The San Francisco call., 1899-12-10

human interest OF the normal life OF de-
cent poor people holds the attention by its
passion and variety. How true and how
quaint the conception Of the white-haired
Dutterfly-hunter studying through the
classified list of occupations in the London
Directory for a suitable vocation for his
grandson. mailing a schedule OF the trades
on his wall 20 pore over (from which
bankers and clergymen We're regretfully
omitted. and longing 20 know what
shlve-turner is. that he might be sure no
good trade had been left unnoticed. How
simple but how poignant the pathOs of
the struggle FOR halfpcnce I'm the little
shop. how warm the glow Of triumph In
the sale Of the bacon hook. and In the
prosperity which at its highest brought
some half dozen shillings a day. The full
ness OF appropriate detail gives tho book
that life which only tho active Inauguration
working on ample observation can give.
and at the same time the constructive
Kill OF the author has made his work a
uEit-not a mere scattering assemblage OF
interesting scraps. Mr. MorrisOn's book
~ alive, genuine and artistic. Qi 5.
Stone x Co. Chicago. 81 90
\ book that has appeared in part. in
various periodicals. is entitled The
Queens Service. or the Real Tommy At
kins' by Horace Wyndham. a former
lieutenant in the British army. The wri-
ter has for his object the representation
OF the life OF a soldier from the time OF
his enlistment as a private, throughout
the whole period OF his service In this
connection, II is interesting 10 notice that
the book Is dedicated 20 Rudyard Kip
ling as "the friend OF soldiers" The short
essays on all sorts OF topics connected
with a soldiers life are clearly and
strongly. If not elegantly. written. OcCa-
sionally there is slight laxity in the
structure OF sentences. or n trifiing de-
parturc from grammatical rules. but these
shortcomings may readii'- be overlooked
I'm the writings OF a practical man. whose
whole object Is 10 present his facts In the
most fOrcible way. In his treatment OF
various phases Of life in the army. one Is
often inclined 10 ask whether he Is just.
or whether he exaggerates the hardships
a soldier has TO endure, both In and out
Of barracks.
Notwithstanding wrongs and hardships
the soldiers life has manv pleasant fea-
lures; the officers are indulgent In tho
matter OF furlOughs, on special occasions
such as Christmas discipline Is relaxed
and the soldier Is allowed 10 enjoy him
self without restraint. on Sunday after
Moons he Is granted "A 'half-holiday."
recreation rooms and libraries are often
provided maintained, Of course, by stop
page Of pay). some Of them apparently
NtIE CNIIlpIldult anu attractive ADolNrE
thing noticeable is that In general promo
tions seem just. A private Of intelligence
and moderate education in which hs
must submit to fairly severe tests. with
record for good conduct. may reason
ably hope for promotion as vacancies oc-
cur. So. too, the writer eudeavors 20 cor
rect the prevailing impression that courts
martial are an abuse. While the military
code is strict and regulations arc unfail-
ingly enforced. the punishments inflicted
arc not excessive, and delnquents are
tried with the utmost impartiality. though
one might think with overmuch formal
ity With all these things enc Is scarcely
ready TO expect the CON lusi1n az which
the writer arrives. that after all II does
pay a common man 90 enlist. for notwlth-
standing all his hardships "A man Of the
class from which recruits are ordinarily
drawn can perhaps save more money in
the army than out Of it.
o.. G. Pase * Co. B7ston)