The San Francisco call., 1904-12-04

bring matters to such a pass that the
unintentional ramming of a British
battleship by an American boat pre-
cipitates hostilities. One great land
battle is fought near Montreal and one
engagement between the belligerent
fleets occurs off the Atlantic coast,
then by a wonderful invention OF an
American scientist, the nature OF
which will not be unfairly disclosed
here, war is suddenly brought to a
standstill on account of the very fu-
tility Of the weapons of destruction.
Aside from the vivid descriptions of
conflict in the book not a little interest
attaches to the authors clever antici-
pations of the strides of science. Both
upon the ships of war and with the
armies on land there are utilized in
struments of offense and defense
which seem not impossible. though
they are for the time being but the
pigments of the authors imaginings.
(The Macmillan Company, New
York; price 81 500
Hearts in Exile John Oxenham's
story of Siberia and the secret arm Of
the great white Car. is not sensa-
tional as it might easily have been, but
a strong, we'll balanced tale of dra-
matte interest. The author exhibits all
the earmarks of the true story-teller in
his sympathetic handling of situations
which would call for strained heroics or
the crudest kind of bathos. from one
less skilled in the art than Oxenham.
Beginning with marriage between a
wealthy Russian and a girl who has
aspirations for the uplifting of the
masses. this story of Russia rapidly
develops the dangers attending any
work of reform in the Cars country.
Serge Palma, the successful of the two
rivals who had hidden for the hand
of the philanthropic maid, finds that
his interest in his wife's schemes leads
to the grim road to Siberia. But on
his way to exile Palma meets Paul
Pavlof, the disappointed but high
minded lover, and consents to the lat
ter's offer to change places in order
that the girl behind may not be be-
reaved. How the wife, not knowing
Of the change, goes to Siberia in search
of her husband and finds there her
former lover instead, and how, as her
guardian, Paul leads the woman out
CT dangerous places to final happiness
these things make a strong and thrill
ing tale.
(Dodd, Mead & Co., New York; illus
trated; price 81 50.)
Imagination that can be made so
vivid as TO produce the semblance
of reality is something not usually
found in the work of present day ro-
mances. Harris Burland, author of
THE Princess Thora," has it in salts
flying plenitude. Though telling a tale
which prima facie is nothing more than
the widest romance, this writer brings
to his task such directness and force
of conviction that the reader begins to
believe that his conceits are not only
probable, but reasonably within the
bounds of possibility. To say that the
plot centers about the North Pole and
that a strange race of Pole dwellers
plays an important part in the story is
to give the reader hint enough to
arouse his interest and insure his pc
rusal of the tale.
(Little, Brown & Co., Boston; illus
trated; price 81 5O)
A very artistic Christmas book is
"Our Christmas Tides" arranged and
written in large part by DR.. Theodore
Ledyard Cuyler. Seven Christmas es-
says and little sermons appropriate to
the season and seven Christmas songs
and poems, known to every speaker of
the English tongue, constitute the
volume. Among the first are: "A Mer-
ry Christmas to You," an interesting
sketch of Christmas customs in Eng
land, America and elsewhere. includ-
ing some delightful personal reminis-
cence; "A Day at Bethlehem" which
is a description of the modern City of
David; "A Motto for Christmas Civ
ing" a plea for Christian generosity;
Jesus the Joy-Bringer.'' Home
Thoughts for Christmas Tide" The
Star of Bethlehem That Never Sets"
and Back to Christ" the last four
semi sermons with bearing on Christ
mas, each full of inspiration for right
living, written in DR.. Cuyler's simple,
effective way. The book is illustrated
with photographers and decorated with
broad designs in red along the wide
margins. 1t is a holiday book which
has more meat in it than the average
of the class.
(The Baker & Taylor Company. New
York;
Careers for the Coming Men" is the
title of a volume of essays and speeches
upon the professions and industries of
the day by men who have the author
ftv of knoWledQe fo hack their words