The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-04-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

sovereignty 10 the Dltter end.
 NEW PUBLICATIONS.
 "The Octopus, Story Of California, '
 is another highly interesting book by
 Frank Norris, who is already a favorite
 with many readers owing to his excel lent previous stories, "McTeague,' "A Mans Woman" etc. The book is pub lished by Doubleday, Page 6 Co.,, of New York; price $1.50; for sale by Judd
 In the Octopus MT. Norris has re- markable novel, founded upon an actu-
 al piece of history, almost unknown in
 the east-what is known as the ''Mussel | Slough Affair." when the wheat growers of the San Joaquin valley came into ac-
 tual conflict with the railroad (the Octo-
 pus) which they believed was trying to
 defraud them of their land. The story
 gains peculiar interest and attraction
 from the fact that Mr. Norris is the first
 in the field of fiction to deal with the Trust problem. The high pitch of ex- citement to which the wheat growers in question became wrought up is tersely and brilliantly depicted by MT. Norris virile pen. Few recent writers of fc- tion can equal the numerous vivid pie | lures of California life of the times of which the book treats. The scenes stand out with remarkable clearness and strength. One of these many strik- ing pictures is the scene at the party given by Annixter with an exciting un- expected pistol duel incident thrown in followed after the happy climax by the
 supper and capped by the sudden an-
 nouncement of the railroads new ulti-
 matum, which excited the entire settle
 ment to frenzy. The word pictures of life and times in California in other
 days and of California scenery are
 beautiful One of the strongest delin-
 cations of character is that of Annixter,
 and his passion for his chaste and love-
 ly maid Eilma, and his awakening at
 last to find that her purity and maiden
 hood charms have triumphed over the
 baser elements of his heart. True love conquers and wedding in San Francis
 co follows The climax of the story is
 found in the retributive episode in which the wheat epic" comes thrilling ly to an end.
 "The Crimson Weed" by Christopher St. John; Henry Holt & Co.,, lew York publishers; 333 pages; price $1.50; for sale by the E. P. Judd Go. This is highly interesting volume, with touches here and there of masterly character. The beautiful Countess Rabucca, of an old and noble Italian house, becomes the victim of the perfdy of an English painter, and finds too late, when de- serted, that the promise of marriage was base subterfuge A son is born to the unhappy countess, and at time when she discovers that Gilbert Otway has a wife and family in his English home. The wronged countess, stag gered by the blow, nearly loses her life by the shock of the discovery, but rallies and thenceforward, disowned by her family. enters upon a life of struggle and finally of triumph in her chosen profession The son, Luke Green, is brought up to manhood by the kind- ness of a friend and lover of the coun- tess and knows not until he reaches manhood of his percentage, Learning the truth at last, his highly sensitive nature becomes overwrought and Ham, let-like, he lives to avenge the wrong done the brilliant and beautiful woman who gave him birth and of whose exis- tence he is unaware until the story hears it's end The sons frenzied attack upon his father in the silence of the night in an obscure tower room away from the brilliant social gathering in the rooms below and his fathers sudden death later on, after heated interview with his son, are dramatically told. The father passes away in the height of his fame as an artist and just as he had attained the goal of his ambition, the presidency of the Royal Academy. The son imagined that he caused his fathers death becomes deranged, but ! mothers loving tenderness rallies pack his shattered mental powers. There is much in the book to commend 1t to the reader, including a charming owe story in which a gallant and mo- ole Englishman, long pleading in vain, wins the Countess Cecilia} the woman | # his choice, for his bride, and as unex- 1 ,ectedly becomes a titled parsonage. | One of the most striking characterza- ions is the delineation of Gilbert Ot- ways sordid and selfish nature, while | he sketches of English social life add | interest to the story.
 " our uncle Lew, Dy CHdTleS IteSl- lald Sherlock Frederick A. Stokes Co.,; 2mo.; price 1.50; for sale by Judd. A tory of American character, of the ru- al kind made familiar by David Ha- um." The book abounds with the com calities of Uncle Lew" and offers a lovelty in the form of a history of the ne-tinoe famous Cardiff giant, which is eftly woven into the tale and the mys- cry of which Uncle Lew cunningly un- avels. Uncle Lew is a type of an American, familiar to most people. Beginning his bread winning career as
 cab driver in New York town in rhich occupation he gave evidence of his get there'' ability, he eventually drifts ack to his native town to find success s Q hotel keeper and caterer, and incl entally to rival David Harum in suc- essful horse trades. His adventure ! 7ith a card sharp on railroad train, nd how he "did up" the aforesaid harp after the latter had fieeced bevy f unwary fellow passengers, is only | ne of many amusing incidents which o to make up the readable story.