The Portland daily press., 1899-11-21

h~s bsea translated from the Hungarian
By r. Nistet Balm, strikes me 80 the
most satisfsosory OF all the works Of this
famous novelist which have besn put Into
English. Il is not quite 80 barbario,
while Jet 10 rstains the splendid force,
thrillins and picturesque accessories, and
ssronE situations which have made his
other books 90 attractive. Many OF the
characters are more human than Jokai's
arc wont 30 be, while Fstis Negra, the
mighty and mysterious vobber chieftain,
10 tremsn ious creation.
Mr.. Balm suggests In bis preface what
will at once bs evident TO ths reader,
that. In this novel Of Incident. the minor
characters have o slight Dickensian
flavor; the parasite Marjari, the old
miser Dsmetsius, the Hungarian Miggs.
Gismsntina, and the frivolous Countess
Kepsyslesy.
The story 10 . fasoisating one. and
for the scene Of his drama the author has
penetrated 10 the heart Of the wild. ro-
mantle sylvan regions Of the wallachisn
and Transylvsnia Alps. whieh becomes
the theatre Of many wonderful exploits.
The bright and dsshing romance A
Modern Mercsssry 10 written BY Mrs.
Pr,ohard and her son. who hare been
previously known BY their pen names
"k. and n. Heron" In this novel the
place In which the story 10 set II purely
imaginary. and while there are plots and
political intriguss galore. there is st ths
Same time pretty love story which
CLEANS through the trials and tribula-
sions. snd all at last turns out well. We
have dreaded tragedy, but the suspense.
and oonseq ntly the Interest of the story,
are sustained to the end.
Mr.. Brady's Tales of the Telegraph. Is
o clever and spirited tit Of writing. De-
Ing the st,ry of telsgrapher's life and
adventures in railroad. commercial and
military work. The author is 1st lieu
tenant Of the 10th United States Infan-
Try. lats oaptaio Of the Signal Corps Of
voluntsera The volume is profusely IL
Illustrated.
1hs stirring incidents related have the
ring OF reality and Of the authors own
experience, and are exciting aud sdven.
turous. He gives US very clear idea Of
the life Of telssraphio operator on the
plains and In the little out-of-the-way
western stations where there is no life sx-
oept the widest, and where civilization
10 not 70 be found beyond the sound Of
the ticking OF the train despatoher's in
strument. The b3ok deals with body Of
men whose habits and experiences and
methods Of work are not generally
known. but who hold the lives Of thou
sands In their hands.
Big 10 the second novel Of Mr.. Frank
Norris. young writer of much promise.
To my mind thers 10 still the promise.
but not the fulfilmsns In his latest work.
Blk Is crude, and while the element OF
Unnecessary coarssness has been partially
sliminassd 10 has nos entirely disap-
pearsd. Even In San francisco, . nice
girl OF the middle class would hardly
spend her days roaming over the oity, visit
ting the docks and lunohing In China
town. with . young newspaper reporter.
who danoss on restaurant table for der
amusement. even though they had
made compact not to have "any more
nonsense" but TO bs good comrades In
stead Of lovers. At all events think
Mr.. Norris too young and unsophisto-
Gated to write love stories. His young
psc Pile take their sentiment and love
making as they would a glass Of Ice
cream soda. or any other mild temporary
entertainment-apd 1t goes no deeper
than the writer's apparent insxpsrience.
It sounds very much Us II he were trying
to be extremely blsse and did not quite
know how to set about IL.
MIR. Howells considered Mr.. Norris's
McTsague. IAN altogether remarkable
book" am curious to know what he
win think Of Blk.
Mr.. Howard W. Tilton appears in
print in a volume Of Lay Sermons. and
this ~ his motto:
"How does the book begin, 60 in and
endf
1t has a plan but no plot. Lie hath
none"
The Pulpit-"Only o Uttered table in
the editorial room Of . great daily news
paper"
The Prsacher-"Only weary worker
who at the close of busy week feels the
common need Of = gospel Of helpfulness
and happiness"
The People-"Only other toiling,
struggling, tempted children of men who
ON Sunday morning watch with kindly
smile for the simple messages thus sent
forth from this sndsdicated pulpit by
this unord aimed preacher.
Thus the preacher speaks to the hearts
of his hearers, and no other words are
needed
The Immense interest excited by II.
Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergsrno
will create desire In the mir dis Of many
to read Les Romanesques by the same
author IL has heen trapslat d into Eng