The sun., 1896-10-24

phrase and an understanding OF appropriate
association that can properly be characterized
as nothing less than remarkable.
Mr.. James Whitcomb Riley is to be congratu-
lated on having in "A Child World Bowen q
Merrill co., produced poem that is q valuable
addition to American literature. and that
shows q greater capacity for sustained effort
than any OF his earlier productions. In the
groundwork Of his story the writer makes use
OF the old-fashloned rhyming couplet, and by
tho Introduction here and there of dantily
fashioned lyrics and sprinkling of dialect, he
has added that spice OF variety that makes the
interest easily sustained. The characters in
this story of life in an old-time Western town
stand out clearly and distinctly, and humor
and pathos are blended with n tender sympathy
with everything pertaining to child.lifc. There
is occasionally unevenness of workmanship, but
none Of thought or sentiment, and there arc
aome passages OF which the simple and sponta-
neous melody recalls tho music and pathos Of
The Deserted Village" All readers who mako
the acquaintance of "Budd" and "Noey Blk
ler." Uncle Mart" The Noted Traveller"
and THE Hired Man will hope To hear of them
again.
"lras: a Mystery" by Theo. Douglas Harp
er's) is gruesome book. Ralph Lavenham.
author, explorer, and ERyptologist, is engaged
on work on Egyptian exploration when he re-
SSNeb lEOh LuAOT u bbTCopnhguS tuo
mummy of the daughter OF the Priest Khames,
uneArthed after three thousand years.
sunstroke and a fever. contracted In Egypt
some time before. have left him mentally weak.
and overworS in connection with his forth
coming book temporarily unAinges his intellect
He believes that the mummy comes to life in
the form of a beautiful woman. and that he
marrles her. After various adventures he Is
found half dead in snow drift, clasping In his
arms the mummy which had been wrapped
from head to foot In q fur coat, and had mod
ern gauze veil tied over its own bands of long
hair" Subsequent 10 his recovery there is evil
dence adduced to show that he went through y
form OF marriage in Scottish registry officeand
the reader is loft In doubt whether some woman
has, with absolutely no apparent motive, tenn
porarily personated the phantom of his dis
eased brain. or whether the whole thing is mere
hallucination. Some passages in the book are
not without power but the subject is distinctly
unpleasant, and the color of the binding Is
likely to give sensitive reader an acute bilious
attack.
The exact position occupied by the autograph
hunter in the great scheme Of the universe has
long been subject OF discussion. some alleging
him to be a worthy enthusiast, engaged in
harmless and edifying pursuit. and others un-
hesitatingly condemning him unmitigated
nuisance: and while some well-known authors
have cheerfully regarded his requests one of
the necessary consequences Of success, he has
reused others to positive. and not always digni-
fed. fury. Whatever be the readers views on
this subject, IL he looks into the richly bound
and beautifully printed volume entitled Talks
About Autographs tHoughton, Mifln & Coz,
he will readily admit that. In Mr.. George Birk-
beck Hill, he has made the acquaintance OF one
collector who is not only absolved from all re-
proach hu has ea m ed hla Gratitude Tho
ume contains finely executed fac-similes of
many OF the authors treasures-letters written
by Charles Lamb, Southey. Ruskin, Gladstone,
Dante Gabriel Rosetti, and many others; and,
in discoursng upon his collection, Mr.. Hill
draws upon apparently mex haustible fund of
humor and anecdote. "reminiscences of cele-
! brated writers and Of the authors own long
literary career make this an exceptionally in
teresting book.
Legends from River and Mountain" tDodd.
Mead & Coz is the title OF a series of fairy
tales. tho first ten OF which are translat!ons
from the German of Carmen Sylvia" uhe
Queen Of Roumanial and the others trnnsla-
tions of some of the old folklore legends OF Sax
ony, the Hartz Mountains. and the Black Forest
Both the work OF Carmen Sylvia" and tho sto-
ries in the latter part OF the book are full of
poetry and charm. though. perhaps, more likely
to appeal to grown-up readers than to children.
The translator. Alma Strettell, has done her
work sympathetically and WELL and the volume
is artistically illustrated By Mr.. I. H. Robinson.
A very fascinating book is The End of the
Beginning" Hittle. Brown & Coz. 1t is the
story uf the life and gradual mental develop
ment OF Amoret Wenton. an orphan who lives
with her grand dfather. an old village bookseller;
and both the sweet New England girl and the
gentle-natured old philosopher are real and
living characters that linger in the memory of
the reader. The authors language is polished
and forceful. epigrammatic and at the same
time natural aud the book is full OF good things
worth quoting. Incidentally three men play
part in Amoret's life. and each stands out clear
cut and well defined: one a type OF the clever
but somewhat superficial egotst, the second as
the brilliant. yet heartless and selfish. cynic,
and the third tho good hearted. CHEEKY, indus
trous. and modest philanthrophist. 1t is the
story OF tho young girls association with these
men. and her final choice. that forms the sub
ject matter OF the book. The readers curiosity
will be aroused by the fact that there is no
authors name upon the title page. for IL is hard
to believe that such a novel rs this Is the work
Of q beginner.
In the rush and hustle of the modern making
of books the delicate art of the essayist has
been too much neglected, and 1t Is with n
feeling of relief that the reviewer takes up q
book which shows evidence of that careful
elaboration and technical finish that once were
considered so essential. In THE Unconscious
Humorist and Other ESSAYS" &c. ii. Richmond)
Mr.. l.. II. Lacon Watson discourses easily and
pleasantly on various matters. and though ho
does not enunciate anything that is startl.ngly
new, he handles his subjects deicately and well.
and hs has the raie faculty of suggestion.
Given cold winters night cosey fire. and
ones feet at the fender. and an hour or two
might be passed very pleasantly with THO
Unconscious HumorSt."
There is plenty OF sensation and excitement In
tho volume OF short stories entitled Revenge"
by Robert Barr Erred A. Stokes Coz Murder.
bomb throwing, and other crimes form the
theme of these tales. which, however, are writ
ten with such art that they interest and do not
shock the reader. Mr.. Barr has many OF tho
qualifications that go to make a successful
story teller: his language is terse and vigorous,
and he is able to tell an interesting story in q
few words.
We heve received Memories and Impress