The herald., 1893-07-23
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obtained by their wishes to noble endl
and deeds OF charity. Mr.. Farjeon hat
often been called the euccessor of Dick
ems. He certainly has that maeter'I
love for fun, his sense Of pathos and hit
keen appreciation of absurd complica-
tions and laug hter-moving improbable
ties. The book from first to last holds
the readers attention. There is not q
dull page in it. In truth. there are hail
a dozen good laughs in each page, and
no one can read chsptei
without feeling better for the
smiles it has evoked. But
while Mr.. Farjeon may be compared to
Dickens, he shows throughout the
change that has come over literary taste
since Dickens died, as we'll as the
change In social manners and customs.
Something Occurred is quito up to date
| in this respect. 1t is written in bright,
clear, attractive style, and ought to find
thousands of readere, for its whole
some, genuine, playful fun will raise the
spirits of the most melancholy. Above
all things, it differs from some modern
books OF the French school in being
thoroughly pure and healthy in thought
and word.
One of Charles Scribner's sons new
books is by that well-known, versatile
and inimitable author r. !. Stevenson,
entitled Island Nights Entertain mente,
containing three South Sea stories. The
stories in this volume are new examples
of two sides OF Mr.. Stevenson's genius
of his unresting and fiery narrative OF
adventure and fight, and of his fantas-
tic Imagination and grotetque humor.
They have all the dashing movement
and briliancy of style of his Wrecker.
The first story in this book, accom-
panied by a chart and explanatory map
OF the surrounding country wherein the
scenes take place, is entitled The
Beach of Falesa, being the mar
rative of South sea trader.
The Bottle Imp is an old story with a
new setting and new moral, the author
himself says, 'any student of that very
unliterary product, the English drama
of the early part OF the century, will
here recognize the name and the root
idea of piece once rendered popular by
the redoubtable B. Smith. The root
idea is there and identical, and yet l
believe have made II a new thing.
And the fact that the tale has been de-
signed and written for q Polynesian
audience may lend it some extraneous
interest nearer home." The finishing
story ia The Isle of Voices. Each and
all make us acquainted with the South
Sea islanders, peculiar people, as we
never before have seen. Simplicity,
gyod nature, laziness and superstition
seem the cardinal points of native char
acter in the south seas; savagery,
when it is manifested, is dus
merely to temporary overflow of vi
tality. The trader, who tells the fret
story in the first person, and rival
trader, are the only Europeans of conse-
quence in the tales; all the others are
natives, and two Of the three yarns seem
native legends retold by a man who
knows how to make the most of them
without changing their character and
osphere. Some wonderful details of
magic and sorcery are here set down,
and whether the reader believes them or
not, they were as real as daylight to the
characters. Mr.. Stevenson's ability to
put himself in another mans place has
been too we'll and often demonstrated to
need farther commentator. The tales
are freely illustrated in typical fashion.
#*x
One of Robert Bonner's sons books
that needs special mention is, Phe I'm
provisatore, or Lie in Italy, translated
from the Danish of Hans Christian
Andersen, by Mary Hewitt. This
of course in Denmark ia we'll
known and is in almost every household
in that country. 1t is an enhancing ro-
nance, dealing with the classic scenes nj
Italy. To those who desire to behold
with their own eyes those scenes it will
create fresh spring of sentiment and
fill them with unspeakable longing. To
those who have visited the fair and
memory.haunted towers and towns OF
Florence, Rome and Naples it will re-
vive their enthusiasm and refresh their
knowledge. Andersen published this
novel Immediately after his return from
Italy, and it created an extraordinary
effect. Those who had deprecated the
authors talent came forward voluntarily
and offered him their homage. 1t is
work OF such singular originality and
beauty that no analysis or description
could do it justice, and the universal ad-
miration which it at once excited has
out the world. The illustrations are by
Harry @. Edwards.
x*x
Another interesting book published
by the Robert Bonner's Sons is The
Northern Light. translated from the
German of E. Werner by Mrs. D. M.
Lowery. Since the death OF the author
of Old Ma'msehe's Secret Werner is
the most popular OF living German
writer's. Her novels are written with
great literary ability. and possess the
charm OF varied character, incident and
scenery. The Northern Light is one of
her most characteristic stories. The
heroine is woman of great beauty and
strength of individuality. No less in
teresting is the young poet, who, from
beginning to end, constantly piques the
curiosity of the reader.
All the above books for sale by the stoll &
Thayer company, 139 south Spring street.
Book Chat.
The Authors association OF New York
and San Francisco have just published
a book that is the literary sensation OF
the day in San Francisco and ought to
be in demand here in Los Angeles. 1t
is entitled Ssraltha, and is based on the