Chapter 129

7–29580.

A group of sunny south stories including How we bought Louisiana, The earthquake at Charleston, St. Augustine, Hiding places in war times, The ’gator, Catching terrapin and Queer American rivers.

Souttar, Robinson.Short history of mediæval peoples, from the dawn of the Christian era to the fall of Constantinople. *$3 Scribner.

7–25500.

“Mr. Souttar begins with a review of the Augustan age and devotes three chapters to Roman literature before taking up the serious narrative of the reign of Tiberius. The progressof the Roman empire from that time until the death of Justinian occupies more than half of the large volume. Comfortable space is found in seventy-two pages for a sketch of Mohammedanism and an equal measure is allotted to the crusades. The remainder of the book is devoted to the Byzantine empire from Justinian to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.”—Am. Hist. R.

“Possibly the greatest praise we can give the book is that, notwithstanding the compression, it is not only not dull, but in fact very readable, not like the author’s own description of early Roman literature, ‘Historic annals so bald and imperfect that they are of little use even to the historian.’”

“The reader appears to be in safe hands, however, for the current modern opinion is not departed from, unless the author takes occasion to differ with some one as to the causes of the decline and fall of the empire, or as to the effect of Christianity upon early political and social institutions.” J. M. Vincent.

“He has used in his book what may be regarded as respectable authorities but he shows no knowledge of the special literature concerning the topics which he treats. The author is seen at his best in his chapters on the early emperors, whom he treats with both fairness and common sense. But inveterate mistakes are repeated because ... Dr. Souttar is not abreast of recent investigation.”

“Granting Mr. Souttar’s method, he has chosen his material with skill and knowledge and described it with as much vividness as his method will allow.”

“The whole thing is certainly not the work of a thorough scholar, or of a literary man with any cultivated skill in his craft.”

“The truth of the matter is that Dr. Souttar is not sufficiently armed with authorities to reverse the judgment of history. Dr. Souttar’s inability to deal with the more obscure problems of history is shown by his treatment of the subject of Roman persecution of the Christians.”

Spargo, John.Bitter cry of the children.**$1.50. Macmillan.

6–5679.

Descriptive note in Annual, 1906.

“This work is a masterly volume marked by a firm and comprehensive grasp of the subject which speaks of wide and painstaking research and investigation. A real contribution to the conscience literature of the hour.”

Reviewed by Mary Willcox Glenn.

Spargo, John.Capitalist and laborer. (Standard socialist series.) 50c. Kerr.

7–23082.

The first part of this little volume contains a reply to Professor Goldwin Smith’s attacks on socialism in his book “Capital and labor;” the second, a lecture on “Modern socialism,” delivered to the students of the school of philanthropy, New York City.

Reviewed by Albion W. Small.

“The paper will be especially valuable to the average reader whose acquaintance with socialism consists chiefly of a bundle of misapprehensions.”

Spargo, John.Socialism; a summary and interpretation of socialist principles.**$1.25. Macmillan.

6–22326.

Descriptive note in Annual, 1906.

Reviewed by John Graham Brooks.

“Mr. Spargo’s views, which if not authoritative are representative, have the merit of being those of a socialist who is an educated man commanding a clear and temperate style, accustomed to dealing with actual affairs and thinking in terms of American life.” Emily Greene Balch.

“In spite of the brevity of his work—the result of conciseness rather than of superficiality—Mr. Spargo gives a satisfactory general view of his subject, and his book is to be recommended especially as a foundation for a more detailed knowledge to be afterwards acquired.” Eunice Follansbee.

“As an elementary presentation Mr. Spargo’s work is distinctly meritorious, in spite of undoubted faults of style, exposition, and reasoning. Economically it need mislead no one. Sociologically it will prove stimulating to many. It is probably well worth publishing, though it adds nothing to the specialist’s knowledge of socialist history or theory.” R. F. Hoxie.

“It is to be regretted that in preparing such an able hand-book for the propagation of socialistic ideas, the author did not give more serious consideration to the later developments of economic thought and thus bring the ‘economics of socialism’ into closer harmony with the economics of economists.” Henry R. Seager.

Sparhawk, Frances Campbell.Life of Lincoln for boys. (Young peoples ser.) †75c. Crowell.

7–26624.

Purpose, honest and unyielding, marks the development of Lincoln the little boy in the lonely woods into Lincoln the patriot, the lover and friend of his whole country. The sketch has been prepared especially for boys and furnishes the keynote to a successful life in any place or station.

“Adapted to the understanding of the young. At the same time, it is not written in a tone of condescension, an attitude which boys are sure to resent. Adults might well read it and be instructed.”

Sparling, Samuel Edwin.Introduction to business organization. (Citizen’s lib. of economics, politics, and sociology.) $1.25. Macmillan.

6–43943.

“This book is another indication of the growing interest in the systematic study of business. In the introductory part of the work definitions and analysis of business organization are given with considerable attention to the legal aspects and forms of organization. After this introduction Professor Sparling passes to a discussion of such topics as, Business aspects of farming, Factory organization, Factory cost-keeping, Commercial organization, Exchanges, Direct selling, wholesaling and retailing, Advertising, Credits and collections.”

“The only book on the subject.”

“So many things have received treatment, and the limits set by the very nature of the series are so narrow, that it has been impossible for Professor Sparling to make himself clear on a number of points.” Charles Lee Raper.

“The work is clear and readable. While it is not likely to offer much detailed information of value to any thoughtful business man about the organization of his own business, it is likely to prove helpful and suggestive to the student who wants a general view of the field and to the beginner who is studying methods of systematizing his own business.” Wm. Hill.

Spears, John Randolph.Short history of the American navy. **50c. Scribner.

7–12867.

Published under the auspices of the new navy league of the United States, this book aims to be a campaign document for keeping alive people’s pride in our navy and the part it is playing in the making of America’s history.

“This book is not to be taken too seriously. It contributes little new knowledge and fortunately not many errors worthy of being noted.” Charles Oscar Paullin.

“Interestingly and compactly written, it cannot, however, claim consideration as a serious historical study.”

“This short history of the navy is something more—and less—than a history. A tract—even a good tract—is still a tract and should be so labeled.”

Speed, Capt. Thomas.Union cause in Kentucky, 1860–1865. **$2.50. Putnam.

7–14671.

A study of this special phase of the civil war by an active participant.

“The work has those faults to which the author objects so strongly in the other state historians. The method employed is interesting, but unfortunately not convincing. In spite of Captain Speed’s controversial method, which causes him often to forget facts for arguments and opinions, the work will be found useful, for it is the best available source of information about the Union cause in Kentucky.”

“The book does not tell a consecutive story, but is rather a not altogether well-assorted collection of fragments relating to men and events, sometimes only locally interesting.”

“It is a polemic, though not of a fierce nature. It will have value ... simply because it will be essential to the future historian of Kentucky and the other border states.” Wm. E. Dodd.

Speer, Robert E.Marks of a man: or, The essentials of Christian character. *$1. West. Meth. bk.

7–16361.

The Merrick lectures for 1906–7. They are on the following subjects, Truth: no lie in character ever justifiable; Purity: a plea for ignorance; Service: the living use of life; Freedom: the necessity of a margin; Progress and patience: the value of a sense of failure.

Speicher, Jacob.Conquest of the cross in China. **$1.50. Revell.

7–20641.

A first-hand view of the conditions to be met by missionaries in southern China.

“Mr. Speicher’s lectures ... were well worth bringing out in permanent form, because they give good pictures of present conditions at Kityang and the South China field generally, and are full of sane advice on what kind of missionary the country needs and what kind of training the missionary needs.”

*Spinners’ club.Spinners’ book of fiction. **$2. Elder.

7–32566.

A book of stories by well known writers of western fiction. Its mission is to secure additions to a fund started by the Spinner’s club to aid writers, artists or musicians whose fortunes are at low ebb. Miss Ina D. Coolbrith whose literary treasures were swept away by the earth-quake is the first beneficiary.

“A worthy memorial of Californian literary art.”

Spinney, William Anthony.Health through self-control in thinking, breathing, eating. **$1.20. Lothrop.

7–2729.

An untechnical book whose purpose is to prove that health of body and mind is a science and an art, and not in any respect a haphazard matter. The author reveals the way to perfect health.

“There is much ... nonsense in the book.”

Spitta, Edmund J.Microscopy, the construction, theory and use of the microscope. *$6. Dutton.

This “is a new and comprehensive volume on the technique of the instrument, its construction and the theory of optics as applied to the microscope. It differs essentially from ‘Carpenter on the microscope,’ which has long been considered as standard, in that Spitta has nothing to say regarding microscopic objects. He concerns himself entirely with the instrument as a medium. The present volume considers for the first time metallurgical microscopes and illustrates the most recent types.”—Ind.

“We have noticed a few points which might receive attention in a future edition, but our opinion of the work as a whole is high, and every microscopist will be glad to add it to his library.”

“Advanced students in microscopy will find the present volume extremely helpful.”

“In this aim he has, we think, been in a marked degree successful.”

“The merit of Dr. Spitta’s work lies in its practical hints, which are the work of an experienced and skilled microscopist, and not in its theory, which in fact hardly merits even the subordinate place which he modestly assigns to it in his preface.”

Squires, Grace.Merle and May: a story of girlhood days. †$1.50. Dutton.

6–39753.

The story of May and the winning over of her friend Merle, whose world was all awry, to a wholesome girlish view of life will interest boys as well as girls, for it is full of both fun and incident.

“It would interest boys, too, and it is better than the title would suggest.”

“It is full of wholesome lively, good fun, with just enough seriousness to carry it home to susceptible young hearts. It would do any girl good to read it.”

Stael-Holstein, Mme. de.Madame de Staël and Benjamin Constant; ed. by Mme. de Constant’s great-granddaughter. Baroness Elizabeth de Nolde; tr. from the French by Charlotte Harwood. **$1.50. Putnam.

7–29169.

“These letters from Madame de Staël to Benjamin Constant, while not of great political importance, show clearly the temper of the times, as well as the emotions of the distinguished woman who wrote them. They are not many, and do not by any means cover the whole period when these two famous people were intimately connected. They show the decadence of their devotion, and represent, by implication, ‘the inconstant Constant’ in any but an admirable light.”—Outlook.

“These letters of Mme. de Staël, with their frequent references to current events, have some historical as well as biographical interest, but are perhaps not quite so important or interesting as the Baroness de Nolde would have us believe. The translation is a little too obviously a translation.”

“As a whole the small volume is an interesting addition, though not of great importance, to the voluminous literature of the time.”

“The book is to be recommended to all readers who are attracted by the name of Madame de Staël. She, not Constant, benefits by this publication of new letters.”

Staley, Edgcumbe.Guilds of Florence. *$5. McClurg.

6–37191.

Descriptive note in Annual, 1906.

“It is not provided with notes of any sort, and the literary style is too exuberant to be that of an historian writing primarily for students. It is not likely that very many readers will be able to plough through all of the twenty chapters. But no one with any interest in the general subject can afford to miss the last hundred pages of the book.” Laurence M. Larson.

“Easy as it would be to quarrel with the impression caused by this presentation, and to detect inaccuracies, the heart of Mr. Staley’s book is sound. It is not an important contribution to historical knowledge but an attractive work for the general reader.”

Staley, Edgcumbe.Lord Leighton of Stretton. (Makers of British art.) *$1.25. Scribner.

“An attempt to give Lord Leighton of Stretton his true place in art history, and at the same time designate a proper proportion to his gentlemanly characteristics. By birth, fortune, and environment Frederick Leighton was singularly placed for advancement in any profession toward which he might have been attracted. The first 173 pages of the book form a narrative biography built around the work of the artist from his early student sketches in Berlin and Florence to the unfinished canvases left at his death.... The closing pages of the book deal in a fragmentary, discursive, yet natural, manner with Leighton’s versatility, nobility of purpose, courtesy, sincerity, daily habits and patriotism.”—N. Y. Times.

“It happens that Mr. Staley’s praise is not only tiresome, but generally meaningless, and without any clear perception of the real quality of the work praised.”

“The [narrative biography] is admirably told with sufficient anecdote to appeal to the general reader, while the chronology of his advancement is preserved for reference through the titles of his pictures inserted as marginal notes.”

“He has written with such apparent indiscrimination.”

Stamey, De Kellar.Junction of laughter and tears. $1.25. Badger, R: G.

6–16206.

Descriptive note in Annual, 1906.

“If the moral is at times a little too obvious, and the language rather that of the man in the street, the verses are at least the author’s own, there is here no troublesome echo of greater poets.”

Stanard, Mrs. Mary Newton.Story of Bacon’s rebellion.$1. Neale.

7–20751.

Another bit of Jamestown history is told in this story of Nathaniel Bacon who in 1676 led the poverty-stricken people of Virginia in rebellion against Governor Berkeley and his grandees. The story is well told and the motives, aims, and ideals of its hero have been carefully sought out.

“Mrs. Stanard has been able to write a tolerably complete account of the whole stirring episode. It cannot be said that every gap has been filled out, neither is it altogether certain that the author’s interpretations are always correct. The historical student may incline to question whether the romantic in the episode has not sometimes lifted the author’s feet off the solid rock of historical criticism.”

“Mrs. Stanard has caught the spirit of the movement, and, fortified with study of the original records and documents, has written a thoroughly readable little account of the rebellion.”

“Mrs. Stanard has a way of raising opposition in her readers; but that there is much to be said for her hero we do not doubt; in any case, there is much that is picturesque and interesting in her story.”

Standage, H. C.Agglutinants of all kinds for all purposes. *$3.50. Van Nostrand.

Here are scientifically discussed cements and agglutinants suited to a great variety of trade purpose. The methods of preparing the compounds are such as the author has found to give the best and surest results.

Stanmore, Arthur H. G., 1st baron.Sidney Herbert; Lord Herbert of Lea. 2v. *$7.50. Dutton.

7–28487.

Owing to the dearth of facts available for Lord Stanmore’s biography he offers, as he says, a “bare recital of outer events” with “a sketch of the times in which Lord Herbert lived.” “His career was hardly such as to place him among the distinguished men of his generation, and certainly was not such as to warrant his biographer’s assertion that had he lived longer he would have been prime minister of England. His chief claims to remembrance rest on his charming personality and on his connection with the little group of Parliamentarians who banded themselves together to keep alive Sir Robert Peel’s principles and policies.” (Outlook.)

“Lord Stanmore has, on the whole, done his work well, but some readers will object to the occasional intrusion of his own personality and opinions.”

“It is good that the world should know what war means for the men who are of the administrations responsible for a war; and except for the Aberdeen memoirs, there are among English political biographies no books which aremore valuable from this point of view than the biography of Sidney Herbert.”

“In many respects Sidney Herbert is singularly fortunate in his biographer. He is only unfortunate in having had to wait so long. His treatment of the Crimean war and its causes is such as might not unfairly be called in these days a little old-fashioned.”

“The net impression would have been better made in one-third the space.”

“It is as a history of the Peelites that biography is chiefly interesting, and especially for the fresh light it throws, not on Herbert, but on Gladstone, the most distinguished and the most able of the Peelites. For the rest, we must admit, that we have found the work formidable and rather dreary reading.”

“Very interesting memoir.”

Stanton, Coralie.Adventuress. Frontispiece by Harrison Fisher. $1.50. McBride, T. J.

7–11588.

The story of Miriam Lemaire, a money lender, a society vampire, a compelling criminal. The adventures of this woman, “who became a power for good and evil, playing with men and even nations, as a cat plays with mice” are recounted by the person, among all who appear on the horizon of the tale, who suffered no ill at the hands of the adventuress.

Starbuck, Robert Macy.Modern plumbing illustrated; a comprehensive and thoroughly practical work on the modern and most approved methods of plumbing construction; il. by fifty-five detailed plates made expressly by the author for this work. $4. Henley.

7–2755.

A plumbers’ handbook including the most practical up-to-date handling of the questions of drainage, sewerage, and water supply.

“Exception must be taken to some of the author’s remarks. These exceptions, however, affect only a small part of the book, and probably most of them will do little harm, considering the class of readers concerned. The main purpose of the book seems to be admirably fulfilled.”

“It will be found of value not only to master plumbers, craftsmen and apprentices, but to architects, builders and all others who have occasion to require clearly stated and excellently illustrated information on the installation of sanitary appliances.”

Starke, Dr. J.Alcohol: the sanction for its use scientifically established and popularly expounded by a physiologist; tr. from the German. **$1.50. Putnam.

7–12259.

A popular treatise on the relations of alcohol to living organisms, especially to man. The subject is discussed from the medical and also the physical standpoint. On the one hand the author concludes that “There is nothing in medical experience which speaks against the moderate use of good alcoholic drinks by the public, but much that speaks in favor of it,” on the other, that the bodily cells of man are not strangers to alcohol and to its elaboration, that it nourishes, exerts a specific action on the nervous system, acts no less as a nutrient and a specific than cereals and sugar, and that the disposition to drink excessively has its origin in the peculiarities and circumstances of the individual, and that alcohol does not of itself possess the property of inducing excessive use.

“It bears the earmarks of prejudice and is written in popular style in order to influence public opinion more effectively.”

“This common-sense volume will be a useful antidote to much of the unscientific and incendiary literature on the subject that is in circulation.”

“The translation, from a German original, is for the most part smooth and clear, but the ‘Checking sensations’ of the sixth chapter are somewhat obscure.”

“While this volume will scarcely meet with unanimous approval, it might still be recommended as an antidote to the attenuated nonsense of the ‘scientific temperance’ of the school books.” Graham Lusk.

Starr, Frederick.Truth about the Congo: the Chicago tribune articles.$1. Forbes.

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