Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-30


story and leads to a resumption of the
pursuit which is then conducted to a sue
cessful finish. But at the close the reader
is in a whirl of uncertainty. The scene
! has been thickly peopled with characters,
one of whom at least has been laid under
susp' ion which is never cleared. The
thum print method and chemistry and
Other processes of detection are jumbled
together TO the spelling of what might
have been made into a fascinating story.
ALADDIN AND CO., Romance of Yankee
Magic. By Herbert Quick, author Of ''In the
Fairyland of America" New York: Henry
Holt Co. Washington: William Ballantyne
& Sons.
The story of town booming is not all a
matter OF dollars and cents and business
intrigue and braggadocio. There are many
complex human elements involved for
every enterprise. whether it is the manu-
facture of shoes or of cities, must turn to
some extent upon the motives animating
those engaged Thus in this tale of the
sudden development of the town Of Lattf-
more, in the northwestern part Of this coun-
try, there runs a distinct thread of causa-
ton due to the personality Of the few men
composing the syndicate of boomers. Mr..
Quick has with keen insight into the prac
tices Of the city-maker, drawn a picture
which Is almost panoramic, so vivid is 1t
sympathy -compelling romance into his tale
and the reader who halts In his perusal
lacks touch with the factors which are
constantly at work in the western country
to stimulate the activities of men and to
change the currents Of life. baltimore was
sleepy. contented town of a few thou
sands, on railroad which bled the mer-
chants in the absence Of competition, when
James Elkins located there for business.
after many ups and downs. He saw its
possibilities for development, the nearness
and richness of it's mineral resources the
possibilities for railroad strategy, and he
planned campaign for its exploitation,
which wrought results In remarkably short
order. His audacity is unlimited, his en-
terprise unchecked, his Imagination never
falling. He enlists his closest friend and
another, and they group around them an
interesting coterie of boomers The story
of the boom Is not involved with a confus-
ing mass of technical details, and the love
theme, which accompanies 1t, Is itself
worthy of production. The boomers come
upon evil days and they are downed, but
they have meanwhile builded upon genuine
ly solid foundations and their works con-
tinue. Aladdin and Co." is story to
quicken the pulse.
THE COURT OF sACHARISSA; a Midsum.
mer Idyll Compiled out of the Traditions of the
irresponsible Club) By Hugh Sheringham and
NeviH Meakin, author Of 'sThe Assassins New
York: The Macmillan Company. Washington:
Brentano's
Six trespassers, the Ambassador. the
Scribe, the Poet, the Mime, the Man Of
Truth and the Exotic, enter the private
grounds of Sacharissa. Being on pleasure
bent. they investigate the premises and the
Ambassador meets the mistress Of the place,
to whom he bows and apologies with such
sincere and old-fashioned courtesy that she
is glad of the intrusion. Thus is formed the
O11rf nF Go rIavi ,ya1,
ed upon her by the ambassador, and 1t Is
later enlarged by the advent of her friend,
the Major, who pulls his mustaches and oc-
casionally swears. The story of the sum-
mer's visits Of the six to the garden of roses
flows smoothly. with many incidents to
mark the tale It Is quaint and charming
preposterous in some aspects, and the more
delectable therefor. The Ambassador Is
just the man to take charge Of five ire
sponsibles like the Mime and the Poet the
Man of Truth. the Exotic and the Scribe.
of whom the Scribe Is the most rational.
The Exotic Is a never-failing source Of JOY
and the only complaint to be lodged against
this charming story is that he was never
allowed to relate the Tale OF the Consid-
crate Kurd to the assembly, although he
does tell 1t to others ''off stage" Other
stories are told however many by the Elk
otto, and all are choice bits Of brief fiction
and foolery. The atmosphere of the book
Is altogether frivolous, save that q single
note Of genuinely deep feeling Is struck
in the relations between Sacharissa and
the Ambassador, when at the finish, the
Major-but that Is what the authors them
selves have to tell.
THE SILENT PLACES. By Stewart Edward
White. Illustrated by Philip r. Goodwin. New
York: Mcclure. Phillips & Co. Washington:
Woodward & Lothrop.
Mr.. Whites speciality Is the depletion Of
the great northwest, and SO thoroughly has
he studied the subject and acquired the at
mosphere of the region and It's inhabitants
that his work Is Immediately accepted as
true to the plains and forests. In this stony
he has told Of a man-hunt through the
snow wastes of Canada, with tragic touches
here and there and sympathetic description
of Indian life and suffering. The pursuit of
a fugitive Is tine main feature of the novel,
and 1t carries the reader out of himself to
appreciate the intensity of human suffering
in the waste places of the earth. Closely
involved in the theme Is a love story based
upon the romance between a white man
and an Indian girl tender and affecting
Mr.. Goodwins pictures are in color and add
to the attractiveness of the book.
FLOWER TIME IN THE OVERLAND. By
the Rev. H. d. Rawnsley, Honorary Canon Of
Carlisle, author of Literary Associations of
the English Lakes" &c. With illustrations
from pencil sketches by Edith Rawnsley. Glas-
Brentanos.
1t would almost seem that the Alps had
been written OUT that there was nothing
left to tell about Switzerland and the great
mountains that the world has not already
learned in volume and with infinite grace Of
diction. But here Is a book with a new at
mosphere, book of Alpine appreciation in
terms not only Of scenery but of floral beau
| ties True, there have been Alpine flower
| books before, but there has never been just
| this kind of flower book, and that is why
| there will never be an end to welcome
| books about the Alps. For that great phe-
nomenon of nature makes It's appeal
| through individuality, and Canon Rawns-
/ ley's own nature responds peculiarly to the
sense vibrations sent forth by the mountains
| and valleys. 1t Is not all botany Of which
| he writes. He saunters through the Ober-
| land in spirit of understanding and en-
| joyment and. above all, he has the faculty
| for conveying to his readers an impression
| of his delight The pencil-sketch illustra-
| lions are suggestive of the Alpine atmos-
| phere.
OLD-TIME SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL
BOOKS. By Clifton Johnson. With many IL
Illustrations collected by the author. New York:
The Macmillan Company. Washington: Bren-
tano's.