The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-22

thor of The Capitals of Spanish Amer
lea. with a map. (New York: Harper &
Brothers; Portland: Loring, Short &
HARMONY The boundary line controver-
81 between Venezuela and Great Britain,
in which the United States has become
involved, has created a general public in
terest in all that pertains to the history
OF the former country. the character of
it's people, its resources, etc. To minis
ter to this interest no one ia better quail
fed than Mr.. William Eleroy Curtis, the
author of the well known book, The
Capitals Of Spanish America and the
head of the bureau of South American
Republics. Mr.. Curtis's volume covers
but 259 pages, and yet in that space he
has succeeded In telling practically eve
rything anybody wants to know concern
ing the spunky South American Kepub-
lie. which has defied England and in
sisted in maintaining what it considers
its rights. The early history of the
country, the character of the people, it's
resources aud the oocupa tions of its in
habitants.are all treated in graphic and
comprehensive manner, which instructs
and pleases. A history of the disputed
territory question il given, and In an
appendix are the Presidents message to
Congress on the subject. and the diplo-
matte correspondent 90 between this ooun-
try and England.
The Story of Electricity, by John
Munro, ssin the Library Of Useful Stories,
describes in simple and comprehensive
fashion the electricity of friction, of
chemistry, Of heat. Of magnetism, and
then considers the application of cleo
tricity to practical uses, describing the
telegraph and telephone. electrical light
ming and heating. electric power, and
certain minor uses to which the fuid Ia
put. The reader Is greatly aided by the
Illustrations. which are abundant and
very clear. NEW York: D. Appleton &
Co.; Portland: Loring, Short g Har.
mon.)
The Gray Man. BY 8. r. Crockett.
The adventures Of Launcelot Kennedy,
squire to Sir Thomas Kennedy of Gull
zsan. came out of the great feud between
the two branches Of the clan of Kennedy
in Scotland during the reign Of King
James the Sixth of Scotland and First
of England. The bloody civil war Of the
Scotch feuds Is illustrated. Lnuncelot
fights on the side of his chief, the Earl
of Cassillis, and finally marries the.
daughter of Sir Thomas and is kaiQhtted
by the King. This book IL one Of those
historical novels in which romance is
give full sway. Nearly every chapter
contains an incident tn which men de-
fend their lives.
Among the most striking passages are:
The Oath Of the Sword; storminr the
house; the fight In Edinburgh; the de-
f1ance of the Craufords; the battle
with the oraufords; couquerina the
tramp; Scotch raid; Marjorie and .her
dead lover; the murder Of Sir Thomas:
in tho house of Auchendrayne; going
into the cave; Sswney Beams cannibals:
the murder on the beach; and the lass of
tho Gray Man. (New York: Harper &
Brothers, Portland: Loring, Short g.
Harmony
Rick Dale. By Kirk Munroe, author
Of Snow Shoes and Sledgss. Grew York
Harper & Brothers; Portland: Lorine,
Short & Harmony Rick Dale, the hero
OF the book, is new character among
Mr.. Munroe's active boys. but in the
course of the stirring events in which he
figures Kick meets with several persons
with whom the readers of Snow Shoes
and Sledges and The Fur Seals Tooth
aie already familiar. Rick is the son OF
rich parents, VINO have always treated
him as II he was hot house plant. He
finally rebels at this, and when be is
started off on tour around the world in
the care of a tutor, he takes "French
leave" at Victoria, Vancouver. There
he meets Benny Brooks, who has run
away from ship on which he had been
apprenticed as cabin boy, and the two
start away to explore the world. They
have all sorts of thrilling adventures
with sailors, smugglers, revenue officers,
and Indians; they become guide and in
terpreter for French botanist; they get
lost in the mountains OF British Colun.
bia; they fall into the hands of mad
hermit. and barely escape with their
lives; they obtain work in a logging
camp; and, at length everything turns
out well for the boys, and Rick Dale goes
to Harvard College
Shakespeare, the Boy, with Sketches
of the Home and School Life, the Gamas
and Sports, the Manners, Customs and
Folklore of the time. By William 7
Rolfe, Lift D.
DIR. Rolfe, the celebrated editor of
Shakespeare, has in this book combined
all we know of the youth of the poet
with all on record of the life Of the time
as 1t affected Joys. In other wor1s. he
has described the games Shakespeare
played, the amusements of the oountrv
SIDE the school and tbs lessons tauoht
the training at home and che +orz. Ie