The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-04
BOOK NOTICES.

alice, Of Old Vincennes," by Maurice
Thompson. illustrated by II. c. Yohn.
The Bowen Merrill Company. Indianap-
oils, publishers.
The author died recently. ana since
then the demand for alice, of Old Vim
cennes," already very large, has greatly
increased. 1t seems to be one of the
cew stories of last year that is destined
10 have a long popularity. And 1t is de-
serving of popularity Although a histor-
zeal novel. It contains "A delightful love
story. The heroine is a charming and
attractive girl and the hero a chivalrous
ard romantic youth. There is no doubt
that it is one OF the best historical stories
that has appeared in print for many
year, and il will have permanent place
in American literature. One critic says
Of IT. that 1t is more original than Rich
ard Carvel" more cohesive than ITO
Have and 10 Hold" and more vital than
"Jaunice Meredith" When the manu-
script of the story first came to the pub
fishers there was much uncertainty as -
whether the title should be "Ahce Rous-
sillon," or Alice of Old Nincennes." The
determining factor was the belief that
Nincennes is more easily pronounced
than Roussilon. But now, to the pub
NSIlGf $ SURPRISE, l0eIt COIntS from tue
East, where everybody seems to be read
ing the story. many inquiries how to
pronounce the name of the old Indiana
town.
Just before his death, in an interview,
Maurice Thompson said: "Chance plays
some queer tricks at time The ends Of
the earth came together this morning
by way of the United States mail and
left me two letters, one from San Fran
cisco, and the other from Notre Dame,
Ind Each was from "A Catholic priest,
each contained a clipping from a news
paper review of Alice that the priest
had written. and each praised the same
thing in the story. | have almost had.
as Shakespeare says, "a safety OF com
nIendation, but in IL all nothing has
gratified me more than these two re-
views. TO complete my remark about
the queer tricks of chance, i must read
you "a paragraph from each of them The
first is from The Dominican Of San
| Francisco, and is by Father O'Neil. The
beautiful qualities of soul portrayed in
the gentle personality of Father Beret are
nobly drawn by the author. The sweet
devotion of the pioneer priest to his
| flock, his intrepid self-sacrifice in mo-
ments of peril and the benediction of his
| smile irresistibly appeal to the heart and
| lovingly linger in the memory And the
ether is by Father Hudson, in Ave Ma
| rte, published at Notre Dame. He knows
! my faith, for he writes, Mr. Thompson
is not a Catholic. but the character OF
Father Beret, the white-souled pastor of
Old Nincennes, is drawn with singular
| charm and sympathy. The figure of Pere
| Pelican, by Longfellow, is hardly more
pathetic or picturesque"
ralph AIarlowe'' by DIR. James Ball
Naylor. The saaiheld Publishing Com
pany, Akron 0. Cloth, $15O. This de-
| lightful story is wonderfully free from
| exageration, and no one need stretch his
| imagination to picture the scenes or
characters which DIR. Naylor brings to
the readers attention. The plot is laid
in the picturesque hiil-country of South
eastern Ohio and the adventures and
| trials of the hero, Ralph Marlowe, will be
followed with the. keenest relish until the
climax is neutrality-suspicious. a climax not
| expected by all, but one which will in
no wise detract from the attractiveness
| of the first pages. Nothing could be
more realistic than the authors descrip-
| ton of the hero's initial visit to the lit
tie village of Babylon; his first meeting
with the eccentric Doc Barwood or his
winsome daughter, Dolly; the original
| garrulous Jep, who figures on nearly ev-
| cry page with his "ishy" "reminiscences;
the stammering Temp; the jovial travel
| ing salesman; the unfortunate Stella, and
| the dismay and misunderstanding with
which she surrounded the happy lovers;
or Julia's contrition and hasty leave
taking.
Most amusing are the complications into
which Edward S. Van Zile manages to
get his characters in TOO Many Maid
ems" the leading story of the March
quarterly number of Tales from Town
Topics. The volume also contains a
number of interesting short stories. Town
Topics Publishing Company, Fifth ave-
nue., New York
Songs of Exile" by Hebrew Poets,
translated by Nina Davis. The Jewish
Publication Society, 1915 Arch street,
Philadelphia. No one can fail to be in
terested in this charming little volume.
Evidently the translator has the genius
| of a poet, the work is so well done.
American Agriculturist Year Book and
Almanac The Orange-Judd Company, 50
Lafayette Place. New York city. This is
a cyclopedia of progress and events. 1t
| contains q vast amount of information
that farmers will find instructive and val
liable. The price Of 1t puts it within the
| reach of all.