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Show if,' REVIEW OF BOOKS" 1IA NEW LIFE OF HAWTHORNE, i The I.ifc and Genius of N'nthaniel llaw- . thorno. Bv Frank Preston Stearns. Published bv .1. B. Llpplncott Company, Philadelphia. I A worthy life of Hawthorne this, which supplies some missing things of i Importance In the life of this Illustrious I American author. Thus, tho biography by Julian lUwihorno Is complete and must be taken as authoritative, so fnr 3 - as the facts go; but the son refrained from any estimates of the quality of his father's work and of his genius; and it leaves out any critical examination of his father's literary work. The earlier biography, bi-ography, composed of the recollections of Hawthorne's early and faithful friends. Horatio Bridge ami Elizabeth 1:i foody. Is of value, and the later works. Uorat.lo Bridge's memoirs and Ellv.aheth Manning's Man-ning's account of the boyhood of Hawthorne, Haw-thorne, "contain much that Is new and valuahlo concerning the earlier portions of Flawthorne's life." And all are made suitable use of in this work. This biography corrects some prevalent errors, as the supposition that William I-lathorne, first ancestor of the family In America, was directly concerned with the persecution of the Quakers. The sup-posed sup-posed connection of Hawthorne with the ' duel between Cllloy and Graves Is also shown to be an error. (i The work tracea t.he ancestry of the family back to Salem, and the record from 1C30 to 1S00 is given. Hawthorne's ! boyhood is described. ISO! to 1S21. and then his four years' college life. After his graduation his career Is noted, and , he is found to be a shy, retiring youth, i Inclined to b a poet, and much taken for a time with socialism, and an Inmate of the Brook Farm co-operative colony, with with which, how.over, he presently became be-came disgusted. The beginnings of his i great literary career are well outlined, and his entering the consular service is i shown to be a great help to him. his ln- inn-K i cumbency of the Liverpool consulate was igM (J a direct proof of President. Pierces r ' fH . V friendship ior and appreciation of him. ihH i A pretty full account Is given of the ''(li I surroundings In which Hawthorne found t f.n f, himself from time to tlmo, and the reclp- ' W'Plf d rocal Influence of one upon another In his fluf)i K - associates receives duo attention. His tj T writings are traced In chronological order, lilt I o-"'! a good account is given of each of 1 Ufi I his productions, as to when and how it ( m 3 -was composed and Issued, and how it 3 JJJt 1 was recelvod. A chapter Is devoted to if ttvfij Hawthorne's coming into Immortal fame, il Kjf and a thorough appreciation of his vast L! Ml . genius runs through the volume Va- flPfy,' I rious portraits of Hawthorne are given, M :lr I and there Is a list of Hawthorne's books f jj l that were published under his own dlrec- Liy H j tlon. There Is an essay, "Mrs. Emerson H l i and Mrs. Hawthorne," which is a delicate ml ijf balancing of qualities. A fairly full work- m Ing Index Is carried, which Is of great M a i value to the student. All in all. It la a ,J fly i , book of very high character; the writer ii r i has put good, conscientious work Into It, I and it will undoubtedly be accepted by HiK. jJ Btudonts, and by the public, as a llrst-ff llrst-ff jjj I u class biography, meeting every rcason-y.'li rcason-y.'li In able requirement squarely and In a spirit Wfsj IM of praiseworthy dlligonce. impartiality. I'jri' faithfulness to the best models, and mcet-Ifef mcet-Ifef P ln lne 1)CSt '"oern requirements in a inrl ' biographer. I'ttfj' WESTERN STORIES. LI 4 J.W Smith of Bear City. By George T. llaht)'' Buffum. Illustrated with six Photo- ntQ, gravures. The Grafton Press, New lt i This is a collection of stories of the W, j J 1 great arid region; which reads as if the fl . j; ' t author had actually been in the West, i j ond as though he had in fact scon at h I j least some of the things which he tells t I ' about. The title story is fishy in the I ,1 j last degree, and whoever told it to the I 1 j author was of an Imaginative turn of K mind. But others are better: and some ill yilf' of them are first-class. The apprecia-Y apprecia-Y i ?S ! tlon of Soapy Smith seems true to life, fi ' t1 ; but It. is too favorable by far. The stories uf , Jn which frontier hotels figure are very f ; good, and those of the good qualities of J ' ; reckless and abandoned men and women M' tniglu be matched in many experiences, 113-V The stories have a vigor and freshness 'i pAl that make them alluring reading. r'i FOR THE KING'S DAUGHTERS. 1? f r I The King's Daughters' Year Book By i f Marg-arel Bottome. President Internally Interna-lly li tlonal Order of the King's Daughters. ' t r Published by Henry Alte.mus Company, J fty Philadelphia. '( f N This year book is made up in the form V I i pf a journal, day by day It begins with f ! January first, and runs through the year, j; ' The entries are In the form of sentiments, t I, pilous homilies, hearty cheer and hope. sl ' Encouragement for those who strive, and g, Exhortation for the erring or the weak. it 1e all done in the most cheerful Chrls-I Chrls-I : Uan spirit. Scripture Is constantly and I ' fleflly applied, and the need of humility j .nd of service is emphatically Inculcated. i It is a helpful work to the great society J . , to which it Is addressed, and for which at 1 it was written, j ! THE HONORABLE BANDIT, j i i Don Q. In the Sierra. By K, and Hcsketh I H Prttchard. With Illustrations by Frank ft X. Chamberlain. Published by J. R. j Ug I Llpplncott Company. Philadelphia, tf 3 ) I The Chronicles of "Don Q." have been f 4f I read by many ten thousands, and admired ' ff ; I py all. This concluding scries of his If deeds, his fighting qualities, his high JK ' A jense of justice, his personal honor and Is H pignlty. Is fully up to the original chron- 1 Icles in interest, and the career of the fa-(j fa-(j pious bandit Is apparently brought to a I close. And yet. that seemed to be so at a ; the end of the Chronicles, and there Is a I possibility of the reappearance of the 2 , fearless and Indomitable chief, perhaps in 3 ' other surroundings. Certain it is that it J V 1b rare to find stories so fascinating as 8 P these, and that maintain their consistency Q bo long and so well. I ' A DRAMATIC MIXTURE, u Half a Rogue. By Harold MncGrath. fi With Illustrations by Harrison Fisher. I The Bobbs-Merrill Company, publishers, S Indianapolis, S A daring sort of story, dramatic in In-E In-E tensity at times, and with crises that ?J ' pinch hard on occasion. A young dramatic dramat-ic 1c author, favorite at the theaters. Is a taken In hand by a young woman who n wants a chance to show her ability before !y the footlights, and fools him completely. ft1.- 1 1 She gets her chance thereby, and makes ' a brilliant success. The two become com-f com-f 1 Tades. and It is a marvel that they don't Ti ) marry. She is sought In marriage by a 'Mill i; great manufacturer In a Vermont town, jjjjjar j , and weds him. This makes a commotion Fill ! ln lne niral town's society, and when the pnli) ' dramatist comes there to live, apparent-i apparent-i ly to be near the girl who Is the manufac-Wralf manufac-Wralf j turer's wife, he Is picked up bv a po-.flul po-.flul J Htlcal boss as the party's candklntc for If 8 V Mayor, and a fierce contest ensues. In 31? 1 which there Is a strike at and dismantling yfi I . of the manufacturer's mills, scandal lft about tho manufacturer's wife and the lUl 'A dramatist, and the dramatist comes Into the lova of his life, ln the person of fl vl ; Patty Bennington. The dramatist is de-tga de-tga fj feated, but the manufacturer Is convinced r&. '-"l of the truth of his wife, and Patty acts jBjj , the part or the heroine. It Is all an ex-ceedlngly ex-ceedlngly well-told story, In which the rfiti author shows himself in excellent form. I;,J !' He is maintaining well his place in the I; l front rank of American story-tollers. jUft ft. THREE BOOKS OF MERIT. ilfT . Over the Nuts and Wine. By James lit Clarence Harvey. Published by H. M. il Caldwell Co., Boston. Pfy-1 )1" An ingenious conceit gives this book (vl j the form of a flask, and Its contents are lily bright and sparkling as the wine which r.'IU Is due In the flask. There are toasts, BjJH " epigrams, Invocations, apostrophes, ap-IfK ap-IfK j peals, warnings, invitations, reflections, t'lM! regrets, and above all. Joyous exhllara-jjIHW exhllara-jjIHW ' lon In the witty pages, which contain MjWf' each a central theme, with a cap-sheaf IK and a footnote, all fitting In to make a IEf ' book of excellent humor and keen scntl-Kl scntl-Kl ' ment. The diner-out can find herein 13 1 I many reflections for saying or singing KM! I; the thing that will fit and fetch. f , Sc"?,l.or Sorghum's Primer of Politics. By Pn,lander Chase Johnson. Published by Henry Altomus Company. Philadelphia. We are Informed In this little, book, which is devoted to "helpful hints on the science of not getting the worst of it." that "Politics Is the art of turning Influence Influ-ence Into affluence" Another ono Is, "When one grafter la landed Iherc Is so much hurrahing over It thai half a dozen get away In the excitement," which Is all too true. And there ore many other good things ln this little book, of pungent satire on a vast deal of our political exorcises ex-orcises and procedure. But a. perusal of It Is npt to make on a political cynic. Timothy's Magical Afternoon. By Tudor Jcnks. Willi Illustrations by John R. Nelll. Published by Henry Altenuts Company. Philadelphia. When this author gives his Imagination play, he always devises something good. This Is emphatically true of this small volume, which takes a llltlo. bov on a mnglcal journey and series of adventures, beginning on the elevated railroad. It Is a mnglcal afternoon, sure enough, filled full or action and curious transformations. The book will be road with glee by those for whom It Is prepared. A STIRRING FRENCH STORY. I Will Repay: a Romance. Bv the Baroness Bar-oness Orczy. Published bv "J. B. Llpplncott Llp-plncott Company, Philadelphia. The scenes of this story are mainly laid in the awful nnd turbulent times of blood and mad roge of the Reign of Terror In France. But there Is a prelude. In which is told the story of a duel. In which tho mad young Marquis de Marny Is killed by Deroulede, h man of tho lower order When the body of the young Marquis is taken home, the old Duke, his rather, crippled and falling, revives enough to exact from his daughter, the sister of tho dead man, a terrible oath of vengeance against the slayer of her brother. The manner In which she won an opportunity to set her plan of vengeance on foot, how she denounced Deroulede, who by this time had won great favor with the popu-laco popu-laco and with the leaders of the revolution. revolu-tion. Is Ingeniously sot forth. There Is a refinement of cruelty about It, and an Ingenuity In-genuity In carrying It out, which are worthy of the best Intriguantes, but no sooner does she effect her purpose than the keenest remorse attacks Iter, for she Is in love with Deroulede. and ho takes the tlmo to declare his love for her. There Is a coarse ruffian of the National Guard who showers Insults and abuse on hoth of them as he appears to search the place in pursuance of the warning: but tho young woman Is as nervy and resourceful re-sourceful in destroying the evidence of guilt as she had been unsparing In denouncing de-nouncing her victim. She Is suspected and arrested, and is on the rapid road to the guillotine, when Deroulede nppcars as her defender. This Is fatal to both, and they despair. But Just then tho Englishman who has done so much good service In cheajing the guillotine of its prey, comes tcf the rescue, and affairs clear up. It Is an Immensely effective story .told with a force and Intensity of reeling and of sentiment that are the admiration ad-miration of the reader. It gives a wonderfully won-derfully vivid description of the spirit and workings of the Intrigues and Inner crookodnens of the French m6b despots, and the more that villainy Is described the worse it appears. The story deserves a great popularity. JAUNTS IN ITALY. Italian Days and Ways. By Anne Hol-llngsworth Hol-llngsworth Wharton With eight fine engravings. Published by J. B. Llpplncott Llppln-cott Company, Philadelphia. This Is a handsome book, put forth In admirable style The plan of It Is that three spinsters, one the young and frivolous, go to Italy for a sojourn and enjoyment They have plenty of monev. and take their trips leisurely, following the usual travel-trails when they want to, and leaving them when attracted elsewhere. else-where. The story of It all Is given In racy letters that are full of breezy observations ob-servations and descriptions, and which take quite unconventional views of scenes, hlstoiic perspectives, and traditions of persons and places. The comments on the life as the three found it In Italy are delicious to read. They attract attention at-tention whereever they go, and a Count and a military man become quite devoted. de-voted. In tho end It Is the youngest who escapes the matrimonial snare, the two others succumbing to lovers who have followed them to Italy from America. Amer-ica. In a way this is a sort of a guidebook, guide-book, very charmingly set forth, as well ns an alluring tale of the Jauntings of throe lively and appreciative American Elrls; and It well repays tho reading. PUSHING TO THE TOP. The Upstart. By Henry M. Hyde. The Cca-tury Cca-tury Co., Publishers, New York. A story abounding In humor, love-making, Boclnl struggle, nml resentful prejudice, with n little political mixture nnd parental wrnth (soon mltlgiitetl) thrown In. Pat McCoruiIck was the upstart; he was the bright and up-pushing up-pushing son of a shiftless, no-account father, who yet when opportunity presented could play c heroic pnrt, in which the ultimate snc-rlfico snc-rlfico of his life was culled for and freely rendered II was not of much help to Pnt, however, for the village folk were fnr more prone to remember the elder iJcC'ormlek for his shlfdeesness and gcnoral worthlestncss thnn for his heroic end. as the habit nnd custom cus-tom of the country village universally is. But the lad had seeds of a better nnd more strenuous stren-uous life In him and his grit was unfall-lug; unfall-lug; be made his way valiantly from rags nnd Ignorance to honorable rank as a lawyer, law-yer, political advancement fairly won. and the hnnd nnd heart of the girl of his choice. The Fccne of the story Is the old middle West; It 16 strongly told, and a faithful picture of tho life of the ordinary, working people. It brings Into play force, antngonifims. ready attack at-tack and defense, nnd shows the habits nnd methods of thought of the characters portrayed. por-trayed. In a way both natural and vivid. The Interest never flags from start to close. A JOLLY TRAVELER. Sceinj; Franco With Uncle John Bv Anne Warner. With illustrations by Mav Wil-son Wil-son Preston. The Century Co., Publishers, Publish-ers, New York. This is an immensely diverting book. "Uncle John" is a thorough-coins Philistine: Philis-tine: he is contemptuous of everything Froncli; he considers, ond is not backward in baying so, that tho plowing encomiums of the Rtiide-hnokfi are n inrjs of lies; nnd he thoroughly distrusts everything that is said to him laudatory of France or its people. peo-ple. But ho is a generous, hearty old gentleman, gen-tleman, who is determined to do the rij,'ht thing by his nieces, Yvonne nnd Edna, who are attractive cirls, who have eood times everywhere, and receive plenty of attention, their lovers being a pood deal of a bore at timos, and Undo John is always intolerant intole-rant of tho young suitors. Tho most persistent per-sistent of them arc ihrec clever voung American lads who are not in the " least abashed by tho uncle's opposition; In fact, when the old mun gels a lntle affair of his own, the young chaps and the cirls. havo immense enjoyment over it. Uncle John is extremely ready of loncuo throughout the trip, nnd his talk is delightfully cnroless pad piquant. The book Is one of rich quality, qual-ity, sure to be enjoyed by every one who appreciates good huraor and ready" wit. ADMIRABLE IDEALITY. N Don a Dreams: a Story of Love nnd Youth, by Harvey J. O'Higgins Tho Century Co., Publishers, New York. A story of ideality nnd sentimental aspiration. aspi-ration. It begins with tho disillusionment of a dreamy boy of six. nnd his effort to prevent pre-vent n younger brother burning an unwelcome unwel-come and shocking fact: then it pursues the ctory to the lad of fifteen, who was still a dreamer, a devourcr of tho fanciful in Spencer's "Fairic Queen" and other works of Hint snblime character: and he is touched to the heart by the helpful tenderness of a maiden who filled his heart, and shn Is his companion in the dream life whiclt he" lives. Then ha feels himself frozen out of his Canadian home by the hnr6hncs of his father and the hard, matter-of-fact life in his nativo village, which has no room for the idler and the trlfler that ho is hold uncharitably unchar-itably to be. Ho goes to New York, utterly ut-terly unskilled and impracticable, nnd has a I time of pinching misery, sounding the depths of a life of squalor and want. But he remains re-mains a drcouicr, unseluBb, unable to force success. But lie is of tho type that draws love nnd care, and ho finds men nnd women to lovo, and who love and care for him. It Is a story of wonderful chnrni: it leads the render into realms where norditlncss is never the aim, and where money counts for little in influencing conduct, but where humanity is weighed nnd judged for its nwilitics and its personal service. The ehnim is heightened height-ened nnd the appreciation of the work enhanced, en-hanced, by tho fart that it is precisely this viw of life that is most needed of insist-oncn insist-oncn upon in this money mail age. The book is altogether s;ood and commendable. TWO LINCOLN BOOKS. Lincoln the Lawyer. By Frederick Trevor Hill. Tho Century Co., Publishers. New York. This work Is of Importance ns bringing before be-fore the public in compact nnd Intelligent form the actual facts of the standlug nnd lnw practice of Lincoln ln-fore the days of his Natlonnl fame. II shows that hu wns diligent, wise, of deep understanding In tho grc-nt principles of the law, and. above' nil, thnt he wns a man whose heart nod conscience were never smothered In tho quibbles or technicalities of tho profession The author bus made a deep and prolonged study of the professional career of Lin--coin, getting his facts from original sources nnd tolling tho Ftory of the great President's legal enrcer for thu first time, and lolling It In n way thnt If It is not tho last word to oy on the subject, leaves llttlo more of substance to tell, for in the author dlllgcnco ho hns covered the full lime of thnt practice. The narrative Is entwined with gossip of persons, per-sons, events, and places, and Is spiced with mnuy anecdotes nnd much story-tolling. Yet Il Is nn earnest, studious presentation, n credit Indeed to the author, who Is himself a lawyer, a graduate of Ynlo nnd 01 Columbia Colum-bia Law School. He Is an author of skill nnd repute, too, knowing practically bow a book should be made and presented, nnd bc-rodo bc-rodo the. old Lincoln circuit to got tho noeiled tone and atmosphere for his work. It Is shown that, while ns n stntcsmnn Lincoln's Lin-coln's fame Is Justly higher and more conspicuous con-spicuous than his fame ns n lawyer, he could novor havo been the- stntcsmnn thnt he wns without the legal training which he had pnsscd through The work Is written In a spirit of thorough appreciation of Lincoln's Lin-coln's great character, and Is all the more valuable on that account. It will doubtless nt once nssumo tho position of supremo authority au-thority on this phase of Lincoln's career. The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln. By Helen Nlcolny With Illustrations by Jay Hambldge nnd others. Tho Century Co., Publishers, New York. This Is a grnceful and good book for boys and girls. The story Is told In a strolghtfor-ward strolghtfor-ward way, and Is based upon the Standard Life of Lincoln, written by his secretaries, John G. Nlcolny ond John Hay. Nothing more Inspiring to tho average youth of tho United States could possibly be presented to them than the career of Lincoln, and this work presents that enroer with vividness and force. The heads of the narrative arc "A Presidents Childhood." "Captain Lincoln," Lin-coln," "Lawyer Lincoln," "Congressman Lincoln,'" Lin-coln,'" "The Champion of Freedom," "The Now President," "Lincoln and the War' "Unsuccessful Generals," "Freedom for the Slaves,'' "The Man Who Was President," "The Turning Point of tho Wnr." "The Conqueror Con-queror qf a Great Rebellion," "The Fourteenth Four-teenth of, April." Under theso titles the grout story Is told, and II Is told well. It Is an admirable and praiseworthy book in every respect. A' STRUGGLE OF WITS. Father Pink. By A. Wilson Barrett. Published Pub-lished by Small, Maynard & Company, Boston. Thib is a story of the matching of wits, in which a jolly, active, nnd resourceful priest is the central llcure. He is jolly, to be sum; but it is a jollity with a purpoM-. nnd that purpose is always to shield and protect a favoriio niece. It is an 1-higlish story. The scene opens in n foggy London street, with two men fighting with swords. A young chap, George Western, sees tho tight, but doci not interfere. presently, one of tho fighters runs away A young girl accosts Western and gives him a letter. Ho finds it war, written by his futlior, nnd is comparing compar-ing it with his father's diaries when Father Pink suddenly uppcurs, and by ruse gets possession of the letter. From thenceforward the notion is continuous nnd rapid. Western's efforts arc directed to the recovery of the lotter, and in them hu comus into possession of a lot of diamonds which tho priest later gets bnck for his nicco. George Western marries, but not the niece," and two of tho diamonds arc returned to him uh presents. A great properly is involved, and Father Pink goes tlirinigh a savage ticer's rnge to keep the gems. It is a story thnt rends much like a detective- story, and is told with a rush and easy stylo that arc captivating. t WHITEING'S STRONGEST. Ring in the N'ew. By Richard Whitoing. Published by the Century Co . New York. The fame of the author of this work was securely laid in the publication of his novel, "N'o. 5 John Street," nnd other stories from his pen have well luniutniucd that fame. This one will materially add to it, for it is a human interest story nobly told. 11c has proved himself to be a great master in tho study and narration of the life of "tho other half" in London, and his sympathy with the struggling mass is strong and keen. In this htory, Prue. a young girl, nn orphan, unworldly, not skilled in any industry, goes to London, having rather less than thirty pounds to live on until she can find a way to enrn a living. She works out her problem in u v.-ny, nnd finds n solution, us so many aro doing now, through Socialistic effort and aid. The young Socialist who Ands her and tenches her declares thnt "There is no escape from the Iron Law of brotherhood," n doctrine which Prue finds muh to her liking, as embodied in her teacher, teach-er, nnd she accepts the teaching as good for her, "to feci that the only thing that counts is to take one s chances with the race." It is a novel of immense interest and fascination: the power of it is illumined with touches of humor that arc delightfully put. As a study into the life of tho wage-earners of the lesser orders in London, with the pronenrss of those laborers to accept Socialism Social-ism as their pnnaccn for relief, it is rcmnrk-ably rcmnrk-ably subtle and keen; it points to n possible controlling force thnt may become dominant nt any time, and does it in a way both powerful nud disturbing. READING VIEWS INTO BROWNING Modern Poets nnd Christian Teaching. By Frank C. Lockwood Published by Euton & Mains, New York. This is not in nnv sense a study of Browning's Brown-ing's poetry, though Robert Browning is tho poet whose writings comprise the theme of tho study. The author's purpose is to dig out from the involved nnd hidden constructions construc-tions of Browning, the Christian teaching to be found there. He is a fervent admirer of Browning, in whom lie discerns splendor and. godliness, nnd it is his hope that "he may," in some small measure, be instrumental in revealing to uninitiated or discouraged readers read-ers the t rich veins of spiritual truth that arc everywhere to be found in Browning's poetry at its best, nnd thus to impart to others what has been of inestimable value to himself." It is a heroic purpose, but tho performance, is difficult, anl the author succeeds in a way, but only through reading himself and his own notions and interpretations interpreta-tions into Browning: and no one, we imagine, rould possibly be more astounded nt the result re-sult than Browning, were it possible for him to see the. result of the effort. A DOYLE DETECTIVE STORY. . The Secret of tho Moor Cottage By H. Ripley Rip-ley Cromnrsh. Published by Small, Maynard May-nard k Company, Boston. A story by A Conan Doyle will instantly command tho nttcntion of the world, so fa mous nre his detective tales. It is interesting to see that his sister hns decided to follow in his footsteps, nnd compete for the laurels of tho somu contests. This novel is her first: it is a detective story, n tale of mystery and rapid adventure at times perilou, but tho hero is always fortunate, nnd escapes triumphant tri-umphant This hcro-detectlvo. however, is no professional Qberloek Holm!, but an amateur ama-teur who displays an oxccllent second to that famous character. Tho detective is tho narrator, nar-rator, and hn tells his story himself up to a certain point, as Adrinn Athtnn; then Miss Clarke, breaks in and tells the story of her family, that of n solicitor in an old Devonshire Devon-shire town. Her narrative supplements nnd clears up Ashton's fairly well, hut leaves somo things to, explain, nnd these are explained ex-plained in a supplementary finale, by Ashton again. Them is undeniable merit in tho story, und it will nfford a good menns of comparing the works of brother and sister, to see points of superiority and points of difference. We would not 'venture to compare com-pare her work to thnt of her distinguished brother; but undeniably she hns written a good, attractive story, which every one who likes a detective story will be eager to read, and will fully enjoy. SIX TWINKLE TALES. The Twinkle Talcs: Comprising six attractive little volumes under tho titles. "Bandit Jim Crow." "Mr. Woodchuck." "Prnlrlc-Dog Town." "Twinkle's Enchnntmont." "Sugnr-Loaf "Sugnr-Loaf Mountain," and "Prince Mud-Turtle." By Laura nnncrofl. The Rellly-Brltton Co., Publishers, Chicago. Those ex'pilslt" volumes nre n charming nd-dltlon nd-dltlon to this season's literature for the little folks Tho author has a gentlo and subtle vein of humor, and while her stories arc elenr fancy, they aro aimed to be close to nature. Using "Bandit Jim Crow"" ns typical of the scrlos. we note the well-known thieving propensities pro-pensities of tho birds; be Is a nuisance to the bird world as well ns to tho fnrmcr: he robs nests, cats tho oggp, and bullion bul-lion his wny among tho helpless. The crow In also n shrewd bird, working slyly nnd apt to tnke a bluff when he is discovered. In order that he might pursue his depredations with less open aversions, his black coal advertising ad-vertising his had qualities. Bandit Jim goes to a chnlk pit nud. -dlsgulalug himself in white, la able to be a singularly effective senmp nnd terror. But ho wns finally found out, nnd pnllcemnn Blue Jay. nldcd by all the other feathered Pinnll fry. makes Ihe bandit have n day of pain; anil yot the brutal sneak and bully Is treated better than ho deserves. There arc over a hundred special drawings In the series, a good many of them In colors It Is a most nllurlng set of books for the children. INTRIGUE IN ATHENS. Tho Elertrlr Theft, ny Xeil Wynn Williams. Published by Small, Maynard & Company Boston. The eontral figur in Ihis romance is a young English .'iigiueer. Burton, who on starting for Athens, Greece, to lako chnigo of an electric plant, encounters two fellow travolers. They worn old and rich Mr. Green and bis, daughter Blanche. They were all going to the- same place, by the same routo There was n perilous railway accident, It which . Burton, by a great display of norvo and skill, saves Binoche's lif. On nrriv ing in Athens, Burton took charge of tin, electric plant It wns not paying, becauso it had been systematically robbed, large accumulators ac-cumulators having been attached to the current cur-rent at night, and the energy thus caught being sold by the brigands. Burton is keen to 1 1 inl out where tho li-ak is, hut it is a dangerous business, and intrigue and counterplot counter-plot follow each other in quick succession. It developn that Orrrn is going under an alias, and is engaged in surreptitious trade. But Burton nnd Blanche come to nn understanding, under-standing, which her father utterly disapproves. disap-proves. It is an up-to-date story, and is very well told. The boldness of the brigands and their fertility in resource and disguise aro a constant surprise, but all avails not against the straightforward honesty nud energy en-ergy of Burton It is n right attractive story, exceedingly well presented. FOREST POETRY. In Forest Land. By Douglas Malloch. Illustrations Il-lustrations from Photographs by Sidney Vernon Strcator Published by American Lumberman, Chicago. This author is noted as a lover of the woods and of the life in nud among them, and familiar with the industries nnd the tasks involved in the industries relating to the timbered regions. And he is nn enthusi ast on thr- proper care of the forests, and for their preservation nnd renewal. This volumo of poems is full of th spirit of the woods. The key-note of the book, nnd a sample of the author's good style as well, is this little poem, entitled "Who Understands:" 0 there is this, unhappy heart. That makes thee like the solemn wood Whore many pass: How seldom art Thou understood. Yet comcth one who seems to feel Whnt heart and forest feel in tune, Who loves with henrt nnd word to kneel And there commune. The heart will give him. of. its sigh, The wood will clnsp him with its. hands; For seel A stranger drawcth nigh Who understands. WELLS'S GREAT STORY. In the Days of the Comet. By H. G Wells. The. Century Co., Publishers, Now York. This in not only (ho most striking book thnt this renowned author 'has ever written, but vor; few books ns striking have ever been written. The startling realism of tho word pictures of tho convulsions nnd tumult. tu-mult. s on the earth arc imaginary ideas of wonderful richness and ingcnuiTy. And yet, brilliant as they are, they serve but to cover tho deeper allegorical meaning that underlies the immediate vivid realism that is first seinJed. The story is, n young Englishman sees the girl he loves eloping with another man; he shoots that man Just then a comet grnzc-s the earth, tremendous natural phenomena phe-nomena ensue, all living things arc- suddenly asphyxiated by tho gases developed, but tho earth is not destroyed nor its inhabitants annihilated. When the commotion has patbed away, the brotherhood of man is formed, the warring of clnssos has ceased, Utopia is found And the young man has some explanations to make to the girl, and n love-making to undertake under decided difficulties that are not all, by any means, caused by the comet and its upheavals. It is a magnificent r.tory, grandly told, which every one who reads must read with an interest thnt onimot flag in keenness to the very end of the tale. A PROMISCUOUS LOVER. j I Georgle. By Dorothon Dnrkln. Published by tho Century Co.. New York. (Jcorglc, a boyish sprig of an Englishman. Is much addicted to love-making. Ho Is on-thtiHluntlc on-thtiHluntlc and quick lu affection, loves every x. n leu girl ho meets, changing hla sweetheart ' with every chapter, nnd Is cosmopolitan In j tnnte. npproclnllng nil for adorable qualities. I Violet Is "pretty as paint" with her golden hair nnd rose lenf skin; Drusllln has merry eyes nnd a sweet, alluring voice; Anno Is clcverne.ns Itself; tho Goddess Girl, Phllllda, i Is nfways a plcturo and always charming In her lively American wny, Dolly Fltigerald Is 1 pathetic nud appealing; Diana, the must fascinating fas-cinating of tho little Purltnns. Gcorglu flndts himself In decidedly awkwnrd and ludlcrou3 positions from time to time, with his roving ! disposition, but wlthnl c. such a Jovlnl, Innocent In-nocent kid thnt every old sweetheart nnd her happy husband continue his wnrra friend, J ready to help him out of every fresh scrape, i They nrc all happy-go-luoky folk; nnd Gcor- j gle's Imps nnd mishaps make merry and dl-vertlng dl-vertlng rending. j |