The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-20

which Will help his reports"
The work opens with an ode, entitled
Justice, by John Quincy Adams, which
Is followed by william Wetmore Story's
Judas Defended, an excerpt from his A
Roman Lawyer In Jerusalem. The con-
tents are not all Of q serious strain, for
wit, fun and fancy have sufficient play
to eniiven the pages.
The ensemble of the book IL very at
tractive, and II Is delightfully."- illustrated.
Mrs. Seton Thompson has given us
fascinating volume In her account OF A
Woman Tenderfoot, and graciously states
that the book Is a tribute TO the West.
II have" she says, fused many Western
phrases as necessary to the Western set
ting" and she adds, THE events related
really happened In the Rocky Mountains
Of the United States and Canada and this
Is why, being a woman, wanted TO tell
about them, In the hope that some going
'to-Europe -the-summer woman may br
tempted too go West instead"
In many respects Mrs. Thompson pre-
septs an alluring picture to her readers,
but i. is TO. be doubted II another woman
would have the intrepidity to follow her
husband
"Over hill, over dale,
Through brush, through briar,
Over park, over pale
Through flood, through fire."
and this one who has accomplished 1t
should have a medal for sheer pluck and
courage.
The book Is written in simple and
graphic style and the authors wonderful
experiences have evidently not been
exaggerated The volume is not only one
OF exceptional interest and most enter
tanning but 1t is very handsome with
illustrations upon nearly every page after
the fashion OF MIR. Ernest Seton Thomp.
sons engaging work, Wild Animals That
/ Have Known.
In Hostile Red, romance OF the
Monmouth Campaign by j. A. Altshsler
Is full Of life and spirit and daring ex-
ploits. Two gay young American officers
ride into Philadelphia. where Sir William
Howe and his officers are merrily dining,
and present themselves in the uniforms
OF couple OF Britishers whom they have
captured, appearing as LieutenantArthur
Melville and Captain Charles Montague.
It Is hRrebrained escapade, and the
story, which Is too good to spoil for the
prospective reader by revealing the plot
tells what came of 1t.
The beautiful daughter of the sturdy
old patriot, John Desmond, figures promi-
nently In the romance, while the exploits
of the partisan leader Wildfoot. and de-
scription OF the hotly fought battle of
tragedy and dramatic effect most success
fully. 1t is bold and graphic narrative,
and the situations are skilfuIly managed
The author of Beside the Bonnie Brian
Bush, intimately known to us as Ian Ma
claren, has written book called Church
Folk, being practical stu y In consre-
gationaI life. He tells "how TO make the
most of a Sermon" and how we should
make the most OF our minister. lie
treats OF the candy pull system In
churches, and deprecates the running OF
a variety show in order to pay the ex-
penses OF religious society. He asks the
question "Should the old clergyman be
shotS' and replies by giving excellent
advice. Having had broa
the Reverend Doctor John Watson speaks
with feeling OF the relations between the
minister and his people. the existing
evils In such association, and the methods
by which these may be alleviated
Upon the up-to-date church DR.. Watson
makes much practical and sensible o. It'll.
cism, since he finds that with the people
the fear of God seems to have departed,
aud the old-time Clergyman Is of the
past. Now he must be "a bright man,
and great fun" at tea parties. His
prayers must not encroach on the music,
ana the sermon, even thought it bs the
Judgment day, must be Interesting.
In former times sermon was spoken OF
as "edifylng," Searching" or COM
forting'; now it is either" In great
rorm," or "off color"
Again Doctor Watson asks "Is the
candy pull system any improvement on
the pastp After u slight experience OF
smart preachers and church psrlors and
Ice cream suppers and picnics one re-
members with new respect and keen ap-
probation the minister OF former days.
with his seemly dress, his dignifled man
ner, his sense of esronsit ility, who came
from the secret place of Divine fellow
ship, and spoke as one carrying the mes
sage OF the Eternal"
remember very we'll that 1t nearly
broke the heart OF one lovely old lady
a member, since childhood, or the digni-
fled and dear old First Parish church OF
Portland, when a cooking stove was
placed in the annex of that sacred build
ing. 10 her 1t was dissertation.
MIR. FRANKLIN Fyles, the author of The
Theatre and Its People has been for many
years the dramatic critic OF the New
York Sun, which is sufficient proof that
his work is of the best. lie tells of how
a theatre Is managed, how actors are
trained, how plays are written and re-
hearsed, and describes the first night of
q play, the actors in their dressing rooms,
and what goes ON behind the scenes