davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-11-28

and they took on the fierce, relentless
manner Of all who are lighting for life.
The environment il everything. Put
Millions Eve at the pit mouth to which
so many Of her daughters have drifted.
and softness and sweet attractive grace
will no longer be her distinguishing
charm. Give the Dorothea of Ger
vantes tough hard to play for her
bread and butter, CT. a. any rate, for
her pins. and she Will have the charac-
teristics, If not exactly the manners, OF
the betting ring. They were hard and
curt in question and answer. with scant
consideration for one anothers little
weaknesses and little ways. Man, the
idealizer. might have Doen troubled had
he heard and SEEM
After this remarkable descriptive
power one notices the flashing epigram.
which seems TO cut through all pre-
tense to the skeleton Thing-a sort OF
dissecting knife is that epigram. For
instance:
IF you want sport as a fine art, you
must seek 1t in country which is too
small'and too thicI1y peoplea to let any
thing happen by accident, eves a hens
egg
'.The Salvation Army, which is the
charwoman OF the church.
This we find a little further on. And
there is the summing up Of the Liddicot
fortunes;
1T may be simple enough TO win the
luck; but to keep the luck in the family
for thousand years."
There is hardly a bit of characterize
ton which does not go below the surface
and get at the root OF things, and yet
Mr.. Whiteing is never obtrusive about It.
All his profundity is made pleasant by
humor. and all his humor has a tang
of significance He describes Arthur
Goodsags automobile tour through Eng
land so that ones breath is lost with the
swfftness of the fight. and also in some
subtle. indehnable way we are made to
understand that the arrowy course OF
the machine Is but type of the Arneri-
can invasion which Gooding would bring
about Job Curt, drinking at the Duke
and the Ditcher, becomes the present
representative Of a long line Of rustic
drunkards Raif. the ascetic Clergyman:
Iiddicot the easy-gOing country noble
man. George and Rose Herion, the hope
less Radicals-even the Duke, helpless
hgurehead. and the Duchess. a gracious
lady yearning to bring right out Of
wrong-an these have been figures in
English history through centuries. Some
how or other the web or this cunning
authors fancy has got them all in its
mesh 1t is a wonderful picture az Eng
gIish life as the spectator sees IL.
This is the way in which England i'm
presses the duchess,
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
THE DECEMF Err MUNSEY.

The Munsey' for December begins
with an Illustrated article on The China
of the Presidents" by A. G. Baker IN
which are various queer and Interesting
facts. Some OF the anecdotes VIII sur
prise most readers with the information
that until recent years pieces OF White
House china were but little valued. and
were sometimes found in odd lots OF
crockery in auction rooms and such
places. 4 new serial story by Anthony
Hone. entitled Double Harness begins
in this number. and promises TO be in
teresting. Another article. of conse-
ouence is The English Pope" by Du-
lany Hunter '"The Home Coming Of
Byrd Forebush" is a story Of the South
ern mountaineer by Alice MACEDONIAN.
The Father Of Fullback." by Miriam
Michelson, is a capital football story,
and ''Cienevteve's Chaperon" IS a bright
bit OF comedy by Harriet Whitney.
Other short stories are The Head Of
the Firm by Julia Truitt Bishop; A
Christmas Incident at Santo Domingo. -
by Anne O'Hagan: THE Hold-up on
Split Mountain" by Francis Lynde. and
Tommy Mullins Folks by Katherine
Hoffman.
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
BOHEMIAE LIFE

THE Masterfolk" by Haldam Mac
Fail, is one Of those queer, tangled.
messy books IN which no hing Is ever
apparently done with a reason. X is
said 10 be a story Of London and Paris
and 10 deal with the life OF Bohemia
in both, but If e does. Bohemia IS an
exceedingly unpleasant place 10 live 90.
Mr. MacFaH has rather a genius for de,
plotting unpIeasantness, 10 be sure.
His House OF the S0rcerer' was as an
necessarily horrid a book as ever broke
into literature
However. The Masterfolk'' is not 20
much disagroeable as dun and scrappy.
The title means that the principal char
actcrs belong 70 the worlds masUerfolk
Of the intellect Betty Modeyne is
really admirable as a heroine. But how
can one read pages OF this sort?
yes, by the three scarlet tortolses.
their women are wonderful orand-neW
popinjays on brand-new stick
Life is too short for Meredith and
cayenne pepper at this rate. At the END
OF the book one has d confused con-
sclousness Of having been hustled
against some very improper people
without Knowing why. tNew York.
Harper e BroeJ
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
SOME NEW HUNTING STORIES.

'Crowninshield's Brush" deals with
the hunting neighborhood grown famil-
lar TO readers Of these stories. and with
the unexpected and curious capture Of
the brush by a golfer with no reputa-
tion as a huntsman. The little glimpse
OF conjugal perpleuties at the end re-
lieves the numor deliciousIy.
Cleverly Suggested.
The Echo Hunt" is one Of those short
stories into which a whole novel is COM
pressed. It is a story Of cross-purpOses
and misunderstanding and half-revela-
ticns. in which the heroine is fascinating
in spite of the fact that she says but
little and is described in the vaguest
way. and the hero is wen known TO us,
although his name remains untold.
Moreover. the hero ana heroine do not
meet throughout the course Of the
story; yet it is dramatic. This is in
some ways the best bit Of work which
Mr. Gray has yet done. II IS amazingly
ingenious. and yet simple.
There is but one illustration, which is
quite worthy of the text. The cover de-
sign deserves word Of commendation
for its artistic simplicity red ground
with a small. spirited picture of two
thoroughbreds. a girl and a horse, that
is all. In short, the book is perfect OF
its kind. (New York: TIE Century
Company
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
A NEW BOOK FOR BOYS.

tanner. and he was one of the best. III
never forget what he told me once when
he was breaking in a den OF lions and
tigers-there were three lions and two
tigers, all fun grown and fresh from
the jungle.
Bin, said he. I'm an old man, and
this here is my last den 1 won't break
In no more big cats. but I'll break this
den In so they'll never work FOR another
man after J. IN gone. I'm look easy what
do and folks u want YOU TO tackle EN-.
Bill, but don't you never do fl. for If
You do these cats u chew you up. sure
wen. he worked that den in great
shape for a year or so. aad then he
died, and minded Il S words. j let those
lions and tigers acme. They hired a
lion tanner named Davis TO work EN-,
and sure enough he got chewed UP bad.
just as the old mon said he would, and
the end Of il was that nobody ever
did work that den again; it couldn't be
done. although they'd been like kittens
With Langw9y- What he did 10 'em has
always been my1tery
There arc Some stories OF wild beast
training Which as the author well says
Victor Hugo E9tBht weld into death
less ncton; one h.l particular is the
story Of q nsAt between -Arstingail a
trainer, and - Young, UNFRAMED African
elephant in a car on the way to "a
Wisconsin town. The elephant got
loose. and for an hour and half it was
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
Ernest Thompson's Seton's New Book.

tains q good deal OF information which
viii interest = boy. il. in no sense lit
erature. II is a rambling, dinuse, un-
realistic and not very original narrative
OF the adventures Of a certain boy
named Yam. who went camping in the
woods and studied woodcraft- A good
deal Of extraneous matter is logged ia
by the ears. For Instance, there is a
wholly gratuitous fling in an early chap
ter at a certain brother of Yam by the
name Of Rad, who is thus described:
He was inclined TO be religious. and
was strictly proper in his life and
speech. He never was known 10 smoke
a cigarette. tell lie, or say gosh or
darn.
Are we 10 infer that ar Seton thinks
that no normal boy can be religious. and
that a boy must either be a sneak lika
Rad. or be improper. tell Hes. smok.
cigarettes and go about saying gosh -
That seems 70 be, the logical concIu-
sion And what viii the fathers and
mothers OF the boys who read his book
think Of this perfectly gratuitous sheer?
OF truth. 1t is ia exceedingly bad
taste. IL is not irreHgious because there
is not brains enough in 1t for that. il is
simply imbecile. (New York. Double
Gay Page & COD
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
The Literary Guillotine.

c(-%HE LITERARY GUILLo-
TINE" whose author name
has not yet been disclosed. is
a Iaughable piece of fooling,
sharing nobody because OF high position.
II nurDorts to be the records Of a Liter
arv Emergency Court. held for the trial
of offenders against the majesty Of let
ters. The first author accused of this
form of lese majesty is Richard Hard
ing Davis. and when it is understood
that Mark Twain. oliver Herford. and
the unknown author constitute the tri-
bunal. and that Charles Battell LOOMS
acts as prosecuting attorney. IT will be
seen that Mr.. Davis is bound TO get
seine pretty severe raps.
Another case tried before the unique
court was that Of Henry James against
Mary Baker Eddy. for infringement OF
his patent obscure sentence. The
MuuantS and the Humming Bird, IS e1-
planned as being the case of the people
against John Kendrtck Bangs and James
Rrander Matthews. Arother case had
70 do with q commission de iunatico in
ouirendo for the purpose OF inquirtng
into the mental condition Of Tom Van
reveI and other heroes of fiction. Ii re-
ported that the atmosphere of insan-
ity pervading historic fiction is not due
10 the characters per Sc.
Before the James and Eddy case came
on. the following dialogue TOOK pace
The Washington times., 1903-11-28

I'll ask you riddle said Herford-
What is the difference between Mother
Eddy and a patent chewing-gun slot
machine2
see considerable resemblance. said
the presiding judge, but no difference
worth speaking Of However. what is
TIE difference
In the case Of the slot machine.
said Herford, YOU put in your penny
and you get your science and dyspepsia :.
while in the other case You put in your
eagle" and set your Science and
Health.
In the course OF the trial Mark Twain
asked Mrs. Eddy If she was invited
among the captains Of industry who met
Prince Henry. She said:
Your honor, compared 20 me, the
men invited TO that dinner were mere
amateurs in the science OF mOney-yet-
ting Mr. Rockefeller and AR Carnegie
have been known TO contribute TO char
ity. 1 have done away with such waste
pipes 10 wealth There is no charity in
Christian Science
why said Herford, do you write
your religion c, s. instead of 5. C
Strictly -Cash2"
And she replied sententiously. Your
honor. il is not true that a bait by any
other name would catch the fish, CNew
York: John Lane. The Bodley Head.l
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
HOOKS RECEIVED.

GEORGE WASHINGTON JONES: A CHRIST
MAS GIFT THAT WENT BEGGING Ruth
MeEnery stuart illustrated. Philadelphia:
Henry Aitemus Company.
THE LITTLE COLONEL At BOARDING
SCHOOL Annie Fellows Johnston. Illus
trated- Boston; Z. c. Page & Co.
THE INTERFERENCE or PATRICIA Lillian
Bell Bcs-ou; L. C. Page & Co.
THE JUMPING FROG. Mark Twain. New edi-
ton. Illustrated by r. Strothnau. New
AcrS: Harper & Bros.
MoNoLoGUES May Isabel Fisk. New York:
Harper & Bros.
THE LEOPARD'S SPOTS. Thomas Dixon, IT.
Edition De Luxe. illustrated by c. OWL
Hams New York. Doubleday, Page & Co.
FLIP'S ISLANDS OF PROVIDENCE. Annie
Fellows Johnston Illustrated Boston: l.
c. Page s Co.
AMONG THE MEN HHO HAVE WRITTEN
FAMOUS BOOKS. Edward T. Harkins II
lnstfated. Boston; L. c. Fage CO.
HENRY WARD BEECHER. Lyman Abbott. II
lustrated. BOSTON: HougAton, Anslin & c.
THE BONDAGE OF BALIINGER. Roswell
Field. Chicago; Fleming h. Reyell Com
pany.
ELEANOR LIZ Margaret =. kingston. Chr
cage; Fleming II. Reyen Uompany
TIE COUNTRY BOY Forrest c-sssey. Hfus
trated Chicago: Fleming IT, Reycll Com
pan1-
The Washington times., 1903-11-28

LE0 ALLoPs ?" by David Gray,
is a second collection of
most anl.sing horse stories
by one of the cleverest OF
short story writer's. Mr.. Gray's sketchy
bits OF fiction are to heavier books what
olives are TO a dinner: they may not
be very bis. but they lend an uncom-
mon relish 30 living. He is never wear
isome, neve, analytical, but always more
or less suggestive One or two Of the
stories in this collection are trlfie more
serious in tone than anything in his
first book, for example, -Ting-a-Lins
and The Echo Hunt but The Bray
brook Baby's GOdmother'' is frankly
funny. and so is Isabella The others
contain a very pr stty ningling OF horse.
sentiment. and light comedy.
A Sweet Souti.ern Girl
Perhaps "Her First Horse Show
might be considered the best Of the sew
en-. were it not for 'Crowninshield' 5
Brush" which is also very good. The
first mentioned tale develops around a
sixteen-y 9ar-oid Virginia girls first Wis
II 10 New York. and her recapture Of a
favorite saddle horse. The character OF
the girl is so naive. so dainty and so
winsome. that one wishes TO hear morh
of her: but there is yet time. she is
only sixteen.
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
CLEVER PROVERBS.

GCD Fps AND RAPs" is a new
hook Of proverbs by l. de
v MattheWmau. who bids
fai- 10 become as well known
IN this field as George AIDE is in THAT OF
Aesop. There are but few writer's who
can reel on proverbs indefinitely without
repeating themselves. solomon could
so could BENJAMIN Franklin. and the
author Of "Crani1isms" seems 10 have
been egital 10 the task.
The proverbs. which are illustrated by
T. Fleming. ere whimsical. grave. gay.
original, bur not stupid. The best proof
OF this pudding is in the eating: in other
words, the best praise Of the book lies
in quotation.
How few OF those who can tell how
to 90 everything have ever done any
thingg
1T is most Irritating to hear, Il told
you sOH when we know IL ourselves
withoua beng told"
When man finds il necessary 10 try
10 walk a crack. he thereby acknowl-
edges that he is ia doubt as TO his con-
dition."
When the morallst sets limit ard
says, Thus far shalt thou 60. ana no
farther. he is carotid % draw the line
IN front OF his own toes"
We don't get what We deserve. but
others do deserve what they get
New ok. Frederick A. Stokes COM
pany.)
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
HONE SKETCHES.

CsTH HE SKETCHES OF HOME
LIFE" by Roy Rolfe ellison.
which have attracted much at
teutton IN magazines. have been
published for the holidays in a beauti-
ful volume called Mother and Father. -
and illustrated by Alice Barber gteph-
ems The marginal drawings are in male
green floral designs. and the pictures. are
reproduced IN soft. dusxy half-tfn+
with charming effect
For the benefit Of those who bavs
Dot read these stories IL may be stated
that they are the simplest and most
uhpretendins Of sketches dealing win,
the nome life Of an ordinary American
boy an his little sister. .'Idzabeth -
Ihey are, II anything rather bette
than Is the Morning Glow" the pre-
eeding volume. Perhaps as good bit
OF description as any Is this scene in
the garden:
The bees and the wind were in the
apple trees. for it was May You were
all alone, you and mother. in the gar
den, where the white petals we're fall
ing. ike snowfiakes. silently. In the
swing grandfather built for you. YOU
sat swaying, TO and fro. in the shadows
and the shadows swayed. to and fro. IN
the gaze ana 10 and fro your thoughts
swayed in your dreaming
The wind sang in the apple bouehs
the Towering branches dIled and bent
and all about you were the tossing
shimmering grasses. and all ABOVE Won
birds singing and fitting In the skv
And 50 you swayed, TO and fro tin
you were sailor in a blue suit. sail
ing the blue sea.
The Ind sang IL the rigging. The
white sans filed and bent Your ship
scud6cd through the tossing. simmer
ing foam- Gulls screamed and circled
In the sky and so you sailed
and sailed, with the sea breeze in your
curls The ship anchored.
You wtre only a little boy.
Mother. you said softly. for your
vote was drowsy with your dream
''Sne die not hear YOU. She sat there
n the afbor seat. smiling at you. her
hands iole, her sewing slipping from her
knees. You did not know il then. bur
you DO now-that 10 see the most beau
tiful woman in the whole world YOU
must - her little boy
II IS book FUN of garden fra era nee
and Of freight. Of childreu-s laughter
ana tender words. II IS a book for
the hore7 (New York: Harper &
Bros.)
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
MEDIEVAL WOMEN.
lfT HE CASTLE OF TWILIGHT. -
BY Margaret Horton Potter,
seems at first remarkable

RI" HE CASTLE OF TWILIGHT,
By Margaret Horton Potter
seems AT first remarkable
chiefly Tor its eTeetics cover
design. The massive silhouette of = cas-
tie on a crag against twilight sky may
Justly be considered one Of the most ar
tistic book covers OF the year. beautiful
in itself and perfectly suited TO the sub
jet
The book itself may be called . study
Of medieval women. With ali the ro-
mances which have been woven about
the love affairs Of the women of the
Middle Ages. strangely little has been
said of the faithful wives arS mothers
left IN cloister-like seclusion While their
lords were off on crusades or attending
to small wars with neighboring barons.
This life the author Of the present book
evidently regards as maddeningly mo-
notonous- AT any rate she so pictures
it in The Castle OF Twilight"
-Four women appear In the narrative:
Eleanor. the dowager; ,Lenore. her
daughter: Laurie, her passionate. willcul
daughter, and Alice, the peasant born
foster-sister Of Laure. Those who know
the former work OF Miss Potter CnOW
Mrs Black can easily see that she
brings to her task sympathetic insight,
thorough knowledge and vivid magma
ton. and that in all historical details
the book is true to life. II is a melan-
choly book; it has scarcely a plot; but
1t is not a book 10 be forgotten.
one may doubt. to be sure. whether
the life OF the medieval woman was
quite so gray and dreary as il appears
in these pages. Doubtless it would seem
so 70 the modern American, but the
women who led this life were not
modern. Many Of them doubtless found
all the occupation they desired in man
aging the mulufarious affairs OF the
household. in governing their great reti-
nues of servants IN cating the
maidens and youths sent 70 them for
training by their neighbOrs. and in many
curious embrOideries. The farmers
wives, and even the country gentlewo-
men. OF fifty years ago often led lives
as Isolated and monotonous as those
described in this novel yet many OF
them could justly be called happy wo-
men.
However, there is no lack OF pathos
in the lives Of women in any age, and
the highstTuug, refined. yet vigorous
woman condemned 90 a routine OF unin-
tereSting labor without love has. per-
haps, as much 10 bear as anyone. OF
this type are the women selected for
the people Of THE Castle Of Twilight.
Chicago: 4. c. AcCtdrg & Company
The Washington times., 1903-11-28

A CELTIC FAIRY PLAY.

such extraordinary piece OF work has
appeared in English literature in a long
time
Som of the most beautiful lines Mr.
Yeats has written arc TO be found in
this drama. Here are three lines from
a speech of the cid priest:
For life moves out Of a red fare Of dreams
Into a common light Of common hours
Until old age bring the red fare again
And another Of the priests saymgo
runs thus:
In contradistinetion to this we have
Mares description of the enchanted
land:
By love alone
Cod binds ns 20 Himself and TO the hearth,
And shuts us from the waste beyond His peace
From maddening freedom and bewlldering light
And another OF the priests sayings
runs thus:
4 Princes Adene.
4 daughter Of a King of Ireland, heard
4 voice singing on a May eve like this,
And followed, half awake and half asleep,
Until she came into the land Of fairy,
Where nobody gets old and cody ard grave,
Where nobody gets old and crafty and wise,
Where nobody gets old and bitter Of tongue;
And she is still there. busted with dance,
Deep in the dewy shadow Of a wood.
Or where stars walk upon mountain top
And here is the elf-chnd's warning:
Bat oiinging mortal hope must fall frgal you,
For we who ride tte winds, run on the waves.
And dance upon the mountains. are more light
Than DEVELOPS on Che banners Of the dawn.
If the wistful. wild music of such
lines does not wake in the reader a
consuming desire TO read more of the
poets work It VIII be because he is
not OF those called. There are some
people who see no fascination in seek
ing the rainbow's end, or wandering in
the fo4rth dimension. To these people
Yeats work may be meaningless, while
to others It Will seem 20 be among the
rare and perfect poetry which is written
for all time. Portland, Ne: Thomas
=. Mosher)
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
FANTASTIC BIRDFABLES

that OF course. of coursei Tel us
something new
Now. Mother Maggie was very angry,
but she kept on with her lessons in
spite Of these rude and silly Interrupt
lions She turned toward the Wood
Pigeon. who was anticipated young
thing. and who was not having any
success with the sticks which she was
trying 70 place.
Here. Wood Pigeon said Mother
Maggie. you must place those sticks
through and across, criss-cross and
criss-cross. so.
:. .Criss-cross. criss-cross. So inter-
rupted the Wood Pigeon. 4 know
That viii doc. that viii do-o,
Mother Maybe hoped up and down
upon one leg, so angry she could hardly
croak.
You silly Pigeon she sputtered. not
50. You are spelling your nest Place
the sticks sOi
&c I know. / know. That win do-o-o.
that win do-o-o,' cooed the Wood Pig
con. obstinateiy. in her soft. foolish lit
tie voice. without paying the least at
tention to Mother Magpir's directions
We an know that-4nything tnore7
chirped the chorus Of birds. trying 10
conceal how anxious they were 20 know
what came next, for the nests were only
half finished
But Mother Msgpie was thoroughly
Disguised, and refused TO go on with the
lesson which had been so rudely inter
rupted by her pupils
You are all 50 wise. friends. she
said. that surely you do not need any
help from me You say you know al
about it-then go on and finish your
nests by yourselves Much luck may you
haver And away she few 10 her own
coy nest tin the elm tree. Whcre she
was soon fast asleep forgetting all
about the matter
And that is why many birds. including
the wood pigeon and the crow, have
sfever learned 10 build a proper nest 60
this day. Boston: Houghton, Miffiin
The Washington times., 1903-11-28
A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC.

short one. The characters are painted
with a little more reserve OF touch, a
little more mellowness OF tone. per-
haps but they are the same in every
trait and whimsicality II may be this
introduction Of the two child characters
which adds 70 the story = certain in
definable charm. Colonel Carriers ways
with children-do we not all know what
that must be2 Colonel Carter as host
at a Christmas dinner Miss Nancy as
the guest OF honor. Chad presiding over
the kitehen-is not the very thought one
T. allure Imagination
Certain as was the hold which Colonel
Carriers picturesque figure took upon
the fancy. Irresistible as were his liu-
nor. his irresponsibility. MS baoyaAt op-
tinism, there was still scarcely more
shan a hint of those deeper emotions
without which no permanent figure ia
the enchanted Iand/of fiction can come
into being. The hrtle sciloquy about the
fire, beginning
An. major. when you are growing OLD
and have no VIE to love you and no
children 20 make 20 heart glad -
That solil0o1y had in it a touch Of
Tenderness, OF melancholy. which made
Colonel Carter something more th-n .
whimsicaiiy charming Southern gentle
man Of the old school; IL struck the
deeper note to which all human hearts
vibrate. This later story is like that
little speech in fuller flower Of thought
and action; il carries out the train OF
thought which that passage suggested,
il is exquisite. idyllic simple, but with
hundred significant touches limiting at
deeper meanings. it is. in short. thal
rare product of the finest art, a perfect
short story, and. rarer than this, a per-
feet Christmas story. It should be read
by every Christmas Preside in America,
for It is an American classic. (New
York. Charles Scribner's SonsD