The herald., 1893-10-22
|A'|!Y,S2Tz5gIAAJTNoRS
Y RH1ld7F'fE15SGoSY

and lonely forest taxed to the utter
most the ingenuity OF the actore. To
introduce into one short scene bandit,
two cavaliers, witch and a fairy
spirit--all enacted by two people-re-
quired some skill and lightning change
of costume. To call up the ghostly
visions and mysterious voices which
should sppall the guilty Count Rudolf
pho. was task OF no small difficulty.
But inspired by the desire to outshine
themselves, the children accomplished
a play full OF revenge. jealousy, murder,
and eorcery, of all which they knew
nothing but the name. Hitherto their
dramas had been OF the most senti-
mental description, given 10 the por-
trayal of woman's devotion, flial affec-
tion, heroism and self sacrifice. Indeed,
these 'comic tragedies" with their
high-hown romance and fantastic ideas
OF love and honor, are most character
istic Of the young girls whose lives were
singularly free from the experiences Of
many maidens of their age.
OF the world they knew nothing I;
lovers were ideal beings, clothed with
all the beauty of their innocent imagin-
ations. Love was blissful dream; con-
stancy, truth, courage and virtue quite
everyday affairs of life. Their few nov
els furnished the romantic element, the
favorite fairy tales gave them material
for the supernatural, and their strong
dramatic taste enabled them to infuse
both fire and pathos into their absurd
situations.
10 revelled in catastrophe. and the
darker scenes were her delight; but she
usually required Meg to "do the love-
part" which she considered quite be-
meath her pen. Thus their productions
were queer mixture OF sentiment and
adventure, with entire disregard OF such
matters as grammar, history and geog-
raphy, all OF which were deemed OF no
importance by these aspiring dramatists.
From this little stage library, still
extant, has been selected the plays that
fill this book they are fair examples OF
the work OF these children OF l6 and IL.
With some slight changes and omis-
sions, they remain as written more
than 40 years ago by Meg and 10, so
dear to the hearts of many other Little
Women. The Tragedies included Norma
or the Witch's Curse The Captive OF
CASTLE, or the Moorish Maiden's Vow
The Greek Slave; Ion Blanca; An
Operate Tragedy; and The Unloved
Wife, or Woman's Faith.
No more delightful volume has been
Issued for the girls of 10 to 16 than this
little volume by Aunt 10, and many
pairs of bright eyes will sparkle upon
receiving present of this coveted vol
ume.
One of Lee and Shepard's new books
in the Good Companysseries is by w. N.
Murdock, entitled, "Third Hand High. {"
Sam Hawkins, New England farmer
nearing middle age, falls heir to q mill
ion of dollars, loft by forgotten uncle
who had died intestate. He marrieH
the minister's daughter, vain, young
girl who takes him for his money only,
thereby playing first hand. The second
hand. which plays low, is Hawking
former housekeeper, whose husband.
howe yer, being the third hand, plays
high, but is trumped by benevolent
gentleman who restores to Hawkins his
imperilled treasure, after having ascer-
tanned that Mrs. Hawkins has learned
to care for her husband as well as for
his money. A man who can perceive
no higher purpose in nature than the
evolution OF moral intelligence, may
we'll wonder why his life presents 80
many experiences irrelevant to any
apparent needs or results in his own
character and aims. 's4Ds 9r"lf ssti8
The author has evidently written the
story to demonstrate this purpose, and
seeems satisfied should the public ap-
prove the judgment of the publisher OF
this story, then the enigma will in the
authors case be solved. Like all copies
of the Good Company series, this volume
contains q moral go depicted that the
reader looks at life thus portrayed with
clear and intelligent eyes. Rev. Dexter
Balm is splendid character of the pres
ent day, while Deacon Gleason of Birch
stock and Mrs. Sam Hawkins are inter-
esting, each in their way. Windermere
is typical town of the eastern states.
quiet and rural, whose characters, like
their conversations, glide along smoothly
in the same old rut each day. One pleas
ing feature of the story is the almost
human intelligence displayed by the pet
horse, Trixy. 1t is q charming book to
read at the seashore, or on the broad
piazza in rocker to pass away the un-
eventful afternoons.
All OF the above books for sale By The Stoll &
Thayer Co., l39 South Spring street.
In the Arenas list of popular as we'll
as phenomenal books on topics of the
present time and higher class novels, we
find efforts OF the younger authors rank
ing equal if not superior to the elder
writer's of THE day and age. One of the
latest publications by this enterprising
company is Where the Tides Meet, by
Edward Payson Berry. The young
author OF this unique book, which, If the
public verdict shall not pronounce
''Drillisnt." will yet eagerly hail for the
intrinsic interest of its contents, and
destined to carve for himself an early
and exalted name upon the temple
OF fame. During his twenty-frHt
year he wrote Leah Of Jerusalem, o
story of the time Of Paul, whose publi-
cation was readily undertaken by such
veteran publisher as Randolph of New
York, and which has an extern
sive sale. even Holder & Slough
ton of Paternoster Row, London.
giving it their valuable imprimatur
and greatly widened the range OF its
circulation. The book was we'll re-
ceived by such periodicals as the New
York Independent and the London
Atheneum; indeed, it has scarcely had
a derogatory word, while one literary
divine, in expressing his great surprise
over go marked production from go
Young q source, declared that he re-
garded it for himself as textbook
upon the life of st. Paul. Everywhere
it's minute historic accuracy has been