Their History, "Cua Yusienpar ap To-pax."
Baward. Thomas Williams," Ne York: Thomas ¥. Crowell Com pany.
Professor Williams writes his book from the standpoint of the ho foreigner noting the character-istles and features of a country which differ from those of his own. In spite of his first hand experience during his term as American Charge d'Affaires at Peking, he manages to retain the detached attitude in regard things Chinese which is considered to be a typically © British trait. Of modern books his must surely bbe the most comprehensive la its subject. There is hardly anything Chinese that he oes of tout upon, and in mos eases ho shows the result of an observation which Yesides minute and History, geography, jon, polities, crafts, all these subjects ho impart, That is the princi afte of the book, the useful ba-formation which makes it a book of reference of considerable tervice. "There "are several photo. graphic illustrations and enclosed 1 pocket inthe outer cover of book is the Rand, MeNally: Standard map of China and Japan. The work also abounds China ring the interesting period which saw the downfall of the Maticha Dynasty and. the estab lishment of the Republi, and saw the beginning of "the great reforms which have wrought "nich havoc with old-time manners and conditions." With all his research Knowledge his book is nowhere marred by: the certainty' Judgment which #0 often spoils our reading of such works In his preface he says: "There may he instances in which he has intention described 34] universal certain. customs w are known only in the regions with which he is familiar, and there may be other cases in' which the changes that have taken place are much greater or less than as described.""
'a very gentle expression, And] his poems generally are so violent} ato make even the most} turbulent stuff of young America seem mild in comparison, Some of the work seems indeed to. dis, play only a frenzy, an unbridled ion that swamps and drowns] the expression. 'The author is of course very young; aad it ie the common thing to say in such case (it has indeed been said in' most of the earlier reviews of this book) that, his work shaves [great promise. But it is doubtful applied to poetry. - For surd this Kind of eitcim cane youth is an essential of poetry. And Mr. "Tormlinson's pecans his works through his own generat fon into future days, Tt jao belial in his: usefulness that-has produced this dition. In one of -his s Butler says, Pho essence' of Christianity" lies neither in dogma nor yet in abnormally holy life, but in faith in'an unseen world, in' doing one's duty, in speaking the truth, finding' the true life rather in others than in oneself, and in the certain hope that he who loses his life om these behalfs) finds more than he has' lost."* Not an entirely original point of view, but one that gmmends itself to the wisdom of most men and women of to-day, But he is strike one as of the sort that] a ux against inactivity and to could not be written except in dividual thinking. it. Cape the heat of their enlivening} has made a bold venture in pre-Passion, It is, nevertheless, senting this definitive edition, cheering to read the words "'First admirably edited by Mr. 'H. Poems" aa a subtitle, For the Festing Jones and Mr. Bartholoauthor is a post, Beyond question, mew. "Bach volume is charmingly and we will look for his further ound in blue and white, decorat-work, Even among these poems fed. with gold lettering. " Each is which are, for the most part, 20] feagy to handle and "hold, The uncontrolled in utterance, there memory of a great, Victorian li fare one or two which show that] honoured ju this edition, which hho can red his thought to a fenshrines his thoughts s0 worthily. form, to a ignified, finished ex-"Morning Post." pression, This is noricable in the first poem, called "Pesce" and in the third, called March
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.