The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-17
Icy L. BEHYMER. ]


CADET DAYS. A STORY OF WEST POINT;
by Capt CHARLES KING, U. s. A. Illus
trated. Published by Harper & Brothers,
New YORK city. For sale by The stoll d
Thhyer company.
Cadet life at West Point has waited
long for it's story-teler. While colleges
and universities have 80 many features
that are common to all that a story of
Harvard would answer with little
change OF local color. for one of Yale or
Princeton, the United States Military
academy has life of its own. made up
OF Distinct characteristics not to be
found elsewhere. No one could write a
story OF the Point but q graduate, for no
one else could know the details of the
inner life OF the institution. No one
else could be acquainted with the pecul-
lar ideas which military training i'm
poses on the uncommonly raw material
offered to the government; and no one
but graduate who had learned by ex-
perence in the service tho meaning and
purpose of academy life could construct
a story which should show how men
and soldiers are developed by the mill
tary method Of education.
Fortunately, in Captain King, West
Point had graduate who possessed the
requisite experience, the necessary en-
Athusiasm, and, above all, the literary
skill needful for the production OF a
good story. That Cadet Days is a story
for BOYS. and that it was first printed as
a serial in Harper's Young People, are
not matters for comment. Who could
be 80 interested in this story OF boy
life under influences and control known
to few as boys in other schools? And it
is pleasure to say to them that here
ie one of the best boys stories that
has been printed in recent years. Every
frank, manly young fellow will follow
with keen interest the fortunes of the
army surgeons son, brought mp on the
plains. rider. a guide, hunter, before
he was out OF his teens; sent to West
Point, and put to the test OF true man.
hood by trials and adversely. And every
boy will be better for Captain Kings
well-inculcated lesson that eolid Grit,
backed by earnest perseverance,, must
eventually, though slowly, push its way
to recognition.
Perhaps George Greham's love for his
mother is unnecessarily accentusted, for
that ia one OF the things manly boys do
not care to talk much about, aud per-
haps the story would have eho wn higher
literary skill had there been q more
even balance between conversation and
description; but, nevertheless, this is q
book that no boy will lay down willingly
until he has finished it, aud, after all,
that is the most practical praise that
can be given to story.
~~x
WOUND GUILTY, by FRANK BARRETT. Pub
lshed by Lowell, Coryeil q Co., New York
City. For sale by the stoll u Thayer com
About the time that DIR. Norman of
London takes possession OF Beauchamp
manor the guardian of Mics Dorothea
Howard, living in the same vicinity, is
very much worried over the mysterious
disappearance OF letter emitting his
ward to large sum of money. His at
tempts to recover the letter set in motion
minor schemes of some OF the characters
implicated in The theft, and an attempt
10 made TO prevent Dorothea from mar
rying the man she loves this failing, in
tiuence is brought to bear to make her
believe her husband false, and she sub
mits passively to hearing supposed ad-
vocate of herself declare his intention of
numbering Captain Bromley; believing
he has acquitted himself of the inten-
ton. he compels Dorothe to leave Eng
land. Following this flight are both
sensational aud romantic incidents oc-
curing in France and England.
*.~
THE TWO-LEGGRD WOLF by N N. KARAR-
ZIN, romance from the Russian, by Boris
Lanin. Published by Rand, McNslly " Co.
of Chicago. For sale by the Stoll x rhaycr
company.
The translation OF Boris Lanin's novel
Is we'll done in forceiul and effective
English, which certainly cannot bs said
OF all translations. The author, Karar-
Yin, exhibits in this story the wonderful
dramatic power which marks his produc-
ton. Every chapter ia intensely dra-
matte, even to excitement. The dra-
mats persona are the bandits OF the
desert--those vast steppes @hich abound
in the vaster Russia-the white blouses
as the Russian soldiers ars called, and
the Turcomsn, whose allegiance lie to
the khan-showing in their encounters
barbarian dash in action, splendid in
appearance and equipment, which is 30
characteristic OF these people. The
heroine is Sister of Charity who &C.
companies Russian re iment. Like
most Russian novels, the book is strong
ly realistic. The novel reader who is in
search OF an exciting book will find one
in The Two Legged Wolf.
Some of the description and word
painting in the book is excellently well
done and enjoyable. Novel and inter
Getting situations abound. Every chap
ter might be said, with the exception of
few paragraphs, to be a dialogue or
conversation between several speakers.
The book ia illustrated with several
pictures, and is we'll bound and clearly
printed-altogethe very readable
book, and 10 lovers of Russian scenes
and characters fascinating enc. The
time of the story is about 1870, few
years after the northern part of Bokhara
had been conquered by the Russians.
The rowing tribes of Central Asia are
greatly excited over the coming of an
other Russian expedition against the
Turkomans. Atam Kul, OF the power
full nomadic tribe of Kirghiz, is the ''two-
legged wolf" ne is renegade and
thief; false to his own people and a
deserter from the Russian army 4; made
prisoner by the latter he escapes and
successfully plans the kidnapping of
Sister of Charity serving in the Russian
army. He endeavors to force her to be-
come member OF his harem, but Is
brought to justice by the Kirghiz at
last. Military life az seen in the Rus
Bian army is we'll described.
a*#
Mr.. BAILRY-MARTIN. by PERCY WHITE; pub
i1shed by Lowell, Cornell & Co. of New
YORK city; for sale by the stoil & Thayer