Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-21

the spirit expressed IN unlS DOCK. Inc MdC-
milan Co., New York. Cloth, $3.50.
When Robert Browning penned the line,
eve caught fer a moment the powers at
play" he suggested a thought that has given
to Bliss Perry the title of his new book of
short stories, THE Powers at Play" 1t is
an entertaining little volume very we'll
adapted to the reader who wishes to while
away a pleasing hour at home or abroad.
The volume is a collection OF eight stories,
the best of which is Incident Of the British
Ambassador" 1t is a highly amusing ac-
count OF the efforts of a newspaper reporter
to make news. The young man In question
had been a most popular college athlete, but
his venture in the journalistic field had
brought him little honor. A failure to secure
news when news was wanted brought him
into disfavor with the managing editor and
discouraged and disheartened he returned to
the college town where his reputation was
undimmed. 1t happened that the British
ambassador visited the college at the same
time, and while he was engaged at golf the
young reporter and his friends played a mad
prank, in which one of their number, dressed
In the guise of the ambassador, was rode on
q rail and treated with many indignities.
all of which was wired to the reporters
paper, which was getting out editions every
hour. The news reached London and soon
the cable to Washington was hot with de-
mands for explanations from the British gov
ornment. In the meantime the ambassador
was absorbed with golf, and when the mes
sage from his government asking for details
CT the outrage at length reached him his
answer: Newspaper joke. Have Just beaten
American champion at golf, breaking all
American records" restored parliament to
good humor. All ended we'll, the reporter
returned to his desk and was honored by the
managing editor with a cigar. Charles
soribner's Sons, New York. Cloth, $l,25.
Mr.. Richard Harding Davis has written a
new volume of short stories, the first for
more than three years, which is published
under the title OF The Lion and the Uni
corn" Returning in this volums to the
field of his early successes, Mr., Davis makes
1t plain that his knowledge OF human ma
ture has deepened and broadened in the
same proportion that his work as a literary
artist has acquired exquisite finish and per-
fection. In perfection OF significant de-
tail as well as in the color and feeling the
title story of this new book stands UNI
%riyalled, while the ether stories supply
ample evidence Of the breadth of the authors
sympathies and the extraordinary keenness
or his observation OF character. The vol
ume contains, in addition to the title story,
ION the Fever Ship" THE Man with One
Talent" The Vagrant' and THE Last Ride
Together" Richard Harding Davis is
always entertaining, whether he enters the
field of travel in Central America or writes
OF campaigning in Cuba, or devotes himself
to fiction pure and simple. His work is
always readable and his admirers will en-
JOY his latest effort. Charles Scribner's
Sons, New York. Cloth, S1.25.
One of the new books is a story entitled
"Manders,' by Elwyn Barron. The story is
a most pathetic recital OF maternal love and
endurance and exhibits a study OF deep
human Interest, in which pathos and humor
both play their parts. The work possesses
much OF the quality OF true tragedy, is ex-
ceptionally well written, contains some very
strong scenes, plenty of life and color, pic
turesqueness and y~ivacity. There are
bright descriptions of student life in Paris
and the Latin quarter, which, with its bevy
OF artists and models, is brought before us
with all the freshness and liveliness OF a
vivid pen. The story is full OF surprises
which cause the reader 70 catch his breath