New-York tribune., 1900-12-15

story books Some OF the happenings are appar-
emily taken from life, as witness an interview
with Dr. Holmes. which Is quite in character
From England comes a quaint story by Miss
Sarah Tytler called Queen Charlotte's Maidens''
CBlackie & SOM. 1t narrates the experiences OF
a group Of well born orphans who are cared for
in a pleasant home under the bounty of the
shrewd and sensible wife of George III. The
historical atmosphere is well preserved the
glimpses OF royalties being decidedly Hfelike 1t
is pretty story. and is told by one of the
orphans in a literary style agreeabIy reminis-
cent of the period. In Anna Chaplin Rays
"Phebe: Her Profession little Brown & Coz
we have a sequel to Teddy: Her Book" and are
reintroduced TO the lively and sometimes eccen-
trio McAlister family. 1t is a sparkling story
showing In its author a quick sense OF humor
and much shrewd observation of human nature
There are some extremely nice girls in this book
and there are, moreover. a small boy and dog
who are delightfully."- naughty and funny
"Phebe'' is meant for girls who are nearly grown
up-it is indeed almost more a novel than a
Juvenile
The same may be said Of THE Bennett Twins
(The Macmillan Company. by Grace NJ. Hurd
1t is fresh, bright animated story of a Young
brother and sister who braveIy start out 10
earn their own living. as an artist. the
other a musician. They very nearly reach
plucky pair deserves. Their housekeeping to-
gether in queer old art school building in New
York provides many comic and touching situa-
tions The book has some faults but is on the
whole. an uncommonly wise and merry one
Miss Amanda NJ. Douglas is as usual highly
proper and gently romantic in her new book "A
Little Girl in Old Washington Dodd Mead
& Coz This tale of blameless domesticftv in the
early part Of the century is packed with eharae-
ters. but it ambles along at easy gait that
gives plenty OF opportunity for the development
OF each young persons career. We have no
words of commendation for Harriet A Cheever's
book "a Little American Girl in India" Its
small heroine is disagreeable and vulgar child
the incidents are stale. fiat and Improbable the
local color is false and the literary style very
bad
How tangled a web was woven by a good and
pretty girl when with the best intentions in the
world she practised to deceive is to be seen
in Mrs L. T. Meade's story Miss Nonentity"
q. B. Lippincott Company. II is a swiftly
moving and engaging story. and holds a lesson
which no impulsive and self-sufflcient maiden
OF sweet sixteen need scorn to study. Miss
Nonentity" Is the fair deceivers little sister. a
clever child who uses some uncommon good
sense in reducing to proper order the heroine's
tangled web There is neat character drawing
in this volume Mrs. Laura E. Richards has
the distinction OF using IN the preparation of her
regularly issued Juveniles true and painstak-
Ing literary art. But with all her carefulness
she Is never dulI-each new hook has its genuine
vivacity the air OF having been written with
tireless enjoyment In Rita Dana Estes &
Coz. the fourth volume of the Three Mar
garets' series. she continues TO happily ro-
mantle ending the history OF the charming
Cuban cousin whom all readers OF the former
volumes will remember with smile The senti-
mental impulses and the high flown rhetoric OF
she girl are here subdued by certain tragic ex-
periences of the Cuban war for freedom; but the