The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-24
BOOK NOTES.


"Stringtown on the Pike by Prof.
John Uri Lloyd, is a remarkably force
full picture of Kentucky life. Dodd,
Mead & Co. are to be congratulated for
having the publication of this novel,
that has its rise, progress and close in
the obscure little village of Florence,
KY, about ten miles from Covington.
John UTd Lloyd, who spent his bOyhood
in northern Kentucky, speaks in his
novel one who must be thoroughly
familiar with every nook and corner of
the land, and with the character of its
people, where the scenery is most pic
turesque and the character Of the peo-
pie so unique.
The feud scenes of the story have an
amazing Significance and interest
In the trial in the Kentucky court,
where strange evidence, that must have
been dragged forth from ancient and
musty records, to free the accused, the
action is most intense; so that truth
fulness to history and to life IS added
to literary form and dramatic force, to
make this a novel that only an Ameri-
can could write as it is drenched with
the true American spirit and tradition
Old "Cupe,'' the negro, and really. the
principal character of the novel. is a
masterpiece of dialect study, typical
negro of the olden time, and one whose
splendid qualities of head and heart VIII
always demand our admiration t'Cupe
was honest, faithful and sympathetic,
and his choice and use of his words, and
the delicious wit that characterized his
expressions, commend him most Iavor-
ably.
The stirring dramatic scene between
the colonel and the parSon, terminating
in a tragedy; the mOuntalneer, VINO De
votes his entire time to aVenging MINI
self on mis- enemies; the Jew, the judge,
and all of the others in the cast con
spire to make ''Stringtown on the Pike
a drama Of profound interest. fThrough
Kellam Book and Stationery Coz
Rand, McNally & Co. have published
a book of True Bear Stories which
have been most interestingly told by
JOAQUIN Miller, and he has vouched for
their being true. The book has been Well
Illustrated by Percy Bemiger, and at
the end of the volume there is a 'fScfen-
tific Classification of Bears edited by
Pierre N. Beniger So besides being
well amused by Miller's bear stories, the
reader is also correctly informed con-
corning the classification OF the several
bear families and their names, so that
he can confidently talk or write bear
when the occasions demands Through
Kellam Book and Stationery Coz
A book of suggestive and illustrative
anecdotes and also of poetical quota
tons for the use of preachers IS the one
lately produced by Louis Albert Banks,
D. D. published by Funk & Wagnalls-
The authors skill is strikingly evinced
in this new book in presenting and IL
Illustrating very familiar truths in a very
impressive and attractive manner The
truths that are set forth are explained
in few terse sentences, and then
verses, entire poems or prose selections
are added having a direct bearing on
the truth, making a perfect storehouse
for the preacher or writer.
Semus McAIanus' new book of Donegal
Irish fairy stories is fresh from the press
of Mcclure & Phillips, New York This
author has revived what had almost
come to be considered a lost art-the
telling of fairy stories simple enough
to amuse children and finished enough
to interest older people. From first to
last Mr.. McManus' stories are refresh
ingly satisfactory. The feats OF the
"Arnadon of the Dough" will furnish en-
tertainment for any one who enjoys a
well told, good story.
Eugene Norton by Anne Shannon
Monroe. is tale from sage brush
land" and a charming piece of heart
biography Catherine Musgrave, the
heroine of the story, possesses a f1ne ana
thoroughly trained voice, and sings on
a, German concert platform, where upon
her first appearance she becomes par
alyzed by stage fright and is only re-
leased from this dilemma by suddenly
becoming fascinated by pair Of calm,
masterful gray eyes" that belong to
Eugene Norton, whom she afterwards
marries happily. Published by Rand,
McNally & Co Through Kellam Book
o.