The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-09-05
BOOK NEWS.

skill in the finding and capture OF game
Is really secondary TO this, and still more
subordinate is the flavor or size Of the
game. Thousands enjoy n stroll with
the dog, out Of season, almost az well az
tho real hunt. To please such, . book
should be made up Of selected charms Of
the field"
Thus opens the preface to "Game Birds
at Home" a pretty volume which-writ-
ten with all Of Mr.. Van Dykes faoile but
keen observation and In his fluent, lucid,
sparkling style-is one to fascinate not
only the sportsman, but the nature-iover
who never carries a gun or follows q dog.
"Why the action Of certain birds will
give men more delight than that OF
others is n Of natures secrets" says
MIR. Van Dyke; tive can only say II is
charming, and describe IL al we know
IT," And 80, with many q practical sug-
gestion, and many an illustrative story,
the author portrays the skill OF man, the
sagacity OF dog, the natural scenery where
the various game birds make their home,
and In rapid succession describes the
haunts and habits Of "Bobwhite," wood
cock, ruffed, ~pinnated and sharp-tailed
grouse, ducks Of divers sorts, wild geese,
American crane, plover, California quails,
Wilson'S snipe, various salt water birds,
and at the close, "the noblest Of all
American game" the wild turkey.
Theodore 8. Van Dyke is an enthusiast,
both in hunting and in the poetical
enjoyment Of nature. His habits Of per-
ception-naturally sharp, no doubt, but
accumulated by "forty years Of play with
the gun and eighteen years Of writing
4ho .eportsmen OF A~merica'-are re.
markable for an almost microscopic fine.
ness OF sight and knowledge Of detail
which, however, do not blind his eye and
appreciation to the larger vision that
takes in broad ranges Of general effect
1t Is with the forms, %colors, habits, mo-
tions OF game, as with flowers, shrubs,
trees and topography; no matter is too
small to be noted, no multitude Of them
too numerous to be analysed, yet their
combination into laws OF life or lines oil
massed effect is sure to follow, and the
reader feels that he has learned some
thing Of the art OF seeing IRON in expert
observer.
Without being at all p%retentious, this
attractive little volume covers a great
deal OF ground, and, from Its picturesque
cover, throughout its well-printed, white
laid pages to the end, it is a book OF
pleasure and a book Of profit. To the
sportsman these graphic narratives and
valuable hints from a veteran fleld-shot
must be Of rare value, while no man,
and perhaps even no woman, who loves
the woods and fields and charms OF ami
mated nature, could fail to find genuine
inspiration and much fresh knowledge oil
outdoor beauty from a reading OF 1t,
Published by Fords, Howard q Hubert
New York. Cloth, gilt top, limo, 219 PIP,
Price, $1.50.l
Many have written Of the struggles oil
the poor, but comparatively little atten
ton has been given to the struggles o.
the unfortunate rich; and yet one OF the
most vital sociological questions OF the
day lie: "How can we save from tempo.
raj and eternal ruin the sons and daugh.
ters OF wealth." In the lines of zone
Rich Mans Son" Mrs. Emma Letter,
Super proposes a solution OF that prob.
lem. Her characters are strongly drawn
thoroughly human, and worthy OF careful.
study. The plot is natural, well-sustainet
and full Of interest. The mother OF ONT
rich mans son determines, II possible, ts
save her hoy from the common fate O.
rich mems sons-a fate to which tn,
misapplied kindness and false pride OF al
indulgent father seem about to doom
him. What her plan was-how heroic
ally 1t was entered upon, now nearly 1
failed In spite Of a faithful mother
prayers and efforts, and how it ulti
mately and g%loriously succeeded-is tn,
burden OF the story. Its pictures o
home and college life are wonderful,
real; and while it encourages youthful
pleasure, and many OF its pages spark,
with innocent mirth, 1t leaves no doub
as to its authors sentiments touching
those social indulgences that only bias
and blight. Published by Cranston q
Curtis, Cincinnati, limo, cloth, 2oe PIP
Price 80 cents.]
A new edition Of Charles F. Richard,
sons "Choice OF Books' should appea
with special force to all lovers OF reading
10 the student seeking to develop alonl
right lines the literary tastes which al
educated people possess the work is sim
ply invaluable. 1t is not a technica
treatise upon books, but living, breath,
ing criticism that en~tertains while 4
instructs. The chapter-titles will show
how complete is the work: The Natur,
OF Reading, The Reading Habit, VIVA
Books to Read, The Best Time to Read
How Much to Read, Remembering VIVA
One Reads, The Use OF Note Books, TIL
Cultivation OF Taste, Poetry, The Art o
Skipping, The Use OF TRANSACTIONS, How
to Read Periodicals, Reading Aloud ant
Reading Clubs, What Books to Own, TIL,
Use OF Public Libraries and The Tru,
Service Of Reading. The book Is o
practical value. 1t should be owned
read and thought over by every one VIII,
reads or expects to read books. Pub
lished by Lowell, Coryell q Co., New
York. limo, cloth, 208 PIP. Price. z
%cents.l
A recent item in the New York Tribun
contained this statement OF the fabulou
sales Of popular novels:
sc. w. Dillingham;, Publisher, seems t
have the art OF making novels 90 in time
good and bad. During an interview will
Mr.. Dillingham;, a few days since, he wa
asked to what he attributed his grea
success. He replied: Study, work an,
Iudicious advertising, but tie greatest O
these Is ADVERTISING He said that h
had sold the following numbers OF tn
books OF his most popular authors, tn
figures sre certainly immense: Mary ]
Holmes, nearly 100000; May Agne