The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-08-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

George Eliot; Vol. G. Felix Holt" pub
 lished by Doubleday, Page &t Co.,, New
 York; $1,50 per volume; for sale al
 Judd's. This new edition of the works
 ially desirable owing to the introduce
 tions accompanying each volume by
 Mrs. Esther Wood, with their nara
 tives of the circumstances accompany
 ing the writing of the different tales
 the bits of personal "reminiscences scat
 cred through them gathered from diff
 ferent sources and the illustrations
 which present scenes connected with
 the novels. The introduction to Felix
 Holt acquaints the reader with the
 political economical and theological
 aspects and controversies in England in
 the days when the book was written
 and which had their effect and influ-
 ence upon the mind of George Eliot in the preparation of the book. The in- troductions prepare the reader for the
 still greater appreciation and enjoy
 ment of the books. One sees plainly
 how the story came to be written, The
 
 characters and describes the country
 and people among whom the author | lived and who had so much influence
 upon her work. The environments of 1 the author are brought out. The il- | lustrations for Felix Holt include as a frontispiece a fac simile of the au l thor's dedication of the book to her | husband, in her fine, delicate handwrit- 1 ing, and number of typical scenes in | Felix Holt's country. There are in this series of books illustrations of dozens of | places made famous by the authors pen also two quite new and hitherto unpublished portraits of George Eliot and Robert Evans. The set forms 1 truly biographical edition, now made for the first time/of the writings of this world famous novelist
 "The Devils Plough" by Anna Far quhar, with frontispiece in color by Frank T. Merrill l.. c. Page & Co.,, Boston; price $1,50; for sale at Judas. The successful author of Her Boston Experiences" presents in this new lite rary effort a book of strong human in- terest. It claims the attention of the reader as work of much merit. The Devils Plough" is indeed the Roman tic History of a Soul Conflict" It is an old world tale of struggle between the good and evil in a human heart. The scene is laid in France during the regency of Anne of Austria, and the chief incidents occur at the French court. As says the author: The French court of Anne of Austria and ,tth al, | for the Devll's Plough, was to some ex- tent responsible for the Jesuit deca- dence beginning to prevail at that pe- riod. In this Parisian world of folly mantled in false piety, Gaston LAT tanges developed both the weeds and flowers of his complicated nature and from out his great weakness there grew his abiding strength"
 One follows the story with llnflagging interest and it has many strong dra- matfc situations. Gaspard Is fine character. A priest of rare eloquence, his pulpit power bringing him vast au- diences; a man of high culture and high aims, he finds the battle of his life in a struggle between his love for a neg lected unhappily welded lady of high dllh anu lllSlI Sotldl pbHlllpll, WllO It- turns his love. The priest leads a dual life, posing now as his brother who is dead, but whose death is known only to himself, and now as the ascetic God fearing priest, whose odor of sanctity, his eloquence. and his fearless ar raignment of evils in high places, make him power in the church, a favorita with the people and feared and dlslked by those in authority in church and state As his brother, the Chevalier de Chatillon, he fights a duel with and kills one of the most noted and feared | duelists If the times, thereby vindlca- ting his dead brothers honor. But how the priest conquered himself and devo- ted himself to a life of great peril and | great sacrifice among savages in far off land, far from courts and intrigues and hope of worldly preferment, is left for the reader to discover in the inter- asting pages of "The Devils Plough"
 Some of the many press notices of 'The Devils Plough" are the following:
 "'The Devils Plough is altogether unique among the books of the year impressive absorbing, yet generous in fighter ent ertainment "-New York World.
 "It is easily the best story Miss Far luhar has written, and contains many strong and brilliant passages. .'SIndi- ,napolis Journal
 "The story ... is one of the most orcible and interesting of recent nov 'ls, head and shoulders above the so- 'alled "hist orical romances. "-Philadel- ,hia Press.
 "The romantic character of the peri d is admirably preserved "-Cam- ,ridge Tribune.
 "It is artistic in it's construction, and trong, original and human,''-St Paul Dispatch "A book worth writing and worth eading. g."-Chicago Record Herald. , No, 26 of "Shoemakers Best Selec- i ions for Reading and Recitation" is , ssued by the Penn Publishing company f Philadelphia. These works by Mrs. I hoemaker, who is president of the Ma f ional School of Elocution and Ora z ory, well deserve the great popularity <, hey have attained. In bringing out so ' lany new books of recitations it might |, e supposed that the publishers re- I uirements for acceptable pieces would T ecome less exacting and that success f i've numbers would correspOndngly :, ack in merit. Instead, however, the ( publishers have made the standard ( igher than ever as is well evidenced y the selections in this issue which ', re among the newest, freshest and < |