The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-16

excellent guide book with him, as the
Information is of the latest, bringing
the reader down to 1902.
The Golden Hope-By Robert II. Fuller.
The Macmillan company. For sale by
st. Paul Book and Stationery company.
Alexander's conquest of Persia is a
fascinating theme for the novelist, but
one which requires careful treatment
for many reasons. The splendor and
richness of the court, the wealth of in
oident, the dramatic scenes, all these
give much opportunity for the imagina-
ton of the writer. The author of the
story under discussion has done his
work well and the result is a carefully
written and most interesting book, but
one which is more likely to appeal to
the scholar than to the general reader
of fiction. The story concerns Alexan-
der at the moment of his greatest
triumph, in the flush of his conquest
of Asia, and as a true friend and wise
ruler. When the story opens we are
introduced to Clearchus of Athens.
Leonidas of Sparta, and Chares of
Thebes, three close friends who are
gathering to celebrate the betrothal OF
Clearchus and Artemesia. The latter
has had a painful dream which she
confided to her lover, and so impressed
are they both of its evil portent that
they decide to celebrate their marriage
on the morrow and before their enemies
can part them. But the night before
the marriage, Artemesia is abducted
by the unworthy hirelings of Ariston,
fla CHING 0f
fears losing the control of his nephew's
fortune. once he Is married. Clearchus
consults the famous oracle of Delphi,
and takes hope from the prediction
that he will find his beloved, and with
his two friends, starts in pursuit Of
Artemesia. The remainder of the book
Is an account of their adventures; the
battles they witness, the destruction
of Thebes, their capture and escape,
and the final rescue of Artemesia and
her sister That's in the temple Of Mo-
loch at Tyre, just as the former Is
about to be sacrificed to that relentless
god. The splendid figure of Alexander
stands out from the pages like a
cameo, and the fortunes of the three
youths are interviewer with his own.
The book as a whole is a remarkable
slips Of language too wholly modern to
fit the ancient time in which the
scene is set.
Spencers' Practical WrItInq-By Platt r.
Spencer's Sons. Six books American
Book company, New York, Cincinnati
and Chicago.
This new system of writing has been
devised because of the distinct and
widespread reaction from the use of
vertical writing in the schools. 1t is
thoroughly up to date, embodying all
the advantages of the old and of the
new. Each word can be written by one
continuous movement of the pen. The
books teach a plain, practical hand,
moderate in slant and free from orna-
mental curves, shade and meaningless
lines. The stem letters are long enough
to be clear and unmistakable In each
Of the six numbers composing the Sc
ries there are twenty -four copies The
copies begin with words and gradually
develop into sentences. The letters,
both large and small are taught sys-
tematically. Books 1 and 2 con-
tain many illustrations in outline. Each
succeeding book presents more work
and in greater variety. The ruling
of the books is very simple and will in
no way unduly confine or hamper the
movement of the pen. Instruction is
afforded showing how the pupil should