The sun., 1905-09-03

EkCNAOsAs
Seven short stories, all Of bygone days,
make UP Mr.. A. T. Quiller- -Couch's sShske-
speare' q Christmas and Other Stories" Nong-
mans, Green Il Co... Readable. Of course.
we'll written and each with distinct artis-
tic purpose, but the antiquarian often gets
the upper hand OF the story teller. Tho
best, in our eyes, Il the tale Of tho women
Of Saltash who beat the men in boat race
and are taken by the press gang. 1t roads
like one Of Mr.. Jaoobe's longshore anec-
dotes transplanted into the last century.
Tho incidents into which Capt. Bligh Of
the Bounty n dragged are amusing too.
Tho title story with it's horrors and labored
fun smacks more Of French tmpressionists
than Of anything Elizebethan. There are
two tales OF the Peninsular war, in which
the author now takes much interest. There
are Others where 90 seems to have turned
to penny dreadful standards for inspirs-
tion. Mr.. CUTLER Couch has turned out
much better work than this.
1t IL good for the present generation to
read some of the books that delighted it,
fathers and compare them With the ro-
mances Of adventure that are turned out
nowadays. We ara grateful for three books
reprinted by George Routledge 4 Sons (E.
p. Dutton 4 Coz. Capt. Mayne Reids
memory survives as that Of q famous writer
OF boys books, but We fancy the stories
he wrote for grown people are half forgot
ten. Here we have again 'The White
Chief and THE Headless Horseman, with
Indians and gore and straight shooting to
satisfy every youth. With them comes
Capt. Marryat's romance, classic, in a
way, q generation OF 30 back, sThe Children
Of the New Forest"
The efforts OF young couple to retain
the services Of their black cook and the
Impressions that country life make on that
city bred lady serve to start Mr.. Charles
Battell Loomis's .Minerva's Manpuvres'
"a. g. Barnes Il CO.. and to keep Il going
for some time. whom lot Of other people
come In to enliven the story. Tho situa.
tions arc at times reminiscent OF Mr.. Stock.
ton. Tho incidents are generally amusing,
though at times they degenerate into horse.
play, and some are very funny. Mr.. Loomis
here writes easily and readably. The fun
is rather light to be spun out 80 long. but the
reader will hardly mind that, particularly
II he does not take II al In at one sitting.
Tho book is pleasant and provides some
hearty laughs.
Mr.. John Philip Sousa in .Pipetovn
Sandy (The Bobbs- Merrill Company. In.
dianapolis) writes boys book. His
models are perhaps somewhat conven-
tional and his incidents are undoubtedly
melodramatic. Virtue is very strenuous,
and We have rarely met with blaoker boy
villain. There is plenty Of 60 and swing
to the tale. and whatever 1t may lack in
style it certainly makes up for in excite
ment.
Laudable though Mr.. Norman Dunoan's
intention is in -The Mother (F1eming Fl,
Revell Company, his story is very dis
agreeable. Few people, We imagine, will
see the need Of the sermon he undertakes
to preach. To make his points stronger
he paints slum life and mountebank life
in colors that are violent rather than true,
and much Of the sentiment seems false.
His attitude will serve to show why the
-other side" generally resents the interest
good people take in it.