Evening star., 1903-09-12

Will charm the elders while they are read
10 ths
tions In color are especially attractive.
author of 'The Belea guered Forest" etc. New
York; Fleming H. Revell Company.
This author scored distinct artistic sue
cess with her story of the great pine for
ests. She preserved the atmosphere Of the
trees perfectly and invested her novel with
al unmistakable charm. The same power
Of localization is evident In these short
stories, more or less connected, which arc
appropriately gathered under the title OF
''The Edge of Things" The scene lies in
the far western sheep-grazing districts,
where dust and heat and distance envelop
the resident and put him dangerously close
to the edge Of his own self-control. The
opening tale refers in passing to q previ
ously published sketch of this region in
which Louis Papin. who figures here con-
spicuously. was an admirable participant.
1t is possible to read these stories as
whole and to consider them in the light Of
novel for there Is sentimental beginning
and ending, and that ending Is actory
to the sympathetic reader.
THE vAaABoND: By Frederick Palmer. Illus
Scrtbner's Sons. Washington: VIM. Ballantyne
Mr.. Palmer has chosen for his first novel
after having written q number Of short
stories and secured distinction as war
correspondents somewhat familiar type.
The love which develops despite the stress
of sectional prejudice between Union of1-
Ger and a southern girl during the fighting
days of the sixties has made many another
book interesting or Gull. according as it is
well developed. It is the more to the pres
ent authors credit that with this theme
in hand he has produced a story which
commands the interest to the last page.
1t has the human quality. which Is better
than plot or setting, and furthermore, the
particular sort of human quality with which
he endows the ''vagabond" as William
Williams Is styled throughout the book
is most engaging. 1t is interesting to note
an Of course wholly accidental similarity
between this novel and that Of Mr.. Fox,
also just published, '"The Little Shepherd
of Kingdom Come" Each book Is built
around the fortunes of waif who Is adopt
ed in boyhood by a kindly man. Each hero
falls in love with a girl who sympathizes
with the south while he becomes an off,
a sneaking overseer, who makes trouble
for hero and heroine. But "The Vagabond''
has no dog in 1t. The scene is laid in Vir-
g1nia and Washington. and many Of the
landscapes are familiar to residents of this
city. The book Is encouraging assur- :
ance of more long stories from the same
source.
THE sHERRoDs. By George Barr McCutcheon,
author Of ''Graustark. etc. Illustrated by C.
p; Williams. New York: Dodd. Mead & Co.
Washington: Brpntano's
It is rather a pity Mr.. McCutcheon did
not stick to his first line of semi-fantastic
romancing, In the course of which he pro-
duced "Graustark" and Castle Craney-
crow" Both of those stories had the flavor
of the half possible adventures of the
captivating American in the midst of mod
ern royalties. This one is a tale of rural
and city life in the United States, and,
save for the unpleasantness of it's theme,
there Is little to distinguish 1t from the
great mass of such productions. 1t is the
story Of a young man who, after marrying
country girl Of refinement discovers that
he possesses artistic ability. He goes to
the city and succeeds as a newspaper art
ist He first forgets and then fails to tell
OF his marriage. and drifts into double
life, which ends with his suicide, leaving
two widows. 1t is not easily conceivable
that a man, after having passed two years
in great city university, where he became
member Of the foot ball team. should a
few years later, after returning to the
country and living farmer, display
such helplessness on going again to town
as did Jud SherrOd It would seem that
such an experience would have sufficiently
embarrassment, If not his difficulties
THE CAREER TRIUMPHANT. By Henry Burn
ham Boone, author Of "Eastover Court House"
etc. New York: D. Appleton & Co.
This Is a brightly told story of life in
Virginia since the war. showing the con-
trast between those whom the strife left
poor and who remained poor and those
who emerged from the struggle with energy
and the elements of success unquenched.
Particularly 1t is the story of the conflict
between the artistic temperament and the
love Of home. A fantastic marriage be-
tween young man with excellent prospects
and his uncle's Informally adopted ward is
the foundation for the romance. The girl
has ability as an actress and she makes a
success on the stage. Later she finds her
heart and Is content with domestic happi-
ness. Then at the close she reveals her
hungering for her old success and resumes
her stage career triumphantly, wherefore
the title. There are some bright passages
and several highly entertaining characters
At times, however. the talk Is difficult to
follow. so sketchy does it become.
THE FORTUNES OF FIFI. By Mollie Elliot Sea-
well, author OF "Francezka," etc. Illustrated
by T, De Thulstrup. Indianapolis, The Bobbs-
Miss seawell has chosen for her present
story the time Of the Emperor Napoleon