Hankow. Sixty-four illustrations, pp. 214.
Atatime when the Valley of the Yangtze is a matter of much speculation, politically and commercially, the publication of work bearing that title-is of considerable interest. The authoress does not propose to describe the region indicated froma geographical point of view, but there are sufficient references to show the vastness and importance of the part of china in question. The main object of the work is to depict the social life and character of the people, as carefully observed by the writer during many years' residence among them, and as attested by others on the most reliable grounds.' The line takes" is from the missionary side, but extends over a wide area, and supplies a large amount. of information, local and general, answering to the original [purport of the book, which was to draw the attention of readers at home and abroad to the moral and spiritual condition of Chin: and to the missionary work as a means of its amelioration and improvement.. Many incidents are narrate ed, in the courss of the work, of a personal nature, along" with details' at the hands of others and of current in the recent history of China. Describing the manners and customs, habits and characteristic of the people, frequent. allusion is made to the "ancient "classics and to' legendary, occurrences, which' have given sanction and authority to them and left their Impression midst of the whole tiation.
The book is divided into thirteen ehapters, and well deserves a careful petasal, one would know anything of the Chinese as.they ought to be Known, and no levs the history and progress of missionary work. Hovwover much we may be concerned about the Chinese government and the action of Foreign Powers, we cannot afford to overlook the social condition of "things in China, 30 graphically given in this volume, which' ive have pee pleasure in' 0 mending to our readers. "The book' is beautifully printed and illustrated, -and ferriis altogether an attractive volume. 'Tt is Blow on' sale' by Moasrs., Kelly and Walsh, Dawn on the Hills of T'ang. By the Rev. Harlan P. Beach.. Published by the Student Volunteer. Movement,, 3,. West 29th Street, New York, (G81.)
This small, comprehensive volume reached the reviewer's desk some weeks ago, and this criticism has, been. delayed in order.that.more than an hour's reading" might. be given. it, As everyone knows, the Chinese. have numerous. pot names for their Fatherland, and the "Hills of T'ang" (T'angshan) is One of the most celebrated, though not so familiar as, the "Middle Kingdom" (hung Kuo).
'A volume which has jumped up to a sal of thousands, largely among students and professors in America, Englind, and Australia, is deserving of careful connideraion. Mr. Harlan P. Beach, the author, is Educational Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement, and was formerly a missionary in. North-China,. In'. this relume he lias attempted a digest of the great facta in the history, sociology, and religious development of. China., In' connection with each chapter.of the book are references to the chapter and page of leading works on China, shore tho,'student may continue the. investigation of any particular point to his heart's content, The Aaalztical bibliography makes, Datan on the Hills of Tang a key to the best literature in English relating to th i The author refers in the he has adopted the. Peking spelling. At first this will puzzle some who read the book, but it seems the best way out of the jumble in which one finds the prevailing Tomanisation.of proper and geographical names, in various partof China. 'The book begins with &chapteron the ' World of the Chinese," and ends with a chapter on "The Dawn." Between these antipodes there is' packed an amount of attractive information which will surprise the careful reader.
The objective of Mr. Beach's work is to place before University men, as 8 worthy field of missionary labour, the Chinese us a people; their hoary history, their strength and vagaries, their achievements, failures, and providential pr ion. "The author has prepared a new mission map of China, upon which each mission station may be located, bythe help of an ample index.
The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal, April, 1899. 'Shanghai': American Presbyterian Mission: Press.
The subject of mission comity has evidently occupied the attention of the missionary body for many years, for looking over periodicals issued during the past twenty years we find frequent discussion of the subject. And thesis only to be expected as the leaders in all forms of mission: work are necessarily men of strong individuality, otherwise they would not have left the beat en track and come out here. When we keep
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.