The Worcester spy., 1901-10-20
LITERARY NOTES

The English edition OF the anonymousl
"Tribulations of Princess" which the
Harpers will issue over the water, will
be published without any Of the Illus
trations which added interest to the
American edition. And this for the
reason that her anonymity would
scarcely be preserved should her por-
trait appear in the London edition as 1t
does in that of New York. Foreigners
who may be on the alert to discover
her identity, after reading her rather
remarkable autobiography, with its
revelations concerning certain crowned
heads, can of course order copy from
New York, and penetrate the secret
without difficulty. Still, the fiat has
gone forth that there are to be no pic
lures in the English edition.
A case hardened reviewer exclaimed,
the other day, upon finishing "Cardi-
gam" Now, that's a book I'd have
liked to write myself" There can be
no more positive proof that an author
has succeeded in writing a good story
than when the reader lays 1t down with
an expression of satisfied pleasure-the
sort of personal pleasure he gets from
feeling that the book is one he would
! like to have written, because 1t real
| ICES in the fullest degree his own dis
| position of the characters had he had
| the handling of them. More than that,
| it indicates surely that the men and
women in the book have lived not only
! in the page, but in the readers fam
cy, and have touched his own -knowl-
edge and sympathes. Cardigan Is
| one Of the very best books of adven-
ture we have had in a long time; 1t Is
more it is noble in purpose, true in
it's appeal to life, strong in It's Sc
quence of plot-not one page of the
500 could be spared in the unfolding
of the story.
Napoleon is said to figure in more
novels than any other man of the CEN
tury. The great Emperor of the French
i plays a prominent part in Ambrose
Pratts new novel, Franks: Duellist
| and the character, as drawn by Mr..
Pratt, is undoubtedly the most strik-
ing likeness in Napoleonic literature.
General F. v. Greene's final article
on the United States Army, in the No
vember Scribner's, Is a graphic and
stirring story of what our soldiers have
accomplished during the past 40 years.
OF the difference so often noticed be-
tween the fighting strength of an army
and the apparent strength on paper,
he says: AT no single time during the
late Civil War-not even in 1854, the
time of greatest pressure-do l believe
that 50 per cent. of the men drawing
pay as soldiers were actually within
: striking distance of the enemy. To
this cause may be traced some of the |
, worst failures, when the government
: and people behind pushed their otfi- |
GERS "on," supposing that figures could
: handle muskets and fight battles"
Mr.. Henry Norman concludes his Sc
ries of illuminative papers on Russia
; of Today" in the November Scribners s
with an article that reviews the whole
question of the relation between Rus
STA and other world powers of today
f He expresses the opinion that the
= friendship which is supposed to exist
between Russii and America is largely
= made UP of unsubstantial myth.
r Mr.. Nelson Lloyd has written for the
t November Scribner's a paper. dealing
r with the picturesque ways of life and
t primitive religious ceremonies Among
: the Dunkers." 1t is the first adequate
account of this quaint sect so long iden-
r titled with one of the most beautiful
valleys in Pennsylvania. Mr.. G. w.
e Peters has made number Of illustra-
tions.
Theodore hoosevelt's second article,
= with the Cougar Hounds, in the No
= vember Scribnef's contains some stir
ring descriptions Of cougar hunting, as
4 well as a great deal of valuable mat
5 ter of special interest to the natural
ist 1t is illustrated with photographs
taken by Philip K. Stewart, who ac-
! companied the expedition.
Mr.. ]. A. MitchelPs successful story,
{ 1.-THE Pines of Lory," is concluded in
! the November Scribners in a way that
will especially interest all those who
have been following it and wondering
how Mr. Mitchell would rescue his peo-
pie from a novel situation.
The remarkable productivity of some
authors is fit matter for comment. Mr..
John Kendrick Bangs, who Is yet a |
young man. has 3S volumes to his cred
j it, and Mr. Robert W. Chambers, au-
thor of Cardigan" has written 10
books since 1898, prior to which he new
er wrote a line Mr.. Chambers was
born in Brooklyn, in 1866, and in 1886
he went to Paris to be educated for an
\ artist, where he remained until 1892. I
i Besides his numerous novels, Mr.. |
i Chambers has contributed various
clever short stories to magazines, and
+, at one time did considerable illustrat-
ing for Life, Truth, and other promi-
nent periodicals.
"Allin Winfield" a new novel soon to
come from the press Of F. M. Buckles
& Co., is an exciting story Of love, ro-
nance, and adventure by George Eth
ebert Walsh, whose Mysterious Bur-
glar" had such good sale, the past
| summer.
Mrs. Alec Tweedie's new book, Mex
leo as I Saw It." is to appear almost
| Immediately. 1t contains over 100 IL
! Illustrations taken on the spot, besides
| water-color sketches by the writer.
] Mexico has proved a splendid field for
her pen. She journeyed astride with an
J escort of soldiers to view some Of the
| ancient temples and other out-of-the-
way places. Mrs. Tweedie was present
| at the latest Aztec excavations, which
proved to be the richest finds ever made
| in Mexico, and she was the guest Of
! President Diaz. of whom she has much
! to say. She was also entertained fer
| a week at a time by various governors
of states in truly old-world courtly
style A special chapter on mining and
trade and a map will add to the in
terest of the volume, which is being