Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS,


how the other half lives. In the heart of
New York city exists a colony of people
entirely distinct in their religion customs,
majority around them, foreign in fiber and
but slightly assimilated by the great social
system into which they have immigrated.
These stories reveal the intense religious
sentiment pervading the inhabitants of the
metropolitan ghetto" 1t tells of their
love affairs, their employment of the
'shatchen' or marriage broker in the ar
rangement of matches, their strong love of
FAMILY and reverence for the aged, their
charity, their aspirations. Necessarily the
stories are touched by strain of sadness,
Tor these people live under depression
or centuries. They have not yet recovered
from recent European pressure. But the
tales are good reading, strong and certain
to leave an impression.
RACER OF ILLINOIS. By Henry somervle. au.
thor OF Jack Racer" New York: Mcclure,
Phillips q Co. Washington: Woodward & 10th
The evils Of hasty bookmaking are clearly
demonstrated in this bright novel Of polit-
ical life in the middle west. Scarce a chap
ter but bears the marks Of rapid prepara-
ton. Indifferent proof correction mars the
text and distracts the attention, even at
times causing difficulty in the reading 1t
Is unfortunate that a purely mechanical
lapse should lessen the prestige of work
winch ordinarily would rank high among
Its class. 1t tells the not startling story of
the rise or young statesman from a local
to a state plane and his final elevation,
through an intrigue Of which he is the un-
conscious victim, to Congress. This book
being somewhat too obvious sequel to
a predecessor. and the central character
suggesting strong possibilities for future
development, third Jack Racer volume
may be confidently expected. 1t will prove
more interesting with greater care in prep
aration and publication.
THE SEA LADY. By H. G. Wells. Illustrated.
New York: D. Appleton Co.
Mr. Wells cannot altogether make up his
mind to bid farewell to the unnatural in
his novel making. This latest story by him
Is close approach to the normal but its
central incident is of a strictly Wellsanian
type, the advent of a mermaid among an
English family at their seaside home. Told
in the style of the reporter who gives bit
by bit the sources Of his information, there
is much machinery showing, purposely, OF
course, to present the aspect of versimili-
tude. The story can be regarded from any
one of several points of view as a rich
joke, as an allegory, as vehicle for some
undcniably clever reflections upon modern
society, or as simple tale for entertain
ment. The reader Is at a loss to determine
from which one Of these 1t was written 1t
begins IN light vein which does not fore
cast the tragedy of its conclusion It makes
excellent reading, Is not long and Is well
illustrated. Somehow Mr.. Wells injects into
his narrative spice Of the mysterious
charm Of the Sea Lady which eventually
lures man to his death.
ON FoRTUNE's ROAD; Stories of Business. BY
win Payne, author of 1.-The Money Captain.
&c. Illustrated by Thomas Fogarty. Chicago:
A. c. McClurg & Co.
The man who once said that business and
romance do not mix has been absolutely
repudiated by the authors who have de-
vised stories based upon just such a min
CLING, SO true to life to be styled realis-
tic. These present stories are of this type,
tales of the ramiffcations of various motives
into affairs which are supposed generally
to be immune from tender or sentimental
influences. The scenes are laid in Chicago
and reflect the vivid life of that great
money center. The sound of the ticker Is
heard throughout. The shouts of excited
men on the exchange floor sometimes drown
out the words of affection whispered be-
tween lovers. Men advance to great deals
and inspired by sordid motives which
usually dominate in such vast marts, only
to find themselves checked at some crucial
point by the Intervention of a suggestion of
that too often lightly regarded thing called
HOnOT L ne Stories are excellent and the
fact that they are now merely repubfished
from their original magazine presentation
does not detract from their value.
TALES ABOUT TEAiPERAMENTs. By John Oliver
Hobbies. New York: ID. Appleton Co.
Mrs. Craigie's short stories are among
her best and her one-act plays command
close attention whenever acted. In this
volume are printed three Of the former and
two of the latter. The stories are 1.-THE
Worm That God Prepared" tragic tale Of
a fathers intense jealousy; "'Ts an Ill
Flight Without Wings" story Of a missed
opportunity in love, and Prince Toto" a
pretty story for children. The plays are
"A Repentance" a tragedy founded upon
the Carlist uprising of 1859 in Spain, and
Journeys End in Lovers Meeting" which
has frequently been acted by Miss Ellen
Terry. This last Is one of the most salts
factory bits of dramatization Of the class
known as curtain raisers."
THE HOLE IN THE WALL By Arthur Morrison.
New York: Mcclure. Phillips Co.
This is the story of a mans boyhood, re-
lated after thirty years, and serves as the
medium through which the author describes
bloody and desperate scenes enacted in q
VIGOROUSLY criminal part of London, along
the wharves and docks. Evidently the only
purpose Of the narrative is to describe a
succession of crimes. The justification of
such a purpose is to be questioned An
orphan boy, Stephen is left to the care of
his grandfather, who keeps a grogshop in
the disreputable locality. where vice in al
most every form Is paraded before the eyes
of the child. In a negative manner the bow
is taught the value Of truth, honesty and
sobriety. His unorthodox grandfather adj
vises him to cultivate virtue He remains
proof against corrupting influences and es-
capes his debasing surroundings There Is
Nothing admirable about the characters with
the possible exception of the old mans af-
lection for his grandson. The others COM
nit robbery and murder with ease and dis
patch. Certainly such tales are neither
healthful nor agreeable. Only highly de-
veloped morbid sense can find satisfaction
by their perusal. The art displayed by the
author in vivid descriptions is lost sight of
in the flood of robbery, murder, corruption,
drunkenness and intrigue which makes up
the story.
BY THE STAGE DOOR; Short Stories By Ada
Patterson and Victory Bateman. New York:
The Grafton Press.
1t Is quite common nowadays to see part.
ners working at the production Of plays, as /,
did Beaumont and Fletcher In early days,
and frequently novels OF note are produced |