The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 22, 1904, Page 5

at The facts spaps n ction Steffens reader with his vehe- of American wres in self-gov- is at fault, nor icular inter- The misgov- an petple is mis tting good govern- nrtd are yet cfmf—r[ to they list. This is st k:n(iy blurll on Bteffens’ part; it is likely to wound the the reader right away, but thez 1 push through the book ian venge- determination to find out just wherein the guthor backs up his claims. When he has finished he will discover why it was that Steffens made these statements and a great deal else will he £2nd revealed to him as well Axnother strong contention Steffens makes In explanation of the seemingly belplessly debauched state of American municipal government. It is to the “big business man” that he attributes the responsibility for our rotten cities— to the “big business man” and the great class of Americans of which he is a Tepresentative type. “I found him buying boodlers in St. Louis,” says Steffens, “defending graft- ers in Minneapolis, originating corrup- tion in Pittsburg, sharing with bosses in Philadelphia, deploring reform in Chicago and beating good gov: ent th corruption funds in New York. He & self-righteous fraud, this big busi- ness mean. He Is the chief source of cérruption, and it were a boon If he would neglect politics. But he is not the business man that neglects politics; that worthy is the good citizen, the typical business man.” That this so-called “big business maxn” is only one of a stripe with the social grafter, the literary grafter, the man and woman in every walk of life who uses & “pull” for seifish ends, Bteffens gets forth In no uncertain man. ner. He says that our modern-day life has made us a nation of grafters on a lengthy, graduated scale—grafters all, from the least to the greatest. When ful this manifests itself in government we it call corruption. the author started out on his of exposure he believed that people were being hoodwinked by litical bosses and that they were unaware of the nature of the crime that was being perpetrated against m and against the name of good nt, He went to St. Louis first, ng on that supposition he re- ecret springs of corruption i his article “Tweed Days at St. Louls.” It was after that that he awoke to the realization of the fact at the evil lay deeper—that the peo- le knew and ignored. Then he wrote “The Shame of Minmezpolis” and re- turned St. Louis to prepare “The amelessnes of St. Louis.” Philadel- & he found likewise “corrupt and contented”; Pittsburg revealed itself a passive victim of police and financial corruption: Chicago showed the sparks of resistance, and New York was the vest governed large city in the United States under Mayor Seth Low. After the searching review of all this shamelcssness and corruption, Steffens -feels that if he has roused the pride of the American people he has done his work to avail. For if pride is touched, “Oi lla "laudza Is Fine Reading ding of come- so fascina d nast and the strong reali- alnitati t as John has given us in “The to the mind of hment born of something so en- vlot must t full poise, the delicate humor in dling of thg love thread in the ry and the dd&rkling shadow of tha lassic past that he allows to fall over his tale, make “The Villa Claudia” a book with an aroma of pure literary virtue, as subtle as the perfume t e from the amphora of old Hor- of Lttention This amphora of rare Falernian wine that had been buried by the jolly old Latin poet for “lovers yet un- born,” who may some day sip from its golden heart “the joy of all im- aginings,” is the velled Sibyl of the story about which cling all the mys- tery and all the delicious “frissonne- ment” of fear of the unknown. Per- haps a strict analysis of Mitchell's use of this jug of old Tibur wine, whose sweetness is idiocy or death, will de- clare the artifice somewhat too exag- gerated to be convincing, but under the woof of the stay, spun so artfully about this same century crusted wine jar, no incongruous line is ble. It we read that a drink from Horace's amphora may make of the one who quaffs a senile shell of debauched de- gradation or unsightly corse, we are quite ready to take the author's word for it, so clo does the story hold our keen attention. Mitchell is a subtle surgeon when he cares to lay open the heart. Through- out the story he lights up the somber background of the tragic with quick flashes of whimsical humor at-the ex- pense of the lovers, short and fat, in Morris Lane, with a skin that burns with infantile blushes at the least reg- ister of a love thought in his heart; short and presumably chubby also is Betty Farnham, the little lady whose eyes inspire those blushes, and she has opinions. In the frolic with fate that suddenly brings these two loving hearts together, when they seemed to be hemispheres apart, there is much Bprightly interchange of convictions, philosophic end otherwise. Mitchell makes sly fun of his ardent lovers even while humoring them. The setting chosen for the story is idyliic. A modern vilia at Tivbli, bullt so exactly over the spot where Horace and Maecenas were wont to disport themselves in the rare old days of long ago that ancient pillars support the walls of the cellar, hous nearby the entire plot. With the dr en cherubs and the coldly ciassic statues in the garden, the marble balustrades, hoary with centuries, and the yellow stone of the fountain basin Mitchell makes a scene more perfect for what it suggests than what it actually portrays. To this setting of his the added flavor im- parted by the chosen words of Horace heading every chapter and the delicate decoration of classic frieze and carven wine bowl that reinforces the text makes for the heightening of the illus- fon. It seems as If the destinies of the characters in “The Villa Claudia” were locked in the grasp of ever present wralths from the past. (Life Publishing Company, York.) - A Wild Romance of King Olaf NDER the title of “The North Star” Mrs. M. E. Henry-Ruffin has written a fanciful tale of Vi- kings old that may commend itself to lovers of pure romance. The story lacks somewhat in coherency and smoothness of narrative, is choppy and disjointed in parts, but contains enough stirring adventure and shed- ding of good Norsk gore to appease the appetite of the most clamorous thirster after lore of the nheroic age. The au- thor’s story follows the career of the mythical King Olaf of Norway, one of the big fighting men of the tenth cen- tury and titular saint of the early northern church.. From winning the hand of & good Irish queen at Dublin through all the hero’s long life of dar- ing and adventure the author carries this idealized Viking monarch until we see him in his declining years, an an- chorite on the dreary deserts of Syria. “Lucky in war, unlucky in love,” seems to be the fate cf this bewhis- kered son of Thor, for he loses several wives through the unfortunate inter- an New -FEACT -AND ~ ~gre T 1O By Robert . Rifchie’ .flz%w:}*” “Gazrzox. Pormzr. Cowrfas < SAN FRANCISCO M editor 1€S MIRIAM MICHELSON, comes of a arriage,” 1] staff of a New a lo; 1ving The Call for that strenuous accompany to exclusion of all other newspaper people. Mrs. Soffel in the All this while she was writing dramatic criti | and Philadeiphia dailies. extensive tour. first novel Miss Michelson has yet published. ! the attention of the Bobbs-M Roseleaf and home of Carrie Nation. Miss Mic California, Illinois and New York. the ‘creator family of newspaper people. York paper. published by her brother-in-law in San Francisco some yeqrs ago. a San Francisco paper and to Kansas tion was at her zenith The newspaper W On her return to N:w Yor head of the department of physics in the University of Chicago. NEWS of Her first work was done for necial writer, for a Philadelphia one. son as & :k finally he wrote ** Her delightful fantasy helson has a sister whe lives in San Francisco and a brother (Dr. Albert A. Michelson) who is She divides her Just at present she is in this city. PAPER WOMAN WINS SUCCESS WITH HER FIRST BOOK Nance Olden and her amusing adventures She has both a brother and a brother-in-law on the “Arthur McEwen’s Letter,” a remarkable After this she went Into daily jour- $She journeyed to Hawall as a special corre- Miss Michelson got up at 5 in the morning lady on a smashing raid, being particularly favored with a She scooped the newspaper worlid again by getting an interview with hospital at the little town 12 Pennsylvanla where the Diddle brothers were shot to death. m of a very fearless and began to tell on her health, and she went abroad for an In the Bishop’s Carriage.” This novel had its germ In a short story wublished in Airslee’s Magazine about a yeur ago, It attracted errili Company, and at its suggestion was developed and expanded. It is the in the February MecClure's, “Prince Gir] from Kansas,” séems to embody results of her visits to the tomb of Napoleon and the (\“ /7 1908 FroP S\ ; CHERZAGTF FamEs .. “In_ the Bishop's was made | blizzard to the The latter expedition during an awful “tip” truth-telling sort for New York time accordingly between g — = vention of death and one of these at- she tempts to stab her liege before turns the steel on her own brea author reproduces a sea dght ver and records other stirring incidents, but she fails to throw her reader back to the time of her story by the ereation of a complete atmosphere about her plot. The characters stalk through the book like moving pictures on a white sheet. X (Little, Brown & Co., trated; prige $1 50.) Mot & Preacher Tries to Right Evils 'APAN has always had an attrac- tion for artists and literary peo- ple and no land in the Orient has been written up to a greater extent than the land of the crysanthemum. At present the war is attracting writ- ers in great numbers to Japan and we may expect to be treated to a book by each of them when they retura home; but shouid the new books make as pleasant reading as ‘“Japan—the Place and People,” by G. Waldo Browne, they will be auite welcome, Browne's work was first published in 1901 and enjoyed such a share of popuiarity that a new edition was called for and has just been published. 1t is a large book of 438 pages, finely illustrated, many of the plates being daintily colored. The preface, which bears the signature of Kogoro Taka- hira, Minister for Japan at Washinz- ton, briefly but tersely explains how it happened that the Japanese made in a brief period the change from a condition resembling the medieval barbarism of Europe to one of clvs {lization higher than that of the Rus- slan emplre. Browne first escorts the reader through all the chief districts of the Japanese Islands, including the cities and centers of commercial activity. He fully describes the customs and occupations of the people as circum- stances draw attention to them. He then outlines the home life and ar- tistic aspirations of the Japanese. A clear and entertaining sketch of the history of the kingdom follows, with numerous pretty folk-stories and re- ligious myths to round out the work. The writer has a pleasing style and exhibits an extensive knowledge of Japan and the Japanese. The book vrill undoubtedly prove interesting to all who desire to become better ac- quainted with the bright little people who are so heroically contesting the aggressions of the great empire of the Czar. (Dana, Estes & Co., Boston: price $2 50.) G. Waldo Browne Writes on Japan N “American Problems” the Rev. Joseph A. Vance of Chicago discuss- .es four moral problems that he con- siders are pressing for solution by the American people. These relate to the negro, labor unions, the liquor traffic, and moral uncleanness. Vance attacks Bostou; illus- each problem from what he terms “the stian point of view,” and finds in the Bible precedents and remedies for nearly every trouble. He is conse- quently very impracticable, and his im- practicability is most pronounced in the chapter dealing with a city’s hait- world. It would be next to impossible to conceive anything more absurdly quixotic than his method of curing the social fester in the large cities. His handling of the labor union prob- lems is mot much better. He shows that he possesses a very slight know- ledge of economics and social reforms. Although he believes laboring men should be organized for their own bet- terment and protection, he thinks the unions should always treat capitalists in a meek and subservient spirit. He is not in favor of strikes. and abhors compulgory arbitration for the adjust- ment of industrial disputes. His rem- edy for most labor troubles is the com- pulsory incorporation® of labor unfons; so as to make them amenable to the common law. Vance deals with the development of municipal reforms more intelligently: the chapter on the liquor problem is the best in the book. He strongly advo- cates State control of the liquor trafiic on the lines of the Gothenburg system in force in Scandinavia. Where this cannot be adopted, he believes that the dispensary system, as applied in South Carolina, would greatly benefit moral- ity. Strong testimony to the efficacy of this system is given in a letter ad- dressed to the author by H. H. Crum, Dispensary Commissioner of South Carolina. * Speaking of the working of this system in South Carolina, Crum testifies as follows: “The dispensary system -has proven successful in our State, You can scarcely see a drunken man at eny time, and it is steadily growing in favor, even with our bitter- est enemies. We are very proud of our great institution and hope to see other States follow, or at least introduce such a system.” (The Winona Publishing Company, Chicago; price n:(‘) This Tale Needs Winding a Bit OME novels are very like the me- chanical toys ‘“made in Ger- many.” When they are in actlon, with every cog and pin working smoothly, one is constrained to some slight manifestation of interest, amuse- ment even; but when, with a premon- itory rattle, the plot begins to slow down and every one of the puppets in the story commences to jerk about nervously and disconsolately with fast diminishing vigor, the reader sends up another sigh to high heaven and won- ders dully when the good publishers are going to temper their discretion with a little righteous consideration for literature her honor. Stories that are brassy, mechanical, stories that move only by the grace of this key winding and spring tightening process—such are without profit save that measured with the dollar sign possibly and, like the mechanical toys again, are designed Ch only to catch the fancy of the loiterer along fiction’s good bighway. This intreduces E. Phillips heim's “Anna the Adventuress” specimen for brief consideration. Here we have a story built entirely upon the unreal and improbable in the first nlace and lacking entirely in that quality of illusion that must carry the reader along in unseeing, unquestioning absorption—a quality absolutely essen- tial to the attainment of sustained in- terest in such narrative. For if the author will only make his impossibili- ties seem nothing more than natural by throwing around the whole plot scheme such a cloak of breathless action and plausible sequence of events as to chain the entire attention of the reader, he may unfold his tale from the most impossible premises and no shadow of unbelieving will fall athwart the pure enjoyment of his work. With a story built upon a fantastic plot key, how- ever, and workingitself out illogically, unnaturally, a writer cannot produce anything -that is convincing, anything that has a strong appeal through in- terest upheld. In “Anna the Adven- turess’” Oppenheim has the chance to make one of those thrilling stories on improbabilities—has the chance but has fafled through this very lack of seemn- ing plausibility induced by sustained action. he time-honored artifice of the two of kin whose identities are confused by near likeness, the one to the other, serves Oppenheim for the raison d'etre of his plot. Like Shakespeare’s Broth- ers Dromio, Oppenheim’s sisters Pellis- sler, Anna and Annabel, are inter- changeable to suit the exigencies of the story’s action. Curtain discloses both the sisters living in Paris, Anna by her art, Annabel by her wits. Before long the reader discovers that Annabel's very Bohemian temperament has led her into the ways that are rose strewn; but in order to make a rich catch In the matrimonial pond this faithless An- nabel throws the burden of her sins on to sister Anna's shoulders by the simple trick of stealing Anna’s name and posing as the demure little artist, terribly shocked at her wild sister. An- nabel lands the rich catch and flies to England and the seclusion of stald married life, leaving Anna to fight out the battle precipitated by the escapades of her graceless sister. Herein lies one of the glaring falla- cles of the story. The author does not lead us to belleve that the angel Anna is possessed of a consuming love for the Jezebel sister, yet he makes her perform every sacrifice, undergo every slurring innuendo and open bullying from the erstwhile favorites of Anna- bel, come near starvation once and near being murdered omce, just that the graceless and undeserving sister may find and hold to the high paths of virtue, This, with the constant flit- ting in and out of many ardent admir- ers of the self-appointed martyr, Anna, the senseless hiding behind curtains and revolver brandishings of the man who says “This is not the end” in a tragic diapason dlapente, and the pat- ter of “smorl tork” of the high soclety order, all unite to give “Anna the Ad- venturess” the metallic timbre of Oppen- as a sounding brass and the horn blown in the new moon. (Little, Brown & Co., Boston; illus- trated; price §1 50) MusclesBuzldmg for Weaker Sex OW our grandmothers would have marv if from the ¢ tante heights of gracehoops and battledoor and shuttlecock they could have looked down the century and seen their sweet granddaughters, with bare and brawny arms, following the ball from teeing ground to home green or wrestling in abbreviated gymnasium suits unen a nadded mat. That girls are girls nowadays, and no longer deli- e gowns, the evi- dence of tennis courts and golf links attests; add to that the fact that books, many of them, are being published for the especial delectation of the athletic girl, and the shades of our dear grand- mothers raise their hands in shocked protest. Two books of the last month are designed for the girl with brawn— “Golf for Women,” by Mrs. Charles T. Stout, better known as Genevieve Heck- er, and H. Irving Hancock's book on “Physical Training for Women by Japanege Methods."” Mrs tout is certainly not presump- tuous in setting herself as an authority upon golf; for two successive years she held both the national and the metro- politan women's championships; she has contested with skilled players from England and demonstrated her mastery of the game against nearly all of Amer- ica’s crack women enthusiasts. Indeed, it is the author's absorption In the game and -its fine points that neces- sarily leaves her books somewhat lack- ing In one respect. While devoting all her knowledge to the exposition of how drives should be made, what constitutes a long and what a short game, and how bunkers and hazards are taken, Mrs. Stout does not permit herself any great attention to the discussion of the phy- sical benefits of the game to women, nor how the girl should regulate her exercise so as to derive the greatest benefits from it. She does compensata for this in a large measure, however, by warning her fellow aspirants for golf honors against little failings in the game, delightfully feminine, such as im. patience, overeagerness and flightiness. A chapter on “Impressions of American Golf,” by Miss Rhona K. Adair, Eng- lish and Irish champion, brings to a close a book that is eminently prac- tical, both for the beginner and the adept. (The Baker & Taylor Company, New York; price $2.) H. Irving Hancock’s book on Japan- ese “jiu-jitsu” for women follows close- ly the lines of "his first work on the general aspect of this remarkable muscle forming system of gymnastlcs. The author claims that the eourse he advocates, if followed conscientiously, “will make a weak woman stronger, and will make of any reasonably strong woman one who is the physical peer of any man of her size.” This latter assertion is a pretty strong one, but upon reading Hancock’s outline of “jiu-jitsu,” modified to suit feminine capabilities, one cannot but believe that such a thing is quite possible. In this second work Hancock reviews in prief what he had to say in his pre- vious books upon the basis of Japanese physicial training and then proceeds in detall to elaborate upon the modified application of this training to women. His book could well be used as a text by any one desiring to make prac- tical test of the Japanese theory for bodily upbullding. (G. P. Putnam’'s Sons, price $1 25.) New York; Brief Reviews o f Other Books LTHOUGH the consideration of college publications has not fallen within the province of the book reviewer in the past, the ambitious character of some of thém makes such notice imperative. Notable in- stances of such collegiate effort are the “Blue and Gold” annual of the class of 1905 at the University of Cali- fornia, and the '05 Stanford “Quad.” If size is any merit the recently publish- ed class book at Berkeley must be ac- knowledged the peer of anything that has come from the pens and pencils of college editors and artists, for it has the proportions of an atlas of the world, though far more artistically compiled and printed than the average atlas. The “Blue and Gold” is not an overgrown literary rutabaga, however; its covers, though far apart, are cram- med with sense and nonsense of the typical collegiate keenness. The '05 Stanford “Quad” goes in for gquality strictly. Not half the size of the Berkeley annual, it outranks the “Blue and Gold” conspicuously in point of Iit- erary and artistic merit. The drawings incorporated In the book are particu- larly fine. Editors and thelr staffs of both publications deserve no scant praise for their work. The last historical work of the late Edward Egsleston, the veteran author- ity and writer upon toplcs of American history, appears in the form of a text book for schools—"The New Century History of the Unit 1 States.” Despite the fact that the has condensed his materia) ure of a school text, the beok Lrings gh literary quality a the ad- mirable n used In his select features in var record of our the he hu traced ot cord of the indu; people from the t: wheel up to the trade world of appendix, contair of a hundred men in our history. rounds out th tly sat- isfactory text for grar grade use. (American Book New York; price $1.) iccesstul se- geographical readers iry com- pilation from s. but come prises vivid a of the au- 1 travels. irpenter s a ist, and to his trained and his faculty and picturesque narration. bes "Australia and the chief islands of the world, laying special stress n those which have become colonfes or dependencles of the United States. The children learn about the resources of the various islands, visit their peopl both iIn eity and country, and observe the wonders of plant and animal creatlon. The fllus- trations are numerous and interesting, consisting largely of reproductions of photographs taken by the author. Fif- teen colered maps show plainly all the countries visited. The child of to-day 1s indeed fortunate to have placed in his hands such a fascinating book as this to enliven and {llumine the or- dinarily dry study of geography. (American Book Company, York; price 60c.) New The American Book Company has Is- sued two books under the title “Steps in English,” which must be accepted by educators as being the most prac- tical aids to English composition yet offered for use in grammar grades. These bocks constitute a distinct inno- vation In teaching language In ele- mentary schools which is at once sensi- ble, practical and modern. They teach the child how to express his thoughts in his own language, and do not fur- uish an undue amount of grammar and rules. They mark out the work for the teacher in a clearly defilned man- ner by telling him what to do and when to do it. From the start lessons in writing language are employed simultaneously with those In conver- sation; and plcture study, study of lit- erary selections and letter writing are presented at frequent Intervals. The lessons ara of a proper length and weil graded. The work Is systematically arranged, especially in Book 1. This series is free from the many faults found in other books of a similar na- ture. The work is not based on an antiquated plan, but is particulariy suitéd to modern conditions. If does rot shoot over the heads of puplils, does it show a marked effort in w ing down to the supposed level of young minds. The books do not con- tain too much technical grammar, nor are they filled with sentimental twad- dle and gush. The series will be wel- comed by teachers who are tired of antiquated methods and desire live, up-to-date books. prreii it A Books Received PAMELA CONGREVE, Frances Ay- mar Mathews; Dodd, Mead & Co., New York: illustrated; price $1 50. THE TRANSGRESSION OF AN- DREW VANE, Guy Wetmore Carryl; Henry Holt & Co., New York; price $1 50. THE COST, David Graham Phillips; Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indlanapolls; {llustrated. THE COURT OF BSACHARISSA, Hugh Sheringham and Nevill Meakin the Macmillan Company, New York; price $1 50. HULDAH, Alice Mac Gowan Cooke and Grace Mac Gowan; the Bobbs- Merrill Company, Indianapolis, illus- trated. THE HIGH ROAD, anonymous; Her- bert S. Stone & Co., Chicago. THE SILENT PLACES, Stewart Ed- ward White; McClure, Phillips & Co., New York; illustrated; price $1 50. THE PICAROONS, Gelett Burgess and Wil Irwin; McClure, Phillips & Co., New York; price $1 50. THE QUALITY OF YOUTH, Louis Ewan Shipman: the Scott-Thaw Com- pany, New York; illustrated. A BOOK OF SUNDIAL MOTTOES, Alfred H. Hyatt; the Scott-Thaw Com-~ pany, New York; price $1. TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE, Louis K. Anspacher; Brentano's, New York; price $2. THE MYSTIC MID-REGION, Arthur J. Burdick: G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York; {llustrated by photographs; price $2. LITTLE GARDENS, Charles M. Skinner; D. Appleton & Co., New York; {llustrated: price $1 25. THE HISTORY OF THE NINE. TEENTH CENTURY IN CARICA- TURE, Arthur B. Maurice and Freder- ick T. Cooper; Dodd, Mead & Co., New York; illustrated; price 32 50. CHARM AND COURTESY IN CON- VERSATION, Frances Bennett Calla- way; Dodd, Mead & Co., New York; price 85 cents. MILLENNIAL DAWN—THE NEW CREATION; Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Allegheny, Pa. - OVERLAND TO OREGON, Edward Henry Lennox; published privately at 518 East Eighteenth street, Oakland, Cal.: price $2. A 575 0 sl