The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04

| "a Gentleman Player is the latest novel
| by that clever writer of historical ro-
mances, Robert Nelson Stephens. Mr..
| Stephens may not be always profound, but
he never fails to be interesting, and this
book is possibly little more happily con-
| ceived than any of its predecessors. The
| scene is laid in England, the
time that of Queen Elizabeth; and
| the first chapter. by a peculiarly
happy conceit, describes the first
production OF Hamlet at the old Globe
Theatre. by Master William Shakespeare's
company OF players. The hero, Hal Mar
ryott, plays Laertes, and Shakespeare him
self the Ghost. Marryott, a devil-may-
care young scion Of a good family, has
turned actor after being cheated out of his
inheritance, and shortly after the opening
of the story is thrown by chance into the
company OF Elizabeth. from whom he re-
ceives peculiarly difficult and dangerous
commission. A certain Sir Valentine
Fleetwood, once concerned in one OF Eliz-
abeth's numerous love affairs, has just
been practically condemned TO death Tor
high treason, and the Queen desires to
save him. With that sagacity which was
as characteristic of this remarkable woman
as the romantic impulses which at times
possessed her, she thoroughly understands
that she must not make such an attempt
openly. She therefore selects the young
player, with whom she is not supposed to
be acquainted, for the task OF warming Sir
Valentine, ,clling him that his own neck
is risked In the venture, and that he can
not claim her protection should he fail.
He being young, loyal, and daring. will
ingly pledges himself &c the work. and
takes the ingenious and desperate expedi-
ent OF. impersonating the knight and lead
ing the pursuivant's men off into the next
county on a false scent How the hero
inc becomes entangled In the plot, and
what she had TO do with Marquis adyen-
lures, are matters revealed in course of
the story, and a capital tale it is, and well
told. with a dramatic finish. Boston: l..
C. Page & Col
Her Sailor" by Marshall Saunders, is
a somewhat altered reprint of an early
work of this author, originally published
under the title, Her Spanish Sailor" 1t
is rather crude, and not especially brilliant
in any way. though displaying the authors
usual unconventionality and originality In
the choice OF a plot. The frontispiece
might better be left out. for the girl in
this picture is in a perfectly impossible
attitude. Boston: L. C. Page & Coz
"Wabeno, the Magician" is a book for
children, by Mabel Osgood Wright and is
sequel to "Tommy-Anne and the Three
Hearts" The charm Of the book-which
will be considerable one from the child's
point of VIEWS the sunshiny atmosphere
and quaint language of 1t. The heroine
Tommy-Anne, is a little girl who is able
to understand the talk of animals and the
various chapters are largely taken I'D with
her gatherings TO Waddles. her dog; Fox
a horse, and the various wild creatures of
the woods, who are all referred to under
the names given them in "Hiawatha."
Any child who has delighted in that musi-
cal, ever-new fairy tale OF primitive Amer
lea will enjoy this story-book merely
from the fact that the picturesque Indian
is used for everything. Con-
siderable science of simple and easy sort
is interviewer with the fairy-lore, and the |
child who reads this book through cannot
heln knowing a great many things about |
birds. and animals. and stars. and crabs, ,
and frogs. and various wild creatures in !
feathers or fur. Anne herself is a winsome
little body unaffected and human, and her
little brother is quite as pleasant an ac-
The illustrations are worthy |