New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-12

the taste Of girls in their later teens. 1t Is
rather weak in historical atmosphere. though
it is evident that the author has studied the
record Of the old Mississippi town. In ''Sheba"
ct Y Croweu & Coz Anna Chaplin Ray tells
g. touching story Of slum life-a story true to
child character and racial peculiarities. The
little book stirs the readers sense of humor
well as his sympathies. 1t is one of the few
tales of dying child that are not mawkish. A
fourth Brenda book ends that series with
the story OF ''Brenda's Bargain Gittle Brown
& Coz. Therein Miss Helen L. Reed spins divers
incidents out of the modern sort of phil
anthropic work domestic science school pro-
viding the setting for the most effective por-
tons of the narrative. The little slum pupils
are Of the type that think it waste of time to
wash dishes which have to be used again soon,
and silly to make beds which will be unused
up" the next night. These characters intro
duce bit of humor which the book sorely needs,
for much of it is fiat indeed. But this occa-
sional dullness will not vex the young readers
who have thus far traced the story Of Bren-
da's girlhood. and will here leave her where
she is no longer interesting-at the threshold OF
married life Another book dealing with old
friends is Anna Chaplin Rays "Ursula's Fresh
man Qittle Brown & Coz. The married Nc
Alisters appear again in these pages whose
chief figure is a poor little Western girl trans
planted into luxurious New York surroundings
This youngster, of course turns out to be a
delightful little missionary to her formida BILE
relations. and especially to the spoiled cousin
whose weakness and laziness she converts into
upright, manly endeavor. The story is a really
inspiring one, and the same may be said of
New Fortunes" "a. S. Barnes & Co.. by Mabel
Earle Molly the warm-hearted, brave young
heroine is the best sort of American girl, and
her adventures in a Western mining Camp are
described in realistic and animated fashion
Six Girls" Dana Estes & Coz is a reprint of
a pleasant and somewhat old-fashioned book b1,
Fanny r. Irving. 1t is the history of a family
lett IN adversely by the death of the breadwin-
her' ana 1t teaches many useful, womanly les
sons in spite Of its too sentimental strain
"A Gay Charner" O. B. Iipnincott C,or,r>
is l. T. Meade's latest production for the de,
lectatiOn of girls. 1t is decidedly entertaining
II rather conventional and impossible in nIot
The beautiful girl who does everything perfect-
ly and captures everybody's affection is ou,ta
too charming for belief. and the envious LITTLE
cousin VINO tries to get rid of her and thereby
falls into pit Of trouble is as little true m life
But, all the same. the book is readable IN sc
ephemeral way. Three Graces' Cd Annla+on
d Coz by Gabrielle E. Jackson. is a story of
lie IN girls school-a we'll meant story bu+
NiS unreal Inc good-hearted but vulgar
young man. who acts the guardian angel of
the book. is. to say the least an inexpedient as
wen as lncongruous figure. This book is car-
taihIy not literature. An even more foolish story,
10 MISS Frances Charess THE Awakening of
Inc Duehess" QAttle, Brown & Coz. 1t is full
OF stralning for effect, and its nlotiva shs,,rd
! As "lshy-Washy is the new "Elsie'' book ..E,ls;a
ana her Loved Ones Dodd, Mead e. Coz
! WIN all due respect to Miss Finley the au+bor
| this annual dose Of twaddle and school bis+or,,
/ mas become the quintessence of boredom. We
| pity the child who could find it interesting II
| is pleasant TO turn from this to work of an
other kind. Miss Laura E. Richards's collection
Of short stories, ''The Green Satin Gown" A
| spirit gentle. gay and kind, breathes through
| its pages.