The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-30
BOOKS OF THE WEEK BROUGHT
UNDER THE REVIEWERS EYE

to try to get back into the law. a
grim old Chicago counsellor, to whom
Marley had inquired With regard 10 all
opening in the 1egul field, had infOrm-
cd the young mar that he supposed there
was at least one opening, rs " lawyer
had died of starvation there only the gay
before Marley also writes home the dis
couragiilg news that there were already
400 lawyers practicing in Chicago; ana
we must say that with so much compe-
tltioli wa think that Marley would have
stood no show at all.
we have already Indicated that as
story ."rhe Happy Average is not ex.
TO be, 1t is Quite well done, aud IS q faithfnl
portrayal OF tho lives Of few o il
nary everyday people, very much likc
most OF those wo know.
WIIosoIVtR SHALL OFFEND. BY Il.
Marion Crawford. 3SS PIP. sl.50. The
, Macmillan Company, New York.
81 MIR. Crawford, following the advice
given to certain shoemaker in times
gone by, sticks ito his last Understand
ing modern Italy as do few English-writ-
ing novelists, he very wisely and sem
sibly continues to build his stories about
IT. In whatsoever Shall Offend" wc have
tho story Of 1'oco Corbar!os union with |
the wealthy widow Consalvi and his
subsequent endeavors to got possession
OF her funds After his marriage, Folco's
denieanor was so perfect that people
left Off s,lspecting him OF being nerce-
nary; but we felt sure that there was
evil work ahead when we read on page
nine how Corbnrio was constituted
Narcotics sole guardian, and was to
enjoy n life interest i'll Ono-tlird OF tho
n i,y.,i f,a1,, n nil In IA
fortune was to so to Corburio, without
any condition or reservation whatever
We repeat that, after perusing this. we
scented crooked business to come, and
our suspicious were only strengthened
when we read on page thirty-two how
Professor kallnon happened to show
some of his friends. Corbario among |
them, the new kind of death-deuing tab
let he had discovered. little later our
Tears were confirmed by tho mysterious
death OF Corbarios wife and the sudden
disappearance OF lhN son. the youth
Nlarcello. Whether Corbaiio was at the
bottom of this. or whether 1t was son1e-
body else, we must leave the reader to
find out
Murcello, however, would not stay dcau. |
He came TO life again, grew from a
sckly, effeminate boy into II strong luan,
and lived to give Corbario his deserts at
the end. There were two women who /
loved NT;lrcello, and his hopor and his
own wishes gradually pulled in opposite
directions; but Regina, the beautiful and
loyal peasant girl, fortunately solves the
difficulty by dying, and Murcello is left
free to marry Auroro j is "a readable
story and a good novel, and will be read
with interest byaall Mr.. Cruwford's large
public. n
THE CLOSED BOOK. BY William Lie
Queux $50 PIP. S1.5O. Smart Set 4sup-
fishing Co., New York.
In The Closed Book" Mr.. LIE QueuX
advances tho interesting idea that Luz
crezia Borsia Is much abused by history
and public opinion, and was instead of a
scold-Blooded and Wholesale tmurderess,t
merely the victim OF circumstances. The
Closed Book itself Is Of ancient record
OF one Godfrey Lovel, an English nlerce-
naryin the service ofsl4ucrezia. This old
manuscript besides vindcating the lady
4 Of the 13orsias at he expense OF her
brother and father, reveals the English
hiding place OF the lost Borgla8 jeWels.|
and of the famous Borsia poison whose,
secret, lost TO the world ). after their
deaths. enabled this family to attain al
most supreme power by. the simple pro-
cess ofsclimina ting all who stood in their
way. The shanovelistLwho finds this
manuscript becomes involved not only
in an exciting, treasure-nunt, fun Of
mysteries, intrigue and sudden X death,
but also, of course, IN an agreeable love
affair. And both his quests come to "a
most satisfactory ending. The interest
is we'll sustained TO the end. Il 81
PLAYS. BY Leo Tolstoy. Translated by
Louise and Ayln1er A MAJ 9. ESQ PIP.
$50 Funk & W;lsnalls, New York.
This volume of Tolstoy's plays forms
part Of the new authorized edition of
the great Russians complete works.
which Is being brought out by Messrs.
Funk a. Wagnals. The volume con tains
three plays, The Power or Darkness. IS
much the longest OF the three; 1T lie = lst
fruits Of Culture" Tolstoy himself
never attributed much Importance to his,
plays, and was rather surprised that he
reading public did. 1.-THE Power Of Dark
ness does not make pleasant reading
1t Is, to quote the words OF Mr.. MauGe
Intensely moral, terrible In It's earnest
ness and force. but sombre almost to the,
last degree. Fruits Of Culture on tho
other hand, was written 10 amuse. ahd rs
much lighter and gaycr In tone. but
even here Tostoy's reforming instinct
contrves to get ina lttltYmoralizins and
preaching. To the literary merit Of these
plays must be added the fact that they
are excellent acting dramas, a combl-5
nation, Of course, by no means INSOFAR
stHpic' <aSSotu i.'ts ~ 49, ''l
Lawrence Irving. THE Power OF Dark
ness has been acted in every country
in Europe, with the exception OF Eng
land. Those who wish to acluaint them-f
se!ves thoroughly with Tostoy's work
can hardly leave 1t unread.
MONA, THE DRUlDEss. BY Alice K.
Hopkins 35 PIP. Eastern Publish
ing Company.
THE quecrest book we have seen in
long time is 'tAlona. the D3mdess: or the
Astral Science Of Old ~ Britain. The
cover design gives a sort Of forelaste OF
ecccntricty to come BY showing young
lady, possibly Mona herself, CARRIED in
flowing Greek-like robes. head crowned
with fllcts, gliding With the aid Of
enormous wings through what we as
sumo to be Il sky. dotted with silver
and gilt stars, like q dancers dress.
1.2 ~ 10 AQAl. lie eSS