Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-09

~ -. iiSSt. ~ A--'sN'eI - Asisspse' vt
cloth; price, rs: PIP. 2s2: Boston: Dana
Estes e. Company. i
In this volume the reader Is intro-'
duced again to many of the characters
who figured in Godfrey Strong. Un-
like most stories, this one has for its
heroine an old lady, Mrs. Tree, 81 years
Of age. Despite her advanced years,
she maintains all her mental vigor, and
enters into the life about her with q
zest and interest that make her a
very positive and much respected fac
tor in the community. While one
cannot help loving this vigorous. self
reliant. somewhat strong minded, but
altogether lovable character. whose
daily life is rich in the qualities of
sanctified common sense-he may find
himself Questioning at times whether
any prototype could be found for Mrs
Tree in real life. At a stage of life
when most people are bent and broken
with the infirmities of age. she appears
to possess all the mental activity OF
youth, combined with the practical
wisdom born of a long and varied ex-
perience. Certainly there are few. in
the flesh who could fill the role of Mrs.
Tree. as she figures in the movement
of this bright, breezy and altogether
delightful narrative. We can think OF
several. however, like Mrs. Tree, re-
markable women, of whom all the
events in this story might safely be
predicated-one OF whom we fancy may
have been in the authors mind during
the preparation of this volume. Like
all of Mrs. Richards works, this book
is exceptionally clever in it's character
sketching, and in it's truthful and SYM
pathetic portrayal of New England vii
lage life.
A Maid of Bar Harbor. by Henrietta
G. Rowe. author of Re-told Tales of the
Hills and Shores of Maine, etc, Illus
| trated from drawings by Ellen Weth-
| erald Ahrens; II no.; decorated cloth.
Price $50 Boston: Little, Brown and
| Company.
Mrs. Rowe is one of the best known
of our Maine writer's of fiction, and
also one of the best loved. She has
been best known in the past as a sue
cessful writer of short stories, her
work in this direction appearing in
TldHy VI lljc ltdulIfS VI lilt-
country.
This is her first appearance in a
| novel, but we trust it may not be the
| last A Maid of Bar Harbor has the
same freshness and color, the same
| keen and sympathetic appreciation of
| the strong qualities of our New Eng
| land characters, that has always been
| characteristic of Mrs. ROwe's writings.
| 1t is a book that is strong in all the
elements OF a warm human interest
one of the most wholesome and enter
| tanning novels that has come from the
press during this present year which
has been a notable one in the quality
| of it's fiction.
1t deals with the life of Mount Desert
| Island before the present Bar Harbor
| had attained it's worldwide renOwn as
| a summer resort. Through it all runs a
purpose that is never obtrusive, but
none the less real. 1t is a book that
| any one will be stronger and better for
reading. and should. upon its merits.
rank with the most successful ones of
! the year.
Mrs. Rowe is a close observer. She
| sketches largely from life. and her
| scenes and characters are wonderfully
! real and vivid.
A Fools Errand, by one of the Fools:
| 561 pp.: II no.; scarlet crash cloth; gilt
| top. Price $3.50. New York: Fords.
| Howard and Hubert.
This work published anonymously
| some years ago. arrested instant atten-
| ton. and was the subject of very gen.
eral discussion throughout the country.
| 1t gave the first clear and vivid des-
| cription of the social conditions OBJ
| tanning in the South immediat ely fol-
| lowing the war that had been
published up to that time, and I'M
questionably exercised a considerable
influence in bringing about a better
understanding between the sections.
1t is, unquestionably, a work of
strong interest truthful delineation.
and strong dramatic force. For a long
time speculation was rife regarding its
authorship. a number of distinguished
writer's and public men being men
| toned in this connection. 1t is now
no longer a secret that it came from
| the gifted pen of Judge Albion w.
| Tourgee, a northern man, who, from
| long residence in the South had be-
come thoroughly familiar with the con-
ditions and social prejudices prevailing
there during the reconstruction period
when the bitterness engendered by
Civil War was still "a dominant factor
| in the life of that section.
| AS republished in its present attrac-
| tive form this famous novel should
| meet with a large sale. Certainly no one
who desires clear understanding of
the actual conditions in the South fol-
lowing the close of the Civil War
should fail to read it.
Eternalisln. by Orlando j.. Smith
(Houghton, Mifflin & Coz cloth: PIP 81.
Price SIPS net.
In his preface referring to the gener-
al assumption that the individual is
created at his birth by a Devine Power,
and the fact that some are born good
while others are born bad. the author
asks IF God or Nature has created a
criminal. can we acuuit the Creator Of
all accountability for the criminal:
Has not the soul which is created vi
jcious been deeply wronged? How can
men hcehcld to equal moral account
n t,;lifx. IL thcy nave NOT been endowed