The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-12

A companion volume of the collection of
the late Frank Norris essays, noticed re-
Gently in these columns, is the collection
of his short stories of the. western coun
try just issued This collection of ten
stories shows the excellent quality of Mr..
Norris short story writing. A Deal In
Wheat is the little story. 1t is a realistic
description of the warfare between bulls
and bears, with the incidental sharp prac-
tice which hurts many more than the out
witted operators. There are fine touches
of tragedy in some of the stories and
others, as '.Slick Dick Ntckersor,'' and
"The. Passing Of Cock-eys Blackjack"
Mr.. Norris climaxes are always well
wrought out. xssse-s sa.s i
Robert Barr, in his Over the Border,
gives US historical romance Of the
period of Charles I. Of England, Strafford,
his prime minister, and Oliver Cromwell.
The heroine is Lady Frances Wentworth,
daughter OF the Earl of STAFFORD, and a
right thrilling time the girl had in those
tumultuous times, which bred great
revolution, which changed the course Of
English history and politics and govern
ment during scarce half century. The
story of the love Of Frances Wentworth
and Armstrong has a dash and stir about
it which adds greatly to the interest Of
the reader.
W.. J. Chamberlins letters from China
to the New York Sun during the tragical
period of the Boxer uprising in the north
ern provinces, which is now published in
book form, under the title Ordered
to China, are excellent examples of
the effective and interes ting work a news
paper correspondent of enterprise and
alertness can do in the way of writing cur-
| rent history under conditions generally
Co., 70,
1901, but he left the evidences of his
genius as a newsgatherer and a fine repu-
tation for accuracy, faithfulness to duty
| and picturesqueness of style attained by
comparatively few. During the Spanish
| war he had won distinction as a war
correspondent.
What is called "a strange coincidence
| is the fact that. while Conrad's story,
youth" was highly praised in London lit
| erary circles last season, a much-lauded
! picture exhibited at that time at the
Royal academy was Napier Heny's sea
| piece bearing the same title. Both author
| and artist were inspired by the idea Of the
/ glory Of youth in endeavor. They are
strangers to each other and have never
met nor seen each other. Both live by
the sea, the novelist in Kentsand the
1 artist in Farlimer.
4 Mrs. Austin's The Land Of Little Rain
/ is a book of extraordinary interest Mrs
Austin has lived in, the border regior
among the Piute Indians for some years
and she tells Of the characteristics Of the
land Of little rain at first hand. She lives
i near to- the edge of the death Valley
in the land of lost rivers, but efflorescen
/ after a cloudburst. The, use made b!
the Indians of the desert plants is won
derful. Mrs. Austin's description of des
ert plants, birds, insects and creeping
/ things shows that even in that hot ant
sitting region life persists and is full o
interest. She gives humorous descrip
4 ton Of Jimville-a Bret Harte town.
i she calls it. Mrs. Austin makes you SCI
I vividly that which she describes. TIL
1 Illustrations are by e. Boyd Smith, VIII,
lis thoroly acquainted with the pecuia
i charae teristics OF the region described.