The Portland daily press., 1895-11-15

and Southern otaoes ulalec1; a dry, Shrewd
comic estimate of people and things;
and fresh, eager presentation OF the
nreiudices and passions of the human
heart. The heroine of tie story is ad-
vised by her own mother not to marry
for love lest she obtain but a laggard 70
snonse from the man she weds. Curiously
enough the daughter follows this advice
though not because of her mothers let
tor. rather on account of her own relig-
ions views and manner of Interpreting
her conscience and sense of duty She
and her husband become evangelists,
preaching the word in public and with
wonderful eloquence and power. The
outcome of it all should be sought in the
napes of "Agairst Human Nature"
Suffice it to say there is no lack of love
in this husbands attitude towards the
woman Of his choice. New York: Har-
mar e. Brothers; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmon. Price $1.25.
A Bid for Fortune. A Novel. by Guy
Boothby, author of "On the Wallaby, :"
.sTbe Marriage of Esther, etc. In this
narrative we have one old-new friend,
the mysterious master of black art, some
what modernized; at least in SO far as to
add hypnotism to his black cat and other
wierd appurtenances. The author evil
IDENTIFY means not to stoop to realism. He
brings together in chapter one curious
nersonalities from remote quarters, locat-
inc them liz London, only to dispatch
them, by means of DR.. Nikola's will
mower and monied aid, to far away lands
again. Dr. Nikola is the mephistophelean
Aladdin of the book. All sorts of singu-
lar happenings are evolved in the course
of the romance, leaving the reader in
a good deal of doubt as to how it all be-
gan, continued or ended. 1t is, however,
the sort of story that many people like to
exercise their imagination over (New
York: d. Appleton & Company; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmon. Town
and Country Library No. 179. Price
81. 00.)
Wilmot's Child, by Atey Nyne, Sudden
ard Bachelor The Preface to this little
volume is brief. We give it:
PREFACE.
GA house is never perfectly furnished
for enjoyment.unless there is child in
it rising three years old, and kitten
rising three weeks. "-Southey. Follow
ing this we have an original Contents"
and bit of introduction and an equally
original story. The text has many witty
sayings and is full of good natured cyni-
cism, with baby talk AMI baby descrip-
ton very telling in it's way. Under 1t
all runs the thread of a more serious
story and of more complicated plot.
The sketch is odd and very modern; not
one to commend itself to lovers OF old
fashioned fiction; but it certainly has a
tang and snap of it own which make 1t
readin as it has also touch
of real pathos New York: Dodd, Mead
& Company; Portland: Loring, Short q
Harmon. Price rs cents.)
Cousin Mona. A Story for Girls, by
Rosa Nouchette Carey author of Little
Miss Muffet,'' etc. Illustrated. Two
Young girs left alone in the world enter
two very different homes, of which they
are to become permanent members In
the one case luxury, pleasure and galety
prevail; in the other, economy and
ascetic self-denial. The way in which the
former environment grows to be less
valued and the latter more 50, is we'll set
forth. Romantic cpl sodes also occur.
The author of "Cousin Mona" under
stands writing for young people and her
books are always popular. (Philadel'
phia: J. B. Lippincott Companyi Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmon. Price
81. 25.)
The Mushroom Cave, by Evelyn Kay
mond, author of "The Little Lady of the
Horse" Illustrated by Victor A. Searles
CT beautiful paper and fine large print
this volume is also made attractive by a
series of rather unique drawings full Of
expression and character. The story
itself is quaint and entirely outside we'll
worn ruts. 1t is story for young people
and abounds in incide Mt and action, par
ticuIarly after the coming onto the scene
of the ex-showman, Hieronymus Hether-
ton. with his zebra and "Uncle Sam, !"
the fine, old, tanned eagle. The delightful
improbability of the tale is Offset I le
very real people who do most OF the "
ing and breathing and acting, in varied
scenes above and below ground. Gera'-
dine and Gerald are nice to know; the
old scientist is quite q study; while to
Miss Nudge who wept to think she
shouldn't be allowed to weep any more.
we find ourselves truly attached. What
the Mushroom Cave was isn't for us to
tell but it exists all through the book and
is worth exploring. (Boston: Roberts
Brothers, Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmon. Price $780,
The Chronicles of Count Antonio, by
Anthony Hope. author of The Prisoner
of Zenda, etc. With photogravure 'front.'
ispiece by S. W. Van Setback. We
have in "Count Antonio, tale of out
III x,,1