The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-16
BOOK NOTICES.

with illustrations by Howard Chandler
Christy. The Mcmillan Company New
York city, publishers This is the
most popular book published this year.
1t is stated that the sales have al
ready exceeded $4,000 "Richard Car
vel' was written as the first of a Sc
ries of novels which, while unrelated
in ''dramatis personae," and in no
sense sequels as to story or plot. have
distinct historical sequence of sub
ject. In Richard Carvel" Mr.. Win
ston Churchill treated of the origin
and character of the Cavalier, and
having contrasted in this book the
London and Colonial societies, the au-
thor takes UP in 1.-THE Crisis" the Cav
alters history nearly a hundred years
later. Just before the war Grant was
living in St. Louis as a poor farmer,
as man who had apparently out
lived his usefulness; he hauled wood
from his farm to the residences of the
prominent citizens there Sherman
was at that time president of a small
street car line in st. Louis, and across
the river in Springfield, ILL.,, Abraham
Lincoln was struggling country
lawyer. The story shows these men,
and later gives the eontrast-perhaps
lllG 6lCdtCHl GOHli dSl III the ilSLOiN VI
this nation; Lincoln as President Of
the United States in the most trying
period of our history: Grant as the
greatest general in the army of the
United States, and Sherman as the
next greatest general, and perhaps the
most picturesque character of the two.
The heroine of the book is the great
granddaughter of Richard Carvel, by
name Virginia Carvel. A branch of
the Carvel family, like many other
branches of tidewater families had
emigra ted westward over the Blue
Ridge mountains into Kentucky, where
they stayed for a few generations, ana
thence made their way to st. Louis.
Virginia is, by every inheritance,
daughter of the South. He who may
be called the hero of the book is Steph-
EN- Brice, a young New Highlander. who
has gone to st. Louis to make his for
tune as a lawyer This is also typical
of the other stream of emigra tion
which had been settling in to Missouri
and Illinois for some time. The actual
play of the story is between these an
tagonistic elements. There are great
many characters in the story which
is really so compact that it is impossi-
BILE to describe 1t more fully.
"Idyls of the Glass;" by Martha
Wolfeenstein. The Jewish Publication
Society of America 1915 Arch street,
Philadelphia, Pa. Cloth. S125. Of
the books issued by the Jewish Pub
LEGATION Society this year not one will,
in all probability, prove to be more
popular. 1t is fiction of a high order.
1t teaches lessons which are certain
to take a firm hold on the mind. 1t
is a book well worth reading.
Esther Mather.a Romance" by EN-
ma Louise circuit. The Grafton Prese,
New York city publishers. Cloth, $3.50.
Esther Mather" is a story mod
ern in tone, and written from the
point of view of one familiar with New
York ways and the life of travel
and cultivation. 1t is supplemented
by the restful background OF a New
England home, and the divertng va
sriety of flight to California and the
East. Esther, herself is a rare wo-
man. She IL artistic, beautiful and
true. She Is also very sensitive, toll
Grant and forgiving. Her imagina.
ton is seeking constantly her ideal of
domestic happines which, while per-
feet in its way, may she hopes, leave
room for her artistic feeling TO develop,
or at least live, without a sense Of
cramping Mrs. CIRCUITS portrayal Of
Esther's character and her delineation
of the other characters and scenes
around her show a very high order
of insight and feeling, TO which the
authors New Englandism, which is
not too apparent. adds touch of Sc
rcnity and stability.
Testers Luck" by Horatio Aiger,
Jr Henry T.. Coats & Co. Philadelphia,
publishers Cloth, $3.50. This Is a de-
lIgtfui book for boys. II would an
swer admirably for a Christmas pres
ent. II is the story of a young fellow
who made his own way In the world,
and 1t is told well and in a way TO be
deeply interesting.
"The Coburn Prize" by Gabrielle Il.
Jackson. J. f. Taylor & Co. 5 and Z
East Sixteenth street, New York city,
publishers. Cloth. 81. A charming
story of mutual sacrifice by two
friends. The last and best work Of
the gifted author u Denise and Ned
Toodles" and Pretty POLL Perkins"
Nine beautiful Illustrations add 90 the
charm OF this exquisite gift book.
"The ordeal OF Elizabeth" ]. +. Tay-