The St. Louis Republic., 1902-06-07
Other New Books.

Fables of the Elite" by Dorothy Dix, is
a most readable hook. The old fashion of
writing in allegory has been revived Of late
and seems to be enjoying considerable pop
ularity. How much longer this popularity
Will last no one can say, but even to pup
lie already somewhat surfeited with fables
there is p:enty OF amusement to be found in
this latest volume Of these suggestive little
tales. Many wise and funny sayings are
put into the mouths Of beasts in the good
old fable style, and some of the morals
afford much food for thought. "a Woman
| who knows how to Support herself will al
ways have to do it, The Book that helps
| us most is our Bank Book ''All Matri-
| mony and no Vacation makes Jack d.
| vorced Boy" and IF we take care of our
Conversation we may let our Conduct take
care of Itself are among the best.
The style. well sprinkled with capitals In
| the orthodox manner, is further ornamented
| by lavish use of slang. Although to AeSOp
or Montaigne 1t might seem far cry from
the Fable in its pristine glory, yet there is
| much that is delicious in these most modern
of fables. For instance, the authors habit
of speaking of Goatesses. Sheepesses. Bear
esses and even Elephantesses, as well as
Tigresses and Lionesses, seems certainly to
put these estimable animals in a new light
and invest them with dignity they did not
before possess. The idea of a bear who
reads Tolstoi and says the world is going
attraction of novelty. The subject Of wom-
ans clubs Is dealt with as follows:
Now Mrs. Bear was one Of those super
ior creatures who are veneered with Cult
ure and she belonged to Club where they
drank Weak Tea and read each other Es-
says out of the Encyclopedia. for Fun
Some of the most amusing among the
fables are: The Donkey Who Learned to
Kick THE Hen Who Understood the
Game" The E!ephantcsses Who Tried to
Be Cute" THE Bear Who Was Happy
Though Married The Bear Who Found
Nothing in Economy" and THE Bearess
Who Had Money.
Ten Thousand Miles in Persia" Is the
fascinating title of volume of size and
authority Just published with the Imprint
of the Scribners. 1t is 4 record OF eight years
of constant travel, and was prepared with
special reference to the geography and
history Of the country. well as to its
commercial resources, and to the opening
UP of trade routes. The book is dedicated
by special permission. TO Lord Curzon.
The author is Major Percy Molesworth
Sykes OF the Queens Bays, consul to Ker-
man and Persian Baluchistan. He was
awarded the silver medal by the Society of
Arts in 1897. the back grant in 1899 and the
gold medal n 1902 by the Royal Geograph-
ical Society.
Readers begin to look with suspicion on
the many new volumes of garden litera-
ture where It is often the habit of the
author to indulge in small talk ad nauseam.
and generally to Ito pirate of his parish
pump" The writer Of In My Vicarage
Garden" published by John Lane, is too
well known amongst garden lovers that his
book should be mistaken for this kind OF
thing. Canon Ellacombe chats, and chats
intimately it is true; but his chat is of
the really interesting and enlighteninE
class, which touches on topics of the out
door kind A selection of the chapter head
ings will best define the scope of the book:
The Flowers of Early Spring. Flowers of
Late Spring. Flowers of Summer. Flowers
OF Autumn, The Mixed Garden. A Backward
Spring, Carpet Plants. The Rock Garden.
Plant Names, The Scents of Flowers, Medi-
cal Properties OF Flowers, In Wild Swiss
Gardens, Shakespeare and Architecture
"a Girl of Virginia." Lucy Meacham
Thurston's new novel. published June by
Little, Brown & Co., is a story of the Uni
versity OF Virginia and outdoor life. The
scene is laid in Charlottesville Va, and
the principal characters are: Frank Law
son, a student from the West; Frances Hol-
loway, daughter of widowed professor OF
the university; Professor Holloway, Ed
ward Montague Lawson's rival for the
hand of the heroine; and Susan. negro
servant. The author has written a fresh
attractive love story, The descriptions Of
life at the university, the horseback riding,
fox hunting, and football give the story a
wholesome, breezy, outdoor flavor Mrs.
Thruston's previous book, Mistress Brent"
published last fall, was a historical ro-
nance of Maryland. 1t has already gone
third story which Little Brown & Co. will