The Portland daily press., 1900-11-27

pook OA picture puzzles, ana you read n
bit, then you come TO a picture whit h
represents word, and you must CUES
what 1t all means. 1t is not very off,
cult, but Will give much pleasure tc
children who have just reached words Of
two syllables. The took has the pretti.
est kind OF a cover, all red ana yellow,
and in one corner the black cat sits and
smiles.
Rita is one OF Mira. Laura e. Richard .
lovely stories, than which there Is MOTH
Ing better. The dedication Is
$40
Five girls know
In the town OF Saint Jo,"
and 1t is o book written especially for
young girls. OF &c the author says, "If
this story should seein extravagant to
any OF my readers, can only refer them
to some one of the many published :
counts OF the Spanish-American war
They win lind that many delicate ana
tenderiy nurtured girls were forced to
endure dangers and prlvations compare 1
to which Rita's adventures seem like
chiids' play"
Mrs. Richnrds's story is bright, fresh
and original, with a pretty dash q
humor, and Cuba is the scene of opera
lions, for the romantic, as well as the
practical elements of the narrative
| Rlta Is the daughter of an American
who has married q Spanish wife and
lives in Havana, At first Rita is
I"Cuban, fanatic, impossible" Accord
ing to her step.mother, "She teach her
parrot to cry viva Cuba Librel She
play at open windows her guitar, songs
of Cuban rebels, forbidden by the author
tiles" This is the Spanish half of
Rita's nature, and the war developes her
American traits, the result of which the
story tells far better than l can.
The name of Miss Maria Louise Poole
represents the best kind Of fiction for
girls, and "Chums" is storyswhich runs
from gay to grave.a has plenty OF Incl
dent. ana two neroines who are called
Mercy and Delight. There is but one
false nots, the constant mention of a
poor little deformed boy as 1.-THE dwarf.
This sort of thing is painful and unnec-
essary, and one winces every time the
expires sion ia used Otherwise the story
is we'll told and interesting, with very
good, and not too evident moral,
MIR. Morrison's The Adventures OF a
Boy Reporter, begins with the formation
of a "Hut club" by Dan Sullivan and
Archie Dunn, where the boys eat dirty
bread, drink bitter coffee. cook in the
open air, and prepare themselves gener'
ally for the saamy 81 lie or life
Later Archie becomes a reporter;
works his way to Honolulu by peellne
vegetables on a Pacific liner, and finally
arrives in Manila, where he has a fearful
and wonderful experience. such as being
captured by the rebels, and afterward
making his escape. About this time he
sees Aguinaldo, and, when the American
troops arrive, becomes the hero OF the
regiment. At the last of the story b.
bids us farewell, and Is just starting for
Europe.
A Little Puritan's First Christmas Is q
dainty volume, containing a story OF
Colonial days. charmingiy told. IL is all
about how Christmas was unwiilingly
kept by Betty Sswaii, aided by her I'M
f6RdueFdLb DEOknoE 3Aius DobLy anu 0tlL
were the children OF Judge SewaIf OF the
famous diary who hanged this wisch-
ss and hatei the ..popish festival Of
christmas
On the pretty cover Betty and Sam ap
psar-not quite as large as iife-but look
ing very gu amt and interesting.
"A book written by Mr.. Henty Is always
drawing card, as 1t were. The boyl
delight in them, and will read with avid
ity, this story of an Apache raid. Tit
scene opens at San Diego, where the son
of leading citizen OF Boston, young
fellow in the dress of a sailor. has desert
ed from his ship. saves the life of MexI
can gentleman. one Juan Sarasta, and
| for this service has his reward.
The Spanish setting OF the story Is
rather picturesque, and there is a dash
of romance and love-making the variety
which Is said TO be the spice OF life
Que gets from this pretty volume 4
very good idea OF the cattle ranches Of
Southern California, and of the manner
In which they are carried on.
M l.. b. w.