph Jacobs. (1893. ) A most inter-
important; and for these, no record or
monument has been left unnoticed.
esting volume of «Documents and Rec-
ords from Latin and Hebrew sources,
Egyptian Princess, An, a German his-
printed and manuscript, for the first time torical romance by Georg Ebers, was
collected and translated, with notes and published in 1864. Its scenes are laid in
narrative forming an exhaustive history Egypt and Persia, toward the close of the
of the Jews in England, from the Nor- sixth century B. C. The narrative follows
man Conquest to the year 1206. Mr. the fates of the royal families of the two
Jacobs finds no evidence that the Jews, nations, tracing the career of the head-
as a class, were known in England until strong, passionate Cambyses, from the days
they were brought in by the Norman of his marriage with the Egyptian prin-
kings. It was not until the accession
cess Nitetis, whom he was deceived into
of Henry II. , 1154 A D. , that they began accepting as the daughter of Amasis, King
to have a specially English history. It of Egypt, down to the times when, his
is substantially a history of their position ill-fated bride taking poison, he himself
usurers in the service of the Royal humbles the arms of Egypt in punish-
Treasury. The whole story of the Jews ment for their deception; and, dissipated,
in England goes on to their expulsion in violent, capricious, the haughty monarch
1290; and Mr. Jacobs estimates that a meets his death, Darius the Mede reign-
score of volumes would be required to ing in his stead. A figure of infinite
complete their history on the scale of pathos is the gentle Nitetis; with pitiful
the volume which he has executed. It patience meeting the cruel suspicions of
is thus a beginning only which he has Cambyses, and content to kiss his hand
made; but it is a very valuable begin- in her death agonies, the result of his in-
ning, as it enables him to indicate clearly temperate anger.
what were the notable aspects of English Another interesting character is Bartja,
Jewish life.
the handsome and chivalrous younger
brother of Cambyses, of whom the King
Esypt, A History of. Vol. i. , from the
Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Dy-
is so unjustly jealous. His love for Sap-
nasty. Vol. ii. , During the Seventeenth
pho, granddaughter of the far-famed Rho-
and Eighteenth dynasties. By W. M.
dopis, is one of the most genuine con-
Flinders Petrie. These volumes are the
ceptions in literature. Several historic
first of a series of six intended to embrace
characters are introduced and placed in
the whole history of Egypt down to mod-
natural settings, notably Crosus, mentor
ern times. A third, by Professor Petrie,
of the unhappy Cambyses; and Darius,
will complete the period of the Pharaohs,
whose future greatness is foreshadowed
Other writers will add volumes on Ptole-
in an early youth of discretion and prow-
The author has drawn a faithful
maic Egypt, on Roman Egypt, and on
Arabic Egypt; the design of the whole
picture of the times, having made a pro-
found study of his sources. The dialogue
work being to supply a book of reference
which shall suffice for all ordinary pur-
is sparkling, and the characters are han-
poses, but with special attention to facts
dled with precision and delicacy.
and illustrations which are new, and with Nippur; or, Explorations and Ad.
the utmost care to throw as much light as ventures on the Euphrates. "The
possible upon Egyptian dates. There is Narrative of the University of Pennsyl-
no intention of including a history of art, vania Espedition to Babylonia, in the
civilization, or literature; the one pur- Years 1888-90. ) By John Punnett Pe-
pose of the work is to get into as accurate ters. Vol. i. : First Campaign. Vol. ii. :
shape as possible the history and chro- Second Campaign (1897. ) The latest
ess.
## p. 21 (#57) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
2 I
and most remarkable story of Babylon- also that the new vistas of ancient his-
ian exploration and discovery, carrying tory opened by the work recently done
back to a most unexpectedly early date in Babylonia have shown us men in a
the distinct records of human history high state of civilization, building cities,
and of developed culture. In the lower conducting conquest, and trafficking with
valley of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, remote lands, two thousand years before
both civilization and religion, literature the period assigned by Archbishop Us-
and science, had four conspicuous seats sher's chronology for the creation of
in cities which flourished not less than the world. The culture was Babylon-
eight thousand years ago. They were ian, and Nippur was its darkest devel-
Eridu, the most southerly and westerly, opment.
the seat of the worship of Ea, a god
of Beneficence, and of Merodach his son, Babylonian Influence on the Bible
especially known as a god of Mercy; and Popular Beliefs; by A. Smythe
Ur, the seat of the worship of the moon- Palmer, D. D. (1897. ) A small volume
god, Sin, one of whose seats was Sinai, specially devoted to showing how the He-
and especially a god of goodness, the
brew Mosaic books evince «familiarity
moon-deity being regarded as the Father- with the great religious epics of Baby-
God, to whom the sun is a son and the lonia, which go back to the twenty-third
evening star a daughter; Erech, farther century B. C. ,- to a date, that is, about
north, the seat of the worship of Ishtar, 800 years earlier than the reputed time
the evening and the morning star, con-
of Moses )); and how, in consequence of
ceived as the equal of her brother, the this familiarity, “Babylonian ideas were
sun, and the magnificent ideal of female worked into these early Hebrew docu-
character at the highest level of divin- ments, and were thus insured persistence
ity; and Nippur, the most northerly and
and obtained a world-wide currency. ”
easterly, and the seat of the worship of That Babylon still survives in our cult-
Bel, or the sun,-conceived, not as son ure,” is Dr. Palmer's general conclusion.
to the moon-god, but as a supreme god, He especially devotes his work to show-
represented by the setting sun, and most ing how the Babylonian conception of
especially revealed in the flaming red- Tiamat was reproduced in the Hebrew
ness of his setting in times of excessive conception of Tehom, «the Deep”; how
heat and drought; the Angry En-Lil, or the Babylonian idea of the Deep, sug-
“Lord of the Storm,” who caused all the gesting the Dragon of the Deep, gave
weather troubles of mankind, -desolat- the Hebrew mind its idea of Satan; and
ing winds, violent storms, floods, drought, how again the idea of the Deep became,
and all injuries.
It was by him that first to the Babylonians, and en to the
the Deluge was brought, and for it the Hebrews, the idea of a Hades, or Tar-
good Ea, and kindly Sin, and Merodach taros, or Hell. Dr. Palmer makes prom-
the Merciful, charged him with cruel inent these points: (1) that “the Hebrew
injustice; and the Babylonian Noah, record of the creation is based on the
making a sacrifice after the flood, in- more ancient accounts which have been
vited all the gods except En-Lil. As preserved in the Babylonian tablets);
god of the red sunset the nether-world (2) that «religious conceptions of the
was his, ruled by a son who was of like Babylonians, suggested by phenomenal
cruel temper with his father.
aspects of nature, especially the Sun, lay
Nippur is thus the original seat of the at the base of the Hebrews' early faith”;
conception of a god of anger and a reli- (3) that “the Great Deep was consti-
gion of fear. It was a great and flour- tuted a symbol of lawlessness, was
ishing city as long before Abraham as personified as a dragon or great ser-
Abraham is before our day. Its temple, pent,” and “became a symbol of moral
commonly known as the House of En- evil; (4) that among the Hebrews
Lil, Dr. Peters says, (just as the temple this serpent or dragon introduces sin);
at Jerusalem was called the House of and (5) that this Chaos-Dragon contrib-
Yahweh,) had stood for about five thou- uted shape to later conceptions of the
sand years, when it fell into ruins about Devil. ” He further says, with reference
or before 150 B. C. Dr. Peters speaks of to the mediatorial god, Merodach of
the close connection existing between Babylonian belief: "It has often been
Babylonian and Hebrew civilization, le- remarked that Merodach, as mediator,
gends, myths, and religion. ” He states healer, and redeemer, as forgiving sin,
## p. 22 (#58) ##############################################
22
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
to
defeating the Tempter, and raising the
dead, in many of his features foreshad-
owed the Hebrew Messiah)); and also :
<< The Babylonians themselves seem
have considered their Merodach (or Bel)
and the Hebrew Ya (Jah – Jehovah) to
be one and the same. In such sugges-
tions of study as these, Dr. Palmer's
pages are very rich.
Babylonian Talmud, New Edition of
the. English Translation; Original
Text Edited, Formulated, and Punctu-
ated: by Michael L. Rodkinson. Revised
and Corrected by the Rev. Dr. Isaac
M. Wise, President Hebrew Union Col-
lege, Cincinnati, Ohio. Five volumes
published (1896-97); to be completed in
about twenty volumes. An edition in
English translation of the whole Talmud
thoroughly cleared of confusion and cor-
ruption, and brought into a readable and
intelligible form, in which it can be un-
derstood in its vast range of interest, and
judged upon its real merits as the great
Jewish encyclopædia of religion, ethics,
education, law, history, geography, medi-
cine, mathematics, and in fact knowledge
and opinion on every branch of thought
and action. Dr. Wise speaks of the work
as «Rodkinson's reconstruction of the
original text of the Talmud »; which is
confessed to have been in a very bad
state, from irrelevant matter thrust in by
later hands and even by hostile hands,
and from corruptions such as works ex-
isting for ages in manuscript, and suc-
cessively copied by scribes sometimes
careless of accuracy and often free with
changes or additions, are liable to. Dr.
Rodkinson's perfect mastery of the He-
brew, and his comprehensive knowledge
of the true Talmudical facts, with his
admirable grasp of high ideals, and con-
fidence that they are the ideals of his
race and of the Talmud, have enabled
him to reconstruct the original text and
to give a clear and readable rendering
of it in English, by which for the first
time the Talmud is made as accessible to
Anglo-Saxon readers as the books of the
Old Testament. In his representation,
“the Talmud is not a commentary on
the Bible. It is not a body of dogma
to be enforced, but of opinions to be
considered; (not the decisions, but the
debates, of the leaders of the people;)
(not a compilation of fixed regulations,
but a book of liberty, both mental and
religious,” knowing «no authority but
conscience and reason. " The extreme
freedom of suggestion and statement used
by those who speak in it, the special rea-
sons for many of its laws, such as the
desire to break from the neck of the peo-
ple the yoke of the priests, and the vein
of humor running through much that
seems most objectionable, are insisted on
by Dr. Rodkinson as showing that “noth-
ing could be more unfair, nothing more
unfortunate, than to adopt the prevailing
false notions about this ancient encyclo-
pædia. ”
Dr. Rodkinson's work is thus not only
a definitive English-Hebrew Talmud, for
popular reading as well as for study of
Jewish lore of every kind, but i. is an in-
terpretation to the modern mind of a vast
monument of Hebrew life and thought,
the value of which cannot be exaggerated.
Vols. i. and ii. give (Tract Sabbath,' in
390 pages. Vol. iii. gives (Tract Erubin,
of 250 pages, in which are embodied the
famous Rabbinical devices for getting
round the prohibitions of (Tract Sabbath. )
Vol. iv. has (Tract Shekalim,' which is
all about a sacred half-shekel tax, paid
by every Israelite at twenty years of age;
and “Tract Rosh Hashana) (or New Year),
232 pages. There are twelve of these
(Tracts, forming the first section of the
entire work, called Moed? (Festivals).
The whole of Dr. Rodkinson's colossal
task includes a new Hebrew text; some
parts of which, to fill gaps in the com-
mentary sections, he has himself composed
from materials given in the Palestinian
Talmud or in Maimonides. The entire
work is sufficiently advanced to make its
early completion secure. The reader of
Dr. Rodkinson's own writings easily rec-
ognizes in his mastery of English style,
and his high mental and ethical qualifi-
cations, ample assurance of his ability to
make his Reconstructed Talmud an ade.
quate text-book of the learning and the
liberal spirit of modern Reformed Juda-
ism. To Christian scholars, teachers, and
students of liberal spirit, his work must
be most welcome.
It may be briefly added here that there
are two forms of the Talmud; namely,
the Babylonian and the Palestinian.
There first grew up a body of expla-
nations and supplementary ordinances
called Mishna, or teaching, designed to
mark the application of Mosaic law or
to supplement it. The impulse to this
Mishnic development began in Babylon,
during the exile there; it dominated the
## p. 23 (#59) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
23
return to Jerusalem under Ezra; and it Consent of the Corporation in England
was brought to a final result by Rabbi for the Propagation of the Gospels among
Jehudah Hannasi, about 160 A. D. After the Indians of New England. ”
the conclusion of the Mishna, there grew Some of the Indian words used by
up two bodies of further explanation, Eliot are so extremely long that Cotton
called Gemara, one at Babylon and the Mather thought they must have been
other in Palestine. The Mishna thus stretching themselves ever since the con-
came to exist in three greatly differing fusion of tongues at Babel. A second
forms: Mishna by itself, and Mishna as revised and corrected edition was printed
embodied with Gemara in the Talmud in 1685, only twelve copies of which are
of Babylon or that of Palestine. Dr. known to exist. An edition with notes
Rodkinson deals with the Babylonian by P. S. Du Poneau, and an introduc-
form of Mishna and Gemara.
tion by J. Pickering, was published in
Boston in 1822. When the original edi-
tion
Indian Bible, The, by John Eliot, “The was issued, twenty copies were
Apostle to the North-American Indi- ordered to be sent to the Corporation,
ans. ) This first Indian translation of the with the Epistle Dedicatory addressed —
Bible was in the dialect of the Naticks, “To the High and Mighty Prince Charles
a Massachusetts tribe of the Algonkins, the Second by the Grace of God, King
and was made under the auspices of the
of Great Britain, France, and Ireland,
Corporation for the Propagation of the Defender of the Faith, etc. The Com-
Gospels among the Indians of New Eng- missioners of the United Colonies in
land, Eliot sending the sheets to England New England with all Happiness: Most
for approval as they came from the Dread Sovereign, etc. ! )
printing-press in Cambridge, Massachu- The commercial as well as the reli-
setts.
gious rivalry of England with Spain
The New Testament appeared first, creeps out in the Epistle which com-
in 1661; and two years after, the entire pares the fruits of the Spanish Con-
Bible, with the following title: –
quests in America. brought home in gold
and silver, with these fruits of the
MAMUSSE
colder northern clime as much better
WUNNEETUPANATAMWE
than gold as the souls of men are more
worth than the whole world ! »
UP-BIBLUM GOD
Henry the Seventh's failure to become
the sole discoverer and owner of Amer-
ica finds its compensation in the discov-
NUKKONE TESTAMENT
ery unto the poor Americans of the True
and Saving knowledge of the Gospel,
WUSKU TESTAMENT
and “the honour of erecting the King-
dom of Jesus Christ among them was re-
NE QUOSHKINNUMUK NASHPE
served for and does redound unto Your
WUTTINNENMOK CHRIST
Majesty and the English Nation. After
ages will not reckon this inferior to the
JOHN ELIOT
other - May this nursling still suck the
CAMBRIDGE: PRINTENOOP NASHPE breast of Kings and be fostered by Your
SAMUEL GREEN KAH MARMADUK JOHN.
Majesty! »
SON 1663
A copy of the edition of 1663, with
the Epistle Dedicatory, was sold in 1882
The English of which is: «The Entire -
for $2,900.
His Holy - Bible God — containing – the
Old Testament — and the - New Testa-
ment - translated by — the Servant of in (and in Chiapas and Yucatan).
Christ -- called – John Eliot — Cambridge: By John Lloyd Stephens. (2 vols. , 1841. )
printed by - Samuel Green and Marma- The story of a journey of nearly 3,000
duke Johnson 1663. ”
miles, including visits to eight ruined
The English title also adds: «Trans- cities, monuments of a marvelously in-
lated into the Indian Language and teresting lost civilization; that of the
Ordered to be printed by the Commis- Maya land, the many cities of which, of
sioners of the United Colonies in New great size, splendor, and culture, rivaled
England at the Charge and with the those of the Incas and the Montezumas.
NANEESIVE
KAH WONK
Central America, Incidents of Travel
## p. 24 (#60) ##############################################
24
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
Ten editions of this book were pub- the lives of those who have made use of
lished within three months. Two years
them; the writers who are authorities
later, Mr. Stephens supplemented this upon the several subjects; societies inter-
first adequate report of the character of ested in them; and critical statements of
Central American antiquities by a sec-
existing knowledge and the conditions
ond work, his (Travel in Yucatan,' in bearing upon future study. The work is
which he reported further explorations chiefly designed for, and chiefly useful to,
extended to forty-four ruined cities. At writers rather than readers of history:
an earlier date he had published «Travel to each of the former it may save months
in Egypt, Arabia Petræa, and the Holy or perhaps years of search for materials,
Land? (2 vols. , 1837), and Travel in
and the constant duplication of such re-
Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Poland' (2 searches already made. It is in fact a
vols. , 1841).
co-operative bureau of first-hand sources.
It begins with the earliest facts known
Centro
ntral America, by Ephraim George about the whole continent and its abo-
Squier. Notes On: 1854. • The States riginal inhabitants, including a discussion
of: 1857 Two works by an American of the pre-Columbian voyages; describes
archæologist of distinction, who, after a
the different discoveries and settlements
special experience in similar researches by European nations, - Spanish, English,
in New York, Ohio, and other States, en-
French, and Dutch; and the rise and
tered on a wide and protracted research history of the United States, down to
in Central America in 1849; published the close of the Mexican war and the end
a work on Nicaragua in 1852; and later
of the year 1850. For the rest of the con-
gave, in the two works named above,
tinent the history is continued down to
a report of observations on both the an-
about 1867. The authors engaged in this
tiquities and the political condition of
work are distinguished each in his own
Се tral America, the of which has
field of study, and much valuable mate-
been widely recognized. The Serpent rial of an archæological and genealogical
Symbols) (1852) of Mr. Squier attracted
character was furnished to them by the
attention as a study of great value in
leading learned and historical societies.
the baffling science of primitive reli-
In bibliography there is, along with other
gion and speculation on nature; and his
important matter, a careful collation of
(Peru: Incidents and Explorations in the
the famous Jesuit Relations »; and in
Land of the Incas) (1877), was the re-
sult of exhaustive investigations of Inca
cartography - a subject of which Mr.
Winsor had long made a special study –
remains, and a most valuable contribu-
the work is noticeably strong. The pub-
tion to knowledge of ancient Peru.
lication extended over the years 1884-89.
A"
merica, The Narrative and Critical
History of, edited by Justin Winsor.
A"
This history was prepared upon a co-
merica. Periods in the Modern His-
tory of, by John Fiske.
operative plan (which the editor had pre- THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 2 vols. ,
viously adopted for his Memorial History 1892. The initial work of Mr. Fiske,
of Boston'), of dividing historical work designed to serve as the first section of
into topical sections, and assigning these a complete History of America. It very
divisions to different writers, each emi- fully and carefully covers the ground of
nent in his own department, all of whom aboriginal America in the light of recent
worked synchronously, thus bringing the research; and of the long and slow pro-
whole work to rapid and accurate com- cess through which the New World be-
pletion. Each chapter has two parts: first came fully known to the Old.
The story
a Historical Narrative which groups the of voyages before Columbus by the Portu-
salient points of the story, and guese, and of what Cabot accomplished,
bodies the result of the latest researches; is given at length; the part also which
second, a Critical Essay by the editor, Vespucius played, and the questions about
which, with the appended notes on specific it which have been so much discussed.
points, is a new procedure in historical Mr. Fiske's estimate of Columbus does not
methods. In these critical essays are set depart very much from the popular view.
forth the original sources of the preced- He gives an account of ancient Mexico
ing narrative,- manuscripts, monuments, and Central America, and a full sketch of
archæological remains, -- with full accounts the conquest of Mexico and Peru. The
of their various histories and locations; work thus makes a complete Introduction
(
-
em-
## p. 25 (#61) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
25
to American history as most known to ists were dealt with at the close of the
English readers: the history of the plant- war, and of the course of events in Great
ing of North America in Virginia, New Britain upon the close of the Revolution,
England, New York, Delaware, Pennsyl- conspicuously illustrates his method, and
vania, Maryland, and the Carolinas. his mastery of the materials of a story
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. This vol- second to none in our whole national his-
ume, originally intended for beginners tory in both interest and importance.
in history, owes its vogue to the author's
terse and flexible vernacular; his sense An
merica, A History of the Civil War
of harmonious and proportionate literary in, by Philippe, Comte de Paris. In
treatment; and that clear perception of the summer of 1861, Philippe, Comte de
the relative importance of details, and Paris, joined the Northern army, rather
firm yet easy grasp of principles and sig- as a spectator than as an active partici-
nificant facts, resulting from the trained pant in affairs.
He was appointed to
exercise of his philosophic powers. “The McClellan's staff, and for a year followed
American Revolution was first published the fortunes of the North. He returned
in 1891; but the edition of 1896 is “illus- to France with much valuable material
trated with portraits, maps, facsimiles, concerning the history of that first year,
contemporary views, prints, and other to which he added, between 1862 and
historic materials. » This work exhib- 1874, an equal amount of important in-
its a delightful vivacity and dramatic formation bearing upon the remaining
skill in the portraiture of Washington years of the War. In 1875 the first vol-
as the central figure of the American ume of the translation was issued. Three
revolt against the arbitrary government other volumes appeared, in 1876, 1883,
of George the Third. A full treatment and 1888, respectively. The banishment
of the earlier tyranny of the Lords of of the Comte de Paris from France cut
Trade, leading up to the crisis, is followed short the work, which has never been
by Washington's entrance on the scene, finished, but ends with the close of the
at Cambridge, as commander-in-chief of
account of the Red River Expedition
the American forces. The military gains under General Banks.
of Washington in spite of the enemy's The historian writes from the point of
large resources, and the varying fortunes view of an unprejudiced spectator. His.
of the patriot army, leading down through object was not to uphold one side or the
the discouragements of Valley Forge and other, but to present to Europe a clear
up again, through the campaigns of the and impartial account of one of the most
South and of Virginia, to final success, momentous struggles in history. As his
are shown by Mr. Fiske with remarkable work was addressed primarily to a Euro-
clearness and skill. Finally he points out pean audience, much space is devoted to
the broad results to all future civilization the conditions which brought about the
of the triumph of the Colonial cause, in conflict, to the formation and history of
the surrender of Cornwallis. His point the United States army, and to the char-
of view is one with that of John Morley, acter of the country which was the scene
who says : «The War of Independence of action. His is an essentially military
was virtually a second English Civil War. history: marches and countermarches are
The ruin of the American cause would described with an amount of detail which,
have been also the ruin of the Constitu- but for the admirable clearness of style,
tional cause in England; and a patriotic would sadly confuse the lay mind. In
Englishman may revere the memory of his judgments, both of men and of events,
Patrick Henry and George Washington, the Comte de Paris is very impartial;
not less justly than the patriotic Ameri- though a slightly apologetic tone is often
can. ”
adopted in regard to the Administration,
THE CRITICAL PERIOD OF AMERICAN and a certain lack of enthusiasm appears
HISTORY, 1783-1789. In this volume Mr. towards many officers of Volunteers, no-
Fiske's powers are especially tested, and tably in the later years of the war. This
his success in a great task conspicuously attitude of mind was doubtless due to his
shown. The study which he makes of natural prepossession in favor of a regu-
the characters of the two contrasted origi- lar army and an unchanging form of gov-
nators of policies, Washington and Jeffer- ernment.
son, of the economic problems of the time, All things considered, this history re-
of the way in which the Tories or Loyal- mains the standard military history of
## p. 26 (#62) ##############################################
26
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
(
the Civil War. Its clearness, impartiality, discussion of the strength and weakness
and scientific precision assure its position. of democratic government as it exists in
the United States. » Part vi. is confined
America and the Americans, from a
to non-political institutions: the aspects of
French point of view, is a swift ex-
society, the intellectual and spiritual forces
ternal judgment of civilization as seen in
the United States of to-day. The spec-
upon which depend the personal and po-
litical welfare of unborn generations of
tator, whose knowledge appears too in- American citizens; and upon whose suc-
timate to be that of a foreigner and a
cess or failure rests the promulgation of
tourist, passes in review the streets, hotels,
American democratic ideals and principles
railroads, newspapers, politics, schools,
homes, children, habits of thought, and
among the nations. The work is lucidly
written, free from technicalities, and fluent
manners and customs of social life, chiefly
in style, so that it is as easy for the iaity
in the larger cities and watering-places
of the country. He sets down naught in
to comprehend, as for those initiated by
practical experience into the workings of
malice, even if he extenuates nothing.
our government. The chapters dealing
In the mirror which he holds up, the
with the professional and social sides of
candid American sees himself at full
American life, and especially those devoted
length, as a very imperfectly civilized per-
to the American universities, have been
son, extravagant and superficial, placing enthusiastically received by Americans, –
far too much value on money and the
some American universities accepting the
material things of life, and far too little
work as a text-book in their schools of law,
on genuine refinement and culture. The
economics, and sociology.
book is extremely entertaining, and the
reader who takes it up in the proper frame Am merican Contributions to Civiliza.
of mind will not only read it through, tion, and Other Essays and Ad-
but be apt to make the comment of Ben- dresses, by Charles W. Eliot: 1897. A
edick: Happy are they who hear their collection of miscellaneous addresses and
detractions, and can put them to mend- magazine articles, written during the last
ing. ”
twenty-five years by the president of Har-
American Commonwealth, The, by
vard University; not, however, including
James Bryce (the eminent historian any educational papers. The American
of the Holy Roman Empire) is a study
Contributions) is the subject of the first
of the political, social, and economic feat-
only, out of about twenty papers. There
ures of what its author calls the nation
are included also the very remarkable
of the future”; and the most important
set of inscriptions prepared by President
Eliot for the Water Gate of the World's
study since De Tocqueville's Democracy. )
Fair; that for the Soldiers' Monument
Mr. Bryce deals with his subject in six
on Boston Common; and those for the
grand divisions : Part i. treats of the fed-
Robert Gould Shaw monument, commem-
eral government, — its esecutive legislat-
ive, and judiciary departments, with a
orating the 54th Regiment Massachusetts
Infantry. Through the entire volume there
survey of their powers and limitations ;
the relation existing between the federal
appear a grasp of conception, a strength
and refinement of thought, and a clear-
government and the State governments;
ness and vigor of style, very rarely found
constitutional development and its results.
Part ii. considers the State governments
in writers on themes not involving im-
(including rural and city governments),
agination or making appeal to feeling.
their departments, constitutions, merits, An
merican Crisis, The, is the general
and defects. Part iii. is devoted to the name given to a series of political arti-
political machinery and the party system, cles by Thomas Paine. These articles are
giving a history of the origin and growth thirteen in number, exclusive of a (Crisis
of political parties; their composition; their Extraordinary ) and a "Supernumerary
leaders, past and present; and their exist- Crisis. The first and most famous, puo-
ing conditions and influences. Part iv. is lished in the Pennsylvania Journal, De-
concerned with public opinion,- its nature cember 19th, 1776, began with the famous
and tendencies; the means and causes for sentence, «These are the times that try
its control of all important issues in the men's souls. ) “It was written during the
various sections of the Union.
Part v.
retreat of Washington across the Dela-
gives concrete illustrations of the matters ware, and by order of the commander
in the foregoing chapters, together with a was read to groups of his dispirited and
## p. 27 (#63) ##############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
27
suffering soldiers. Its opening sentence the fundamental myth in the religious
was adopted as the watchword of the lore of American nations; and declares
movement on Trenton, a few days after his opinion that in this native American
its publication, and is believed to have in- belief there was a germ of religious and
spired much of the courage which won that moral evolution which should not have
victory. ” The second Crisis) is addressed been sacrificed, and that “the native
to Lord Howe on the occasion of his tribes of America have lost ground in
proclamations to the American people, in morals and religion” since their contact
the interests of Great Britain. The third with the Christian white race.
(Crisis) is dated April 19th, 1777, two days
after the appointment of Paine to the A"
merican Political Economy, by the
late Professor Francis Bowen of Har-
secretaryship of the Committee of Foreign
Affairs. The fourth appeared shortly after
vard University, is a standard treatise on
the subject, widely used as a text-book
the battle of Brandywine, in the fall of
in colleges, and one of the most exhaust-
1777. The fifth was addressed to Gen-
ive studies of American economic condi-
eral William Howe, and was written when
tions ever made. The author frankly
Paine was employed by the Pennsylvania
takes his stand on the ground that while
Assembly and Council to obtain intelli-
there are a few abstract scientific princi-
gence of the movements of Washington's
ples governing political economy, it is
army. The sixth was addressed to the
British Commissioners appointed to treat,
essentially a practical science to be ex-
amined in relation to each country by
consult, and agree, upon the means of
itself, if wise conclusions are to be reached.
quieting the Disorders » in the colonies.
That is Professor Bowen's method with
The seventh and eighth addressed the
respect to the United States; and he is a
people of England; and the ninth, no par-
ticular person or body of persons.
