The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-04

II
springs from 1t is consistent with the original
hypothesis, aud being well told and of human
interest tho book makes very attractive read
ing. much sweeter love story, albeit 1t Is
east on old fashioned lines has rarely been
told outside a real fairy story, which this SO
much suggests
From Drexol Biddle. publisher, Of Philadol
ha we have received three books by young
| Philadelphia author Mr.. Anthony j. Drcxel
| Bid lie. They are THE Madeira Islands
| (i2mo cloth: s2l, book for travellers and
| Others who wish TO know of the paradise in
| the western ocean, one of the loveliost spots
| OF the earth; THE Froggy Fairy Book"
| Cloth; price 81, for children, and IAN AL
lie ory and Three Essays" paper; 10 cents).
IL Is clear from careful reading OF these
books. each Of a distinct kind OF literary en-
deayor, that their young author-we assure
from the reading that he is young-has aspi-
rations OF pardonable sort and il vigorous
IN their prosecution. We can but feel, how.
ever, that what might at first glance bc re.
garded AZ literary versatility. as indicated hy
the character of the three works at hand. is
rather a seeking for literary niche where his
talents will snu2ly nt And on the whole,
neither of these works il niche found at all
of an altitude or dimensions proportionate TO
his aspirations.
The book about Madeira has real value.
Mr.. Drexel Bddle is plainly a good observer,
and he writes what he has seen and known
about with evident accuracy. franlxness, free
dom and reliability as 10 detail What. with
many and excellent pictures and the informa.
"A hanl off no fsIa H.
Us "A most excellent guide book for prospective
visitors, rhe student of other folks journey.
ings or ths reader of travel
The fairy book, attractively bound and prct.
tily illustrated, is interesting chiefly as an
example Of the deplorablo art of writing
down" to childs comprehension, whereby a
story Of no particular interest to grown folk
is supposed to be made.attractive to the very
young, if couched in language that the young
are supposed only TO comprehend. II our
young autto- depends upon this method to
become popular as writer for young people
some kindly friend ought 10 adv Sc him that
he is on the wrong track. The little pamphlet
OF allegories and essays furnishes the Life of
an Ephemeros,n an -Allegnry, and -essays-ese-
the mind, on theory and on opinion. These
all are inconsiderable from whatever stand
point Of interest, readableness, literary flavor
or anything else tn y are viewed As an cs
sayist, in word, our young author is sopho-
moric. We have given attention 10 these three
books because the name Of the author is un-
familiar and the books are pretentious in
several ways Besides, we find TINT their au
thor has received much encouragement from
the newspapers at home in Philadelphia, which,
without compromising themselves in their
exact terms, arc at evident pains to advance
the young author in the good will of the pub
lie so far az is practicable under the circum-
stances. We fear that Mr.. Drexel Hiddlc
may have incorrectly adjusted his own conf
dence in his talents for authorship somewhat
by reason Of an overamount of well meant
friendliness on the part Of his friends on the
Philadelphia newspapers.