New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-16
CHILDREN'S BOOKS.


TALES OF ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE.
1t is not often that the reviewer finds among
the publications Of holiday time a boys book
which deserves TO be a classic but sometimes
that pleasant thing happens. 1t has happened
now. We do not doubt that Mr.. Hamlin Car
lands boy Life on the Prairie" (The Macnil-
Ian Company will take It's place the shelf
with the few books which many generations Of
American boys will cherish with unwavering
delight. Many an Old Boy too. as he turns It's
pages. will be beguiled to read 10 the end, for
here is record Of the sort Of outdoor life which
holds perennial charm for every age. 1t is
work OF fiction, and therefore has the variety,
the surprises the peculiar interest, OF novel.
But it is a work Of observation, too, and pre-
sents a picture at once picture and an impress
sion-a picture of life the prairie which we
feel is true to nature and Is the better for being
seen through Mr.. Garlands eyes. He says in his
preface: 81 ploughed and sowed, bound grain
on a station. herded cattle. speared fish, hunted
prairie chickens and killed rattesnakes quite
IN the manner here set down" The book Is as
faithful he saws. as his memory and literary
skill can make it. He might have added among
his qualifications lively sympathy. fervor OF
which makes his narrative meet for entertain
rnent as well as for instruction. We see In this
book the prairie world in little, world Of hard
work but of many pleasant experiences, a world
full of healthy action. picturesqueness and un-
affected humanity Every page Of these recol-
lections has its own fascinauon-every prose
page we ought to say, for the verses which are
interspersed among the chapters are only In
truders and blernishes. We hope TO see them
omitted from future editions Of a volume which
Is otherwise a literary performance OF rare ex-
celence.
In Jack. the Young Ranchman" Frederick
A. Stokes Company Mr.. George Bird Grinnel
also deals with a boys experiences in the West.
The author tells us that the incidents described
are only the everyday happenings on COW and
horse ranch Of the great Central Plateau in the
DAVIS when the cattle business was at Its best
and before the determination Of the buffalo
and the wild Indian. All these incidents are
more or less lively and entertaining and the
young hero will probably seem to the readers
OF his own age a very enviable fellow. Another
writer on the West, Colonel Henry Inman, has
brought out in THE Delahoydes" (Crane & Coz
a story OF boy life on the old Santa Fe trail The
characters the author declares, are all drawn
from life and the incidents Of the plot are actual
evpprinnnpE
sodas Another transcript from real life is the
narrative derived by Mr.. Russell Doubleday from
the hero of Cattle Ranch to College" Doubleday
e. Mcclure Company. Everything we have been
accustomed TO associate with the hardy youth OF
the Far West may be found therein-mining,
sheep herding cattle ranching. Indian fighting
"a ebove all hunting. The hero is manly
hov whose career is full Of lessons Of courage.
endurance and moral purpose. A story which
recalls the fiction OF a former day Is Colonel II.
p Gordon's "Osceola. Chief Of the Semlnoles
n. p Dutton g. Coz That picturesque Indian
6eure never loses its interest for bpyish readers
and this tale In which he is one or the three
leading characters. is one OF stirring DANGER anu
suspense. In Iron Heart, War Chief or the
Iroouois" Henry T. Coates & Coz MT EDWARD
6 Ellis tells story OF the entertaining Mhu
made I'D Of good Indians. bad Indians ana brave
uttIe bows. Cold shudders may be found IN some
~ its episodes and to the youthful frame those
are ever agreeable
nv O. A. Henty has never written more
startling absorbing and ingenious story thah
"a Rowing Commission; or, Through the Black
Insurrection at HaytF Charles Scrioners
sons II would be hard TO put together a more
,ar,ed and uncessing series Of gallant deeds ana
,o,rbrsaath escapes. Perhaps the youthful hero
who skips rapidly from one brave rescue anu
canture TO another is q little too brave and wise
- he true but all the same. he Is excessively
Interesting Another new volume by Mr.. Henty
q. entitled "No Surrender Charles scribners
so,o The scene is laid in La Vendee during
,bs Using which ended In almost depopulating
the region and costing the forces OF the republic
q hundred thousand men. The period. OF course
offers the novelist no end Of tragic incident ana
Mr. Henty has certainly improved his oppor-
trnitjes third book bearing his name on the
.,.,a mage is an edition Of THE Brailmin's Treas
ure q" published by the J. b. Lppincott COM
aov II 4. one of the most effective versions
=, the oft told story OF the gems stolen from an
indian temple and the worshipper's search FOR
.t,o IN allen lands. Mr. Henty appears also
= .he editor OF a volume OF "Yule-Tide Yarns
~ oreoans Green & Coz. one OF whose list or
-. s+or4es is written by himself. All are vivid
- dramatic tales. In "Ready-made Romance
49,, q, Charles Black Mr.. Ascot X Hope
- made a number OF very interesting an
-.-..,s 10 rare and little known narratives OF
'D, -. nartIv real adventure. These true stories
-. whit behind the current works OF
sa.,on IN dangerous situations and fortunate
49,. A well sustained historical romance Is
,o,u,as FAIRNESS Drake and His feomen
ITho Macmillan Company. II purports 10 De
80 hv q friend and follower OF Francis DRAKE.
49,. who as a youth, half Engish Aho hAii