Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-07
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The Derby Anniversary Calendar
being the records of six thousand
noteworthy events, anniversaries,
birthdays, etc., in American history.
366 pages; SO cents. James T. White
& Co, New York.
| What we would commonly call call
endars, giving the days of the
week corresponding with the number
| OF days of the year, are, strictly speak
| ing. almanacs. The calendar, accord
| ing to the Standard Dictionary, is a
collection of days and to this category
| belongs the neatly printed little pub
LEGATION, bound in book form, above
mentioned. 1t comprises six thousand
| noteworthy birthdays in American
| history and biographies which have
been assorted according to the days
of the year. 1t is needless to say that
| it is a most valuable little reference
work and one that should have place
in every library.
A Son of Destiny, the story of An
drew Jackson, by Mary C. Francis;
cloth; IL mo-, price $3.50. New York:
The Federal Book Company
There is a growing, and not alto
gether commendable tendency, to make
q rather free use of historic names in
works of fiction. This book is no ex-
ception to the rule. 1t is a romance
woven around the remarkable record
Of Andrew jackson, and while the au-
thor claims to have adhered more or
less strictly to historical accuracy, it is
evident even to those who have but
slight knowledge of "Old Hickorys''
career, that fiction has frequently sup
plemented truth in the progress of the
narrative. The author we'll says in
her preface that "A great man has
the right to come down to posterity in
his best qualities, remembered by his
virtues not his faults" and this is,
she claims, the kind of remembrance
she has given Andrew Jackson. A
perusal of her pages, however, would
indicate rather that she has given an
apotheosis of the grim and irascible
old warrior, rather than a record which
is strictly confined to the facts of his
tory. 1t must be conceded, however,
that the main events of his life are
sketched with substantial accuracy.
The prologue describes the duel be-
tween Andrew jackson and the bril-
liant Charles Dickinson, which result
ed in the latter's death. 1t is a story
told with graphic power, and is one
of absorbing interest.
A very pleasing love story runs
through the pages of the narrative.
This is the first sustained work of
fiction from the pen of Miss Francis,
but she has been in recent years
well-known writer of exceptionally
clever short stories, her work appear
ing in the leading New York papers,
and in a number of the best maya
zines including Munsey's and Harper's.
She has also done some very cred
table work for several newspaper syn
dicates.
= She has a very graceful and pleas
Ling. style aud in "a Son of Destiny"
has given the public book that will
not fail to hold the closest attention
of the reader.
The Pit, story of Chicago by Frank
Norris cloth: PIP. 421. New York;
Doubleday, Page & Co.
This is o continuation of the Epic
of the Wheat" begun by Mr.. Norris in
1.-The Octopus" although it is entirely
complete in itself. The brilliant young
author whose wonderfully clear and
vivid pictures of the social and the
business life of the great western me-
tropolis had arrested the attention of
the whole country, corrected the last
proof of 1.-The Pit" only month before
his untimely death. Strong as were
the literary and dramatic qualities of
THE Octopus" we feel that this latest
and last work of Mr.. Norris is justly
entitled to rank as his best.
1t is wonderful story, of the strenu-
Gus, restless, nerve wearing life, that
finds a field of activity in the wheat
and corn pits of the Chicago Board of
Trade Building. Out of it breathes the
living spirit of the great city by the
lakes, and the maelstrom on LaSalle
street. 1t is real. It's characters are
genuine flesh and blood people-hot the
shadows of romance, or the idealistic
| figures of a purely imaginative world
There is not one affected line-not one
| false note between the covers of this
book. 1t impresses us not merely by
| it's wonderful grasp and effective
| grouping of detail; not merely by it's
| clear and subtle analysis of character
| and motive, but rather by it's atmos-
phere of truth, it's frank,and unreserved
genuineness. 1t is the work of one who
thoroughly knew his subject, who had
| personally lived among his characters,
and who had the power to portray
| them with the rare skill that belongs
only to the master of his art.
| The graphic story of Curtis Jadwin's
| Corner on wheat, gives the most COM
| plete and dramatic picture of such a
spectacle, with all that it involves, that
has even yet appeared in print. In it's
| special field it is, and we are inclined
to think it will always be, classic.
| 1.-THE Pit" is certainly entitled to
rank as a truly great novel, which will
| give the readers of the future, a clear
and accurate conception of conditions
as they exist today in the metropolis of
| the great West, with it's wonderful re-