The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07
miscellaneous books.

'Lally of the Brigade" is an adventure
story OF the time tf Louis XIV. Tds inter
est centres in the plot, although there is a
love story which makes some claim upon
the attention. The hero is an officer of the
Irish Brigade. and through his relations
with a beautiful countrywoman becomes
involved in a political intrigue. Boston:
L. C. Page & Coz.
THE Kings Jester, and other
Short Plays for Small Stages"
by Carol Anterior Dugan is
Just what its title indicates, and a
very useful thing Il would be 10 a large
family of children. or a small GcIshborhooi
in which amateur acting CHANGED 10 be the
fashion. The plays would be best suited
to young people between the ages OF ten
and seventeen or eighteen. Full directions
are given for costumes, the plays them
selves are charming and easy to act, and
there are interspersed here and there songs,
with music which is both easy and pretty.
Unlike some of the operettas adapted for
children's use. the words Of these little
plays are poetic and graceful as well as
simple. Amateur acting is an amusement
which most children lave. and i. is well
that they should, for 1t is good drill in a
fin & Co. $3.50.
Peggy" Is a story for girls by Laura
E. Richards, author OF Captain January"
Queen Hildegarde," and other stories.
Queen Hildegarde" is referred 10 in the
present book. which has to do with girls
at q preparatory school. most OF them under
sixteen. Peggy is a little Western hoy
to NJ ant of-
and loving mathematics better than any
other study In most stories for girls the
other characters would devote most OF
their time to tanning Peggy and making
her into a pattern OF prOpriety, but Mrs.
Richards offers q refreshing contrast by
showing how the Western girls healthy.
wholesome, lively personality has a good
influence on the other pupils. She teach
es them TO take long walks. uses her own
straightforward. kindly, common sense in
unraveling difficulties, and is that most
OF creatures, a girl with no
nerves and no nonsense about her, but
plenty OF warm hearted helpfulness for
those who need it. This element in the
story in itself would make 1t worth the
reading of almost any girl between twelve
and fifteen, when false ideals are apt TO be
formed. However, one would think that
the author might have achieved her pur
pose without coming quite so near plgi- |
lism as she does in one or two chapters. |
Perhaps there are girls schools where the |
maidens indulge in fisticuffs on occasion, |
but they are not usual The most inter-
esting character in the book. next TO Pg- |
gy Is an elfsh young creature, Grace |
Wolfe, daughter of actor, who never /
says or does anything commonplace Aside |
from the over prominence OF boyish gym
nc eff |
abundance OF niclnames. but after all, that |
leans toward the side of realism. for there 1
never was a school where nicknames. wit |
ty and otherwise, did not flourish like hops |
In a hop-yard Of Kent. (Boston: Dana, |
Estes & Co. SLED
"Triumphs and Wonders of the Nine
teenth Century" is bulky volume by
James p. Boyd and thirty-two other peo-
pie, said to be specially qualified. 1t is
fully illustrated and is sort of encyclo-
pedia of the events and doings of the pres
ent century. II would be a good book TO
sell by subscription in the country
r. a. Dinsmore & Coz
"a Widower and Some Spinsters." by the
late Maria Louise Pool. is still anothe. COL
lection OF the stories Miss Pool left yet I'M
published at her death. II contains por-
trait Of the author as frontispiece. and
a sketch of her life by DR. Armand NJ Hale
There is also picture of her house, and
A portrait OF her at the age OF twenty-five
There are dozen stories in all. each bear
ing the unmistakable stamp OF the authors
talent. Most of them are grimly humor-
Dus, and one or two end happily. Each is
a careful faithful, realistic study OF some
phase of New England life, or of that part
Of It with which Miss Pool was familiar.
Chicago: Herbert S. Stone & Co. S1.50.)
Miranda OF the Balcony" by A. L. W.
Mason author OF THE Courtship OF Nor
rice Buctler." is story with a plot. One
becomes aware OF this on the first page
Il is one OF those books in which the char
acters come into existence merely to ex-
plain the plot They are merely the chess
men In the game which the author has
shall be played. When this