Book Review

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (S23 killed today by an explosion at the California powder works at Santa Cruz. * * * The senate today passed the army reorganization bill, passed by the house on the 23rd inst. The bill increases the army when at maximum strength to 61,000 men. 27th: The American fleet sailed from Hongkong today, headed for Manila. 28th: In a letter addressed to Governor Heber M. Wells, the First Presidency express the hope that Latter-day Saints, citizens of Utah, "will be found ready to respond with alacrity to the call which is made upon our state" for volunteers. May 1st: Governor Wells telegraphed the War Department today that Utah's quota of volunteers is filled and that the men will be at Fort Douglas ready to be mustered into service on May 5th. 3rd: A special dispatch from Madrid announces that the war will be pushed by Spain with greater vigor. 4th: Governor Wells this evening appointed Richard W. Young and Frank A. Grant captains of companies A and B respectively, Utah (volun- teer) Light Artillery. 5th: Riots, caused by the high price and scarcity of food, are prevalent in the provinces of Spain. 6th: Serious bread riots occurred today in central and northern Italy. Troops have been called out and many persons killed. 8th: Governor Wells today named Joseph E. Caine for captain of the troop of cavalry included in Utah's quota of volunteers. * * General Stewart L. Woodford, United States minister to Spain, arrived in New York today. gth: The two batteries of Utah's artillery were mustered into service today. * * * In accordance with the suggestion of the Presi- dent, congress today passed a vote of thanks to Commodore Dewey and the senate passed a bill increasing the number of rear-admirals in the navy in order that the President might appoint Commodore Dewey. A joint resolu- tion was also passed directing the secretary of the navy to present a sword to Commodore Dewey, and to have a bronze medal struck in commemora- tion of the battle of Manila, to be presented to each of the officers and men who took part in the battle, * * * The riots in Italy continue. In Milan whole streets have been torn up by the mob. * * * A serious riot occurred today at Linares, Spain. Many were killed. 10th: A mother's congress was held today in Salt Lake City and a permanent organization effected. nth: Dispatches received today in London state that during the riots in Milan, Italy, one thousand persons were arrested, six hundred killed and two thousand wounded. j2th: The British Secretary for the Colonies, Hon. Joseph Chamber- lain, made a speech at Birmingham, England, this evening in which he strongly advocated an Anglo-Saxon alliance. His address was greeted with cheers. ijth: The Utah company of rough riders left Salt Lake City this evening for Cheyenne. * * * Edward Remenyi, the great vio- linist, fell dead this afternoon in San Francisco, while playing before an enthusiastic audience in the Orpheum theater. * * * The members of the Spanish cabinet today tendered their resignations. BOOK REVIEW. POPULAR CUSTOMS. We have received from the house of J. B. Lippincott Company, Phila-

624 IMPROVEMENT ERA. delphia, a copy of "Curiosities of Popular Customs, and of Rites, Ceremonies, Observances and Miscellaneous Antiquities," by William S. Walsh. The work is a volume of more than a thousand pages, and yet of such form as not to be an unhandy volume. It is profusely illustrated with many rare cuts and engravings that add a charm to the subjects treated. It is a valuable encyclopedia on the curiosities of popular customs, and yet is an amusing as well as an instructive volume. One that will help the "busy man" pass a pleasant hour, as well as being indispensable as a work of reference to the student; for Mr. Walsh seems indeed to have explored all the odd nooks and corners of literature, and has brought from their hiding places and mingled with more serious information, an abundance of amusing anecdotes and queer sayings. In the libraries of our Improvement Associ- ations it would be a very great help in furnishing materials for lectures and essays, and as such we commend it to the consideration of the librarians •of our associations and to young men generally. USEFUL TRACTS FOR IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIA- TIONS. Rays of Living Light is the title of a series of twelve tracts by Elder Charles W. Penrose, of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion. It is the object of the writer of these tracts to set forth the faith of the Latter-day Saints in a brief and yet lucid manner. In this task Elder Penrose has succeeded most admirably. Starting in number one, with the self-evident proposition that there can be but one true religion, and in number two defining the doc- trine of the Church of Christ concerning the Godhead, he proceeds suc- cessively with the several doctrines of the church and with the points of controversy which have arisen between the saints and the world in the course of presenting the gospel to this generation. We are not saying, of course, that these doctrines and points of controversy receive elaborate treatment, the space which Elder Penrose allotted himself and the nature of the purpose precluded that, but the stranger who desires to learn in brief the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot do better than read this series of tracts. The saints having friends in any part of the world where the English language is spoken cannot do better, if they desire to start those friends upon a course of inquiry concerning the restored gos- pel, than to send them this series of tracts. It is to be hoped, too, that Rays of Living Light will be translated into other languages, that they may be used in all the world. To the elders traveling and preaching the gospel they will unquestionably be received with great delight, as especially help- ful in their work. One other use we would suggest in relation to them — they should be used at home for the conversion of our unconverted youth. During the past winter a very great number of young men have been brought into the Improvement Associations. Many of them are not pro- foundly converted to the faith of their fathers, and that for the reason that they have never investigated it, have given it no thought; to such the Era commends the Rays of Living Light, and we suggest that officers of the as- oaciations call the attention of such members of the associations to these strcts and encourage them to read them. Elder Penrose for nearly half a century has been an exponent and defender of the faith. No man in the church, perhaps, has ever excelled him in clearness and directness of style in writing, and in nothing he has written does his terseness of expression and clearness of style appear to better advantage than in this last service he has rendered the Church,