The times., 1899-08-20
LITERARY NOTES.

"a Texas Ranger by N A. Jennings, is
narrative of the authors adventures in
COW wboy-land, and very entertaining some
of them are. The first chapter tells how
his soul was fired in youth by the idea OF
becoming cattle king and how, with the
paternal blessing and 500 he started out
to seek that fortune. 1t did not take long
for the latter part of his equipment to ebb
away, and when 1t was gone he hired out
TO a ranchman." Then the adventures be-
gan. Subsequently he became a Texas
Ranger under Capt. L. H. McNelly. While
in this service he knew one or two men
who have since become famous
There is plenty of dash and picturesque
ness in the way in which Mr.. Jennings
tells his story, and 1t is plain that he is
proud of his service and of the work that
was done. He declares that the Texas
Rangers in a comparatively short time
made the country they patroiled safer than
the United States troops had made it in
year. That there was need for some sort
OF law and order league is plain from his
description of the state OF the country at
the time, the Rangers were organized
The country was "on the shoot" to use a
bit of Texas slang, and even women went
armed. He says. however that with the
passing of the desperate the pistol went
also, and that there are now more pistols
carried in New York city than in Texas.
This book would be a good one for the
small boy-or the large one, ether-to
read In his summer vacation. Really good
books for boys are not numerous, but this
is one, although ii was possibly not in
tended for that particular public. New
York: Charles Scribner's Sons. S1.25)
The literary critic of the indianapolis
News" has made this amusing discovery:
An unconscious humor crept into recent ad.
vertisement Of two books, which appeared in
New York paper, through the msplacing of the
comments attached TO each book Mr.. ". j. Hen
derson, the musical critic of the New York
Times, made TO declare that 'sThe Hooli-
gan Nights is zone OF the most important books
on music that has ever been published" !" and the
| sNation'' to aver of the same book that 'sfor
students of music that want 70 know some thing
| of all branches OF the art and afford TO buy
| only one book, this is the thing" The Nation
was also made responsible for the statement that
| NJ. Lavignac, in his ''Afusc and Musicians" is
funny because he can't help it, while the
New York Tribune solemnly asserted that it is
| captivating, warm weather book
Clement Scott, the veteran dramatic crit
| ic, whose writings for so many years ap-
| peared in the columns of the DAILY Tele-
| graph" of London, is correcting the last
| proofs of his "reminiscences"
| Owing to the growing demand for "The
1
covered edition not to exceed 100000 is on
| the press for immediate publication.
| Where Angels Fear to Tread" is the
title of the leading story In the volume of
nautical tales which Morgan Robertson
will issue In October.
! The manuscripts OF the two stories of
! the elder Dumas, which were lately dis
covered by the Greek gentleman named
Apostolides, are said to have been declared
absolutely authentic by the Messrs. Levy,
of Paris. The fortunate Greek is to pub
lish them himself.
In view of the political ferment in South
| Africa, the account of Capt. Alfred Bert
rand's voyage OF exploration through Ma
tabeleland, the Transvaal. and the Cape,
given in his book, THE Kingdom of the
Ba- Rotsi," win be of special interest.