The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-21
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find in that charming heighborhood the
customary proportion OF poverty and
misery.
The land agent, not wishing to lose q
good customer, proposed putting up
some ramshackle cottages-some of
them unhealthy-on certain waste land,
and getting some poor people to inhabis
them. He promised to get nice, clean.
grateful poor, so az to make it as pleas
ant as possible for the new tenant. 1t
ended in, the lady's accepting the
agents offer and giving him list OF the
poor people che would like to have.
She selected one bed-ridden old woman
(Church OF England preferred), one
psralytic old man, one blind girl who
would want to be read aloud to. one
poor atheist willing to be converted,
two cripples, one drunken father who
would consent to be talked to seriously,
one disagreeable old fellow needing
much patience, two large families, and
four ordinary assorted couples.
The greatest difficulty the agent ex-
perienced was in securing the drunken
father. Most of the drunken fathers he
interviewed ION the subject objected to
be talked to at all. After long search,
however, he discovered a mild little
man who undertook to qualify himself
for the vacancy by getting intoxicated
at least once week. He would not
promise more than once week at first,
he unfortunately possessing strong
natural distaste for all alcoholic liquors.
As he got used to them he thought he
would do better. Over the disagreeable
old man the agent also had trouble. 1t
was hard to hit the right degree of dis
agreeableness. Some of them were 80
very unpleasant. He eventually made
choice of decayed cab-driver with ad-
vanced radical opinions, who insisted
on three-years' contract. The plan
worked exceedingly we'll, and does 30 to
this day. The drunken father has COM
pletely conquered his dislike to strong
drink and the disagreeable fellow is
most conscientious in fulfilling his part
of the bargain. The other types were
obtained with more or less trouble, and
the prospective tenant was satisfied.
She visits her poor every day and is
most charitable. She ia called Lady
Bountiful In the neighborhood, and
every one blesses her. From cover to
cover the book ia full of delicate, in
structive satire and healthy fun. Ii
you wish jolly, good, hearty laugh at
clean fun this is the book to buy. at
any rate you should not miss that por-
ton OF the book referring to Writing a
Really Great Work and Comparing
Genius.
The J. B. Lippincott company of
Philadelphia in their February issue of
the series OF Lippincott's Select Novels,
have q new book by Mrs. Lovett Cam
eron, entitled A Tragic Blunder. The
author is 80 we'll known through her
other efforts-A Sisters Sin, jack
Secret, A Daughters Heart, etc.,-that
wide circle of readers will surely well
come this new book by this favorite
author. The book is quite original in
plot, and has attractive qualities to rec
ommend it. The hero is on the point of
marrying yonng lady to whom
he is devotedly attached, when
he is called away upon pressing
family affairs. He is mistaken by
thieves at railway station for his
cousin, who is his counterpart. This
cousin is carrying come valuable iewelry,
which is known to the gang, who are
in waiting for him. After leaving the
train at the end of his journey the
hero, while crossing field, is dread
fully maltreated. and receives an in
jury on his head which renders all his
past actions perfect blank. After his
restoration to health he forms an at
tachment for the ward OF q relative of
his. The marriage takes place, but
when he ia about to sign the register
memory returns, and here occurs the
strangest scene in the plot. All the
interest hinges on this chapter. There
are several well marked characters, and,
taking the novel chapter by chapter,
thare is much to praise. 1t is sure to
prove interesting to any reader.
~
From Robert Bonner's Sons, New York
city, we have in their choice series q
novel by Mrs. e. d. f. N. Southworth,
the author Of the Hidden Hand, entitled
The Lost Lady of Lone. This is one of
Mrs. Southworth's most romantic tales.
The heroine is a woman almost too ex-
quisite and admirable for the world.
Her ideal type might be the creation of
q poet. She wins the heart of the
pages OF the novel, and every circum-
stance that affects her life is followed
with the intensest sympathy and inter-
eat. This story is thoroughly character
istic of Mrs. Southworth, and possesses
all the merits OF picturesque nara
ton and description which distinguish
her best novels. The scene of the story
is the ancient castle of Lone in Scotland.
The hero is the heir, who has alienated
his ancestral home through a
desire to crafty the extravsgant caprices
of beloved parent. The story is full
of old-world charm and interest.
4*x
Another book in this same series from
the Bonner press is by the same well
known author. The title, For Woman's
Love, is very applicable. In this en-
love story Mrs. Southworth
has given an interesting picture of
society OF over half CEN
fury ago and OF early American politics.
The scene of the atory is Washington
city and vicinity. The heroine, Corona
is the granddaughter OF Bal
timore iron king and one of the authors
most successful creations. The story
abounda in humor, and the negro dia-
Iect, of which Mrs. Southworth is so
perfect master, is irresistible. Her
negro characters will do more to main
tain the popularity of her books and
cause them to be read with pleasure for
years to come than any other merit they
POSSESS. great an their merits are. For
Woman's Love ia deeply touching love
story, appealing to the emotions and of
luch engrossing interest that Its perusal
s perfect delight.
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