The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-15
some Excellent Ehert storles.

A pleasant anticipation Of summer pleas
ures, Of the shady side Of verandas, OF
COS hooks in the rocks looking on the sea-
Of sheltered seats under the trees' accom-
panies the volumes Of short stories that
the publishers put forth. They have APP
peared In the magazines, 70 be sure, but
they viii be given a new life, read aloud IN
hundreds OF PLACES, on the Maine coast
IN the New Hampshire woods and in quieter
places throughout the land. We are glad
that we are able to recommend bali dozen
collections.
In The Second Woolng Of sAlina Sue
(Harpers), we rather think that Mrs. Ruth
McEnery Stuart has done her very best
work. The title story h q MASTERPIECES.
1t can be read aloud as effectively as when
read to ones self Light In touch as II Is
IL shows the negro character through and
through, and the other stories are almost
as good studies in black psychology az they
are dramatic and telling tales.
Il is a curious misadventJIre that befalls
Mr.. H. G. Wells in Twelve Stories and
Dream Charles scribner's sons. Mr..
Wells has marked out a path for himself
in developing scientific theories 10 their
logical sequence in his tales. These have
always been exciting, though often marked
by a dryness In the narration that re-
sembles that Of mathematical demon
stration. Here we find him making a
distinct change in his style. He tries. and
successfully, to be humorous. He puts
flesh on his characters. The result, queerly
enough Is 70 make his stories like those Of
dozens OF other authors, They are good
stories, amusing stories, but a comparison
between The Accelerator' OF THE Stolen
Body in this volume with others viii
show the difference between the old Mr.,
Wells and the new. Nevertheless, all the
stories are enjoyable, and It will be interest
ing TO see what becomes Of Mr. Wells in his
new evolution. It certainly s more hope
full, from the literary standpoint than his
tendency TO socialism,
Parodies are by no means dificult and
perhaps the Sherlock Holmes form Of
fiction is more easily initiated than others,
but the fest tales in Mr.. Gilbert X. Chester
toms The Club Of Queer Trades (HRrpers)
are very clever and amusing. The idea
Of the first, 20 be sure, Is lifted bodily from
Mr.. Gelett Burgess's 'Vivette,' but the
next three are capital take-ofs on Conan
III Ht OlLll4luN ANAlNo VI NIS lblAiNA
Judge is fully equal to that Of the great
detective, and his admiring friend lie the
counterpart Of Mr.. Watson. The last two
stories are absolutely fiat and perfunctory.
half dozen charming, delicate little
love tales are offered by Nr Edward San
ford Martin N the Courtship Of Care
full Man QIarpers). The scene Il In New
York, but that is a mere incident. for the
point Of them ell ia etenally human. and
for once In New York stories we have the
manners 81 decent society
Seven stories dealing with artistic life
are told in The Troll Garden by Villa
Sibert Gather Mcclure, Phillips a CO..,
and most Of these have 10 DO with music
They are told with vigor, with rather
,Gborious analysis and perhaps with too
much stress and too careful explanation OF
natter Of information that should have
been touched upon lightly OF taken as a
matter Of course. There is a point 10 each,
however and usually ii 10 the rather cruel
exposition Of a flaw in womans nature,
her vanity or her cruel selfshness. They
show talent.
Thoroughly amiable are the eight tales
in Little Stories Of Courtship' by Mary
Stewart Cutting Mcclure, Phillips 4 Coz.
The author tries a variety Of styles, in
Guiding dialect, but as the title explains,
they are all love stories and all end happily.