Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-24
BOOK TALK.
fBy w. II. AL

they are wonderfully plant and of great
power. His sentences keep rhythmic
time to the music of his thoughts; and
be the subject what it may, he presents
it to the minds eye with vividness
and vigor that few can equal.
Heretofore Mr.. Stevenson has been
best known as a writer of splendid fic-
ton, sometime singer of children's g
songs, and chanter of weird legendary
ballads. Occasionally, however, the
evanescent pages of magazine have
given us glimpses of some charming es-
say that bore his name. But of his sub
stantial claim to a high place among
modern British essayists I wae unaware
until happened upon little volume
recently issued by Charles Scribner's
Sons and entitled Across the Plains,
With Other Memories and Essays.
The contents of this volume are Sc
lected from Mr.. Stevenson's occasional
contributions to various periodicals
Fraser's, Longman's, The Magazine of
Art and Scribner's. They cover pc
riod of several years; and their dozen
subjects are as full of variety as they
are of interest.
The frst-that which lends it's name
to the collections scathing pen-pic-
ture of the miseries endured on an emf
grant train from New York to San Fran
cisco. 1t is to be hoped that things
have materially changed for the better
since that trip was taken. The next
treats of The Old Pacific Capital, Mon
terey. Then there is an exquisite essay
on that paradise of artists, ,Fontainebleau,
where congenial spirits yearly congre-
gate to gather inspiration from the depths
of the beautiful old forest. Some Ran
dom Memories carry us on a iaunt of
inspection among the lighthouses of the
coast of life; and delightful word
about Beggars introduces us to two
charming vagabonds, one of whom, a
stalwart old soldier, far gone in con-
sumption, has passionate fondness for
the high-sounding words of poets he
cannot understand, and talks incessant.
ly of "Keats-John Keats, sir" or
Shelley, who twas fine poet, sir,
though tri1e atheistical in his opin-
ions;" while the other, shrunken.
weazened little man, had vulgar taste
in literature" but loved nature and all
her handiwork. OF the other ESSAYS
that 60 to round out the dozen, each has
its own peculiar charm.
Mr.. Stevenson is a lover of nature,
and has studied her in all her varied
moods. He has also looked deep INTO
tho h,.-..--- AoarJ ana maUe lta manifold
secrets his own. He is close observer,
What he sees he sees understandipgly,
and he possesses the rare gift of being
able to make others see it with his eyes
such thoughtful, kindly eyes. 1, for
one, am profoundly grateful to the pub
fishers who have rescued these essays
from the oblivion of the magazines.
(Acfoss the Plains, with Other Mem
ories and Essays, by Robert Louis Stew
enson. For sale by Stoll & Thayer, No.
139 South Spring street.)
x*x
Two rarely gifted young men, hailing
from opposite ends of the earth-one the
literary lion of the hour; the other not
SO we'll known, but of much promise
conceived, and together wrought, story.
These young men were Rddyard KippliDg
of India and Wolcott Balestier of the
United States. Their story is The
Naulahka, Story of West and East.
Many and strange are the things told
therein, wonderous are the partnership
imaginings of Kippling and Balestier!
"Tarvin. my boy, you've played with
a kingdom, and for results it lays over
monkeying with buzz.saw." 1t is
thus that Nicholas Tarvin, citizen of
Topaz, U. S. A., and member-elect of
the Colorado legislature, muses. over his
experiences in the state of Gokral See
tarun, realm of the Maharajah. If
may be allowed to give slang for slsng,
Hrt
not even realistic, dramatic, Blue
Jeans buzz-saw.
There is something almost startling in
the bold sweep of fancy that can take
this matter-of-fact and eminently practi-
cal young man of the wide-awake west
and, at a moments notice, send him
sweetheart and jewel hunting into
sleepy old India. This is what these
two young literary persons have done;
and when they get him there what a
commotion they do let him make!
Kate Sheriff, Tarvin's sweetheart,
conceived herself born into this world
for the especial purpose of ministering
to the needy of earth. The particular
needy to be benefited by her personal
efforts were the benighted women OF In
dia, whittier, despite her love for Tar
vim and his remonstrances, this con-
scientious young woman felt in duty
bound to go. Tarvin had another love
the growing city of Topaz. Its well
fare and his happiness were synonom-
GUS. To insure its future, all that To-
paz needed was the Three C's railroad.
Tarvin meets pretty Mrs. Mutrie, the
new-made bride of the president of the
Three CPS, and discovers that she has
an absorbing passion for rare jew
els. He also discovers that her sweet
will is her husbands law. He forth
with describes to her a certain Indian
necklace of marvellous beauty, and with
out price then rashly bargains to make
the coveted bauble hers if she will in
fiuence her husband in bringing the
road to Topaz. The bargain struck,
these hare-brained young people shake
hands on it; and Tarvin takes French
leave of his friends, without 30 much as
''good bye" word, and HES him India
wards right swiftly. To Kate's sbso-
lutte amazement and chagrin, che finds
this audacious lover there to meet her
when she arrives. She goes resolutely
about her appointed work, and he COM
mences still hunt for the Naulahka, ol
which he hears much from
many who have heard, but from
none who have seen. He
soon ingratiates itself into the good
graces of the nominal powers that be,
in the person of the fat, lazy, opium.
smoking, parchisi-playing, debt-con'
| tracing Maharajah, whom he treats
with easy familiarity; becomes the self
appointed protector of the lovable little
Asharai K;fnwar heir annareut and