The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 15, 1901, Page 4

- THE SUNDAY CALL. EADING “Foma Gordyeeft” is ) sugntly susgestive of a trip \.. through the morgue, but even like a visit of that kind it has its fasci- pations. Maxim Gorky, the author, tried to commit suicide at one time in his eventful career—possibly this accounts for his extreme pessimism. Gorky’s life is given on another part of this page and is in itself a key to his writings. “Foma Gordyeeff"” work Gorky has already made a name for himself by his short stories of Rus- sian life and is now looked upon a&s a coming writer of the Russias—one who will rank with Tolstoi and Turgenieff. His work is great because it is so dead- ly se ; because it is a strange combi- nation idealism, realism and poetry, is is his first long of &nd because it is the cry, from the heart of a man who has lived long and hard in few years. There is not a lovable char- acter in the whole book. His women, with two exceptions, are unmentionable. Foma Gordyeeff is the son of a rich merchant, a man who has made his money from his steamboats and by trad- ing on the Volga. Ignat. the father, is a type of the rich merchant class of Rus- sia, according to the pen of Gorky. Gorky has no love for the merchants, as his beok bears testimony, and he paints Ignat in str colors. This father of Foma is a man without conscience, keen in business, a hard mas- drinker, a brute. He craves < vast possessions and name rpetuated. may be p By a second mar- riage Foma is born to his wife and Ignat is delighted. The moth a strange crea- ture of preoccupied mein, taciturn, and, as Ignat calls her. “‘a fantastic dreamer,” dies at the birth of her son. Ignat lavishes all his affection on his son. It petuation For a time lives with the family of his godfat! but at last comes home to be under the care of his aunt. To him his father is ever incomprehensible. He h affection of the per- of self. Fom cennot understand the great practical man of business who drinks and swears. He likes him better drunk than sober, for then he receives more of the animal love of the brute parent and sees less of the disagreeable merchant. His aunt de- lights him, for she appeals to the ideal side of his nature with her stories of giants and robbers and princesses. Foma n has much of the sad-eyed mother in him. He yearns for what he knows not, and 1s made happy with a promise from his daddy that he shall go on a trip on the Volg To Foma's surprise, as far as he travels everything seems the same. He meets with none of the people of fairyland, but in all the cities he finds the first the same as the last. He is ever seeking, but finas not. His after life very much like that se chases in the ravine during days. And in the ravine we scared up an related the boy. *“What fun it The owl flew out and went whack! ist a tree. It even squealed until it pitiful. But we scared him was sgain same over—he flew and flew, bang into something so that his feathers were strewn all around! He hovered and hovered over the ravine, and he managed to hide him- self somewhere, and we didn’t try to find him any more, we felt so sorry for him— ke was all bruised—" That is Foma's own life story told alle- gorically. He has no chance from the start, for his life goes simply from bad to worse. He feels and knows that there is something wrong. but what it is he doesn’t know. He despises the merchant cia and recognizes the eviis in the wcrld, vet he can suggest no remedy. Before his dies Foma is sent away on a t ¥ himself in charge of the boat. He is totally unfit for a busi- ness career. He tries to make friends of the peasants. yet creates only enemies. As he is rich and handsome ne naturally falls an easy prey to the wiles of femin- inity and on this first trip alone in the world he has an affair that appeals to him seriously—so seriously thai even his first amour is touched by the queer guile- lessness of the youth and instead of fleec- ing him turns to giving him good advice. His next love is equally serious for ¥oma, but just as badly misplaced. Still bere again the woman has mercy on him and tries to appeal to his better side. He is naturally inclined to believe the best of people and almost kilis an official at the club who makes disparaging remarks about the character of this woman who has just been unkind and yet kind to him. After the affair at the club he seeks re- lief from the mental problems that ha- rass him in drink and the society of dis- selute people. His father and aunt are both dead. He despises his godfathber, another of the merchant class, and refuses to be guided by his counsels of “make money.” After a frightful debauch, in which he sinks a barge and nearly loses the lives of many people, he tries to get this godfather to take all his money and estates and let him be free to go into the world alone @nd unknown. The old man will not con- sent to this, but says that if Foma keeps on in the way he is going and does not reform he will have him put in an insane asylum. This enrages the young Russfan to such an extent that he defies the old man and but throws himself and his money away the faster. The climax comes when Foma is one of L a party of merchants to take a pleasure trip on the launching of a new boat. When the festivities are at their height he stands up and denounces all of the merchants—collectively at first and then individually, when he sees that its effect amounts to nothing. He calls them all by name and goes into their various sins in detall. This is his nearest approach to greatness, but even here he is doomed to failure. He but succeeds in enraging the men by his insults and soon finds himself a captive and on the way to the insans asylum. Three years later we find him at lib- erty, but half-witted, drunk nearly all of the time and living on a relative who gives him this much from his confiscated estates. Foma Gordyeeff is the type of man who recognizes the wrong in the world, but has not the brains to suggest a remedy. The truth to him is like the light to the owl; he seeks for it only to batter his brains out on obstacles he cannot see nor understand. This first work of Gorky is powerful enough to show that we may expect great things from this Russian writer. At times he is coarse, but it is the coarse- ness of sincerity and strength, and you pass it by withcut notice. He writes for those who know the world—not for the youthful mind. Below is an excerpt from the life of Foma as a little boy on his father’s boat. It is complete in itself and will give an idea of Gorky's virile style. Often his threads of story are broken, showing the writer so full of his subject that his thoughts pour from him entirely without control. It is this fullness, vigor and life that will make him. His writings have already brought him into trouble with the Russian Govern- ment. He has been in prison seven or eight times. In fact it was in prison that he received the letter of Messrs. Scribner & Co. proposing terms for the publication of the present volume. v a e The long-drawn cry rang out from afar and ended in & sort of moan. Now some one waiked across the deck to the side of the steamer. Again it rang out, but it was nearer now. “Yafim!” they said in a low tone on deck. “Yafimka! We-ell!” The devil! Get up! Take the boathook!" “0-0-0-0," groaned the sound close at hand, and Foma, with a shudder, staggered away from the window. The strange sound floated nearer and nearer and increased in strensth, sobbing and melting away in the dense darkness. And on deck they whiepered anxiously: Yafimka! Do get up! A visitor is comin, “Where?" rang out the hurried guestion then bare feet shuffied across the deck, a bustle became audible, and past the boy's face two boathooks glided from above and almost noteelessly plunged Into the thick water. A vi-i-si-tor!” came a méaning cry near at hand, and then came a oft but very strange splashing of water. The boy quivered with terror at this mourn- ful cry, but could not tear his hands from the window and his eyes from the water. “Light the lantern—we can't see at all.” “Immediately.”" Then a spot of troubled light fell upon the water. Foma saw that the wafer was Surging gently and a ripple was running over it. as though it were in pain and were quivering with anguish. ““Look—look!"" the men on the deck whispered in terror. At that moment in the circle of light upon the water there appeared a huge, dreadful face, with grinning white teeth. It floated and rocked on the water, its teeth were aimed straight at Foma and seemed to be saying to him, with a smile: “Eh, my lad, my lad. "tis co-old—farewell!"" The boathooks trembled, rose in the afr and then descended into the water and began cau- tiously to push into something. “‘Guide it—guide it—liook out—it will get into the paddiewheel.” ““Give it a shove yourself.” The boathooks slid along the bulwark and caught hold of the thing simultaneously, with a sound like the gnashing of teeth. Foma could not close his eyes as he stared at them. The clatter of feet as they tramped along the deck, overhead, gradually withdrew to the bow. And then again rang o that moaning sound, like & funeral dirge: “A vi-i-isitor *“Dad shrieked Foma in a ringing voice. *Dadey His father sprang to his feet and ran to him “What is it? What arel they doing out there?" screamed Foma. Ignat, with vast strides, rushed out of the cabin, yvelling savagely. He soon returned, be- fore Foma. tottering and gazing around him in terror, had got from the window to his fath- er's bed. ““They have frightened vou—well, never mind!" said Ignat, taking him by “Get into bed with me.” “What is it?" asked Foma, softly. othing, my son. It was a drowned man. A man has been drowned and was floating— it was nothing. Don't you be afraid; he has already floated away “Why did they shove him?’ the boy per- sisted in his questions, pressing close to his father, and covering his eves to keep out the terror. “Why—because it had to be done. The water would drive him into the paddiewheel—our wheel. for example—and to-morrow the police would spy it out—and there would be a row and questions, and they would detain us here, So they helped him to journey farther. What difference does it make to him? He's al- ready dead—it doesn’t Injure him, it doesn't hurt his feelings—but he would have made trouble for the livé people. Go to sleep, my son.” And so he is fioating away?" “Yes, he is floating away—they'll fish him out somewhere, and bury him.” “'And won’t the fishes eat him?"* “Fiches don’t eat human flesh—crabs They are fond of it."” Foma’s terror melted away at the contact of his father's warm body. but the dreadful face with the grinning teeth still rocked on the water. before his viston. “And who was he?" A - ““God knows. Tell God about him; say, ‘Oh, Lord, give rest to his soul.’ ** “Oh, Lord, give rest to his sou Foma in a whisper. ““There, now—go to sleep; have no fears. He is far away already. He is floating along— and, see here: be careful not o go too close to the side of the boat—you might fall jn— which God forbid—into the water—" *“And did he fall overboard?"* ‘Of course—perhaps he was drunk—and that was the end of him! Perhaps he threw himsel in. There are men who—a man takes and throws himself into the water and is drowned. Life 15 so arranged, my dear boy, that death is sometimes a festival for a man; and for all it is a blessing." Daddy ¥ o to sleep, g0 to sleep, my dear boy B. G. LATHROP. The Current Encyclopedia. A new periodical is being published by the Modern Research Society of Chicago that promises to be of the greatest use and assistance to all classes of readers. This is the Current Encyclopeda, the first publication of which appeared in July. It is to be published every month and six numbers will comprise a volume, making two volumes each year. The pro- jectors have this to say of their pian: “The Current Encyclopedia, which will be published in twelve numbers each ” the hapd. do. repeated year, is to have every issue complete in itself, with the subjects arranged alpha- betically from A to Z. By binding six numbers into a volume at the end of the half year the publication serves the dou- ble purpose of a monthly and a semi-an- nual. A full index will be published in each issue and a general index at the close of each volume. The purpose is not only to make the work a storehouse of facts but to make it a convenient refer- ence book by the alphabetical arrange- ment of subjects and by the use of in- dexes and cross-references. Thus the reader may easily find the information for which he is looking. “It is the intention of the publishers to make the Current Encyclopeda a treas- ury of information, political, statistical, biographical, scientific, literary, religious and educational. Its value will be in- creased by maps, portraits and other il- lustrations. It is believed that this is a unique literary undertaking. in that it combines the features of a perfodical and & reference book. The task of reading all the leading publications of the world, that is admittedly too great for any one man, will be undertaken by the staff of editors and contributors. It will be their aim and endeavor to cull out the valuable and omit the unimportant; in_all cases seeking the original sources of verifica- tion of facts and figures to insure abso- lute reliability. Every article will be writ- ten especially for this work.” Judging from the August number, which is before us,and from the announcements for the Sentember number, the Current Encyclopedia is in every way a most com- mendable work and will soon be wel- comed by busy and intelligent readers. The long list of contributors is in itself a guarantee, as each name stands high in the various branches of learning that they have given a special study. The arrangements of the subjects in al- phabetical order is most convenient. This work will take the place of the annual encyclopedias just as the annuals have taken the place of the extended works al- ready published. 1In this age so much is happening from day to day that the book of last year devoted to the task of keeping abreast of the times in history and science is soon well behind. This plan brings the ‘reader directly up to date on all subjects. The better to understand the scope of the work as indicated let us look at the contents of the present issue under the letter A: A. C. True, Director of Experi- ment Stations, Washington, writes of the United States Department of Agriculture; there is a brief article and illustration of M. Santos-Dumont’s airship that at- tempted on July 13 to win the prize at Paris: Henry Gannett, geographer. United States Geological Survey, has a most in- terssting illustrated article on Alaska; Eugene Parsons, A. M., writes of Argen- tina, that was reported in July to be on the verge of a revolution, and H. A. Howe, A.M., Sc. D., director of Chamber- lin Observatcry, brings the affairs in the heavens up to date by a paper on astron- omy. That is merely the contents under a single letter of the alphabet and all the others are treated with the same care’ for completeness. The illustrations form no small part in the Interest of the periodical: They are, for the greater part, excellent half-tone reproductions of photographs. If the present high standard of excel- lence of ““The Current Encyclopedia’ is maintained there will be very few readers and students who will feel that they can afford to be without it. its scope is world- wide. One feature that will be found valuable is the concise biographies of liv- ing history makers, the distinguished characters of our own land and other countries. Each monthly issue will also contain obituaries of eminent men and women recently deceased. It is to be is- sued about the 15th of every month and will contain all information up to the lst. The single numbers contain from 125 to 160 quarto pages (size 7%x10% inches), making about 1600 pages per year. The price per ear, prepaid, is $5. The Martyr of Molokai. The Catholic Truth Society of San Francisco has published in pamphlet form that Interesting account of “Father Damien, the Martyr of Molokai.” For sixteen years Father Damien worked among the lepers of Molokai. For thirteen years he remained un- touched by that terrible disease, among whose victims he had voluntarily cast his lot. His was one of the most beautiful of all martyrdoms. Whether one be Christian, heretic or infidel, he cannot but admire the sublime self-sacrifice of this man, who chose -to teach his taith by example and not by force. This account of his life work is written by Charles Warren Stoddard and is beau- tifully and powerfuily expressed in the simpie form of narrauve wnich Mr. Stod- dard sees fit to adopt. Such a life as that of Father Damien—so simple, pure and self-sacriticing that he might make oth- ers happy in the present and the here- after—ireated in any other way would be profaned. . He needs no cne to sing of him in any but simple melody, for ks days were su full of good deeds that the mere telling of them 1s a suflicient song of praise. Here is a short extract from some of his letters which will' serve to show s modestyv. his supreme devotion to che cause of Christianity and his remarkabie capacity for work: Father Damien wrote, when he could find the time, to the various members of his fam- ily; but these letters were few and for ths most part brief. Here are brief extracts from them: ** * * * Every one, with the excep tion of a few bigoted heretics, looks upon me as Father. As for me, I make mysell a leper with the lepers, to gain all to Jesus Christ. Thig ie why in preaching I say, we lepers, not, my brethren, as in Europe. . The average of deaths is about one a day. Many are so destitute that there is nothing with which to pay their burial expenses. They are simply wrapped in a blanket. As far as my duties allow me time, I make coffins my- selt for these people. * = * 1 have not a penny of fncome, yet nihil mihi deest, I want for nothing. I have even alms to give away. How s this to be explained? That is His secret, who promised to give a ‘hundred- fold to those who give up all for Him. ¢ * % These ten years 1 have been on the mission 1 have bullt a church and chapel every year—1 am not ashamed to act as carpenter or mason when it is for the glory of God. * * * A few words about my way of living. 1 live all alone in a little hut; lepers never enter it. In the morning, after mass, a woman who 15 not a leper comes to prepare my meal. My dinner consists of rice, meat, coffee and a few biscuits. For supper I take what was left from dinner with a cup of tea, the water for which I boil over a lamp. My poultry yard furnishes me with eggs. 1 make only two meals a day, morning and evening. 1 rarely take anything between. You see 1 live very well. I don’t starve. I am not much at home in the daytime. After dark I say my breviary by the light of my lamp; I study a bit, or write @ letter. So don’t won- der at getting only one letter a year from m&,f‘ (This to his mother.) “I really have née the time to think of you except in my prayers. * * ¢ My lepers are very fervent. They fill my two churches—at Kalawau and Kaulapapa—from morning till night, and pour forth their prayers to God with an ardor that would make some religlous blush. * * * I was a little annoyed at seeing my last letter printed in the Annales Catholiques. Once for all, let me tell you I don’t like that done. I want to be unknown to the world, and now 1 find that.I am being talked about on all sides, even in America. Sometimes I am in- clined to envy my poor sick Christians, when 1 administer the last sacraments to them and bury them. During the winter I worked hard to enlarge my church and build a pretty tower. Manual work is very good for my health, and 1 feel well and happy among my sick people. * * * I have now been nearly seven years among the lepers. During that long period 1 have had the opportunity of closely observ- ing and, as it were, touching with my hand, human misery under its most terrible aspect. Half the people are like living corpses which the worms have already begun to devour, at first internally, afterward externally, until the most loathsome wounds are formed, which very rarely heal.” Sunshine Books. The “Sunshine Books” comprise six diminutive cloth volumes, very neatly bound and put in a little red case that opens out like a little trunk. They would make a fine present for any young girl or boy. These little volumes are the outcome of the Sunshine Society of New York, that has 20,000 members banded together all over the Union to give the word of good cheer, if possible, just at the right time. All taken together do not make a mat- ter of protracted reading, but though Bar- netta Brown, the author, has not used many words she has said a great deal that is to the point. essay, or set of essays, on one subject and complete in itself. The titles cover “Ex- perience,” “‘Soul Growth,” ““The Heart's Desire,”” “Men, Women and Loving,” *“Worry and Cheer” and “A Dip in the Pool.”’ They are published by the Abbey Press, New York. The price of the set of six books in the case is $1 50. e MRXIM ERE is the story of Maxim Gorky in his own words. The now famous author of “Foma Gordyeeff” had, ]: fl as the world knows now, a bitter struggle in his younger days for bare ex- istence. It was written by him at the re- quest of a Russian newspaper, and here it 1 was born on the 14th of March, either in 1868 or 1869, in Nijni Novgorod, in the family of Vassili Vassilzewitsch Kaschirin, dver, to his daughter Warwara and Maxim Sawwatjev Pjeschkow. who, according to his sign, was an upholsterer. Thencéforth I have borne honorably and witho stain dhe title of a jmember of the of arfists. I was bpptized B the, na ‘of Alexei, but In ¢hoosing ja pseudonym I preferred my father's name, Maxim. “My real name Is therefore Alexei Maxi- mowitsch: Pjeschkow. “My father died in Astrachan when I was 5 yvears old. After the death of my mother my grandfather placed me in a shoestore. 1 was then 9 years old, and my grandfather had taught me fo read in the Psalter and prayer book. I ran away from my studies and became a draughtsman’s apprentice; ran away from him and entered the workshop of a paint- er of saints’ images; then I served on a steamer as a cook’s boy; then I became a gardener's assistant. “Here I remained till my fifteenth vear, spending all my ume in zealously read- ing the productions of known author: such as ‘Guak; or, Unshakabie Fidelit ‘Andreas Fearnaught, ‘Jaschka the Cut- throat,’ ete. “While I was serving as cook’s boy on the steamboat the cook, Smury, had gained a powerful influence over my de- velopment. He persuaded me to read the ‘Legends of the Saints,’ Eccarthausen, Gogol, Gljeb Uspenski, Dumas pere and various books cn Freemasonry. “Up to that time I had been a sworn enemy of dll books and of all printed pa- per, even including my passport. After my fifteenth year I felt 4 passionate wish to learn, in pursuance of which I betook myself to Kasan, under the impression that knowledge would be imparted free to all who desired it. It turned out, how- ever, that this was not the case; so I went to work in a pretzel bakery at a salary of 3 rubles a month. “Of all the kinds of work I have tried o+ = GORKY- this was the hardest. In Kasan I came into relations with the ‘Lost People’ and lived long with them. I worked in the villages on .the Volga, now as a wood- chopper, now as a porter, and during this time read every book I could lay my hands on, which various kind people sup- plied me with. 1 got along very badly, and in 1888 even tried to kill myself by shooting a bullet into my body. “I lay a long time dn the hospital, but finally recovered and went Into the apple trade. I finally turned my back on inhos- pitable Kasan to try my luck in Zarizyn, where I got a job as a rallroad attendant, Then 1 returnzd to Nijni, where I had to ga up for the army. But since they could not make use of fellows with heles in { their bodies 1 ascaped the fate of becom- ing a soldier, and instead became a Mu- nich beer seller. T soon exchanged this calling for that of a clerk in the office of Lanin, a lawyer of Nijni Novgorod. “That was a turning point in my life. Lanin’s influen:= on my development was immeasurably great. 1 owe this cuiti- vated and great-hearted man more than to any one else. But, however agreeable 1 found life with Lanin, where my soul could at last find room to breathe, I was again impelled to the life of a tramp. And I have tramped all over Russia. Whera havé I not been! What have I not seen and suffered! What kind of work have I not done!” A Russian friend named Alexander Me- sodjewitsch Kaluschni was the first to suggest to him the idea of writing, and it took a powerful hold upon him. His first attempts were crude, but notwithstanding he succeeded in getting a story entitied “Makar Tschudra” published in a news- paper as early as 1893. He was then at Tiflis working in a machine shop. He gave up -his plate and tramped home, where he wrote occasional stories and sketches for the papers of his neighborhood. It was then that he adopted the pen mame of “Gorky," meaning “bitter,” in- .tended to express his then attitude toward life, for Gorky was of the down-trodden and his was the under dog's point of view. it was then, too. that he met Viadimer Korolenko, one of the most progressive men of Russian letters, and was by him introduced to real literature. Right here begins Gorky's literary career, now so well known to che world. -t Under the Allied Flags. “Under the Allied Flags” is by that well-known writer of fact and fiction, El- bridge S. Brooks. Mr. Brooks' interesting and popular “Young Defender Series” of modern tales of adventure is now in- creased by this stirring story of a plucky voung American's adventures, as in (he land of the Boxers he precedes or follows the allied flags of the international forces ’1;’ they fight their way from Taku and ientsin to Peking. Ned Pevear, with whom readers of “*With Lawton and Rob- erts” are familiar, is the hero of this latest story, and the adventures he has, the dangers he faces. the experiences he goes through, are alike thrilling, attract- ive and absorbing. But Ned is a real boy. He doesn’t win every time. He is often in hot water and does not always escape by his own actions. Heedless, headstrong and careless, he blunders into trouble and has to work his way out, as boys usually must do; but his pluck and his patriotizm, his energy and his ambition, win out at last and lead him to play the hero aitis with Seymour's endangered relief colunn, in beleaguered Tientsin, among the im- periled legations and before the walls of Peking. Men and women, boys and girls, of all the mingled nationalitles that made this war in China so picturesque, appear in the story and give it vigor, variety and unflagging interest. (Pubiished by the Lothrop Publishing Company, Boslon. Price $1 25.) Food Velues of Meat. The editor of Health Culture, W. R. C. Latson, M. D., has just issued a pamph- let wherein he takes up the often con- sidered question of meat eating. His idea is to show that flesh food is not essential to mental and physical vigor and furthe: more that all the food elements found in meat can be obtained by the use of other products, as cereals, nuts, vegeta- bles, fruits, etc. The author holds that in the animal body there is a conswant breaking down of tissue, which becomes waste matter. The flesh of the animal is laden with this poisonous waste and this taken into the human body is a frequent cause of weakness and aisease. The subject is presented in a simple and practical way and many other interesting matters are given by the writer. (Pub- lished by the Health Culture Company, 481 Fifth avenue, New York. In cloth 3 cents, paper 25 cents.) The Mysterious Burglar. “The Mysterlous Burglar,” by George E. Walsh, is an up-to-date detective story of just the right thrills to make you finish the book at one sitting. The mysterious burglar, who gives the titie to the story by his remarkable acts, is a man of great wealth and high standing in the com- munity. He is handsome, rich and ac- complished, and why he should rob the house of his afflanced bride is what seems incomprehensible to the reader and causes him to burn the midnight oil in digging out the truth from the pages of Mr: Walsh's interesting story. This man of mystery Is not content with that one robbery, and you find to your consternation that he makes a rex- ular practice of turning gentleman burg- lar periodically. Mr. Walsh adds to the excitement of his story by having a pro- fessional burglar on the scene of this first robbery. The professional finds to his surprise, as he goes through the house, that there is nothing to steal. The rea- son for this he learns when he comes face" to face with the gehtleman burglar with all the silverware under his arm. Bown men find themselves looking Into the other’s revolver bairel. The gentlemai burglar divides the Looty with the pro- fessional and they both agree to consider the incident closed. The professional has his * curiosity awaltened by the queer actions of this other man and cannot resist returning to the place the next day to see if he can discover any clew as to the identity of his passing acquaintance of the night before. Imagine the burglar's surprise when he sees his friend of the night before In earnest conversation with the daughter of the house on the front porch. He be- comes so interested in the case that he decides to follow it up on his own account and see what manner of man is this wio robs at night the house of his best friend. Mr. Walsh fills his pages with thrilling incidents and yet keeps the solution of the. main problem until the last few pages, so the reader s kept in a delicious and constant state of suspense. A doctor who lives in a lonely house with a dumb Indian servant plays an important part and adds materially to the general at- mosphere of mystery that pervades the situation. The professional succeeds in obtaining service with the mysterious burglar and . R Each book is an, eventually, unravels the curious mystery that shadows this man’s life. It s an ex- cellent story of a thief taking a thief. (Published by F. M. Buckles & Co., New York. Price, §12. The Corsair King. In “The Corsair King,” by Maurus Jokal, you will find a pirate story of the real old blood and thunder sort—some- thing on every page to make your blood curdle. The Corsair King is a young man wha leaves his promised bride and family to seek his fortunes on the high seas. His ship is taken by pirates and he himself is made a captive, but refuses to joln the rdbber band. * s Finally, in one of their many fights, he sees a fine man-of-war fly from their ship when it is superior to the pirate craft both men and guns. He had hoped to be rescued by this vessel, and so upon its retreat he curses her men for cowards and forthwith joins the band of sea robbers. In time he is made the captain of the pirate ship and his name is more feared on the seas than that of any other. At one time he returns to visit his family for a period of hours and remews his vows with his beloved, but of course drops no hint of his vocation. This love of the Corsair King is the one thread of gold that weaves in its purnty through a tale of grim murders and black horrors. Whether the pirate reforms In time to marry the maid of his choice or dies fighting under the biack flag is for Maurus Jokal to tell the reader. The story shows all the characteristic strength of Jokai's pen and is rather a departure in choice of scene from his usual writing. It is a good book for train reading when you have an hour or two journey ahead of you with no better company than yourself. (Published by L. C. Page & Co., Boston. Price, $1.) The Successors of Mary the First. The troubles of the American house- keeper haye been made the theme of an amusing book by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward. Mrs. Ward has chosen for her title the suggestive one, “The Successors of Mary the First.” The first Mary is one of the treasures not very often found in households. For thirteen years she is the maid-of-all-work in a family in one of the Eastern cities. During thy time, un- der her management, the home®which her presence blesses Is an abode of peace, quiet and orderliness. But Mary marrie: and then the trouble begins for her mis- tress. Out of the materials offered by the amusing and aggravating events which take place in a household when it de- pends for its continuance upon frequent visits to the intelligence office Mrs. Ward has given a faithful pleiure of the state of affairs which exists to-day in an aver- age American home. Mrs. Ward seems to see clearly the dis- advantages under which labor both m tress and maid, and not only points them out, but offers some thoughtful sugges- tions for their removal. (Published by Houghton, Mifilin & Co., Boston. Price $150.) El Centiloquio. Laird & Lee of Chicago have just issued in dainty form “El Centiloguio,” by San- tillana, the illustrious Spanish poet of the early fifteenth century. The original text has been reproduced in Spanish with only such changes as would make it easy read- ing for even a very inexperiencad studént of the Castilian language. Notes and a vocabulary complete 21l that concerns this poem of one hundred stanzas. The “Cen- tiloqui like Fenelon’ dventures of Telemachus,” was eéspecially written as a book of lofty precepts for the education of a royal prince; and in the richness of its examples, the beauty of its moral ex- hortations, the grace of its comparisons, it excels the effort of the teacher of King Louis XIV's grandson. A cleverly com- piled collection of Spanigh proverbs with Englisn translations complet: the vol- ume, Copies. printed on special paper. ¥larger size, were presented to the Queen Regent of Spain, President McKinley and President Diaz (a special edition of three copies only), accompanied by appropriate letters from _editors and publishers. (Cloth, polished top, red borders, $L.) ‘Herbert Spencer and His Critics. Students of Herbert Spencer's works cannot fall to be interested in “Herbert Spencer and His Critics,” by Charies B. Waite, A. M. Mr. Waite is highly appre- clative of the works of the English philos- opher, and has evidently made him the subject of the deepest study. In fact, an excelient idea of Spencer can be had by reading this little book without the task of going over the more voluminous vol- umes of Spencer himself. Mr. Waite is clear and concise in his statements and his reasoning is easily followed. (Pub- lished by Charles V. Waite & Co., Chi- cago. Price §L) YIRS LIS Literary Notes. Philip Verrill Mighels, whose new novel of adventure, “The Crystal Scepter,” has just been issued by R. F. Fenno & Co.. returned to America a few days since, after a four years’ residence in London. “The Crystal Scepter”” is Mr. Mighels second novel. Mrs. E. L. Voynich, author of “Jack Raymond,” is the subject of the monthly portrait and biography in September Book News. “Up at the "Lotments” is a short story taken from “Pastorals of Dor- set,” by M. K. Francis; “The Meanest Man in America” is a chapter from C. F. Pidgin’s forthcoming book. “‘Blennerhas- sett”; Dr. Talcott Williams has his usual talk on the more important new book: the Authors’ Calendar is continued; there are reviews of the current magazines and the best selling books of three citles are given. John Wanamaker, Philadelphia and New York. Among Little, Brown. & Co.'s suc- cessful novels may be mentioned “From Kingdom to Colony,” by Mary Devereux; A Dream of a Throne.” by Charles Flem ing Embree; “The Knights of the Cr by Sienkiewicz; “The Parsonage Porch by Bradley Gilman; “The Head of a Hun- dred,” by Maud Wiider Goodwin; “Bal- lantyne,” by Helen Campbell, and Mrs. Dodd’s new baok, “The American Hus- band in Paris.” “Tolstoy and His Problems: Essays by Aylmer Maude,” is a book which comes at an opportune time as Tolstoy is prob- ably the most talked about man to-day. Mr. Maude having had the privilege of Tolstoy’s friendship for many years is well accuainted with the views of the great Russian novelist: he’does not at- tempt to praise Tolstoy's views, but merely explains them. When first issued the essays were sent fo Count Tolstoy, who on four different occasions wrote ex- pressing his approval. Of the first essay in the book he wrote, “T very much ap- prove of it. It is admirably constructed and what is most important is given.”" The volume will be issued on this side by A. Wessels Company. The following is the interesting contents of the Dominicana for September: ‘“The Capitol on Wheels,” by Sarah C. Burnett; “By the Sea,” poem, by Marcella A. Fitz- gerald; “In the Master's School,” poem, by Margaret E. Jordan; “Mrs. Dorsey’'s ‘Warning,” by John Wilkinson: “Kather- ine E. Conway,” by Mary Sarsfield Gil- more: ‘““Rabboni That 1 May See,” poem, by A. M. B.; “Blessed Catherine of Raco- nigi, Virgin™; “Our Lady’'s Name,” poe: by Mary A. Conroy; “The Wild Flower, poem, by Mary A. Gallagher: “The Story of a California Indian” (chapters I and 11), by Katharine Wallace. s L. C. Page & Co. published the follow- ing during August: = “Captain Raven- shaw,” by Robert Nelflson Stephens, au- thor of “An Enemy to the King,” “Philip ‘Winwood.” etc.; “Her Washington Expe- riences,” by Anna Farquhar, author of ‘“‘Her Boston Experiences,” “The Devil's Plough,” etc.; “Back to the Soil,” by e Bradley Gilman, author of “The Drifting] Tsland,” ‘etc.; “My Strangest Case,” Guy Boothby, author of “Dr. Nicola, “That_Beautiful White Devil,” etc.: “Jar- vis of Harvard,” by R. W. Kauffman, Ii erary editor of the Philadelphia Press; “A Gentlewoman of the Slums,” by Annie ‘Wakeman. The publishers, Doubleday, Page & Co., have just issued a unique poster for Kip- ling’s forthcoming novel. Inserted in the center is an actual book—in every respect, save in the number and the printing of the pages, a volume of “Kim''; the leaves are blank and unprinted. but the cover is the same that will appear on the regular edition. The poster itself is in symbolism of the River of the Arrow, and in the cen- ter is the Bow that drew the Arrow over a shadow map of India. Below in quaint sil- houette is “The Little Friend of All the World"—Kim—and the old Tibetan lama. jqurneying toward the snows of the Him- alayas. A. C. McClurg & Co. are about to pub- lish a new edition of Henrik Jaeger’s crit- ical biography of Ibsen.. Willlam Morton Payne, the translator of this book, has prepared a supplementary chapter deal- ing with the six plays that Ibsen has pub- lished since the biography was written in 1388. The book thus contains a critical and descriptive account of the entire literary work of Ibsen, and constitutes the only authoritative treatment of the subject in the English language. Sinee Ibsen's pro- ductive activity is now probably at an end, the biography in its present form may be considered definitive. and should find a place In every collection of the standard works of modern literature. Alike from the standpoint of letters as of art the September. Critic seems a note- worthy issue. In Professor Lewis F Gates’ paper on Professor Saintsbury's “History of Critlcism,” will be found much that is absorbing, both regarding Professor Saintsbury’s method of treat- ing his subject and touching the functions of critieism-in general. Mr. Havelock Ellis' article entitled, “Electra and the Progressive Movement In Spain,” showg in its true light' the relation of Galdos much discussed play to the general asser- tion of political and lterary vigor which is now malking itself felt in Spain. Test of Culture,” Gerald Stanley Lee's second paper in his series on “Literary Drill in College,” is even more helpful than its predecessor and is full of sug- gestion for teacher and pupil. Ome of the most significant of the shorter articles is Joseph B. Gilder's appreciation of the poetry of William Vaughn Moody. Gilder gives Mr. Moody the highest rank among the younger poets of the day, a title which is awarded in all discrimination and sin- cerity. Quite in accordance with the Critic’s record of introducing Russian au- thors to the American public, is Herbert Trench's note concerning Dmitri Mere- jkowski, whose trilogy of historical novels has recently become so popular in Rus- sia and on the Continent. Among the il- lustrated articles are Henry Sheiton’s re- view of “The Comic Paper in America”— erlivened by many rare covers, title pages and cartoons. George A. Aitken’s article on Swift’s ““Journal to Stella,” introducing a reproduction of Miss Dicksee's charm- ing painting, and M. Paul Bourget's study of “Victor Hugo, Romaneier,” printed in French and enriched by Bryden's wood cut of the great poet, dramatist and novelist. Minorarticlesby Rev. Dr. Charles James Wood on Augustus J. G. Hare's reminiscences, by R. V. Risely on “The Decadence,” reviews of popuar novels and William Archer's interview with W. S 8. GtiLert, complete the purely literary fea- tures of the current number. In the yay of pictorial material there are in addi- tior. striking portraits of Tolstoy, Robert 1 ouis Stevenson, Pierre Lotl, James Whit- comb Riley and James Pryde. Mr. Lang's little volume, “Letters to Dead Authors,” is, In a way, the finest collection of prose parodies we poOSsess. For here, in these various letters, to Rabelais, to Herodotus, to Lucian, to Theocritus, to Dickens, to Thackeray, (o Austen, to Dumas and various others, we have what seems the highest point any English writer has yet reached in the art of subtly parodying the essence of a style. Mr. Lang's prefatory admission of the parodic nature of his book is in the vein of apology; he avers that “it is, perhaps, superfluous to add that some of the let- ters are written rather to suit the corre- spondent than to express the writer's own taste of opinions.” Which is a neat and modest manner of phrasing one of the cardinal laws of parody. Mr. Lang, of course, while ever memorable for ths scholarly skill he has brought to the art of parody, is too much concerned with the classical to serve as aught save a somewhat lofty standard for the militant parodist of this young century. There is little of the militant in “Letters to Dead Authors.” To be sure, there was the epis- tle to Lord Byron. So true a note of properly militant parody is struck here that I must, for the sake of quoting a single stanza, break my intention to leave poetry out of these pages. Not even Wil- liam Ernest Henley nor any equally ar- dent admirer of Byron can refuse a smile to lines like these: This kind of writing is my pet aversion, 1 hate the slang, I hate the personalities, I loathe the aimless, reckless, loose dispersion Ot every rhyme that in the singer's wallet is, I hate it as you hated the Excursion. But, while no man a hero to his valet is, The hero's still the model; I indite The kind of rhymes that Byron oft would write. (From “A Plea for Parody,” by Perci- val Pollard, in the®Seéptember Bookman.) R g4 Books Received. EL CENTILOQUIO DE SANTILLANA—Ed- ited by Fernando Staud y Ximenez, C. O. B, A. M., snd Hubert M. Skinmer, A. M. Laird & Lee. Chicago. 3L MUZZARELLI'S BRIEF FRENCH COURSE —By Antoine Muzzarelll. American Book Company, New York $t 2. g THE COMPLETE TRIBUNE PRIMER—By Eugene Fleld. Mutual Book Company, Bos- ton. 75c. THE “LITTLE MEN" PLAYe-Adapted from Louisa M. Alcott's “Little Me: By Eliza- beth Lincoln Gould. Little, Brown & Co., Bos- ton. e, “THE “LITTLE WOMEN" PLAY-Adapted from Louisa M. Alcott's “Little Women.” By Elizabeth Lincoln Gould. Boston. ile. THE EVANGELIST, ROSE AND NINETTE Little, Brown & Co.. —By Alohonse Daudet. Little, Brown & ¢ Boston. $1 50. JACK—By Alphonse Daudet. Liftle, Brown & Co., Boston. 2 vols. $130 each. THE DESERT-By John C. Van Dyke Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. $125 GULLIVER'S TRAVELS-By Dean Swift Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., New York. 60c DON QUIXOTE—Retold by Calvin Dill Wii- son. Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.. New York. 6 “OUR UNCLE THE MAJOR"—By Jame Otls. Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., New York. 80c. THE- CANDLE AND THE CAT-By M F. Leonard. e, Thomas Y. Crowell & C. New York. “WORTH READING."* FOR THE BLUE AND GOLD A Tale of Life at the University of California. By JOY LICHTENSTEIN $1.50 Net. “‘A rattling good story of undergrad- uate life, its work and its play. There are scores of healthy, plucky, fun-loving, sturdy young Amerfcans who keep the interest at a glow from start to fmish. It is a book that should be read by all college graduates, by all in college, and by those intending to_enter college.” ~New Orleans Picayune. A. M. ROBERTSON, Publisher, 126 Post Street, San Franeisco, Cal. 1 v P