davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
LOUISIANA HISTORY.

suppose that it is not altogether n fc-
tittous creation. Those who regard Ma
poleon as coldly tyrannical and am
bilious man apparently forget that the
passionate love and personal attachment
which he inspired in hundreds of the
men who came into contact with him
are not given to cold-blooded tyrants,
but to men who give something of them
selves in return.
Lafitte is here shown as virile.
proud and high-spirlted young French
nobleman, who, defrauded OF his right
full estate. turns adyenturer but with
out losing all of his noble qualities
That he was really man of much char
acter and some admirable traits there
is reason to suppose. The part which he
took in the defense OF New Orleans is
described In the concluding chapters of
the book. and there is brief but salts
factory and vivid glimpse of General
Jackson. The heroine is a young French
girl, as fresh and charming as a wild
rose; and the other characters are
drawn with much skill and force. The
book is attractively bound and illus
trated. and will be capital reading for
young students OF history or for idle
hours in the summer. Boston: Little,
Brown & Coz
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
THE AUTHOR AND THE CRITIC.

In which you can discover the writer's
sincerity and evidence that he has read
the book.
3. Is there a lack of conscientiousnes5
in the reviewing of modern books?
Rather. U'vc written reviews myself)
The remedy I have to propose is that
book-reviewiIig should be department
by itself on the staff of any periodical
or Journal, So that reviewing should not
be anybody's business, done at odd
times. etc. Also that the reviewer should
have the choice of what books to treat,
and that he should take only two or
three at time.
4. Are English reviewers fairer than
American? No.
5. Do you consider book-reviewing an
intrusion? OF course not AS novelist
the mans work belongs to the public.
Whoever said that about intrusion WAS
an ass. Sincerely yours.
FRANK NORRIS.
Here is how Mark Twain replied 10
the writer's communication on the sub
ject of book-reviewing:
l suppose | ought to take an interest
in this subject but really l don't.
l would have answered sooner. but I
have been bedridden eight days with
gout. Truly yours,
S. L. CLEMENS.
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

can ask nothing more OF him, though
one might sometimes wish him wiser or
kinder. Yours very truly,
w D. HOWELLS.
Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page, among
other things, has this to say:
MIR. Lowell said. / believe, in an ad-
dress that he delivered at the opening of
Bryn Mawr College. that one of the
most important pieces OF advice he could
give was that It should be learned Ito
distinguish between printed matter and
literature"
The liking for different books is almost
as individual a matter as the liking for
different vegetables. One person likes
potatoes and detests cabbages; another
"dotes on cabbage and cannot abide
potatoes; but at least the caterer should
know the difference between cabbage
and a potato. Respectfully yours.
THOMAS NELSON PAGE.
Mr.. Frank Norris. the author of
"McTeague" and THE Octopus" sent
the following letter as his contribution
to the writer of this paper:
Having due understanding as to the
nature of an OATH | reply to yours.
/. Would | rather have my books re-
viewed? Yes. It's half of the fun Of
writing EN-.
. A fair reFiew. in my opinion Is one
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
AMERICAN GAME BIRDS.

upland Game Birds" by Edwyn
sandys and T. s. Van Dyke, is volume
of the American Sportsman's Library, ."
which should interest not only the
sportsman, but the naturalist and bird
lover. for 1t is evident that the authors
belong to both classes. The subject is
an interesting one, and it has been very
well handled.
By far the greater part Of the book is
the work of MIR. Sandys, Mr.. Van Dykes
chapters dealing only with the game of
the Pacific Coast, and occupying less
than fifty chapters out of the book 5
four hundred; but the style of both writ
ers is fascinating The work of Mr. San
dys is characterized by very strong eIc-
ment Of humor OF playful and whm-
steal kind, the sort of fun that keeps
one smiling over some quaint suggestion
or humorous reminiscence. Much Of the
book is naturally made up of personal
experience. and the fact that the sports
man may be and ought TO be an ardent
lover OF wild life and close observer
of all wild creatures is brought out on
nearly every page. Some of the descrlp-
tions of bird ways and performances are
positively charming. One of the most
delightful chapters is the first, in which
there are detailed accounts of the So
called quail. or Bob White" which is
really a partridge, and not a quail at
all. Most people who are at all familiar
with birds know this friendly little fell
low and his habits. and those who have
not the honor of his acquaintance will
feel as if they had after they read Mr..
sandys' description of him. A part of
it, in which a well-known fairy tale of
hunters is contradicted and bit of the
writer's experience introduced, is as fol-
lows:
"A brood of young quail suddenly
Come upon in an open space will dis
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

"Lantte Of louisiana" by Mary
Devereux, author OF From Kingdom
to Colony" and other historical novels,
is. as indicated by the title, story Of
the famous pirate chief OF Barataria.
Whether he was ever quite as white a
soul as the present author makes him or
not. there is no doubt that she has
made a good story Of his eventful ca
reer, and those who are anxious about
the truth OF IT can consult the library
records. There is nothing in her plot
which is not possible. or which anybody
can say did not happen, and there is
no question that a great deal of It did
happen. The book presents vivid pic
ture OF Louisiana at one of the most
event:ul. II not the most eventful and
interesting period Of her history.
A strikingly picturesque turn is given
to the plot by showing Napoleon at the
outset as the early friend, guardian and
inspiration Of the hero, and by dwelling
on the romantic friendship. even devo-
tion. which this aroused in the breast
of Laftte, though. owing to circum-
stances. this devotion was practically
fruitless. side of Napoleon's char
acter entirely different from the popu-
larly accepted view is here presented,
and there seems considerable reason to
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

appear as though the ground had swal-
lowed them. They have a marvellous
knack of diving under short grass and
tiny leaves. and once hidden, they will
emain motionless until actually trod
den upon. In anything like cover. q
search for them would resemble the
quest OF the proverbial needle. while
even upon almost bare ground, only the
:iharpest eyes can locate them. Many
writer's have claimed that a chick will
turn upon its back and cover itself with
q leaf. Which Il holds in position by it's
feet. This is, 70 say the least, extreme
1y doubtful, especially as regards the
holding of the leaf IN any position by
either feet or bill. A chick. in its rapid
dart TO cover, might turn upon its side.
or even upon Its back. under leaf In
its anxiety to avoid any telltale move
ment 1t might remain and be found in
the awkward position. but to state that
1t deliberately scizes the leaf. turns
over and holds the screen in position, IS
going 2 bit too far. What 1t actually
does, in all probability, amounts to
i.othing more than an instructive dive
into the nearest cover, 4 motionless
pause. and trust to coloration and the
quail providence. If those who may
stumble upon brood of quail will take
a sportsman -naturalist's advice, they
will promptly back away for a few
yards. sit down. and remain silently
watchful No search should be attempt
ed, for the searcher is more likely to
trample the life out of the youngsters
than to catch one. But il he hide in pa
tience, he may see the old hen return,
mark her cautiously stealing to the spot,
and hear her low musical twitter, which
tells that the peril has passed. Then
from the scant tuft here, from the
Cropping leaf yonder. apparently from
the bare ground. over which his eyes
have roved a dozen times. will arise ac-
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

tive balls of pretty down until the spot
appears to swarm with them. And the
devoted mother will whisper soft greet
ings to each, and in some mysterious
manner will make the correct count
and then with nervous care, shepherd
them forward to where there is safer
cover. And they will troop after her in
perfect confidence, to resume their bug
hunting and botanical researches, as
though nothing important had trans
pired.
Young quail are busy foragers. and
they grow rapidly. Within a few days
after leaving the nest they are capable
of a flight OF several yards. brood
flushed by dog will buzz up like so
many overgrown grasshoppers, fly a
short distance, then dive into cover in
Il comical imitation of the tactics of
their seniors. AS insect catchers they
are unrivaled, their keen eyes and tire
less little legs being Il most efficient
equipment oven for a sustained chase.
The parents scratch for them and call
them to some dainty after the manner
of bantam fowls, and the shrewd chicks
speedily grasp the idea and set to work
for themselves. A tiny quail scratch
ing in dusty spot is most amusing
sight The wee legs twinkle through
the various movements at rate which
the eye can scarcely follow, and the
sturdy feet kick the dust for inche,
around. When a prey is uncovered, 1t
is pounced upon with amazing speed
and accuracy, while flying insect
may call forth an electric leap and
clean catch foot or more above the
My first attempt at rearing young
quail ended in an awful tragedy. Five
fresh eggs had been found and were
placed under a reliable game bantam.
A suitable netting was erected about
the nest, and in due time five young
quail made their appearance. They
were transferred to a net-guarded grass
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

while the naturalist certainly might
cautiously approach the slumberlng tur-
keys. how about the owl2 That bird is
not at all careless of his own safety;
his eyes are for night service, and his
ears wonderfully acute-why wouldn't
he see, or hear, the naturalist? Again.
as regards the turkeys-sleeping tur-
keys at that-hearing the owls wing
sailing, too-and that wing especially
equipped with a feather formation to
prevent sound. And then, the darting
like an arrow-no owl, with the possible
exception Of the hawk owl and that
ether day hunter, the snowy owl, ever
darts anything like an arrow. All the
owls that l have seen, and they number
quite few, sidled noiselessiy up to the
prey, and then grabbed 1t with hooks
that seldom miss. Finally, the turkey
falling 'headlong'-if 1t ever reached the
ground in that fashion, and was fat and
consequently heavy. 1t would stand a
to say nothing of rapping its peculiarly
tender head against something much
harder. Any country boy knows how
easy it Is to temporarily stun turkey,
even with that handy missile. green
apple. And after the turkey had fallen
headlong to the ground, what then? 1t
would simply be precisely where old
Bubo Virginianus would prefer to have
it, whether he caught it on the fly, or on
the first bounce, one or other Of which
he would be mighty apt to do, No; a.
turkey of very limited night vision, go
ing to the shadows to hide from a great
horned owl, that probably could see we'll
enough to count the hairs on black
cat sitting on a coal pile in cellar, is
not sound protective tactics. Nor will
the theory that there might be convent
ent brush to screen the turkey when on
the ground, bear out the statement A
great horned owl will walk into a hem
house. or under an outbuilding, or fall
len tree, kill under the shelter, and then
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

drag out his kill. This have more than
once seen him do, and have scored my
kill by moonlight as he dragged forth
the victim
The author is as emphatic in his
condemnation OF unsportsmanlike and
dishonest hunters as he is in his re-
marks about misleading naturalists with
and without titles. Like most writer's
on natural history. he urges strictness in
the matter of passing and keeping laws
to protect game, and has no use either
for the pot-hunter or the man shooting
for a record. This is one of his exposi-
ticns on the subject.
ITO their shame be 1t said that Q
host OF well-to-do and apparently re-
spectacle citizens appear to look upon
the game law as though they imagined
1t to be a sort OF legal sieve, expressly
designed for something to be strained
through 1t. Just why some men. who
perhaps would spend their last blood
in resenting al open attack upon their
honor. can sink to the level OF a sneak
thief when it comes to 4 question IT
obeying a game law. l am unable to
fathom. They can well afford to walt.
they cannot truthfully plead either ig-
norance or necessity, yet when the test
comes they are as rotten as the stink
ing birds which foul their lawless
trail, for they never burst take home
their game. It is my misfortune to
have met some of these men; to have
heard their SNUG boastings OF how in
their small rascality they /evaded this
game warden, or tipped tbribed is the
proper word) that one; and the boast
srs never appeared to realize how truly
heir own testimony damned them in tbs
opinion of sportsmen of the True Blue
Lodge. which, like that other great
odge, sternly holds each brother to the
eal, the fair, and the clean"
There are two or three good shooting
stories in the book. by the way. New
York: The Macmillan Company
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

hee. and note the effect upon Bob. In
an instant he is a fussinE. fuming, ire
sponsible small devil, racing here and
there with dragging wings. and so ex-
cited that he can hardly sputter out his
challenges. A repetition Of the ka-loi-
hee may bring him booming on reckless
wings almost into the Observers face.
Now. II this ka-loi-hee be not hens
call. and a suggestion to him that his
hen is playing tricks with stranger
what's he fussin' about?'"
Mr.. Sandys evidently has 1t lin for
that pseudo naturalist. Prince Lucien
Bonaparte, who wrote a continuation TO
Wilson's book of natural history. Here
is a page which he takes to refute one
OF the statements of the Bonaparte, and
to prove that title is of no sort of ad-
vantage in dealing with birds unless it
is when they are cooked.
"Bonaparte gives a most readable de-
scription of the night attack by an owl
says: The owl sails around the spot
to select his prey; but. Notwithstanding
the almost inaudible action OF his pin
ions, the quick ear of one of the slum-
berers perceives the danger. which is
Immediately announced to the whole
party by cluck: thus alarmed.
they rise on their legs, and watch the
motions of the owl, who. dartlng like an
arrow, would inevitably secure the in
dividual at which he aimed, did not the
latter suddenly drop his head, squat,
and spread his tail over his back; the
owl then glances over without inflicting
any injury. at the very instant that the
turkey suffers himself to fall headlong
toward the earth, where he is secure
from his dreaded enemy
This is purely imaginary. How could
he see what the owl did, or what the
turkeys did? These who have shot tur-
keys on the roost know how much. or
rather how little, of detail can be seen
even in the brighte2- of moonlight. And,
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

Mr.. George Sands Goodwin. a writer
IN the Critic" anxious to settle many
vexed and vexing questions, wrote the
following letter to several well-known
authors:
/. Would you rather have your books
reviewed or submitted to the public
without review?
2. What. in your opinion, constitutes
fair rlview?
3. Is there apparent to you lack of
conscientiousness in the criticism Of
modern books-lf so. what remedy have
you to suggest?
4. Are English reviews fairer than
those written by american critics?
5. One writer hts answered that in ais
opinion book-reviewing is an impudent
intrusion on the business of authorship
do you agree with him?
MIR. Howells responded as follows:
think any sensible man likes dis
books fairly reviewed. English reviews
of American books are apt to be fairer
than our own, because. like American
reviews OF English books, they have no
personal bias, for good or bad. A fair
review Is the critics honest best. One
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
The Peppers Again.

Five Little Peppers Abroad" is a
new stcry OF the Peppers. by Margaret
Sidney, which is about as successful as
seuuels can be expected to prove. The
children tra-el through Holland, Swift
.erland, and some other places. and all
the personages OF the former tales re-
appear In this one. The illustrations
are by that creator of charming chill
dren's pictures, Fanny Y. Cory. tBos-
ton: D. Lothrop & Coz
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
A REVOLUTIONARY ROMANCE.

spirit and ideas of her own, and some
of her willfulness makes it anything but
comfortable for the hero. though. unlike
some of the maidens to whom we have
been introduced in latter-day fiction.
she is neither unwomanly nor SO in
tensely and erratically feminine in cap
rice as TO approach insanity. She 10
high-mettled. proud. and resource
full girl. devoted to her own country. but
not incapable of appreciating the pa
triotism OF the hero after considerable
proof of ii.
Among the characters arc two or three
noted guerrilla captains of the time,
Morgan and other historical personages.
The hero's horse. "Old Put" deserves
mention as a character, for he certainly
shows es much individuality as most
men, and proves that Mr.. Altsheler can
do that somewhat difficult thing. create
an original horse portrait. New York:
d. Appleton and Coz
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

run which included two large ant-bills.
In week the youngsters had become
quite tame, whereupon misguided but
well meaning person concluded to do q
kindly actin other words. meddle-
and turned them loose. The bantam
mother led them to the poultry yard
which was presided over by a mighty
light brahma cock. Now the bantam
was game. and when the larger hens,
who had forgotten her during her en-
forced absence. gave her stony stares.
or, it may be, questioned the strict
legitimacy of her curious progeny, she
declared war. While she was battling
against heavy odds, the fool brahIna
cock spied the tiny quail, which he
calmly devoured. AS the wee legs Of
the last one were disappearing, slight
ly delayed but impetuous brickbat hit
the brahma. He literally met his end
gamely, but rs he happened to be worth
twenty-five dollars. a certain youthful
naturalist took his meals standing up
and slept ON his stomach for at least
one week.
Besides the quail. Mr.. Sandys dis
cusses partridge. grouse, ptarmigan. tur-
key. woodcock, plover. cranes. the
mourning dove. and the foreign game
which has been introduced into this
country The chapters are about equal
ly interesting and amusing. One of the
experiments described in the Bob White
chapter, however, deserves quoting as
proof of the authors closeness TO his
subject:
''If during the mating season good
whistler will conceal himself and reply
to the Bob Whiting of some amorous
male he can draw the bird across even
a broad field. The small fellow will re-
ply louder and louder, and will get mad
der and madder, and will draw nearer and
nearer until he is perhaps only a few yards
distant and full Of fight. Then let the
whistler utter defiant 'Bob-white.' and
suddenly change to a low, tender ka-loi-
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

My Captive" is romance OF Revolu-
tionary times by J. a. Altsheler, author
of I'm Circling Camps The Wilder
ness Road" and several other good
novels dealing with American history.
Mr.. Altsheler's work is always inter
esting from its realistic truth and a
certain clear-cut and definite outline
which makes 1t easy to follow the story.
He deals with stirring events and fas-
cinating characters, and he knows how
TO tell a story; and to paraphrase
Hamlet" in an historical novel the
gales the thing.
The present book, while somewhat
slighter in theme than one or two of the
others. is Just as good in its way. The
hero ia one OF Morgan's men. the hero
ire is the daughter Of an English off,
Ger. and the time Is just after the bat
tie of Kings Mountain, near which the
scene is laid. The girl in the case is
no paper doll OF heroine, but full OF
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
Summary Correction.

In 'An American at Oxford" John
Corbin tells story of Jowett, who at
enc time was master OF Balliol. An
undergraduate named Barnes had been
so independent of his tutor that he was
sent up to the Head of the College,"
which is not at all promotion. When
he reported, the Master was writing.
and merely paused to say: "Sit down,
Mr.. Barnes. You are working with Mr..
Donkin, are you not?" The culprit
said he was, and sat down. Jowett
wrote on. page after page. while the un-
dergraduate idgeted. Finally Jowett
looked up and remarked: Mfr. Donkin
says you are not. Good morning" After
that the undergraduate was more in
clined to work with Mr.. Donkin.
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
Haggis With Paprika.

T. w. II. Crosland is brave man. and
his book. THE Unspeakable Scot, is IN
the prospectus stage, and cursory
survey of that prospectus is enough to
move even a Highland regiment to pyro-
technical profanity.
The author says that he has under
taken the work not in spirit Of flip
nancy or turbulence. but merely with an
honest desire to hold the mirror up to
Scotland and enable her. for once, to
see herself as others see her.
Then he delicately indicates that the
vogue of the Scot is on the waae, that
in politics, art. letters, etc, Scotland
has accomplished almost nothing. He
undertakes to deal with Scottish swag-
ger. uncouthness. dipsomanta, and
host of other similar themes
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
Unprofessional Interest.

When Robert Shackleton's typewriter
was copying his manuscript of Many
Waters" she passed chapter after chap
ter with the usual professional indif-
ference until toward the end Of the
book she thought she saw trouble ahead
for Shotterly. Then one morning she
said to Mr. Shackleton, in most earn
est way and with evident feeling. Il
hope you will excuse my saying this,
Mr.. Shackleton. but please don't let
anything happen to Mr.. Shotterly, If
you can help it; please don't let any
harm come to him"
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
An Old Bachelors Romance.

THE Love Story of Abner Stone" by
Edwin Carlile Litsey. is slender little
romance somewhat in the style of James
Lane Allen. and dealing with the same
types. Abner Stone Is a bachelor OF
fcrty-five. boolSish. pedantic, and staid.
During sojourn IN the country he
meets a Bluegrass maiden who proves
the one woman OF the world to him
That is all there is to the book except
;he style, which is dainty, and the de-
scriptions. which are often charming
tNeY York: A. s. Barnes G Coz
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
LITERARY GOSSIP.
Ethna Carbery.

a severe loss to the Gaelic revival move
ment and to Irish literature. For ten
or twelve years she has been contribut-
ing prose and verse, almost invariably
on Irish subjects. to periodical litera-
ture. Though less well known in this
country. she has written for some of our
more important American magazines.
About a year ago she was married to
Seumas MacManus whose stories of
Irish peasant life made him an interna-
tional reputation.
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
A Report of a Ranch.

In his STORY of the Cowboy" pub
lished by D. Appleton G. Co., Emerson
Hough gives an account Of the quarterly
report of a foreman to the Eastern
ranch owner. which constituted the most
serious labor of the year, and which is
said to have read as follows.
Deer sur. we have brand 800 caves this
roundup we have made sum hay pota-
toes is a fare crop. That Inglishman
lef in charge at the other camp got to
fresh an we had to kill him. Nothing
much has happened sence yu lef. Yurs
truely. JIM.