MY STUDY AND MY BOOKS.

IMPORTANT ESSAYS FROM HOME AND ABROAD.

ZOLA

VOLA deduces the possibility of "The Experimental Novel" from the "Introduction à l'Etude de la Médecine Experimentale" of Claude Bernard. His argument, in the main, is that the methods of the scientist are in some measure at the command of the novelist; that the mechanism of the intellect and the passions can be taken to pieces and set up again by the novelist in such a way that it will act according to the fixed laws of nature.'

The experimental novelist, thus becomes-according to the French master-an experimental moralist. As the physiologist makes himself master of life to the end that he may direct it, so the novelist who dissects man-in the moral and social sense-will come in time to a point where he can construct a practical sociology free from empiricism, and eventually productive of the best social conditions.

It will readily be seen that a strong defence is hereby established for the naturalistic novel as distinguished from the one which is merely idealistic. The realist is freed at once from the two charges of photography and fatalism. His methods are allied to those of science, and his achievements take on the dignity inseparable from high utility. To quote again from the text of the essay, "we disengage the determinism of the human and social phenomena so that in their turn legislators can one day dominate and control these phenomena. . . . Compare with ours the work of the idealistic writers, who rely upon the irrational and the supernatural, and whose every flight upward is followed by a deeper fall into metaphysical chaos."

The volume contains fully a score of essays, critical, for the most part, besides the one from which it takes its title. Most of these are of great interest, not only in themselves but as commentaries upon M. Zola's work in fiction.

Aside from his novels Tolstoi has published no book at once so important and so absurd as "The Kingdom of God is Within You." It expands the statements of his former work, "What I Believe," and founds upon the doctrine of non-resistance not only a new interpre tation of the Christian religion, but an entirely new scheme of sociology. All modern civilization, being based on violence, ought to be abolished as rapidly as possible, and as governments imply force-potential if not actual-there should be no governments. All pun

ishment of crime is resistance to evil, and so in direct contradiction to the teaching of Christ! All officialism. is simply a device for concealing the responsibility of legalized crime!

These doctrines are preached with the impassioned eloquence which we have become used to in Tolstoi's earlier discussions of religious and sociological matters. It will be a bold and original thinker who can wrest from him the distinction of the most destructive critic of civilization the century has produced. He is not, on the whole, a formidable enemy of the existing order of things, as his headlong reasoning carries him to such distances that he himself acknowledges action to be impossible. He can only urge men to "recognize and profess the truth."

This much can be said of Tolstoi: out of the wildest and most chaotic parts of his extraordinary philosophy there can be sifted grains of very precious truth. understands the selfishness and hypocrisy of the human heart, and sees the effect of these sins upon organized society. Church and State will hardly be better for heeding his message, but the individual who gives thought to it gets a salutary twinge or two in portions. of his conscience that ordinarily give very little trouble.

"The Lover's Lexicon " is further described as handbook for novelists, playwrights, philosophers and minor poets, but especially for the enamoured." It consists of short essays upon about a hundred of the terms most commonly used in describing the affections. Accurate as is the information thus set forth, it is difficult to see why the "enamoured" need it. Words are notoriously superfluous to lovers, who if they buy the "Lexicon" should promptly turn it over to less fortunate people who must study the tender passion through the cold medium of print.

"At Long and Short Range" can hardly be spoken of as a volume of essays, though their literary quality is essentially of this sort. The little paragraphs of observation and reflection are rather the disjecta membra of essays, and bear the same relation to the finished effort that the fragments of the Dresden cup bear to the bit of china as it was in the moment before it slipped from your grasp. C. G. L.

THE EXPERIMENTAL NOVEL, by Emile Zola. Cassell Co. "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU," by Count Leo Tolstoi. Cassell Co. THE LOVER'S LEXICON, by Frederick Greenwood. Macmillan & Co. AT LONG AND SHORT RANGE, by William Armstrong Collins. J. B. Lippincott Co.

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PEOPLE AND THINGS.

MARCH went out like a lion and very nearly strangled

ARCH went out like a lion and very nearly strangled

the lamb. Washington was spared the snow and blizzards of the North, but cold winds played havoc with the hunt at Chevy Chase on Easter Monday and greatly interfered with the rolling of Easter eggs in the White House grounds. The low temperature reduced the usual joyous throng of children from five thousand to fifteen hundred. Among the brave little ones present was a wee representative of the Celestial Kingdom, who was so great an object of interest to the populace as to be followed and surrounded by them. Finally the child's attendant mounted the child on his shoulder andmarched off the grounds. Why can't Americans display better. manners on public occasions? Why give the Chinese reason to call us "barbarians"?

It is good news to learn through Mrs. W. L. Wilson, who has returned to the Capital, that her husband is regaining strength and spirits under the hospitable roof of Hon. B. T. Cable at San Antonio, Texas. Let the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee remain on that salubrious ranch until Nature makes up her fickle mind what sort of weather she intends to label "Spring."

Never was the Capital so full of strangers as now. There seems to be a conjunction of visitors from both North and South. Hotels are taxed to their utmost.

Easter week went mad with gayety. Private balls were given by Mrs. S. S. Howland, Mrs. John Lee Carroll, Mrs. C. M. Ffoulke and others. The dinner dance at Corcoran House was a triumph of hospitable ingenuity. If anyone thinks it easy to dine one hundred and thirty persons in a private house at little tables, let him try it. Senator and Mrs. Brice may be congratulated on the great success of a unique entertainment given especially for the pleasure of Miss Margaret K. Brice and in honor of the guest of the house, Miss Fair of California.

The prettiest public ball of the week was given by Mr. John T. Devine to the guests of the Shoreham and their friends. Never has the Banquet Hall been so beautifully decorated. Small did his best; Juliet would have been delighted to look down on Romeo from a balcony that was a poem in roses and smilax. Guests were many and distinguished, and dancing was kept up until the small hours of the next morning. Prominent among the receiving ladies were Mrs. Senator Gibson of Maryland, Mrs. and Miss Lockwood of Buffalo, Mrs. W. W. Dixon of Montana, the Misses Lee and the Misses Harding of Boston, Mrs. John L. Morehead of North Carolina and Miss Fletcher of Minnesota. Supper was served in the dining-room and Mr. Devine was cordially thanked for his graceful hospitality.

Californians make friends faster than almost any visitors to the Capital. Generous and genial, they seem to be an embodiment of their own glorious climate and are the best possible advertisements for their great State. One of these personified streaks of sunshine is Colonel Isaac C. Trumbo of San Francisco. Successful in most things, he is never more so than in making other people happy. His wife and family are to be envied.

There is no harder worker in Congress than Senator George C. Perkins, who is at his office before most Congressmen sit down to breakfast. Senator and Mrs. Perkins are stopping at the Shoreham, where they have a very pleasant apartment.

Miss Kate Field's manner of lecturing has converted Congressman McCreary of Kentucky to faith in women speakers. He was so pleased with Miss Field's lecture on Dickens as to insist upon her preparing a new lec

ture to bring out all her capacity for pathos. Delighted at having broken down a prejudice in the mind of so distinguished a Southerner, Miss Field has promised to carry out Congressman McCreary's suggestion at the earliest possible moment. By invitation of the Press Club of Chicago, Miss Field will appear at the great Central Music Hall on the evenings of April 16 and 18, where she will deliver her lectures on "Charles Dickens" and "America for Americans." On April 17 a reception will be tendered her by the Press Club.

Ohio has a thoroughly sound and honest representa tive in Hon. W. J. White of Cleveland. Having won his own spurs, he is in touch with the people, and as one of them, is perfectly competent to legislate in their best interests. He will never rush off in pursuit of ignes fatui and will never help constituents or others to do nothing at the expense of Uncle Sam. Believing in work, he only asks from others what he himself practices. Both Mr. and Mrs. White have made many friends at the Shoreham, where they have winter quarters. Heart tells.

Mr. C. M. Ffoulke's admirable paper on tapestries, published in this review some weeks ago, has been so extensively copied as to prove a growing interest in textile art. Mr. Ffoulke is writing a history of tapestry which will undoubtedly be the most valuable work of the kind ever produced. In fact, it will have no rival. That an American should be the first in this field of art is a matter of surprise as well as of congratulation. Why won't Mr. Ffoulke collect his many tapestries and give an exhibition in some New York art gallery? I believe such an exposition would be financially successful and would lead to similar expositions in many big towns. The benefit to art cannot be overestimated. When Washington has a dozen residents as much in love with art as Mr. Ffoulke, we shall have something like an artistic atmosphere.

Apropos of art, Mr. Gilbert Munger has at last succeeded in setting his new studio to rights and has every reason to rejoice in the transformation he has created. Whoever would get an idea of what a fine studio should look like let him visit Mr. Munger at the top of 1424 New York Avenue. An elevator leads to Mr. Munger's door where the latch-string is always out and where the artist himself is glad to shake hands with all art lovers, whether friends or strangers.

Whoever had the good fortune to listen to the Kneisel Quartette on March 27 at Mrs. T. F. Richardson's, will not soon forget the feast of melody. An admirable pro gram was admirably rendered. The quartette in F major by Dvorak was charming and, what is more, orig. inal. This Hungarian does his own thinking and should do us an infinite amount of good by living among us. Schubert and Beethoven were heard to great advantage and Mr. Schroeder's soli for violoncello were delightful. The extremes of Bach and Klengel formed a happy contrast and were so enthusiastically received as to lead to an encore that gave additional pleasure to a most appre ciative audience. Washington must be made a musical

centre.

The President and Council of the National Academy of New York gave a reception last Friday evening which was the annual gathering of the art clans, preparatory to the public opening of the Sixty-ninth Annual Exhibition. Think what strides American art has made since the first exhibition of the National Academy of Design sixty-nine years ago!

Harriet Hosmer has been the lion of San Francisco and Oakland. Her statue of Isabella is exhibited at the Midwinter Fair. OLLA.