The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-11

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book ought to find place in every public
school and college library. For example.
we nave here an instance Of stereotyped
phrases used by the author who is men
| tally lazy"
rant rumors OF church scanda! permeated the
very atmosphere in Frankfort, and everyone was
on the alert to catch the faintest whisper IN re.
caro- 10 the matter; as the minister was social
iavorite. and 1t was known by inside few that
he was the one most seriously involved
Any bright student. after reading this
paragraph, is likely to feel himself cured
OF the particular blunders therein shown.
But the critic who writes this volume of
advice is not himself altogether free from
the errors which he condemns in Others.
1t is always dangerous business. this set
ting up for Mentor, and Sir Oracle is as
! tute when he DEGREES that no dog shall
bark when he is speaking, for the dog
might perhaps be able to pick flaws in
the speech. When, for example, Mr.. Bar
rett remarks in his chapter on 1.-The La
Dor of Authorship"
Faults m grammar and rhetoric are too easily
corrected to be allowed to stand in the way Of
our success. and l have already showed you how
you may perfect yourself in these essentials
he lays himself open to the ridicule OF
his readers for not following his own ad-
vice. New York: The Baker G. Taylor
Company. 81
Anyone who wants to buy charming
gift-book for an imaginative child can
hardly do better than select THE True
Annals of Fairy Land" edited by William
Canton, and illustrated in most quantity
delightful fashion by Charles Robinson.
1t contains many old stories told in new
way, and some which are entirely new,
and these who read that most lovable of
child stories, wv. ": Her Book" and its
companion, 1.-THE Invisible Playmate"
know Just how delicate and winsome
the sprites of Mr.. Canton's fairyland are
likely to be. The illustration, however, is
the feature of the book which is most i'm
mediately attractive. 1t is absolutely
perfect, and unique in its style. There are
elves and gnomes popping out in unex-
pected places, sweet child-faces peering
out from among fower-petals, and an airy
and graceful lightness, as Of thistledown CT
charlottesville. about every floating figure.
The figures seem to grow before ones
eyes, like soap bubbles, or those mystic
rious pictures which one sometimes de-
tects in smoke wreaths or mist clouds.
There is not false touch in the entire
book, from the child on the fly-leaf with
her suggestive tablet,
This book belongs To-"
to the little tot at the end of 1t all. sitti- =
on flower stem and busily porting ovei
huge volume. With all this daintiness
there is Just the atmosphere of erratic,
wiilful, fanciful unexpectedness which
suits the pages OF folklore. In fairyland
nothing is just what one would suppose it
to be- and in that respect the place shows
its human origin.
1t is impossible to resist the temptation
to quote the opening paragraph Of this de-
lightful book of tales One feels like a
child lowering about kitchen when the
Christmas dinner is under way. There are
SO many good things lying about, and the
fragrarces are so tempting, that, in the
words of certain Lilliputian actor. there Is
IAN irresistible impulse" to gather in some
of these tit-bits. This is the way in which
Mr.. Canton begins his Annals:
This is the Book Of Herla, King Of the Britons
OF DID, and in it written all the marvellous
things that happened in the days when he was
King.
Now it CHANGED in the summer while he was
hunting in the forest IIera found himself all
alone and parched with thirst Not far off he
spied in grassy place among the old oaks low
green mound where it seemed pleasant to rest:
and ooh for a mighty draught OF cool meadi''
he cried as he flung himself down on the thick
grass.
Scarcely had he spoken the words when hand,
bearing q great cup of green stone bound with
to him. The King was filled with wonder, but
the liquor in the cup looked so clear and COOL |
and bright, that he could not resist the longing |
TO drink.
II that beginning does not take the read
er back into the pleasant land of Once
upo IA time 1t is because he is SO unfortu- |
nate as never to have been there. Lon-
don: ]. NJ. Dent G. Coz |
lsaTh.. Son nj Carl &c ro,,,opco ~ |
the days of Charles II, by Theodore Burt |
Sayre. Unlike some other historical now
els of the day, this has an air of realism |
about it which is delightful The story |
deals with the love adventures of a young |
royalist blade and Puritan's pretty daugh- |
ter and 1t would be hard to say which has |
the most character, wit, and spirit. Both |
have their faults, which are those of their |
day and type, but they are likeable young
folk. nevertheless.
The atmosphere Of the story is one Of |
careless, dashing joyousness, despite the
various tragic circumstances which hedge
young Carleycroft and his sweetheart. Not
only the hero, but most Of his friends, have
4 faculty of taking life easily and gayly.
with much Of what the French call 1.-The
10y of life" The story is told by Lorrimer
Weatherby, guardian of Hillary Carley-
croft, and to his personality is doubtless to
be ascribed the gayety Of the tale, since he
himself was not inclined to let responsible
ties sit too heavily on his shoulders.
Aside from this most striking quality OF
light hearted freedom from care or purpose
n life. the story is full of action, humor.
and good misunderstanding, and each of
he various elements in 1t is handled with
much skill The author has done a good
bit of work, as well as made a refreshing
exception to the solemn puppet BUSH
ness of some of the historical novels we
lave had, which contain far more elaborate
y prepared knowledge of the time than
.eal human nature. (New York: Harper
Bros. $1.50)
1.-THE Story of the Alphabet" is a recent
acquisition to series OF small volumes
called 1.-The Library of Useful Stories.'
The author Edward Clodd has gathered
into the two hundred pages of this little
book more information about the art Of
chirography and its history than most
people are aware was In existence. He
has. moreover put 1t in shape which is
extremely interesting, and the book ought
to find place in every public school
library. In 1t are discussed not only the
making of the alphabet, but the various
forms of picture-writing in use among
aboriginal tribes; and the illustrations,
which are numerous, reproduce several
specimens of these, the translation being
given in the text New York: d. Apple
ION G. Co. 40 cents.)
1.-THE Dream Fox Story Book" by Ma
Del Osgood Wright is book which chill
iren will undoubtedly enjoy as much as
is piquant title suggests. The illustra-
ions. by oliver Herford. are thoroughly
,uited to the text, and delightful in them
selves. fairly good example Of the
.hymes which are interspersed here and |