The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-26
BOOK NOTICES.


ton. D. Appleton & Co., New York.
limo. Cloth, $3.50. This is a story
of mystery, the interest in it increasing
steadily from the beginning to the
close of it. The factor that makes
the perpetual charm of THE Arabian
Nights" is employed by Mr. Pemberton.
The author has written a book of con-
stantly increasing interest. In the
character of Doctor Xavier, the scien-
fist all but magician is skillfully de-
picted, while the subordinate person
ages lend an added air of mystery to
a cleverly written tale. The fact that
the scenes are laid among cities of the
present day, and men and women of
outwardly conventional propriety, only
adds to the sense of magic underly-
ing the story.
"Organized Labor: It's Problems,
Purposes and Ideals and the Future
of American Wage Farmers" by John
Mitchell. Published by the American
Book and Bible House, Philadelphia.
400 pages. Price, $1.75 net. This book
shows much thought and careful con-
sideration of the problem involved in
the labor question. and is the deliberate
opinion of man who has spent his
life in leading the labor movement.
This is not the work of a theorist or
of doctrinaire. Mr.. Mitchelrs book
is extremely broad in it's scope and
deals with every phase of the labor
problem. The book contains much his
torical matter, showing how the trade
union movement developed in England
and in the United States. 1t takes up
the trade union from the point of view
Of the workman, the capitalist, and
the public, and shows how it has af
fected the rate of wages, the hours of
labor and the conditions of work. The
chapter on the non-unionist is espe-
cially interesting, and is particularly
welcome at this time when the ques-
ton of the open shop is taken up from
the point of view of the workman and
of the public generality, and the legis-
lation is suggested looking forward to-
ward the solution of this extremely
difficult problem. The chapter on
trusts is also noteworthy. Mr.. Mitch
ell traces the development of trusts in
the United States, and shows the eff
feet of these huge aggregations of
capital upon investors, consumers,
and shareholders. What particularly
impresses the reader is the broad grasp
WHICH, MI. MllCIlSll Has SIlOWLs NIL
Mitchell, although a unionist of the
unionist, and probably the greatest
leader which organized labor has had
in this country. still attempts to take
up the problem from the point of view
of the patriotic citizen. His point of
view is that of the general public. Mr..
Mitchell does not shirk the discussion
of the weak points of labor organiza-
tions, and is especially eloquent in his
denunciation of violence in strikes.
There are a number of chapters TAX
ing up the arguments against trade
unionism as we'll as proposed plans for
benefting the conditions of the work.
man. Mr.. Mitchell takes up in de-
tail the question of strikes and pro-
poses a method by which they may be
prevented, or at least minimized.
"The Trif1er." by Archibald Eyre.
The Smart Set Publishing Company,
ASP Fifth avenue, New York city.
Cloth $3.50 This is love story, with
living characters, natural scenes and
brilliant dialogue. 1t contains some
politics which is woven into the love
element with considerable dramatic
skill. The story hinges on the hero's
lauGable endeavor to regain a packet
of love-letters written by his sister
in-law before her marriage to his
older brother. The adventures which
befall him in his attempt to secure
these semi-compromising epistles from
a young fellow who proves to be
veritable scoundrel, are laughable in
the extreme. In the midst of this
trouble he is swept into wild political
campaign, and, simultaneously. into a
love affair. His desire to withdraw
from the scenes of the election as we'll
as from the neighborhood of the girl
he does not love, is set forth most
humorously.
"Mamzelle Fifine, by Eleanor Atkin-
son. D. Appleton & Company, New
York. IL mo. Cloth $3.50.
In this story of the girlhood days
of the Empress Josephine there comes
a book of very dainty charm and wealth
of coloring. Never have the tropical
richness of vegetation and the blend
ing of vivid colors that is so elemental
a part of the life of Martinique and
it's sister islands been more happily
expressed in literature.
Among the gorgeousness of coloring
the fresh purity Of Josephine's girlhood
seems especially attractive, and Mrs.
Atkinson mas known now 10 catch
much of the fascination that has al
ways belonged to this celebrated wom-
an. She invests the character with
new light not less delightful than that
of the more historical days when the
Creole girl had become empress. There
is throughout graceful French senti-
ment, while the heavier note of des-
tiny is seldom missed in the telling of
an exquisite story.
The new edition of Webster's Inter-
national Dictionary, recently issued,
brings Webster again abreast of the
growth OF the language and again con-
firms it in its position as the One Great
Standard Authority. A decade has
passed since the International was first
published and the years have been full
Of changes and growth in life and
knowledge and achievement; changes
that have been reflected in the Ian
guage and that must now be regis
tered in the dictionary. supplement-
of additional words has therefore been