The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 25, 1896, Page 21

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1896. ALIFORNIA TALENT | Finds a Gratifying Recep- ‘tion Among Eastern Literati he story is told tnat when Sir Edwin Arn- old visited our country, and was being enter- tained by s prominent ladies’ club in San Francisco, he made inquiries ccncerning Ina -Coolbrith—known to the literati of distant | lands as one of Cali‘ornia’s poets. The ladies questioned by the distinguished guest were acquainted with the faci of Miss Coolbrith’s - poetry, and, indeed, with her very existence. Thereat Sir Edwin marveled greatly, knowing to bave lived for many vears in their bor city across the bay. This story may cen retouched a trifie to make it worth ng, but even if hterally true it need | e surprised the questioner so much. | difficult to be aiways aware of the | we may happen to entertain,and itis | more dificuit to aporeciate that talent | s0 close to us that it seems a part of vday commonplace of life. A certain seems necessary in order to get the focus forenthusiasm. The dwellerson e sume street with Miss Coolbrith, who knew d her strange ways and her innumer- ats, probapbly found it hard to realize he divine gift of poesy was hers, and that name had a significance for men of letters oraign lands. Littie recked the.old-time friendsof Frank Burgess—in those days an abstracted youth who would niot talk—that in him they beheld the future author of “The Purple Cow” ana the originator of that “Lark,’ wnich away from home has been taken so serioi The | gtory goes that when the little paper was ad- | vertised at 5 cents a monthly copy or $1 a | year, some thirty yearly subscriptions came nat e sake of the reduced | The joke had to be elaborately ex- 1ed, but history does not relate whether | the money was refunded. But Mr. Burgess has done some good work aside from nis nonsense jingles, though, indeed, it takes & sort of genius to do these well. 1t requires no seer, now, to predict for him an assured future. It is much in his favor that heisa lover of Stevenson and will probably—like his great master—never rest satisfied short of that perfection which comes from taking infinite pains. He had a fine quatrain in the Septem- ber Bookman: Conduct. me, Zeus, and thou O Destiny, Wherever thy decrees have fixed my lot, 3 follow cheerfuily and did I not, Wicked and wretched I must foliow at! The old prayer, prayed to his strange gods 50 many centuries ago by Epictetus, yet for- ever applicable to the eternal problem of fate end the ht will. 1t is difficult to appreciate, until the verdict f the outside wor.d compels us, the talent of those people who are always ordinary, to our view, because they are & part of the familiar sspect of everyday life. On the other hand, | mmensely surprising to discover, as we netimes do, that the author of work we ve rated highly is an unknown dweller in idst. One snch surprise was in store ter reading a very striking sketch in the Magazine called “Six Bulls to Die.” rong study background ol vivid Mexican local color, Itso sed one reader that it was taken home htand read again to the group about glamp. What was our interest to 1ort time after, that the author is a rnian, 8 native of San Jose, a widowed ghter of Judge Porter, with whom she makes her home. The Century has been more than once the | entrance into those ‘‘Elysian fields of ? for young California writers. Chester y Fernald first appears as a story writer | in the pages of that magazine. The way it | came about forms in itself a sort of story and was related one evening by Mr. Fernald in | answer to various questions from an interested | circle of people in & friend’s house. He will pardon, T am certain, one lstener for retelling | ere. It wasduring his.two years’ experi- | ence in Washingion es correspondent of ome | San Francisco papers that he met the | rated and notorious Count Mitkiewitz | and his Chinese secretary. The Count wesa | Russian impostor, whose large schemes for ng money in this country fell through. | ecretary, s high-class Chinaman, was his dupe. After the failure of the Count’s plans the secretary was thrown upon his own Te- sources and confidea to Mr. Fernald his desire 10 enter the field of journalism. As his knowl- edge o lish was extremely limited there seemed to be a barrier to success in thatline that might have daunted an abler man than Mr. Ting. all d His “'pigeon English” was beyond cription fascinating and unique. idea of coliaborating with this Celestial suggested itsell to Mr. Fernald. Mr. Ting could furnish the dialect which he himself would faithfully transcribe (if any ome may use that word in reference to a typewriter), and incidentally furnish the construction of the story. Mr. Ting’s joy was intense. He had the true Oriental respect for books. His am- bition could conceive no greater satisfaction than tha: of seeipg his own words in print! The great work was finally completed, and, under the title, “‘Cbung Tow, the High Rob,” was sent to the Century. Mr. Fernald, meantime, went to Alaska and dismissed the whole matter from -his mind. It was recailed by a letter from the Magazine, saying they were considering the acceptance of the story, though they had & short time be- fore resolyed to “cut” dialect, and they asked whether Mr. Fernald could furnish them with some Chinese illustrations. With the exuber- ance of youth and a Western Union Telegraph frank, he wired them that he could and would. With a twinkle in his eve, Mr. Fernald assured his hearers that the Century Compeny gave h understand that there was no hurry. He secured the illustrations on his return to Ban Francisco, paying $10 to an interpreter to find him an artist and §5 to the man for doing the work. The story was then formally accepted and Mr. Fernald was about to write his “collabora- tor"” to that effect, when he read in the morn- ing paper of an expedition engaged in by Mr. Ting for the purpose of gathering mushrooms, of which he was extremely fond. The mush- rooms had proved to be toadstools, and at the moment of his reading the news Mr, Ting was dead. He never lived to know that he had be- come an euthor. Poor Mr. Ting, that cup of joy was held to lips powerless to taste. But Mr. Fernald has written much since then. “The Cat and the Cherub” was an instant suc- cess and brought him wide recognition. Mr. Richerd Henry Stoddard is said to bave de- clared it the “‘best snort piece of fiction pro- duced in the United States within a decade.” His earlier stories were suffused with the very atmosphere of Chinatown and opened up a unique field to fiction. Since then he has shown great versatility in range of sub- jeets, varied irom Irish sailor y¥mns or tales in the “‘down East” vernacular to society studies. Provably few readers of Caspar Whitney’s delightful sporting articles in Harper's Maga- zine are aware of the fact that the writerisa Californian. He was an Oskland boy, and is remembered by his fellows at Mr. Dagan’s school as being more devbied to football than to Latin. However, he certainly succeeded in mastering good English. Besides meeting the present fad, his articles on athietics and vari- ous ouidoor sports or daring adventures are so well:written that they reach the dignity of literature. eaders of the Atlantic Monthly will have noticed that very powerful story in the Octo- imber called “Abandoned on the Plains,’” signed Batterman Lindsay. Those who npressed by the virile force of troat- asall must bave been who read it— &y be surprised to learn that the authorisa woman and a native of 8an Francisco. Aanie Batterman Lindsay is & daughter of General C. C. erman, an old-time Californian and Virginia City man. Mrs. Lindsay has written a number of stor which were published in_ the Sau Francisco Argonaut. Her home is in :attle. This story is her first appearancein ; ie Atlantic, It has already been noted and highly praised in some of the Bostcn papers. She received from the editor, together with a check for the tale, a personal letter of com- mendation and a request for more. The story telis of the abandonment in the desert of two Iudians. The man is old and erippled and tne Woman blind, Both' are useless, o they are in psychology, with a |- turned out by their tribe to.aie. The s'ory breathes the awful desolation of the alkali and sagebrush. Terribly vivid is the picture of the 0ld man’s feeble and futile struggle for life and his final surrender to the grim destroyer, and the woman’s voluntary death in the salt waters of the lake. “Picaroon’ enas a laudatory review of s ceriain writer in the Chap Book with the words, “Here is & man to keep your eye on.”’ 10 honor the phrase, one can say with a good deal of certainty in regard to Batterman Lindsay, “Here is a writer to keep your eye on.” A PRESENT SCRIBE ALL RIGHT IN 1HE BINDING * TRUE MFMORY, THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE—I's Loss Through Adam: Jts Recovery Through Chbrist. By Mrs. Calvin Kryder Reif. snider. The Arena Pubiishing Company, Bos- ton. If this book did not first come under the classification of blasphemous literaiure. it could only be characterized as puerile. Fail- ing these two words of description its title might be amplified into “The Bible Rehashed, or a Literary-Biblical Nightmare.” It passes our comprehension how such rubbish can pass into the - pressrooms of & reputable con. cern like the Arena Publishing Company. The authoress furnishes Do reason ior the being of her work, but modestly claims to be the recipient ‘of *inspiration,” which she grace- fully emits in 150 pages of nightmare for the venefit of her suffering audience. The book, however, poss s certain notable points. It the English navvy, the Yankee steamboat ceps tain—all have peculiarities of speech that call for interpretstion. The modern dictionary has proved cqual to thedemands made upon it. We have said that the dictionary is an en- cyclopedia on @ smuil scale. There exists no subject not covered in its pages, and thatina manner acceptuble even to the specialist. The carefully compiled and illustrated modern dictionary will give the meaning of every word in all its aspects. Cases are on record where it has béen produced before the highest courts ot the land in elucidation of a point. 1f, then, the modern dictlonary is grateful to the specialist’ how much is its yalue increased in the hands of the reader deprived of access to & students’ Jibrary ? _Now, as to the best method of using & dic- tionary,. we can think of none better than the oné practiced in English and European colleges. There a work of reference is em- ployed in conjunction with what is called a “comimonplace” book. An ordinary ruled or exercise book will answer the purpose very well. In this should be jotted down every word or phrase that is in the slightest degree obscure. A search of the dictionary §hould then be made and the meaniug of the word in its vasious aspects noted. It will be seen that the powers'of the dic- tionary as an educator can be very much ex- tended by the simple method herein recom- mended. This syst®m is one that was adopted with much success by the late George Augustus Sala. At his death a complete library of commonplace books was found among his effects, presenting in itself a fund of informs- tion carefully compiled and encyclopedic in its extent and minuteness. A COMMEND2BLE IDEA. THE OPEN BIBLE: HELPS FOR THE BIBLE. KEADER., Bv br. Henry Berkowitz. Phila- delphia: The Jewish Chautauqua society, P, O, box 825. .In the present little book Dr. Henry Berko- witz of Philadelphia has performea & service to those desirous of obtaining a fuller knowl- CHESTER BAILEY FERNALD. ) edge oi the Old Testament than is at present to be gained in the Sunday-school. He has taken up each of its books, dissected them and is, for instance, daintily bound in blue and gold and illustrated with nalf tones from wash drawings. These latter are real curiosilies. Some idea of their character may be gained by the imaginative reader who mentally conjures up, say one of Daniel’s visions picturing the destruction of the cosmos, and then endeavors 10 transfer the same to paper. The artist's ideal of the divinity is & curious one t0o, & toga-like robe forming a prominent part of his creation. It is simply worse than useless to attempt a review of & work of this kind, butit mightbe well to suggest to the authoress that the next time she is moved by the spirit to write a book she submit the manu-c:ipt to either g can- did friena_in the publishing pusiness or to & good coal fire—preferably to the latter. THE PEAGEFUL REST. « Consider well.,” the voice replied, « His face that two hours since hath died; Wit thou find passion, pain or pride? “ Wilt he obey when one commands? Or answer should one press his hands? He answers not, nor understands. + His palms are folded on his breast; There fs no other thing expressed But long olsquiet merged in rest. “ His lips are very mild and meek; Though one should smite him on the cheek, And on the mouth, he will not speak. « His little davghter, whose sweet face He kissed, taking bis last embrace, Becomes dishonor to her race. « His sons grew up that bear his name, Some grew to homor, some to shame—~ Bot he is chill to praise or blame. « He will not hear the north wind rave, Nor mosning household shelter crave From winter rains that beat his grave. « High up the vapors fold and swim; About him broods the twilight dim; The place he knéw forgetteth him." TENNYSON, HOW TO USE A DICTIONARY. As an educator in the a1d it affords the gen. eral reader, as a help to the etymologist and to the studen: of foreign languages the aic- tionary is alike of immense -value. It is a work that is called into requisition even by the most careless of students. The thoughtful press it into service oftener; but how many are there who really empléy the dictionary with an intelligent aporeciation of its worth? Few, indeed, it must be confessed. Yet a little pttention to the matter will show that the small amount of caré dovoted toits proper employment will yield returns whose valueis totaliy out ot proportion to thatof the labor expended. 2 1t isa fact often commented upon that there exists a very prevalent notion thatdictionaries make dry reading. This may have been the case with the oider so-called standard diction- sries. Within the last year or two, however, there has been great competition among American publishers to produce & dictionsry that, while it should be able to claim author- ity for its definitions, should at the same time possess a certain interest, not only for the stu- dent, but for the general reader. The effort to issue such a work wasa direct responsetos popular demand, and as a result we now have dictionaries that are veritable encyclopedias of information, covering the largest postible field tersely and thoroughly. Now, as to the when and where of the use of a dictionary, we may lay down as axlomatic the rule that it should be constantly at hand when one is engaged in the perusal of any book, be it poetry, fiction, tbeological or scien- tific. Good writers—and this is especially true of past generations of autbors—often make use of & word, & phrase, an expression, that sirikes the ear with a novel ring. To read their works intelligently requires a certain familiarity with the rules that govern the grammatical construction of the Enghsh lan- gusge. A fair knowledge of the commoner Anglo-Saxou affixes and prefixes is also essen- tial. Any good modern dictionary will present this information in compact and accessible form. Students of Shukespeare, 0. Milton, of Lamb, of Hume, of Hallam, of Smollett—to readers of these a good dictionary is not only an advantage but a positive necessity. Let the resder who doubts this assertion take up Pepys’ Diary, for instance. How many phges will he read before beginning to wish forsome work to which he can refer for an explanation of soge of the quaint and ofitimes involved sentelices? And whét we have said of old-time authors is no less applicable to latter-day writers. We have just passed through the era of the dialect story. Here we bave seen the use of the mod- ern dictionary exemplified 1n a striking way, forthe Scotch peasantbeloved of Ian Maclaren, furnished for use with each & number of valu. able suggestions as to the best method of study. To this there has been added a series of gues- tions with the object of testing the reader’s knowledge of his subject after studying the same. The main idea has been carried out in conneetion with the now well ana favorably known Chautauquan system of education. Thescheme thus carried out by Dr. Berkowitz | is a commenduble one, for the reason that, as | be notes in introducing the present volume, the Bib.eis to many a sealed book, acknowi- edged as & classic, but kept unopened from one year's end to the otber. That there is to-duy & renaissance in the study of the Bible and in higher Biblical criticism is evidenced by the large number of works on the subject is- sued from both American and English publish- ing houses. In this connection Professor Richard G. Mqulton’s “Modern Reader's” Bi- ble will be remembered, and itis satisfactory 1o note thet the able professor's work is rec- ommended and indorsed by Dr. Berkowitz for those who desire to follow Mr. Moultou’s ap- plication of his literary treatment to the vari. ous Biblical books. 7 ADVENTURESIN THENORTHWEST. RICK DALE. By Kirk Munroe. New York: Harper & Brothers, publisie s For sale by A. M. Kichardson; cloch, price $1 25, In this story of the Northwest coast Kirk Munroe introduces a new character among his active boys in Rick Dale, the hero. Iu the course of the stirring events in which he figures Rick meets with several persons with whom the readers of *“Snow-Shoes and Sledges” and “The Fur-Seal’s Tooth’ are al- ready familiar. Rick is the son of rich parents, who have always treated him as if he were a hothouse plant. He finally Tebels at this, and woen he is started off on a tour around the world, in the care of a tutor, he takes “‘French leave” at Victoria, Vancouver. There Le meets Bonny Brooks, who has run away from a ship on which he had been apprenticed as cabin-boy, and the two start.away 10 explore the world. They have all sorts of thrilling ad- yentures with sailors, smugglers, revenue offi- cers and Indians; they become guide and in- terpreter for a French botanist; they get lost in the mountains of British Columbia; they fall into the hands of a mad hermit and barely escape with their lives; they obtain work ina logging camp, and st length everything turns out well for the boy® and Rick Dale goes to Harvard College. AN ,AUSTRALIAN TALE. THE MINER’S CUP—A Coolgardie Romance. By Nat Gould. New Y ork: George Routledge & Sons, Limited. For saie at the Emporium Book De- partment; price $1. This is a novel of life in an Australian min- ing camp, and is published uniform with the same author’s *‘Sporting Series” of works. The author of *“The Miner's Cup,” while making no pretense to style, has written a readable story teliing of the adventures of Alec Welton and Will Barker, two Australians. The scene is 1a1d in Sydney, and later in Perth and Cool- gardie. i Some of the scenes pictured by the author of ‘The Miner's Cup” are somewhat reminiscent of Charles Reade, who was particularly suc- cessful in the delineation of border outlaw characters. The book under review, however, is not by any means to be compared with “Ip; Never Too Late to Mend.” Itlacks finish, and would probably find more favor in the eyes of & grown boy than with adult readers of fic- tion. FOR THE CHILDREN. LITTLE MEN AND MAIDS. By Frances Brund- dage atid Elizabeth 8. Tucker. New York: Fred- erick A. Stokes & Co. For sale at the Em- porium Book Department; price $1 25. The approach of the Christmas holidays 1§ the signal for publishers to commence work on books suitable for presentation to the young. “Little Men and Maids” is a very creditable effort in this direction. The read- ing matter, both prose and verse, is of such a character as to be readily understandable to the most diminutive intellect; and the colored full-page pictures will also be the delight of the season to the tots of America. The color- ing in these latter leaves nothing to be de- sired, and serves to show that in fine art work American printers are at least the equals of their German competitors. STORY OF PALESTINE. THE SWORDMAKER'S SON. By W.O. Stod- dard. New York: The Century Company, Price $1 50. This s & dramatic story of boy life in the Holy Land at the beginning of the Christian era, The hero is the son of a Jewish sword- maker, who rebels against the Roman domi- 21 nation of Judea and is driven into hiding. The plot brings the young hero into active participation with’ the very founding of Christianity, and the events of sacred history are treated in the most reverent spirit. There is also a picture of life in imperial Rome in the days of Tiberius, with an account of a foot- race and the preliminary training of the athletes, Mr. Stoddard visited Palestine for the sake of getting the local color for his story. Mr. Varian's pictures have been drawn with careful attention to accuracy of detail and the preservation of the spirit of the time and place. 3 NEW AND C(HEAP EDITION RANCH LIFE AND THE HUNTING TRAIL: By Theodore Roosevell, with illustrations by Frederic Remingion. New and popular edition. New York: The Century Company; price $2 50. Although Mr. Roosevelt is still a young man, his Iife has been a particularly full one. Aside from his official career, in which he has held several very important positions, he has been a ranchman on the frontier, a hunter of mighty game, and & successful author in a number of different lings. One of his most popular books, the sumptuous “Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail,” has been out of print for some time, and now a new and cheaper edition is brought out. Few persons who have lived the actual life of the ranch- man have had the ability to describe its dra- matic and piciuresque phases; most acciunts have been written by mere tourists and on- lookers. Mr. Roosevelt was working & ranch, summer and winter, during the days of excit- ing frontier tragedies. He was thrown into daily contact with the border desperadoes and the Indians. It is this unconventional life that he describes, and he has also given chapters on mountain snd prairie hunting, and the pursuit of the wapiti, the big-horn sheep and the white gcat of the high peaks. Meny of Mr. Remington’s most admired pictures are in this volume. A CREOLE ROMANCE. THE WONDERFUL WHEEL 8y Mary Tracy Earle. New York: The Century Company. Price 81 25, George W. Cable was the first to make appa. rent to the general public what a rich store of romance was to be found among the Creoles of Lonisiana. Miss Mary Tracy Earle has gone to this field for inspiration for the present story. Tne title is taken from a luminous wheel that awoke superstitious fearsin the minds of the ignorant Creoles,.who some- times, with bated breath, saw it revolye in the dead of night. Just what this wheel was and the purpose it served is best left to the reader to discover. The developmentof the story is concerned with the efforts of the owrfer of the wheel to livedown the “hoodoo” that it brings upon him, his little daughter and her fair cousin. The story is full of local coloring, and is imaginative and humorods in its char acter. GOOD-NA URED SATIRE. THE METROPOLITANS. By Jeanie Drake. New York; The Century Company., Price 81 25. This is & good-natured satire on New York society, besides being a novel of considera- ble diversity of plot. The title is justified by the typical character of the hero, the heroine, and most of the minor characters. A bril- fiant and gifted youhg man, who has been meanly deprived of his inheritance, wins his Wway to success s a composer and gains his re- ward as a lover by dropping his idle associ- ates and accepting the gospel of hard work. The scene 1s laid mainiy in New York City, butthe author has introduced a decided nov- elty in shifting the scene during an important part of the development of the plot to the Arctic regions. Here the hero's character is finally rounded out by the hardship and pri- vation that necessarily eccompany life in an Eskimo igloo. The dramatic element of this portion of the story is_intensified by the pres- ence amid these uncougenial surroundings of & beautiful Hungarian siuger, who has helped the hero's operas into popular favor. Miss Drake has avoided hackneyed incidents and ventured into new fields. AN ESSAY BY McMASTER. THE MONROE DOCTRINE. Tts Origin. Mean ing and Appiication. ByJobn Bach McMaster Pniladeiphia: Henry Altemus, pubilsher: price 30 cents. Professor McMaster’s learned essay on the “Monroe Doctrine” was originally published in an Eastern periodical about the time of the excitement in this country due to the Venezu- elan boundary dispute, and later it appeared & volume, by the same suthor, entitled ““With the Fathers,” Itwas reviewed in THE 18 “An Almanack for the Year Published bp the Zhanning Auxiliary San Francisco HE yearly calendars of the Channing Auxiliary have achieved a National reputation. They have for several years been the most artistic and vnique of the many publications of this kind. selected for that rare combination of good taste and common sense necessary for success in the enterprise, is selected early in the year, with CALL some months since. It is now printed by itself in the Altemus Belles-Lettre$ Series in neat form. THANKS 10 ' THE BIKE AMERICAN HIGHWAYS, By Professor Na- thanlel Sonthgate Shaler. New York: The Cen- tury Company. Price $1 50. There has recently been awakened in this country & decided interest in the subject of the betterment of roads. Much of this is due to the systematic agitation of the bicyclers, and as the farmers have been brought to see the vital importaneée to them of the improvement of the highways the outlook is bright for con- certed action throughout the country. This has made necessary & practical study of the science of road-building and Professor Shaler hes fuornished a handbook on the subject. As the official head of the Lawrence Scientific School—the first institution in this country to include road-making in its curricuium—asa "member of the Massachusetts Highway Com- missipn and as the author of various articles on the subject of roads and road-making Pro- fessor Shaler was fully equipped to write such & book. A POET'S EPITAPH. A life with day-dreams and night - visions fraught; But, oh, the good those dreams and vislons wrought! CIARENQE UrMY, in October Lippincott's. BY “UNCLE REMUS” DADDY JAKE, THE RUNAWAY, SHORT STORIES T LD AFTER D. Joel Chandler larris [+Uncle Remus”]. New edition. New York: The Century Company; price $1 25. Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox are elder brothers of Baloo, the Bear, and Bagheera, the Pauther, despite he fact that the first two saw the light in the New World and the latter came from the hoary jungles of India. And surely Uncle Remus is akin to Mowgli. Like the foundling of the Seeonee Wolf Pack, Uncle Remus knows tke master ‘words of the beasts in his domain. A mnew edition of “Daddy Jake” has been called for, and, most appropriately, the publishers have issued it as a companion volume to the “Jungle Books.” Fourteen stories make up this book, the budget that the kindly old negro opens up after dark to the little boy who wins his confidence. E.W. Kemble, who is in particular sympathy with his subject, furnishes many illustrations té the volume. THE PETIT COURIER. This is the name of 2 new monthly, the first issue of which has just reached us. Its make- up is attractive, while the quality of the reaa- ing matter is such that it will without doubt be made welcome in many homes where, for one reason or another, the ordinary monthly does not effect an entrance. The Petit Courier will be Republican in its principles. From the editorial greeting by Mrs. J. J. Owen, its editor, we extract a sen- tence descriptive of the aims of the new pub- lication: “The Petit Courier will be & worker for whatever aids in making this City and State of increasing importance in the estimation of the political, social and financial worlds. We shall present from month to month eontribu- tions from our ablest thinkers on social and financial economics; also the more esthetic matters, looking to ibe beautifying and en- nobling of the home life, for it is the home which binds society together in indissoluble bonds and holds the world of humeanity in its orbit.” ITS MERITS ARE FEW. ROUGH M1SCHANCE—An explanation by Brad- nock Halle. New York: Georze Routledge & Sons, limited. For saie at the Emporium Book Department: price $1. A detective story on the lines favored by Emile Gaborisu, Conan Doyle and others, “Rough Mischance” is marred in places by crudities of composition and inelegance of diction. In one of the brightest chapters, from AND K. By a story-teliing point of view. the authormakes | one of his characters (a university undergrad- uste, by the way) use the phrase ‘‘us three” in the nominative case. The whole tale hinges upon the death of an Oxford senfor from anzina pectoris, and takes up for consideration the usual comp'ications which would arise from a case of this kind, the suspicions castupon innocent individuals, and the final unraveling of the mystery. Some clever side hits at English country jourpalism serve to enliven this otherwise commonplace story. = = 97 A committee of bright women, the expectation that they will excel all previous efforts. This year quite a radical departure has been made. Instead of a wall calendar, they offer a very hanpdsome almanack—with a final k. 4 3 poldly conceived and most artistically executéd piece of bookwork, in red and black, on heavy double-edged cream paper. characteristic of his rich fancy and his clever art. The title-page is effectively illuminated, the Itisa The designs are by Gelétt Burgess, and are center tablet whereon is inscribea, ““The Weather Vane, an almanack for the yeur 1897, is surmounted by the veritable cock familiar to memory, ard surrounded by a striking procession 0i the person of the Zodiac. The calendar for each month is set in a deep illuminated border, wherein the signs disport themselves with great abandon. Aquarius pours from au inhaustible jar a flood of water that swirls all over the pages and affords Pisces much happiness, while the coming Aries is mildly prominent; and so they keep on, till Ssgittarius effectually dispatches Capricornus. Opposite each calendar appeal printed in a rich guaintness that is very attractive page of apt quotations of the widest range, The eclipses, the phases of the moon, the morning and evening stars, the tables for the rising and setting sun, and everything tnat one needs to know concerning the year are contained in this novel book. It is rich iu litetary merit, a thing of beauty as to form, and, altogether, is a strong bid for the greatest success of the season. It is inclosed in a portiolio, ready for mailing, and will make a most acceptable present It sells for $1, and can be had at the bookstores, or ordered from to any one anywhere, Unitarian Hea dquarters, 300 Post sireete 'NEW NOVEL FULL OF - Human Interest by a Clever Young San Francisco Girl THE JOY OF LIFE. By Emma Wolf. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., 117-121 Wabash avenue. For sale at all bookstores; price $1. The novel-reading public, and particularly that portion of it resident in San Francisco, will welcome this the latest stpry by Emma Wolf. Miss Wolf is a local authoress whose work has already been referred to in commendatory terms in these columns. Her first effort was entitled “Other Things Being Equal,” and gave promise of better writizg in the future. She then produced “A House of Cards,’’ which was a distinct step in advance of her first book. The last novel by this young authoress, who has named it “The Joy of Life,” can be classed, not only as the best of Miss Woll’s productions, but as entitied to take rank among the best novels written this year. Alter the vast number of what have been aptly termed erotic, neurotic and tommyrotic stories, “The Joy of Life” comes asa refreshe ng rejief. American readers are simply tired of novels with a purpose, and the sun of these salacious specimens of llterature has already set. What is demanded to-day Is & return to that classof novels placed before the public & generation ago—novels of human in- terest, novels that tell a’story. Miss Wolf has recognized this tendency. Perceiving the jus- tice of the readers’ demands she has acceded to them, and as & result the work under review is not only her best, but 1s one upon which we prophesy her reputation will stand. «The Joy of Life” {s remarkable primarily for the really fine pen portraits of its principal characters that are presented to the reader. Take that of Antony Trent, for example. Here we have & unique, strong, masteriul per- sonality indeed. Antony is the son of & poor proprietor of & country newspaper. At an early age he is turned loose upon the world to meake his own way. His character can be gauged from & short dislogue which takes place between his younger brother and him- self while he is yet a mere stripl.ng: “Tony, of what are you thinking?” #0f the future.’” “What are you going to be when you are & man, Tony?" “Rich.” «But I mean what are you going to do?” “Make money."” | “But what are you going to do to make money?” “Work.” «But lots of fellows work and don’t getrich.” “I will.” «“Whyt” “Because I will.” “And will you be happy when you sre rieh, Tony?" “Yes." “Father says money is a curse.” “Pooh!"” “Isn’t it? Isn’'t money a curse, Tony?” “Yes; to those who have none.” Here we see the man in the embryo. Sordid as his character may appear,one cannot but watch with interest the growth of a youth who puts forward these ideas. But Amtony possesses, in addition to his money-getting ideas, something of a soul. His younger brother, Cyril, must be assisted through the world, and here is the difficulty. In sharp contrast to his alert brother, Oyril s a philosopher, & thinker, a “dreamer of dreams.” At school his enthusiasm for work is only aroused when there is an essay to be written, & poem declaimed, or a hero eulo- gized. The time arrives when he must choose a profession. That is a well-written chapter in «The Joy of Life,” where the younger brother, who has aiways leaned for support upon the elder, is questioned by him regarding this matter. Cyril confesses that ‘‘he could not breathe in a store,” whici elicits the trite ob- servation from his brother that “beggars can« not be choosers.”” Through the night the younger brother ponders upon Antony’s words. Toward morning the latter awakes and finds Cyril sitting up, trembling and un- decided. Hereis part of their conversation. Antony is speaking: «Perhaps your instinets are right; we are not all turned out after the same mold; you can’t make a draught horse out of a racehorse, and vice versa. * * * My decisionis taken upon that point. I believe you might make asuccess in & more schoiarly field—in some- thing professional. There would be whole years in which you would not make a cent. Well, successful professional man reaps the interest of his non-productive years aiter- ward, and — «Meanwhile?’ internosed Cyrilhoarsely. uMeanwhile,” proceeded Antony caimly, ‘I will help you. If you have anything sterling worth cultivating it will show itself if you care to work for it. I will help you some- what. * * * Youmay regard thisasaloan if you wish, Some day you may be able topay it back.” The words sounded chill, yet strong as iron. Cyril shivered but clutehed blindly at them. “Thank you, Antony,” he said, drawing in an icy breath. “Butitis too much; I may not suceceed, and beggars cannot be choosers. «As you will; the offer stands; takeitor Jeave it; it is at your disposal. Well?” “Now 2" «Certainly. Don’t gamble with time, Cyril. When you see a fuct take it. We can’t afford to lose anything. Well ?” #Thank you, Tony,” he replied, frightened into desperation. “But I can never pay it back.” “You may; who knows ? Well, it is decided now. You had better get into bed.” Both boys reach mature years. Further sac- rifices are made by the one for the sake of the other. Their essential characteristics remain the same. Antony by sheer force of will power becomes the financial secretary of a large mill, reacning that position after filling every mi nor capacity in the establishment. Miss Wolf has very cleverly pictured the two men at thix epoch of their lives: “He (Antony) is a remarkably fine financier, though' somewhat conservative. In other words, he is the direct ppposite of his brother, Cyril Trent.” g «And what is Cyril Trent " “A fool.” “What do you mean by that ?” ] mean he is no man.” «I don’t think I quite understand.” “Well, (with & short sarcastic laugh) per- haps Mrs. Laurie’s stinging rejoinder to that assertion might be more comprehensive to you. Shesaid: ‘Mr. Gerrish means that Cyril does not break the seventh commandment nor substitute Self or Gold for God.” It wasan in- fatuated woman’s opinion, but you may take it for what it is worth.” The extracts quoted will serve to convey to the mind of the reader an idea of the quality of Miss Wolf’s latest work. We shall watch with interest the future products of her pen, feeling assured that here in the West there has appeared & writer who, in elegance of diction and power of description, is capsble of imparting instruction to some authors that might be named; who has recognized tbat a novel should eppeal to readers as having an application to their daily lives, and who for these reasons is entitled to take rank above the writers of novels plus a -‘purpose,” but minus & plot. EMANUEL E1Zas, LITERARY NOTES. The issue for the current year of Poor's Man. ual of Railroads is announced. , Richard Le Gallienne’s new bogk, “The Quest of the Golden Girl,” will be published some time this fall The publication of Elizabeth Stuart Phelps’ “Chapters irom a Life” has been postponed by ‘Houghton, Miflin & Co. to an early. date in November. The rumor comes from England that Mme. Sarah Grand’s new novel will be a sort of femi- nine ““Tom Jones.” This is e rather terrifying announcement. Edward Arnold announces for early pub- lication a new novel by Miss E. F. Brooke, the author of “A Superfinous Woman.” It will be called *‘Life the Accuser.” The Critic remarks: We hear that the first edition of Mr, Kipling’s yolume of verse, “The Seyen Seas,” will reach 20,000 copies. Who says that poetry is a drug in the market? “The Land of the Five Tribes,” i. e. Indian Territory, is instructively described in brief space by Allan Hendricks. Alvan F. Sanborn casts some light on “English Traits,” and R. G. Robinson on “Florida Snakes.” “The Story of American Coals” is announced for publication by the J. B. Lippincott Com- pany. The author, W. J. Nicolls, has 1n this book covered the whole ground, from the first discovery of coal in this country in 1679 to the present day. It is said of “The Grey Man,” Mr. Crockett’s new story, just published by the Harpers, that it is founded on fact, that the terrle ble story of Sawny Bean i§ a well-known legend, and that the novelist has practically taken no liberties with the original. The publication of “Sir George Tressadyl’ in the columns of & magazine has evidently not tended to decrease its sales in book form. The first edition, which was aslarge as the first edition of “Marcella,” was sola out at once and another sent hurrying through the press. The complete novel in the November issue of Lippincott's is “An Interrupted Current,” by Howard M. Yost, a new writer with a happy knack of story-telling. Thescene is in Eastern Pennsylvania, and the action turns on tracing the perpetrators of a bank robbery and their pluader. Brander Matthews has collected a number of his essays, including ‘“‘American Litera- ture,” “Two Sides of the South,” “The Penalty of Humor,” “The Scotsman of Letters” and “Aspects of Fiction,” which will be published by Messrs, Harper & Bros.in & book to be called ““Aspects of Fiction and Other Ventures in Criticism.” Among D. Appleton & Co,’s additional autumn announcements is a series of stories from American history, in which each State is treated by a resident author of distinction. The first volume will be “New Jersey,” by Frank R. Stockton, and the second “Georgia,” by Joel Chandler Harris. Each volume will be elaborately illustrated. Herbert Spencer has completed his life-work with the volume on ““The Principles of Sociol- ogy.” He is now seventy years old, and has been engaged upon this work for thirty-six years, notwithstanding the fact that he has been an invalid for the greater part of his life, This last volume will be published by the Messrs. Appleton early in November. An aunt of 8. R. Crocketi, the Scotch writer, residing in Springfield, Ohio, says that in his boyhood he was willing to make any sacrifice for books, and saved every penny with that object in view. As he grew older he would spend days upon the hills studying the land- scapes he would portray with his pen,and writing to gain greater grace and facility. Charles Barnard has written a picture-story, which, unlike the picture-play of Alexander Black, does not show the heroand heroine, but rather the scenes with which they were iamiliar, Mr. Barnard calls his story *‘The Strange Adventures of Miss Jennie Worrell,” and in it he gives an excellent idea of life at Chautanqua. It is designed for reading aloud in public. The Messrs. Scribner will be the American publishers of the new edition of the works of Thomas Carlyle, to be calied the *Centenary” edition, which will number thirty volumes. H. D. Traill contributes & general introduction to the first voiume, and a short preface to each succeeding work. A volume containing some essays and minor writings of Mr. Car- Iyle, never before published, will be added to this edition. McClure’s Magazine for November will con. tain the first installment of a five or part story by Rudyard Kipling. It is Kipling's first long story of American life, ‘being a tale of stirriug adventure among the Gioucester fishermen on the Grand Banks. It will be illustrated with drawings from lite by I. W. Taver. Miss Tarbell will tell the story (a most dramatic story, by the way) of Lincoln’s nomi= nationt in 1860, deawing largely on the per- sonal recollections of the men who were most instrumental in securing the nomination. ‘The paper will be fully itlustrated. In the November Overland Monthly Irving’ M. Secott continues his discussion of the silver question, under the well-known caption of “‘Hard Times,” and an Irish member of Parlis. ment has something to say regarding the Irish question that will interest all Irish-Americane, An ex-Presidential elector contributes an arti- cle on the workings of the Electoral College that 18 apropos of the nearing election. Are ticles of local historical interest are Hon. Wile liam Everett’s story of R. H. Dana and Starr King, and Arthur Inkersley’s description of the first college in San Francisco. Articles of a political nature embrace Charles E. Naylor's “Unwise Taxation on Shipping,”’ Charles A. Lane’s ““The Gold Miner and the Silver Ques. tion,” Judge Waymire’s “The Republican Party and the Farmer,” and Arthur J, Pills. bury’s “Final Word.” Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly for Novems ber contains as its star feature an article on Yale University. It is written by one of the senior students, George Henry Nettleton, and is profusely illustrated with views and por- traits. Itis the first of & series of pepers on “American Universities and Colleges,” to ap- pear in successive issues of this magazine, Another attractive and well-illustrated article in this number is “The Stage Debutaate,” by Arthur Hornblow, giving portraits of many of the younger actresses. Then, there is & dee scription of Madagascar and the Malagasy, by Mary Titcomb; an article on Mrs. Robert E. Lee’s life in Richmond during the war, by Sally Nelson Robins; apaper on “Egg-hunting on the South Farallon,” by C. H. Thompso; the continuation of Edith Sessions Tupper’ stirring serial, “Father John’’; a graphic ac- count of “The Twin Cities,” Minneapolis and St. Paul, by Charles Thomas Logan; an article on “The Gold Standard,” by Henry Cazbotr Lodge, short gtories and poems by John Gilmer BSpeed, Caotain Jack Crawford, Lurana W, sheldon, Ella Higginson, Louis Fendleton Clifford Howard. god NEW TO-DAY. ° Prof.W. H. Peeke, whomakes a special- ty of Epilepsy, has without doubt treat- ed and cured more his success isastonish- heard of cases of 20 years’ standing cured by with a large bottle of his absolute cure, free to any Sufferer who may to address Prof. W.H.PEEKE.F.D..4 Cedar St.,N.Y- From U.S. Journalof Medicine, cases than any living Physician; _ We have him. - ‘He publishes a valuable work on this disease, which he sends send their P.O. and Express address. We advise anyone wishing a cure H ADWAY’S PILLS,