The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-01

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mcnded to the reader who likes some
thing bright and racy without any ten
dency toward sensationalism,
IOLJ. By Robert w. Chambers. Pages
142. D. Appleton and Company New
York.
In fertility OF aglnation as applied
TO modern, everyday social conditions,
Mr.. Robert Chambers has few equals
among the writer's of America. The av-
erage writer, anxious to exploit a new
idea, goes abroad for 1t; he lays his scene
in STEAMBOAT or the backwoods Of Mani
toba Mr.. Chambers's originality consists
in bis ability to evolve novel concep-
ton from the old familiar backgrounds
a Harlem fiat or country place on
Long Island Is, good enough for him.
"Iole." while fully as fanciful in theme
US nm Oriental extravaganza or an old
school midsummer nights dream, Is cast
in a provincial district of New York
State, not far removed from "Uticlsy."
To educc n riot of poetic, graceful and
fantastlcal whimsicality out Of the en-
vronment Of Utica, is, we submit, Il YER
liable triumph of creative ingenuity
.Iole' originally appeared as a short
story In a magazine and has now been
expanded into a book. While, perhaps.
not quite so good a book as it was a
short story it remains none the less a
most clever, unique and pleasing piece
OF work 1t is a broad satire on that
phase Of modern art usually described
by its satellites and deriders alike as
lat Nouvenu"-the phase that makes
cult out of simplicty-"a single BIOS
som against n background OF nothing at
all--and art rocking chairs and fellow
ship with nature, and dinky velum books
''without much printing Into them" 1t
Is almost amuslngly done, with the ut
most abandon and informnlty OF good
natured but wholesale satire, Guilford,
the art nouvcau poet and mission furni-
turc handlcraftsman.. with very shrewd
business sense, which, rs being not alto
gether artistic is kept strictly IN the
background, is a genuine creation. Gull
ford has eight daughters all beautiful
and of approximately marrlagcablc age.
who have been brought up on strictly
art prlnciples-primitiv simplicity, out OF
doors life, pink pajanlas, etc. When
Guilfords art shops fail, two young New
Workers, who hold a mortgage against
the poetic estate, come up to foreclose.
What happened when they saw the eight
beautiful maidens. In pink lounglns cos
tunes, dotted over beautiful meadow,
picking early strawberries, we leave the
astute reader to divine *
The dialogue is bright and amusing
throughout Mr.. Chamberss style Is
agreeable and charming, and the book,
of It's kind, Is one of the clevereSt that
has appeared In a long time,
sANNA. BY NJ. L. Waller, Pages 500;
$3.50. Harper Brothers, Now York;
Bell, Richmond.
Sanna's full name was Susanna Oleana
Landers, which is rhythmical and poetic
enough to tickle the most captiolls. Sauna
is an agreeable girl. frank, sweet COM
panionnble unsentimental and Affection
ate, and as she is in addition, good to
look nj, we for one. are not surprised
to note that The young men Of her vicinity
felt uncommonly kindly toward her. Nam
tucket is the scene and the author makes
of her quaint old tnwn, with tho briny
deep almost in one's front yard. fresh
ana picturesque background, sannas peo-
pie were Of good but plain old New Eng
land stock, but quality lived close at
hand In the persons OF the Terrence and
Moncurc families Then, too. there was
the new young school teacher. the at
ractlve master of Dukes, who was SO
evidently ii gentleman, hut whose parent
age was shrouded in mystery only 10
be EMBODIED when the story has nearly
reached its end Further plot and action
Is supplied by the lives, deeds and re-
corded conversation of various village
characters. through which the central
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