The San Francisco call. [volume], November 27, 1910, Page 15, Image 15

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

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The San Francisco Sunday Call J
BOOK PAGE OF THE SUNDAY CALL
"The Prodigal Pro Tern"
"J- Frederick Orin Bmlett. (Published t»y
Small, Maynara & Co.. Boston. Price $1.50.)
Vrom beginning to end "The Prod
igal Pro Tern" !S! S a delightful story,
filled with real human people, a real
lOV€1 OV€ ot out of doors and real humor.
The author made a success of "The
•Seventh Man." but lfe was only feeling
his way for this Etory. which Is
better and bigger and finer from every
point of view.
In the very first chapter the title of
• e .u° ok ls made c3p ar. Richard Barnes
»e-w York. He van not bear- the
•hought of business — the family have
money enough — and he wants to be an
artist. So he starts off on a tramping
tour In the Catskills 'seeking- subjects
for his brush. He is walk?ng along a
country road In a suburb -of a small
v'.lJage one day, when he hears sobs
behind a h*dge. He investigates and
f.nds "the" girl crying over a letter
which she hes Just taken from the
R- F. D. box. Barnes tries to comfort
her and something about bis honesty
of purpose and general, clear, manly
Rir makes the girl t*Jl him her, Bsor>v
Her father Is blind and .nve- years. be
fore this has had a quarrel, with his
only son. Th* son has left for, Alaska
to make his fortune byfore he "comes'
home. The father is now very Utl\ and
wants th<» son. but h«? will not/come.
He does not realize that it Is life or
rfeath — he think* his aunt and sister
exaggerate, -and he won't stir until he
has something to show for his quarrel
and his work.' The letter refusing to
come js in th« girl'«? lap. she knows it
;s her father's death warrant: Of
course, you jruess correctly that Barnes
Jumps into tho breach. His proposal
Is received with horror — -with exc^te
rnTt, wonder, relief, delight. a n sorts
f emotions — but It goes. The old
Tsther's life is saved.
But— Barnes * as fallen In lov* with
Eleanor. The servants and neighbors
all think he is her brother. She has
sn ardent admirer in a ynung violinist
living near by. who complicates things
by saving her Hfe in a runaway! It is
a most uncomfortable situation, and
th*n Joe <ozr.r<. The story, for a!I its
pretty romwp. belongs In the simple
lifer's library, for It Js fined with most
r-ppreclative <s"~crir>tior.s of the Catskill
country and the Joy of being away
ftorn riijes- The hook is above the
tVerag-e n^vfi nf the day v,-r*tten to
rr.-ufe: It if carefully written nnil is a
"Edward and I and
Mrs. Hoaeybiin"
v " lil?ra - '*83U«nea by Rre3tano>. New
In "Edward ani I and Mrs. Hop.»y
bun" Kate Horn hesl written a decid
edjy-* ecucual story -vith n couple of
young English nrietocrats for her hero
and heroine. They lose all their money
through th<? dlrhoncety of a lawyer and
hay« <^n]y me small property to fall
l»ack upon. This consists of a country
r-laoe in K:nr> Chfvral. which an old
aunt had fccquP2thed - to them with
£200 pcx year. When they were fabu
lously rich they forgot "all about It.
>ut row :t proved a haven of refuge.
The bpok &oce on to tell how. these
two young people, loving leach other
in a most unfashionable way, try to
work and rave money. The,y know
nothing whatever about economy, but
their cfTcrtr; are noble. I^fve Is the
ihing which faves thtyu first, last and
.-:i! the .time.
•Mis. I*-j:veybun has been the care
taker c* the place before they came
<!ovi-n there to live, and at first she
cooks for them. They soon discover
a failing she has and part with her,
not. however, before she has done
much damage and given the reader
several laughs. Her friend. Seth Cat
termole, is also amusing at first. He
Is hired to do work in the neglected
gardens. These good for nothings im
pose on Edward and his wife shame
fully and allow them to do nearly all
of the work. Lady Avon, the mother
of Edward's wife, is a most offensive
person. She is perhaps an overdrawn
type of the London society woman,
thoroughly selfis^. cold and deceitful.
The younjr people have a hard strug
gle,, but their difficulties are solved in
an extraordinary fashion. They have
many exciting adventures, among them
n railroad accident which is graphic
ally described. A country family In
rhe neighborhood furnish much amuse
ment. They -are typical snobs and
show themselves in their true colors
while the young couple are incognito,
but when they suddenly discover the
Identity of their humble, hard work-
Ing neighbors, what a difference it
makes! The book is Interesting
throughout, well written, gay and
amusing.
"The Flying Mercury"
Cj Eleanor W. Injrram. author of "The Game
end the Candle." (Published by the Bobb«-
Merrl!l company. Indianapolis. Price $1.50.)
"The Flying Mercury," by Eleanor
M. Ingram, will pass an idle hour In as
rapid a fashion as one can well im
agine. It is all about motor cars, es
pecially racing, motors, and the story
moves with the speed its subject
demands. "The Flying Mercury" tells
a rplendid love story and the chauffeur
ht.ro is the very best type of American
we have to offer. The characters are
all well drawn; the stern father, who
after Laving made up his mind, will
listen to no explanations; the quaint
old Scotchman who Is the head of the
French manufacturing concern, steady
as a rock, but quite willing to bide his
time; the half worthless but not bad
young nephew, who as a result of the
prodding: 0/ Emily and the magnetic
young .racer finally' turns over a new
leaf and reilly makes good; and Emily,
the lovely heroine, sweet, gentle, af
fectionate, generous and brave. The
chauffeur. Darling, is splendid, and
every girl reader will ba in love with
him before she is half through the
book. We suspect, his identity early
In the story, but he does not discover
himself until the proper moment, when
he has made good and all the tangled
threads are" ma6p straight and smooth
again.
The book is delicately and daintily
r:inte<3^ and bound and contains some
\u2666 -vcellerit illustrations by- Edmund
Frederick. It will make a charming
Cift book* £
"The Tragedy of Nan
and Other Plays"
By John iia«efield. (Published by Mitchell
Kennerly. New- York. Price $1.25.)
Three little plays by John Masefleld
are Included in a volume entitled "The
Tragedy of Nan and Other Plays." They
are concentrated gloom and it is dif
ficult'ir» a hurried reading to see the
reason for their being. - The one which
givel the title to the book is the long
est. In the form -»f a play (it has been
produced twice In London) It tells the
wholly undeserved and ' unnecessary
tragedy of Nan. Nan's mother, is dead
and the father has been hung. for steal
ing a sheep, though to the last he and
Nan pretested his Innocence. Nan then
comes to live with her uncle and aunt
«nd cousin In a nearby town. She is
abominably treated 'by the aunt, who is
evil incarnate. She taunts lier with be
ing the chil<j of a father hung for sheep
stealing: she makes her the scapegoat
Tor everything that goes wrong in the
house: She destroy* her clothed., in a
hundred ways she nearly goads the girl
to self-destruction. ' But Nftn has a
country admirer who comes on«'even
ing to a small party, and -arriving early
he and Nan hnve a little love scone and
matters are satisfactorily arranged be
twpen them. v
Then the aunt comes In and tells the
boy during Nan's absenc« that if he
marries Jenny, her daughter, his father
will make him a partner in the busi
ness and give him £20 to begin house
keeping. The Ignorant boy, though he
despises Jenny, Yields when he is at
last told about Nan's father. the
cuests arrive and the aunt makes pub
lic the announcement of the engage
ment. Nan Is crushed. In the midst of
the party some officers of the govern
ment arrive to tell Nan that the real
thief has confessed and that her father
was innocent and give her £50 to salve
her wound. They all make up to her —
too late. She stabs the lover who
scorned her and makes a speech telling
the family what she thinks of them,
then groes out to the river and drowns
herself. The family do not particularly
care. They have the £50. . '^vi
The second play (it has also been
produced once) is a grewsome thing. It
tells how John Perry, enraged with his
brother, told the constable that he and
his brother and his mothrer had killed a
neighbor, Mr. Harrison, who has dis
appeared. They have not killed h.*™.
but, confessing, they must hang. A few
minutes after they are all dead the man
Harrison turns up safe and sound, this
work. "The Campden Wonder," Is. a
one act play and for sheer horror it
can hardly be surpassed. The one
brother, knowing the innocence of him
self and brother and mother, is willing
to die himself for vengeance.
The third play Is "Mrs. Harrison" and
might almost be a monologue. It con
sists of Mrs. Harrison's upbraidings of
her husband for staying in hiding with
out reason- and allowing the Perrysto
hang. There is a hint that he was
Mired to stay away and that makes it
worse. Finally Mrs. Harrison takes
poison, for she can not live as wife to
a murderer.
Pleasant little plays.
"Jingles for Singles"
\erses by Ida H. Juillerat. Decorations br
Beftha M. Bcyc. (Published by Iticardo J.
Oroxcrt. San Francisco.) , .
"Jingles for Singles— A Mother Goose
for Lovers' Use." is just the right sized
little book for a bashful young man
to tie to the box of Christmas candy
he sends to the girl in. the next block.
It Is a little book that young folks
and lovers of older acquaintance might
rvchange with mutual delight. It is a
very pretty volume and the verses are
dainty sentimental adaptations ,of the
old cradle Jingles. Miss Julllerat has
raughl the diction of the Mother Goose
school of poets. In her quaint dedica
tion she says: "Dedicated to all lovers,
of the past, present and future, and to
Dan Cupid and the little birds no less."
For the authors sake It may be hoped
that all to whom the book is" dedicated
buy a copy.
Miss Boye's decorations and draw
ings are in the spirit of the book. The
page borders are hand illumined, which
gives the little lovers' trophy a per
sonal tone.- v
As examples of Miss Juillerafs wit
may be reprinted the following verses
from the book: !>
"Uttlc Bo' Peep ha* loet her sleep.
And I know where 10 flnd It —
In a letter, quite long.
That somehow went wron£
But I'll not tell who tlgned It." "
B"'Jack Snrat could eat not fat.
Jack hprat con Id eat no lean:
But wben the maid at last was won —
He ate the platter clean."
"Great lore, little kins— bound to be.
When they're together and none to see."
Miss, Juillerat is a graduate of the
University of California and a promi
nent member of the collegiate alumnae.
The little book is from the press of
Ricardo J. Orozco, San Francisco.
"The Centenary Dickens"
Cbarles Scrlbncr's Sona, Netv York.
In view of the approaching centenary
(in 1912) of the birth' of Charles Dick
ens, the first three volumes of "The
Centenary" edition have just been
brought out. They are "The Adventures
of Oliver Twist," in one volume, and
"Sketches by Boz," in two. Other vol
umes will follow at the rate of three a
month uAtil the entire set is complete.
Charles Scribner's Sons are issuing
this edition, In which illustration is a
special feature, in conjunction •\u25a0"with
Chapman & Hall,, Ltd.,' of London, the
original publishers of Dickens' works.
In these volumes all the prefaces,
dedications and notices which appeared
in the various editions during the au
thor's lifetime will be given, together
with all the original^ illustrations of
which he gave approval. The illus
trations are being produced by a spe
cial new-process from the original steel
plates and wood blocks and will num
ber close upon 700, forming in them
selves a unique gallery of the finest
examples- of the work of Halblot K.
Browne (Phiz). George Cruikshank,
John Leech, Daniel Maclise, R. A., etc.
The type used is large and artistic, the
paper of extra superfine quality, the
binding handsome and,the , price $1 per
volume.
"Freda"
By Katherme Tynan. (Publlsbsd by Cawell &
Co., Ltd.. I»ndon. New York. Toronto and <
Melbourne, r Price ?1.20.) <
For readers. who enjoyed "Peggy the :
Daughter," an earlier novel by this*
author, Katherine Tynan, this new
book has an especial appeal. The au
thor introduces her herolije when a
child, and takes us along with her
until she has passed through all her
difficulties and is married happily.
Freda is an orphan, left; to the, care
of a low 'gambler- and his mistress.
Some Instinct seems to tell her. the
difference between good and evil, and
no matter what temptatiohi. arise, "nor
by what evil influences she is, sur
rounded, she keeps her sweetness; and
Innocence. There is much unpleasant-,
ness and a great deal of sorrow? and v
unhappiness, but toward the last of the
book things are fairly .well straight
ened out. Freda' discovers that Lord
Orandlson is her' uncle and, also'^that
his vast estates rightfully belong to
her. Of course, ; therev ls a love; story,
and, in the, romantic fashion' of novel
ists," our author makes this one begin
when Freda is a. child. and her
fate are separated for "many.; years, but \u25a0
love each other all the" more because of.
the . trials they ; are forced , to endure.
The \>ad are punished "and the } good
rewarded, bo,; all in .all, . the story is
satisfactory." - / -\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0'.'\u25a0\u25a0.
UNA H.H. COOL
BOOKS REVIEWED
"The Prodigal Pro Tern.," by Frederick Orin Bartlett
"Edward and I and Mrs. Hoiieybun," by Kate Horn
"The Flying Mercury," by Eleanor W. Ingram .
"The Tragedy of Nan and Other Plays," by John
Masefield : \
"Jingies for Singles," by Ida H. Juillerat
"Freda," by. Kathcrine Tynan
"Son of the Wind"
By.. Lucia. Chamberlain. < Publi&hfd . t>F the
Bobbs-Merrill company. Indianapolis. Price
11.50.) ,:
In her. new romance Miss \u25a0"Chamber-,
lain develops a theme of classic beauty.
She tells of a young horse breaker In
search of a magnificent wild horse
that is roaming the California mount
tains and whose secret places aro
known only to a young girl whose dear
?£t wish is that the ."horse shall -never
be tamed. Miss Chamberlain has told
lier story beautifully. She builds up
in her customary manner an intense
anticipation, expectation, out of the
?lightest things, from .a material point
5f view: premonitions, curiosity, the
rustle of pine boughs against a wln
iow. question and answer that suggest
loublP meaning. She finds significance
in trifles, drama in the breath of the
wind. The progress of Francis Carron
,ip th<" narrow, winding mountain road
nto the plney silences of the farther
lelghts. his, arrival at the large, fan
tastic, almost deserted summer hotel,
:he air of mystery steadily maintained
30th as'to hii exact purpose and as to
:he nature of the. four other people at
the hotel, absorb the attention. The
tuthor has summoned all the magic of
fcreenish twilight and distance andsol
tufle sto her aid and "has, woven -a. spell
jf them for the reader's fascination.
fler mystery manner, that weaving of
ntanglbilltles into a colored web of
•>eauty and charm, has never been seen
;o better adyantnjjr. Sh« seems to hear
md to see 'a little Tarther anrt more
Inely than ordinary folk, and the-man
festal ion' of acute senses is attractive
n books Juet as it is In human beings.
Phe whole leaves an impression of ex
luislte fineness of a. photographic film,
so sensitised that It Mas caught the
nost fleeting and delicate effects of
Ight and chad*.
The people whom Carron sees one by
>ne at the hotel are all skillfully drawn
tnd presented so as to heighten the'
impression of mystery, and even to add
a touch of thq weird. Mrs." Rader is an
unusual type, a woman.of refinement
who has with difficulty adjusted herself
to "unexpected conditions-. Of -life. ; The
boy George is an uncanny creature, a
bit of grotesque. The old scholar
among his musty books-is a tine por
trait. The Man on the Road is curiously
Interesting in his dogged sullenness.
Blanche, who is first heard and , not
seen, is suppoßed to be a
child and retains for us something of a
child's freshness and love of fun.
In the steps and stages of Its devel
opment this is a fine exampleof work
manship. ; For ; almost ihalf the way. the
reader is kept' in tho dark as to Car
ron's purpose. All of the talk Is about
"It." and for all one'knowg "it" may
be a lost mine, a person or a ghost. The
giving of the twenty dollar gold coin to
the Man on. the' Road Is most/ usefully
worked in later.,; and with rare skill
Miss Chamberlain, causes Blanche to
produce It .when.-it is most needed.
Finally the: way in" which the • story
moderates from green gloom and mys
tery to normal daylight, love and do
meßticity. with the pretty touch of
Blanche sewing. — no Amazon for all her
love of horses— is admirable.. The story
as a whole is fresh and original, mark
edly, genuine and sympathetic, alto
gether most unusual.
"The Confessions of a
Rebellious Wife"
Annonymous. .(Published, by Small, Maynard &
,• Co., Boston.' Price 50 cents.)
"The Confessions 'of a Rebellious
Wife'-' is advertised as a > remarkable
human document and typically Amerir';
can. Why everything that has to bear
upon married unhappiness should be
classed as American it is difficult to see.
Surely English and other Europeans
have unhappy homes occasionally. This
woman in her confessions tells in a
long and dreary 64 pages the old story ;
of .running, for the streetcar. She ex
pected to have the lover's ardent.court
ship continue forever in the husband.
She does not seem to realize that he is
doing everything he can for her. He
has no other Interest but his home and
his business. . \u25a0\u25a0'\u25a0 He cares for no other '
woman. She* is : selfish and neurotic,
one of the poor things: who is misun
derstood; She needs a tonic...
New and \u25a0 A* tjrac t ti e Wor k
Indian Wars,
pf New England
By Herbert; M;j Sylvester
OF THE BOSTON BAR.
A Complete, Chronologically Correct
Relation of the X. Most Important
Period in New; England 'History.
-Beautifully -.printed, -bound in Colo-
nial blue ; cloth I \vi th \u25a0 rubricated paper
titles, uncut edges and:'" gilt;, tops]
Three volumes Bvo,9^Jx6>s, : inches.
GompleteK'- indexed : and \u25a0cohtaihi!);;
nearly 19(K)pageb'. \u25a0 . \<
Price $75 net^ .Expressagd extra
' Send for' descriptiv: circular
W. B. GIiARKECO.
26-2S ' Treinont 3 street,^ Boston,' Man's.
"Son of the ; Wind," by Lucia Chamberlain
"The Confessions iof a Rebellious vWife"
- HoiyJ Land,'*: by Robert Hichens
"The Second : Elopement," by Herbert Floiverden
•^VVhirligigs^ by; O: Henry ;' -; \u25a0 v % ; : : .1
"Rewards ; and Fairies,?; by' Rudyard | Kipling '
"A Song of Life," by Alfred^ J. Atkins ./
A -Weeks 'Juveniles
• "In Line of Duty," by Captain Rich
mond Pearson Hobson, continues the
adventures and experiences': of ..>, Buck
Jones,, hero of "Buck JonesafAnnapo
lis." He is now a Midshipman in active
service on the Oregon in the* Spanish
war as far as) the battfes around
Santiago. The storyi is filled with ex
citing adventures, besides, being; a^flne
account of life on a' great battleship.
It is written with> Captain Hobson's
experience and in. Uilsv excellent style,
making the book of. lt» \klnd.
(D. Appleton & "Co., New York; $1.50.) '
»• '•\u25a0* : - \u25a0'\u25a0:*}/\u25a0-* ' ' - ,- ';\u25a0\u25a0:- ~ -:, : .\u25a0'.
The second volume Th "The' Young
Captains of Industry" series is "Jack
\u25a0Collerton's Elngihe,'" by HOIU3 Godfrey.
It is an unusually^ gobd story of alj
enterprising American youth , who goes
to England and enters hi"s .father's air
ship engine in a competition . for
£25.000. An unscrupulous . company Is
pitted against him,-- the members of
which steal his. engine.,- Jack; has in
numerable adventures In England and
Europe. trailing the'thieves. in his at
tempt to recover it. -The story has not
a dull line and boys;with a mechanical
turn of mind will enjoy it. (Little.
Brown & Co.. Boston: $1.25.)
Howard R. Garrfs ''writes, oven more
* entertainingly :, . forV wee youngsters
.than ifpr. s , the. .older children. .His
;r.Samnll^ nnd'Susie Littletall" is a dfi
•H^htfMl: stor^rof a family of rabbits.
They talk ; to ; each btheriexactly. like a
> family of, people; tbut'.tTie^td ventures
they have" could l only ;Vh'appehi;to i ':.rab
blts. - Th>.chapters\are each - complete
experlen"c«?B. designed- to .be read to the
children -at' bedtjme. (R. F. Fenno, &
The "Rilly Tomorrow" series, which
were begun, a year ago by ; Sarah Pratt
Carr, now has the .second number.
"Billy in Camp" is the title of this
one, and In these • further, adventures
Billy Tomorrow not only tastes the
joys of camping, in the woods — which
are described in alluring* fashion— but
solves a" mystery and has to face some
circumstances that still ' further call
out the best of his growing manhood.
(A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago; %1. 50.)
.-' •.;.*.\u25a0\u25a0"\u25a0•
"Seven Little Wise Men" Is the title
of a story for wee youngsters by Fran
ces Margaret Fox. It tells how seven
\u25a0Uttle children living- in the San Ber
tardino valley. In 'California spent a
Sappy time In the winter preparing for
Christmas. The book is unusually well
printed: 'and.. -bound" and contains six
beautiful illustrations'- in : color 'by
Ethelred B. Barry. (L.' C.'Page & Co.,
Boston; $1.) ;
. \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0"."\u25a0':"\u25a0'.:' ;\u25a0\u25a0""'• • \u25a0•:'•'.
"Sherman Hale, the Howard /Half
back," is the title of a fine college
story by, George Hart Rand. ' It is. dis
tinctly, a book for boys, lull of action,
mystery and romance. Sherman Hale
suffers -disgrace and prison for the
honor, as he believes, of the lady 'of
his love. (R. F7 F.enno & Co., New
York; 60 cents.)
'••'\u25a0*\u25a0' • .
E. ICcsbit, in "Harding's Luck," .tells
a splendidi story which many, grown
ups will like to read. There. Is much
of the fairy tale about it/.but whether
fairy or real, the hero, Dickie Harding,
is a most loveable lad. He is an or
phan boy and lame and hat most ex
traordinary things happen to him. He
Is a real vagabond for a while' with
the tramp, 'Beale, but later -hobnobs
with the highestlin the. land. Every:
ejssentlal to stimulate the boy's interest '
is ; here;, -there are. hidden treasures,
magic ' seeds, underground passages,
mysterious secrets and plenty of real
.children,, good and bad. (Frederick A.
"Stokes & Co.. New York.)
By Margaret Hill M9Cartcr^-^|^^^^/^M 9 Cartcr^-^|^^^^/^
AVA has written an. . ffil^^?^i^^^r^;
epic tale of the be- ./%|W^^^
ginnings of Kansas. : It will >^ WHP^^^^
not only be read eagerly t ' ffli^^Wv W* .'
fcr its thrilling action and .^"Nra^^^i I W^'
glowing color, but will be * Y^lWw\ \Mlk
re-read, and will endure for the \sjS&
truth and depth of its insight r "vjfi|^^®(flg \u25a0 f~'
into the inner life of the Western '^^vWrßp^^^
pioneer, and for its masterly por- .jC^^T fOfi^^^^^^
trayal of the influence of the i#i- if/ 9^'
:prairie. There ; is a love story
of simple an<J charming sincer- % \u25a0 "\u25a0^ k^-
\u25a0 .*. :\u25a0'." •\u25a0 " :: •\u25a0\u25a0* j r j \u25a0'•-•« '-'-\u25a0-" '•««-\u25a0' * Pictures by J. N. Marcband
ity, arid the reader's pulse will-,; f ctu - es 7J ~ .
quicken at the^splendidly heroic climaxes/:,
A. C. McCLURG & CO., Publishers^ $1.35 NET
NOW ON SALE>AT^YOIJOR^BpbRSprORE
"The Holy^ Land"
hß.th B.t .Robert Hlehens. Uln?tratPd by %ule«
,G«er.ln. ;'„ (Published, bj" tht? Century com
' pafty.- New York. ; Price jflt.)' '. •,
'.".;\u25a0 A truly sumptuoua.bdpk is ''The Holy
LandjVvbyT'Robert Hichens,, containing
the, already famous illustrations by
Jules. Guerin. The author is a master
of. j colorful prose, a s : has 'been proved
by* his ; "Garden of Allah"_and' other hov
lelsr.-and - he 1 these wonderful
cities of the holy land. Baalbec.Damas
cua.uNaJtareth,; Jericho. Bethlehem and
Jerusalem, 'seem real and near" to the
reader,. The seven chapters are the de
scriptions of a* keen' eyed, and? poetical
traveler^through tht^ wonderful'couri
.try; :\u25a0, y /..\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0'_. -';.-.\u25a0 ; \u0084 .
1 The illustrations of Jules Guerin. the
French, artist, were made- in- the same
way. He, too, has his eye attuned tg
the mystery and beauty of this fasci
nating and impressive land," and. though
lie and the, author, were not together;
their work is in '\u25a0absolute,' sympathy. A
•beautiful holiday gift. SfEfliil
Notes and Gossip
.' Albert Blgelow Paine has resumed
preparations for Mark* Twain's biogrra
j>hy...since the publication iof his own
book of travel a <;ouple.of months ago.
Mr." Paine, who makes'occa3ional trips
from Stormfield. the Twain place 'at
Redding,' Conn., to New York, is one of
the" few authors who have been also
• "The Heinz of the kissing business"
Js the name given to Robert Wv Cham
bers, .thf author of "Ailsa Paige" and
"The Danger Mark." on the ground that
Chambers has invented, described and
'copyrighted ..\u25a0more than 57 varieties of
kit-scs. : "Before three- chapters have
been read," 'continues the writer of the
article in question, "some one will be
kissing madly, passionately, brashly.
neatly, bravely," or In some other fash
ion. This essayist Intimates that Cham-
\u0084 :. \u25a0 \u25a0 .'; .\u25a0 v." : ;'.>- i : ' '' •'<;<-\u25a0.
, bers • builds his novels around various
klsses;,^and \u25a0he instances as among the
best and most plummy, the famous
"rail fence -kiss" in "Ailsa Paige."* He
winds up by saying- that- our modern
novelists, like , Chambers and David
Graham Phillips, are overworking 1 os
culation to the, point where those of
the next generation -will probably omit
italtogetherr- \u25a0" . .
John Pox Jr. writes "On the Trail of
the Lonesome Pine," giving: an amusing
accountjof bis search, for, the real pine
in the mountains and the tnterestingr
characters that he ; met by the way.
George Wright accompanied him and
made the drawings on the spot.
,• /• \u25a0 • .l. l *.. \u2666
George "Whartoh Edwards, author of
"Brittany and the Bretons," etc., has
•just .returned. to this country from a
summers-trips -trip "in Flanders, where he
procured material for a new volume of
travels. • .-"-\u25a0• »
.•\u25a0\u25a0•\u25a0•\u25a0
F. Berkeley Smith, son of F. Hopkln
son Smith and; author of a novel just
published,' sailed lately for his home in
France. ' t
: : Will Irwin is at Scituate making the
'final revision of his new novel, "The
Readjustment,'' which will be pub
lished, shortly. ... ,
Books and Toys
". f o r B oy s an d Q i r is
PAUL ELDER <& Co.
239 Grant ay. bet. Post and Butter Streets,
- \u25a0 San Francisco.
"The Second Elopement"
* By Herbert F*loinTerilfcn. "\u25a0 <Publl*b*l by Br«n- .
tano's, New Yorfc. Price $1.50.)
Here is what might have been a
charming arid most romantic love story
spoiled by the author making his hero
ine almost an Idiot. -; The plot Is good.
Basil. H. George, a novelist. Is buying
a ticket from "Westgate to London when
ayounar girl crowds her way to the
wicket ; and tries to* buy ; one also, but
offers in exchange a ruby pendant, say-
Ing she has- no. money. The, novelist
buys- her a -ticket, .for the agent of
,course : refuses,' 'and . they travel to
gether to London.- She has no luggage
and does not know. where to go In Lon- ,
'don.','' She 'tells him she « has to leave'
home* to •avoid hateful marriage arid
shahanMsome*; notion of earning her
living:. Bhe-is appalled when St. George
chows her th^ difficulties, for she
knows nothing^ to do to tarn money.,
and- h« offers to help^ her get settled,
showing .her/ rooms, / buying a few
necessities." and "engaging her. to come
to, his office the next day to l*arn to dr»
hfs typewriting. , Now there Is the be
ginning of a. very,, pretty romance, for
he has no Idea who she Is — she has.
given her name as Ermlhie, Smith— and
lie Is already lirt«rest#d.' • But ; .the
author haa; made this girl of past IS
entirely tod imbeclllc in regard to all
the practicalities of life. Khe, of
course, -would not know much about
the value of money, but 'when totd'by
St. George that she can earn 30
shillings per week when she Is -a fair
typewriter, oh* goes Into a shop to
buy a few toilet artlcles-»-comb. tooth .
brush, nightie — and spends £10. "Of
course, .one muat have addressing case."
It Is too stupid. One wonders where to
go to nnd any one so infantile.
-Having ' concealed her \u25a0identity. the
reader Is as curious as Is St. George to
find out who she'is. and when she be- »
gins to talk about "quite common peo
ple" like St. George— to his face— we
know that if she is an escaped prln- .
cess, which we have half suspected, she
lsan Insufferable snob.
The story Is charmingly told, the plot>
well sustained throughout and the
secret of the heroines. Identity con
cealed up to the psychologic?!} moment. ,
Only — how could such ft splendid per- ,
son as Baalist, George fall in love with
bo senseless a girl? What did he fall ;
In love with? She was not so "awfully"
beautiful! She did -not have any re
markable . part or amount of educa
tion. It.must have been this "sweet"
Innocence, or rather ignorance. Car
ried to the extreme as It is In this
book- It Is ridiculous and spoils the
otherwise delightful tale. It all comes i
out right. He marries her In the end — 1
with great difficulty. One wonders if j
she calls him (after marriage) a "quite j
common person." ]
"Whirligigs"
By O. \u25a0 Henry.- (Published by Donbleday. Paste ,
A Co.. Garden City, Long lsltnd. New York.
Price $1.20.) f - >
More American than Poe, more Amer- !
ican even than Harte. O. Henry swiftly
made his way upward in. the hearts of a '
constantly growing audience till he be- '
came the most widely read short story
writer of his. time. This last collec- !
tion of his stories, the tlUe of which x
he selected shortly befor*e his death.
is not confined to New York, but is *
perhaps more representative of his i
varied genius than any former volume. !
Some people say that O. Henry lacked '
seriousness. But one would search for
a very _long time before finding any
where a story as full of quiet earnest- i
ness, of tender pathos, of noble under- .
lying purpose as "Blind Man's Holl- j
day" in this volume of "Whirligigs."" ' i
The well known inimitable style, the .
cutting wit. the whimsicality, the won- "
derful control of the element of sur- -
prise, the keen characterization and,
above all. the infinite love for and un
derstanding of humanity fn all its com
plex moods and phases, all are here In
this new volume — the things that will
makS O. Henry read in company with
De Maupassant" and Kipling long after
other names" have been forgotten.
Grace Duffle Boylan, "a February
child." Is, the youngest of the 11 chlf
dren of Captain Phelix Duffle, an Irish
man of distinguished birth and unusual
intellectual attainments. Her mother,
daughter of Cephas A. Smith, who. with
his Harvard degree In his trunk went
out to become one of the earliest judges
of the new state of Michigan, was a
pupil in the old academy at Wyoming.
K. V.. one of the many Institutions
of learning- established by her mater- .
nal grandfather. Rev. Dr. Joshua T.
Bradley.
The author of "The Steps to No
where" is thus a granddaughter of the
law and gospel, and a daughter of the
sword. There are many fighting men In
her family, and her work has a martial
quality. She rarely writes a book
without a soldier in it. and the latest
story begins and ends with the appear
ance of a gallant officer of the U. S. A.
Boys - HOLIDAY BOOKS - Girls 1
A LITTLE W3AID OF BOSTON TOWN I
By MARGARET SIDNEY Illustrated by FRANK T. MERRILL. $1.50
This is a story of the American Revolution, absorbing, graphic. and
truly delightful. The same faculty of delineation that is so conspicuous
•Jn her famous "Pepper Books" marks this latest story of Margaret ;
Sidney's. The author makes characters live and speak for themselves.
The Automobile Boys of The Young Guide
Lakeport 0 r » Two Live Boys la the Mains Woods
Or, A Ran for Fan and Fame By C. B. BURLEIGH
By EDWARD STRATEMEYER Illustrated. $1.50
Illustrated. $1.25 ' In "The Young Guide" one can
Here is a book which will charm see exactly what life in the Maine !
all boys who love' automobiling and 'woods is during the height of the j
life in the open air. hunting season, and few need be
Tim" and Roy in Camp \? ld that there is no oth ", lJt > "^
By FRANK PENDLETON " The B of Brookfield
Illustrated. $1.50 Academy
In this book is crowded a wealth _ wat?t?ttm t t?t nWn
of sport,. adventure, Indian stories, B y WARREN L. ELDRED
hunting and camping, facts about ) Illustrated. Si. so
animals encountered; all that will Distinctly worth \u25a0while. It tells
please a boy. - . ' of a school, with a glorious past but
The Young Blockaders f" uncertain future, largely due to
tj« pvt?pptt t TrnvrTTW«:nw the wron S kind of a secret society.
By EVERETT ,T. TOMLINSON a vita , p roblem in hundreds of
Illustrated. $1:50 schools today "
\u25a0iliflissii v^ife ?$% Prlze
Without bitterness it portrays some The Plack of Bl "y Hazca
of the daring deeds of each side in By NORMAN BRAINERD
the struggle. • - Illustrated. $1.25 *"
John and Betty's History Visit The hero not only works his way
•By MARGARET WILLIAMSON ?* Chatham Military School, but
\u25a0.\u25a0\u25a0:._'•-----> •-. . .; . ~,t t i" has the pluck to try for a prize
Tuewfur jull-pa S e illustraHon wWch * scholarship i/col-
from photographs. Largt 12mo. $1.25 i.j,- »
An American brother- and sister : " p..._». pi «„__»*_.
visit an English family in whicli are Pro ?™ I S£SSJSS
.also a brother and sister,: and the By AMY. BROOKS
four children have the best of times Illustrated. $1.00
: seeing historic England under the One of the brightest and most at-
\u25a0' 'guidance of the wise and tactful tractive of all books for young chil-
English mother. ; dren. To know Prae is to love her.
X THE OTHER SYLVIA
By . NIS'A R HOADES ''Ninth Vol. of "Brick Houss Bjois" 111. SI .00
; "One of the best stories for little girls that this reviewer has come
across in .twenty; years. He knows what books are good because there
Hs*. a little: girl of seven who waits anxiously. a chapter of 'The Other
\u25a0Sylvia'- every night. It isa pretty story, and unconsciously the child
learns of right living and right thinking from it."— Philadelphia Inquirer.
\u25a0 \u25a0- •\u25a0: :. .ViT ALL 'BOOKSELLERS
\u25a0LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPABD C0.,. .: 805T0N |
"Rewards and Fairies"
By Rodyafd X ipllns. . t PuMi»fced by O>«rla«
. Scrtbner'3 Sons. Ne«r Yorfc. Outward Booed
edition Subscrlptiou cnl/. Price $2 end $4.)
The twenty-fifth volume In the Out
ward Bound edition of Kipling's works
Is published under the title of "Re
wards* and Fairies." The stories in
this new volume are a continuation of
the adventures of Dan and Una with
Puck and of the tales he told trie st*«
children in "Puck of Pook's Hill." The
tales of adventure in America and
France, of the voyage of Drake a*«
the Elizabethan days, of the Saxon
heroes; of prehistoric men and Wattle?,
of the French -wars, and the songs and
verses that accompany them, grivs In
finite variety and Interest to this fas
cinating volume. Mr. Kipling's extraor.
dinary power of making things that
have happened vividly real and living
has never been so delightfully shown
as In these stirring and entrancing
stories.
"A Sons of Life"
By Alfml.J. Atkin*. (Published by K!csr«o
J. Orozc«, San Frane!*co.>
Albert J. Atkins* meditations. "A
Song of Llf#." is now in its third edi
tion, revised and enlarged, and i*om«
from the publisher. Rlcardo J. Orozco.
is a delicate gift book for the holidays.
It Is illustrated with a graceful draw
ing by Artist L. J. Rogers of The Calls
staff, -wfhich adds much to the attrac
tiveness of the little book. , The phil
osophy of Atkins is full of optimism
and comradcrie with nature. Of a
growing plant he says in rhapsody.
'Why have 'my dull senses only recog
nized the eternal beauty? Why has my
soul not felt its kinship to thee?"
The prose studies In the book ar«
superior both in thought and form to
the verse. It is curious that a writer
whose prose Is so concise, elevated and
firm should write verse on serious
themes In a meter so unfitted for the
subject. It is for hi 3 prose that Atkins
may be read. g
A.. Radelyff* Dugmore. F. R. G- S.,
author of "Camera Adventures In th*
African Wilds." has recently returned
from a very successful lecture trip In
Canada.
I APPROPRIATE GIFTS j
Joaquin Miller's Poems <
LIMITED AUTOGRAPHED EDITION \
The Care and Culture of Men
DAVID STAKE JOHDAJT <*^
At the Shrine of Song ]
KEXBEBT BASHTOSD
AH Holiday Books «t right price*. \
Library globes all s!ze« and prices. C/i
WfIITAKER & BAY-WIGGIN CO. §
* 776 MISSION STREET *
Century Dictionary
AX IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT
10 VOLUMES
9&>.00 to $70.00
SEXD FOR FALL CATALOG
JOHN J. NEWBEGIN"
3X5 SPTTEH, ST.. SAX r&AKCISCO. CAL.