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The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, August 25, 1901, Image 4

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Frolics of the A B C.
This dainty nursery book from the press
of Laird & Lee is the joint effort of Fan
nie E. Ostrander. the children's favorite
poet, and R. W. Hirchert, the talented
illustrator. Ihe author and designer of
"Baby Goose; His Adventures," the great
success of last year's Christmas season,
whose popularity has been crowing ever
since. The "Frolics of the ABC" is ot
course an alphabet- book, but in scope,
contents and make-up it Is radically dif
ferent from the hackneyed works of the
kind. Every letter Is represented here as
a tiny sprite, whose adventures, are told
In clever, witty and easily remembered
jingles. The special merit of the book is
its simplicity and its, purity of .diction
which renders it ' so quickly understood.
y N speaking of Hall Caine's novel ' - Tbe
I Eternal City," which/ the .Appletons
|i are to publish early , in September.
Nuova Antologia, published in Rom!,
says: ! • .-' ¦¦ ;- . ¦. ' ¦'¦¦¦¦- .'• , : ".
"Hall Caine, the great'English novelist,
author of 'The, Christian,' has. begun the
publication of . his .new romance;' 'The
Eternal City,' inspired' by Rome, in '.wo
magazines, one English and one Ameri
can. ' / ' .
"The open letter which Mr. Caine'ad
dressed "to the'* American public explains
his new romance, the title'he has glver.'it.
the way in .which it was developed and in
spired. The third Italy seems. every : day:
to attract more attention,' from foreigners^
and Hall ' Caine !has dedicated his new
romance to Rome, 'The; Eternal: City,'
and has animated.lt with a vast civil *an«l
social conception. * 'The -force* which: In
the past century has most vigorously, as
serted itself is the.power of the . peoples,
wide, liberal! democratic. In contrast with
the absolute power of thekings: but over
the new power" that '-has destroyed the
reality of • absolutism ' continues the ¦ pomp
and ostentation of the old order of thitigs,
and not only continues, but dally attempts
to gain new ylgor.'a resurrection, by thre'e
systems,* -in': which "Hall Caine . ; - recog
nizes the reincarnation j of the : Philistines
against that modern Samson which Is tho
right of the people— imperialism^ militar
ism, and the question -of the temporal
power. > ; :'¦ ¦ . ." : > ¦'.:¦ ' : •' , - ;; ." : >,>-! . ; . ;
."The strugglet ls-a hard one; but Hall
Caine is' sure that the struggle which be-
gan in the last 'century. will- go on and end
In this century— !n^the ultimate" triumph'
of the will of the pe'ople over, ths absolute
wills tha.t until now have restrain ed and
dominated it. _We must remember that in!
the letter addressed. to the American pub
lic the invective against imperialism is not
without immediate '.reasons,':; although, in
the republican system .the monopoly of
capital and the concentration ".of v riches
hold, in opposition to the rights of the
people, the place which in old. Europe. the
right:' of Tnonarchs-. arid-; absolute sover
eignty, held. Against this state of thinars
Christian 'democracy! ought ' to - oppose it
self, s and with : that democracy" oughts to
come . to l a j compact with . the . church, be
: cause, it Is ' certain that , if the church will
not . go' with> the* people the people ¦ .will
go on without the church. Rome Is the
metropolis of the Christian:. world,,, not
only by reason -of its religious connections
but also by, reason of. its. geographical po
sition, its - history." its glorious ..tradition 1 ?;
the fascination ofjts art," arid the mystery
of eternal life that -'.and ;' sur
rounds :it.' ¦' Rome seems to Mr. | Hall ; Caine'
r th"e only city; worthy, "in the 'dawn "of an
immense social revolution,' to be the heart
and soul of ; humanity, renewing, itself .'ln~
hopes, and : aspirations 'now. and.promis
ing in the future .'pacific civil v arid moral
!glory.^ ' , V,. '
v.'"Ro"me, therefore. ' is -the' scene of \ the
new novel;;In Rpme'ls.theinterest: of. the
problem andof ¦ the. narration.' doublyVac-'
centuated-ViRomalB also the name of: the
heroine of the love story,' one of those
What the ROMANS HAVE TO SAY OF HALL CAINE'S
LATEST NOVEL. "THE ETERNAL CITY"
fatal : women --who- in * all frreat ases and
great countries ssem to he the truest in
carnation of a great syrabollcal name.
C "The analysis of the' letters of the hero
and heroine (letters of' friendship as well
as of .love, for Roma says 'friendship Is
the surest .part' of love') ought to be very
interesting. VThose of . Roma- mingle the
sweet womanliness of the Italian with the
strength, and perhaps a little of the
flerceness'and austerity of expression and
sentiment of Hhe North. ¦ Rossi's letters
mlghf.be^'; called.'. 'magisterial.' -- but. it Is
•no excessive praise to say that they are
profoundly, felt. ,.
"In* rapid touches.' sharp lines, short
paragraphs, weV'flnd.' all r Rome in Mr.-
Caine's work— the well-known streets, the
delightful I color effects,- the; dark nights,
thebrown outline of. the buildings against
the azure sky; or inithe twilight: -the can
non : of St.'Angelo,. the ,' joyful chorus of
the bells that, animate and brighten tho
midday; ; ; Piazza * Navona; and
magnificent,^ with its. papal . relics: the
roses on. the; Piazza' diSpagna^ the sweet
music . of ,the;- Benediction j at " Trinlta de
Monti: the 'shiver that passes over the
desolate: Campagna ; at sunset: the Via
Appia. shining: Inithe sun;. Tivoli and Pal
estrina-; shrouded ', in a purple haze in- the
distance,; the vapors rising in the evening
from the grass arid herbs of the plain
slumbering in silence ;-' the •' cupolas and
towers, crowned .by; the 'flame that in the
evening surrounds the great city. All thi3
HRll'Calne. <the 'foreign . author, > has
known ;* and V loved ¦ just ¦ as ¦ we who are
Romans : know and love it." ' .' ' \ *•
"I- will . tell you why - 1 " do not care to
be interviewed. I was • interviewed once"
(and the usualfy" reflective hazel eyes took
on a more fiery look) "in - America, and
the result nearly ruined my health as well
as: my ieputation. But here I feel safer,
and" naturally I don't mind a jar or two—
but» no interview. If -. I did my writing
drunk, or wrote standing on my head, that
would no doubt Interest -an • Interviewer.
But I have; "no peculiarity; of the kind."
he said, in English, which nad no trace
"No, -I will not be interviewed about
.my book, or, Indeed, at all," said Bret
Harte to :a correspondent: "but I don't
I mind tilling -you why .1 object to being
interviewed." And he • stood up— a
medium-sized, broad-shouldered figure of
a man, with gray mustache and volumin
ous'gray hair framing a healthy, red
brown complexion.-"
Mrs. M. E. W. Sherwood writes enter
tainingly on the subject of divorce under
the title of "Untying the Knot." Mrs.
Flora Blgelow Dodge, a sister of Poultney
Blgelow. is the author of a brilliant and
humorous society satire entitled "Mrs.
Mack's Example." while. Edgar Saltu*
writes another of his pyrotechnic essays
entitled "The Pomps of Satan." One of.
the strongest stories in the number Is
"The Price of Honor.", by Lloyd Osbourae,
and Prince Vladimir Vaniatsky contrib
utes a strange tale called "The Queen of
the Far Country." Other features of this
issue are: '"Underbrush," a mystery of
the woods, by Julien Gordon (Mrs. Van
Bensselaef Cruger): "His Prophylactic
Flirtation." the wooing of . a delightful
Duchess, by Guy Somerville: "The Trans
rnogrification of Dan," a San Francisco
story, by H. J. "W.. Dam: "Brocton . Mott,
Realist." a $100 prize story, by Kate Jor
dan: "The Companion to Virtue," by Ger
trude F. Lynch, and '!The Picture Over
the Mantel," an idyllic love story of Paris,
tey Justus ' Miles Forman. The leading
poems are: "The "Wish That Came True,"
by Guy Wetmore Carryl; "Twilight In
the City." by Clinton Scollard; "Mario
nettes." by Theodosia Garrison; "Com
pensation," by Paul Laurence Dunbar;
"The -Supreme Hour," by Madison Ca
wein, and "Fulfillment," by Duffleld Os
borne.
The September number'of the Smart 3et
opens with an amusing novelette by Caro
line Duer. entitled "A New Bonnet for
Mary." ; The adventures of the ingenuous
and unconventional heroine, a society
heiress.. -who assumes to be a dressmak
er's assistant for sweet charity's sake
and dramatically assists in the recovery
of a large quantity of stolen gems* are di
verting to a degree.
His .Int?r"3te .friends, as well as some
nt his cr!t!cs. refuse to believe that he is
»»«* cynical as his "Crankisms" would give
the lmpres-sion.- one of the said friends
rpvirtg Informed him that he is "a
delicious fraud."
In addition to his regular -work Mr.
Matthewman* is* a contributor to the
Literary Era. the Smart Set. the Pitts
burg Dispatch and other journals and
magazines.- As a composer of songs and
hymn tunes he is also well known. His
setting of Rudyard Kipling's "Reces
sional." which Is shortly to be published,
has been highly snoken of by musicians
to whom It was submitted.
Books Received.
FROLICS OK THE A B. C— By Fannie O.
Ostrander and R. W. Hlrchert. Laird ft Lee,
Chicaeo. 73 cents.
SISTER TERESA— By George Moore. J. B.
Llppincott Company. Philadelphia. $150.
SHE STANDS ALONE— By Mark Asbton. L.
C. Page& Co.. Boston. JIM.
MANASSEH— By Maurus Jokai. I* C. Pass
St Co.. Boston. $1 60.
STJMNT SOUTHERNER— By Julia Masruder.
It. C. Page & Co.'. Boston. Jl 25. ' '-' ¦
THE CORSAIR KING— By Ma'urus Jokai. ifc
C. Paere A Co.. Boston. $1.
ANTONIA- By Jessie Van Zlle Belden. %
C. Page & Co.. Boston. $150. rV- ':
THE COST OF HER PRIDE— By Mrs. Ale*
ander. J. B. Llppincott Company, Philadel
phia. In caper, SO cents.
"£19,000" — By Burford Delannoy. R. V. Fen
no & Co.. New ToTk. $1 25.
WHEN A WITCH 13 YOUNG— By *-l>-«9.
R. F. Fenno & Co.. New York. $1 50.
THE CRYSTAL. SCEPTER— By Philip Verrtll
Mighels. R. I". Fenno &. Co.. New York. $1 50.
A Daughter of Ne-nr Francs.
Mary Catherine Crowley has taken an
Interesting epoch of history as a setting
for her story. "A Daughter of. New
France" — Quebec and later the founding
of the American city of Detroit at the
end of the seventeenth and the beginning
of the eighteenth centuries. The. book Is
not of the red-handed melodramatic or
der, but is written with a care for exist
ing facts of that time and a careful re
gard for consistency of plot.
The greater part of the story c^a 1 * vrith
the parly French settlement of Detroit
by the gallant Sieur Cadillac. There in
rnouph of Indian "warfare, fights with tho
British and local conspiracies to give the
reauislte dash for a mild un"-to-date his
torical novel.' To further heighten the
dramatic coloring, the author introduces a
seeress and a mysterious red dwarf, who
play no Insignificant part in the destinies
of the principal characters.
The main interest centers In the lov-p
of Normand and Barbe. The-vonnz man
has the usual stupidity of a certain class
of lovers -in fiction, for he loves and v«t
cannot believe that he is loved in return.
The author even has to marry Barbe off,
then kill her husband Immediately aftor
the wedding, and then bring up two .or
three ¦ more lovers as a menace to the
faithful though slow Normand before h<»
finally realizes that Barbe has ever been
his at heart. The book is well written
and several strong scenes are laid out,
but not brought to skillful consummation
—they seem lacking in climax.
*'A Daughter of New France" Is of more
value as a pretty picture of those early
days In French-Canadian history than it
Is as a romance, consequently its sales
are apt to be limited. It lacks Just those
points which have put "The Crisis." "The
Puppet Crown." ' ".The Helmet of .Na
varre" and "The Heritage of Unrest"
among the best selling books of the year.
(Published by Little, Brown & Co., Bos
ton. Price $1 50.)
threadbare. A small leather cap protected
his n<?£id. and a short, Spanish blue cloak
his body, while his feet arid leg? were
eneaspd in high dragoon Loots. long Ignor
ant of polish or blacking, ..and ••which
reached to his knees."' : --
Lisle de Vaux Matthewmnn. the author
of "Crank'srn's." published by Honrv T.
Coates & Co.. has for the past- year h«en
enraced as Utera-v editor of the PhHa
o>'phia Evening Telegranh. for which
par p r. he has nlso conducted a t,opulf»r
'•n'r"--; under '.he title "Thp "Whirl of -the
World." Lender writing a^d dramatic
.YrHiciPm have also come with'n his scope.
He- is, informed, he says, that he was
horn 1 In 18r7. but thinks that the records
have t>eentamufred with. for. as a' man Is
as old as he fe^s. and h<> feels fifty-five.
it follows that he must have been born
about lS4fi. He acknowledges that he first
¦ saw the* light in England, although 'most
- of the past fourteen years have been
spent: in ether, countries, .He is a jack
¦ of ¦" • many, O.trades. having been school
'teacher/ lecturer.' free, lance journalist.
etc.— the etc. covering a multitude of oc
cupations. As newspaperman he feels
that he has sunk to his natural, normal
level. Writing came easily to- him after
' he had, as he puts it. "sweat blood for
fifteen years" in studying style and In
training himself to write what he meant.
of an American accent. "T write because
I like It; that's about all I can say."
"You see. my father was a professor
of Greek, so that my atmosphere was
more or less literary right from the be
ginning. I had from my earliest boyhood
a love of reading, which, as I grew elder,
led to a love of study of various subjects.
This presently developed into a fondness
for -writing. And I wrote, as everybody
with literary instincts writes, because he
is Impelled to do so. My first success was
with 'The Luck of Roaring Camp.* Never
•wan such a sensation, . .
"I cpuldn't get it published In America,
not even In California; It was thought to
be too realistic by the intellectual Puri
tans. So (as I was never worried. | as so
many poor authors are. by want : of
means) I published '.t on my own account.
The success was unprecedented. I had
forced my way against all prejudice." and
a look of prlda» illuminated Bret Harte'a
sensitive features. "And now that I am
getting old I feel that I am doing my best
work. I have more skill and confidence
than when I was in callow youth: I have
now a command over my instrument
which I had not then. To say that a
man's best work Is done In youth is ths
greatest mistake: does it not seem obvious
that the more you practice a trade th»
more you must know about it?"— London
Mainly About People.
nent scientists, of the later nineteenth cen
tury. Like Huxley.. Dnrwln, Tyndall nnd '
Spencer. Professor Lo Conte pave his im
portant books to the tvnrld through the
publishing house of D. Apploton &
Co.. -who have issued, his "Elements
of Geology," "Evolution and Its Relation
to Religious Thought.'" "Religion and :
Science," "Sight" and his "Comparative
Physiology and Morpholo^rv of Animals."
-All these books, especially the author's
¦brilliant discussions' of the relations of;,
science and" religion, have, attracted wide
attention, and they remain in constant
demand. Professor Le Cpnte's ''f'^tion.
tose'epee was happily accompan'M *>y a
singularly lucid manner of . expression
which has imparted a' peculiar value to
the literary rcsults"of ' his scientific la
bors. As an Investigator and an expositor
he gained exceptional distinction. • • j .
General W. W. H. Davis -in his. article.
"Jackson at New Orleans."' in the August
Literary Era. quotes Alexander Walker's
description of Jackson's appearance when
he arrived at New Orleans:. ¦; / .. . ,
"His complexion was sallow, "and ' un
healthy, his hair iron-, gray, his', body
emaciated, like one just recovering from a
lingering and painful sickness. But the
fierce' glare of his -bright and hawk like
eye* , betrayed 'a ' soul- and-.spirit < that
triumphed over the infirmities of.- the
body. His dnjf.s was simple and nearly
Masters of Music.
An admirable book for music lovers Is
"Masters of Music." by Anna Alice
Chapin. It. cannot fail to appeal to all
interested in musical literature., for. It is
so concise and yet so full of facts. In"
brief M!ss Chapin gives biographies of all
the great composers and a characteriza
tion of their work.
Naturally the first name to rank with
the "masters" is that of Giovanni Pier
lulgi da Palestrina. "the Raphael of
music." who possessed the inspired genius
of music in sunny Ttaly of. the latter par*
of the sixteenth century. He was, and
Is. Justly considered the master of church
music.
Then, came Alessandro Scarlatti, 1643. of
whom comparatively little Is known— the
man who wa3 one of the founders of
symphonic and of operatic music and
also tHe forerunner of Gluck and Mozart.
Next to carve his name as one of genius
was George Friedrlch Handel, whose
music and name are both more familiar
to us to the present t day. s Then Miss
Chapln gives the life*of John -Seciastlrin
Bach, who. as the says, is justly entitled
to be*called "the greatest of all masters:
one of the musical heroes, before whom
•we how our he^ds in homage." -
Next she tells us the story of Bene
detto Marcello. who "has been called the
Titian and the Veronese of music, for
•what they have done with visible colors
In representing the vast Venetian spirit
he 'has done with subtle and expressive
shades of sound." Pergolese. Gluck and
Haydn all receive due space and then
she tells us* in an Interesting way 'of the
life and work of Mozart, that musical
marvel who accomplished so much in the
brief period of a life of Cii years. .
All the great masters receive due con
sideration In chronological order—Beeth
ove^n. Weber. Meyerbeer. Rossini. Schu
r-ert. Ber!!oz. Chopin. Mendelssohn.. Bar
tholdy. Schumann. Liszt and Wagner.
After every biography is given a list of
the composer's most famous compositions
and interesting notes concerning them.
Miss Chapin's. book will doubtless find a
place in the library of every one who has
a regard for good musical literature. She
writes in perfect sympathy with her sub
ject and with a knowledge only acauired
by close and careful study. (Published
by Dodd, Mead & Co., New York. Price
n so.) . „ .
;'._To Proressor Morris Jastrow Jr. has
ceen assigned the department of the Bi
ble, a subject to which he has made valu
able'contributions. -Dr. Kaufmann Koh
ler. the eminent rabbi of Temple Beth-El,
is In; charge. of the departments of the
"ology and philosophy. Professor Crawford
H. Toy of Harvard University, whose
studies on the religion of Israel and the
relations of Judaism to Christianity are
well known, superintends the departments
of Hebrew philology and Hellenistic liter
ature.
' Dr. Singer, who, as has been said above,
Is the originator of this enterprise, is
managing editor and also has charge of
the department of modern biography. Dr.
F. de Sola Mendes conducts the work of
: T.i raclljf ate as well ns to expedite *>«
work of preparation several boards of ed-
Uor= have been formed, and unrl«T the di-
The work te to be the joint product of
more' than four hundred scholars and
specialists. Amor.;? them are such well
known writers, and students as Solomon
Schechter. William Bacher, David Gunz
burg.- A. Harkavy, Moritz 'Lazarus, L.ud
wicr Stein, israel Abraham/, and I. Zang
yrfll. * '¦ , .
JThla '; first volume can; safely be taken
afe an Index pt the .rest that are to fol
low. It presents in an. attractive form a
descriptive record -of 'the history.- religion,
literature and customs of the Jewish peo
ple" from the earliest times to the present
day. .' .; ¦ • '"¦-; • '. : . ¦
Literary Notes.
General Francis V. Greene, whose nar
rative history of "The* United States
Army" begins in '"the September Scrib
ner's, was, it will be recalled, the gen
eral who received the surrender of Ma
nila. Members of his family' have taken
part in every war of this country. , One
of his collateral ancestors was -General
Nathaniel Greene of the Revolution and
his father was General George S. Gj«>ene
of 'the. Civil "U^ar. He himself is a West
Pointer of the class of '70..' : "
The Century Company will Issue in the
putumn "Memories of a 'Musical -Lif e.". by
Dr. William Mason, the dean of his pro
fession In America. Dr.' Mason's musical
experiences began over , fifty years ago.
s>nd his book contains reminiscences of.,
Meyerbper. Schumann. Moschelles. YTag
ner and Liszt (with whom he studied), as
well as of the moderns, Rubinstein,. Von-
P-ulow. Padprpwskl. and many others."
The basis of the book appeared In. the
Century Magazine; but Dr. Mason
made many additions, rounding out 'the
story of his interesting life. The illustra-.
tlons •will Include notable reproductions*
from an auto<?ranh book which Dr. Mason
has kept for many years.
It Is said thnt the cost of bringing this
work to completion will closely approxi
mate three-quarters of a million dollars."
xn«r iwaiviuK ui n iviarcninneps. ¦-. oy
Frances ; TIod»rson..-iBurrjetri • Tv-hich fs- at
tractirr: attention In the 'Cennirv Maga
7<ne.' !s to.be. illustrated: 1 and decorated
in a d.i'nty and appropriate manner by
<""."*"». "Williams and A.'. K. Womrath. and
is to be offered to the" public In book
form in September next.
There are to be several full-page Ilhis
tratinnp. In two colors, pfter rlrawtngs by
Mr. Williams, while Mr. Womrath ' is
preparing tho title page, contents, head
pierc-s. and tail pieces, ornamental In
itials, cover llnin.es. etc.. as well as the
design for the cover. It willbe publish
ed by Frederick A. Stokes Company. -
work. -Dr. f Isidore
Sfng'er/sp ( ent ten years' of his" life !n 'col-'
lectl'ng material, but could: find no'pub
lisher .in Europe' ¦willing to • embark in ..so
great an ' r undertaking. ' Finally .he suc
ceeded In ' interesting Funk \ & Wagnalls
and they^announced. themselves as willing
to risk the capital necessary, to .launch
such a stupendous enterprise. Dr. Singer
Is an Austrian by birth and is a/linguist
of exceptional ability. He began his pub
lic career as secretary, arid librarian to
the French Embassador at the court of
Vienna, the , late Count Foucher de Careil,
whom he followed to Paris.. ' .
Amonsr the several books of fiction
which Messrs. A. -C. McClurg & Co. an
nounce -for the fall season are. a new
story by George Horton. the scene of
which is laid, as was that of his "Like
Another Helen." in Greece: a stirring his
tor)<-al romance bv a. new wr't^r. Cherlton
Andrews. entitled. "A. Parfit Gentil
Knight." rfealinef with life In tho reiern of
Charles TX of France: and "Lady Lee,"
a remarkable collection of stories .of
horses and other domestic animals, writ
ten from the same standpoint as was
"Black Beauty." and giving a new lnslerht
into the character and mental attributes
of our dumb companions;
Rpaders of that fascinating story. "The
Puppet Crown." Wll he ,inter<*sterl In
learning that the little town" 'of Bleiherg
is real. It Is not on -the n"fip under -the
name Mr. MacGrath has chosen to give
it. Anoldstein Is there, and it Is in this
ancient and picturesque city, masquer
ading under another name, that; Fitzerer
aid stepped frorri a second-class carriage
one fine September morning. The hero.
Maurice Carew, has his counterpart In
MncGrath's 'list of friends, and many of
the incidents that contribute to the lively
action of the story are said to be based
on fact. One of these Is ' the unfought
battle where two great armies are drawn
up !n fighting line. The soldiers of one,
refusing to Obey the^commarifis of their
officers, surrender to , the enemy. ; \.
Professor Joseph .Le.Conte was' one of
the earliest . A,mericar» students , under
Aga^siz. and lie became one. of the -most
conspicuous figures among the mjmy eml-
J DEVLIN— BOSS" is a book that
should soon take Its place among
e the best sellers of the day. It has
in It all that goes to make a popu
lar novel, besides a certain originality of
Theme that all of the popular novels do
not possess.
Mr. Francis Churchill Williams gives
his work the further title of "A Romance
of American Politics." The title of Mr.
Williams' book has a certain amount of
vagueness that night cover anything. ,
The word "romance." however, is rather
comfcrting to the general reader and
promises that the bock may not be dry.
But be not misled by names or titles, for
"J. Devlin— Boss" belongs to that class of .
"once begun, never put down until
finished."
It i? in every sense a "Romance of
American Politics." with just enough of
politics to cast a shadow acaint; which ,
stands o"Jt strongly the romance of two
as pretty love stories as It has been my
pleasure to read for many a day.
In g-eneral works of fiction that cover a
man's life from boyhood to middle age
are not of the best.
This 1i= an exception.
Mr. wniiams holds his friends for
"Jimmy" right from his first boyish
¦pranks as newspaper kid to his last-polit
ical fight and final retirement. "Jimmy"
is so thoroughly "Jimmy" from the be
cinnirpr to the end that one. must praise
the author for that consistency of writing
generally found lacking. He develops his
character so gradually that the transitions
from boyhood to manhood are perfectly
natural and the reader unconsciously
stops his laughter at the odd tricks of the
child to follow with breathless interest the
political schemes of the man.
As a "Boss" Jimmy is unequaled and
rises until he has reached the top rung
of the ladder in that most peculiar of all
American trades— politics. But Jimmy
has that abcut him -which is a serious
drawback to the lasting success of one of
his kird— he has a heart, a great big heart
that eventually proves too much even for
such a clever scheming politician as
he is.
From the very beginning you can see
that Jimmy Is out of the ordinary. -
He is introduced to the reader while in
the act of receiving a beating at the hands
of one of the b'.g office boys of the Even
ing News. Jimmy knows how to lo.»e as
•well as to win. but it is not often that he
Is on the loslne: side.
He learns much as a small boy with the
paper. He finds a scheme for the Invest
ment of the other small beys* funds that
pays a small dividend to Mr. J. Devlin:
he levies tribute on all the editors by a
mild form of blackmail process; he goes
to the circus after inventing a brilliant •
excuse. This last proves his undoing.
for he "fakes" a runaway !n which he Is
the victim and then dramatically poses
8S a hero by seeing that the copy he had
at the time is sent 4.o the paper. The
Evening News prints a glowing account
of his heroism. Unfortunately the assist
ant city editor happens to be at the circus
and recognizes Jimmy there, hale and
pound He reports the "fake" to his chief
and Foon Jimmy receives an intimation
that he is about to be discharged.
Jlmiriy Is equal even to this emergency.
He decides not to be retired In disgrace
end therefore promptly hands In his resig
nation.
This resignation Is characteristic of the
boy and of the man as well. Many a time
before his final political downfall his
enemies think that they have done for
Jimmy only to find that he has merely
dropped that line of attack for a time and
is at them with some new scheme harder
ttian ever. Here is what he had to say to
the city editor:
Mr. W. S. Carp Es<v. City Editor, of the
Evening News— Dear Sir: I am thinkin of
enturin in anuther purfession soon and 1 find
I must hand in my Resignation from the EtaiT
cf the Evenine Xews. \ye have bin in this
news Darker blends fur over a year and four
months and I am Eorry T7e must part, fur
we have passed many plesant hours in each
uthens Roclerty. But you know bisness work
makes us part sometimes with our frens so 1
will cay good by to you with kind wishes that
yon may sucseed and sum day purhaps get a
pood position. Tours very truly J. DEVLIN.
P. E. N. B.-Im sorry if my goin away frum
you Ju« now makes it hard to get out the
News but I have to leave tonleht sure. The
new boy mite do fur my place. If you do that
try the assistant City Editor in the new boys «
place. You dont have to know much In the
new boyB place. Tour J. DEVLIN.
. Bill Brady, a political "Boss." is with
the city editor at the time of this oc
currence and is so taken with Jimmy's
craft that he hires him on the spot."
That Is Jimmy's start in the life polit
ical.
Jimmy proves himself a great help to
Brady, for by a little > eavesdropping he
finds out about one of the opposition's
schemes Just in time for Brady to check
mate them— much to Brady's advantage.'
For this Jimmy gets $3 in cash and a rise
in the estimation of his boss.
In time Jimmy finds himself strong
enough to break away from Brady, and
finally takes a standard of his own. His
rise Is not rapid, but it Is cure, and event
ually he finds himself at the top and in
a position Justly to be called "THE
BOSS."
This Is the career of "J. Devlin— Boss."
A gradual rise and then a quick falL The
political side of the book, with all the
scheming men and their unprincipled acts.
1b well written.
J. Devlin in politics is as bad as any.
It is full of story— not a bit of padding, but
all story, good, wholesome and attractive.
Mr. Williams Is deserving 1 of the highest
praise, for "J. Devlin— Boss" is one , of
THE best of the BEST. (Published by the
Lothrop Publishing Company, Boston.
Price $1 50.) ' B. G. LATHROP.
Cram's Atlas.
Probably the- best atlas now published
Is- the latest edition of "Cram's Atlas of
the "World — New Census Edition." It not
only covers all matter." of geographical
interest in ancient history, but is also
absolutely modern and up to date in every
particular. It gives a geographical,' his
torical and statistical presentation of the
worM in all its divisions. The maps are
remarkable* for their completeness, clear
ness and "accuracy— not only are they geo
graphically perfect but 'they cover .the
world's various ' political divisions fully.
The world's progress ard^developrnent is
shown by an elaborate Series of historical
maps from the earliest times to the pres
ent. The diaerams, charts and half
tone reproductions of photographs taken
In various countries add 'greatly to the 1'fe
of the work. Altogether this edition, with
its handsome binding and servlceablp
paper, makes a volume that cannot be
rpared from the shelves of any library.
It is published by George F. Cram, 130
Fulton street, New York. '
and ¦ at the same time fills' the child's
mind with Just that class of -words which
ought to be known first. It Is a rare treat
to meet with a baby book that is noti silly,
hut. on- the contrary, so attractive and
sure to please mothers andchlldren alike
The Letter-sprites created by the author
will soon be as ' popular . as the old-time
fairies and brownies. ;. The size: is royal
quarto and each. page is colored. ¦ There
are ten colors used through the book.
Binding, 'paper and cover designs are Just
lovely, and the little tots have truly an
exceptional: treat ': .in store for ; them.
(Boards cloth bark, illustrated In colors,
fancy wrappers, 75 cents.) M ¦'.-.'
He tolls and plans and bribes.- does
everything, in fact, that ? an - up-to-date
Boss must do, and yet you cannot help
liking him— that Is because Mr. Ghurchlll
shows us the man as well as the politi
cian.
In the first place, with Jimmy his word
Is everything. .,- .:,
His worst enemies admit this.
He may switch around the truth, but
he will not tell a. downright lie. and what
ever he says he will do he does, no mat
ter what the cost to himself.
The reader sees him clearly in this 1 ;
pleasant light of a kind and big-hearted
man though, few of his political world
know .him . as- such. .This is the main
' charm of Mr. "Williams* book. You follow
Jimmy through the political mire simply
because you have had a glimpse of the
true man beneath his armor. ¦
. Jimmy is generally too busy to take any
time for himself. For his friends in dis
tress he cannot do' enough, but when It
comes to self, even where his own heart
and feelings are concerned, it is only at
the last that he Is willing to leave the
pursuit of his ambitious goal for»a domes
tic life. ..'.,- . : '
As I said before, in "J. Devlin— Boss"
there are two love stories that will take
their places among the very sweetest in
modern fiction. You cannot tell until the
very last page how either of them will
turn out, so to say-a'nything more about
them in a review would be to bring- the
wrath of the reader on my head.' Mr.
Churchill tells the romantic part of his
story too well to have it spoiled by
"hints" and "extracts."
There are some fine strong scenes of
dramatic interest In "J. Devlin— Boss" and
one of the best points of the book is that
first volume of the Jewish Ency
.,-„ ' clopedia" from' the publishing house
. 11 of the Funk & : Wagnalls; Company.
New, York, will be found fully equal
to all that was prophesied. for it. vThia se
ries of twelve volumes has been, in active
preparation for over three years and will
now be distributed as rapidly as -they can
be published.. It will certainly, take a
place on the shelves of every library large
enough' to contain cyclopedias " of any
kind.-: /•', ; ' V ; V ;! --' :•• '¦.-¦ ..,¦¦'¦¦
.There is not a walk in life that the Jews
have-not trodden, and wherever the tem
pests of time' have cast , them, they have
with' characteristic persistence invariably
borne with{them their iTotah,' the emblem
of, their, faith; their traditions/their liter
ature,'their language, their" 1 very "customs
—In 'fact, all 'that could keep alive their
national? spirit. • The \. records _.of their
achievements are scattered through many
ancient manuscripts.. The history of their
times is' to be found -chiefly in: the con
gregational archives of the cities wherein
they dwelt. Not until to T day has any de
termined effort- been, made to collect '.this
mass of interesting data and present it In
comprehensive book form., .
. •» ' ' . : •¦.'/'-.. ¦ ' . ' . ¦
rect supervision of *ne or inese mo en
cyclopedia is being prepared. This board
comprises some of the leading scholars
of the United States cou T1 ersant with
Jewish matters; and each one of them Is
iri charge of a' specific department; thus
(under the chairmanship of Dr. I. 'K.
Funk, editor in chief of the Standard Dic
tionary), Dr. Cyrus Adler supervises the
work that pertains j to post-BIbllcal an
tiquities and to the history of the Jews of
America: T)t. Gotthard Deutsch controls
the department - of ; history from 1492 • to
1901; Dr. r Louis Ginzberg takes care of the
department of Rabbinical literature; Pro
fessor Richard Gottheil presides over the
section of history that dates from Ezra to
1492 as well as 'over the history of the
greater part of the Jewish literature In
the middle ages; to Joseph Jacobs' care
-have been intrusted the revision of man
uscripts and the departments of the Jews
of England and anthropology. •
: The selection of Dr. Marcus Jastrow for
the department of the Talmud is eminent
ly fitting, since the years of labor and re
search that .this remarkable scholar has
devoted to the study of Talmudlc lore
have placed him in the forefront of the
Talmudio scholors of his time.
ONE OF THE GREATEST UNDERTAKINGS OF THE NEW CENTURY,
"THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA."
w.o i-»,..iann«weau. created on account
of the- large number of manuscripts re
ceived in foreign tongues, and Jointly with
the secretary of the board. Franfc H.
Vlzetelly. controls the revision of all
proofs. ' \V
A few hints may serve to show Its en
cyclopedlo character. On Jh« one hand is
the story of "Aaron's Rod 1 * told from a
point of view hitherto not presented, and
a description of the marvelous power of
the. "Staff of Bloses": on the other, the
explanation, of the "Abracadabra" and
the uses of amulets. Any one interested
in the various forms of ablutions pre
scribed by rabbinical law can * find them
detailed and explained in an exhaustive
: article by the Rev. Bernard Drachman.
If you wish to know who was the "Jew
ish Cervantes." all you need do is toccon
sult this volume under "Abramowitsch."
Elsewhere in the book are told the stories
of "Starvation Farm" and its eccentric
owner. Baron d'Aguilar: of ."Aggei.V; the
proud kin? of Jewish folklore; of "Aaron.
Son of the Devil"; of medieval English
annals, each qua"nt and interesting. Those
interested in the academies of Babylon
or those of Palestine will be rewarded by
perusing the articles on these subjects.
Topics of more general interest abound m
this volume, and one turns reluctantly
from the interesting theme of agriculture
to the more tragic history of Alsace,
trusting for new light on the sad events
of 1794. ip which hope he is not dlsap- ,
pointed. £¦
One of the most interesting features of
this work is the rr.ass of biographical ma
terial that has been collected and is here
presented for th-» first time. Thl3 mate
rial, embracing as it does the stories of
the careers of prominent living and of
famous deceased Jews, affords many sur
prises: but above all it shows what a
thoroughly versatile people the Jews real-,
ly are.
Ministers of all schools of theology will
find a unique feature of this encyclopedia
in the manner of treatment accorded to
Biblical subjects. These are treated, from
three or sometimes four polnt3 of view,
the first being always a purely Biblical
presentation. This is followed py a dis
sertation on the topic from the standpoint
of rabbinical literature, that vast collec
tion of commentaries, responsa and trea
tises which Jn this field has specially en
riched Jewish literature: and this In turn
Is followed by the views held by modern
scholars of the critical school. By these
means the trend of thought on Biblical
subjects, from Talmudlc times to the
present day. has been preserved and ts
printed here for the first time. This sys
tem also embraces all such topics as hnve
special interest for Juualsm from the Mo
hammedan side. ' • .
A noteworthy characteristic cf this
¦work Is the fair and outspoken y«t' un
biased presentation of matters affecting
the Jews. This may be observed especial
ly under Anti-Semitism and I/Antl-Juif.
Evidently the effort has been to give facta.
and not opinions on such subjects.
The typographical appearance of the
first volume is as near perfection as it i3
. mechanically possible for It to be. and the ¦
paper used is of superfine auallty. The
¦ colored plates are not only plctorlally at
tractive, but scientifically accurate, and
redound credit on those concerned In their
production. The "Animals of the Bible'"—
a plate that was prepared under the di
rection of Professor Theodore N. Gill of
the United States National Museum.
Smithsonian Institution. "Washington. T>.
C— i3 a truly artistic representation of
more than twenty animals of Bible lands.
The illustrations accompanying the text
may be said to be well chosen; and thoir
printing has evidently been done with ¦
treat care. ,..-,....
In anticipation of Its publication this
work wan declared by a' prominent Ameri
can rabbi to be the greatest Jewish un
dertaking since the Talmud was pro
duced, and certainly t~e Initial volume of
the series goes far toward proving th-a
truth of this statement.
It may be truly said that if the stand
ard of excellence of the first volume I*
maintained throughout the entire series
this encyclopedia ¦will be considered a lf't—
erary monument which the Jewish schol
arship of the whole world ha3 created and
of which it may be justly proud. It Is to.
be published In twelve volumes — cloth. $7;
half morocco, $9; full morocco. $11 per vol
ume. iV,v>- -¦: - -
THE SUNDAY CALL,.
4
WRITERS
OF BOOKS
The Books Reviewed
ON THIS PAGE
Can Be Obtained at
ROBERTSON'S,
126 POST STREET^
SAN FRANCISCO.
Prices are always in the
Reading Notices.
A. M.; ROBERTSON.

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