The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-20
NEW BOOK :.

THE ROMAN ROAD. by "Zack."
published by Charles Scribner's Sons,
Publishers, New York. On sale at Pres
ton & Rounds, Providence.)
Ve have read number OF the stories
from the authors pen. but eandidly must
say that I'm The Roman Road he has
quite failed 10 come up TO what We con-
ceded his standard.
True, in some parts Of the story the
dialogue is interesting and convincing,
and one may comprehend, but on the
whole IL is a disjointed tale and rather
far-fetched There seems TO be entirely
too much OF the play OF words to make
IL attractive. or 10 bring out forcibly
points tl;at the author may desire
MR.. KEEGANs ELoPEMENT by
Winston Churchill.
published by the Macmillan Company.
New York and London. For sale by
Preston & hounds. ProvidenceD
The author is we'll and most fayorably
known on both sides OF the Atlantic, and
he has turned out some excellent tales.
We don't presume to think that MS latest
little novel. Mr. Keegans Elopement.
is really an effort. but can say In fun
justice. IL is clever. well written and
has that touch Of nature which makes 1t
doubly charming
THE DOMINANT STRAIN. by Anna
Chaplin Ray.
published 10y Little. Brown a Co. Pub
fishers. Boston For sale by all book
sellers)
1t has always been and undoubtedly
always will he a question whether or not
a woman cal. reform a man after mar
riagc. so that he will remain so. Doubt
less there are sporatic cases. we might
say. where this has been accomplished.
but as a general possibility or probability
Is IL a success-that is the question:
About this idea. or rather the idea that
the woman does make a mistake In en-
II. ALL Ann
ried saint. the author has built UP Won
derfully interesting story, quite so from
beginning TO end
The hero of the tale-one Cotton Math-
er Thayer. whose father was a descend
ant OF the Puritans, and whose mother
was a Russian musician. He Is ster-
ling character. and Is well placed IN tne
a hale fellow well-met but weak and
having an appetite for drink. Both are In
love with the same woman and both are
friends. The woman loves l,orimer. even
she may reform him marries him. rhayer
remains true to both--the woman who has
his heart and the man who hns his friend
ship. BY his actions the husband kills
the love Of his wife and before HIS death
the wife realizes that In her heart has
been kindled love for Thayer. The
author makes a htting semi-elose to her
story ends quite as one might expect.
The dialogue is interesting throughout
the book and It's musical atmosphere
quite apropos 20 that which is experienced
I'm the society OF some OF the larger
cities.
oUo vADITIS. by Bouck White.
published by the Civic Press Bible
House. New York. For sale by all
booksellers1
n has n catchy title from the stand
point that n buyer knows hardly what
is 20 be found between the covers. in
fact ~ seems TO be n parody name. based
upon the name OF n substantial book.
we'll known 20 readers Evidently the
name was given 20 catch the eye-this
seems 70 be plain. We have tried ana
then tried again 20 solve the mystery OF
lust what the author II trying TO get M
in his effort. and We have failed. The
second section of the title could be dis
sected and applied with effect 90 the con-
tents Vat-it-is? This is what we don't
know -What-it-isl OF course. there are
some good Things. but they are sadly In
the minority. and on the whole IL Is un-
interesting.