Evening star., 1903-12-05

promptly upon crossing the border, does
everything possible to facilitate his errand
to certain point. BY a strange chance
young woman whose earlier history forms
the prelude to the romance In chief accom-
panies the messenger on his way to and
from Oxford. The outcome is easily to ba
imagined. But Mr.. Barr Is to be thanked
for not empl. ying the threadbare device OF
clothing this venturesome girl in male at
tire. She and her companion are curiously
at cross purposes and the story becomes
exceedingly complex before Its dramatic cll-
max, which leaves everybody happy. over
the Border Is one of the brightest ana
most satisfactory novels of the autumn
THE BOOK OF THE SHORT STORY. Edited by
Alexander Jessup, editor OF Little Erench
Masterpieces" &c. and Henry seiael SanesS;
ton & Co.
II Is probably impossible to trace the
short story exactly to Its sources, for the
reason that In one form or another 1t has
probably existed from the time of the first
verbal recitals Of human experiences. Mod
ern producers do not perhaps recognise In
the ancient literature true types Of the sim-
pie tale which Is now generically known
as the short story. but none the less
the finest examples can be found In the
papyri Of as long ago as the twenty-hfth
century before Christ. In this book the edl-
tors have undertaken to present a chrono-
which may be considered as the best OF
their kind and period. Eighteen are pre-
sented. beginning with 1.-The shipwrecked
Sailor" of 25Oo B. c., and ending with Rud-
yard Kipling's without Benefit Of Clergy"
of 1890 Between these extremes come ''The
Book of Ruth" about 45O B. c.; the STORY
of Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius, second
century, A. D.; Boccaccio's Frederick OF
the Alberighi and His Falcon, 1853; THE
T0rfNr n
Destroyed by a Slave" 1b4s; Cervantes'
'The Liberal Lover" 1913; Defoe's 'The
Apparition of Mrs Veal" 1706; Voltaires
"Jeannot and Colin" 17e4 (?l; Irving's RIP
willie's Tale 1924; Merimees ''The TAX
Ing of the Redoubt." 1929; Balzac's La
Grande Breteche," 1882; Hawthorne's "Ths
Bth%ar 1s ,sss P0ss The Case ssr of
the Steppes," 1870; Stevenson's Mark
heim" 1884. and De Maupassant's "a Cow.
ard" 1885. In addition are given lists OF
representative short stories of the periods
generally covered by these individual Sc
lections, arranged by centuries in the earlier
portion and by decades after the beginning
of the nineteenth century. After 1880 tho
representative list covers first from 1890 to
1ss5. and then from 1895 to 1908. The vol
ume Is an excellent compendium Of styles
and valuable guide to the student Of this
form of literature.
THE HARvESTERS. By Aubrey Lanston. New
York: r. H Russell. Washington: Brentano's.
It is the early part, the very beginning,
OF the past century. and George Frederick
Is Prince of Wales. Beau Brummel reigns
in the world of fashion. London Is in
sad state of Generalization The coffee
houses are at their pinnacle of repute as
gathering places OF the wits and elegants Of
the capital. Into this state Of society young
Donald Baxcombe, younger son of an earl.
to y1yv~ IT,, I,oct ta
under quixotic impulse to save her from
the real danger of travelling to London un-
der the ohaperonage of a woman of ques-
uonable tendencies and associations. She
attracts the notice of the prince and scan
dal Is Immediately rife. Her innocence does
not prevent the gossip from harming her
reputation and her fmpulsive young hus-
band attacks the prince. He fees for his
life and lives in Paris as an art student Up
to that time the story Is briskly and inter-
estingly told 1t carries the reader along
with 1t. But from the moment Of young
Raxcombe's betrayal and return to London
the novel falters and then hastens to con-
cluson as though the author feared to trust
his staying power. 1t affords an excellent
view of London life hundred years ago
and an attractive glimpse of Paris during
the first empire. 1t treats with admirable
delicacy of disagreeable theme and gives
promise Of better work to come from the
same pen-
REBECCA OF sUNNYBROOK FARM. By Kate
Douglas Wiggin. Boston: Houghton. Mifiin
Co. Washington: William Ballantyne Sons
Rebecca has already become. since her
presentation, a favorite Of readers Of all
ages. She is real girl, lovable, quaint, i'm
pulsive, wise and unexpected child to
admire and to cherish as a companion even
though socially she stands apart. Children
will like her because she is true to life.
Adults will be fond of her because she re-
fleets a depth of human emotion encom-
passed within small proportions. Mrs. Wig
gin has heretofore proved her mastery of the
child character in the Ruggleses Patsy,
Polly and Timothy. Her latest creation is
their equal for tender attractivenesS and
In some respects their superior in real hu-
NOR. Rebecca will live long in the Htera-
ture of childhood.
to Your Day-Dreams. Dear Miladi and Your
Realza tons, Harking Back to Your Educa ton.
Your Decision in Favor of the Claims Of Home,
and Coming Down to the Development OF Your
and Your Motherhood. By CLARA p, Lapghlin;;
author OF ''The Evolution of Girls Ideal"
New York: Fleming II. Reyen Company.
The subtitle of this book leaves but little
to tell concerning it. save that it is a series
Of admonitions to a developing woman as to
her relationship with the rest of the world.
The author gives excellent advice, treating
her hearer as a rational being. capable Of
dIscernment and discrimination. She does
not preach eomplainingly, but rather UNDER
takes to set forth frankly the prevalent
frame of the feminine mind and its conse-
quences. Her philosophy is that a woman's
first duty is toward others. This does not
mean utter self-effacement. nor does 1t sig
Nifty that mans duty Is different But
selishness, she urges, Is the cause Of most
OF the unhappiness Of life. and through un-
eelfishness will come that calm Of soul and
that breadth of view which permit the CON-
siderate woman to attain the pinnacle Of
her aspirations. Miss Laughlin's method Of
address Is gentle and humorous Her sug-
gestions are convincingly subtle at times
and frank to the point Of painful plainness
at others. The book Is an interesting reve-
lation Of the complexity to which the prob
lem Of feminine development may attain
when viewed sympathetically through the
eyes Of a woman who has evidently fought
the battle Of selfshness and has measurea-
bly, won a victory.
SPENCER KELLOGG BROWN; His Life In Kan
ses and His Death as a Spy. 1s42-1Ses; az Dis
cioeed In his Diary. Edited by George Gardner