The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-18
New Books


,he Making Of Country Home. By
J. P. Mowbray. New York: Doubleday,
Page Co. Minneapolis: n. Mccarthy.
Price, $3.50.
In the preface the author says his book is
My the record OF an ordinary mans expert
snce and success in his efforts to make
home for himself in the country This,
however, is just the kind Of record good
many people need and there is no doubt that
me suggestions made will be very helpful to
many other seekers for country homes
John Dennison and his pretty young wife
Lucy there was a baby. too became weary
of fiat life in New York city, and after
many surveys OF the situation, found they
were having very humdrum and contracted
life in the fat and needed Expansion and pure
air. Mr.. Dennison's expenses, with rigid
economy exceeded his salary OF $500. SO
they went home hunting in the country.
and, after many efforts, found a picturesque
spot within easy distance of the city and one
as quiet and rural as they could find in the
Adirondacks. Dennson bought the house
and grounds on installments, and the family,
ere long, established In the novel life.
They had built many castles in the air, but
soon got down to actual business and found
that nothing but patience and hard work
would convert their purchase into the ideal
rural home they had conceived Vegetable
and flower gardens, they found, did not come
at the mere bidding Dennison was amazed
at the vast number Of articles he had to buy
in order to get any standing as an agricutu-
rst and horticulturist. He paid his bills
like a man The elements wearied him by
the destructive blows they struck at his in
cpent operations. Exasperating things hap
pened and John and his beloved Lucy mad
their little Quarrels, and she went away to
visit a friend. Months of hard work did not
reveal anything but superficial results, but,
at last form and symmetry came out OF
chaos and when the fugitive wife came home,
she found real home and was content. Her
husband concluded, with her, that II country
homes come high and give lots of trouble in
the making, they pay beyond estimation.
LAUREL. The Love Letters OF an
American Girl. Edited by A. H. Bos-
ton: L. c. Page & Go. Minneapolis: ~.
Mccarthy. Price, $1.oO
This is one of the many initiative books
which have appeared since the publication OF
the ANONYMOUS Love Letters of English
woman" None Of the limitations have mad a
phenomenal run. They have excited small
interest And this American girl pertly
writes to a man she has never met personally,
but has his photo conspicuously visible in
her room They meet and the letters become
hysterical and reproachful by turns The
postscripts multiply. Toward the close OF
tho tumultuary correspondence the girls let
ters become nauseating. Nov that this love
has come to me- she gushes, Il cannot live
IS other women do. The tongue dlstils acid,
acid, the mouth that chatters fashion. the
heart that seeks diyersion-these know no
love. l cannot now live as if you did not
exist. For the largest heart Is not wide
enough for a real love. All, this love is so
heavenly! 1t comprehends the high and eX-
cludes the low I cannot imagine a love
without regeneration. It assures clear
heart and a crystal life. Tell me. does IT
+ 1onr Srfi inc ri g
with dozen men.
Famous Actors of the Day in Amer
lea. Second Series. BY Lewis G. Strang'
illustrated. Boston: l.: e; rage q ~ Co. Nin'
This volume of biographical sketches of IA
nous actors Of the day in this country Is
strongly conducive to the belief that dra-
matte success Is conditioned, not only or
genius and special adaptation to specialties
but upon the hardest kind Of study and Ia
borious effort. Among the conspicuous play
ers referred to in this volume are E. U
sothern. Fritz Williams, Nat Goodwin, Johr
Drew, Richard Mansfield, W. H. Crane, stuar
Robson, James O'Neill, John Herne ant
Henry Jewett Sothern began way down a
the foot of the ladder. His fine abilities de-
yeloped at their acme as Heinrich, ths
bellfounder in 1.-THE Sunken Bell" Nat Good
win won his fame in light comedy. Glllett;
hit success III the specially VI oLeiloSr
Holmes. Mr.. Mansfield finds it in Shak
sperean delineation. w. H. Crane found hi
true place in David Harum. The book en-
bodies history of the American stage dur
ing the seasons of 1s99-19O0 and 1900-1901 ant
only the prominent players who have wo1
distinction in specialties considered. Two
Englishmen are included, and this the au
. thor says is because they, Hare and Willard
are well-known and admired in this coun
try.
Grand Opera in America. BY Henry Z
Lahee. Illustrated. Boston: L. G. Page
Co. Minneapolis: N. Mccarthy. Price
$3.50. ....
The author, in his preliminary chapter
notes the unpromising field for opera in thi
country during the eighteenth and a por
ton Of the nineteenth centuries. The Beg
CARS Opera" was performed in New York b.
an English company in 1850 and Engisl
ballad operas were the vogue until 1925. Il
1895 the first American opera was performe
in New York. 1t was based on the story o
William Tell, the music by Benjamin Carr
English versions OF Italian and German opera
were given in New York, Boston and Phil:i
deluphia until 1847. In New Orleans, Frenc
opera early took root and in 1918 Frenc
grand opera was presented there in the bes
style. In 1s4s Italian opera was brought I