Evening star., 1898-11-03

power which some creatures seem to pos
seSs. Mr.. Thompson says that the fact
that these stories are true is the reason
why they are all tragic. The life of
wild animal. he declares. always has a
tragic end There is a wonderful pathoS
in these narrations. The stories of BIN
go" and Vixen. the Springfield Fox are
classics in their way.
HAWAII AND A REVOLUTION; the Personal En-
perienres of :; CorrcsDontIent in the Sandwich
Islands During the Crisis Of 1893 and Subse-
quently. BY Mary H. KrOut. New York: Dodd.
Mead & ca.
Miss Krout was present in Honolulu dur
ing the stirring scenes of the Blount
investigation, the hauling down of the
American flag. the effort to restore the
queen and the subsequent happenings
which tended steadily TO bring Hawaii
into the Union She reached there d
firm believer in the righteousness of Iili-
uokalani's cause. She soon convinced
that the revolution was juslifiabie, that it
was necessity and that Hawaii under
native rule would be a failure ana a menace
to this country. Accordingly she become
in short order ardent anneX2tionlSt, and
her sentiment in this regard was not shak-
en- by subsequent events. She exposes The
hollowness of the pretense that Mr.. Blount
impartially investigated the episode OF the
revolution. Her descriptions of Hawaiian
life, manners, scenery and resources are
clearly and entertainingly written. Incl
dentally a sketch of Samoan life is given,
permitted by side trip taken by the writer
to New Zealand, in the course of which
the author met Robert Louis Stevenson.
THE ADVENTURES OF FRANCOIS Founding
Thief, Juggler and Fencing Master During the
French Revolution. BY :. Weir Mitchell. NJ. d..
Ii. H., Harvard and Edinburgh. New York:
The Century Company.
DIR. Mitchell has chosen dramatic back
ground for fis narration of these ''adven-
sketch. The French revolution, with its
reign of terror" has long been a favorite
theme for novelists, but few have ever
managed 20 impart so much of the spirit of
the time, so much of the true terror of the
ca ataclysm, as the present author. Dickens
Tale of Two Cities was in some respects
scarcely more vivid in its rendition of the
scenes of cruelty and fanaticism which
were enacted in the name of freedom.
Francois" is not novel when measured
by certain standards. 1t lacks many of
the factors which contribute to the pure
romance. Yet /. only flags in interest when
the author permits himself to add epi
logue and thus checks the flow of the story
bv interjecting new matter. Yet it seemed
proper that Francois career should be
rounded up and this unique personality
conducted to its worldly conclusion.
TONY WI PRuM ., Gockney Boy BY Edwin Push
New York: Henry Holt & Co. washington:
William Ballantyne.
Tony Drum was crippled child of the
London slums. His father was a street
musician, philosopher. a tippler. Tony
was precocious, with vague understandings
o. the greater truths of life, a sense OF
shame at the wretchedness with which he
as surrounded, the true flame of love in
his breast, a capacity for music and liter
ature which, under different circumstances,
Ia
died at the age of twelve thereabouts.
1t were perhaps better for him, though may
be worse for the world for Tony. with all
his grimir and his weakness, was an ele-
nlent for good This little history of a
bright beam in dark place is well worth
the writing in its account of a certain
phase of slum life in London. Mr. NiohoI-
sons pictures are strongly characteristic.
They are reproduced in the half coiors
which belong to the atmosphere of the
story and its scenes
THE CONTROL OF THE TROPICS. BY Benjamin
The Macmillan Company.
Recent events have drawn international
attention more closely than ever before to
the tropics. Trade and war have united |
to reveal the true proportions CT the possi |
bilities and responsibilities which there |
await the constructive, governmental ge-
MUS of the worlds powers. Mr.. Kidd shows |
that the trade relations of the United |
States, together with the other commercial |
nations, require even closer attention to |
the tropical regions. He believes that the |
English speaking people, and particularly |
the Americans, are passing through pc
riod of developme ent in this relation likely |
10 exercise a profound influence upon the |
history OF the twentieth century. Success |
he urges, will flow from a conscientious ap I,
plication to the tropics, in whatever may |
be done toward colonization or control. of
those principles which have governed in
the past and are still governing these peo-
pies at home.
PROMINENT FAMILIES OF NEW YORK: Eein=
an Account in Biographical Form of 1ndivi,iuals
and Families Distinguished Representatives
OF tae Social. Professional and Civic Life of
New York City. Revised edition. New york: |
The Historical Company.