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28 It lit useless to pretend to think that nine-tenths of the published books of the day whlrh rome before the critic for notice have anything to say to literature or that their writers are, or wish to be. makers of literature. The great mass of volumes published, and especially of Action, are purely commercial ventures. Most of the wares displayed on the booksellers' coun ters today have as little to do with what has been called literature In the pant as have the contents of the baker's or con fectioner's showrases less, perhaps, since bread and even cake furnish honest nur- Ishment for the body, and might even some day chance to feed a man who was capable of thinking, and so, ultimately, become the physical promoters of thought; whereas the average published book could never under any circumstances play any part whatever In the production of thought, and Is, besides, useless to eat and drink. Some times It happens to have a pretty cover which gives the passer-by in Instant's pleasure, but this Is the whole of Its contribution to human need. It has been made to sell, like the fancy pincush ions at a church fair, but often It does not even fulfill this poor end of being, for, happily, the world will not always buy utterly foolish and futile books, though It does so largely enough to make their man ufacture a profitable mercantile venture to many. The business Is an honorable one, so long as It pretends to be nothing but what It ts, but it Is not the making of literature. At Intervals that seem to the wearied reader something like a thousand years apart, there will bo found In the endless procession of alleged current literature a hook that Is a hook—that Is to say, a book Into which some portion of the writer's heart and soul have been allowed to en cape-a book that Is redolent of person ality. Such a hook may or may not be a work of art also—that Is a matter which depends on other qualities than an au thor's sincerity and generoelty—but It Is sure to be Interesting from start to finish. *fr. Ernest Seton-Thompeon is one of the recently arrived writers who can be de pended upon to write nothing that Is not genuine, and that Is not conceived from • very' Individual standpoint. Nobody else could possibly have written Mr. Thomp son's books, whereas something like half of the writers of the day might draw lots for each other's productions, and the pub lic would never know the difference In the end. Mr. Thompson did not set out to be a literary man. He WHN born a naturalist and artist, and the writing of books came later as a step In the natural evolution of hla personality. While studying art in Paris ha wrote to a friend: "I have spent all the afternoon at the and as I went from one great muster to another and saw all kinds of |)ecullarltles and extremes, yet all result ing lu great pictures, this is the leitson that was Impressed on me more and more: The man who does Immortal work devel ops himself. Here have I, living in Nor wuy, been trying to glow a palm tree be cause 1 saw that African palms were good. And each new frost cut down afresh my poor, puny sprout. My wretched seedling had to contend with a great, strong, frost defying pine that kept springing up. It has only recently dawned upon me that 1 must grow my own pine. It is the tim ber for my soil. Whut a tree I might have had now. had 1 realise! this ten years ago! This is. then, iny theory: I have something which no one else in the world has. It may be a little thing, but it is mine. It Is my pine trre, and I must grow it. If it never exceed s foot In height. It will, at lea*t. he a living thing ' Again, recently, replying to a would-be biographer who wrote; "\N hat are you an artist, a naturalist, a scientist, a writer or what?'* he said "I don't know and don't care I long since gave up try-in* to And out. 1 g«> quietly along my border land way. giving to the world the best 1 can produce without troubling myself to classify or name It.*' The result of this mental attitude Is that Mr. Thompson's bot ks are vital and In dividual. and whether the render care* himself for animals or not makes very lit tie difference to his appreciation of loose about which Mr Thompson writes, for what he really appreciates Is the power, the Insight, th* sympathy and tenderness of the man who Is writing pe<>ple hav« tlrcady male the ac quaintance at V\ ahb, who*o tale was told to msgnsine readers In The Hlography of a Qrlssly." but It may be noted that \Sahb I* more attre< tive tn book form, for the reamm that Mr Thompson s drawings, which are decoratfrvely arranged by Mrs Thompson are better adapted to the wide margins and restful spares of a hock page than to the nec«s**rt)v mote contra ted quarters of a magagino leaf. The lit:;< book gives very strongly the imprest m that h« re is a b»H>k ln<J« ' and, certair.\ since the davs when books were printed and illuminated by hand, there have be. n tew volume tn which the de oration * < s-> perfectly and lovingly a part of t text as In those which this husband and wife have Joined handy to make for u* They seem to be truly "Uvtng thin*.* (**Th# illoiiiajphy of a Onuly By K fi nest Beton-Thomp»>v. The <Vtitur> Com pany x fI.SA. FVr >ate Vy vsman \ Han fordj A very different kind of b ok. which yet re*-embles Mr. Thompson's by reason of Its vitality. Is "The Nerve of Foley." a collection of railroad stories by Frank 11. Spearman. The things that are moat alive to Mr. Spearman's apprehension arc men and steam erigiuea-perhaps one should say roeu in connection with steam engine*, It was Kipling who Arst sang the aong of stream and Introduced the locomotive Into good society, but the loco motive is not. so to speak, Mr. Kipling's best hold, and the suggestion he threw out about the human nature of machinery has been worked up better by others than he has bean able—or ahail we say better SMWaN to 4° *4 ill i SOMB< y IF® man writes capital stories, vivid, plctur esqne, eonclse. exciting They are the best engine-and-englneer stories that have yet been done, and It would seem hard to better them. MRS. FISKE AS BECKY SHARP. < Copyright by 11. 8. fltone & Co. «a ("The Nerve of Foley," by Frank H. i Spearman. Harper A Bros. $1.25. For sale by Lowman & Hanford.) Mr. Marriott-Watson Is one of the ver satile writers who is always doing some thing; new. The bewildered reader can hardly keep track of his picturesque chan ges of style and theme. He has not, as yet. succeeded in bettering "Galloping Dick." one of his earliest and must wor thy successes, but everything that he does commands Interest because of the obvi ous sincerity and enthusiasm which goes Into hl» work. * \ * -* "The Rebel" is a historical novel of a new type. One might call it a realistic ro mance. It is more or less credible, plaus ible. true to human nature. The hero does not perform all kind* of feats at the mo ment they are needed, for the rescue of the heroine, and he Is not inspired to his doughty deeds solely by her lovely face In the first place, he is driven by circum stances into her defense, and afterwards pride and perversity have quite as much to do with his actions as love has. In short, he is a real man. played upon by the complexity of circumstance and mo tive which make life such a different mat ter from romance. For once, such a char acter in fiction Is a refreshing change, but as the thing for which we chiefly love and *«»ek the historical romance is it* unreal ity. it is obvious that Mr Marriott-Wat son must be careful not to repeat his clev er performance. The hero Is a dare-devil nobleman of the court of fharles 11.. one Anthony Cherwvil, who becomes Involved In a quar rel with James Stuart. Duke of York, ind subsequently King of Kngland, who is pur suing the heroine sgainsl her will. There is excitement enough in the story to sat isfy the most avid, and the pictures of t'herwell, the Duke of York and King Charles are vividly drawn. t "The Rebel. ' by H U. Marriott-Wat *»n Harper A Ilros sl.l* Fur by if a man A Hanford > Mr. K_ F Benson is another writer who is still experimenting nith this s Oe of tion ii.d that Itt> . t>« • i fan tastic romance dealing with an imaginary principality and an attempted revolution therein but. happily, it is not quite like all the other tiresome Improvisations upon the «nme theme The Princess 801 hta, of Uhodope, is a confirmed gambler, and | after she opens a beautiful casino ail the ration follows In her footsteps. Her hus band conspires to overthrow the dynasty and usurp the power himself, and the Prime Minister MaUkopf, conspires to i assist the husband up to a certain point. • and then step in and assume the reins ; of government In his own person. Prime i Pftros introduces a bill in his wife's name during her absence, to prohibit ! gambling In Rhodope, and this measure is relied upon to bring about the n.volu j lion. However, the Princess Sophia re turns. after incredible efforts, to disown ' the bill and accuse her husband and her I prime miiUstar of treason in a highly [>il*cUWuU« acuta v-'likb w»u!4 b« very THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER SUNDAY. MAY fi, 1900. effective on the stage. The whole book, Indeed, which is rather futile as n novel, suggests its need of theatrical adjuncts. It would make a comic opera, perhaps, or a fantastic comedy. ("The Princess Sophia." By F. Pen son. $1 25. Harper He Bros. For sale by Lcwman ft Hanford.) <£> -o Max O'Rell's first novel Is prefaced by a little dissertation on French and Kng llsh homes, which Is good enough read ing, but has absolutely nothing to do with the book, except that Bt. John's Wood, I.oiuUm, Is casually referred to In It as a pleasant place to live, and In the second chapter, wherewith the tale be- BECKY: "Do you forgive mc, Amelia?" Copyright by H. S. riUce A Co, I gin*. find the hero and heroine, mar ried artist*, dwelling happily in St. John s ; Wood. There, doubtless, they would have ; continued to dwell In peac* and Indus- ( try. If It had no* occurred to the man to Invent a shell which may be exploded I by winding up a spring any desired nura ! ber of second* after it has been fired. I The Invention brings him money and the J desire to spend It in social display for the 1 laudable purpose of making his wife hap l pl«r, AM hl« *IU to a moderate Income to uncomfortable ex travagance, all kinds of unpleasant thing;? happen to their domestic bliss before the husband learns that St. John's Wood and contentment therewith" is better than Belgravia, even when you can afford it. The moral Is excellent, and the story is sufficiently amusirg. but there I* nothing: about it to indicate that for M. Blouet 13 iwrved one of the magnificent suc cesses in current fiction. ("Woman and Artist." By Max O'Rell. 11.25. Harper St Bros. For sale by Law man & Hanford.) Under the title of "The Picture Bo< k of Becky Sharp" H. S. Stone & Ca publish a souvenir of Mrs. Fiske's brilliant im personation of Thackerey's heroine as ren dered in Langdon Mitchell's play, it con slAs of a brief appreciation of Mrs. Flake's work and ah analysis of each act of the play with excellent illustrations Trom photographs taken for the purpo?»e. I'hoto graphs of stage scenes always se«rn a lit tle hard and unsatisfactory, but the.-e are better than usual—a fact which may be due to the convincing quality of Mrs. Flske's dramatic representations. ("The Picture Book of Becky Sharp " H. S. Stone & Co., 25 cents.) SHOTES AND SKEWS. President Kruger. of the Transvaal, is the subject of a highly picturesque char acter study in Frank I Leslie's Popular Monthly for May, entitled "Oom Paul; a Living legend." The sketch include a prepossessing account of "Auntie ivmger," the president's wife, and is illustrated with some unique portraits. Ethel West also gives some racy extracts "From the Diary of Tant* Anneitje, of Hcogte Kloof, Trans vaal." The initial number of a new religious periodical. The Pacific Catholic, an Illus trated monthly home mapazlne, published in Seattle, has Just made Its appearance. It is very attractively gotten up and con tains, among other interesting matter, an article by Seumas McManufi entitled "With My Kin in America." Herrmann, the famous sleight-of-hand performer, was assisted In all his perform ances by his wife, Madame Herrmann, also an adept in magic, who in the June Wo man's Home Companion is to explain a number of interesting tricks which tan easily be used in parlor entertainments. "One Way to See the Paris Exposition." says Mrs. Pennell in the May New Lip pincott, "Is on a bicycle." She Includes the lovely suburbs of Paris, and gtvee, an itinerary of many famous chateaux and artists' retreats. The paper gives useful di rections for entering France with a wheel. Little. Brown Co. published, April 2S, "Empress Octavia," a romannoe of the of Nero, by Wilhelm Walloth, au thor of "The King's Treasure House." etc. The work is translated from the German by Mary J. Safford. Nero and the various members of his court—Petro nius, Seneca, Tigellinus, Poppaea Sablna, and others—are introduced, and also the Kmpress Octavia. whose love for a young Greek sculptor forms the theme of the story. Ernest Seton-Thompson, popularly known as "Wolf" Thompson, the friend of wild x.nlmals and author of "The Biography of a Grizzly," has be come a popular lecturer. Mr. Thomp son says that his leaving Mani toba for New York was due to an order for over a thousand drawings of birds and animals, to illustrate the Cen tury dictionary. On finishing this task# ten years ago, he went immediately to Paris, where his first lecture—a sleeping wolf—was given a conspicuous place "on the line" at the Salon. The writing of his "Grizzly'* book twhich appeared first in the Century) Is said to have been prompt ed by Rudyard Kipling, who had listened with breathless Interest to its relation at the dinner table of a mutual friend. A sprigs of true stories of travel by Har riet Prescott Spofford will appear In the Youths Companion during the month of May. They tell of some unexpected en- counters of American travelers with Old , World royalties. I "The Karrin*dons" is the title chosen by Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler for her new novel, which is to be published im mediately by D. Appleton A Co. It is said by those who have seen the manu script that the new book represents a dis tinct advance in interest and force upon even 'Concerning Isabel Camaby" and "A WuuUis Jhttad," The Jiceuu vX ' Xhe Far imTZircia 1 Wlll * n * r,nt,>e that my Kidney Core Jp.L'jMpM 79 will cure W rrr cent. of all forms of kidney Jlr MS complaint and In aH manr lnstancea the vV most serious forma of Brlght's disease. If v / the disease la com- V a plicated send a four jWL TSC ounce rial of urine W We will analjae It WP «nd advise jou Xree ' I I Wr what to do. « I r IHTNYOW. At all druinrla «. I3e. a rial n .ta» to Healti and ro'riVal s<l v -<r-<v 1?*".", Ar< .] »t.. rbilt □nnnEnm rlngdons" is understood to be laid partly in the Black Country, England, and part ly in London, and the contrasts of types are said to be most vividly expressed. No American resident in Paris is better or more widely known that Miss Kathar ine DeForest, who has long been a corre spondent there, chiefly of Harper's Ba zar. Miss DeForest recently made a visit to the United States, and while her« §ho consented to write the results of long study of the French capital—the people, the city and its institutions. "There are more facts, more good stories, more an ecdotes about famous people and histori cal places, and a clearer insight into French life in this book,*' said a well informed man who has read the advance sheets, "that has ever before been packed within the same compass." The volume will be profusely illustrated with new pic tures. The contents of "Paris as It la" are divided into three great sections, "The Life, the People;" "The Rulers of Paris" and "The Art Life and Its Institutions." The book will appear forthwith from the press of Doubleday, Page &. Co. AMKHIt'AX LIBRARY OF MANILA. One to lie F<MIIMI«»«1 111 Honor and for llenettt of American Military. In November. 1890. a number of the rep resentative people of California formed an association for the establishment of a li brary in Manila, Philippine Islands, to be called "The American Library." Mrs. C. R. Greenleaf. then about to sail for Ma nila, was appointed the director of this library. After her arrival in Manila sev eral Informal meetings were held of all interested In this proposed institution, and in due time the following officers were elected: Mrs. C. R. Greenleaf. director; Mrs. K. If. Liscum. first vice director; Mrs. J. H. Page, second vice director; Mrs. F. R. Day, eorresponding secretary; Mrs. Eg bert, associate corresponding secretary; Dr. E. W. I*inkham. recording secretary; the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, treasurer, and Mrs. Egbert (wlilow of Col. Egbert), librarian. The founders contemplated a library es tablished upon the broadest lines and op erated by such methods as shall be con sistent with Its paramount American pur pose. While primarily in honor and for the benefit of men connected with the American military and naval forces In these islands. Its doors will be flung not less widely open to all citizens and so journers In this city who cheerfully con form to its rational regulations. The co operation of the best business and pro fessional men of Manila and other cities of the Philippines is not only admissible, but highly desirable, and Is accordingly solicited. The organizing patrons will gladly accept proffers of assistance or sup port from the civil public, and men of rec ognized commercial or professional stand ing will be chosen among the directors and trustees. It Is further proposed that no church or denomination shall ever secure controf of this library, dictate its policy or proscribe Its literature. Thought gathered from every domain of research and experience will find here a medium of expression. Questions of morals and expediency ehall be referable to Its board of directors, and politics shall not enter into Its manage ment. Societies and newspapers are invited to open popular subscriptions to this fund. Address American 1-ibrary of Manila, P. I. Checks and drafts may lie sent to Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpora tion. treasurer. HerltAKe. (Suggeste'd by reading Drummond's "Ascent of Man.") When the first man and woman had left the seclusion of the Oarden, crossed the river of Possibility, and stood upon the shore of Time, ready for their onward Journey towards Posterity, the Angel of Oniortunltj appeared to them and said: ' Man. make a prayer to Nature and Jjfe. Petition wisely, for whatsoever you Quk shall be the heritage of your sex for ever.' And the man thought and thought, then, looking up at the glowing sun, exi lalmed: "() Nature, do not thrust your greatest throes upon me, nor persist In making me r< member pain." The Migei said to the woman, "Pray thou filwi with wisdom." As the woman bent low her head the softly said "(■ Niture. do not allow me to grots CHIIOUS nor empty. Hold me close to the Joys, so few. the sorrows, so many, that J may gain strength from each." Again the Angel bade the man pray, and once more he *u>od and looked to watds the glowing sun. saying: "O I.lfe, give me Jqy and pleasure. l>o not unload tip >r. roe the sorrows of others, do not open ray eyes to pang* I cannot asuuage Give me sw»et* and the power to eaat aslda regret." "Sister." said the Angel, "pray." The woman bent still lower and In a softer voice uttered her r*"'ttlon; "O Lift, do not takv away from me Ihe memory of aorrvw. the ,-tnell holding the kernel of Jo; do not allow me to become blind tt> the debt I owe others. Make roe tender; »...••« wom.t:i « portion, pain that 1 may attain my full stature." And that the Ar.gel * promise might be redeemed, from tha hour there was Im planted In than the "veiroasterln* love of pleasure, and engrafted In the heart of noman the un lying Instincts of mother hood. George Iwnton Cantleld In the April New l.lpplnc 'tt. Willi ri a Can arran« these fourteen *9 '. :rm Jl . * ■T* Uad' If- SO VOL MAY iJLjfl SHARE IN TUB DI.SIRIHI TION ** OF THE fIOOOUMIUI WE ARF: JIJ GIVING AWAY far doing a little w r» ? *-* In arra ing tKe letter* JgJkJ v*e t'.ern "-JT.IY 4■» r„»r . time* as they Appear* IDO le'ier be v-sed which DUE* « '•• ' 1 NEW YORK srOK\ MAGAZINES into eery home in the United tales and < aoada IK) NOT W ANT ONE CENT Of > OUR MONEY, vour eolation to u» plainly written en a j»tal card »:th yon* ad ii T aa» a Iwii and will from c» by RfiTLRN MAIL. STICK TO IT AND TRY AND GET YOi R SM ARE Of 3 THE A tori of thia celebrated NEW YORK MONTHLY MAGAZINE WILL Ht; SENT FREE to every one answering ■ 5- is Advertisement. Do not delay. Send ■ Ire as THE Bt> ARAGON Ml BUSH INO CO.. 22 North fl William Street. New York Ctty KNOW THY FUTURE, <PS YCHO-CLAIR VO YANCE Consult Prof. Ford Baker, the World's Famous and Grtafcg , Clairvoyant and Spirit Medium. HHV i^ilß 4s a Test In the Readlni He Will Tell Tm Tear Name, Afe, 0t» patlen, When and When Yea WHI Harry. Tour future In correctly foretold by this remarkable man. whbse career hu been one of success. fitted by nature with a power that approaches the mine* loun. He la acknowledged to be the marvel of the Nineteenth I'enturv. fnt Haker 1* a prophet of world-wide repute; Is recommended by every one of Mi patron* Ifl» powers excite the wonder and admiration of even the akaptttZ i Ilia advice !» Infallible, convincing and beyond dispute. Through hi* remarkaMi development of second sight and his thorough knowledge of the many WIMMN peculiar to the men of the Orient, he Is enabled to penetrate the woof and wit of human life. Year Wish and Object In Ufa Can Be Attained, A Secret Yw Shoald Knew. The Power to Central. Cencerntai Business Affairs. He gives dates, facts and figures, reliable and Important advlca and tnftg.-- tlon on all matters of Interest In business transactions, law suits, toMeaHa wills, life Insurance, damage suits, divorces, deeds, mortgages, claims, ralleo Hons, speculations, adventures, gold mining stocks and all financial difficultly LOVE OR COURTSHIP. If affair* of the heart or emotion* of love Interest you, he jrlves exact and truthful revelations of all love affair*, settle* 'over** quarrel*, enables yo« to win the esteem and affection of any one you desire. causea speedy and happy marriages; tells If the one you love is true; also date of marriage; restores toil affections, peace and confidence to lover* and discordant famiiie*; Rives yoa the full secret; how to control, fascinate and charm the one you love, alao tbon you meet, and how to make a person at ft distance think of you. He Will Pesltlvely Refuse to Accent Any Fee Unless Yen Find Ms Superior te Any Median. Palmist er Clairvoyant ID This City, and Receive Perfect Satisfaction and the Information Yen Deslra. All business sacred and confidential. Maid In attendance. Office houfi 10 a. m. to 8 p. m: dally and Sunday. Charges Reduced to Half Price for Four Days. OfflCE AT THE OCCIDENTAL HOTEL. Third Avenue ind Cherry Street HOMME @ ©©NRFWTTS 20,000 Welsbach Lamps, 2,500 Gas 'Ranges, 1,000 Gas Heaters -INDAILY USE Snffie Gas M Electric Go., 214-216 CHERRY ST. : IWORAN BROS. COMPANY, I j Sn.u?' Engine and Ship Bylkkfr I MB LEVY 8 CO., XO . 111 First Av. South, I Ivrry-IiCBBj liulldlng. ' # mpoctef* and Jobber* of Mam 57. i : CIGARS AND TOBACCO. SMOKERS' ARTICLES. ETC.; ••MSH FORBES DRY PLATES The very bent on the market. Price* reasonable and having received the <»- elusive wholesale ««pn ry for Washington we CUI make It an Inducement to denier* *nrl professional photographer* to ose them. A.nderson Supply Co., Wlio.#u;« tad rAMtIAS 4^D retail Lh»*l«i lo W PHOIO MKXIS. 11l Cherry Street Seattle FOR OVKH riKTV YEARS. An Old and W«?Jl-Trt*d Remedy. Mm. VV inflow > HoutUiii* ftjrup bti be**» u*«d f o*>r Fiftj Y«*m bjr \liiliuo* 4 Mother* f<* tlwtir 'hildrt-u while Teethlug. wiUj succewi. It *o<xlie» the < hUd, v.fttu# the Gum*, *ll* v* all pftln. rtxrat Wjni Colic. ktul it th« bost r*m«dr lot I>i*rrfeo«fc. Hold t>!» dmggiti* in rtenr at tb« world, llm »ur* and a-k for Ma Wln»k>w'i 6oothinf Hfnjp, and Uki uo outer ki*d. Tweni|-ft«e Cents a HutUc. HOTtL BUTLER ***""' ■.attlw-s CAFE AND T Ur«t(l and GRILL £o»ir HOG® X Kar.pe.. + flmm »!-«.« NECTIOK « »H++++++++++t w<m*Wi i wiinsgai A It* moved from 410 Occidental A** i to 801-8-»-?-» First Ave. South. J I>». Miles' A ntl-l'al* PUU. A Quick. Bafe and Sure Relief f«* or Nervous Headache. Ba kacbe. **F ach Fain*. Neuralgia. Nervousne**. 'r tablUty. Sleeplessness. UhcumatlaßW J i atlca. Contain no opium .ir morphia* *| i leave no bad after-effocta. » do*** Al diogKtaUk