The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-31

HhRIOUS estimates Of Marion Craw
IN ford's. last novel have been given
and opinions seem to differ as to
whether it is one of his best or his very
poorest book. Many incline to the
belief that it narrowly escapes being
melodrama of the cheapest kind, and
without doubt it will appear ultimately
as a play of some kind. This possibil-
ity of final dramatization is affecting
literature and not for the better. The
temptation to modern novel writers to
place heroes and heroines in positions
which will easily fall into scenes is
spelling many stories in the making.
The fact that the dramatic version will
make more money than the novel adds
force to the temptation which is one
few writer's seem to be able to resist. In
the Heart of Rome" there is a situa-
tion which is surely new to fiction,
though in these days of strange hap
penings, one would not dare to say it is
impossible. 1t is the marriage of the
hero to the woman whom his friend has
Wronged, in order to ease the last mo-
ments of the man who should have
married her. They are married and
part al the altar, the husband in name
alone providing for her and giving his
name to her and her child. Then when
he really meets his fate, he cannot
marry her. as he is already a married
man. But the woman, who is only NOM
inally his wife, discovers the dilemma
and terrible position of the man who
has sacrificed his life TO his friend. she
obtains divorce and it all ends hap
PLY. This is "a situation really novel
and utterly unlike Marion Crawford'S
style in the minds of critics. There
may be men who would do the thing
here ascribed to the hero, but one may
be permitted to doubt T.that they are
comBlon. o"
All sorts of riimors have been current
as to the authorship of ''The Kempton-
WAGE Letters" but magazine recently
announced with authority that there
was no longer any doubt that they were
written by Jack London. For time, 1t
was said, that woman was joint au-
thor with him, and the busy bodies I'M
mediately talked of a separation be-
tween Mr.. and Mrs. London and the
approaching marriage of London and
the other woman. But that has been
apparently forgotten and now it is be-
lieved that the popular writer is alone
responsible for these rather unpleasant
sion of love involved in this book,
writer r-in--the-January Contemporary
Review (English) writes of "The High
er Love-" in which he makes a plea for
ideal love, as against the sordid, prac-
tical idea of it advanced by Herbert
Wace," as being the only kind possible
to the intellectual man. The writer
says that he believes in the spirituali-
zation of passion, instead Of its aboli-
tiOn.
People interested in football will be
surprised to know that the game is not
of exclusive AngIo-SaXon origin and
popularity. To be sure the Carlyle In
dans have more than once shown
themselves to be strong and clever
players, with much originality in their
tricks and plays, but the Eskimo who
has made a reputation on this years
team is usually held up as a phe-
nomenOn in that he has made his mark
in game that is supposed to be en-
tirely foreign to his people. Football,
however, is no new thing to the Es-
kimo; indeed, it is a favorite sport on
the Ice among the dusky men of the far
North. The Rugby rules are not in
force there, but the game more nearly
resembles the fashioned American
kicking game with any number on
side. This sport among the Eskimos is
described in Mr.. Winthrop Packard's
graphic and exciting tale of adventures
in the far North, "The Young Ice
Whalers," recently published by
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Many other
sports and pastimes of the young peo-
pie of the land Of furs are described in
the book, which shows that Eskimos,
young and old, have pretty good times
In their own way-and in ways that
are not so very different after all from
those of their civilized brethren far to
the South.
The printed public opinions Of Mrs
Baliington Booths book, After Prison
-What?" presents the phenomena of
an overwhelming interest in the au-
thor. This is not curious, for the book
in this case Is medium by which the
facts are made known of a wonderful
work of kindness that is being done
And the woman that is doing it is a
wonderful woman, and some day the
public at large will realize that she is
the shreWdest criminologist in the
world, although she expressly repudi-
ateS the title. and that she is doing
every day what millions of dollars ex-
pended on courts and police and iron
bars are not doing-turning criminals
into honest men. After Prison
What?" is one of those few books that
stands square on the foundations Of
human hearts and human faith in the
innate ability of men to recover ap-
parently lost lives.
Mrs. M'Lerie-By ]. ]. Bell. The Cen
tury company, publishers. For sale by
st. Paul Book and Stationery company
1t was to be expected that Mr. Bell
would follow UP his success with ''Wee
MacGregor, by publishing other Scotch
tales, and those who enjoy dialect stories
and liked Mr.. Bells former work win
doubtless take almost as much interest in
the quaint Mrs. M'Lerie" and her original
sayings. The book is a collection of
sketches of events In the rather quiet
life OF old Mrs. MLerie.' and recounts
her CHEEKY and optimistic remarks anent
her neighbors and their affairs. Mrs.
Munroe Is her constant visitor and the
gossip OF the two DANES win while away
pleasant hour for the reader. Here are
samples Of Mrs. MLerie's characteristic
remarks
"Aye. it wis a. that-a shock to ma