Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06

other artists contribute thus to the pages,
which cover a wide range of subjects, but
all relating to the general theme of the re-
lations of people under modern conditions.
The book is handsome souvenir.
FIRST NOVEL sERIEs-THE TAsKMASTERs. By
George Kfbbe Turner. New York. Mcclure,
Phillips 4 Co. Washington Woodward & 10th
rop.
This story of the great power welded by
the kings of industry In the New England
manufacturing cities reveals a power mar
ration which promises future products of
even more value. The work lacks struc-
tural sequence, however. 1t is a striking
picture of life but its dramatic unities are
not effectively developed. The great cll-
max in the tale bears only feebly upon the
elements which have accompanied the Gre
alton of serious dilemma for the young
man whose struggles against political cor
ruption and subServience form the chlef
features of the novels interest. Yet TINS
climax, marked by a tragedy, illustrates IN
vivid manner the ability of a great mill
owner to ruin the career of a man when
once disfavor is incurred.
DAUGHTER OF THE SHOWS By Jack Lon
don, author of The Son Of the Wolf" etc IL
Illustrated in color by Frederick G. fohn Phila-
delphia: j. b. Lippincott Company
Jack London, in his previous works, has
to the readers warm fireside and has given
some beautiful word pictures of far north
ern scenes, as well as descriptions of hui
man characteristics in the frozen regions. In
his latest effort Dan Cupid, clothed not In
the furs of the half-breed. but in good
Yankee wooden, frolcs through the passes
of the Yukon and brings love with It's train
of responsibilities to engage the attention
of the gold diggers The book Is up to
the author S best style.
BARNABY LEE By John Bennett, author of
Master Skylark.'' Illustrated by Clyde o. De
Land. New York: The Century Company.
Washington Brentano's.
New Amsterdam and its quaint burgher
population furnish the setting for ro-
mantle tale, embroidered with details of
picaroons and other wild and lawless men
who sought the new world for pelf and
plumber in the early days. Later the scene
shifts to Maryland and one theater of the
stirring events narrated is on the lower Po-
tomac in St. Mary's county. The motive
of the story is a contest for a vast estate
in the new province which finally is won by
its lawful heir, at first the Wretched deck
scrub Of the picaroon.
THE LADY OF THE BARGEs By W. W; ia
cObs, author of Many Cargoes,'' etc. Illus
trated. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co. Wash
ington: Brentano's
This Is collection of the delightful short
stories of Mr.. Jacobs which have won such
favor from time to time in the magazines.
The charm of simplicity Is the chief char
acteristic Of his writings. To take the
narrow life of a bargeman or small
coaster as a topic and weave story
around 1t, introducing the prosaic charac-
ters naturally befitting, and producing
charming, refreshing and witty tale is an
easy task for Mr.. Jacobs.
DENSLOW'S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. BY
Clement G. Moore IL ID Made into 1 book
New York: G. W. Dillingham; Company.
While the lines of The Night Before
Christmas are doubtless familiar to all
children Of all ages today few know any
thing about their author. 1t is well. there
fore, that the little folks who love those
merry rhymes should be formally intro
duced to the grave student who, years ago
composed them as surprise for his
own children on Christmas morning. He
wrote many serious works, some of them
regarded valuable and scholarly, but
none of them achieved the popularity, the
classic fame, of this nonsense rhyme. Grace
Duffie Boylan writes an entertaining pre-
face to Mr.. Denslow's edition of the poem
which tells about DR.. Moore and his work
Mr.. Densiows pictures are in his usual
finished style, with brisk action and comedy
in the lines They are printed in colors
and carry out effectively the spirit of the
poem.
LIZETTE By Edward Marshall. New York:
Lewis. Scribner & Co.
''Lizette' Is simple little romance of the
Latin quarter of Paris. The plot, while not
heavy or intricate, serves to carry the in
terest Of the reader through the story.
There Is a lack of smoothness in parts of
the book, and the author is guilty of too
many repetitions, besides being too prone
to tell, rather than suggest, effects and in
cidents. While the relations between the
to the finer sensibilities, yet the author has
exercised Judgment in refraining from
throwing a strong light upon Them and has
chosen rather to emphasize the affec-
ton that exists between them. There is
only one other character Of any Importance
in the book besides the hero and heroine.
This is Kentucky, in whose portrayal the
author has shown considerable skill. The
ending of the story is happy, and the book
fulhIls its purpose of entertainment.
THE Eod insane r. ROOT Romance Of Strange
York: Funk & WagnaIls Company.
While the story is extremely imaginative
and while its utter mprobability is plainly
apparent to the intelligent reader yet it
is not without considerable interest The
plot is based on the legend OF the mystic
rious powers of the mandrake root and a
werd strain prevails throughout the nara
tive. 1t partakes somewhat of the nature
of Bulwer's "a Strange Story and of Ste
venson's DR. Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde" and is
equally as fantastic as either of the tales
mentioned. Speculations into psychological
phenomena and occultism are preached in
the story, and theosophy is not neglected
1t is possible that delivers in the mysterious
may accer The Insane Root as more
than a cl' q. utilization by the novelist of
an impossible legend The moral gathered
from the story serves to place it on a higher
plane than that of mere fiction of mystery.
even though the mechanism of magic has
been somewhat strained in setting forth
the message