The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-20

| tdDDdst apple lrlttefs
and Christmas ale" Dickens surely
never surpassed that for a toothsome
! combination
| Ii is an open secret that the friend
| referred To i'm the little book, After
Her Death: the Story OF a Summer, 4"
by the author of The World Beauti-
ful' U.ittle. Brown * Coz. is Miss Kate
t1eld. whose portrait appears as the
frontispiece. Miss Field had inspired
on the part of the writer one of those
rare friendships Of absolute devotion.
whose trust and truth and tenderness
made kind OF conservation Of life.
Even now this inspiration( the outcome
or the hfteen years of friendship and
interesO is felt by the author i'm all she
does. The events connected with Miss
r1elds death In Honolulu under
strangely romantic and remarkable cir
cumstances, are still so fresh i'm the
minds of all that this book will have
an especial interest, as an indication
OF her character and the effect of that
character upon another. The extraor-
dinary psychic communication estab-
lished since her death between Miss
Field and the writer Of this book is at
tracing much attention from scientific
investigators OF psychic phenomena.
In the first installment of his story
OF the "Merrimac" in the December
Century, which is to be an unusually
attractive number, Lieut.. Hobson LAYS
no claim TO having originated the idea
OF blocking the channel at Santiago
The sinking of the collier had been or
dered by Admiral Sampson, but the
commanding officer off Santiago had
not executed the maneuvre when the
flagship arrived, and the working out
OF the plan. as we'll as it's execution.
was intrusted to- Lieut.. Hobson. The
preliminary steps are detailed i'm this
number OF the magazine and i'm later
issues the story of the sinking of the
ship and the capture and imprisonmnet
OF her crew will be given at first hand.
This is the only account OF his exploit
that Mr. Hobson has written for pub
lication. The December Century, by
the way. is already reported out OF
print, the fact that the poster cover
was printed, as well as designed i'm
France. making il impossible of re-
newal TO supply the demand.
When Stephen Crane wrote The
Red Badge of Courage" he had never
been in a field of battle and knew moth
ing of military affairs. His work ex-
cited great admiration. But later on
he went to Cuba and was in the front
at San Juan Hill, and I'm the December
".
this time from real field OF battle. en-
titled THE Woof OF Thin Red Threads"
IL VIII be interesting for those who are
familiar with his previous work to COM
pare the two--the imaginary and the
real.
The four issues OF the Youths Com |
panion during January will contain |
some noteworthy features. The New |
as 4 a1sts h. Ill.
nary ., viii contain Hon. John D. |
longs account of the development of |
he torpedo. entitled Little Demons of \
War" the first chapter OF C.. A. Ste
)hens' serial story "An African Lion |
aanch:" and Charles Adams story Of |
An Inland Armor Clad" To the issue
IF January II Pouitney BigeIow will
contribute the narrative OF n personal
adventure with the czar's secret SER
ice. entitled Police Spies in Russia"
n the issue of January 19 will appear |
Grant as a Father" bit OF personal |
eminiscence by the great soldiers son.
zen. Frederick Dent Grant. For the is
ue OF January 26 the distinguished
aturalist, John Burroughs, has writ |
en- a paper on The Cunning OF Birds"
The Providence Journal Almanac for
500 is out, a larger and more compre-
ensive booklet than ever. For Rhode !
ISLANDERS interested I'm their home in
titutions, or for anybody who desires
handy reference book of politics.
nances, sports. educational matters. |
tc., having to do with this State, the
.lmanac is always the best in exist
nee. This years edition contains g6
ages. chock full OF statistical informa-
on and matter important for record
nd valuable for reference from time to |
me during the coming year. The
ages are embelished by particularly ,
pod half-tone pictures OF important ,
lblic work. buildings and institutions.
1d portraits OF State officers and other
gnitaries in various departments. A
apartment of timely interest is the
,ster OF our Rhode Island regiment
ith a portrait Of Col. Abbot and Lieut..
)l. Cook. The astronomical depart | ,
ent. with the tables reduced 10 Provi- /.
nee time. are. AZ heretofore. the work !
Prof. Winslow Upton. and OF them Y
Ives are worth much more than the
ice OF the Almanac, which remains at
cents.