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I f EIGHTH PAGE <THE SUNNY SOUTH * IN THE LITERARY WORLD ^ coin and Lord OHN HOWARD BRY- I ant, the last of five ■ m brothers, died during I ' M the past imontth on an f M Illinois farm, where he had lived for seventy- years. He was the youngest and favorite brother of the first born of the family, Wil liam Cullen Bryant, whom, he survived for twenty-three years. John Howard was born in the Bryant homestead at Cumminsion, Mass., seventeen months before the Annus Mirabilis, which gave birth to Lin- Tennyson, Darwin and Gladstone, Holmes and Poe. whopin and Mendelssohn, as well as many other men of distinction, and yet survived to see the second year of the twentieth century. Seventy of his 94 years were spent in the west, where as farmer, politician and poet, he enjoyed the confidence and re spect of the community in which lie lived. Physically, Mr. Bryant was greatly the superior of his distinguished brother, be ing a large and powerful man of 'great endurance, frequently in early life work ing sixteen hours a day on his farm, or riding (10 to TO miles on horseback. He sould split one hundred rails in a sum mer's day, and even Lincoln in his rail- splitting years never surpassed that rec ord. In answer to an American friend s inquiry as to his achievements in this line. Gladstone replied: “I managed on one occasion, in imitation of Mr. Lincoln, to split ten rails, hut I never again repeated the performance.” Bryant was a free soiler, and later a republican. His con nection with the ‘‘underground railroad” was. so efficient that at one time he had fifteen fugitive slaves under his roof, and was successful in speeding them forward to the haven where they would be across the Canadian border. At the outbreak of the Biack Hawk war Mr. Bryant saw a company of Illinois volunteers on their way to the front, and was introduced to the captain, a tall, raw-boned, typical son of the prairies ■ and product of the log cabin. He chatted with this captain for a while, and at once perceived that, although he was uncon ventional according to eastern standards in his garb and manner, yet he had a •ciear mind, and was a most entertaining anu impressive talker. He asked the tail fellow his name, whereupon the officer introduced himself as Abraham Lincoln, captain of volunteers in the Black Hawk war. When in 1*4- Mr. Bryant became a member of the Illinois legislature, he and 1,incoin met again in Springfield, and soon became intimate friends, continuing as such until the president’s death twenty- three vears later. Among many good Lin coln stories related by the "Prairie Bard,” a single one will suffice for this brief trib ute to Bryant's memory. It is the only one we remember. When the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis railway was in course of construction at the Illinois capital, a gang of about 100 Irish laborers, employ ed by the contractor for that section of the road, took possession of the polls and would not permit any whig to cast his vote. News of this condition of things v.as carried to Lincoln, who immediately rtarted for the polls. Passing his grocer’s si op, and observing a small barrel of ax handles displayed at his door, he said: ••Bill, I want to borrow two of these helves for about ten minutes to break a few democratic heads,” and strode on with large and rapid strides, swinging them in the air by way of practice for the approaching fray. When the drunken democrats saw Lincoln coming with his two clubs they were seized with a sud den panic, and the entire crowd lied. They had heard of his great strength of arm and hand, and stood not on the-or der of their going. There was r.o further difficulty about Springfield wings voting that afternoon, for Lincoln remained on guard until the polls closed. John H. Bryant was among the pioneers of central Illinois, appearing in the same year that Abraham Lincoln settled there. He filled many minor offices, the most important, and the one in which lie took the greatest pride, being tiiat of dele gate to the Chicago convention of lull), where he cast his vote for Lincoln's nom ination to the j residency. When Joshua R. Giddings was leaving the republican convention in disgust because it had re pudiated the words of the Declaration of Independence, that had been adopted at Pittsburg at his instance, Mr Bryant brought back Giddings to listen to toe eloquent address of George William Cur tis, which restored the convention to its saner mind. Pour years previous Bryant was a member of the national convention that nominated John C. Fremont. It was on the day of .Mr. Lincoln's nomination in the Chicago ‘wigwam" that the writer first met Mr. Bryant. Communications were occasionally ex changed with him during the succeeding years, and he sometimes favored his New York correspondent with a poem, having, as he once expressed it, “always been ad dicted to tin pleasant but entirely un profitable business of making rhymes.” Before me lies a presentation copy of an attractive octavo volume entitled "Poems Written from Youth to Old Age, 1824-1884, by John Howard Bryant." Of his poetical writings, the elder brother said to a friend: "While my brother's poems are certainly very unequal, the majority are creditable, and almost all contain many admirable lines,” affectionately adding, "He is one of the best men 1 ever knew.” At the advanced age of fourscore and ten. tlu? "Prairie Bard,” as his earlier productions appearing in The Jacksonville Jomi al were signed, sent the present writer the following birthday sennet, his handwriting then, and always, so st/ong- ly resembling that of his elde-- and more lamnus brother that only an expert would detect any difference. Additional interest attaches to this unpublished composition from the circumstance of its being the authors last: Here now I stand upon life's outer verge. Close at my feet, an ocean wide and deep. Dark, sullen, silent, and without a .surge Whose earth's past myriads lie In dreamless sleep. ‘Tie here I stand without a thrill of fear. In loneliness allied to the sublime: The broken links of love that found me here Die scattered on this treacherous shoal of Time. But still I cling to friends who yet remain. Still lovo the glorious scenes that round me lie; Striving to stay the waste of years In vain, As swifter yet the winged moments lly. Idly I seek the future to explore. I partly know what Is, but naught that la berore. By Invitation of the Illinois state com mittee in charge, Mr. Bryant read a Edited by Lucian L. Knight poem written for the final dedication of the Lincoln monument at Springfield, April 15, 1SS4, entitled "At the Tomb of Lincoln." The following Is the first of fourteen stanzas: Not one of all Earth’s wise and good Hath earned a purer gratitude. Than the great soul whose hallowed dust This structure holds In sacred trust. Bryant’s poetical writings were not numerous, as he only produced verse in the intervals of a strenuous and busy life, and when strongly moved to do so. His charming reminiscences ef his Princeton home, where his widely known brother several times visited him, find natural and graceful expression in lines not unworthy of William. Thiis opinion was expressed to the writer by the latter in regard to "The Valley Brook,” "The Little Cloud.” “My Native Village,” “The Ancient ''••k” and "The Blue Bird.” When requested in 1884 to favor me with a manuscript copy of his favor ite composition, Mr. Bryant sent "The Valley Brook.” John H. Bryant died at Princeton, January 14, 3902, aged 94 years. He was not only the last survivor of five brothers and two sisters—attaining the greatest age of any, William Cullen, who died at 84. coming next—but he outlived a'U his own immediate family, his son, Henry W., passing away jn 1854, at 19; Mrs. Bry ant in 1888, a.t fourscore, and their son, Elijah AV„ in 1892. at 57. Mr. Bryant, who is represented by a daughter in law and grandchildren, who occupy the Frinceton place on which he lived for threescore and ten years, was a fine example of "plain living and high think ing" to three generations of Americans. Near the handsome residence in which he died may still be seen the small log cabin that was his first home in Illi nois. (General John H. Wilson, in The New York Times-Review.) * “The War in South Africa; Its Cause and Conduct." is the new book by Dr. A. Conan Doyle, brought out in this country by McClure, Phillips & Co. Dr. Doyle wrote it as a defense of the Brit ish soldiers who were charged with all manner of barbarities in the Boer coun try by the continental press. The vol ume is published at 10 cents, the author and publishers disposing of it without any profit, since Dr. Doyle regards It as a labor of love and loyalty. He has giv en orders to the publishers to send com plimentary copies to all senators, repre sentatives, officials of high national po sitions, governors of states and libraries, with a view of putting the defense of the British fairly before the people of the United States. In furtherance of his alms Dr. Doyle has received subscrip tions varying from £50 from Lord Rose bery to 6d. from a schoolboy. The au thor has, so far, been unable to find a publisher in Germany, although Baron Tauchnitz, with his usual fairminded- ness, has included It in his English library. But the German translation is nearly ready, and if no one will be found willing to publish the book an edition of 5,000 copies wHl be printed in London to be sent to those whom it is desired to influence. In Holland, likewse, the same difficulty faces Dr. Doyle, but, if necessary, the same means as in Germany will be employed. The French transla tion Is nearly completed, and 10.000 copies will be issued, through Galignani, to readers In France, Belgium and Switzer land. Miss Otitllie A. Liljencrantz, the au thor of "The Thrall of Leif the Lucky,” a viking romance, which is beginning to arouse wide popular interest. Is herself a descendant of the. fine old sea rovers she describes. She is a resident of Chi cago, and 1 although very young, has spent manifl years preparing herself for her first book. Ever since she conceived ■the ambition to write a great romance about the vikings she has made a close study of all the available literature about that period. Her natural Inclination and her enthusiasm over the achievements of her forefathers helped her into a ready understanding of the sagas and all the wonderful traditions of the northland. The exploits of Leif Ericsson appealed to her particularly and she decided to write her story around his voyages to Greenland, and his famous voyage of discovery to America. After the long time spent In preparation she has put two years into the writing of the book itself, and tile publishers say that her perfect understanding of the viking life will be found one of the grestest charms of the story. Short Reviews of New Books ‘‘ANTICI PATIONS” by H a Wells Archibald R. Colquhoun is the. well- known aiitlior of several up-to-date vol umes bearing upon the great Interna tional problems of the “THEMYSTERY dav, and whatever may OFTHEPACIF- be the opinions of lndl- IC” by vldual readers concerning Archibald R the arguments which he colquhoun makes, there can be no doubt as to the exhaus tive and thorough character of his re- i searches, and the English-speaking world is deeply indebted tie him for the very important contribuiions which he has made to the literature of current polities —economic discussions. As Ithe writer points out, the great powers which, are struggling for the mastery of title Pa cific are the United States, Great Britain, Holland, Japan, Germany, France, Rus sia and China, but Ithe United States will undoubtedly prove the dominating force. After discussing briefly the naltural con ditions of the Pacific islands, the author passes on to an account of the expansion of the United States and the character of Ithe Philippines and the Filipino. The. term Filipino applies to all who are born j in the Philippines, but it is incorrect to speak cf the Filipino nation, as there is no national spirit. There are three dif- ticn with skill and economy. Instead of ing a policy that shall be acceptable to other powers. (The Macmillan Co., New Y'ork.) * II. G. Wells belongs to the imaginative school of writers, and is likely to fall heir to Jules Veme’s mantle when the latter, who is now quite old. is called to his re ward. “Anticipations” will be read with interest. Basing his speculations on the attainments which have already been made in mechanical science, the author makes an interesting forecast of how things are going during the next one hundred years. Mr. Wells begins his work with a chap ter on locomotion In the twentieth cen tury. This is to he so extensive, so easy and inviting that congestion in large cities will be a matter of the past. Ready transit, the telephone, the pneumatic tube will lead to the diffusion of great cities and the days of high rents and crowded streets will be over. Annihilating distances al! over the world will tend to make each district specialize in the production for which it is best fitted, and to develop that produc- NATURAL BODY BRACE Cl RES All MESTS OF WOMEN Female Weakeeta, Inflammations, Internal Pains, Lassitude, Backache, Headache, Nervousness, Indigestion, Jlelancboly, Lung Diseases. TRIAL FREE comfort, attractlrenew. wnour external, worn wiui or wiuioui corae». Simple, comfortable, adjustable to fit an j figure. Invaluable to the prospective mother. We receive from 10,000 to 20,000 letters every soar like the following: Rushville, 11. Y„ June 2, ISOI. I had been ailing for fifteen rears from back ache. headache, constipation and prolamus. I had Seen treated by some of the best special lets in the country without avnll. Your brace cured me. The ereans have gone back to proper position and f f..— Mrs. G. C. Shuman, trial fhr 90 days. Particulars and Il lustrated book^nalled^free In plain, sealed THE NATURAL BODY BRACE CO 'I I N -\ . K 4 * S \ S . ferent races in the islands today, as there was when they first came Into the hands of the Spaniards. First are the Negritos or aborigines, of whom there are about 25,(100. These arc, dwindling in num bers and the conquered race are driven to 'take refuge in the mountains. Second are the Indonesians, of whom there are. 250,000. These are of more im portance and in many places are a fine, flourishing people. The third race is the Malay, although in the mixture of blood it is often difficult to decide where the Indonesian ends and the Malayan t>egins. especially as Ithe Malayans, like the In donesians, a.re of semi-Mogul stock and rnelt almost imperceptibly into the Chi nese and Japanese. The Malay character and physique, however, may be taken as the real foundation for the Filipino, a character subsequently modified by the infusion of Spanish blood. It is the Ma lay and the Malay-Indonesians who cre ate troubles and oppose the "Stars and Stripes.” Professor Colquhoun speaks of certain delightful traits of these Malays, their brightness, hospitality and tender ness of heart, but says they de generate physically and morally when brought under the influence of west tii civilizatio #. ThVMalay is in dolent, untruthful and without persfver- anee. He is clannish and provincial. He lacks the power of organizing. “No Malay nation has ever emerged from the hordes of that race which have spread over the islands of the Pacific.” The author is not oversanguine as to the ability of the United States to edu cate the Filipino for self-government. "It is a beautiful theory,” ho says, “and a •beautiful scheme, but unfortunately it in volves an entire subversion of the laws of nature. To educate a nation is a grand and noble aim, but it cannot be accomplished in one generation or even in two.” Referring to the statement often made that the United States have fought their way through centuries of progress toward the goal of universal suffrage and democratic government, Professor Colquhoun says It should be remembered that long before the United States be gan that fight the ancestors of Ameri cans were struggling through ages to ward freedom of thought and action. He admits, however, that the proper education of the Filipinos, if not unduly hurried, will prove in the long run an un told benefit to the race. A great misfor tune is that they have so much to un learn. The system under which they have lived for three centuries has confirmed them in habits which cannot be eradi cated at once. The Filipinos are not apathetic nor stupid. They are eager as children to try a new method or hear fresh ideas, but the danger lies in their cleverness and sharpness and in the de sire of Americans to have everything done soon. The plan of making English the school language is cordially indorsed* because there is really no Filipino lan guage, and because of the great value of English as an almost universal medium of communication. Although the government does not pro pose to undertake religious instruction. Professor Colquhoun remarks In this connection that it Is unilikely that any form of religion except 'the Roman Cath olic could succeed in these islands. Mu sic and the ritual are essentials to at tract the Filipino and hold his attention. Already the natives notice 'the difference between the American clergy and the friars and are inclined to look upon Americans as irreligious. In contrasting the different methods pursued in the Pacific area by the great colonizing powers the author makes no invidious comparisons, but finds the dif ferent results attained by each in deal ing with a people practically of the same stock to be interesting and instructive. He believes the United States will be the dominant factor in the mastery of the Pacific. By this he does not mean forci ble domination, but the advantage In the maintenance of commercial rights, in the the heterogeneous class of workmen known today there will be specialization— here a nucleus 0 f expert engineers, there a center of skilled mechanics. As learn ing is diffused there will be the develop ment of individual excellence anil the tendency will bo to segregate for mutual strength and advantage. In regard to war the vision is that it will net be showy, dramatic and emo tional, as it has been ir. the past. It will be a question of preparation, of long years of foresight and disciplined imag ination. The nation that produces the largest proportion of intellectually ac tive, able-bodied people will be the most powerful in war and in peace. No dash of heroism, no sudden flag-waving or im provised patriotic leagues can alter the fact that “the nation that turns the greatest proportion of its irresponsible adiposity into social muscle will be the dominant nation before the year 2000.” Some of the other subiects treated in this semiscientific. semifanciful book are: “The Life History of Democracy,” "The Conflict of Languages” and “The New Repub.'ic.” The style of the author is en gaging. Many of his views are quite out of the usual line of thinking and not a few of them are worthy of serious at tention. (Harper & Bros.. New York.) * Contrary to the expectation aroused by the title, "Lepidus the Centurion” is not a tale of old Roman days, but instead is concerned with Eng- ’’Lepidus the llsh life of the present Centurion: a Ro- time. Beyond a touch man oIToday”by of unreality lent by an Edwin i ester unusual plot, the situa- Arnold tions are vivid, well con nected and plausible, glowing under the author’s splendid imaginative powers. The study of mod ern social life, slightly tinged with the ancient, l>ecomes all the more interest ing through the Mending. The author is ■afforded a tine opportunity for mild sar casm, rich humor and striking dramatic effect, all of which he is the first to per ceive. For the rest, this is a story without a vBllain—whose absence is not even missed, so rapid is the action—and with a heroine well worth the struggle which culminates here after two thousand years. For those who admire a story with a touch of the supernatural, when that ele ment adapts itself to vivid delineation— as in Bulwer LyRon's "Coming Race" and Bellamy's "Looking Backward”— this remarkable plot will have especial value. Moreover, It will reveal situations delightfully droll and convincingly real. Readers of this book may open it without fear of finding a vehicle for truth or moral, save that which any well- mannered, wholesome story cannot help bat present. They may open It with the assurance that they will speedily lose themselves in its situations, and turn from 'its final scene wlth-regret. (Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., New York.) The "Jtutomohay” "From the mountains of New Hamp shire,” said The Boston Transcript, “comes a David Harumllke story of the advent of the first automobile, which made its appearance last summer, having climbed one of the steep slopes near Won- alencet, with disastrous results to the running gear. The accident happened near a hay field, where a farmer was en deavoring to repair a broken mowing ma chine. Attracted by the appearance of the strange looking horseless vehicle, the farmer left his occupation and came out to Inspect the remarkable object with open-mouthed astonishment. After a few moments of silent scrutiny he said to the chauffeur, who was repairing the break as well as he could: ‘Wha’d d’ ye call that ‘ere machine?’ ‘That is an automobile.’ was the reply. ‘What do you call yours?’ pointing waggishly to the disabled appa ratus in the field. ‘Wal,* was the dry re sponse, with a pause fqr a shift of the Odd Desert Flora <51 F atiisa—Bi jrtHplace of Cradle Life Continued frotm third page was unknown until alfew vears ago and but few of Its nests hlive yet been found. It builds a rather cluVmsv nest of sticks after the manner of tits east?rn cousin and lays therein fouA dark blue eggs. There is a very dark 1 oriole frequently met with on the deserjt. It Is the bird commonly called Scotfi's oriole, and builds its nest in the frreen tufts of the giant fan palms. The lit lie yellow capped tit, with Its plaintive/ call and black, gioslsy coat is common. It builds a long pendent nest and fswlngs It to the branches of the mes</uite and the yucca trees. \ The most familiar dweller of the desert y whi litjtle thi s hite on the under animal is run- a short tail perfectly side and when the nlng about among th<^ sand heaps this tail is hoisted over his iback. which gives him the exact appearathce of a miniature cotton tail rabbit. Tlye desert squirrels, tiny brown and gray shotted animals, live in colonies under the i\oits of the shad ing century plants \erJv much after the manner of the prairife dogs. There is another animal calledi bv naturalists the round-tailed squirrel which also burrows in the ground and' has a shrill, sharp whistle. The sun-scorchec>. and wind-swept des ert seems to be t;he ideal home of the kangaroo rat. TViis rodent often attains the length cf 18 inches from tip of nose to end of tail. His cheeks hang out like well filled pouches and are adorned with tufts of long white whiskers. This jump ing rat is thought to be common to all the southwest. It is found ail over southern California, but in the coast re gion and in the mountains it is quite dark, while those found on the desert are ashen gray. The homed toad hoes and skips before you at ev.i ry turn and veu at once notice that he. too. is dressed in his summer suit, and looks much paler and more fad ed than these members of his family you met back in Texas anJ Arizona. Little white lizards scurry here and there through the dust, and their gray tails standing straight in tho air as they run remind you very much of sticks racing about your path. The sing of thd rattle snake Is a frequent sound here In these measureless solitudes, and there is a kind of these reptiles found here which is probably not met with elsewhere. This is the little rattler which does not move straight ahead like other serpents, but proceeds crabwise in a most uncanny manner. There are big bugs which wheel by in droning flight, little busy ants patiently threading their way through the scorch ing sands and spry and Historical Facts as to Invention of Cotton Gin Continued from fifth page fair mechanic, constructed a gin on the same principle as Whitney's. Miller did at one time own the Barnett place on Upton creek on which he operated a gin, ■but the latter part of the story, of Lyons' disguising himself as a woman, etc., ap pear to be apocryphal inasmuch as there is no allusion in any of the correspondence or court records to any such occurence. The story about some one breaking into Whitney’s gin shops and stealing his models seems equally without foundation for the same reason. As to the oft-repeated charge that Whitney was badly treated at the south, and especially so by Georgia, let us, in good conscience, see what foundation ex ists for the allegation. Whitney sold his patent right to the state of South Caro lina for $50,000; from North Carolina and Tennessee he received about $80,000 and $10,000, respectively, through arrange ments made u r ith the governments o£ those states, making a total of $90,000 which he made from the invention in a few .years and carried north with him. He came south without a dollar. In Georgia Miller and Whitney reserved the right of property in their gin, at first receiving two thirds of the net proceeds, the expense being divided equally between the patentee and the ginners. But, as Governor James Jackson says in a mes sage to the Georgia legislature, Novem ber 3, 1800, they found a defect in the law under which their patent was ob tained and consequently they determined to sell the machines together with their rights vested in them for $500 each, and for a license to build and operate one at the ginner’s expense, they charged $400. But finding that the law was generally understood and that they could obtain no redress in the courts they concluded to reduce the price to $200. Governor Jack- son further says: "I am Informed from other sources that gins have been erected by other persops who have not taken Mil ler and Whitney’s machine for a model, but which in some small degree resembles it, and in improvements far surpass it, for it has been asserted that Miller and. AVhit- ney’s did not on trial answer the intended purpose; the rights of these improve ments. however, it appears by the present act, merged in the rights of the paten tees. who it is supposed, on the lowest calculation, will make by it in the two states (Georgia and South Carolina) $100,- 000.” The act referred to was passed by congress, doubtless, for the special pur pose of shutting out Holmes’ claim and establishing Whitney's right to the use of the saw cylinder instead of the spike cylinder which he had invented. This ac counts for Holmes not engaging in liti gation. His claim had been outlawed by special legislation and it would have been fruitless. No wonder that Holmes died a heart- & A Neglected Duty By IJiM MJtCLJtREM Author o/ “BAe Bonnie Brier Bush>' Etc ■Slight Ani* tiny crickets whose , mal Noises cheery notes give an ele- 1 broken, mortified and bitterly disappoint- Break Dreary Monotony meat of charm to tlie gravelike silence of these far-reaching solitudes. I have been much in terested in these western deserts. There is something enchanting about their ele mental simplicity. They aro the open gateways through which we see farthest back into the making of the world, and somehow one feels that he Is able to view th» whole course of life from the begin ning far down to itr present forms. Standing among the shimmering wastes and ghostlike mountains cue involuntarily feels that erect man and graceful bird are yet in the distant future. Around us lie the crude a.nd chaotic beginnings in the schemes of things. We are at the starting point and we may look dow> the course cf history to its very end. Man, naked and savage, makes his heme in the caves anl lives by stealth and brute force; he clothes himself in, skins and organizes into packs and herds; he devises governments, he gets a shave and a hnjr cut, he gets vachts and cham pagne, he evolves religions and philoso phies. Man struggles blindly with the condi tions which fence him in. He hopes, he prays,he plans, he fights. But however carefully he plans and builds, and how ever valiantly he- battles, if his ideals are not in harmony with the Universal Scheme his efforts are naught. His toil- ings, his plannings and his prayers are brushed aside or ground into powder as, with slow but never-fsdling stroke, the mighty sledge of Nature continues the fashioning of the destinv of the world. ed man. He had lived to see the fruit3 of his toil and genius snatched from him and converted to another’s uses. He had lived to see his wonderful invention revo lutionizing the world, but all the honor, the glory and the emoluments given to his hated rival. His name should appear high up on the roll of fame, together with Watts, Fulton, Arkwright, Draper, Mar coni and all the great inventors who have contributed to science and mechanic arts, thus promoting the world's progress, for he bestowed upon mankind the inestima ble blessings of an epochal labor-saving device, simple, but the more useful be cause of its simplicity. And his services to Georgia were even more direct and beneficial than to the world at large, for the immediate effect of his invention was to frustrate the designs of Miller and Whitney, who had determined to monopo lize the ginning in this state and were prevented from carrying out their odious scheme by the prolonged, continuous and unavailing lawsuits that ensued ns a re sult of the attempt. The honor of the world's renowned in- vention should he accredited to Georgia and not to Massachusetts. But this is not the only instance in which Georgia has been-robbed of what was justly hers. A great marble shaft set up In Boston proclaims that Wells was the discoverer of anesthesia, whereas indubitable proofs exist that to Dr. Crawford W. Long, of Georgia, that honor belongs. The ashes of Hodgen Holmes repose in an unknown grave in the city of Augusta. Modern Eloquence Edited by Hon T C B Reed work of ten volumes, excellent specimens cf control of commuBlcartPitf. and in diet at- ‘chaw,’ ‘R auto-mo-hay, but it don't. An exhaustive containing many southern oratory. Surely the flame of oratory is in no dan ger of dying cut in this country so long as enterprising American publishers con tinue to feed it with the fuel of well- seasoned eloquence gathered not only from our own favored clime, where the goddess of liber.y has inspired some of the noblest outbursts of genius, but from almost every land under the sun. When the “World’s Best Orations” was com piled some time ago by Justice David J. Brewer, we thought i't covered the field so thoroughly that nothing in the line of oratorical specimers was left for future compilers who might undertake to trav erse the same ground, but since we have examined the contents of "Modern Elo quence,” which ex-Speaker Thomas B. Keed has compiled for John D. Morris & Co., of Philadelphia, we find that it not only contains many exquisite pro ductions of oratory hitherto unpub lished in any similar work, but also opens new fields of oratory which other works have barely touched upon; and altogether it presents what is probably the richest symposium of modern eloquence which has yet come from the preiss. Dealing exclusively with the field of modern eloquence it omits the ancient classic masterpieces, such as the phil ippics of Demosthenes and the orations of Cicero against Cataline, and it makes no -attempt to isupplant the “World’s Best Orations,” which broadly cavers the whole fieid of oratory, ancient as well as modern, and Oriental as well as Occidental; but what it lacks in ampli tude of scope it makes up in thorough ness of treatment and if not a substi tute for the “World’s Best Orations” it is most assuredly a supplement which no lover of eloquence can afford to do without. What specially commends it to us is the fact that more than any other work which we have yet examined, it recognizes the superior quality of south ern oratory and gives place to many ex cellent specimens of this domestic brand. Ten handsome volumes are comprised in the work and the various departments of oratory represented are “After Dinner Oratory," “Occasional Ora tory,” "Lectures," and "Humorous Anecdotes.” Speaker Reed, in the completion of the work editor in chief, has been assisted by Justin Mc Carthy, Rosstter Johnston and Albert Ellery Bergh as associate editors and also by the following committee of se lection: Edward Everett Hale, Jonathan P. Dolliver, John il. Gordon, Nathan Haskell Dole. Jameff B. Pond, Clark Howell, George McLean Harper, Lorenzo Sears, Edwin M. Bat'ion, F. C. Owen, J. W. MoSpadden, Markus Benjamin, Tru man A. De Weifse, William W. Matos and Champ (Clark. This list of distinguished men is ’ sufficient In itself to attest the excellence of the work. Most -of the compilations of eloquence now extant are ma-cle up of political speeches and occasional addresses, but jr.’np— or i.,p"| cts *•<”’ and presents In YulD the most brilliant lectures of the most; successful favorites of the platform, together with an in finite variety of afjter dinner speeches and an endless assortment of humorous anecdotes and reminiscences. On ac count of the recognized value of the work The Constitution has undertaken to introduce it into every home in the south and is now engaged in securing club rates for this purpose, being im pelled solely by the desire to give the people of this section the opportunity of obtaining the work at the lowest price. Some of the orators who are represented in the various departments of the work are as follows: Chauncey M. Depew, Henry Ward Beecher. Newell Dwight Hillis. Henry Irving. Lord Beaeonsfield. William E. Gladstone. James G. Blaine, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry Watter- son. William Jennings Bryan. Seth Low, John TTay, Wu Ting-far.g, Mark Twain, Carl Schurz, Wendell Phillips, Edward VII., Joseph H. Choate, L. Q. C. Lamar, Henry W. Grady, Joseph Jefferson. The odore Roosevelt. Robert Ingersoll. George William Curtis. Charles A. Dana, Arte- mus Ward. James M. Beck. John B. Gor don, Zebulon B. Vance, William Mc Kinley, Henry Cabot Lodge, Bourke Cochran, William M. Evarts, Paul Du ChalUu, Horace Porter, Richard O'tnev, Rufus Choate, Conan Farrar, John 15. Gough, Charles Dudley Warner. John Ruskin, John Morley. Josh Billings; An drew Lang. Charles Francis Adams and Robert J. Burdette. The binding of the work is both sub stantial and accurate and nothing is left to be desired in this respect. The typography is excellent and the paper used is the best. Many handsome full- page engravings light up the work, en hancing its interest and also increasing its artistic value. Among the specimens of southern oratory Included in the work are General Gordon’s lecture on “The Last Days of the Confederacy,” Senator Vance’s lecture on "The Scattered Na tion,” Lamar’s "Eulogy of Charles Sum ner," Benjamin H. Hill's address before the Alumni Society of he University of Georgia, Grady’s speech in Boston on “The Race Problem,” Clark Howell’s speech in Chicago on "Our Reunited Country,” John Temple Graves’ "Eulo- gB* of Grady,” and, besides, selections from the public speeches of such men as Henry Watterson, W. C. P. Breckin ridge, J. C. S. Blackburn, John W. Dan iel, O. A. Lochrane and others, making an ideal compilation of southern orations within the comprehensive limits of this "superb collection of modern oratorical gems. Twentieth Century Kegro Literature Those of our readers who are interested in the solution of the omnipresent negro problem will be pleased to learn that an interesting volume will shortly be pub lished by J. L. Nichols & Co., of At lanta, entitled: "Twentieth Century AKING him all in all the British householder is a large-heartf d person who will work hard to make a comfortable home and likes to see every member of his family happy, and nas an honest delight in hospi tality. and hates to do anything mean, but he has not yet learned the duty of buying books. He would be ashamed if his wife had not a piano, or if he had not a sideboard, but he is quite con tent without a library. He will spend £10 (or sometimes a great deal more) upon new <-arpet, and the same sum (or several times as much) upon a dinner party, but would stand aghast if you suggested that he should give as much for a book or for fifty books. One hazards the guess with considerable confidence that th : wine bill of pater-familias. even when he is quite a temperate person, and simply treats his guests respectably, will be as a rule twice as much as his book seller's bill. And there is one English city where until late ly there were nearly two thousand places licensed for drink and not twenty places which. In the most liberal construction of the word, could be called book shops. Quite an intelligent and high-minded man will be able to live in a house without any books except a Bible, a dictionary, a cheap encyclopedia, half a dozen novels of no value, and a couple of poetical selec tions given to his wife as marriage pres ents. If lie desires to read a book which is being talked about he will get it from his club, or if he does not belong to a club, from a circulating library to which he subscribes, or if he counts this guinea too great an outlay, he will read the book at a penny a night. If any of his friends possess the book he will greedily borrow it and wait a month till some other economical person like himself has returned it. It he has the opportunity he will read it at some other person’s house or secure the use of it for a railway journey. There is no expedient which he and his wife, both well living, and tax paying English folk with sittings in a church, will not hit upon in order to read that book, but one thing they firmly re fuse to do, and that is to buy it! And it you had suggested to them in the midst of all their striving that they should ob tain the book for themselves, and explain to them as a secret how they could do this, for say 4s. fid., they would hardly un derstand what you were meaning, and when they did they would not consider you impertinent but simply agree be tween themselves afterwards that you were extremely soft. It they did buy a took the chances are it would be one i ot worth having, and they would buy it at the railway book stall for its full price while tne regular book buyer would spend his money lo more profit, and also secure 25 per cent discount. Very likely the householder would say that books are not a necessity of house furnishing, and would pose as a severe utilitarian who cnly spent The House his money upon things Without without which he could Books not live—a bed to sleep a Dreary in. a chair to sit on, and Place ''table to eat from. But the good man is not so severe an ascetic after all. or so very conscientious in his expenditure, for ho has all his life been buying things, and spending a good deal of money upon them, which were not at ail necessary, rnil sometimes are very injurious. As, for instance, hideous antimacassars, .and such like garments which vary in their kinds, but seem perpetual in their exist ence, which interfere with your head, attach themselves to your coat buttons, fall among your feet, and generally make life miserable. Or curtains for his bed, which keep out the fresh air, and keep in the bad air. and interfere with one getting into bed, and prevent one reading comfortably when one is in bed. antf retain all the diseases which the fami y have had from the beginning, and take away cne-half of the good of going to bed at all. Or for bed room carpets cov ering the whole tie or. and harboring dust, and making the room stuffy, when their purpose could be served by a movable square in the center of the room, sur rounded by polished wood. And he will pay for heavy dinners when light ones would be better for him and his friends, and very doubtful champagne when a glass of burgundy would be more whole some, and a hundred other things, not one of which he requires, and most of which do him no good, and yet this hon est rr.f.n will say that books are “not a necessity of life.” It all depends upon what you mean by lif°. If life means ex istence, then he is right and his expendi ture might be confined to what he could put into his stomach and upon his back, together with a house in which to eat and sleep. But If life means high thoughts and pure pleasures, and an out look upon the things unseen and eternal, then the house without books is a house without air, and without windows, a prison rather than a dwelling place. A huge house with costly furniture, and overflowing with enervating luxuries, but without noble bocks, is a Door and nar row place. But a cottage of two rooms where there are twenty classics well read and much loved is a palace, for its roof is as high as the sky and the great folk of all ages come there and live. Does this excellent man with whom we are having this little talk tel! me that he doc-s love books and desires to possess them, but that really they are beyond his reach, and dees ho mean this,- thinking now not upon dinners and turkey carpets, but upon bread for his family and education for his sons? Would he be astonished to learn that if you except connoisseurs in the costliest books which run to hundreds and thousands of pounds each, the chief book buyers in the coun try are not rich folk, but nersors of quite limited means and simple life. Recently the head of a firm, and a semi-millionaire, passing through his office, saw a fino edi tion of Bunyan lying on his bookkeeper’s desk. He was arrested by the sight, and with the fine patronage of his position began to rally his servant upon such an expensive taste. “Buying books, eh.Jackson: didn't know you went in for that kind of thing. Thought you had something else to do with your money. What’s tjds you've been after, Bunyan. Bunvan, who is he i cw? Bishop, or something else like that, wasn't ho? Well. I declare, you must have paid something for a book like ttis,” and the great man sailed Into bis private room. That Evening he would dine with another capitalist and discuss vintages by the hour, while his book keeper was rejoicing that after a long search he had at last secured a Bunyan to his mind—one that he could place be side his Chaucer and his Spenser. Not long ago I was guest In the house of a man who had both riches and books, and counts his books more than nis riches, and when I was congratulating him upon his tastes, he told me he had inherited tlie book passion from 'nis grandfather, who was a stonemason, and had collected a library of some hundreds of volumes. “Not a bad collection, either, in quan tity or quality,” said niv host, and then the old workman saving from his wages the purchase money for his books and reading at the close of the clay his Au gustine or h;s Virgil. There hate been manses In the North Country where the minister lived all his days on an average stipend of £150, and educated his son3 at a university, and kept a hospitable home, and carried hhr> seif in all things as a gentleman, and died leaving a library of two and three end in. some cases five thousand volumes, among which have been not a few raro books. Do you say incredible? It was, I think, miraculous, but the thing has hap pened. A drunkard will always git drink, and a bookman will always have books. A splendid library with a carved book case and precious folios may mean vari ous things; that an anc.stor has been -i book collector or that Books I*»- the owner is very rich dicate and considers splendid Character bocks a part of his housa ar.d Tern- equipment. The library- per ament may or may not prove the owner to be a book lover. You cannot be quite certain about the man till you have met him, and theq he might be a disappointment, like tha owner of a fine c jllection of Sacred Art, whose one interest in his pictures is a bitter regret that he cannot sell them and turn their value into solid cash But ycu enter a young man’s room and look round to gather what sort he is befora he comes in. Quite an ordinary room such as is let to lodgers, with the familiar commonplace furniture, but what is this cn the wall? A hanging book ease, not large, but still containing forty volumes. Good books all and carefully selected, £ nd j es, 1 • eclare. well read. Four or five of Carlyle, Lamb's “Essays,” some thing of Tennyson and Browning, tha "Antiquary,” “Henry Esmond,” Emer son’s "Essaj-s,” Hawthorne’s '’Scarlet Letter” and a Keais. Without seeing tha man ^ ou dare to prophesy that he d> a not drink, nor gamble, nor play the fool, that he has fine tastes and high ideas, that he has a hold of things and ambi tions in life, also that in the bank where he is now a junior clerk the manager has his eye upon him. and that he is :n the way of promotion. When a tew year3 later he tells you that he has been made secretary, and you know, although he does not ted you this, that he is the youngest man ever appointed to the post, ycu are not astonished. That pook shelf v as a sign and a beginning. Very likely that collector, and his salary was only £100 them would envy some rich customer of the bank because he could, without scruple buy the books from which the clerk had' to turn away wistfully, but the clerk had no reason for env, for the chances are that nothing would induce the other man to buy a decent book except the incongruous hope of prof it. As a matter of fact he came over to me one evening after dinner and sat down beside me with something on hia mind. Ho charged roe with constantly in sisting that people ought to be buying books, and I had no resource except to plead guilty, when he admitted that ho was always persuaded to be a book buyer. He then asked whether any book had come out recently which a man like him cught to secure, and I hastened to recom mend Symonds’ “Life of Michael Angelo” in two volumes, and enlarged upon tha beauty of the book. He was taken with the idea, but cautiously asked the price, and when I told him 36s. net, he sat aghast. “For a book.” he said, “why if you knew the price of produce just now you would hardly expect a man to bo buying books at ISs. a volume.” And shortly afterwards he was telling with glee to another capitalist how he had secured so many dozen of famous port at 84s. a dezen. A year or so past and I met my fellow guest again, and hav ing heard something of how things had gone with Symonds’ “Michael Angelo, ’ £ asked him whether he had secured a copv. “Certainly not,” he replied after he had lecalled the incident, “never thought of such a thing.” and he regarded me with pity as a man likely to leave my wife and children penniless. ‘ If yon.” I then ventured to inquire, “had bought an arti cle of produce on a certain date at 3b'3. a quantity and then been able to sell it a year later at about 50s. the same quan tity, or say at a third increase, would you consider it good business?” “Good business!” he exclaimed. ”1 should make al! I want in a year.” “Had you taken my advice,” and with that I closed tha conversation, “and bought Symonds when 1 told you, you would have had exactly that profit upon your book today.” For some time he was lost in meditation, and then he asked me whether a v/hole edition of a high-class bock could be purchased in mass, and 1 saw that he was meditat ing a corner in books. An Electric Belt Free Bend Yonr Application At Once To The Physician’s Institute. They Will Send You Absolutely Free One of Their lOO Guage Supremo Electric Belts, the Belt Which Mas Made so Many Wonder ful Cures—You Needn't Send Even a Poatags Stamp, Just Your Name and Address Negro Literature or Thought,” containing contributions from not less than one hundred representative negroes. With each contribution there Is a sketch of the author and also a por trait, making the volume a picture gallery of tne influential members of the race as well as a compendium of information bearing upon one of the greatest problems of the d'ay. The volume is scheduled to come from the press within the next few weeks. Cyclopoedia of ' v e w @nt to look at the mason’s library. which his grandson had preserved by itself in a very handsome book case. It was largely made up of Latin books, if you please, some theological, for the grandfather had been a Roman Catholic, end nine classical, while others were historical and poetical, and in the whole collection I did not see a. worthless book, while I did see more than one Elzevir. And it was an inspiration to think of seven years ago the State of Illinois grantoa to the Physicians' Institute of Chicago a charter. There was need of something above the ordi nary method of treatment for'clironlc diseases, something more than any one specialist or any number of specialists acting independently could do, so tho Stato itself, under the powers granted it by Its general laws, gave the power to the Physicians’ Institute to furnish to the sick such holp as would make them well and strong. Ever since Its establishment this Institute has endeavored In every possiblo way to carry out the original purposes of its establishment under the bencilclent laws of the Stato. Threo years ago, the Physicians* Institute, realizing the valuo of electricity in the treatment of certain phases of disease, created under the superintendence of its staff of specialists an electric belt, and this belt has been proved to be of great value as a curative agent. From time to time it has been improved' until it reached that stage of perfection which warranted lt3 present name of “ Supreme.” ■> This belt is the most eilectlvo of all agents in the cure of rheumatism, lumbago, lane back, nerv ous exhaustion, weakened or lost vital functions, varlcocelo, kidney disorders and many other complaints. This "Supreme Electric Belt” Is made in one grade only—ICO guage—there is no better electric belt made and no better bolt can be made. Whenever in the opinion of our staff of special ists the wonderful curative and revitalizing forces of electricity will euro you we send you, free of all cost, one of these Supreme Electric Belts. It is not sent on trial, It Is yours to keep forever without tho payment of one cent. - This generous offer may bo withdrawn at any time, so you should write to-day for this free “ Supreme Electric ’Belt” to the Physicians'•Tn.satnt0 1 at 2019 Masonic Temple, Chicago* ifife.