Evening star., 1903-09-12

and has set her scene in Paris. where her
chief successes have developed Her prin-
cipal character, Mile. Fiji, leading actress
in miserable little theater of the cheaper
sort. is one of the most entertaining and
iovable personages who ever danced
through the pages OF novel. A piQuant
mixture Of seriousness and sauce, Of wis
dom and childish natvette, she Is never
quite within the reach Of analysis Yet this
Is far more than a character sketch, for
there Is a plot of some dimensions. includ-
Ing relationship with the pope. who has
come to Paris to conduct the emperors 8
marriage ceremony scenes with Napoleon
himself. the maneuvers of a stiff-legged but
altogether likable ex-soldier, who later be-
comes Fits husband, and the adventures
OF trick dog, the purchase of which caus-
ed Mile. Fiji to sacrifice a warm coat for
which she had been saving. This story Is
told in Miss SeawelPs brightest style and is
happy return to her most enjoyable mood
from her not altogether successful Fran
cezka."
THE LAW OF LIFE. By Anna Mcclure Shou.
New York: d. Appleton & Co.
Were this novel curtailed by a third 1t
would be more readable. It deals with
strictly sentimental problem, trending at
times upon the psychological. and 1t is not
capable of sustaining the interest through
out Its four books" It is the story OF
life at great university. treating OF the
love affairs Of the instructors, with side
glimpSes OF the student romances which
form and reform and become as atmos-
phere Throughout the chapter q minor
chord sounds. relieved occasionally by the
cleverness OF the chat between certain
bright people. But these spaces Of gladness
are spasmOdic. 1t Is hardly to be accepted
that the law Of life'' Is written in such Sc
we're terms as the present author has en-
plOyed in her definition.
NEW MOTHER GOOSE BOOK. Edited by
oyvf0 T1luafro tod hf1oda a1nhf
National Publishing Company.
New Mother Goose" books are as newt
able as the seasons. Some Of them excel In
their pictures, some in the cleverness Of
their arrangement. All Of them, IL true to
the traditions, are welcome. This one has
feature somewhat out Of the ordinary. the
introduction Of text picture words in the
rhymes. thus giving them a suggestion of
the puzzle, which is always attractive to
are not difficult of solution. An Illustrated
alphabet and some verse talks about birds
and animals add to the value Of the book
as gift for the little folks.
RATIONAL HOME GYMNASTICS; for the well"
and the ''sick," with Health points on Walking
K Hs1s sas n e1s Of WYE a
Of exercises for women. contributed by Baroness
con & Co.
Hartvig Nissen. now director Of physical
training in the public schools Of Brooklne,
Mass, is well remembered in this city.
where some years ago he conducted one OF
the first Swedish movement cures known
in the United States. His method of exer-
cising the body Is rational and thorough,
and in this compact little book he tells
with the aid of pictures how the health can
be preserved and certain ailments cured by
means of muscular exertion His doctrine
is moderation. coupled with persistence and
care. conscientious study of the text
and pictures of this volume should put
medicines at a discount and increase the
chances of longevity.