The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-22

THE QUEENS GARDEN. by N. E. NJ
Davis. Boston and New York: Hough-
ION, Miffin & Co. Bound In ci0th. 16
mo. lse pages: price fl.2S.
THIS IS a simple little story. redolent Of
magnolia and orange blossoms. and suS-
gcstsvc of the cfiSalry and romance Of a.
rast generation The scene is mostly laid
In an old walled garden in the French
quarter OF New Orleans. The heroine ts
o fascinating little maid. OF Creole descent
who since the death OF her parents. has
becn passed from the care of one relation
10 another, death each time roobinS the
poor Child OF her ncw-found protector
The story opens with description Oh ner
5o,lrnay to find another guardian this time
her fathers only sister. of whom she
knows little She is most InFssteTaousiy
greeted by tho trusted servant of her
aunt, and is told that "Tante Marguerite
is too III to see her. Fate again pursues
eer. for the aunt. has yellow fever and
dies without seeing here niece. During
her enforced isolation IN the plague
stricken house. she dreams away the
DAYS in the old garden. which she recog-
a,izes as che fairy-garden which has so.
OFTEN figured in the stories told her by
her father in her childhood Though IN
quarantine, Cupid finds a way and the
Prince comes over the wall to our heroine
as he used to come TO the Queen in the
childish fairy-tale. and while she loses
once again her protector. she finds safe
home IN the heart of q good man. The
authors style IS most simple and in this
simplicity there Is an elusive charm which
touches the heart. The local color and
atmosphere cnake 1t valuable as picture
of Creole life and environment, and of
the gloom that settles over the city when
the spectre yellow Fever walks abroad.
THE DOMESTIC BLUNDERs OF Wo-
MEN. by A Mere Man. New York:
Funk & Wagnalls Co. For sale by the
Bell Book and Stationery Co., Rich.
mond Bound in cloth. u no., Illus
trated; 19S pages; price 81.
We are all familiar with the name which
Pops deemed appropriate to those who
rush in where angels fear to tread, ana
st seems that DIT should be applied to "A
Mere Man. Suppose a woman should
81; down and write a dissertation on now
men should manage their business AFFAIRS
ana even assert that women could man
age Offices, factories, stores. ETC., better
than men. what a howl would arise from
the masculine contingent" This is just
wefat "a Mere MAN has done In The
anoo,ncs:c Problems of Women" and the
funniest part of it all is that IL seems 10
be written in good faith and honesty. II
would be no new thing for woman 8
blunders and acknowledgement to be Inc
topic OF screed intended for amusement,
but that man should undertake TO map
out a plan of domestic economy for wo-
men at large is something new under the
sun. ii cannot be denied that they do
make bl,lnders in their domestic affairs.
but as to that. what business man at the
end of the year cannot look back aud see
mistakes made in his business!
The sole practical suggestion offered is
that all women should keep a houseRolo
account which should be balanced up
every week, and this he calls the pest
remedy for all plumbers" This is Well
lnough SO far as it goes, but it doesn't
iegin TO remedy half the problems of do
,nestic MANAGEMENT over which women
quicker their foreheads and rumple their
hair, The audacious creature seems TO
think that if "a women is clever enough TO
make her accounts balance, the domesuc
machinery Will always be weli-oiled ana
run smoothly. IF all men take lals view,
before a man asks a girl TO marry him. he
VIII first enquire If she is good ACCOUNT
ant.
The most audacious proposition IS that
anv man could manage his house better
than his wife. This Is doubtless true OF
some men and some wives and Is very
evidently true of "a Mere Man" and ms
wife. for 1t goes without saving that she
is dowr-trodden, brpw-beaten creature
or else this book would not have been
published.
The problems are all there. 1T is true.
and "a Mere Man. puts Ids finger on some
weak points in domestic economy, but nus
ideas of remedy are most inadequate ana
the audacity of the whole thing makes
woman lose sight of what little pracncad
good there may be in his suggestions.
CHAliMETTE, by Clinton Ross. author
of ..The Scarlet Coat" '.Zuleka," etc.
i .innincott's Select Novels. Philadelphia:
7. b. Itppincott Co. Paper, price 80
cents.
This y,urports to be the adventures and
love affairs of Captain Robe, an aid on
General Jackson's staff, before and during
the hattie of New Orleans. Our hero tells
his own story and it is a thr1lilns tale
of battle and bloocshed. of love and
adventure. The pirates of Baratana play
nm jgnportant part in the story. IS
a story of the war of 1872. period OF
mr. history of which most of the present
generation knows little. The author pays
a fine tribute TO Geenral Andrew Jackson s
military skill, as shown in his mastery
nefense of New Orleans.
HISTORICAL NUGGETS, Selections uiofn
Macarlay. Stanley. Froude. Ftske, Arm
strong. and Emerson. Flexible cloth,
erlt top, IS cents. New York: Fsords,
Howard & Hubert
The now Familiar and favorite Mug
get Series. mas been enriched by one znore
little volume, this time from six famous
experts In historical writing and criticism
This time, however. instead OF great
number of small nuggets. the gathering oil
lore from rich mines Is in large form
md complete ESSAYS. selected with a view
to present the essential qualities and the
finest methods OF artistic historical writ
ing. The boolset is full OF interest and
worth. The six writer's 1t gives selections
from fulfil the remark Of the editor, thai
che little volume Is mot only n stimulus
10 the reading OF history, but also help
dui guide to reading with discrimination
as well az a delightful series of papers
on this popular branch Of literature" The
title page is decorated with a fine repro.
auction OF Watts striking portrait o:
Macaplay.
Homogeneous.
81 don't think ] would ever make .
political speaker said Mr.. MeeRton.
..why not?"
~ couldn't go through the ordeal. The