Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-23
ABOUT BOOKS AND BOOKMAIERS,
Ambrose Bierce Credited With
a Powerful Work.
A Number of Recent Publications
Critically Reviewed.
Mrs. sherwood's New Book on Eth
quette-Mr. Howelps Latest Story.
Hamlin Garland's Little
Norsk-Book Notes.
TBY L. b.

q popular subject has been the question,
Ts the Pen Mightier Than the Sword
A new book has recently been pup
lished whose keen satire, scorching con-
tempt, bitter wit, and amiable humor
will strike the readers and enter deeper
than the keenest weapons. Indeed, this
particular pen is mightier than the
sharpest sword. 1t is an original WORK,
aimed at the weak mortals who forget
thew are men and become either fools
or villains. The title is singular and
original Black Beetles in Amber. The
author, Ambrose Bierce, has been con-
tributor to the daily and weekly San
Francisco press, and is we'll known on
the Pacific slope. The verses included
in this remarkable book are all fugitive
poems, written and published at various
times in the last ten years. The
articles are especially addressed to the
people of the Pacific coast, and many OF
the descriptions will be recognized as
pen portraits of prominent men who
have been leaders in affairs of state
government in California for the last 20
years. The foreign reader will recognize
in these portraits similarity to charac-
ters in their own immediate vicinity,
and will be astonished at the power and
depth of analysis to which the victim
will be subjected when brought under
the scornful gaze of the writer. No
writer before the American public could
have written anything like it. He is q
man of genius, whose standard of q
gentleman is very high and honorable
g sneak he despises, and a man who
would sell out his fellow man ia to him
the most contemplate creature in ex-
istence. His reference to Waterman,
Boruck, E. s. Solomon, Stephen M.
White and Stanford are to be read only
to be appreciated. His tribute to Gov
ernor Pennoyer, of Oregon, is noble
effort. He has noble sentiments, and a
masculine sympathy, as strongly ex-
pressed, for noble deeds, as his aversion
for ignoble ones. It is such writers
that create taste, and whose efforts live
on and eventually become classics.
Black Beet es in Amber, by Ambrose Bie-ce.
For sale by Stoll, Thayer & Co.
*xx
There is noble little woman, we'll in
formed, who writes for the instruction
OF society, and who has done more for
its improvement than any other writer
in America. This is Mrs. M. E. W.
Sherwood, whose latest work, The Art
of Entertaining, is eagerly read by all
whose lives are passed in the choice cir
cles of America and Europe. She is
refined and cultivated lady, who would
like to see American society, such as she
finds it chiefly in New York, reformed
and made a society OF intellectual men
and women, who think more OF enter
tainments1ior the eye and the mind than
those usually provided for the stomachs
of gluttons and heavy drinkers. She is
we'll bred, and has learned much of good
living and good breeding both in Europe
and America, and this new volume is
full of this acquired knowledge with
which she is endeavoring to enlighten
the men and women of our country.
Her methods are refined, she does not
find the crudeness of our society sub
ject for ridicule, but regards it as the in
evitable results of new country full OF
rich and aspiring people; tells them OF
their deficiencies and shows them how
to rectiiy and correct them.
Her valuable work covers vast
extent, private family dinners to state
banquets, simple evenings at home" to
balls in royal palaces, from the prepare
ton of food in the kitchen to its con-
sumption in the grand dining hall. She
tells how the English, French, Dutch,
Italians dine, how their tables are set,
and viands served; gives the duties of
host, hostess and guests, based upon
actual knowledge of the best system of
etiquette which now prevails among the
higher classes of society.
1t is valuable acquisition for any
lady or gentleman in need of information
on such subjects.
XIV
Mr.. Howells' book, entitled The Quail
ity of Mercy, was such successful effort
that the publishers are bringing out a
paper edition, 80 that all readers who
admire his works can have the pleasure
of reading it. 1t is story of defalcation
of a treasurer of rich corporation, who
is rich, but wishes for more; who uses
funds not his own for personal ends,
pays it back, uses it again--and cannot
repay. Then follows the falsifying
of the books, and more stealing
he is at last found out, and
given three days to make restitution.
He contemplates three things, surren-
der, suicide or fight to Canada. He
has two daughters, whom he loves in
his way, and he must think of them.
He cannot, therefore, surrender and
take the consequences; neither can he
make restitution. He has a large
amount of stolen money in the house,
go he starts to Canada reasoning that
there, with this capital, he can make
investments, retrieve the amount dissi-
pated and repay in full his defalcation.
He starts, but meets with railway
accident, in which his name is 80 con-
nected as to leave an impression that he
is cremated in pullman car. He goes
on to Canada and buries himself in the
wilds, learning only after many months
the facts of this report. The fates of
the deserted daughters form a distinct
part OF the story, and is told with all all
the authors skill and fneese. He also
gives fine account of the opinion of
Hatboro citizens, who, on only rumor
without particle of evidence, proceed
at once to brand him as defaulter and
fugitive. When the exposure comes
there is great sensation; then the
whole thing seems to be forgotten, and
in a few years it appears that all
would be satisfied if the defaulter
would return and resume life under the
old conditions. AS for the daughters of
Northwick, they absolutely refuse to be-
lieve the charge and only believe it
when the fugitive writes to Boston
paper of his survival and admits his de-
falcation. Northwck's end seems dis
tinctly better than he deserves, and
thot of bis dauuhtar Adelina uuita tho