The herald., 1898-02-06
BOOKS AND THEIR MAKERS

the improved copy of the page on the
, left. After that shall rewrite the whole.
So that, leaving the notes out OF cons1d-
Grafton, 1 write each manuscript three
times successfully, and, II could,
would write 1t as many times more, for,
as l have said, am never satisfied with
my work. l am feverish and spas
modic worker, but when in the mood can
work very hard. When the fit is upon
me L allow nothing to interrupt me, not
even leaving my writing table for
meals. I have my food brought to my
desk, eat hurriedly and set to work be-
fore digestion begins. Thus l anticipate
the drowsiness that digestion always
brings with it and escape its conse-
uuences. Now that I am i'll, however,
| do not often have these periods OF
splendid energy"
Most of the praise-worship, even
that Is being lavished upon Daudet's
works is fair and honest; and still it
must be remembered that ones fame
always fares little better after death.
For then we reckon it from the best
things done; while before we throw up
at the writer the poorest.
ALASKA, ITS NEGLECTED PAST,
ITS BRILLIANT FUTURE, by
Bushrod Washington James, A. NJ,
M. D.; handsome 12mo, 450 pages,
33 engravirgs, 16 maps; cloth, $1.50.
Sunshine Publishing company, Phil
adelphia.
This Is new book of the higher class,
| containing much to both interest and
entertain the public who are now at
traeted by everything pertaining to
Alaska and the gold fields Of the Upper
Yukon river. The authors observa-
| tons in Alaska are written in his usual
sparkling vein, their truthfulness to
nature making them valuable for the in
formation they contain, many of the de-
scriptions being written on the spot.
OF this latest book on the latest land
Of promise it carpbe truly said that it
is the best. 1t Is something more than a
hastily collected batch of newspaper ar
ticles or clippings from former works
1t is a genuine book, with valuable
series of maps, excellent index, elaborate
photography and charming Illustrations.
The author has studied Alaska both as
to its natural and it's political possibil-
ilitS, gnu aAi ito piioSNS Va NV NAoPiiiNiis
have been carefully and intelligently
noted There will be many more books
on this wonderful territory published,
but up to date this seems the worthiest.
HERNANI, THE JEW by A. II. Homer
author of 1.-The Richest Merchant in
Rotterdam" Rand, McNally ana
COMPANY
Here is an interesting story of Russian
oppression in the middle of the present
century, when cruelty to the Polish
Jews was being indulged in to the top
of Russian bent, and the seeds of nihil-
ism were being sown.
The hero of the tale is Kasimir Her
nani the rich banker of Warsaw, and
the other main figure is his beautiful
young wife, Sara, whose adventures and
sufferings are made of surprising inter-
est The villain of the romance is Pop
oloff, the dishonest servant of Hourko,
the governor of the province where the
story opens.
| AS to literary form the volume cannot
| be greatly praised, but as story of ad-
venture and intrigue it ranks among the
engrossing novels of the year.
| o o O
| SUNSET. by Beatrice Whitby, author
of THE Awakening of Mary Fen
wick" zone Reason Why" etc. d.
Appleton and company.
This is number 232 of Appleton S
Town and Country Library series. 1t
is an excellent story, such as one al
ways expects to find in each issue of
these novels-a story Of England, of Lon
don and the world of society of which
the great city is the center.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE PYRA-
MIDS, by Richard Henry Savage.
Rand McNally and company.
This story of travelled Englishman,
his friends and his adventures, is another
swiftly moving story of no great mo-
ment, but lively enough to keep up ones
interest. "Charley" Grosvenor was 3S,
veteran sportsman, globe trotter,
free from all entangling alliances, an
athlete, and withal lightly laden as to
cares.
The literary quality of the book can
not be praised, but it is a story of the last
days of Ismail Kedive, the events of
whose time are we'll remembered, and
thus the volume has a certain interest
and value.
O o o
THERE IS NO DEVIL, by Maurus
Jokai. Rand, McNally and company.
This is a cheap, paper cover edition of
one of the Hungarian novelist's lesser
stories, and is a rather dismal tale.
Indeed, we confess to having found Jokai
rather tedious in the long run, albeit
there is power in all he does.
The story opens on Partisan railway,
whose passengers include 1.-The son of an
immensely wealthy American nabob,
with an escort well nigh princely, who
was travelling in Paris" The little
prince-"Silver Prince" they called him
was deaf and dumb and was being
taken all over Europe in search of the
best methods of teaching sign language.
The refrain of the story is that all the
evil in the world comes of the sins of
hate and pride. Throughout life 1 have
met with good and bad fellow beings,
but they We're all human, and their diff
ferent actions were prompted by a
human motive. AS I have denied the
devil in by-gone days l deny him still.
All beings are human and material, and
only such. There is no DEVIL
HUGH WYNNE, FREE QUAKER,