The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-08

US to give it the praise which parts of
it undoubtedly deserve; but 1t contains
more good than bad. Further we cannot
say. 4
THE GRIP OF THE BooKMAKER.
BY Percy White. r. Z. Fenno & Co..
New York.
.Thc Grip of the Booknaker,' is rather
an unfortunate title Tor Percy Whites
latest novel It at once suggests sport
ing novel whereas the story has moth
ing whatever to do with the turf. save
that its hero is the son OF man VINO
was once a bookmaker. The grip re-
ferred to in the title seems to be the con
sequences of the calling pursued by the
father. rather than. as one would think,
the pressure brought to bear upon some
unfortunate wight who had betted not
wisely, but too well.
The principal fault which we have to
find with the book, however, is IN TINS
matter of title for the story is quite
good It is not very remarkable IN any
way but is we'll conceived and fairly
we'll told. 1t is a story OF English So
ciety. and while in some respects we
think that English society has cause Tor
complaint of its presentation. 1t IS IN the
main fairly treated The old eX-book-
| maker is the best Drawn character in the
| book. and is at times quite interesting
| in his ostentat:on and vulgarlty Phllip
| Gordon, the, son, is. rather coior!ess, as
| is the heroine, who marries the wrong
man and has a hard time until she Sc
cures a divorce. which enables her 10
give herself to Philip, '.the only man she
ever really loved" The remainder OF
! the personaSes are merely make-weightS
though we fancy that the author was
pleased with one or two beyond their
| deserts. e. II. n.
TRAVELS ROUND OUR VILLAGE. BY
Eleanor G. Hayden. L. P. Dutton &
| Co., New York.
A book full OF keen observation. sue
! ces.ful reproduction and excellent huIfor
| is s'1>ravels Round orr Village. by Flea
| nor G.. HAYDEN The mechanics Of the
| book. as usual with works published by
! Dutton & Co.. call for especial common
! d.tion. the Typography and paper being
| Of hirf, class. while the illustrations. by
| l. Leslie Brooke, are profuse ana III 'he
| main satisfactory. The book itself Is 4
series of more or less connected ske1ches
| of village life in England The village IS
| not to be found in Bradshaw or the
| Postal Guide, but it has a very distinct
| individuality and may be taken as typical
| of many other small centres OF rural me.
| Miss HAYDEN tells US of the most salleht
| aspects of this life. and she does SO VITA
| a pleasant hunor and excellent power OIL
| nresentatiou that make the inha bitants
| that Miss HAYDEN thoroughly knows that
| which che describes that she has pene-
| trat.d into the existence which sne sets
| before u.s. that she has made hfe-stuuie9
| of the personages whom she DEPICTS Iliss
| Hayden's humor is her best point Siie
! tells US of queer incidents III quaint iaii-
| -,,s -e which is the reproduction OIL tue
| native dialect and she does this Guieely
and we'll. with no cxaggeration or over
emphasis. bo-
| n is not. however alone for her humor
| that Miss Hayden is to be praised mere
| is some very true pathos in the book, 10
| be appreciated by those to whom patiioS
| i. not spoiled by the effort TO master the
| intricacies of dialect. We could Wish 1hhe
we were of them. but We have never reslch
| ed that stage of culture
| Altogether, an excellent book and one
which well deserves the success "nich
! we wish it, VI. -
APHRODITE. BY Franklin Kent Gift
f, ford. Small. Maynard & Co., BOSCH r!;e
| "Anhrodite.' by Franklin Kent Glf-
| ford hears as a subtitle The Romance
! Of a sculptor's Masterpiece So we learn
| nj the outset that the Aphrodite OF the
| book is only a statue, not the liidy oi
the doves in propria persona. and we are
thereby little disappointed however,
| the first scene which Introduces US 10
|
promise developments: but all is perfect
" proper and the scene is only USED.
!. far rs we can see to furnish inspiration
| to a budding sculptor. who sees nottins
but hears chance remark by one or the
bathers and is thereby SO possessed thd'
he c.rves a statue which resembles inc
young lady, whom he has not seen NJ
this point we become little suspicious
OF that sculptor. but orI suspicious are
| at fault for he is q very model OF pro-
priety. The book opens il 8 Connecticut
village but COON changes to Rome "aerc
the sculptor exhibits his masterpiece. rms
/ brings him fame, bit is also because OF
III. statues resemblance to Sylvia. the
Young lady aforesaid. productive OF COM
plications At last the sculptor by way
/ OF proving his love for Sylvia, destroys
hi. handiwork and Sylvia, who has fait-
en- in love with the statue. rather 4 Mar
ci.sus sort OF proceeding. forgives him
and, having nothing else to love takes
i him. Whereupon all ends happily.
Cook Neqvs.
4 LOVE SONG.
love thee as wild bird loves the sky