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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1897)
eae ae i \. igetBh SC wae WO ee } petted 4 5 ne ae . a i & NI WEEKLY @ VATS At —————— THE BOOK SHELF. (Condacted by ALBERT LEE, "91.] I don’t know how it has been with others, but so far as I am concerned, most of my knowledge of French his- tory, especially of the times of Louis XVI. and the Revolution, was originally obtained from the novels of Alexander Dumas. They awoke in me an interest in that exciting period, and I afterward read a number of books that treated of the terror and of the last days of the King, but in none of these histories did I find any - contradictions of Dumas’s narrative and none of them were half so interesting. If I had it to do over again I should tackle my French history through Dumas, and I would advise every other man to do the same. In reading the essay on the “Club of the Jacobins” in “Essays on French History” by J. EE. Farmer, ’91, (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons) I was constantly reminded of Billot and Ange Pitou, and all the rest of those bold fellows of Dumas’s, who were wander- ing about Paris in those famous days, and I found that I could understand Mr. Farmer’s discourse as well, and was almost as familiar with his topic, as if I had read the long list of “‘Au- thorities Consulted’? with which he pre- faces his essay. I felt almost a sense of personal injury, too, at not finding Dumas’s name upon this list of authori- ties. Of the two essays in Mr. Farmer’s book, this one about the Jacobins is un- doubtedly the more interesting and will surely prove the more popular with the general reader. It gives a very clear idea of the original “‘Tammany Hall,’’ and explains fully the many motives and accidents that led up to the aw- ful events of 1793. Mr. Farmer’s essays ought to be welcomed by students of French history, too, because aside from the information they contain, they are full of suggestions for further reading, that one might not receive in other ways. For instance, in his brief de- scription of the membership of the club, he gives about two pages of names of some of the leading lights, qualifying each one, and many of these qualifying sentences are sufficient to awaken an interest in the individuals, that will fall nowhere short of a peru- sal of their biographies. That sort of thing is valuable. The historical es#ay in itself, being of necessity brief, can- be of small use unless it is suggestive, and Mr. Farmer has certainly succe@d- ed in making his papers such. 4 In the first essay, on ‘““The Rise of the Reformation in France,” the field was not so rich in men and deeds, but *he paper shows careful study, and to the man who wishes to work along that line it will afford a basis for much 4d- ditional investigation, pointing out, ‘as it does, the main lines along which the movement developed and _ touching elaborately upon the pivotal periods It is surprising, in these days of the renaissance of book making, that any publisher in so large a city as Read- ing should turn out such a brochure as ‘While your Coffee is Cooling,’ recent- ly published by William McCormick, ’87. The book is of an inconvenient shape and is bound in a sort of crinkly paper that looks like a piece of white- washed frizzled beef, and it is tied at the back with a bit of red ribbon like a schoolgirl’s prize essay. I have not seen anything so badly gotten up ina long while. The text is a collection of short essays by ‘“‘George Gordon.” AS the author prints his name on the title page in quotation marks, it is to he presumed that this is but a pseu- donym. It is also so to be hoped. The essays are reprinted from the Read-. ing “Morning Herald,’—‘‘exactly as they were written and not phrase or syllable revised or emended.” The man who wishes to do anything in literature, and does not “revise” and “emend’”’. almost until the plates are cast, will not succeed to any very great extent in his ambition. There are very few books that jump from their author’s brain, full panoplied, like a certain goddess that we used to read about in Freshman ‘year,—and who would be responsible for giving mea condition in Mythology now, if anybody asked me her name. But probably Mr. ‘‘Gordon”’ had no such desire and er no doubt satisfied at seeing his “unemended” essays’ set upon the market nicely bedecked with © red. ribbon. KING NOANETT. A Story of Old Virginia and the Massachusetts Bay. A New Historical Novel. Second Edition, with Map. Just Out. By F. J. Stimson (J. S. of Dale). ‘‘ We are not afraid to predict that ‘ King Noanett’ will take its place in the hearts of the people with such books as ‘ Lorna Doone’ and ‘ The Little Minister.’— A most noble book.”—JAMES MACARTHUR, in the September Bookman. ‘‘It is marked in conception and execution alike by a trait which, without | reserve, we may name beauty. The quality of charm which pervades the romantic tales of the Old World is just what distinguishes ‘King Noanett.’ The real spirit of the book, the temper which gives it inevitable romantic charm, comes from no documents at all, but straight from nature. The beauty of this book in its concep- tion is like the beauty of our woods and our fields, of our fields and our streams. It is native. to the essence of lyric prose. That is why we love it. Subtly rhythmical cadences which belong In substance and in style alike, then, we may welcome ‘King Noanett’ as a thing of beauty.”—Prof. BARRETT WENDELL, of Harvard University, in The Boston Transcript. ‘*So far as American fiction is concerned ‘ King Noanett’ is far and away the book of the year. into our literature for many a year. Certainly nothing fresher or more original has found its way The volume possesses a distinct historical value.”—Literary Editor, The Boston Transcript. ‘¢ A book which it is hard to put down until the end is reached. The climax is a triumph of clever manipulation. It is a credit to American letters to have pro- duced such a book. We trust that no one will miss the opportunity of making the - acquaintance of ‘King Noanett.”—N. Y. Hxaminer. Price, bound in cloth, $2.00; in vellum, $10.00. WIVES IN EAILE: A Comedy in Romance by William Sharp. $1.25 net. ‘¢The book ought to prove a panacea for the blues.”—Boston Jounal. ‘Tt is long since the reading public has been treated to a bit of fiction so in one ia SRR a a od SF oh piquant in motive, so dainty in workmanship, and so thoroughly well sustained up to the dramatic and effective climax. Any one who can read Wives in Ewile without bubbling over with mirth or getting new light on the vexed problem of the ‘ewig weibliche,’ must indeed be devoid of artistic appreciation and psycho- logical insight. It is pure, clean fun, of a refined, intellectual type, and it leaves no unpleasant aftertaste.”—Boston Beacon. | AN OPAL. Verses by Edna Proctor Clarke. $1.00. ‘‘There is a swift response in Miss Clarke’s nature to that sensuous charm which is most conspicuously identified with the genius of Keats. per eo ae Altogether she is a new voice in the younger choir of the time to which it is pleas- ant to hearken, in which it is cheering to recognize an uplifted, uplifting tone.”— New York Tribune. LAMSON, WOLFFE & CO. The Second Mandolin Club. -It has been decided by the manage- ment of the Second Glee Club to estab- lish a Second Mandolin Club. The fol- lowing men will compose the club: First mandolins—E. D. Pouch, ’98 S., leader; A. E. Philbrick, ’98S., J. L. Mc- Laren ’98S., C. M. Chester ’97S., E. P. Campbell, ’98S. Second mandolins—R. L. Hume, ’98,, H. B. Wilcox, ’98., T. H. Spence, ’1900., Eliot Watrous, ’99., N. A. Street, ’98. Guitars—E. Q. Trowbridge, ’99., G. W. Hubbell, ’1900., A. R. Baldwin, ’98., G. S. Chappell, 799, H. S. Borden, ’98., P. S. Potter, ’99., F. B. Humphreys TIFFANY & CO. Makers of Corporate and Frater- nity Seals and Dies Silver Testi- monials Athletic Prizes Class Pins Society Emblems Engraved Invi- tations and Stationery for the Leading Universities Colleges and other Educational Institutions. aes N. Connor, ’99. ; B8 Cuts of Watches UNION SQUARE upon request. NEW YORK. Altogether there are 246 Yale men holding professorships. Of these 34 have their positions at Yale. Crown Lavender wire ye. Pocket Salts CHARMING NOVELTY. THE CROWN PERFUMERY CO., Of London, call attention to one of their most charming novelties. - Za, Crown Lavender Pocket Salts. wt ot , ; Bach Bottles as shown, or in dainty Kid RAXX “ | WHITE LILAC Purses, which can be carried in the pocket with perfect safety. VIOLETTE “Lets phere ae ip hearess spe , but now for the first tim 5 tocaced into this country. YLANG-YLANG Made in the following odors: VERBENA CROWN LAVENDER MATSUKITA CRAB-APPLE BLOSSOMS And all other odors. [Patented Aug. 4, 1896.] Pocket Salts are Perfect Gems. Deliciously perfumed with the CRowN PERFUMES, and iden: Blin cacity with the world renowned CROWN LAVENDER SALTS, and VARIOUS PERFUMED Sars, the creation of the CROWN PERFUMERY Co., so long and favorably known to their London and Paris.clients. Prices: Standard Size, 50c. Smaller Size,40c, In Kid Purses, 75c. Smaller Size, 6C€c. ASK YOUR DRUGGIST FOR THEM. ’ SOLD EVE: YWHERE. BEWARE OF WORTHLESS IMITATION: ———$—$ Three New Books by Charles @. D. Roberts. THE FORGE IN THE FOREST. Being the Narrative of the Acadian Ranger Jean de Mer. Signeur de Briart, and how he crossed the Black Abbi, and of his Adventures in a Strange Fellowship. With seven full-page Illustrations by Henry Sandham, R.C.A. $1.50. ‘“‘ An Acadian romance that for its splendid purpose, the wonderful endurance, and manhood and womanhood of the characters, as well as the pure poetic imagery of the tale, ought to place it among the classics of that lovely, lost land. ss Tbe story is an intensely interesting one.” —Boston Courier. ‘¢ An interesting and well-written tale, there is no break in the interest or excitement. A very charming romance.—New York Sun. THE BOOK OF THE NATIVE A Volume of Poems. $1.00 net. ‘A collection of songs like these by Mr. Roberts comes with something of the sweetness and refreshing quality of an oasis in the desert.”—New York Tribune. ‘* A book that the lover of genuine poetry may well delight in.”—Boston Beacon. ‘‘Mr. Charles G. D. 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