The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-10-31
ABOUT BOOKS.

hNN'
Mr.. Allen is the author who prides
himself on the courage OF his opinions.
The purpose OF the present volume IL set
forth very specifically In his Introduction
which every reader Of the book 10 request
ed to reld before beginning the story,
and OF which an extract 10 here given:
"This ia a Hilltop novel, / dedicate 10
TO all who have heart enough, brain
enough, and soul enough to understand
IL. . OF late we have been flooded with
stories OF evil tendencies. A Hilltop
novel is one that raises a protest in behalf
OF purity. . Literature, us Thomas
Hardy says with truth, is mainly the ex-
preston OF souls in revolt, hence the n
tagonism between literature and Journal
ism. d. | propose in future to add the
words "A Hilltop Novel; to each one OF
my stories which | write OF my own ac-
cord, simply and solely for the sake OF
e%mbodying force OF my own opinion.
Whenever, therefore, in future the words,
"A HILLTOP Novel; appears on the title
page of a book by me-, the reader who
cares for truth n righteousness may
take it for granted that the book rep
resents my own original thinking,
whether good or bad, and on important
points in the human system or human
evolution. These novels will, how
ever, not deliberately attempt to prove
anything. / give due potice beforehand
10 reviewers In general that IL any prin-
eiple NJ all is Proved 6y any oil my nilt-
top novels, is Will be simply this; Act
as you think right for the highest good Of
the human kind, anu you will Invariably
and inevitably come TO a bad end for so
doing.' Not to prove anything but, to
suggest idels to arouse emotion, is, l take
it, the true function of fiction. One
wishes to make ones readers think about
problems they have never considered, feel
with sentiment what they lave disliked
or hated.
"The novelist, as prophet, has his duty
defined for him in those divine words OF
Shelley, that the singing OF song unbid-
den until the world is wrought to symps-
thies and fears it needed not. 49,
"Fiction is to-day the best medium for
the preacher of Righteousness who ad-
dresses humanity. My ideas may be
right or may be wrong; but at least they
are the sincere and trustworthy convic-
lions OF an honest man, warranted in him
by that spirit of the age which each one
Of US is but an automatic mouth-piece."
Macmillan & Co. have in preparation
for publication this fall an important
historical work relating to the Colony OF
Virginia, entitled "rhe Economic History
OF Virginia in the Seventeenth Century,"
by Mr.. Philip A. Bruce. The author ia a
well-known V%irginian, a nephew Of the
late Hon. James A. Seldom and brother
in-law OF Thomas Nelson Page, the popu-
ar author OF stories OF southern life; he
is corresponding secretary OF the Virginia
Historical Society and was editor of the
Virginia Magdstneof History and Biogrd-
11y, and is the author OF ''rhe Plantation
Negro as a Fireman. a work included in
the "Model Library" recommended by
the United States Bureau OF Education.
We believe that this is the first consider.
able work OF any merit dealing with the
economic history OF Virginia that has
hitherto been produced in America. The
look should lind q great number OF read
ers among historical students, and it
ought to attract the attention OF a still
wider public in America and England.
The book will contain a series Of chapters
on the Reasons for Colonization OF Vir-
ginia; the Physical Character of Aborigi-
nal Virginia; Indian Economy; the De-
%yeIopment OF Agriculture, 1907 to 100;
Land-tenure; System of Labor; Servants
and Slaves; the Domestic Economy OF
Planters; Importation OF Foreign Manu-
featured Supplies; shipping, Merchants,
etc, Local Manufactures; Monetary Sys-
TEN; towns, etc.
st. Croiv, the beautiful South American
island called 1.-THE Garden OF the Antil-
ies,'' is the scene OF a charming story,
"Doty Dontcare" by Mrs. Harrington
Foster. The book is presented in IA
form so attractive that it tempts the
reader to turn and peTuse its pages. The
typography and mechanical appearance
form II fitting introduction Tor the story
'HNSHo 'p - 81 hNNAHhAfaA NV ~hniAS "
tie story the author has made "a valuable
contribution TO folklore. Her portrayal
Il the racial peculiarities and differences
tv oug the stranGely.mited people who
nbabit It. Croix is quite vivid. Pub
ishcd by Este, & Lauriat, Boston. eli
pp, Cloth. Price Fl25.l
"
Lovers OF polite literature will find
something enjoyable in John Vance
Cheney's forthcoming book called "That
Dome In Air" 1t consists OF reviews OF
the works OF Emerson, Lowell, Whittier,
Lon fellow, Bryant, whitman, Blake,
Cowper and N ordsworth, all appreciative
ct keeuly dlscriminative. Being him.
self IA poet as well as n belle-letlrist Of
good taste and critical acumen, Mr.,
Cheney, the Librarian Of the New berry
Library, may expect that his book will
meet with that hearty reception to which
II is entitled. Tbs publishers are Msssrs
A, G, Mculurg a. Co.
So.
An uncanny book is "The King in Vel.
low" by Robert w. Chamber& The sto'
ries hat it contains are eccentric in thu
extreme. Mr.. Chambers has genius. Hi
situations are poe.esque and he usei
colurs rather than words to describe
them. The best story in the volume
"lhe Repairer OF Populations" is a tai
Of a mailman aud the reader feels the yer.
presence OF the asylum. Some OF tn
stories are rather weak but the volume a
a whole will command attention. Pub
lished by F. Tennyson Nicely, Chicago
and New York. Cloth. 316 PIP. Pric
sl.2j.l
New editions OF the following work
will be Issued by Frederick A.. Stoke
Company this month;
"Ihe Story OF Nell Gwyn," includin
sayings OF Charles the Second, relate
! and collected by Peter Cunninsham wit