The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-07

be of serge. or pretty crepe vest may be put
in. The short coat effect, beIted in with the
satin. makes the garment stylish, according to
latest mandates.
WHAT WE HAVE READ AND WHAT WE ARE
READING
DEAR BETTER HALF: am 80 glad You have
started book chats. While can say but little
Of any benefit to the readers / hope to gain
much. Let us look at the different characters
portrayed in Adam Bede." There is the Bede
family, with their strong true characters and
their sturdy. workaday ways, strongly in con-
trast to tile Gippsnt. fckle, fnery-loving Hetty.
Poor Hetty! Her liking for sefadornment
caused her downfall.
There is Arthur. Hetty's lover, who was too
high in the world to make her his wife, How
much he suffered with and for her. the victim
of his passion; and Dinah Morris that "superb
woman" Arthur calls her. She and Adam
were so well mated. Tho other characters are
all good and exactly suited to their places.
Read adam Bede" and judge for yourselves
LENoRE GROVES, Wichita, Kan.
&*x
Adam Bede" seems to be the best-beloyed
book ofal so far. In the next letter is an account
of book, "Girls Who Have Become Famous" {"
among the girls George Eliot, or Marian
Evans-her maiden Dame--is written about.
TIE old discussion as to whether her life was in
the least consistent with the nobility of the
theories expressed in her novels, Immediately
arises. She is interesting in every way. Her
first novel was not written until she was nearly
40 years old, and it is said that she thought
over the scenes and characters of Romola for
Is years before writing the story. "Adam
Bede" is said to show many of the traits and
habits of her own father and she and her sis
ter were like Celia and Dorothea in Middle
march. Tom, Maggie Tuliver's brother, is like
her elder brother, Isaac Evans.
EDITOR BETTER HALF: One of the books /
have read during the past year, and i think
the one which impressed me the most, was
"Girls Who Became Famous" by Sarah K
Bolton. In it the writer tells some of the lief
characteristics of the different women she is
describing. And it is very interesting book,
inasmuch as the sketches are about some of the
most famous women of both continents. To
read about Mary Lyons struggles in organizing
Mt. HolyOke College and the grand success
which was hers later. and the first disheart-
eniDg features of Louisa NJ. Alcott's struggles
for success as an author, only achieved after
the tentative period. would seem to breathe
encouragement and inspiration to one strug-
Cling for noble purpose cause. And, too,
the much-belOved author of Uncle Toms
Cabin +" is given noble example of pro-
gressive, thinking woman, doing her own work
lat times), and last, but not least. training her
children.
The description of Madame De Stael shows
how clearly and thoroughly woman can un-
derstand the political issues by studying the
affairs of her Nation closely.
The sketch of Rosa Bonheur shows conclu-
sively. by patient years of toll, close applica-
ton, and perseverance,, that one adapted can
| reach the highest achievements in art. And
it leaves the impression, it is better to let the
child choose his or her field of labor in life.
Maria MitchelPs fame as an astronomer is
depicted in style pleasing to the reader, and
her quiet tastes aud nnassuming manner are
worthy the imitation of any young woman.
And as the different women are described
throughout the book, it leaves pleasing i'm
preston upon the reader, and stimulates US to
greater efforts in our respective duties.-GENE-
WE'VE NJ. b., AlgOna Iowa.
Although there are some people who do not
care to know anything about the personality
of the authors, even of their favorite books,
| yet the most of US like to get acquainted, as it
were, with them, to find out more about their
! views and their lives and struggles and sue
cesses. To the latter class this volume will of
course be interesting, as it is it is said, a we'll
| written book. and the women chosen are all
women who have done much.
ELSIE POMEROY MCELRoY.