The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
1.-THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BlBLlO..
MANIAC.
EUGENE FIELD.

Ouo takeS up THO LOW AIIdITS VI u
Bibliomaniao" with 4 mingled feeling
Of curiosity and reverence We are
curious, because in these pages the au-
thor Is said to live over his own ex-
perfencee as q book lover. and in the
American mind there Is always a desire
to know the personal side Of our men
Of letters. We are reverent, because
Eugene Field wrote the last chapter Of
this book but few days before his
death and the verses which conclude
the chaDter. were the last words writ
ten by that hand which laid down its
pan SO recently. But whatever the feel
Ing with which the book 10 taken UP.
tho readsris soon host to everything but
that story Is his first love, 1.-THE New
England Primer" which stirs UP men,
cries of childhood in every New Eng
land heart, at least, we eagerly follow
the "old mans return to old time places
ANd old time loves" until the end
comes all too soon.
This is a book to be read aloud. Given
wood fire and q sympathetic friend.
who will respond with . smile Of appre-
citation as you look UP from tho page,
and your enjoyment Of the book will be
complete. The humor is gentle and
kindly, with O SAVIOR Of Charles Lamb,
through all Is. felt the personality Of
the author. delight1ng in the work Of
carrying out . long cherished plan. A
most lovAble man this book lover must
have been, and as the book 10 laid down.
there comes again the feeling Of sor-
row and less that filled our hearts.
when ths news Swas flashed over the
country that Eugene Fields life on
earth wan ended.
THE COMEDIES OF coURTsHIP,"
ANTHONY HOPE.
"All the world loves a lovsr," We
have hong known, and all the world will
oegtainly enjoy reading Of Anfhony
Hopes lovers and their laSsies as he
unfolds their somewhat complicated ex-
pertences in "The Comedies Of Court
ship" His characters truly are people;
whether, like his own Miss Liston, he
puts his friends in his books, or whether
these very human men and women are
creatures Of his brain, the result Is the
same, and they are no make-believes,
but bear the sterling mark in plain
sight" The Wheel of Love" is the long
est, and In many respects the best Of
the six storiee. Though a preserved
peach tin masquerading as q dynamite
bomb may seem O. somewhat unusual
and far-fetched expedient for straight
ening out the love affairs of, four young
people-all in love. but uncertain as
to the object Of their affections-the re-
suit certainly justifles the means. II
It be objected that these young folk
are too fickle remember tho title Of
the story, and the tendency Of wheels
to change their positions, and what can
you expect?
In The Lady Of the Pool" the mys-
terry of the ghost Of the temple Ia in
gentousIy conceived. and her identity
not fully revealed until the final de-
movement, which, by the way, Is the
most improbable scene in the whole
book. There Is q suggestion Of some
thing moro serious than comedy in the
mismating in 1.-THE Curate of Poitons, "
and In the disappointment Of little Miss
Liston, but these are the shadows that
! make the high lights more brilliant.
In the last story, Mr.. Hope returns once
more to that country that cannot be
so well, where all rulers are absolute
monarchs, ard all the women willful
and beautiful. Anthony Hope Is a
prince of story tellers. He brings for
ward his men and maidens. and then
the rest lies with them. and they act.
and tell their tales as they will. Mr..
Hope may be lacking in literary style,
but he has vigor and variety in his
stories, which make them very accept
able to the reader, who IA weary of
problems, and purposes. and studies,
appearing in the guise Of fiction. May
Mr.. Hope give us much more Of his
| fiction, the evident aim Of which is to
entertain, and which accom2lishes the
desired end 80. easily and agreeably.
G.. 8. W.
Europe In Africa In the Nineteenth
Century" by Elizabeth Wormely Lati-
mer is one Of the valuable books Of the
year, It gives a clear and concise ac-
count Of the manner in which the diff
ferent countries of Europe have gained
a foothold in Africa, the steps which
have led up to the present parceling out
of Its territory, with graphic discrip-
tions Of the wars and conflicts through
which its occupation has been accom-
plished. As its title indicates 1t treats
especially Of the European movement
Of the physical features Of the country
the manners and customs of it's inhab-
itants only as these are necessary tc
( q proper understanding OF the subject
Africa Is without doubt the most in.
teresting country In the world today
and Miss Latimer's gossipy, bright.
manner of presenting the salient point.
Of her subject Is shown to advantage In
this latest contribution to the knowl-
edge Of O. country upon which the eyes
of the xS,h010 civilized yayorld ia turned