The times., 1899-05-14

early in the strife, lets out some things
TO Miss Porter which are used TO her faith
er's advantage. The relations which the
young lady bears to the railroad war are
not very clearly defined, and she is some
what indefinite. though charming. person.
age throughout the book. Mr.. West is in
definite without being very charming, and
Jim Weeks is not as distinct a personality
as he should be. Altogether, the idea OF
Mr.. Webster in writing this railroad story
was commendable, but it is not worked out
in a way to. interest the general public.
tNew York: The Macmillan Company.
S1.5o.)
The Passing of Prince Rozan," by John
Bickerdyke, is an extremely well-written
romance of the kind which derives most of
its interest from the plot and the villain.
1t describes part of the career of mys-
terious stranger from the East who ap-
peared in London under the name OF Prince
Rozan, and was the backbone of gigan-
tic swindling scheme, using middle-class
English rascal as his tool. The heroine
is his supposed daughter, Corine, ana the
hero a young lawyer. The hero is invited
to go, with party of friends, for a cruise
with Prince RoZan on the latter's yacht,
and the cruise ends in the party, with the
exception Of the hero, being set afloat on
the ocean in an open boat, while the hero
and heroine escape later in another. For
tunately, ii is one of the tales in which all
ends happily. The most attractive char
acter in the book is breezy Irish lady of
rank, known as Lady Pat, who reminds
one of Lady Janet in the play, White
Heather One could wish to see more of
Lady Pat. (New York: C. p. Putnam's
Sons. so cents.)
King Washington" is, as Its title indi-
Gates, story of Revolutionary days, the
heroine being Miss Margaret Ettrick, the
charming daughter of a Tory. and the hero
Capt. Jonathan Ford, of the Revolutionary
army. A young half-breed, Paschal. plays
4 considerable part in the development OF
the plot, and is one of the most original
and interesting characters In the book.
1t would be spelling the denouement 10
explain Just why this is, but it is emphat-
ically true. The story is the work of Ade-
laide Skeel and William II. Brearley.
philadelphia: ]. B. Lippincott Company
so cents.)
Danish Fairy and Folk Tales" is little
book of translations made by j. Christian
Bay. The work is fairly well'done, and the
centents of the book are certainly interest
ing. Those familiar with English and Ger
man folklore will find many Of their old
favorites here in a slightly different dress.
Beauty and the Beast" is one old story
which seems TO have Travelled all over the
world, and in Denmark the beast is a
horse. New York: Harper & Bros. Sl50D
THE Professors Daughter" By Anna
Farquhar, is one of those books which lead
one to wonder just why they were written.
1t is the story of very thin blooded and
conscientious young woman, daughter of
an old bookworm, for whom she Is com
panion, secretary, and general care-taker,
and Of her love affair with physician
who has ordered her down to a Rhode ISL
and sea-coast village for her health, and
shortly follows her there. AS it is one
of the mysteries of life what people see
In each other perhaps the author may
be excused fer making the attraction be-
tween her heroine and her hero so utterly
incomprehensible. Miss Louise Fremont
has a great deal more conscience than is
needed for her own good or that of any
one else. There is rather impossible
fisherman in the story, and an almost
equally impossible rural spinster. One of
the most peculiar traits of the author is
her habit OF approaching doubtful subjects
coyly. and then shying on again, like a
nervous horse, as soon as she fairly sees
the object in question. The dialect of the
book is also open to some criticism, un-
less Rhode Island is entirely different
from any other part Of New England in
its provincial forms of speech. 1t is quite
true that the inhabitants of the back
woods districts of those States do some
times say Il be- but they do not say, 81
be goin' up home for some clam-b bait In
a case of that kind they would say I'm
agoin'." The only cases in which this
form Of the verb is used in place of Il am
are in constructions such as Il don know S
be-" or II amt no fool. eff be firm the
country The last mentioned is correct,
IL archaic. Again, the rural New Eng
lander does not say 81 were goin,'' though
he may say Il want" that is, were not
going. AS for saying Il does" or "the
sun do or they is" the author who puts
such expressions into the mouth of New
Englander must have been dreaming OF
the South. Either Miss Farquhar should
give up writing dialect or explain these
peculiarities of her alleged Rhode Island
lingo. 1t will not do to write incorrect
English and call II dialect: it must have
the peculiarities OF the region from which
1t is supposed to come, and usually there
is no rhyme or reason for these. There
is no logical reason why New Engiander
should not say said as how since he
says Il don't know as" except that, as
he himself might express 1t, "he don't"
(New York: Doubleday G. Mcclure Com
pany. sL25.)