Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08


renced in the handling of men to be given
such a great charge. The Stokoe memoirs
are interesting apart from the defense of
the British naval surgeon which they af
ford. 1t is to be regretted, however. that
they grant only passing glimpses of the in
innate life at Longwood, in which doubtless
the general public is more concerned than
in the partisan quarrels which arose in that
connection.
BORROWED PLUMEs. By Owen Seaman. author
Of The Battle of the Bays &C. New York:
Henry Holt & Co. Washington VIM Balan-
tyne & Sons
Mr.. Seaman is one of the cleverest satir-
lists of the day and his present limitations
of the writings of modern authors are deli
ciously funny. Slightly exaggerating the in
dividual styles and playing upon the pecu-
larities of authors he presents a series of
sketches which in no sense offend the low
ers of the literature which he thus genially
distorts. His imitation of "An Englishwo
mans Love Letters is one of the most de-
lightful bits that has been printed for a
long time.
THE sEARCHERs. By managerial Byrde. New
York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.
Mrs. Byrde is new American writer,
1.-THE Searchers'' being her first work of
!, fiction, and perhaps this circumstance ac-
counts for her lavish use of love affairs in
the novel. From the large number of SEN
liHleHldl dildUCSS WHICH 10TH d part VI
this one story sufficient material could be
CLEANED for the writing of several books
| And yet, Notwithstanding the too frequent
diversions from the main interest of the
story, it is one of unusual attractiveness
| and will make for it's author many admir-
| ers. 1t is not to be understood that the
novel deals with shallow sentimentalities
1t is to be ciaSSed upon a much higher
plane. The events of the story take place
ir1F Emo Ian he thor toll rNrp
sentS the result of her observation along
| religious and ethical lines of thought in
| that country from the American point of
| view. She displays artistic skill in drawing
| the principal incidents of the book, but her
| literary ability is more forcbly demon
| strated in the portrayal of character de-
| velopment The interest of the novel GEN.
| tiers in the two couples whose lives are en-
| tangled by cross-threads throughout the
story. Between these respective couples
| there is mutual attra elton and affinity, but
| fate prevents other than a spiritual bond to
| unite them. The spiritual struggles of the
| two principal women, one of whom has
| been guilty of past youthful folly, which
| is the cause of much unhappiness are of
| unusual interest to the reader. In develop
| ing the character of this woman with a past
| Mrs. Byrde has done her best work.
There are frequent discussions on ethical
and religious questions. 1t is natural ten
| dency for an author in digressonS of that
| sort to draw them out to firing length but
| Mrs. Byrde has made the dissertations brief
and intelligent, so that they rather en-
| jOyable than tedious. This new authoress
| will probably later surpass her first effort
! III future attempts at fiction, as in THE
Searchers" she has made a worthy contri-
| button to the list of better class novels of
| the day.
| GLIMPSES OF CHINA AND CHINESE HOMES
BY Edward S. Morse. Boston: Little Brown
& Co.
Prof Morse in this book of brief sketches
| has given deal of interesting and reliable
| tnforma ton concerning the homelife of the
| Chinese in their own country. Most of the
| material has been previously published in
| a scientific periodical. The author tells of
| conditions he saw them several years
| ago, and 1t is not likely that any radical
| changes have taken place in the meantime
In the customs and habits of the people he
| describes. The book is written in narra-
| tive style and illustrated with pen and ink
| sketches made at the time in the author S
| journal His descriptions of street scenes,
| Chlnese mobs, street magicianS and the
| food clothing and other details of Chinese
| life will interest the general reader.
ERR By W. PETIT Ridge. Appleton's Town
| ana Country Library. New York: D. Apple
| ton d Company.
The purpose of the book is merely one of
entertainment and if the reader will over
look in the story number of scenes and
incidents, the utter improbability of which
Is apparent at the first glance the nara
| tive will serve that purpose we'll The
| tale deals with the career of an ambitious
| young labor leader in London In parts of
! the story-those wherein the life and en-
| Vironment of the laboring class of England
| are Observation-Disclosures is an atmosphere of
naturalness. but the feeble attempt at de-
| picting the life of the aristocracy would
| better be forgotten.