New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22
CURRENT FICTION.
RTDYARD KIPL1NG'S NEW BOOK.

THE JUNGLE BOOK. BY Rudyard Kipling The
Century COMPANY
OUTLAW AND LAWMAKE.R. BY Mrs Campbell
Pracd II. Appleton 60.
CLEOPATRA a Romance. ny Georg Ebers. d.
Appleton & CO.
A VALIANT IGNORANCE BY Mary Angela
Dickens. Macmillan CO.
DAUGHTER OF MUSIC. BY G Colmore. u.
Appleton q 60.
THE QUEEN OF LOVE. BY s Barring Gould.
J. H. Lippncott co.
THE RoBBs ISLAND WRECK. BY Lynn II.
Mecklns Stone x Klmball
Perhaps the most curious thing about modern
fiction Is It's average ~ excellence With every
season there come into existence a swarm OF novels
notable In many ways. showing Imagination. con-
structive ability. and the pleasant gift OF style.
Few OF these tales. however. live beyond the
twelve month eyer re-read by the purchaser.
But now and then comes n book that speaks OF
genius. one that is above the fashion Of the hour.
one to which the whlms and moods OF the time
bear relation. Such book is that in which
Mr. Kipling tells MS his marvellous stories OF jungle
life stories which shall enchain young and old
alike while English liteDture lives Here Is the
work OF an artist and artist made great by
Dame Nature and not by conscious discipline. His
forest creatures invested with all the funda-
mental qualities OF human nature and diTeren-
tated with strangely vivid and daring power. No
beast In all that wild company be for
gotten or confused with another. There are scenes
In these pages which cannot recall without
a thrill OF the nerves Witness the mighty mid
night dance OF the elephants. and the weird terror
OF the ruin when the great python. Kaa. casts his
snake -spcl upon the shudderng monkeya and
Baloo. the bear. and Bagheera, the panther, find
safety only In the touch OF Mowgli. the man-cub
The moon sinking behind the hills and the
lines OF trembling monkeys huddled together on
the walls and battlements looked like ragged
shoky fringes of things. Baloo down to the
tank for n drink ana Baeheera began put his
fur In order as ksa. Sided out into the centre OF
ringing snap that drew all the monkeys eyes upon
him. The moon sets" he said. lis there yet
light enough see? From the walls came a
moan like the wind In the tree tops-"We see. o
kaa."-"Good. Begins the dance the Dance
OF the Hunger OF Kaa ST still and watch" He
turned twice or thrice In "A big circle. weaving his
head from right 10 left. Then he began making
loops and figures Of eight with his body and soft
oozy triangles that melted into squares and i've
sided figures. and cooled mounds, never resting
never hurryine. and never stopping his low hum
last the drasgn1. shifting coils disappeared but
they could hear the rustic Of the scales. Baloo
and Bngheera stood still stone. growing In
their throats their neck-hair bristng. and Mowgli
watched and wondered "Banuar-log" said the
voice OF Kaa at last can yc stir foot or hand
without my order? Speak!''E"Without thy order
we cannot stir foot or hand. O Kaar'-"Cood!
Come all one pace nearer TO me-" The lines OF the
monkeys swayed forward helplessly. and Baloo
and Bagheera took one stin step forward with
them Nearer Kissed Kaa. and they all moved