The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-15
NET PREPARATION.

"The Colonials" by Allen French, brightly and successfully opens the campaign in spring fiction and is an exceedingly interesting, entertaining and highly superior historical romance of our old colonial days. The book is spirited story full of adventurous do- ings by brave men and picturesque and effective climaxes An under-curfent of colonial history is apparent, with his torically accurate descriptions of the Boston Tea Party, the Battle Of Lex ington and the Siege of Boston, but this feature is secondary-the main ob- ject being the presentation of story of thrilling interest, which MT. French has admirably accomplished. The scenes of the book are laid among the Great Lakes and the colony of Massa- chusetts Bay at the opening of cur Rev olutionary war, the story opening on the banks of Lake Huron, and MT
 French has given us clear and correct pictures of life in the colonial days ana vivid and trustworthy view or the important moves on the political chess board of those times. He is skillful artist in fiction The heroine healthy. fascinating young English girl of good family, who is captive among the h. dians adopted by Aneeb, an aged chief, and the hero an ardent patriot, are characters strikingly and Vividly pre- sented, as are also Dr. Warren, samuel Adams, General Knox, General Putnam and other noted men of the times i'll question, who enter the story. The book merits handsome reception from
 that vast body of the reading public who are on the lookout for entertaining
 books and who love a good story ad-
 mrably and artistically presented.
 "The Colonals" is meeting a gratify- ing reception from the press generally. The very able book critic of the Brook Ivn Eagle devotes two columns to a re- view of this book in which he says: Ut
 is seldom that we are favored with so strong, so symmetrical so Virile work of fiction MT. French is, we believe, a new author; certainly he has never before done anything so worthy Of at tention as this novel. He is, we are in- formed, a resident of Concord, Har- ward man, who has chosen literature as a profession The Colonials' affords evidence that he has made a felicitouS choice.
 " The Colonials' belongs to that class of fiction rightfully termed historical
 but it's interest is entirely apart from
 the mere environment of the story. TO the very end the tense interest is main- tained if you are at all imaginative
 you close the book with swift beating pulses.
 "Melodramatic? By no means. Sim
 ply a vivid portrayal of the play of hu-
 man interests and passions reflected upon a canvas filled with great scenes and mighty men; but the artist is gift
 ed with the skill that enables him to
 blend both foreground and distance
 into picture of unusual brilliancy and
 power. The Colonials' by Every right.
 should prove one of the most successful novels of the year." Doubleday, Page company. New York; cloth, 12mo illus trated: $1.50: for sale by the Pease- f Lewis Co.
 "Lester's Luck" by Horatto Alger, ir Published by Henry T. Coates X | Co.,. Philadelphia. This well known writer for youth introduces q most for tunate lad whose bright example will fire his readers with ambition. Les
 ters honesty and courage under ullIl-
 entities lead him to success with com
 mendable rapidty. Left d penniless
 orphan he applies to a wealthy relative | for work but is most ungraciOuSly re-
 ceived by the squire. Another cousin, William Thornton, appears at the same
 time and is favored with similar dis courtesy. Lester helps to save the squ re from being robbed, and is offered the
 position of valet to his cowardly son as
 reward, which he indignantly refuses. Winning the prizes at an athletic com- petition in which young Peter Dunton i expected to be victor arouses jealous
 anger and again Lester is turned adrift. | Through a service done a stranger he obtains position in the large banking house of Cross & Croswell, and the sig
 nal service he is able to render the firm by locating the theft of a large box of