But it must be said that the wider audience will hardly be so interested as would have been the case had he hit upon a happier arrangement of his material. As it is, his book lends itself to desultory rather than consecutive reading. Its author wanders too rapidly and disconnectedly from theme to theme, indulges over-freely in allusion, and demands too great a previous knowledge of Irish history, legendary as well as authentic. Nevertheless, the book will be found well worth the pains necessary to read it, and should meet an especial welcome from prospective travelers in Ireland, who, we observe, Mr. Gwynn is quick to differentiate from tourists." (The Fair Hills of Ireland. By Stephen Gwynn. The Macmillan Company, New York. $2.)

The Flight of Marie Antoinette

With an incredible minuteness of detail the story of three tragic days in the life of the French Queen is told in a large illustrated volume translated by Mrs. Rodolph Stanell. A heroic figure surrounded by weak dependents, her children, and the slow-witted, foolish King, it is no wonder that she inspired romantic devotion in the hearts of a few brave men. Among these, Count de Fersen, a Swedish nobleman, takes the first place as the Queen's deliverer. On the 20th of June, 1791, the royal party left Paris at night, and, aided by a few faithful friends, escaped as far as Varennes. There they were overtaken and brought back prisoners. This brief tragedy, the opening scene to be followed by increasing dangers and tumults, is described, with each actor concerned in it. The volume may have a useful place among historical documents, but it will be found tedious and almost trivial in its exhaustiveness. It contains a large number of prints of places and people concerned in the affair. (The Flight of Marie Antoinette. From the French of G. Lenotre, by Mrs. Rodolph Stanell. J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. $1.50.)

We would commend this

The Fortune of little volume of essays and the Republic addresses to the careful consideration of all who, by reason of the revelations of the past two or three years, are beginning to despair of the future of the United States. Rather, as Dr. Hillis in his sturdy optimism declares, should they rejoice in that these revelations bear witness to a public sentiment determined to rid the body politic of the germs of corruption and death. Searching further, as Dr. Hillis has searched in several years of travel through every State and Territory in the Union, the pessimists will find a wealth of evidence to dissi

pate their fears and convert them to his belief that "any darkness there is on the horizon is morning twilight and not evening twilight." This evidence is summed up in the growth of the religious spirit, the increasing popularization of education and culture, and the passing of sectionalism. Specifically, Dr. Hillis believes that everything points to a still greater America, greater in religion, in morals, in politics, in art, and, last though not least, in National unity. It may be objected that some of his generalizations are incapable of positive proof and are open to dispute, but nevertheless the candid reader must carry conviction from his pages, and with conviction the determination to play his part in realizing the ideals Dr. Hillis has set forth. word, his book makes for religious and intellectual betterment and for a whole-hearted, robust patriotism that must be up and doing. (The Fortune of the Republic. By Newell Dwight Hillis. The Fleming H. Revell Company. $1.20, net.)

Guide to Preachers

In a

Laymen who would qualify themselves to preach acceptably and effectively-and there is need of many such-will find this an eminently helpful book. It covers the whole subject the Biblical, doctrinal, homiletical, rhetorical conditions of preaching and reasoning suitably to the needs of the modern world. Such subsidiary matters as language, literary style, elocution, and delivery receive proportionate treatment, and the important requisite of furnishing the layman. with points helpful in his conflict with popular skepticism is not overlooked. There is no other book that so well meets the present want. The lists of books recommended are, with two exceptions, all British. Some excellent American substitutes should have had mention for the convenience of American students. (A Guide to Preachers. By Alfred E. Garvie, M.A., D.D. A. C. Armstrong & Son, New York. $1.50, net.)

The "Imitation

Every lover of this immortal book, the radiant prodof Christ" uct of a dark age, will be glad that it has found here a sympathetic and competent interpreter. A common misinterpretation of it is current; viz., that it is solely self-interested, concerned only for the good of the individual apart from his fellows. Though the distinguished name of Dean Milman is subscribed to this opinion, it is a strange misjudgment of one who wrote, "If you would be carried, carry another." That à Kempis was a thoroughgoing altru. ist, "in fact a socialist rather than an indi vidualist," his commentator easily shows.

His aim must still be our aim-the Christianization of Christendom. Then atheism and lust defiled the Church. To-day selfinterest in more refined forms of materialism has enervated it. Now, as then, great changes are impending. It was the wide upwelling of the mystic religious spirit, which has left its greatest memorial in "The Imitation of Christ," that produced a reformed Church, and so "made modern Europe possible.” The same antagonistic principles, now as then, confront each other; the spirit of à Kempis has still further victories to win, and his book is a book for all time, until “The City of God," the dream alike of the Stoic philosopher and the Christian theologian, is realized on earth. The mooted question of its authorshipis here critically discussed, and its authenticity fairly demonstrated; its structure is analyzed, and the various sources shown from which its author drew; lists and accounts of its manuscripts and printed editions are given; many fine illustrations, including some facsimile pages, are added; full recognition is shown to the work of Thomas's fellow-mystics. In short, it is a timely and helpful commentary upon a great recreative and reconstructive movement, the soul of which, in Thomas's little book, is still "marching on." (Thomas à Kempis. By J. E. G. De Montmorency, B.A., LL.B. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. $2.25, net.) An unpretentious but valuable little book is this, born out of an

Joyous

Religion experience of hard trials. It in vites to the way out of darkness and storm into light and peace. Its fundamental positions are true psychologically and ethically, as well as in the mystical religious life. It may be heartily commended to all who would reach the high levels of "the life that is life indeed," where no cloud or storm is that the sun does not quickly dissipate. (Rejoice Always. By Frank S. Van Eps and Marion B. Van Eps. Published by the Authors, New York.)

Lord Acton's Lectures

Hitherto the general public has had scant opportunity to avail itself of the erudition of the late Lord Acton, celebrated as the most learned man in Europe; but now, it seems, some rich gleanings from his scholarship are at last to be given to the world. Of these the first installment is just to hand in a volume of lectures edited by Mr. John Neville Figgis and Mr. Reginald Vere Laurence. The lectures are those on modern history delivered by Lord Acton as Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge, and are doubly interesting as revealing the spirit in which he approached the study of history

and the idea underlying the monumental Cambridge Modern History" which he planned, but in the execution of which he was able to take small part. To Lord Acton, it is very evident, history is the study of studies, and it is equally evident that he regarded as of most moment the history of the centuries intervening since the Renais sance and the Reformation. To him, too, the great thing was historical thinking rather than historical learning, "solidity of criticism" rather than "plenitude of erudition." For this he found all-sufficient reason in his view of history as the interpreter of the present. In this view, too, may perhaps be found the secret of the caution that so long kept him a student instead of a teacher of history. But, as these lectures amply demonstrate, once he began to teach he did not hesitate to formulate conclusions and pass verdicts. Modern history, as he presents it to us, is a vindication of general ideas, and for him, in his maturity at least, general ideas held no terrors. Take this pregnant sentence, expressing in a few words his conception of the salient feature, the central fact, of the historic cycles since the Reformation: " Beginning with the strongest religious movement and the most refined despotism ever known, it [the subversion of established forms of political life by the development of religious thought] has led to the superiority of politics over divinity in the life of nations, and terminates in the equal claim of every man to be unhindered by man in the fulfillment of duty to God-a

doctrine laden with storm and havoc, which is the secret essence of the Rights of Man and the indestructible soul of Revolution." Sometimes, indeed, his generalizations must be held suspect, even in positive error. Thus, in the lecture on the American Revocolonists "were not roused by the sense of lution we must query his assertion that the intolerable wrong," and that the Declaration of Independence "was too rhetorical to

be scientific." But in the main there can be little question of the soundness of his views, the correctness of his attitude. And, what is not unimportant, the lectures show that, "scientific" historian though he was, he was keenly alive to the human element in history. Whether he is speaking of the discovery and exploration of the New World, of the Reformation, of the counter-Reformation, or of the Thirty Years' War, his thoughts center about some commanding figure, and through this figure reveal alike movements and forces and principles. (Lectures on Modern History. By the late Right Hon. John Edward Emerich, First Baron Acton. Edited by John Neville Figgis,

the trough where the animals were feeding, and the house. But fearing to be cut off, I again ordered him to remain, and rode away.

His subsequent adventures are as related by himself. The fusillade lasted about an hour, and it was quite dark when it ended. Under cover of the night he escaped from the village with the animals and baggage, and later on was able to join a Russian column making its way along the railway. Protected by the darkness, he marched all night unmolested, but when dawn came he was several times assaulted by soldiers and with much difficulty prevented the baggage from being looted and the animals taken. Toward noon he rested and then proceeded in the direction of Tiehling. Four native bandits, armed with swords and pistols, who had been in the service of the army and were fleeing with it, about the middle of the afternoon took possession of him and all of the effects. But he was able by threats and courage to compromise with them, and escaped by giving them one piece of baggage and half of the mess stores. Later in the day, however, they returned and took one of the animals. Chang employed a Chinese peasant, whom he met on the road, to follow the bandits, and when he arrived at Tiehling was able to locate them and the stolen animal at an inn. While the army was in heated flight, he

induced the native magistrate to examine the case, which, in view of the fact that few Chinese officials could safely venture to interfere in any affair concerning an employee or follower of the army, was in itself an achievement. The animal was recovered and the robber thrown into prison, where he was afterwards, no doubt, decapitated according to Chinese law.

Later, at a time when I thought Chang safe in Mukden, I accidentally discovered him, nearly a week after, at Kaiyuan, seventy miles north of where we had begun the flight. He had, unarmed and without any protection, successfully withstood all the dangers of the flight, in which he was the best soldier that I saw, and for four days of the retreat proper, which began at Tiehling, he had successfully managed the distressed and importunate soldiers who were constantly trying to get possession of and loot the baggage. He was afterward presented with the cart and a fine mule, and I am obliged to say that he was amazed at the gift and sincerely ignorant of what he done to deserve it.

I have heard foreigners in China relate many similar stories, but I believe that in the present day they do not receive the publicity which they deserve, and which makes them of such peculiar interest at the present moment.

HWANG

anti-foreign schemes, are not known in America, although some of their names may be discovered in the State Department, and their memory among foreigners is cherished by the few resident in China.

The Chinese character needs no apology and no introduction to civilization. The history for many hundreds of decades of one of the most numerous of the races has filled its annals with illustrious names. In this great nation there are millions of competent men and not a few who may be called remarkable. There is no doubt that the veil of China's almost impossible language obscures much, especially in the national character, fo which the West, if it knew, would stand

in awe and admiration. The following history is that of a relatively obscure man, already old, belonging to a circle many of whose members have been martyrs to the cause of advancement in China; some beheaded in disgrace, and others, after years of toil and sacrifice, dying in obscurity.

His Excellency Hwang was a boy of ten when the Taiping rebels took the city of Nanking on the Yangtse, in which he lived. It was the practice in those days, and is yet, for families to commit suicide rather than be subjected to the outrages practiced by soldiers in China. Following the example of the family, little Hwang and his brother hung themselves when the Taipings entered the city. He was saved by the soldiers, but his brother was already dead. Following their practice, which was to bring up children in the faith which they themselves professed, the Taipings carried him off, and during his career of two years with the Taiping army he added considerably to the knowledge which he possessed of his own language and acquired considerable proficiency in handwriting, which is a Chinese art. He was used by the rebels as a clerk and accountant. At the end of two years he escaped by way of the Yangtse River, which is the Mississippi of China, and floated down by the lumber rafts which from time immemorial have traversed that great waterway. He was kidnapped He was kidnapped by a lumberman, but in the end approached the vicinity of his native city. In the environs of Nanking he learned that no members of his family had survived, and he consented to be adopted into the family of a farmer. On account of his knowledge of reading and writing he became a tutor, and later on the village schoolmaster. Self-taught, he aspired to literary honors, and while yet young he took his first degree. At intervals throughout the years following he advanced from one degree to another, which is the system in China by which a man becomes eminent, until he reached the highest honors possible for the province of Anhui, in which he resided, to confer. One literary distinction remained to him to acquire. This was the Hanlin Degree, conferred by the Emperor him

self, in Peking. He was now about thirty-five years of age, and became what might be called the Senior Wrangler of the year. There is nothing like this distinction in other lands, for it carries with it honors that are conferred only by the State, and upon only one man in a year. The examination is nominally conducted by the Emperor himself, and on this occasion, according to the sacred practices of the Throne, the Emperor placed a robe upon Hwang's shoulders; the great middle Chien gate, reserved solely for the use of the Emperor, was opened, and the Emperor escorted him. out of the Forbidden City, where the examination was held. The achievements of the little waif of the Yangtse had now entitled him to the highest emoluments of the Empire. The Emperor presented him with a home, and he was made a Censor, which, theoretically, is the most dignified position in the gift of the State. It carries with it the unqualified privilege of criticising all affairs pertaining to both individuals and men, as well as the conduct of the Emperor himself, who, according to the Chinese scheme of things, is regarded as the Son of Heaven. Mandarin Hwang devoted his influence as a public official and his money to benevolence and reform, attending to the responsibilities imposed upon him by his office, and relieving distress. One of his sons he sent abroad to acquire a knowledge of the outside world. On the occasion of a visit to a distressed village near Peking that had been nearly destroyed by a flood he was met by a little boy who had been sent out by the villagers with a list of persons in need of succor. Mandarin Hwang was so pleased with the boy that he took him into his own home, and later on sent him abroad for study; he spent four years in America and Europe, and is now, through the munificence of his patron, a student in Cornell University.

In 1900, when the Government of China was about to ally itself with the disgraceful Boxer organization, which brought the nation into ignominy, his Excellency Hwang, by the authority of his office and the courage of his convictions, memorialized the Throne against

the Boxers, whose practices he de nounced, saying that no State in such difficulties as were then harassing the Empire was ever saved by the devices proposed by the Boxers, or by the friends of the Boxers. Within two days a Boxer garrison appeared at his house, looted it, drove out his family, devastated the premises, and marched him off, a prisoner, to the palace of Prince Chuang. Here he was met by underlings, but Prince Chuang, who had been an old friend, refused to see him. He remained for two days a prisoner in Prince Chuang's hothouse cellar, where the old gardener, who had known him for years, smuggled food to him. Others were afraid to render him any assistance. At - the end of two days he was placed in a chair and carried off to the Hsingpu, or State prison. A small, frail, mild, kindly gentleman, thoroughly Confucian in his abhorrence of brute force, his feelings may be imagined as he looked out of the windows of his chair and saw his countrymen decked out in red rags, carrying great brutal iron swords, and, with fierce looks, guarding him from escape and escorting him to prison.

The Government had fallen into the hands of the arch Boxer Prince Tuan, and Mandarin Hwang daily expected the sentence of death, and was prepared for execution. He had to bribe the jailer and the turnkeys in order that a few faithful servants might be admitted to bring him food and reports of his family. Soon after he was imprisoned, the foreign Legations, which were less than a mile away, were besieged, and he could by day and night hear every shot of the rifle and artillery and mine contest, able only to surmise what it was about, and entirely ignorant of the fortunes of the Throne and of his Emperor. At the end of forty days the foreign troops, which had entered Peking and relieved the Legations, threw open the

doors of the prison, and his Excellency Hwang was turned loose into the street along with a miscellaneous crowd of prisoners. His home was broken up and his family scattered, but he gathered some friends about him and settled down in the Chinese city to assist the American troops, who were in charge of the district, in policing and governing it. During the occupation of Peking by the foreign troops he established an industrial and charitable institution, with the object of teaching useful trades to boys and educating them in the learning of the West. He was successful, owing to the support which a knowledge of his character attracted. At the same time his former enemies began to persecute him. It is due, I believe, to Mrs. Conger, the wife of the American Minister, who used in Hwang's behalf the rare influence which she enjoyed at the Chinese Court, that the Empress Dowager interfered to protect him; and he has now for several years enjoyed a measure of calm and prosperity, with his family about him. But his future is not at all certain, nor is that of any other Chinese reformer. Like the progressives of the past, and those for a long time to come, he is essentially a martyr, carrying his fortunes in his hand.

It is the fashion now, especially with the sentimentalists, to vindicate the Throne and the high members of the Government. Our magazines are open to these themes because they affect great personages. Men like Hwang are not inspired in their efforts by the hope of Imperial favor. Their efforts began long years before the Imperial family and the members of the Government made their final effort to exterminate Western influence and its missionaries. Their day will be brought nearer and their efforts will be more effective if the history of their deeds is cherished abroad..