New-York tribune., 1901-12-07
BOYS BOOKS.
TALES OF ADVENTURE AND HISTORICAL
ROMANCES.

ROMANCES.
Schoolboy life in ancient Scotch town Is
the theme Of Ian Maclaren's Young Barbara
ans" Oodd Mead & Coz, and in developing TINS
theme he has used all his powers of character
ization of pathos and OF humor. Now ana again
his pathos becomes sentimentality and at least
| in one instance his humor drops into mere farcl-
cality, but as rule he handsomely hlts MS
mark. The hard and hardy little boys OF Muir
town, naughty and cruel as boys can be, yet
manly, too, and with their own queer streaks OF
shamefaced kindliness and secret sentiment, are
painted to the life It's no peppermint drops
nor pats on the head thatH rule Muirtown
brkfes," SAYS Bulldog" the severe headmas-
ter Their fathers brought up on the
stick, and the stickll make the sons men" And
| the stern old Scotchman never spares the stick
nor fails in Justice and honor the lasting az
| fection of his ''birkes' shows. When sore i'll
ness strikes old Bulldog" and he is like to die,
| then tough little Speng, the sauciest. most OBJ
streperous, most mschievous and best whipped
| boy in the school, finds something new stirring
| in his bad little heart
When DR.. Manley came out from the masters
garden door that evening he stumbled upon
Speng, who was looking very miserable, but be-
gan to whistle violently the moment he was
| detected, and denied that he had come to ask
| for news.
You did, you young limmer, and you needn't
| tell me lies. for L know you. Speng, and your
| father before you. 1 wish I'd good news to give
| you, but 1 haven't 1 fear you've had your last
thrashing from Bulldog
For moment Speng kicked at a stone the
road and thrush his hands deep into his pockets;
then the corners of his mouth began to twitch,
and, turning round, he hid his face upon the
wall, while his tough little body. that had stood
many fight shook all over. DR.. Manley was
the first person that had seen Speng cry, and he
stood over him to protect him from the gaze of
any wandering message boys who might come
fO k
between his SobS
1T was a lee. doctor for did come up to ask.
but dinna like to let l heard ye say
that ye couldna Bulldog to take an IN
terest in onything. and thought O. something.
Naething pleased Bulldog sac weel
givin' US a lickin: if he juist had a in his
hands and a laddie afore him. Bulldog would
sune be himsel again. and-there's no laddie in
schulz he's licked often as me- And l cam
up"-and Speng stuck
Let it be chronicled that poor Speng's devotion
did actually bring old Bulldog back to life
Charles Scribner's Sons bring out this year
several picturesque Henty books, all dealing
with British wars. The author has a fascinat-
ing way of bringing history into his fiction, and
the boy of the day, when he becomes man.
may well be grateful for the knowledge so pleas
antly acquired. AT the Point of the Bayonet'
tells the story of the Mahratta wars which be-
gan in the eighteenth century and ended in the
early years of the nineteenth. with the English
rule firmly established in India. The hero of
the book is an English boy, the son of British
official at Poona, who is saved by his native
nurse when his father and mother are murdered
by the Mahrattas. Until he is twelve years old
he is brought up by her as her own son. his
skin being kept dyed measure of safety
He is then put into English hands, and becomes
of the most daring and efficient officers of
the East India Company, passing through any
number of entertaining adventures ITO Herat
an6C ah1,f' nf
one of the most absorbing tales which Mr.
Henty has written It is story OF almost in
credible blunders and follies on the part of the
British authorities in India and Of terrible suf-
fering on the part of the British forces The
young Scotch hero. Angus Campbell executes
prodigies of valor and cleverness as a disguised
emissary Of the English among the Afghans
some Of his exploits being of truly thrilling
nature The book will be a mine Of delight To