Books
Conducted by Davis Parker Leach.
-Short History of American Literature
By Walter C. Bronson.
D. C. Heath & Co., Boston.
This work is practically a student's Tiand-book of the literature of America and designed to give, in a condensed form, its history from the time of Cap- tain John Smith until the present day. It is divided as to epochs, and each peri- od is conveniently subdivided into class- es. Mr. Bronson illustrates, in an in- teresting manner, the early tendency to imitate English style, and shows in a clear and comprehensive fashion the gradual growth of the "Ameri- can" idea and individuality, with its later mellowing into a smoother cosmopolitanism. He has a crisp, original way of stating things that makes his criticism even more in- teresting than the criticised, and many into whose hands this book will fall will "be tempted to re-read much of the half- forgotten literature of the past, if only for the sake of proving, or disproving, some of the author's positive assertions.
The volume is invaluable as a refer- ence book, for many names omitted from other works of this nature are introduced Tiere. The appendix containr "opious extracts from writers of the earlier period of American leters, and also an exten- sive bibliography. And through all, from title page to finis, the author's personali- ty is made manifest, and aall mdeed must be the student who is not stimulat- ed to active interest in this fascinating subject. Hoch der Kaiser»Myself und Gott,
By A. McGregor Rose. A. M. K. Gcrdan
This poem was first brought promi- nently to public notice when Captain Coghlan, of the U. S. Navy, recited it at a banquet some two years since. In view of the slight antagonism developed "by the Manila affair, it was considered
an act of indiscretion on the part of the gallant Captain, and the German press was extremely severe in its criticisms.
The episode created a sensation and excited an interest in the poem, which was widely circulated. There were thir- teen verses in all, but by some mistake only eight were at first printed. The Abbey Press has here given the poem in its entirety, and the illustrations, by Miss Jessie A. Walker, are admirable. The book, altogether, is a desirable ad- dition to the library, and the reappear- ance of the clever verses recalls a re- mark made by one of our brainy women. Someone calling attention to the Em- peror's exalted opinion of himself and his divine right to rule, she said: "He must be akin to those mental-science, or in-partnership-with-the-Infinite peo- ple, who claim to believe themselves om- nipotent. The Emperor's position is no more ridiculous than their's."
The volume is tastefully bound and printed, and reflects credit upon the pub- lishers.
Poems
This volume of verse will be welcomed by all of Mrs. Victor's admirers. There are some of the old-time favorites here, but many are now for the first time published. The author retains the thoughtful tenderness and sentiment she had of old, but the later poems show an increased dramatic power that was not conspicuous in the earlier work.
It is not easy to choose where there is so much that is worthy of praise, but among the best are "The Passing of the Year," "Reprimand," and "The Poppies of Wa-ii-lat-pu." In the latter there is a glowing tribute to the memory of the pioneers of Oregon. The following stanzas are from this poem of the "Poppies."
