davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
a Wee MacGreegor.
BY J. J. BELL.

Occasionally there falls to the lot of some heavenly favored author the task of producing a literary production unique in the world of letters. When such a pro duction does come from the pen of the favored writer it immediately gets the praise and the patronage of thankful public Of late years the most notable example of this is probably to be found in the work known as Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.
 But MT J. J. Bell In his Wee Mac gregor' gives us the humorous and real istic story of little Scottish boy. of his father who slyly pets and spells him and of his mother who adores and disciplines him These three characters are the most unique in latter day fiction. and when once their acquaitance is made it Is new CT forgotten. The effort of MT. Bell is the most appreciative one as regards charac- ter and literary style that has appeared in many years
 In this story of little Macgregor. and his relations to his humble but lovable family and friends. there is a suggestion of "A Window in Thrums, which made J. NJ. Barrie's Tepata ion; and, on the other hand It's humor and are as enter taining as "Helen's Babies"
 In the New England States the work is sweeping everything before 1t. and justly so for its 9erusal makes one feel that indeed and in truth "alIs well with the world" Harper and Bro, H.)
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
A BOOK WITH A FUTURE.

After a period of rest, the author of Eben Holden gives the world new book The work is just out and is called "Dar- rel-of the Blessed Isles." We are amazed at the latent power which Irving Bachelor displays. He shows that he is q coming genius as well as one of the past There is no shadow of doubt that his production, Eben Holden. was posA- bly with one exception, the greatest American production for a decade. But in this late work he even excels his form CT effort For character, delineation. for beauty of rough homely philosophy and for thesdepiction of the heart throbs or the persons he attempts to display show ing their real self''--it Is a marvel i'm deed. We are inclined to believe that too high praise cannot be sounded at the ad- vent of this work. In Darrel. the clock tinker the reader will find an entirely new creation Nothing like it has ever before appeared in fiction. Wit, philoso- pher. and man of mystery. Learned. strong. kindly. dignified, he towers like giant above the people among whom he lives. Tn him MT. Bacheller has given us q character as new and lovable as Eben Holden but more fascinating. Darrels
 shop is an odd nook where the reader will enjoy good companionship and he much al home. It is another tale of the North Country, full of the odor of wood and field. It's people are wholesome: 1t Is good to know them. Once in it's mystery. the reader will go to the last word with 1ncrea sing interest
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10

view of moral character: and must d6pic& vice in it's enormity, so that the ferruf of it's rule shall ever be . menace to t1n tempted.
 But can character be overdrawn1 IT the combination of many vices and vfr~ tues in tho makeup of hero or herOine. we may be given an impression Of url- naturalness; but we doubt if such an i'm pression is just. Could we penetrate fho court of mail which hides from yfew th1 inner chambers of the human indemnftv. we should recognize sUriah Heeps as MI as "Elsie Yenner." We have in dur mfnn type of woman whose daily path rnn crossed our own-unfailing in patiencs wise in forbearance, just in 1udxmeai< heroic in suffering. angelic in sweofuo --so illustrating many virtues that no uic@ ture of her life could be overdr&wn. m true aim of an artist is to represent tho| highest ideal of his work. '.Mrs. W9rra of the Cabbage Patch'' illustrates M ideal. as truly as Little Dorritt," or. rising fin the grade. as to the heroes ar,6 heroines of George Eliot. That fiction is the most instructive which taxes our best efforts to reach It's climax Of fn< tellectual or moral excellence: or that5 causes us to recoil from ignorance ar0 evil with an ever-increasine deteasakfon It Is pity. however, that such an axsne should be used for tho arousing Of un- holy and destructive passions, as ii, the case of Uncle Toms Cabin," which. hy the exaggerated recital of incidents ana circumstances. and by grave distortion of truth aided in unchaining the horrib}s monster of fratricidal war. It was an m peal to the credulous multitude; r7nf through their loftier emotions. bxsx through their prejudices and passions. This book was. therefore. not educational either in its character or purpose. Nor do we believe that ''The Leopard's spcte's will become a classic. It is not that yfr< tuous relation of error which will hexef an everlasting human sympathy, nor Is it that fine fibre that shall become incpr- porated into the intellectual wealth of ths world. Aron Nosirrnh.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
BY cHAs. BURR TODD.

length and no doubt with much truth that Arnolds treason was due wholly to the influence of his wife. His wife had trea- sonable correspondence with British gem erals, and the fear of losing her through the discovery of this fact induced Arnold to betray his country and not the gross injustice of Congress. The book Is unique contribution to revolutionary hts- tory. It contains description of the sec ond battle of Saratoga. which Is thrilling in it's intensity. Of Arnolds trial before the Supreme Council, the author writes:
 Arnold had expected an acquittal rom the court-martial. and the verdict simply astounded him. It was the last straw. henceforth his progress towards the pit of infamy which had long been prepared for him was rapid.
 Washington never probably had a more distasteful duty to perform than in reprimanding his favorite and most gal lant officer, many of whose troubles were
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
& as Horses None. A v

tifuI Arabian steed." But Calico was no snob in spite of his silver bit and other finery. The first time he appeared in the circus parade and heard the whinny of old Jeff. the polemate of his youth, who, with al Calico's diskuises knew him still as a lost playmate, his ears pointed, and with an answering neigh he dashed from his place in the glittering pageant and before the startled spectators or the overturned groom could protest, Mile. Zaretti saw her Arabian steed, Abdul lah, the gift of the impulsive Shah" rubbing noses and exchanging delighted and surprised greetings with the rugged coated Old Jeff Many other similar stories will be found. all calculated to hold the readers attention firmly to the last (Chas Scribner's Sons, New York, N. Y))
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
THE POWER OF FICTION
 AS AN EDUCATOR

Wniie we all may be ready to resent the ihtimation that we would initiate any one, still no one will deny the fact that we are by nature initiative. Hence the accepted truth that ..example is stronger than precept." The aspiring mind de- mands model-and it is to meet this demand that our greatest fiction writers nave originated and inspired as with life
 These distractions" sprung from their pens "as so many incarnations, to tell their story to listening thousands yet un- porn. The characters of Shakespeare, Milton and Bunyan, have pulsed with an influence as real as if they had lived in the world; and they are as character forming as they were 200 years ago. Through the great dramatic personae of Shakespeare's genius the instincts. intui- tons. vices and virtues of human heart and mind, have been pictured to the un- derstanding. as the face Is reflected in a mirror. and they wieid an influence which will go on through generations. Every emotion of which the human heart is ca- pablo. has been given, as has been said.
 "a local habitation and a name," to which all refiecting minds have turned in admiration. or from which they have fled in abhorrence. The genius that produced Great Heart" and Faithful delineat- cd his character with such vigor and pow CT as to unendingly stimulate the human heart into aspiring emulation. And who has not been made to feel through Mill ton. an adoring homage of the Thigh and lofty one that inhabiseth eternity?" And how in reading the enchanting pages of Washington Irving the sensibiflties are touched by wonderful conceptions of moral excellence and the transcendant be- lieve that the object and province of all noble writers of fiction have been the endowments of their characters with at- tributes to attract or repei, and what Have we many books, biographical or historical, which have so moved multi tudes as have many of our works of fic- ton? An author with a conscious motive for good must so paint virtue as to irn- bue humanity with the truest and purest
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
Adventures @ M. D'Haricot.

and vissitudes as he tries with all his might to be an Englishman. A French man an Englshman! That in itself is sufficient statement to cause smile, for were ever two people more widely at variance? Poor Hariocot's readiness for adventure and susceptibility to the charms of the eternal feminine, involve him In many situations-amusing. ridiculous. unusual and narrowing.
 The author has succeeded in making the hero. in spite of his English 'greenness" so nimbie of wit. and so very seif-pos- sessed as that he finally lands on top in some shape or other. It Is good book; a funny book; and one with a strong plot.
 10 Y Z IT.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10

To a lover of horses those interesting and thrilling stories will prove quite char ming feast. After their reading, one is more imbucd with a sense of kinship with the horse. and more deeply sym pathetic with him in his trials and suf- fering than ever before. The horse has always been considered the most human of the animal race, and with possibly the exception of the dog, the most faith full to man, no matter what the circum- stances. In the book will be found the history of one Skipper-the s25o blue rib boner-whose best years were spent in the police service, but whose melancholy days came when, having sunk to the lowest depths of horsedom he became the property of an old junkman. True, there was romance in Shippers life. fer Reddy, the policeman. whose love for
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
HISTORICAL PRODUCTIONS.

The historical productions of Grant Allen. dealing with the principal Con- ttnental cities, are we'll worth mention. Some discussion recently has taken place concerning some statements made by hinl in one of his books. but it has been con clusively proven that he was correct Ihe object and plan of these historical guides is quite different from any other guides at present before the public. They do not compete or clash with such existing works, but are rather intended to sup plement than to supplant them; their purpose being not merely to direct the stranger through the streets and squares of an unknown city towards the building or sights he may wish to visit neither are they designed to give him practical in- formation about hotels cab-fares, omni- busses, tramways and other everyday material conveniences. For such details the traveller must still have recourse to the trusty pages of his Badeker, his Joanne, or his Murray The object here is rather to supply the tourist who wishes to use his travel as means of culture with such historical and antiquarian in- formation as will enable him to enjoy the architecture. sculpture. painting and minor arts of the towns he visits. The author in his preface says: Tn one word it is my object to give the reader in very compendious form the result of all these inquiries which have naturally suggested themselves to my own rdnd during thirty-fve years of foreign travel. the solution of which has cost me a great deal of research. thought and labor, far beyond the facts which could find in the ordinary handbooiSs Six volunmos are now ready in the series. which will fvtn- tually include all the principal Europ ean cities. The six are Paris" Florence. Cities of Belgium. "Venica." The Northern Cities of Italy" and The Um- brian Towns.''
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10

It is an und!sputed though sometimes, ov verlooked fact, that Benedict Arnold did much for his country worthy of na- tion's approval and peoples gratitude. But just at the present time too much emphasis is being put upon the good deeds. in a mighty and concerted effort to blot out the evil. Enemies and friends are willing to admit that Arnold had some good traits-still the ugly truth remains that Arnold proved to his country a base and foul traitor. and nothing after his treachery went even small way In pal Hating his obnoxious crime.
 MT. Todd has produced literary gem in ''The Real Benedict Arnold and makes a strong plea in behalf of his hero. He does not attempt to condone Arnoids s treason, but emphasizes his invaluable services to America. Few people know that Arnold four times saved the cause of the colonies. MT. Todd shows this con- clusvely MT. Todd urges at considerable
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
The Real Benedict Arnold.

due to his steadfast allegiance to him. self. His reprimand was model of kino- ness and courtesy in its way.
 "'our profession he said. is the chast- est of all; even the shadow of fault tar nishes the luster of our finest achieve rnents. The least inadvertance may rob us of public favor so hard to be acquired. I reprimand you for having forgotten that in proportion as you are rendering your self formidable to our enemies you should have been guarded and temperate in your department toward your fellow citizens! Exhibit anew those noble qualities which have placed you on the list of our most valued commanders. I will myself fur nish you as far as 1t may be in my pow CT, with opportunities of regaining the esteem of your country.
 "As considerate as it could be made. but one can easily imagine how galling to one SO proud and sensitive as Arnold" GA. s. Barnes and Co.,, New York, N. Y)
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10

meaning when the life of Henry Francis Lyte is known. pr. Benson p4ys high tribute to Luther's Fin Feste Burg" calling attention to the fact that it has become one of the standard hymns in the American churches, and that 1t has been adopted by college classes as a class hymn, and is coming into use on occa- sions of great public interest. Along with the hymns discussed in this volume, there are pictures of their authors, of the tune writers and the translators, when the hymn was originally written in & foreign tongue. This book Is one which every pastor will want. as 1t Is full of material which he can turn to good ac- count. It cannot fail to hold the inter- est of any reader. preacher or layman.
 (The Westminster Press. Philadelphia, Pa, $1.50.)
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON:
 POET AND AUTHOR

Merry of soul, he sailed on day
 Over the sea to Skye.
 Mule was astern, egg on the port.
 Rum on the starboard bow,
 Glory of youth glowed in his soul.
 Where Is that glory now?
 Sing me a song of lad that is gone.
 Say, could that lad be I?
 Merry of soul. he sailed on a day
 over the sea to Skye.
 Give me again all that was there.
 Give me the sun that shone,
 eve me the eyes, give me the soul.
 Give me the lad that is gone Sing me a song of lad that is gone.
 Say, could that lad be I?
 Merry of soul he sailed on a day
 over the sea to Skye.
 BIlIow and breeze, Islands ana seas.
 Mountains and rain and sun, All that was good, all, that was fair
 All that was me is gone.
 There was nothing perfunctory in Stevenson-his conservation was a con- suming fire. And 1t is just this sorf ne consecration that turns the world ,,s,s,ss down. Rome sets the pace on this line It is said of a Jesuit, that if he Is wantea at Lima, he will board the next steasner Tor his destination; if he is summoned ah Bagdad. he will be in the next caravasx that braves the hot sand storms Of tha desert; if he is detailed to an outnaae colony Of lepers, where certain deafas awaits him. he presses toward his doo1,s as If to festival. When one of thear devoted men was remonstrated with nrs the madness of his mission, he repiieds Tt is my duty to go; 1t is not necessary for me to lIve."
 Stevenson's all-absorbing devotfor Y, h,. life work finds its counterpart in tY,. rs.s Gray. Both these men were cast in tfe same mold and with both poetry zvas \ consuming passion, and both werm oblivious to the applause of inc worlN It Is more than probable that the irnnor. tai ''Elegy" would never have seen fhs light had not a friend borrowed ft an1 without the knowledge or consent of sh@ author. published 1t in The Pan Ma5f magazine' Stevenson relentiessiy purs sued his work, with the specter of deatn eiear Tn his vision. and battled with the demons of disease disappointment, lcnelf- ness and despair.
 In this utilitarian age, when evervfhtns IS rated at commercial value, and Iftera- ture is pursued for ''revenua only" thw production of such men as Stevenson ana Gray Is Impossible. But if God vo,,eh safes only one man of their stamp in \ century, 1t will guarantee enough safs TO save the world. Those men do tha most for their fellows who help therr through the intellect and affections. apN through those appeals to the hfsher nature which instinctively lifts onesm soul to a higher plain.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10

When the soul of this great man left it's tenement of clay, the world suffered a loss. both in the matter of example and productions. as will probably never be recovered: for his Is the story of a life such as few in this day try to live, and fewer still could live if they tried. But the unquenchable fire of the poets geni- ous nerved him for the struggle. His frail body was i'll fitted to be the tene- ment of such soul. It was a lifelong combat with disease. To George Mere dith he wrote in 1893: For fourteen years I have not known a well day. I have wakened sick and gone to bed weary: but have done my work un- flinchingly. I have written in bed and written out of 1t. written in hem orrhages. written in weakness, written torn by coughing. written when my head swan from weakness. I have been better since I first came to the Pacific. But the fight Is still on, and the powers have so willed it that my conflict should be the dingy, inglorious one of a bed-and-physic battle."
 Few men have intrusted their all, as did Stevenson, to the frail bark If pure literature. An editorial position or pro- fessor's chair Is the coign of vantage from which the great majority dispatch their message to the world. .5uch consecrs ton is not possible to all neither would it have been in this case had lot the poet received substantial aid from others. To the last he was dependent on his father for support, and 1t was the scanty rem nant of the paternal estate that enabled him to reach the tropics. with the vain hope of prolonging his life. And he desired to live for the sake of his wife. who seems to have been his chief stay and support. After many years of mar ried life he says this of her:
 Trusty. dusky, vivid. true,
 With eyes of gold and bramble dew. Steel true and blade straight.
 The great Artificer made my mate. Honor. anger, vafor fire,
 A love that life could never tire, Death quench or evil stir,
 The mighty Master gave to her. Teacher tender, comrade. wife. A fellow-farer true through life, Heart-whole, and spirit free,
 Tho august Father gave to mo.
 If "the talent for infinite painstaking' be the definition of genius. then Steven son well deserved this distinction. His contributions to Scribner's were written seven or eight times before given to the printer. and the same rule was adhered to in all his other work. His depression of spirit was often due to physical suf- ferng. and there was little in the past to excite exuberance of spirit. except his early youth, which he thus laments: Sing me a song of land that is gone.
 Say. could that lad be I?
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
BY sEwELL FORD.

Skipper outlived the attack of spavin which was the means of casting poor Skipper out of the service, found him again. and Shippers old age was spent literally in clover. Calico 1t was, how ever whose career was the most dag zling T. this piece of red and white spotted horse flesh fell strange mishaps, which finally landed him in a travelling circus company The road of fame was Calico's, however. Mile. Zaretti, the fa- nous bareback rider whose special horse took sick most inopportunely, found 1t necessary to ride Calico. A new star rose upon the circus horizon and from
 obscurity Calico and Mile. Zaretti burst
 into fame together. Afterward the ob- scure Calico was lost sight of, and they
 who had once called him by that humble name hailed him as "Abdullah. the beau
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
A DEsERTER RETURNS.

After long period of desertion. Mrs. Craigie has returned to her first occupa- tion, the production of fiction. Some years ago she began devoting her whole attention to the production of drama. hut she found that her heart vearned for her old labor Tn her new novel Love and The Soul Hunters" 1t is very evident that she has nrofted by her training in plot construction and the management of situation From the beginning she has been a master of dialogue-erisram and repartee being native to her genius All
 of her characteristics natural and ac-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
lUitb n1akerS and Covers cf Literature.
TREND OF THOUGHT
 ALONG PATHS LITERARY

qured are found blended in artistic pro portion in this her latest and best novel. The worlds of fashion and finance are drawn upon for the characters, ana the interrelation of the two spheres gives op- portunity for rare display of the au- thors genius for observation and talent for conscurtion. Her princesses and ac tresses The English promoters ana American financiers, are drawn to the life, If not actually from it. ana the eX- pression of their thought and ac- tion runs ahead of the actual with the sure prescience of great creative mind. Particularly Tn the dabonair hunter of souls. Clementine Gloucester. open-eyed to. his conspiracy and disarming it by the simple honesty of her love, and Dr. Fleshsmmer the pro tector of Clementine's honor and the arch enemy of her soul, we have creations which will live ever after In the minds of readers along with those verities Of character which the masters or hcuon have made to us more real than actual persons.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10

times. something to please and to profit each and every membec-young and old of the household. It has been especially her purpose to arouse and to assist, the study of common things about us-the beauty and the mystery of creation. Hence the poems are of miscellaneous character, yet always intoxicating loy' alty to one's country. cheerfulness, pa tierce. justice and honesty and charity to all, without advocating any special religious system, striving to promote an ever-living sense of the presence of God in all His work
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10

evolutions and answered her helm ana manoeuvered to the perfect satisfaction of all interested in her
 The Temps says in view of the rain ana wind the results obtained were notapIe making aerial navigation in dlrigible ball. looms appear to enter the domain of prac- tical reality.
 M. Jumes furnished a report of the trip in which he said the screws revolved 800 times a minute which speed wac, t,,. creased to 1000 revolutions when saI,;n- against tho wind.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
Seedlings From My Wild Garden
BY ANNE GARDNER HALE.

One reason why the majority of the poetic books have such small sales is that -aey are written in so narrow a sphere as to appeal to only small class of readers. Anne Gardner Hale has over come this difficulty admirably. In se- lecting these poems from the large num- Der furnished by her to popular periodi- calls. the author has endeavored to bring together such as would be likely to inter- est a variety of tastes, hoping thus to make what might be considered "a fam tly poetry book" ready to offer at all