Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21

Soidteu u arouse the JaQeQ interest OF the
novel reader. The fact that "Butternut."
as college bred cowboy is called by his
mates, is family suggestive of Owen Wis
ters Virginian does not initiate against
the quality of the story nor does it rob
the narrative of it's fascinating power.
The author. who has lived nearly all his
life within the grazing country, knows his
characters thoroughly and presents them
with an assured touch. He infuses his
romance into the tale logically and skill
fully. He dgresses now and then to tell
an anecdote without straining the texture
OF his fabric, as when he relates the rec
ord of the celebrated battle between Spar
tacus. the giant bull, and Gen. Custer. the
egotistic goat; or the adventure of But
ternut with a wild bear under the mis-
taken notion that it was his own tame pet
These touches add to the flavor of the
book, which closes all too soon
THE SCIENCE SERIES; Edited by Prof J. Nc
kean Catteii MA; Phi d and T. F; Beddard
with Special Reference to the Prevention of In
fictitious Diseases. By George NJ. Sternberg
MD, LID. Surgeon General. U s. A., retired
New York: G. p. Putnam's Sons
While it may be said that there is no
subject upon which popular knowledge is
so desirable as this one of the nature and
the means of combating infectious dis
eases, it is also true that gigantic strides
have been taken during the past few
years in the education of the public along
this line The average layman now takes
not only a keen but an intelligent interest
in such subjects. Much has been done by
the newspaper discussions of the theme by
popular articles, by lectures. But much
remains to be done. Prejudces are yet
to be removed, and facts enforced. The
true nature of the diseases which once
decimated communities without check is
being gradually ascertained by science, and
true to the spirit of the day science is
communicating freely with the people and
doing everything possible to carry them
along on the march of the truth seek
ers. DR.. Sternbergs work, both as in
vestigator and expounder of the facts of
disease, has been universally recognized as
of the greatest value. 1t is highly fortu-
nate that he has had the opportunity dur
ing recent months to prepare this volume
which is calculated to foster the education
of the people and to spread the facts which
Will diSpel superstition. ignorance and
prejudice. and permit the successful SAM
tation of cities and the SloughS from which
diseases emanate. He treats of the known
infectious diseases in a popular vein, avoid
ing technical terms wherever possible and
eliminating all ultra scientific discussion
of moot questions. He seeks to show that
all infectious diseases are preventible and
to this end he explains. far the stage
of research warrants, the precise character
and cause of each of the ailments and the
methods of prevention and cure which ex-
perience has shown are most effective.
FAMOUS ACTORS AND ACTRESSES AND
THEIR HOMES. By Gustav Kebbe, author of
Opera Singers, etc. Illustrated from photo
graphs. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
The theater-going public is always in
terested in the details of the private lives
of their footlight favorites. The players,
it is readily recognized, lead dual exist
ences, and of most of the great successes
it is true that they love to preserve their
private retirement inviolate as they
wish their stage appearances to be as pub
lie as possible. This book portrays as
much as is proper of the domestic careers
of ten of the most conspicuous members
of the theatrical profession in this coun-
try-Maude Adams, Ethel Barrymore, John
Drew, William Gillette, Richard Mansfield,
Julia Marlowe, Annie Russell, f. H. Soth-
ern, Virginia Harmed and Francis Wilson.
Photographic views of their homes and of
the personageS themselves in their mo-
ments of relaxation ada to the attractive
ness of the beautifully prepared volume,
while the text contains n number of new
and entertaining anecdotes and illustrative
stories. Chapters on The Lambs" and
The Players" conclude the work.
A FOREST HEARTH Romance of Indiana in
the Thirties By Charles Major. author Of
Illustrations by Clyde o. De Land. New York:
The Macmillan Company. Washington: Bren-
tanos.
Mr.. Majors reputation as a novelist
will not be enhanced by this production.
which, if presented the work of a less
popular author than the creator of when
Knighthood Was in Flower would receive
but scant consideration. 1t tells an ordi-
10 H.,
fippant manner, with a persistent DISPOSE
ton to nickname the characters. The
reader will be entertained by the descrip-
lions of rural life in Hoosierland three
quarters of century ago, and the rendi-
ton of such scenes as an old-fashioned
and a horse drive. But the young people
whose fortunes are chiefly followed by the
narrative are disappointing and their &C
lions are in the main inexcusable. 1t is to
be feared that success has been heretofore
so easy that the author has not been care
full in the preparation of this his first
novel of American life.
MARIE CORELII; the Writer and the Woman. By
T. f. G. Coates, author of The Life OF Lord
Rosebecy" and r. 5. Warren Bell author OF
..Racbeiorla nd" etc. Illustrated. Philadel-
phia: George W. Jacobs & Co.
This book is not accurately described. 1t
is really more about Marie Corellis books
than about her. Four-fifths of the work Is
devoted to analyses Of her novels, with
copious extracts, an excellent medium, per-
haps for those. busy people who have not
the time to wade through" Miss Corelh's
yoluminous stories, but hardly satisfactory
presentation Of the personality of the au-
thor such as the title promises. Indeed,
the sketch devoted to her in the English
who's Who'-about the longest in the
book by the way-tells more about her
than does this volume of more than $50
pages The world knows now that she WIS
adopted in infancy by the late Charles
Mackey, song writer, poet and author, but
1t does not know her true identity, nor does
it know her age. OF course. M IS Core.l.
is entitled to the privilege of refusing to
give the date of her birth. But inasmach
as this is in a way an authorized state
ment of herself and her works. the authors
having been given access to her private
papers, it is hardly ia to her renders, w-o
are unquestionably great host, to with
hold so interesting bit of knowledge. The |
photographers devote considerable space to
a denial of the charge that Miss Corelli is a
good advertiser of herself. They at
considera BILE pains to condemn the attitude |
of the English newspapers toward her and |