The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-16
NkW hooks.
Brief Reviews of Important and Interesting
New Publications.

Brief Reviews Of important and Interesting
New Publications.
Mr. William J. Long provides us with a very
entertaining book in his Ways OF Wood Folk"
(Cinn 4 Co. BostonL This IL book about tho
foxes and the rabbits. the bears. the owls and
the crows the ducks. the oroes-all sorts Of
wild things that carry on business and disrort
themselves In the fields and woods. the waters
and the sky. II Is very likely that the reader
will be surprised by the unusual inquiry with
which the hook opens. Did you ever" Mr..
Long asks, meet fox face to face2" BY this
Il Is not meant to inquire whether the reader
has ever exchanged Rlances OF interest and
curiosity with a Gagged fox. but whether he has
ever met one OF these capable little animals
suddenly. unex pectedly. and to the SUNRISE OF
both. while out walking in the country.
1, IL should be the case that tho reader
has had such an experience. Mr. Long
IL confident that he will remember tho
circumstance that he was deeply impressed by
the perfect dignity and self possession OF tho
fox He proceeds to enter upon the details OF
such meeting. II is n late winter afternoon.
he says. You are swinging rapidly over the
INLAND pastures. or loterine along tho winding
old road through the woods. The color deep
ems in the west: the pines grow black against
III
glow everywhere In the last soft light. and the
mystery that never sleeps long in tho woods
begins TO rustic again in the thickets. An in
tercsting back ground. II will be perceived, for
your meeting with the fox. But you are busy
with your own thoughts. seeing nothing. till a
fash OF yellow passes before your eyes. and a
fox stands In the path before you. ono foot
urlIfted, the hufy brush swept aside in
graceful, curve. the bright eyes looking
straight into yours-nay. looking through
thcm to read tho intent which gives the
eyes their expression. That Is ALWAYS the
way with the fox Mr.. Long saws: he seems to
be looking at your thoughts. Surprise. eager
ness. lively curiosity are all in your face on
the instant, but the beautiful creature before
you only draws himself together with quiet
pclf-possession. He lifts his head slightly, a
superior look creeps into his eyes. and he says.
according to Mr.. Long: You are surprised
Oh. l frequently use this road in attending to
some matters over in the West Parish. To he
sure. We are socially incompatible: we may
even regard each other as enemies. unfortu-
nately. ! did take your chickens last week {:
but yesterday your unmannerly dogs hunted
me- At least we may meet and pass az gentle
men. You are the older; allow me 10 give you
the path" With this. dropping his head again.
he turns TO the left. English fashion. and trcts
SAYS: not the shadow OF suspicion or uneasi
ness His eyes are cast down: his brow
wrinkled. as IL in deep thought; already
he seems TO have forgotten your exist
ence. You watch him curiously as he enters
the patch behind you and disappears over the
hill Somehow n queer feeling. half wonder.
hall rebuke. steals over you. as II you had been
outdone In courtesy, or had passed q gentle
man without sufficiently recognizing him
But II you could have followed the little fellow
and seen what he did when he was out OF sight
II YOU could have been witness to the burst OF
speed with which he INN ediately proceeded 70
put considerable distance between h m sef
and you: II you could have observed later his
tail chasing and high jumps. and. finally the
straight. nervous gallop in which his emotion
consequent upon meeting you exhausted itself.
you would have understood that no was an
actor. that his attitude before you was a pose.
and that he was very much pleased with
the little business which he had re-
Gently put up. II the ways OF the fox
are charming. except to those who own
the chickens. so are the ways OF the rabbit.