The San Francisco call. [volume], February 28, 1909, Page 7, Image 7

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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The San Francisco Sunday Call
NEW BOOKS FOR LENTEN LEISURE HOURS
BOOKS REVIEWED
"Kincaid's Battery," by George W. Cable
"The Climber," by I:. F. Benson
"The .Maison de Shine," by Helen Green
"The Other Man's Wife," by Frank
Richardson
"The Cost of Cleanness," by Ellen 11.
"Open House," by Juliet Wifbor Tomp
kins
"Tales From Bohemia," by Robert Neil
son Stephens «
"My Lady's Kiss," by Norman Innis
" Kincaid's Battery "
. % By osoorcr- \V. Cable. Published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.
\'T\ m NEW book froni the pen of George YV. Cable is always an exciting
/ \ event, for,, though his name lias 'held a high place in literature for Home
1\ "° > rars . lie » as a comparatively small list of works .to his credit. This
• \u25a0•..- ; • s!i.«n-s him a slow and painstaking worker. He has never been what could
_.*>e"C called popular, but, curiously enough, he has been accepted abroad v*
\u25a0/«?ne\oC "bur representative writers and there Jioi.i« rank with W. D. llowells
\u25a0-and.Mark Twain — almo/t above . criticism.
.. \u25a0'\u25a0• ' "Kincaids Battery" is not an "easy reader": thcrt are really too many
;:tlrrends to the story, but if the first' few chapters are read carefully, no
YHfßculti'es will be encountered. The setting: is best described in the opening
'.Tfrjes- of the book:
. 7.. Tor the scene of this narrative please take into mind a wide quarter
.circle of. country, such as any of the pretty women we are to know in it
.raighl have covered on the map with her half opened fan.
V' 1 - . :"Lo( its northernmost corner be Vioksburg, the famous, on the Mississippi.
: L;rt the easternmost be Mobile and let the most southerly, and by far the
'*»psl important, that/pivotal corner of the fan from which all its fold* radiate^
•.'«nd where the whole pictured thing: opens and shuts, be New Orleans. Then
.[lff tKe grave moment that gently ushers us in be a long 4»go afternoon in
•V'thV Louisiana deluC,'; ;? V
\u25a0 .^'TTnroughout that land of water and sky the willow clumps dotting the
'.-.wsoni of every ««a marsh and fringing every rush rimmed lake were yellow
r .'-«ttd s jr: - ecn In the full flush of a new year, the war yoar, 'Plxty-one." -
"\u25a0 .; Mr. CaJjle wj*p passing through his morft impressionable years in "slxty
:<*fi^\". Ileiwas not yet VI when the war broke out, but in I?fi3* he- joined the
Fourth Mississippi cavalry of the confederate army and served through tho
•'Trnisin-'cr of the war. Mr: Cable is the only author now writing who fought
\u25a0aVtivcly on . the southern side during the war. but with all those experiences
* : b£himJ him. :ui«l having \u25a0been brought up on .violent prejudices, he. y.et writes
.absolutely without rancor and with what appears to be careful impartiality.
This novel i?? a. r*>al romance of the civil war, but of the war 'ltself it
jji'hows little. Letters from the front give glimpses now and then, but the war's
• rrte.-ts are seen and felt in the homes and lives of all the people In the
book. The one battle sc^ne which the author does give the, reader is wonder
ful. The fail of New Orleans and the battle of Mobile bay is the. finest bit
of writing in the book. The tragic engagement between Farragufs fleet and
the oxhausied southern ships is told as graphically as by an eyewitness.
The story, begins with the opening of the war just after Miss Anna
"Callender has presented the guns to a battery which bears the name of Its
.. captain, Hilary Kincaid. Hilary is a typical southerner, brave and honorable.
but irresponsibility and fiirtatiousness mar his character in the eyes of his
• uncle. General Brodnax. This uncle is a veteran of the Mexican war and
has a considerable fortune to leave, but. he can't make up his mind whether
. Hilary Kincaid shall have it, or, another nephew. Adolph Irby. The villain
of the book is a woman. Flora Valcour. the only character which does not
hear the stamp of genuineness. She is too utterly bad to be real and the stage
• properties which she requires throughout the book make her a figure
. for cheap melodrama rather than this splendid tale. She Is in love with
"Hilary and has an able accomplice in her wicked schemes In her grandmother,
. who is fascinating and evil by turns. Flora is willing to do anything to win
.the fortune of old General Brodnax and the hand of Hilary Kincaid. and
• .tot- a long time it looks as if she might be successful; but, of course, the
• Reasoned novel reader knows evil shall not be allowed to triumph in that
?nshinn. Hilary and Anna are united after many vicissitudes. •
• ..• .There is something about this novel which Is unfamiliar. One has a
'\u25a0\u25a0. iceitng that the author has been studying some other author and hns
.. allowed it to influence his own smooth style. There are whole pages which
.:i>>ig.ht be George Meredith and others which remind one strongly of Henry
.\u25a0Ja.Vnes. liy admirers of those two masters this flattery of their style might
"•: he:. considered an improvement, but readers who have loved Mr. Cable for
• : iui'sself alone will be sorry to discover such influences'.
Though the book has many points which may be criticised, it: is goo j
\u25a0 .; literature. It is not to be read hurriedly nor skimmed, or much will be* lost.
.-Written of the by a southerner and frankly partisan, It contains nothing
..that ca« offend a northerner. Parts of It positively rise to greatness and the
...baok will be reckoned not only as a valuable addition to the author's list of
.;. wfcfis. but *s ar important addition to American war time literature
Fhe Climber"
. • ;»T r. r. I>nvin. author *>f "Doda." rtc.
"'.".. lh:W!»I:r<1 h.r Donl)lc:C«y. IV;f i Co., Xetr
"\ '/.itr-Us difficult to Imagine a more tragic
• story than this latest one by E. F.
. hen*on, "The Climber." Lucia Crimson
. • le "'the .heroine and tjhc book is a re
• maskable study of this woman's char
i ilcter. .Lucia Is an orphan, whose father
Ajia* committed suicide before the book
. \u25a0 opens becauK" he saw ruin and dls
\u25a0„\u25a0' grace Bta rinjf h!m in the face, lie had
• it)is::sc<l i!:e trust funds o? many people
, "ar.d after his death it was found that
. iis daughter had £100 a year from her
mother's estate, which was all her
• .father had been tnasle to lay hands
upon.* 5.
. That is the Hrst cliiillng fact in "the
.\u25a0Girls life. She Is ambitious to hi a
•eocln'r leader and without money that
Is. .impossible. So sne determines to
•marry money. To accomplish her am
bition she is obliged to sacrifice every
• 'liiSh ideal Sn life — not that she Uas
.; many, for nelf-Intercst came before
- everything else in tSie world. •' The only
available man is a young, nobleman.
sv!.io has .lust succeeded to his 'title and
...some vast estate*, ills place is near
the home of Lucia's aunts, with wnom
Khe U\es. xir.d Lucia deliberately sols
•. out to T.in h'.in. lie !s almost tho lover
. «»f' Liicisr'K best friend. Maud i;<jdls; at
..>;:st .Mam] has cunllded in Lucia thut
• *:>•.>. ' ioycH lilin. . but that fact has no
; wei?:hl' ivlth Luo'.a. S!k- marries l»rd
' "'JJr.-tA'ton atiil climbs to the very dizziest
..heights of social power. . S.i« Is su
iirciuely liappy and grows too confident
bf l:cr position. Siie experiments in
various ainutijig ways t<» prove .her
pitwrr, Fi:r!« «s tailing a bouse party of.
:o'.' sjuest* •_•':* ol J^>ssdon to her cuuntry
i.'aco for. a whole we?k. and all this In
t;!}*; height of tho London season. •
' the story of, her disgraceful fall
. 'S-om her position Is disagreeable and
• thoroughly B«nscines<juc «nd the traffic
. Vlimar Unit Lucia In the home from
\u25a0which «she started, with no prospect of
regaining her lost . position and the
• gjoomiest possible outlook on life." \u25a0•3
Th^book is remarkably', well written
flnrl is n:re to b*t a bctt sellor, but. after
«11. cn<* car. only s.iy of It— what's the
J|it?<? The Ji.imirers uf Benson will
• !i. for it ia his. RiO(?t ; finished
fy/'i t-- •"'• X> »t the more critical -of
his 1 "-*<*<\u25a0»— — ««i not* i»''t <t!*plorr! Jh»?
'faV't x..-! »\u25a0\u25a0«» .-"'uch li!)'- »v«>rk is wasted'
on y<, uiivvoj-lo' •* biibj^ci. JtatSßE
BOOK PAGE; OF THE^UNDAY'CALI:^CONDiiIEII«B^MNMMS^M©(|)^
"The Maison de Shine"
Isy Ut.fß Grfrn. autlior of "At the Actors'
• i:ofin!ii:c Houne." HabllKbod ty B. W
Dotjce & Co.. Xetr York.. Price $1.00.
The title of this book, 'If : nothing
else, might make It sell, and the storie3
contained in it are not disappointing.
Tho author made a name, for herself
with her first book, a collection of
sliort stories, called "At the Actors'
Boarding House." " The new book is
a collection of further adventures at
the actors' boarding house, and If the
book is not read through at a sitting
It will amuEC. There i» such a tiling
cs "too much of a good thing." and
this chii well be applied to a book
collection of these 3tories. They are
infinitely more effective published in
the daily or weekly paper. Each story
is distinct and quite complete, but the
same -characters appear and reappear
'n all of them.
The "guests" of "the Malsonde Shine
are "vodevel" and actresses, but/
of the cheapest quality. Mrs. Khlne.
tho landlady, is a divorcee, an ex-"
dancer, a Jealous, hysterical," but xoft
hearted woman — not at all the woman
o:ie would picture as the keeper of an
actors' boarding .-' house. •\u25a0 Sho mjtke«
us feel very sympathetically toward
her; for she has a dlfflcult time trying
to "maintain peace and order among her
boarders. .
As a- sample' of the way the king's
Hng;llslV is murdered by Mrs.- Shine
and her boarders, listen to this.ex
tre.rt~(Mrs. Shine is explahiins her
sflDri^jgJjp
"A course." says ftre worthy lady,
"I wasn performer onct .myself; an'
done livin'- pictures in 'bronze when
they y.-a.T flrFt put-on; ku' I, have never
forsook what yuh might <-all my ;ow.i
kind: yet tay; what yuh will, the legits
Is of higher -»'la<=if." -..;\u25a0\u25a0:
; A-«maH- love'Bi cno In another of tho
Ftories Js worth quoting: Bfegßj|
- - "The .wooden '• shoo ' buck dancer
reached/across the "table and laid h.
hand on the- gloved hand. of his vls-a
vls - \u25a0^SBSSBf^SSi " •\u25a0'".. -V.'" : ; . ,- • -
"'Say, you're a wonder,'- ; he " said
huskily; 'a,; peach." that's what. ; A". guy
that cduld win yon-Out: 1 d .be a lucky
slob, all Tight. I 'never "see such a
pair of lamps* as f you *got.V\V;
" 'Mista : TrJpplt,;you;got a [wife.* re
minded -Geraldlne,; coldly.' ','Bfehave
now.' ftMjiJMH'f^BBWBB
. "'She'sa lemon!" jhe said, ,with fervor.
'Why, she don't : start In .your" class.
If \voii; wa* -to Jiook up withTa good,'
wise guy.- what'a'aetlt would be!W. ;
'• '.^topthSsJinlnnit,'; warned the lady.
",'Baby. \u25a0;] t Jov e you.'" continued il".
Tnppit/ unabashed.' " ; ,". '•ij.".
Of cour^o. wt-Vniust lir-Jlcv*" t!mt inm-h
of , th<- " slaliM 's ovt-i(Jo!jc, alsp the
vulgarity, , and perhaps the characWrs
would not have had quite., so many
adventure*. But th^ happy go ' luaky
irresponsibility, of .'-..these amusement
venders. Ik hilariously entertaining;..
The conversation, in which these peo
ple indulge is astonishing,. -to .sny< the
least, but • une dues not ~ take -.Huciu
seriously, any more iUan oire lakes
"George A*de or any of the other slang
purveyors seriously." The PtorlM»;a(j
complish their object— they amuse.
"The Other Man's Wife"
I!.v lYnnk niclmrtl«<iii. mitlior of "S>.l-» M.n.v
fair." «\u25a0«,-. I'ultlishwl by Mitchell •• Kt-n
ner\r. Sew Vorlt.^ ITI«^;SJ.SO.;
;One can not but wonder If by any
chance Frank liichartinon. the author
of .this book, is related to tho person
who writes under the pen; name of
'"Victoria Cross." "The style of the t\vo
writers is similar And their choice of
subjects equally erotic. unuec*tßir^
.md vulgar. Another trait"' not yet
ncen In any American book Is found
In both of these writers. In two of
\ r ictoria Cross' books she has- made a
character speak of reading a"very-in
».ere3tlng book lately,'! and then fol
lows the title of one of Victoria Cross'
best *elleie —^'"Life's Shop Windows."
or some other one equally impossible.
-Vow in this book Richardson makes
•juite a point of his heroine's telephone
number. "2523 Mayfalr," which is '.the
title of a previous book by himself. In
*elt-ctln«c her library the heroine jias a
lot of jfamous names — -so very -famous
that one. needs ho author'snamc* after
them— like "The Decay- of Lying."
"Pride snd Prejudice." "The Bab Bal
lade." "Richard Voa and Xay." "Vir
ginibus Puerisquc," and along with
these is "The Man Who Loct Hie Past."
By chance the reader may. see this
name on a-flyleaf of;the "Otiier Man's
Wife," where a list of books by Mr.
Richardson is given. Later dn In this
same book, during a conversation be
tween lawyers, a certain tragic'cane is
referred to ns if every one in town
knew of it. but a .star and "footnote
cays "See 'The King's Counsel'"—an
other book by Krank Richardson.
I have never before ' heard of authors
using this means to exploit their
«varcs.. and if a question of the good
taste of It. comes up the less said about
It the better.
Most ! of the space allowed for the
reviewing of this book Is now satis
factorily used.' co that less. will have
to be eald about the story itself. It Is,
unfortunately, a little clever; the con
versation Is witty, though
often forced. The ; character of Mon
tague Cllftonville, ' the .vain, ; egoistic
matinee idol, is, the most interesting in
the book, but he has little to "do with
the story. This has to do with tho
liaison between vßicliard Mayvlllean'd
Gwendolen Ainßlie, the "Othfir Man's
Wife." They are desperately in love
with each other and -their "lntimacy Is
pictured with shocking frankness. The
"Other Man" is n. hypochondriac, who
Is bo; hopelessly self-centered that 0110
almost condones Gwendolen's fault and
«u rely wastes no sympathy, oiv him. "
The reason. for lelilng such RBtory Is
hard to find unless to prove the old «ay
lnff.i"the v/a^es of s:n ;s death.". The
book Is horrid and leaves a bad- tasto
after It and a distinct feeling of having
wasted one's lime.
Cost of Cleanness"
Br Uicn 11. RlelinrdK. ', Pnblfsb^il by Jotin
Wiley ts Sons, -. IxtudoD and NVw York.
\u0084 On\v little dreamy* that /an unpreten
tious vvoluirie ventured "The Coal of
Cleanness." by Ellen ll; . Richards, is^ so
big; in Importance:/ Thie ; modest . little
book Is Introduced by- tho r \u25a0; ' following
foreword: . : ; : \u25a0
\u25a0 "b'oclety r "needs family .homes '.-'today
morc..Uian it needs fine public biiildinss.
If. the young: nrcji it fV-ts: and engineers
are sooki ng; distinction for.Uheniselves
and", the; praise: of th<s . fiitureflct them
turn tlielr nttentiun '\u25a0. to tho . houKlnjr
problem. There nr<v millions 'to .'bo
t « ved to the com in 1111 1 ty ' i n th<> cost -of
ijoanln'g alon^. besides > v hr saving in
health and efneiem-y. ..The limit of
modlflcat lon .\u25a0 Ims „ been : : reached. * . . : Rc
contitructlon Is ; needed — first of.Mdeul.s.
si ,-ond of : th<- buildings in .which to
carryUhem out." -:•"" ;.-•; \u25a0-. -; ''\u25a0•.—;; ;-*"
. Thlsbook isn'ot.alone. for the:ari hi
tects and e'nsrlneere,. of, whonit !i?, author
speaks, but for . sanl tarlums/'economists
and all who are, interested "in; a; general
way In "the, welfare' of "themselveH and
their;, dwelllnflr. places. Several books
have ; appeared irecently/onlt hoi coat Vof
the\vßrlou*t>rancheslof; living (and* this
latestyone'U'addreßsedlpa'rtlcularlyTto
the • people; who;- have-; ffomisi;soo to
$3,000 per year Income.^ In : this book no
attempt is, made ifor^ literary style. It; is
concise 'and compact ; to the pbin t ; of
bluti'tnesa- arid; In? parties not/sufficlent
lyolearjt^-b?. of real value'; to' theZ'laj'
man.'v ..-f , thl»- bouV: -vrerf. po!i!sh»il ;. and
e\ a bora Ud;. 1 1 \u25a0; would »• have 'm*ii'e vhlih"-;
ss'lt* : is it -at;Joßst* ipi.>ints^.ilie:i pi.>ints^.ilie : way* (o
much "needed reform in >seneraTsaiiita*
tliTirTOWf Iilllllillal»f^1T^i^T aa^'-"'
''Open House"
tty Juliet Wllbm- Torapkln*, «ntbor of \u25a0 "Dr.
Kllcn."- -. ." PnMistiMl by, tho Baker & Taylor
c<niipßny. Npw York. Price
Thd chnngcH have been rung over
And over again on the old \u25a0 theme ; of
taming the. spoiled and selfish heroine
by abuse 'of various kinds, and turn-
Ing outof. a sweet, angel In the end.
.Since the days of ' Katharine and -Pe
truchio we:have always known what to
expect of that' type 'of heroine.
Even thouglr we know .what is to
happen to ;the heroine of this story,
tho. story Itself Isw'ort'.r reading. The
"Open. House'' \u25a0\u25a0 belongs to Dr. Caspar
l^iman,; who i* dovotlr.g . li is 'life to
the study of nervous diseases. He
opens hi* bouse, to the^most^astonish
ing collection of cran.ka one can well
imagine. Thej-e is Ann Blossom, the
teacher who has hud remarkable- suc
cess with children. t She. suffer* phys
ical breakdown and. comes and lives
in the house during convalescence. The.
doctor believes in convalescence, so she
does light housework; very light It Is,
too. but. -no one bothers, for she has
such an angelic disposition. Ernest
Cunningham is another derelict, also an
Inmate of the open; house. He is a
professor o'; botany whose eyesight .Is
threatened, so he must needs take a
year's rest. This he; does by taking
care of the garden, proving conclusively
that a theoretical botanist Is not .al
ways a practical gartlener. Rousard,
the . French; ex-chof,.\ with a damaged
memory, proves, himself -a : friend In
,u'ced and .no -one ; can .blame, him,;; but
Miss Snell. the nervous prostrate. Iwins
little Sympathy, poor thing. All tlie
household is V managed ;.'by..' Mlps Myrtle,
the doctor's -long suffering ] sister, with
the assistance of ».Hal tie,'- who is 'a real
servant: ,/I.To- thfe ; strange : household
conies Cassandra ' Joyce, daughter • of ; a
millionaire- who has shot. himself rath
er thair faco ruin Vajul disgrace. She
is to bo the- doctor's r assistant; " write
his reports/answer the- telephone and
do what he/- may 'need."; \u25a0•How. she "'suc
ceeds Is; Miss Tompkins' story... :It Is
a nice; readable little tale.- but does
not carry much\conviction.V: ; The doc
tor tames ' the :\u25a0 haughtyiand^ very; snob
bish beauty; by heaping ;coals of flre'on
her head' ln thcimost; approved fashion,
bu t • nht) : Ih ' converted -, too '< soon\ and ! her
conversion scurcely fits "in to '-.'the char
acter "lum-. creator has/.givon ~her. t
Mlssi Tompkins has done some fine
work - on : -the i other.; characters of \u25a0. the
book. They arc of unusual 'ichanh and
interest" and consistent throughout.;. The
book is a distinct advance ov«r ' '.'Dr.
Ellen." last-year's book, iind mukea 1 Cal
ifornia-point "with, pride : to her native
daughter.; ; \u25a0 -.-, -..'..\u25a0' ; • : \u25a0 " \u25a0
"Tsles Fro-n - Bohemia"
15r noifrt NpllHiin-Sfci.tirtjx.r PiiltllMioil iiy I.
A'./PaKi- &«'«.•-.- .lhtftiui. Prlie ?*...".0. 4 '
. '"TalpsiKroin: BohoiniaV:jH'an;ii!terest-"
ing", collection 'of •. short Stories by ' the
late : Robert . Npilsou Stopliens, V who
gained -hiß' biggest 'S'iccess- Infills/; play,
"An , : Enemy tojthe'; Klngr." ; aotedvby E.
H.- Sotheru. : \u25a0A;; i 'Memory,"" written -by
"J. .0. . G. , D.." : was \: hla \u25a0 Intimate
frU\ V'andrassoclate^lsilnsertedJinv'the
book'ln lleu;of;aniintroduction -and" It
gives a* personal; note! to the 23 excellent
sketches: which Jfollow*^|Th^;'i!torJes are
written;. ln. what p^maySbSs called T ? the
Prench :;. f ashl6h, : > for^Alphonse/ Daudet,
Guy; de^Slaupnssant; and :other's ; *of^ that
school; have made It jparticulariy^their
own. A single;dramatic^lncident.vfein
braceSji.he-wholejstoryrcUutfarouhd'it' is
built : up a;!carefi>l:"V:haractefTstudy.:T!io
storles'stv>io:more-llliitl-not«;'iar;.from';a*r(e*
porter'« hot cbook.'-RO; brief arid. ter^'i hto.
thVy/lOne,' fef'l3 Vi Lliat^tliV'«Viiitli"<>r .'.wiiishl
have .polish od ; them \u25a0; had • lu:,Tl iv <••<.! ;/ ; and
j'ctvmany^of * them-have?appcarcd: pro
vlousjy In. magazines and short story
papers. "A Bit; of llelody" and '"The
Triumph of Mogley" are two : which
\u25a0need no changing. They r are not only
fine; bits of character drawing.- but ex
cftllent stories as well and perfectly'
written;-; There. Is much brilliant work
in. the book, work which; if the writer
were, living, would t>e : called promising.
He did' fulfill _the promise, howjever. In
"An Enemy to the King" and in "Philip
Winv/ood."'
. Mr. Stephens was a dramatic critic in
New-r York' for. a number of years and
had", so ; thorough an understanding of'
the istage ; and 'so Intimate a knowledge
of.tlie'life of tho people in the profes
sion ' {hat much of these qualities is
brought into "those stories. They arc
stories, which breathe truth .and, expe
rience, real human interest aud are well
worth reading. \u25a0' : 0~; :
"My Lady^s Kiss"
<By Nnrninn Innl«. PiibitaliOil l>y ; Itanrt, ; Mc
--.•\u25a0 Nally &. Co.. New York. Price $1.00.
TJie adventurous romance, whose
time is set in the middle ages, which
can lay no claim to historical accuracy,"
and is but to aniuse. has al»
most gone out 'of fashion. None just
answering that description Jias 'ap
peared lately and the nearest approach
is _"My Lady's Kiss." by Norman Innis.
The i*ellfflous | wars 'were being fought
at this time and the author has a good
field for his story, but ho has turned
out "rather -a" wooden imitation, a me
chanical toy. than a creation of flesh
and; blood. '. ;." '•' » ,
.A certain. Protestant, the- Frelherr
Conrad yon Kemmel. -is entrenched in
liis own' little castle and city, 'but. he 's
secretly negotiating with both sides.
He ,has a" niece. Krtha : von .Reuth, the
heroine— who;, is" indeed : well worth
kissing:— and a rather unnecessary son,.
Ern^t^von-Kemmel. ; One : of the -near
neighbors." Lord Ignau yon Neufels, de
termines to/ frighten ConradMntocom
ingrover to ; the Catholtci-slde. so , her
sends a detachment" of soldiers under a
fine daredevil, captain, Glers de; St. Eux.
who is. heart and soul :devoted;to his
leader, Neufels. He Is successful In
.his enterprise./ and, as was usual In
thoseidays, the city was; to be looted
by the Invading army; but , Olers .de'St.
Eux offers; to repeal the'eustom in this
case 1 f Krtha f.wlll. v give .him i; a kiss.
Uncle- Conrad , sees a cheap .Avay of sav
ing his city and consents. ..
v "And' then.Bnd .tlH're,;ln:.thp.ifaco -of '
every -soul , in ; the"-p!atz. the fairest in
Saxony %bending >down from* where" she
stood ' ribp ve h } m .' w i th\ n ever^; a bl us h- —
nay. :\vitli ; cheeks : .pnrfihnient, 4^v."hitc— \u25a0'.
kissej-the gaunt' free captain." .
; All \u25a0 this^ls the opening^ehapter: of a
very >compWc»t' > d - ; rotnancc' v -,<7onrad ; Is
ftidinß a -letter, to. Neufels ,\u25a0 by :hi» son
Ernst. :;Krtliatakeß-the letter, and.^l Is-;
guised ; as Krn'st . goes ; to" Neu f els. but ia
tjtkeo_ ; prisonrr" by : him;; -Neufols has n,
lnlßtrps!?^'[bne'.CattaraVile'Morlnl.'who'is
.th'e'iwi f e ; of Gi rrs " do rr H t. ; Eux."- bu t G lers
cares / not 'nt all for ; her.'nor :siie'for
hi in. The Protestan ts attack - the castle
Staren.', where ; ? Ertha" is' lmprisoned.' and \u25a0
they are Just aboutitoj* finish* Glers when
Ertha , saves \u25a0 hia life \u25a0', by * saying she -Is
hts:.wlfe and'to prove it she has to k.ss
him \u25a0agaln.'"^^^^^^^^^^^^; % .
rr, ; Varlous other complications farlse;. In
one f bf v which ; Xeufels - shoots \u25a0\u25a0-\u25a0 Cattara
'and is wound''d;to ; the i'death'J himself,;
thus ' leaving; everything -ismooth^forj
Giers • and^Ertlia; to fniarry."'^ This brief ;
outline of 'thf '; s tory/Unay^ soil nd 4 : bald, v
but -It 'i' 3 not- more - sojthan^ 1 the ;story.*
Thy hutlfor,^lce.«,not?makfe- the' most of
hisropportuiijtic*. 'and V^vpn: though th<j
. book 'lnts'fi* h h ppy • end in g ; 11;1 1 ; i ;i":; i": it Nlisa pV
pnintm«;iitK',AVr it tcnlto7iimii.se."' U: <I<m-s
. iu)t*"a in uso.lVrJic; characters are not .well \u25a0-
drawn .and tho ; story, is not ; clearlytold:.
New Books Briefly Noted
Gillette's Industrial solution is a
presentation of Rn entirely new system
of co-oporatlvc socialism invented by
King. <J. Gillette. Melvln I* Levery has
written the book and lias performed his
work' conscientiously and with almost
fanatic enthusiasnu. Photos of the In
vfntor and author as frontispiece.
(Ball publishing company, Doston.
$1.30.)
"The Art of Newspaper Reading" Is
the title- of a. profusely Illustrated
booklet describing the modus operandl
of a press clipping bureau. It explains
how this comparatively new industry
Rives employment to about 1,000
people, with offices In every capital of
the civilized world. It Js estimated
that the gross amount paid for clip
pings aggregate $1,000,000 per annum.
Mr. Burrelle In his book tells every
detail of the work, from the receipt of
ilie paper? to the final mailing of the
items to the client. It tells how tho
bureau receivr s 7.500 newspapers daily
and how each reader has to bear -in
mind J O.OOO .proper; names and' topics.
This seemingly, impossible feat. Is ex
plained In "detail. The output of this
bureau is 3.000.000 items each^ year, and
they are sent, to. every part. of the globe.
(Burrelle's press clipping bureau, New
York.) ;
Solon J. Vlasto and Nicholas Gortzls
have Just written a "History.- of tl.o
United States, of America" in Greek.
This Is the . first time a history of
America has been printed In the Greek
language and it will : prove : of tremen
dous importance to the growing Greek
population of our country. It covers
the entire . history from the day of'
Columbus to the election of Taft, and
is cojnplete in every detail.
It is profur.ely illustrated with half
tone cuts, with pictures of places and
events of history, warships and men
who have been, most prominent. The
book is published by the Atlantis pub
lishing company of New York, which
has 'published the only daily Greek
newspaper in America for. many years,
(113 West Thirty-first ' street. New
York. ?L\)
.• -• "•
"An Occultist's Travels," by Wclby
\u25a0 lVeichel. . is -the., chronicle of a devotee
of experimental occultism who trav
eled all over the world seeking special
information upon psychic phenomena.
The work has appeared In France. Ger
many and England.; The author dis
cussps trance inspiration, trumpet me
diumshlp. crystal gazing,, palmistry
and other .'forms 6f occultism. (R. F.
Kenno, New York. $1.) . -
• a •
Thomas Bersford of San Francisco,
the editor of the Hygienic Journal, has
written a book. .It is called "Theories
and- Facts .for Students, of Longevity:
and Health." The author says that
his object In writing the book was to
gather all the known- theories per
taining to the prolonging of life and
the promotion of health in one book.
(Publisher, author. rsl.)
:•'.«.....• '
"Little Polly Primrose and Her
Friends" is the, title of Carro Frances
Warren's latest juvenile. This is for
the very little tots whoso loved "Little
Betty Marigold and Her. Friends.'* and
the half" dozen- others of the garden
series. The birds and flowers; play
important parts in this story and tho
child who does not instantly love.lt is
unnatural. It is daintily illustrated in
colors and artistically bound. (C. M.
Clark publishing company, Boston. 73
cents.)
* • •
"The Church of Today". 1 is the title
of an Inspiring book by Joseph Henry
Crooker: It is a remarkably well writ
ten, well considered, well reasoned plea'
for the due, appreciation of the church
as an organization naturally fitted to
meet human, needs that are funda
mental and universal, an essential fac
tor in the corporate life of communi
ties, and today not less, but; more,
needed than ever. The book is force
ful without being aggressive, and i«
sure to receive the Indorsement of
churchmen throughout' the~ country.
iThe Pilgrim press. Boston. 50 cents.)
\u25a0 .* \u25a0\u25a0 * ;\u25a0\u25a0- •\u25a0•\u0084-. - ;
"The DevlT In London," by George R.
Sims, appears to be a Statement, in flCr
tlon form, of the "fearful conditions
itvhich exist as a result of the drink'
evil. A man. Alan' Fairfax, has
;'a-curlous adventure' In :Soho;one night,
at the ; «»nd of whi«*h hols the possessor
''dffajring supposed ;tu be endowed with
the {musical .power of summoning the
.'devil the '.owner, wishes. As
a joke he tries It, and '. the devil comes
and shows hlm'literally a.;thlng or two.
It makes- a' story which some prohibi
tionists may lap .up with- joy., but ;It
Is too - badly -written; to impress, the
.serious, reader with its truth. -(Dodga
publishing company, New York. |i.)
-What the: title. ."Sun Time and Cloud
Time, ;. Minor ; Chords." means * was not
discovered ; in attempting to read "this
book iby Andrew Harvey.: Scoble. And
y et : it^ might •as .well be called ' that as
anything at-all. : In the book are all
sorts of things. It is a.reargrabbag,
but. t he '.grabs are ; all ."disappointing.
There are a some verses which ; kindly
pass;; some ; indifferent' stories and some
disconnected prose sketches. • There} ls
.mi unity In the -volume .whateverr— it is
v most puzzllJtsTi mixture.^;' Nothing, of
; partk-ulariiuiril v.-as discovered.Uhough
it is frankly; confessed 'that alls" the
.gems were not read. : (R." F. Fenno*&
Co.'.'New jYork.)f" »
Gossip of Books and Writers
Israel Zanswill. Colonel George Har
vey and uther masculine advocates in
literature of woman suffrage have a fa
vorite argument which asserts that th«
demand of the feminine to vot« signifies
a condition, and that t<> treat it as if it
werft a theory is a little foolish. In his
book of essays entitled "Women. Et<\,"
Colonel Harvey fixes tills point with the
story of th* lawyer who visited a man
iij jail, listened to his statement of th«
cause of his incarceration and then said
indignantly. "This is outraceous; th*>y
can not lock you up on suc-h a charjre."
"But." .«aid the untutored man, with
plaintive vwee, "Here I be!"*
• ' * *
It is announced that Mrs. Elinor Glyn
"has been prevented by a number of
misfortunes* from returning to America
as soon as she had planned." Anything
that prevents Mrs. Glyn's early coming
to the shores of America asrain is In
deed' a misfortune, but America will
endeavor to bear up bravely under th«
blow. Even the IMlgrrim Mothers will
probably bow with resignation before
the mysterious dispensation that post
pones the return of the amiable gentle
woman, vi'ho. after the historic lunch
eon at which she was their guest,
characterized them as "curious old la
dles with middle clas3 manners." But
without doubt even these "preposterous
persons" are already eagerly looking
forward to the appearance of "Eliza
beth Visits America."
• • •
The Maine farm on which J- K. B.
Is now living Is a spacious bit of
rocky territory, with the Atlantic ocean
at one end of it and a flourishing: flower
and vegetable garden at the other,
wherein Mrs. Bangs has wrested many
fruitful crops from the quarryllke 30IL
The author's homo stands In between
what he calls his lobster patch and his
potato mine.
"lam thinking of getting out ,a new
business card," he said the other day.
"My interests are becoming: so diverse
— a writer In th© morning, a Man "With
the Hoe in the afternoon and picking
fish. from the ocean in between times—
that I feel the desirability of a card
which shall comprise them all. How
will this do:
JOHX KENDRICK BANGS.
Lobsters, Literature and Lima Beans
Fresh Every Hour.
\u25a0• • •
Arthur Goodrich, author of "Gleam o*
Dawn," recsntly published, is preparing
the manuscripts for two novels, which
will probably be published during the
A simplified spelling society has re
cently b*sn Instituted in England. o£
which Professor Skeat,.the eminent ety
mologist, is president and "William
Archor, the dramatic critic, secretary.
This organization Is entirely distinct
from the American society of the sama
name.
. \u25a0" \u25a0 • • •
In reply to numerous inquiries the
Century company makes the announce
ment that no sequel or continuation of
"The Lady of ths Decoration" has been
written or authorized by the author of
that book.
• • •
Cheerful Bill, the philosophical pup.
apparently Intended to dedicate one ol
his Illustrated poems to the suffragettes:
Men and women, dogs and cats.
Often hare their little spat.«.
Men and dogs, you must agree.
Live In perfect amity;
-So this question's up once more —
What are cats and women for?
One of the things that amuses Mrs.
"Wilson "Woodrow most— and she has
a very active sense of humor — Is the
assumption on the part of "good guess
ers" that she is the wife of "Woodrow
Wilson, the president of Princeton uni
versity, and that she has turned her
name around as a literary pleasantry
or an evasion of direct responsibility.
•, • *
The rumor, which was never con
firmed, that the late Paul I*. Ford baaed
the character of hia Peter Stirling on,
that of Grover Cleveland probably Is
helping keep up interest in that most
remarkable. American political novel.
The publishers are printing it for the
fifty-second time and. it is now 14
years since its publication.
Books Received
"A Standard Bible Dictionary." editi»d by M-
W. Jacobus. B. E. Nourse and A. C. Zeaoa;
Funk & Wsznalls company. New York.
"Tte Hol.t Scripture*, with Commentary ©a
Micab." by .Max F. Margotls: the Jewish publica
tion' sodetytof America. PlilladelDbia.
'•When the WHdwood Was in Flower." by G.
5. Staaton; jJ. .S. Ogilrie pnbitshlu; eomninr.
New York. - J
"Tbe Passing of tbe Tariff." by Raytnond L.
Briilemao: Sherman. French & •>\u0084 Boston.
"Allno of the Grand Wood*." by Netil O.
Jlpn«haw; the Out in? pablUbins company, • Sew
York.
•The JonrnaV-" of a Ne^tectPd Wif<« " by
M«h»l Herbert Lrner; B. \V.> Dodge &Co New
York. 3EMM9MfI
'•I^rlmer of \u25a0 the Xorthwput.'" by Harold
Blntluss; Frcdrrlek A.' Stoker company, K«w
Tor*- ~SM|P!S | M9OBH4MMMkp
"Anton. th(» >ran V.'ho Sair." by E. T* Broa
wont'Maybew publfshins company. Boston.
- "Confessions of a Palmist." by "Clltette"
l.air.l * I^o. Cbii-aso. " '
_ *I'ri*»««.« ofl'r^t.. an '" Arfaf;nmmt «t
v iviseotlon. * by a. C'olmore; 11. W oo<l-e tt
Co.. >>w Y»«rk.
•'Foster's Complete Horle." I\t R r." Foster*
Fr«Hleriek A. Stokes «-onipany. New .York ' "
Books that are
reviewed or mentioned
in The Call
can be obtained
at
Robertson's
1539 Van Ness Aye.
Uctwffn California nnd Plae
SA.V FRAXCISCO
Wedding Inviutlons and Vliitlns
Cards Properly Engraved
- and Printed