Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-17

| The Hermit, A Story Of the Wilder
ness by Charles Clark Mum. author O
Uncle Terry" illustrated by A. B
shute; cloth; gilt top: finely printed
| and bound: PIP. 400: price $3.50: Boston
Lee and Shepard. ...s.s
Mr. Munn's position as a writer o.
| popular fiction is so well established
that a new book from his pen is sure
of an appreciative welcome from the
reading public. In his latest book, TIL.
Hermit, he appears at his best. Indeed
| it is not too much to say that this Is, ir
many respects, the strongest work that
has vet come from him. Like his other
books, it has Maine setting, and one
which is evidently familiar to the au-
thor. Mr.. Mum is eminently success
full i'm interpreting the varying moods
of nature, of which he writes with rare
discernment and sympathy. The Twill
derness" that figures in this wholesome
and entertaining narrative are 1.-THE
vast primeval solitudes Of northern
Maine" Running with the current of
the narrative is charming love story,
which works out to a most happy end
ing. There are some exceedingly orig
inal and lovable characters in the book,
notably Aunt Comfort and "Old Cy
Walker" who will rank among the
strongest of Mr.. Munn's creations. 1t
is a book that has caught the public
approval at the start and which is sure
to be very widely read. 1t will materi-
ally strengthen the hold of the author
upon the affections of a very large
circle of friends and admirers.
Ike Clidden in Maine, a Story of
Rural Life in a Yankee District; by A.
D. McFaul. Dickerman Publishing Co.
Boston and New York. Price $3.50.
Books by Maine authors or with the
scenes laid in the State have been nu-
merous of late, but none has attracted
moro attention than this one whose
author is the well known member OF
the Washington county bar who now
represents Machias in the Legislature.
1T is the story of a young Fermonter
who drifts into southeastern Maine,
and with no legal education but with
an abundance of common sense and
resourcefulness coupled with stirling
integrity, goes into business as law
yer. There is no involved plot, but the
story is rather series of incidents and
episodes where the different types of
New England rural character, are
sketched with a kindly and sympathetic
hand. There is a little romance woven
in, and little of the pathos and sha-
dow CT life, but humor predominates
One of the best features is the series of
stories of horse trades. They have the
David Iarum flavor, but some show
more shrewdness and ingenuity than
the honest Old New Yorker ever dreamed
of.
The events at Rlueberry Falls in
which the hero figures, could be dupli-
Gated in scores of New England COM
munities The quaint characters are
true to life, and will be recognized by
any reader in this section as familiar
types. They are not overdrawn or
burlesqued, but are natural and are al
lowed to act and speak as real people
would. The story is as wholesome as it
is interesting. Mr.. McFaul is to he
congratulated and the hit which his
iirst book is making must be decidedly
gratifying to him. In material makeup
the volume is one of the handsomest of
the year. It's nine full page drawings
by d. r. Anderson are feature worthy
Of special mention.
The Strife Of The Sea. by T. Jenkins
Hams: Illustrated. PIP. 32S.. Price $1.50:
New York: The Baker & Taylor Co.,
This is collection of short stories
dealing With the sea and its deniZens.
The author has followed the sea for
many years, and his stories, strong in
the qualities of the vivid imagination
are characterized by rare sympathy
and dramatic force.
The stories have all the charm OF
novelty. They are new. They lead u:
into a new atmosphere, and give us g
view of life entirely outside of con
ventional lines. All of these stores arc
full OF fascinating interest, and the
reader who picks them UP will not be
apt to lay them aside until the last page
is turned. 4
JOS Boys. and How They Turned
Out; a Sequel to Little Men," by
Louisa NJ. Alcott, illustrated by Ellen
Wetherad Ahrens: Crown Svo. De-
corated cloth, gilt top. Price $500;
Boston: Little. Brown & Company.
1t will be sincere pleasure to the
reading public, to see Miss Alcott's IA
nous stories for young people repub-
Iished in a style of modern typo
graphical elegance and finish befittinP
their merit. 1t is not too much to stay
that these stories have for many Year,
held the first place in the list of Ameri-
can juvenile classics. Their sale has
been constant, and must have reached
very large aggregate. Their popu-
iarity has never waned. Generations O.
children have come and gone since
these stories were first published. for
the span of child life which is able t.
comprehend and appreciate works o:
this character is, at best, but little
mere than decade, and still the book
by Miss Alcott retain their firm hole
upon the juvenile heart. When frs
published they had the field almos:
wholly to themselves-fOr the didactit
Docks ostensibly published for children
ur to that time, were. for the most part
grotesluely lacking in sympathetic un.
rio ,cta nd nf of,,r