The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-24
BUTTE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Full Flood Tide of Fall
Fiction.
EQUAL TO EXPECTATION
The Most Worthy Novel OF Las Year
Was Hugh wynne." by s. Weir
Mitcheil-"The Adventures OF
Francois" by Same Author.

The noodtide OF fall fiction is now
upon MS and. on the whole. we are pre-
pared to say that IL Is equal to our
hopes. We do not mean to say that
there are fewer poor books. but there
are at least as many-probably more
good ones. This is the law Of progress.
That what is positive and helpful
should increase. 1t Is good IL negative
influences decrease. but II is not essen
tial. provided the positive influences de-
velop and become more active. Thus
our view of modern American fiction
Is decidedly optimistic. We know that
whenever a novel takes its place In
what Is really the first class. at least
there are two additional ones in the
second class and three or more In the
| third class. and more in the lower
classes. But what IL there are? In the
first place, when you get to the bot
Tom. the lower classes are fed from
those who do not read at all. and the
number OF the illiterate Is always de-
creasing. Hence, there are always an
increasing number OF readers, whose
| taste Is on the road to Improvement.
or may be there. IL the proper infiu-
ences are applied.
Then. as to the O The really
| frst-class books do not have any more
readers the first year. but their use
constantly grows. The majority OF
trashy literature lives its short-lived
ephemeral existence and goes to It's
merited oblivion. The most worthy
novel of last yea was Hugh Wynne,'
by =. Weir Mitchell. This book will al
ways be one of the few high-water
mark productions OF American 1itera-
ture. Every cultured citizen will take
a personal pride in appreciating IL,
whether IL be to enjoy the literary ex-
preston, the careful psychological an
alysis or its real historical value. DR..
Mitchell has given us another book
this year. This Is writing too fast for
an author OF his ability. Yet his book
appears to be equally well done. so FAR
as the work Of the writer Is concerned.
IL is an able book, n strong book. a book
that will command the attention. 1t Is
equally true "a the great facts OF his
tory and to the greater facts OF con-
seriousness. But II Is not a book to be
commended as highly as Hugh
wynne." In the first place. he "Ad-
ventures OF Francois is not an agree
could be and be true to the horrible
conditions that prevailed during the
French revolution. We are glad 10
note that II is not a love story. But
the great reason that the book viii
have a short run is that IL Is an historl-
cal novel. which treats of n period con-
corning which there has been enough
literature OF the kind. and there Is no
reasonable demand for the book. eX-
cept the desire that exists to read the
authors books, and this Is n small mat
ter even with the productions of DR..
MITCHELL
But from present information. the
novel in this falls issue which VIII
create the largest and most deserving
demand. is Rose a Charlitte.' by Mar
shall Saunders. Miss Saunders. al
though her name may be new to some
of our resders Is not an entirely new
writer. Two OF her books have al
ready been included In our collection.
'Reautiful Joe and 1.-The King of the
Park both of which are most en-
phatically to be classed among stories
with a purpose, the former advocating
humane treatment of dogs and the lat
ter of cats. She has also written other
books. which have attracted less at
tention. Rose a Charlitte" Is far the
most ambitious book she has yet un-
dertaken. and she has performed her
task well. A native of Halifax her
self, n vacation spent among the pleas
ant valleys at the head of the Bay OF
Fundy, which "A v been made immor-
tai 90 all people by the sympathetic
genius of Longfellow. filled her with
material which inspired his book,
Rose n Charlitte: an Arcadian Ro-
nance" is a narrative OF life in the
land of Evangeline at the present day,
but the legends that hold their own
in the hearts of the natives OF our
time together with their attachment To
the memories that have survived, make
this more than usually a volume OF his
tory as well as n delight to the mind
of the poet and romanticist.
A book by an author whose work
started well and whose art is improv-
ing, is "A Herald of the West" by
Joseph A. Altsheler. II Is a narrative
Of the war of 1872 and gives with un-
usual force a picture of the intensity
OF animosity existing between Ameri-
cans m British partisans at that time,
Among many readers, Miss lane
Barlow has become quite a favorite and
her "Creel OF Irish Stories" should not
lack for readers.
An historical story for girls Is "A
Girl of re-" by Amy F.. Blanchard. a
new author. whose previous books have
been much liked.
People who enjoy pleasant. easy read
ing and a good story on the old fash
toned love story style will find what
they like in "A Great Love" by Mrs,
Clara Louise Burnham.
THE Hispaniola Plate. 16sS-ls93." 10y
Y. B~loundelle- Burton. Is a narrative OF
West India adventure during our col
onial times. The principal historical
parsonage mentioned is that wei
known old New England admiral. Sill
william Phipps. MIR. Burton has beer
appreciated in his other historical nov
els contained i'm the library. n this
one will be found up 10 his general
level.
Winston Churchill has been con.
founded with the son of Sir Randolph
| rhnrahfn an1 ha has haan accused nf
painting n picture from life. n that a
well known life. in his book. The
Celebrity" He has denied that he had
any particular individual in his mind
when he wrote the book. and his
friends deny that he Is the other man
Such confusion Of two individuals
bearing the same name is always awk-
ward. but neither that nor the misin-
terpretatlon OF the authors plot has
ininroh The nnnnlariIN Of The story