Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-17
NEW BOOKS OF THE WEEK
Tbaory Of Heredity Worked Up Into an Up
to-Date Novel.
PLAYS IN PAPER COVERS
PLENTY Of Fact and Fiction to Anus,
the Reading Public for Several
Days TO Come-studics of child
Nature and child Life.

''''SiSb NlitlCS as a study or insanity, writ
zen with such art and skill as to increase
ITS distressing effectiveness. Hcredity is in
some fiction mere side issue, in the story
1t is the all-engrosslng topic. II DR.. Forbes
Winslow has in his work on insanity gen.
eralizcd certain conditions Of madness, Miss
Dudenny precises one OF them, for Harri5tt
Wicken, the daughter OF an insane man,
Is crazy from the FIRST page to the finish"
while this is to a certain extent true, the
work in question is really a powerful novel.
and one that is certain 10 arouse wide dis
cussion. 1t is as indicated above a study
In hereditary influence ana, although dealing
with an unpleasant theme, the subject is so
handled that the readers interest is i'm
1nediately attracted and held until the close
OF the story. For the most part it is
grim tragedy, relieved, however by an un-
dercurrent of satire directed toward the So
cial condition of the London club woman
Of the day, and the attempts of Harriotts
foster parents to succeed in suburban so.
ciety. The characters of the principal ac-
tors In these scenes are drawn with a bold
and sure touch and the recollection of Har-
riott, Dandie and their child will remain
with the reader long after the book has
been put aside. The Macmillan company,
New York Cloth, $3.50.
Betty Alden, the First Daughter of the
Pilgrims" by Jane G. Austin, has been
brought out in the Riverside Paper Series.
The story of so noble a woman as Elizabeth
Alden, daughter of John and Priscilla, could
not be otherwise than interesting The
writer has done more than confne herself
to personal annals and has presented an an
imated picture of the days of the Pilgrim
fathers. These stories occupy a unique and
honorable place In American fiction and Mrs
Austin has made good use of the materials
at hand. Houghton, MlfTln G. Co., Boston.
Paper, soc.
Gods War" is the title OF novel by
Wilson Vance. AS might be inferred from
the tile, 1t Is n war story. The author is
evidently great admrer of American cour-
age and his work is intended to commemo-
rate the heroism OF the soldiers who took
part in the war between the states. There
are many descriptions of brave fights and
narrow escapes and readers who admire
works of adventure and war will be inter-
ested in this book. F. Tennyson Neely
New York. Paper, 25c.
"In His Name and Christmas Stories,'
by Edward Everett Hale, is at hand and
the many admirers of DIR. Hale will be
more than pleased with the volume. The
Stories III lHc NOlullle, Nllu UIt tNCeDNloli'
were written and published as Christmas
stories. under what is almost a system now,
by which special Christmas stories are
brought forward by different publishers as
their contributions to the JOY and festivity
of the year. "In, His Name" the first ana
the longest of the stories included in the
present volume, was printed in 1873 as Il
Christmas present to the readers of Old and
New, monthly magazine of which DR..
Hale was editor. TIE author explains in
his preface that the story grew out of
much shorter story which he had told to
the children of his Sunday school on Christ
mas day, 1872 The story, "Christmas
Waits in Boston," Which was written In
1879, describes what took place on a
Christmas ride. The story Of Daily
Bread" also, is based upon real incidents,
coming very close to the authors life, In
the Boston milk famine of 1868 The story,
'They Saw a Great Light" is based wholly
upon an experience of Mrs. Bray, the wife
of lighthouse keeper. Hands Off" was
first published in Harper's Magazine anony-
mously, as the author was curious to
know how the religious press would accept
the theological doctrine involved. The
author observes: 81 was sadly disappointed
however. The critics in the religious press
did not know whether the doctrine was
right or wrorg, because they did not know
who wrote the story, And, therefore. al
though it was the only story in the num-
Der which came near them or theirs,
never could learn that one Of them paid it
the honor of mentioning it or it's subject o.
the questions ii involved" Little, Brown 4
Co., Boston. Cloth, $15O.
Hamlet" by William Shakespeare, is the
initial volume Of the new series of Cas-
al' National Iibrnry In bn puhliShad
weekly. 1t is printed on good paper in
clear, readable type and in handy form.
This series will undoubtedly be a great
boon to students and to others anxious to
possess themselves of the classics without
any great outlay of money. Cassel e Co..
New York. Price, 10c.
"Thaddeus Stevens" by Samuel w. Nc
Call has been issued as n part of the
American Statesmen series. Mr.. Mccall has
striking and picturesque subject and his
book shows how fitly Thaddeus Stevens is in
cluded among famous American statesmen
Before entering congress Mr. Stevens did
yeoman service in the cause of popular edu~
cation and for various other measures in
the legislature of Pennsylvania. But his
greatest distinction was won in the house
OF representatives, where his unhnchng
opposition to slavery and his vaorous lead
ersnlp aS Il faulCdl curing lne war Tor the
union won for him the title of "the Great
Commoner," a title not exactly appropriate,
but indicating emphatic admiration for his
qualities a political leader. Mr.. McCah
has described the career and character of
NJ. Stevens with force and discrimination
and has produced one of the most interest
ing volumes in the series of American
statesmen. His own honorable and sue
cossful experience in congress has enabled
him to make tnis account of Stevens more
vivid and effective, Houghton, Mifilin &
Co., Boston, Sl,25.
Those who have read Prof. George II.
Palmers singularly excellent translation OF
tho odyssey of Homer will rejoice that
he has undertaken a translation of the
"Antigone" Ample knowledge of Greek
literature is supplemented in him by an
uncommon mastery OF English, and his
comprehensive appreciation OF Greek char
acter and life. OF Greek thought and
dramatic genius, enables him to give to his