Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-08
Why must Mrs, Floyd- Curtis

wrong way. Why must Mrs. Floyd Curtis
intercept that message-bearing volume of
Mr.. Lang's essays, and so spoil all the beau
tiful might-have-been? Why must Lilly
marry the English Lord instead of the En-
glish professorP Nevertheless, here is q
delightful bit of writing. And true to life,
as true as Signor Verga. Mrs. Burton Hsr-
rison is the author. (Cassell Publishing
Company
"And SO love conquered" That is the
last sentence in "a Cigarette Makers Ro-
nance" (MacMillan & Coz The wise
people who read first the title page and then
the initial and the final sentences OF novel,
and, after these preliminary tests adventure
into the novel itself, will recognize q good
story here. Marion Crawford is the author.
And what has Crawford written which is
not worth even threefold reading? He has
written large number of books during
the last half-dozen years, but not one better
than this. From beginning to end, de-
llghttul. The scene laid in Munich, and in
the shop of tobacconist. The hero, Rus
sion, curiously insane, with intervals of
sanity. The heroine, brave little girl, who
works beside him. The end, like q good
fairy story. The best book in all this bundle
of novels is "a Cigarette Makers Romance"
".
And vet here is "Iu the Valley" As
different from Mr.. Crawford's book as the
Mohawk settlements in the DAYS of the
French and the Indians were different from
Munich. But in its way, interesting, de-
lighttul. Everybody knows that, who has
followed the course of the story in the pages
of Scribner'S Magazine. "In the Valley"
is careful study of life in day which has
not vet Welded many harvests to fiction.
Mr.. Frederick has spent much OF his life
amid the scenes which make the back
ground OF his book. Howard Pyle designs
the pictures.
so Thou My Austrial'' is the queer title
of Mrs. Wister's last translation. The author
is Ossip Schubin. Even at the end of the
book the meaning of the title is still puz-
zle. But that does not interfere with the
interest of the story. The plot opens with a
maiden and two lovers, and closes, of course,
with the maiden and one Iover-and the
right one. There is a by-plot, too, with a
tragedy In it, which is not so pleasant.
One always looks for pleasant stories from
the pen of Mrs. Amelia E. Barr and 1.-THE
Household of McNeill'' is not an exception.
OF course the scene is laid in Scotland.
One can guess that from the title. The
novel has more of the tragic element than
is usual in Mrs. Barr's stories. There is q
TASTY anu unlortunate marriage, ana It's
distressing sequel. However, all comes out
right at the last. The description of the
scenery of the Scotch Highlands, with their
heathery moors, and the salt breezes of the
sea blowing over them, are singularly
graphic and true. The authors point of
view is always wise and helpful. A good
book. Brushes and Chisels" is thoroughly
Italian from the first chapter to the last.
The scene Is in Rome, and the characters
are artists. The pages are full of artists
studios, and paintings, and carvings. and
plans, and art talk. AT the end there is a
duel. The book is charmingIy bound.
''Her Great Ambition" has strain of art
in it, too. An attractive book, well written,
with many bright things in it, good plot
and a climax of the right kind. Anne
Richardson Earle is the author, and that
she may write another book as good is the
hope OF The CRITIC.