The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-16
BOOK CHAT.
Recent Issues In Fiction and Other
Lines.

LiuCss
Two dainty companion volumes of the
works of the lamented Robert Louis
Stevenson, Issued by the seribner's, with
all the Scribner "styiishness" of print
aud binding, and for sale at s1.bo by
Preston Rpunds. are the "Weir OF
Hermiston,n and "Poems aud Ballads,
The latter Is a most acceptable collection
OF about everything I'm the way OF verse
that Stevenson wrote, Including the
"Child's Garden" verses already orhately
printed by itself, being included In the
book. There In "speaking" portrait OF
Stevenson for frontip;ece, but no other
illustrations. Stevenson's verse is SIM
plicty itself. Much of 1t Is exquisite.
Some of 1t you don't know whether to
praise or not. but you.are pretty sure to
read II good many times over the while
you are trying to find outs fh
The "Weir OF Herm list on" is the last
work OF Stevenson. 1t is a novel, left
unfinished at point which hardly
reaches the Threshold of the tragedy
which, we are told by the editor, Is con-
tempated. The editor, MIR. Sidney Col
win, tells his readers that the last broken
sentence was dictated on the morning
OF the writer's sudden seizure and death.
Mr.. Colvin does not undertake to COM
plete the work, but only to give us the
benefit Of such information as he has Sc
cured to indicate what the plan was that
Stevenson had In mind together with side
lights on the characters that the fragment
of the novel already draws sufficiently to
create rare interest In them. The frag-
ment makes some 240 printed pages and the
novel would evidently have rounded out
into two volumes II published in the now
quite popular two volume style. The
fragment is ich in its drawing of charac-
ter, its atmosphere oil romance and its
suggestion Of what may be likely TO
impend. 1t is strong work, and with
out any doubt would have surpassed in
every romantic feature anything that
Stevenson had produced. The interest
awakened in the characters is prepared to
become nightly enthralled in the story
that they were designed to fill--tne story
that will ever be told.
There are few authors today who are
capable OF telling a story with the charm
that is so completely part OF all OF Gil
bert Parker's work. When "Pierre and
His People" was first published the pub-
lie was not slow In recognizing Mr..
Psrker's ability aud at the appearance of
"When Valmond came 10 Pontiac"
everyone admitted that the new author
was very talented fellow. At that tinleit
was believed that he might have reached
the limit of his literary possibilities, but
'The Seats of the Mighty" Mr.. Parker's
newest novel, is so far superior to any of
his previous work that it is now difficult
to place any limitations upon his achieve
meDts. "Valmond" was a sweet rom
ance, one of those tender stories that APP
peal To very man and woman who can
appreciate what lie is, but "The Seats
of the Mighty ''is q very different story.
1t is an historical romance, one OF the
best historical novels OF the day. 1t is a
story OF old Quebec and through the
pages of the novel the characters walk as
il they were actually upon the stage of
life. Captain Robert Moray of Virginia,
is the hero of the romance. He is host
age to the French in Canada and has
obtained the enmity OF persons in power
by refusing to surrender certain papers
compromising lie Pompadour. As re-
suit the young English colouist Is made
victim OF deeply laid plot. lie is
thrown into prison nd.narrowly escapes
death. In the midst OF his troubles,
however, he is able to carry on his court
ship with a young French girl and these
scenes are some OF the most beautiful
passages that Mr.. Parker has yet pro-
duced. While the novel Is exciting, II Is
by no means sensational. The characters
are real people who act and speak like
men and women and in whom there is
always some characteristic 10 respect II
not to admire. Even Doltaire, the
Kings bastard, is not bad man, al
though not an honest man and the other
characters that are pitted against i'm are
endowed with both good and bad traits.
In fact, the incidents OF the story are so
carefully woven that its portrayal may
easily be accepted as faithful picture OF
Quebec life in the days OF Montcslni and
Wolfe and one who follows the story viii
close tie volume with the feeling that IT
Is history and no tction that he has read.
The story is published by II. Appleton *
Co ano for sale by Gregory.
IL the name OF Robert 8. Hichens did
not appear on the titIo page OF 1.-THE
Folly Of Eustace. - Ii would be difficult
to believe that this trio OF stories were
written by. the author OF The Green
CerDation.' While the latter was one OF
the most entertaining OF modern sstires,
this new work seems to offer no internal
excuse for its existence. Ii is collec-
tion OF three short stories, pictures of
life that are fantastic, and terrible where
they are not actually senseless. The only
| redet ming feature of the work is that the
stories are written by man who knows
how to make the most of his material.
| The book is published by -. Appleton
| Co., and for sale by Gregory.
The newest issues in the Dickens re-
| prints, which Macmillan * Co. are maxi
| ing at the amazingly low price of dollar
| a volume, are "Reprinted Pieces and the
| Lazy Tour OF two Idle Apprentices, and
1.-THE Uncommercial lraveler." bound
| in with "A Child's history OF England.
| AS usual, the volsmes Fave an jntroduc-
| tion and notes by the younger Dickens
| and reproductions OF the original Illus
| trations in full.
In Paper Covers-From the Appletons
| (Town and Country Library Price, 80
| cents. "a Flash of Summer" the story
| OF simple woman's life. by.that always
popular authoress, Mrs. W. X. Clifford
| (No. 1897; "The Madonna OF Day." by
| l.. Dougall No. 194); "A Winning Haz-
| ard.n by Mrs. Alexander (No. 1927 In
Neely's Library of Choice Literature,
"The Minor Chord" story OF prima
donna, by j. Mitchell Chapple, second
| adrian Price 80 cents. In Iippincott' "a