Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-30
ABOUT BOOKS AND BODENsKERS,
An Interesting American Story
by Miss Drake.
Reviews Of q Number Of Recent
Publications.
New Books Issued In Many Lines OF
WCrk-A Number OF Coming Issues
Notes About Authors and
Their Productions.
[BY L. b.


Miss Jeanie Drake is new American
author of a charming love story, en-
titled In Old St. Stephens. The story is
supposed to be made from the records
and diaries beoueathed to the writer py
his grandfather, South Carolina plans.
er, in the early part OF the century. ~
presents a very fascinating sketch OF the
old family, and shows phases OF me-
customs and conditions of southern lie
that are now wholly matters OF history.
General Lafayette is among the char.
acters introduced in this book. and
John G. Calhoun plays prominent
mort in the plot. The other characters
are members of old wealthy families
and negro slaves. There is charming
freshness in the story, which is full OF
constant human interest. 1t is told
forcibly and vividly, and holds the
readers attention and sympathy.
x*x
Out of the Jaws of Death, by Frank
Barrett, will fascinate the average reader
of good novels and exciting literature
The adventurous career of those who
find their life work in opposition to the
czar of Russia and his commands has
furnished material for more than one
romance but in the book Frank Barrett
has treated the subject in somewhat
newer light. The leading figure ls tnat
of a very bad Irishman who finds IN
Russia a field for his special powers, ana
he works so ekillful and perslstentiy
that he makes trouble for every one
whom he meets, until he hnds his
match in an English girl, who orlngs
him to grief. The excitement OF the
conspirator's life is but secondary TO the
prettily-told story of the rescue OF
little waif from the slums and the blind
devotion of the girl to her rescuer, VINO,
after a series of escapes and deeds OF
courage. which are entertainingiy woven
about the main thread of the story,
marries her. Plots and counterplots,
intrigues, suspicion, politics, cruelty,
knavery and virtue combine to make
this a highly exciting book, and more
thrilling story of it's kind would be hard
to find.
There are 40 many kind-hearted au-
thors who think of the needs of the
vounp readers. But children tire much
quicker than elder readers when book
after book is brought forth whose scenes
and plots and adventures are all laid IN
similar places and amid the same sur
roundings. Marian Brewster has de-
parted from these we'll travelled roads,
and takes the boy and girl reader to
new country-the water oaks and low
portions of Florida. The title of the
book is Under the Water Oaks. and is
prettily told. 1t is the play of three
little boye, one of whom is quaint little
colored boy. which takes place mostly
under the water oaks. The principal
adventures occur during deer hunt,
the taking prisoner of a tramp, being
lost in the woods. and similar everyday
events that come to all bright, adven-
turesome and fun loving children. 1t is
especially recommended to children OF
from to IA years of age.
x*x
The Snare of the Fowler is new
novel by Alexander and is much more
exciting tale than For His Sake, brought
out earlier this year. Myra Dallas. an or
phan, about whose birth there is mys.
Terry, 10 discwped by ber guardians wife
as soon as the wife becomes a widow,
bat the girl is found by en- old friend OF
her fathers, who guards her, teaches
her to draw and paint and finally falls
in love with her, although he has rea-
sons for not declaring himself promptly.
She has wicked old aunt who casts
dark suspicious on the child's parentage
and subjects her to all sorts of persecu-
tions in order to get hold OF the child's
inheritance. The girl is afterward re-
called to the family that had dropped
her and is used to further some schemes
which come to naught, although she is
frequently put in perils which arouse
the sympathy of feminine readers.
There are many charactere and many
complications in the story, but like all
others of Mrs. Alexander's stories the
women ore faithfully and capitally
drawn and in great contrast.
x*x
The Chautauqua students and their
friends are now deeply interested in the
study of Grecian literature; one of the
books of the course is entitled Callias, ol
the Fall of Athens. 1t has proven tc
be an exceptional book on historical anG
classic themes. The readers will there
fore doubly welcome the authors new
book entitled Pictures from Roman Life
and Story. Rev. A. j. Church, M. A..
is 80 well known as writer on classic
themes that new book from his pen
has all the attractions of popular ro
nance, and yet the studies of ancient
manners he puts forth have the weight
of indisputable history. AS professor Of
Latin in University college, London, he
has become perfectly acquainted with
the Latin tongue, and 80 well versed in
Roman literature and history as to be
recognized as an authority on such sub.
jects. His story has not the dry emu.
meration Of statistics and dates, but is
written in an interesting style
such story as you would
write an eastern friend in describing
the wonders of California, the sizes oi
it's ranches, the products and the his
torical facts connected with the places
you might visit, He depicts in that
graphic and judicious style, of which he
is master, the careers of the various
emperors and the vicissitudes that befell
some of the men who ever associated
with them. His opening chapter, en-
titled, A Child of Fortune, describes
Augustus or Caius Octaviue. The sec.
Ond chapter is devoted to Maecenas and
His Friends. The third-so interesting
to the Students A Day with Horace.
Then in succession The Death and
Burial of Germanicus, The Rise and Fall
of Sejanus, The Dedication of Claudius,
The Great Fire of Rome, and The Last
Hours of Philosopher-that noble
Seneca.
In one grand chapter The Death oi