Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Spears. author Of Fhe Fort Of Missing ' SHIPS,
Four Volumes New 7 York: pe Charles seribner's
Sons. Washington: Brentano's.
These four volumes are appropriately
dedicated. ito all who would seek peace and
pursue it," No more fitting sentiment can
, be devised for the contemplation of the
agency the nation employs to maintain its
rights. The best guarantee OF peace has
often been defined to be an unconquerable
fighting force. This country has never at
tanned high rank in the mere numbers of
its naval vessels. but whenever emergency
has arisen it has evolved fighting fleet
capable of coping with all national de-
mands. While this course has not followed
the line of the policy of preparedness now
so often urged and partly adopted in the
late additions to the American navy. yet
1t has served to lay the foundations Of one
of the most thrilling narratives the world
has ever heard. 1.-The History Of Our
Navy is almost romantic in it's features
and details. Mr. Spears has taken full ad-
vantage of his opportunity to produce an
entertaining, useful work. He tells this
story in good style, with full appreciation
OF it's Importance, and he seeks to teach the
lesson of patriotism through the medium
or the history of Americas glorious sue
cess from time to time on the waters of
various seas. The four volumes are fully
illustrated, many contemporary prints be-
Ing reproduced, thus giving a quaint ap-
pearance to some Of the pages. The book
work of the edition is finely performed.
THE CENTURY ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY
MAGAZINE. Vol: LIv,. New Series. Vol.
Xx s;A H. May. 1897 to October, 1897. New
York: The Century Co.
lot
deed up to the standard set by this enter
prising and high-class periodical in times
past. In each of the departments are
signs OF progress. The articles cover a
wide range Of subjects and attract the
thoughtful attention of an exceptionally
large number of readers. Dr. Mitchelps
successful novel. Hugh Wynne," is
brought to its conclusion Other notable
stories are included in the six monthly is
sues, and several articles of rare historical
and scientific value are given permanency
IN this volume. Among these Is series of
papers on General Grant by competent
writer's.
THE SMART SET; Correspondence and CONVERSE
tons. By Clyde Fitch. Chicago: Herbert S.
Stone & Co.
Clyde Fitch secured wide recognition as
promising young writer when he pro-
duced the play Beau Brummell," but
since then nothing he has done has attract
ed an equal amount of attention. His
work has been critical rather than creative.
The little volume he now puts forth con-
sists of a series of little papers rejecting
consciously, though by no means unjustly,
upon certain phases of American social
life. They are in effect thumb nail
Sketches The modes Of communication,
letters and conversation, prevent all but
inferential descriptions. while permitting
pointed references to persons and events
by presumably prejudiced observers. The
correspondence on Wagner is especially
clever.
ST. NICHOLAS: An Illustrated Magazine for
Young Folks Conducted by, Mary Mapes
sS oe1o1s, sa7 S Ssw Yar and The M
fury Co.
Praise for St. Nicholas is redundancy
That excellent magazine for young folks
has become an Institution, 80 firmly found
ed in the heart Of young America that it's
failure to reappear at it's stated intervals
would cause bitter grief in every part of
the country. st Nicholas day" Is
monthly event Of Importance in thousands
of homes. The bound volumes are calcu-
lated to bring wave Of joy to many young
hearts when given as presents at holiday
time. This volume has many features that
show that there has indeed been no retreat
during the year. The old st. Nicholas
ments.
author of Seen and Unseen" Introduction
by Chas Warren StOddard. Illustration by
VIM. Keith San Francisco: William Doxey.
This young Japanese poet has startled
the western world of letters with his I'M
conventional fervor. His work in this
Volume is not rhythmic and, of course, it
is not rhyme. 1t is prose in form. save in
ltlo
it breathes a strongly poetic sentiment and
becomes impassioned in strains. After the
fervent tribute to the Yosemite, under the
title of 1.-The Voice Of the Valley" the
most notable production in this little vol
ume is THE Song of Songs, Which is Nogu-
cEfs." with its mountaineering sublime
Il Hail Myself l do Homer"
fury witchcraft Illustrated. Investigations
Into the Phenomena of Spiritualism and l1eos-
ophy: BY Henry Ridgely Evans. Chicago:
The author demonstrates the mechanical
and physical means whereby certain So
called "materialization and other phe-
nomena are produced. He reveals the
secrets of rope tying, slate writing, spirit
photography and other more or less ia
miliar devices whereby charlatans attract
attention. Appended is account Of the
life and work of Madame Blavatsky, to-
gether with synopsis of the doctrines OF
the theosophists. 1t is a most interesting
work, and it's carefully chosen illustra-
tons aid the reader.
DREAMS IN HOMEsPUN By Sam Walter Foss,
author of Back Country Poems,'' .WhIfrs
From Wild Meadows" etc. Boston: Lee &
Shepard. Washington: VIM. Ballantyne &
Sons.
Mr. Foss is to New England what Riley
is to the middle west. it's laureate His
folk-poems have reached the hearts of
his own people and have found eager
listeners even in other sections where the
Down East qualities are appreciated for
their own worth and real poetic flavor is
| never allowed to go astray for lack of the
liking.
SOCIAL LIFE IN OLD VIRGINIA BEFORE THE
WAR. BY Thomas Nelson Page. With Illus
trations by the Misses COwles. New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons. Washington Bren-
tano's.
In republishing this charming sketch of
| ante-bellum days in the Old Dominion Mr..
| Page declares that he has sought to cor
| rect some Impressions of the south unfor-
| tunately created by errors in literary and