I have not seen for a long time a more entertaining book. In some respects it resembles the Arabian Nights-in its use of fancy, its happy disregard of all troublesome facts, and its freedom from any allegiance to the laws of logic or nature; in other respects it reminds me of those correction exercises we used to have in English analysis where every second or third sentence contained an error, and the reader must keep his wits about him and be ready to supply what is missing and change the language into a truer form.

REGENERATION: A REPLY TO MAX NORDAU.*

REVIEWED BY B. O. FLOWER.

This thoughtful volume is written by a scholarly Englishman, and is worthy the careful perusal of all thinking persons, not merely because it ably points out in a most convincing manner the sophistry, unreliability, and fatal inconsistency of the brilliant but reckless German, but owing to the broad method of treatment, which is only eclipsed by the temperate spirit of the author. The American edition is accompanied by a carefully prepared Introduction by Prof. N. M. Butler, of Columbia College, in which we find the following thoughtful paragraphs:

The habit of reflective analysis, like letter-writing and other accomplishments that require much leisure, is slipping away from us under the pressure of our complex modern life. The newspaper, with its surges of insensate passion and unreasoned opinion, thinks for large portions of the community; and its thinking, like the amusements of the nursery, expresses itself in ways that appeal chiefly to the eye and to the ear. Information about things is too often mistaken for knowledge of things. . . . The music of Wagner, the dramas of Ibsen, the romances of Zola, the art of the pre-Raphaelites, the mystics, the symbolists, the Parnassians-who but a "decadent" would treat all these alike?—are passed in review and pronounced to be proofs of the decadence of mankind even more conclusive than those based upon physical measurements. All this is done in the name of Science, which, reversing the procedure of Saturn, thus hastens to devour the parent that begot it. Modern Civilization.

Nordau is particularly prone to regard the small achievements of a certain school of alienists as having supplied him with a conclusive test of all excellence. Indeed, no part of his diatribe is more open to criticism than the use he makes of Science.

There is also hidden from Nordau's view that noble conception of the place and significance of Science to which Tyndall gave expression in the eloquent peroration of his Belfast address more than twenty years ago:

"Science itself not infrequently derives motive-power from an ultrascientific source. Some of its greatest discoveries have been made under the stimulus of a non-scientific ideal. . . . The world embraces not only a Newton, but a Shakspere-not only a Boyle, but a Raphael -not only a Kant, but a Beethoven-not only a Darwin, but a Carlyle.

*"Regeneration: A Reply to Max Nordau." With Introduction by Prof. Nicholas Murray Butler. Cloth, pp. 312, price, $1.75. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.

Not in each of these, but in all, is human nature whole. They are not opposed, but supplementary-not mutually exclusive, but reconcilable. And if, unsatisfied with them all, the human mind, with the yearning of a pilgrim for his distant home, will still turn to the Mystery from which it has emerged, seeking so to fashion it as to give unity to thought and faith, so long as this is done, not only without intolerance or bigotry of any kind, but with the enlightened recognition that ultimate fixity of recognition is here unattainable, and that each succeeding age must be held free to fashion the mystery in accordance with its own needs-then casting aside all the restrictions of Materialism, I would affirm this to be a field for the noblest exercise of what, in contrast with the knowing faculties, may be called the creative faculties of man."

Why, then, should not literature and art and music enter and occupy the very field that the apostles of Science assign to them, without being exposed to the alienists' sneers for their symbolism and their mysticism? The truth is that Nordau is the slave of one idea, and that the logical outcome of his definition and conception of abnormality. Ribot described such a case perfectly when he said that "Nothing is more common or better known than the momentary appropriation of the personality by some intense and fixed idea. As long as this idea occupies consciousness, we may say without exaggeration that it constitutes the individual." Degeneration constitutes Nordau. He is himself an abnormality and a pathological type.

A fair idea of the scope of the volume may be gathered from the following subjects discussed: "Who is the Critic?" "Dusk or Dawn," "Mysticism and the Unknowable," "Symbolism and Logic," "The Bankruptcy of Science," "The Light of Russia," "The Real Ibsen," "An Ethical Inquisition," "Richard Wagner," "Vigorous Affirmations," "The Religion of Self," "Regeneration."

While not at all times agreeing with our author, I can recommend the volume as being on the whole a noble, helpful, and much-needed work. It is wholesomely optimistic, and far more scientific in its spirit, as well as its method of treatment, than the work of Nordau which it criticises.

A NOTABLE HANDBOOK FOR SOCIAL PURITY WORKERS.* REVIEWED BY B. O. FLOWER.

The magnificent success of the first national congress of the American Purity Alliance was almost epoch-marking in its signifi cance; coming during the confusion and turmoil of the great transition period which marks the closing decade of the nineteenth century, it was an event of special importance. That so successful a congress could be held, though due largely to the inde

*The National Purity Congress, Its Papers, Addresses, and Portraits," containing fifty papers and addresses by eminent writers and speakers, covering many aspects of the purity question,-Rescue, Educational, Preventive, Legislative, Economic, and Religious. Edited by Aaron M. Powell, President of the American Purity Alliance. This volume contains sixty half-tone portraits, pp. 425. Cloth, price $2.50. American Purity Alliance, the United Charities Building, Fourth Ave. and 22d Street, New York, N. Y.

fatigable labor of Mr. Powell, President of the American Purity Alliance, and his sincere colaborers, indicates the awakening of the conscience of our nation to the imperative demands of the hour for brave, earnest, outspoken, educational agitation, that our civilization may be spared the awful fate which has attended every civilization of the past which has surrendered the high ideals of purity and justice to passion and injustice. So valuable, nay, so indispensable, do I feel this volume to be to social purity workers, and because I desire to give our readers a correct idea of its character, I give below the Table of Contents:

Preface The President's Opening Address-Letter from Rev. W. N. McVickar-Addresses of Welcome: Hon. Joshua Levering, Mrs. Alice C. Robinson-Responses: Rev. W. T. Sabine, Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell-Letter from Hon. C. C. Bonney-Paper, "Immorality of the Regulation System," Rev. Antoinette Brown BlackwellPaper, "The Religious Aspects of the Purity Movement," Rev. S. H. Virgin, D. D.-Paper, "Social Vice and National Decay," Rev. William T. Sabine, D. D.-Paper, "The Great Need of the Moral Crusade," Laura H. Satterthwaite, M. D.-Paper, "Moral Equality between the Sexes," Julia Ward Howe-Paper, "The Responsibility of Women in Regard to Questions Concerning Public Morality," Emily Blackwell, M. D.-Paper, "Young Men and Morality," J. W. Walton-Paper, "The Social Purity Alliance of Great Britain," Miss C. M. Whitehead -Paper, "Heredity and Ethics," Helen H. Gardener-Address, "The Laws of Parentage and Heredity," Rev. Mary T. Whitney-Paper, "The Municipality in its Relation to Vice," Samuel C. Blackwell-Paper, "Organized Prostitution: How to Deal With It," Mrs. Dora Webb-Address, Frances E. Willard-Letter from Josephine E. Butler -Paper, "The American Purity Alliance and Its Work," Anna Rice Powell-Paper, "The Deserted City: Legalized Vice," Rev. Joseph F. Flint-Paper, "The Traffic in Girls and Florence Crittenton Missions," Mrs. Charlton Edholm-Letter from Hon. Theodore RooseveltPaper, "The Medical Profession and Morals," O. Edward Janney, M. D.-Paper, "Temperance and Purity," Mary Clement LeavittPaper, "Slavery's Legacy of Impurity," Martha Schofield-Address, "The Sacredness of Fatherhood," Rev. A. H. Lewis, D. D.-Paper, "Address to the Natural Purity Congress, Baltimore, Yearly Meeting Committee," Pauline W. Holme-Paper, "English Experience and Purity Work," Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell-Paper, "Purity: How Preserved among the Young," Rev. S. S. Seward-Paper, "Purity and Parental Responsibility," Mrs. J. H. Kellogg-Paper, "Moral Education of the Young," Mary Wood-Allen, M. D.-Paper, "The Need of White Cross Work," Rev. J. B. Welty-Paper, "Chastity and Health," J. H. Kellogg, M. D.-Remarks, John J. Cornell-Paper, "Social Purity Work in Canada," Rev. C. W. Watch-Paper, "Alcohol and Chastity," M. L. Holbrook, M. D.-Paper, "The Pure in Heart," Hannah Hallowell Clothier-Address, "Our Divine Possibilities," Mary TravillaPaper, “Graded Homes," Isabel Wing Lake-Paper, "Some Causes of Present Day Immorality and Suggestions as to Practical Remedies," B. O. Flower-Paper, "The Relation of the Press and the Stage to Purity," Josiah W. Leeds-Address, "Social Purity: Its Relation to the Dependent Classes," Mrs. Frances E. W. Harper-"Plan of Work along Social Purity Lines," Miss Jessie A. Ackerman-Paper, "Child Saving and Prostitution," Hon. Elbridge T. Gerry-"Equal Suffrage

as Related to the Purity Movement," Mrs. Mariana W. Chapman--Address, Mrs. Mary T. Burt-Letter from Mrs. C. T. Cole-Address, "Rescue Work," Mrs. A. L. Prindle, Florence Crittenton Mission-Address, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore-Resolutions-Sermon, "Personal and Public Purity," Rev. Joseph May-Paper, "Relation of Poverty to Purity," William Lloyd Garrison-Paper, "Public Baths and Public Comfort Stations, and their Relation to Public Morals," William H. Tolman, Ph. D.-Address, "Demoralizing Literature," Anthony Comstock-Paper, "Equal Suffrage vs. Purity," Henry B. Blackwell-Paper, "Protection for Young Women in Stores, Factories, and other Places of Business," Isaac H. Clothier-Letter from Mrs. Laura Ormiston Chant-Paper, "The Canadian Law for the Protection of Women and Girls," with Suggestions for Its Amendment and for a General Code," D. A. Watt-"Regulation of Vice: Questions and Answers," Miss Harriet A. Shinn.

It is needless for me to say that personally I do not agree with all the thoughts advanced in a congress in which the great problem of social purity is discussed from so many points of view, any more than I would expect all thinkers represented to agree with me in all the positions I took; but this could not be otherwise, nor is it the iron law of conformity that earnest men and women with broad vision expect or aim at in the closing years of this century. That such a gathering of representative thinkers and earnest workers should be held, and that such able and outspoken utterances should meet with such approval as to demand the issuance in a large volume of the verbatim addresses is almost as hopeful and significant a fact as the general raising of the age-of-consent laws throughout the United States last year and the vigorous agitation now being carried on in states yet in the black-list. In his opening address President Powell thus outlined in part the objects of the congress:

We meet on this occasion in the First National Purity Congress held under the auspices of the American Purity Alliance. Our objects in convening this congress are, the repression of vice, the prevention of its regulation by the state, the better protection of the young, the rescue of the fallen, to extend the white cross work among men, and to proclaim the law of purity as equally binding upon men and

women.

Purity is fundamental in its importance to the individual, to the home, and to the nation. There can be no true manhood, no true womanhood except as based upon the law of purity. There can be no security for the home, there can be no home-life in its best sense, except as it is based upon the law of purity. There can be no true prosperity, there can be no perpetuation of a nation, except as its life is based upon the law of purity. Impurity is destructive alike to the individual character, of the home, and of the nation.

Of the number of splendid addresses which no active worker in the field of social purity can afford to be without, I cannot refrain from speaking of the striking paper delivered by Rev. William F. Sabine, of New York, on "Social Vice and National Decay." It is a contribution of special value at the present time, as in it the scholarly author shows from unquestionable historical sources that in the great

nations and civilizations of the past, social vice involved national decay. But among the scores upon scores of most thoughtful and excellent papers I find it impossible to dwell upon those which will prove indispensable to social purity workers. It is sufficient to say that the question of social purity has never been so ably discussed or considered from so many points of view. Perhaps it is enough to say that no person interested in social purity work can afford to be without this volume, which represents the best thought of many of the leading thinkers and specialists in America and Europe. Believing, as I do, that conscientious men and women who would save the republic and elevate manhood can no more afford to pursue the old policy of ignoring vice, lust, and immorality in all its forms, than a father can afford to sit idly by when his house is in flames and his children are in the house, I feel that this volume should have the widest possible circulation.

A DAUGHTER OF HUMANITY.*

REVIEWED BY JULIA DAWLEY.

To readers of the ARENA, which for a year or more has been fairly black with records of Age of Consent Legislation and notices of books upon the unsavory subject of sex abuses and kindred evils, another book which sets forth in the form of a novel the dangers to which young, innocent and unsuspecting girls are subject, will be no surprise. This time, however, the story of lust of unprincipled men aided by feminine confederates in iniquity is narrowed down to two classes only, viz., the employers and the female employees.

Although the book deals with the same subject which is set forth in Helen Gardener's well known novels, it is by no means to be compared with them as a literary production, being in style and diction rather more like the sort of thing one finds in the story-papers, etc., thrown on doorsteps or hung on bell-pulls all through suburban streets. The book is "Sympathetically dedicated to every pure woman struggling to gain an honest livelihood," though it seems likely enough that very few of these will have time or inclination to read it, especially if the assertions made in it are true.

Briefly, then, the reader is at once introduced to a rich, noblehearted young woman of Boston, of whom the author naively says: "Everyone acknowledged Miss Richmond to be handsome, so it was not strange that she was engaged to be married," from which it would appear that a plain girl's chance of such supreme felicity must be slight, even though an heiress. This young woman's attention having been called to the sad story of one poor country girl, whose funeral is the first scene in the drama to which the reader is invited, she

"A Daughter of Humanity." By Edgar Maurice Smith. Pp. 317; price, cloth, $1.25, paper, 50c. Arena Publishing Company.