The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-04

NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY STORIES,
by w. c. Allen. Superintendent Of
Waynesville, IN Co Graded Schools.
Five Books. Paper. 10 cents each. Pub
fishers: B. F. johnson Publishing Com
pany, Richmond. Va.
There has been a need in North Caro-
lima many years for stories of the early
history, of this State, emphasizing the
most illustrious deeds Of the early set
tiers of this good commonwealth, that
would gain and hold the interest Of young
children. Mr.. Allen undertakes to sup
ply this need, and with characteristic de-
sire to encourage the writing of Southern
school books. the B. F. Johnson Publish
ing Company has printed the stories in
attractive shape. Mr.. Allen who has
been engaged in writing these stories for
several years, has done his work WE'LL
No healthy minded child will fail to
be interested and absorbed in the stories
of the early history OF North Carolina
which Mr.. Allen has told in a most en-
gaging style. 1t is to be hoped that the
demand for these little books will be
large enough to make their publication a
financial success. The Stories weave into
one another starting with the first sight
OF land by the white man and coming
on down through the Revolution in logi-
cal order. There is just enough repeti-
tion to hang the Stories together in good
connection. The book will be admirable
for children of the Third. Fourth and
Fifth Grades according to their ability
to read. 1t is the purpose of the author
and publisher, il these Stories meet with
success. to bring them down to the pres
ent day and to- sketch some of the noble
men of the State in child language, so
that the children Of North Carolina may
become as familiar with Macon and Davie
and CASTOR and Murphy and Vance and
other noble men.of their native State as
they are with men from other States
The Wilmington Tea Party is told in at
tractive style, the Mecklenburg Declara-
ton of Independence is of course told, and
we sincerely hope that there will be a
generous response on the part of the ed
ucatOrs throughout the State so that our
little children may become thoroughly
saturated with the glorious history which
North Carolina has.
A CAROLINA CAVALIER, Romance
of the American Revolution, by George
Cary Eggleston. Illustrated by C. d.
Williams. Publishers: Lathrop Pub
fishing Company Boston.
In spite of the crusade Of the profess
sional critics against the historical novels
they continue to appear in ever increas-
ing numbers. Why? Because the peO-
pie readft and enjoy them. They are
tired of the materialism that greets them
on every hand-Often even having to lis
ten to sermons on secular topics when
they 60 to church to get away from the
things that they are forced to think about
all the week. They wish something that
takes them away from the cares and per-
plexities of business and the social life
that envir0ns them-sOmething romantic
and thrilling that will stir the pulses
with patriotism. This is the explanation
Of the staying quality of the historical
novel;.
The scenes in "a Carolina Cavalier" are
laid in South Carolina, at the period OF
the Revolution, when the Patriots of the
Palmetto State had not only to fight the
British regulars, but bands of Tories as
WE'LL The characters are in close touch
with Rutledge, Marion, Moultre and
other South Carolina patriots and enough
of the real conflict is given to make the
story really historical. But the picture
that is ever in the mind of the reader is
the beautiful love story. or rather stories,
that soften the thunders of war and the
fields OF battle. 1t is a love story as
fresh and holy as has ever been penned
and has about it the sweetness of the
fields and the fragrance of the violets.
II the causes that separate the lovers are
rather too much for ones credulity, this
does not detract from the interest of the
story, which is well told. There is
mystery that is battling and adds to the
zest of reading, but the pure and simple
love Of high born Carolinians in days of
peril is the part of the story that is most
strongly drawn.
THE WAYS OF THE SERVICE, by
Frederick Palmer illustrated by How
ard Chandler Christy. Price $3.50.
Publishers: Charles Scribner's Sons,
153-157 Fifth avenue, New York.
1t is hard to tell which will delight the
reader most-the bright and readable
stories Of Mr.. Palmer or the beautiful
illustrations by Mr.. Christy. There are
many who believe that Christy's women
are better than Gibson's. The illustra-
tions in this book are as near perfection
as the pen Of man can reach and every
one of the six full page illustrations is
a work of art. They are illustrations
that illustrate the story as we'll as teach
art.
Mr.. Palmer has had a career that has
brought him in the way to get the best
stories in "the Service He was first sent
to the Greek war by the New York
Press and afterwards reported the
Spanish war for the same paper He
then went to the Philippines. and on to
China, arriving at Pekin with the relief
column. Such an experience would give
any bright man a repertoire of stories OF
army life that would be interesting to
tell to his friends as they sit around the
table after dinner. Mr.. Palmer has the
genius to put these stories into prose
and to so mingle fact and fiction as to
let the reader know which is which He
is charming story teller and his ''The
Ways of the Service" is book that will
delight all who read it. A distinguished
critic pronounces Parker's stories better
than Kipling's.
GODS PUPPETS.-A story of old New
York, by Imogen Clark. 12mo Price
$3.50. Publishers: Charles Scribner's
Sons, New York. N. Y.
The ROOk R,tvor saws truly that the cart