The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-17
BOORS0nd
Authors
PUERTO RICO; ITS CONDITIONS AM

PUERTO RICO; ITS CONDITIONS AND
POSSIBILITIES. BY William Dinwid-
die, New York and London; Harper
Brothers. Bound IN cloth, illustrated,
2gi pages, price $3.50.
This work is the result OF two months
spent IN Puerto Rico Immediately after
tho Spanish evacuation of the island. Ii
IS a comprehensive study OF the conditions
I'm Puerto RICO, not from a military stand
point, from which point Of view so much
has been written, but regarding the val
ne Of our new possessions as 10 The OPP
p0rtunities that they open up TO the
young men Of our land who are seeking
their fortunes, and to whose visions this
new land seems as rich as the tabled El-
dorado.
The first chapter describes the formal
evacuation Of the island by the Span
iards and the raising of the Stars and
Stripes at San Juan Then follows a de-
scrption Of the physical features of the IS
land and its climate. The next chapter
IS Of especial value 10 would-be settlers.
as it tells Of the prevalent disease OF
that tropical land and suggests some SIM
pie hygienic precautions 10 the traveller.
Next is a short chapter on the geology
or the country followed by q description
OF the military road. which is character
ized as 1.-The Finest Road in the Western
Hemisphere" IL was build by Spain,
cost four million dollars and trayerse5
the island diagonally, from side 70 side
The other roads Of the island are trails,
the following Of which gives the rider
great diversity Of topography and veg
citation and the excitement Of continual
dangers, when a single mis-step would
HHIfI
the Dark Cave" with fits solitary occu-
pant. a mammoth black spider, furnish an
opportunity for some interesting descrip-
tive writing Industrial Possibilities is
the heading under which the author gives
some good advice 20 impecuniOus Amer
leans. He says: ct is a good country
for impecuniOus 20 keep out OF, however
ambitious they may be-" Then follow
chapters on the culture OF sugar, cof-
fee. tobacco and also on fruit raising,
market gardening and Horticulture. The
home life the Puertoriqueno is described
and the national hospitality highly sea-
soned with garlic and sweet OIL" IS COM
mended The life Of the peasant, his
primitive home the fact that unlike his
northern brother. he IS never In danger
OF starvation, their marriage customs, or
rather lack of them. their music and
their dancing are ligtly sketched. Cock
fighting, which is the national game, is
given a chapter, all to itself. The prin-
ciIol cities are enumerated and briefly
described. Another chapter IS devoted 10
the schools, churches and charitable insti-
buttons, all Of which have been sadly mis-
managed under the Spanish adminstra-
uOn. The description of a pauper burial
Is a pathetic bit Of writing. and the
whole subject Of cemeteries is revolving
story Of inadequate quarters for the dead.
Chapters on THE Money Of the Island
Revenues and Taxes" Courts" past
Political Methods" and a short historical
sketch complete a most comprehensive
work. Unlike most works OF the same
class. Il is delightfully."- written. besides |
being a valuable addition 10 Puerto Ri I
can literature. IL is profusely illustrated I
from photographs taken by the author. /
A NAME TO CONJURE WITH Nov ]
el by John Strange Winter. Phiiadel- !
phia: J. y. Lippncott Company. Bound /
in cloth. 81 pages, price SL25.
A new novel by John Strange Winter
Mrs. Stannard) is always welcome. This
latest story IS perhaps the strongest of
her numerous works. IL Is written with
great force and is unique in plot and
treatment She has departed the paths
Of love-making and has written in
an entirely different vein. This
story is the tragedy Of a woman writer OF
brilliant intellect, indOmitable energy and
almost endless capacity for self-sacrifce
or those she loves. and yet who In or
Ter 10 keep up her failing powers has re-
course TO a stimulant. 10 which she final
y discovers that she Is a slave. Her
struggles. her mental agony and her final
basement at the foot Of the Cross give
cope for some powerful writing. II is a
loOk worth reading. OF strong moral tone,
md one calculated TO do good.
The makeup Is pleasing and outside
over of green and gray delights the eye.
~ ACCOUNT OF SARAH. BY Eyre
Hussey. Philadelphia: J. y. IIppln. (
colt Company. Bound in cloth, 3i3 |
pages. price SL25
II IS delightful 10 read a novel, which is
novel, pure and simple. which neither
dvocates a purpose nor thrusts a NOR
/ down the readers throat. ION Ac- !
cunt Of Sarah IS just such story
nd will please those who read novels
or amusement only. II is simply. but /
narmngly written, has enough plot 20 !
ang the story on, and the characters are ]
fe-like. Quaint old Samuel Jefford. man, 7
?. true-hearted Kit Jim. with his bump ,
I humor most fully developed; charming !
'hyllis; volatile. but always lovable Mil
red; Miss Buchanan, who Is always help
NJ others-there are delightful acqualnt-
noes. The old Squire and Sarah are the
isagreeable people I'm the story. but on
? serve as shadows IN the picture and
thers shine all the brighter by contrast.
The book is issued IN attractive style.
ound In gray linen. with a picture OF
Sarah" on the cover.
WIEN ROGUES' FALL OUT. A RO-
NANCE OF OLD LONDON. BY Jos.
Hatton. author OF when Greek Meets
Greek" THE Vicar" eac. Philadelphia:
j. Il. Appincott Company. Bound In
10Th. $40 pages. price sl9.
AS the title indicates. this work is not