The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-28
IN, Bye Flower BY Henry Van Dixie,

Sons. publisher, New York. SLID.
DR.. Van Dykes new book, THE Blue
Flower" Is 9 group Of nine stories. three
of which have been printed separately,
but all Of which are arranged so that
they have a unity OF motive and OF at
mosphere The tales have 10 do with
elementary things: the great and beat
tiful things such as we dreamed OF in
youth. but they are written for the read
ing of children CT the larger growth.
THE Blue Flower" is the motif OF the
book. 1t is the first story, The Source.
..The Other wise Man" "A Handful of
Clay 1.-THE Lost Word" and The First
christmas Tree"
iTboroushtrcds. BY ". A. Fraser. Nc
Ciure, Philips & Company. publishers.
New York. sL5o.
! Cae OF the Few novels oe the race course
ever written by man who knows its
devious ways from the inside. is Thor
oughbreds.'' ". A. Fraser. the author,
owns running horses and races them
both on ting eastern and western tracks.
Ills short, slight, but why and athletic
figure is familiar TO thousands Of race
Eoers and sporting men. who know him
Only as horsemen and would be sur
prised at learning that he is the author
OF -.Moosya.'' The Outcasts.' THE
Eye of a God and other well-known
books. In Thorough breds.' ali the
characters. even to the horses which
play SO important part in the story.
are drawn direct from the individuals
who have uneonsciously posed as the
authors modes.
1t is certainly surprising how closely
akin the arts OF writing and painting arc,
and how frequently, 81 person gifted win
one has at least a kaacls at the other.
Mr.. Frazer is an example in point. He
Is an artist IN oils OF by no means
small ability and a good deal of training
and is known possibly to more CT his
friends IN that role than IN the role OF
novelist Notwithstanding the SUCCESS Of
his hooks. 1t is probably the faculty of
seeing things in picture form acquired IN
his art students days which gives hin,
his ability to breathe realty into the
scenes he describes. II this novel Mr..
Fraser returns to his old and famous
field Of the turf and TIE racing horse.
II is full Of rich and stirring pictures. 1t
isn't the highest G-t. OF course, but 1t
Is Eoc5 story and thu great heart of
the horse beats through every lire &C.
scribirig the track. And on this glowing.
moving bacee1 round Of strife and victory
and defeat there pays q love story.
c,larrinsly simple and innocent and pure,
seemingly the more pure and sweet for
the roaring. fg.hts:s life, amid which 1t
goes on. A turn OF fortune makes it
necessary that the heroine race her faith
er's string The exciting incidents that
arise from this and the trials and COM
plicatiors through which the love Of the
heroine passes unweaksned. go to make
I'd story Of unusual strength and in
terest
Adrsh BY J. Breckenridge Ellis. Geo
W. Jacobs d Company. publishers.
Philadelphia SIS.
Adnah is a remarkably strong story Of
the semi-reliEious type. It is "a tale
Of the time OF Christ MT. Ellis is al
ready known to the public as the author
OF 'tGarcilaso." The Dread and Fear Of
Kings" etc. but "Adnah" is decidedly
his best work. the conception of the story.
the working out of the plot and the lit
erary style being OF very high order
1t is a story OF revenge-of revenge
changed into al unlimited capacity for
loving service.
Adrah. the hero OF the tale is the son
Of q Jew. who. though well born, has
plebisn tendencies. His uncle. we'll
educated ard influential Pharisee. COM
r,its a crime for which Adnahs father
consents to assume the guilt. on condl-
ton that the uncle educate his son for
position in Herod's service. After 40
nah.s father is arrested ard taken from
the country as slave. the uncle. III
stead Of fulfilling his promise c1altreats
his nephew so that he is erabitterea
against him and revenge becomes the Que
absorbing passion OF his life.
With his thirst for vengeance still rag
sas, he ore day suddenly comes upon
his uncle. in a rocky fastness IN the
naountatns-alone and entirely IN his pow
ar Aonah confines him there and visits
him daily. suhjectiag him to both men
ss-,1f, ff,,ey ave
the complete revenge which he intends
shortly to achieve.
While In this condition OF mind he
hears Christ preach the Sermon on the
8 Mount, wherein He teaches men to love
their enemies. Acrah rleditates upon
these words and wonders whether it is
possible fer one t, love his enemies. He
tries to picture himself loving his uncle
lido VINO has so il!-used him. The
struggle in his mind continues for fsone
time but at lat the influence of the
Nazarene is triumphant. and With the
determination to forgive and release his
uncle. Adnah aga!ns visits the mountain
fastn<ss.
This IS the pivotal point OF the story
and ,s most Dramatically portrayed. The
whole scene exmp.iffes the practical re-
eult Of Ch-'s teaching and what Christ
lanity should be to-day.
The ro-,an.ic interest centres upon one
Miriam. the daughter OF a Sadducae. and
her influence upon Adnah. It is alto
getner the strongest tale Of Jewish Pales-
tine In the time OF Christ since Ben
1Irrss
Or. Rrv-on. BY Frank II spearnan.
Charles Scrihner's Sons publishe. s..
/ New York. S1.s0.
Mr.. Spearmap. who has already won
Ia reputation as a writer OF stirring
railroad stories. has. in this. his frst
novel abundantly, demonstrated his tel-
.eut for more sustained action. HIS tor
:oughly original theresds the career OF
an eminent surgeon. The hero Of the med
fern drama that tho warfare Of sc ,cnce
lx!th death ard disease constitutes. asd
janrerwovens With II is q love soy e
lur,,sual intensity and CHI rm- The see .
hssCatcaessanA The background Of dsua-