The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-08

GR HE Rev. Charles Wagner, author
of "The Simple Life" who has
recently visited this country,
and who, by the way, was said
to have taken most kindly to life that
was not simple, has written another
book, recently published by the j. S.
Ogilvie Publishing company, called
The Voice of Nature which may be
termed companion piece to the other.
The author shows his great love for
and deep understanding of nature in
this volume and comes even closer to
people 4than he did in the book which
aroused the enthusiasm of the presi-
dent. 1t is in reality a series of short
essays upon commonplace matters, but
they are distinguished by much clear
ness of vision and diction. He.says:
The tides are the faithful symbols
of human life. We talk of the course
of existence, of it's source, of the ocean
of eternity; where all the little rivulets
go to throw themselves, images of ac-
tual individual life, and the great foods
images of collective life. Like the
tides life has its storms, its tempests
and its repose. 1t is troubled today,
dull, seeming like torrents yellowed by
storm. Tomorrow it will be limpid, and
the traveller, following it's banks, will
distinguish the sand, and see polished
pebbles on its deep bed. A strained life
resembles those rivers where industry
empties its poisons. The surface is dis
colored with grease and dust. From
the floating masses which cover them
mount impure exhalations. In a pure
life heaven is reflected as in clear wa
ter; the hill sees its reflection and the
stars look at themselves
In the chapter on Wishes, he says:
s"In spite of contrary events and OBJ
scurities of life. to continue to mutually
wish good and happy New. Year. is to
confirm the inallenable right to hope
and.ta better future. A,wish made in
good faith and with all ones heart lis
an act Of faith Humanity needs to
believe and to hope. If it stills lives it
is because it believes in. life. A blind
confidence sustains it. Is it too much
to give to that general confidence an
occasion to manifest itself once year?
do not think SO. On account of that
reason, in spite of all Unpleasant
abuses, 1 am for the old habit of wish
ing. $" While the translation
of any work somewhat impairs its
value, this book of Mr.. Wagners con-
tains great thoughts and will be liked
by his public.
The American Book company is do
ing an excellent thing in publishing
Shalespeare's greatest plays in handy
form for schools and for students of
any age. They have just put out
Romeo and Juliet edited by w. J.
Rolfe. The play is preceded by an in
PRODUCTION which gives it's history and
story of its plot, and is followed by
copious notes. This is a republication
of the play which was made several
years ago by the same firm. The page
has been made smaller to adjust the
volumes to pocket use. The notes have
been carefully revised, being abridged
or expanded as seemed best and many
new ones have been added. Most of
the notes on textual variations are
omitted and for those referring to
other volumes of the series and to GER
tain books of reference new notes have
been inserted, SO that each volume is
now absolutely complete in itself.
Most of the quoted Critical Com
ments'' have been left out, and for
these the author has substituted mat
ter of his own. A concise account of
Shabespeare's meter has been inserted
in each volume, with illustrative ex-
amples from the play. The pictorial
illustrations are all new, those retained
from former editions being re-en-
graved.
Far From the Maddenina eirs-By Guy
Wetmore Carryl. Mcclure. Phillips &
Co. For sale by st. Paul Book and
Stationery company.
AS a lesson to self satisfied bach
elors, this book is Invaluable. 1t re-
counts the experiences of Mr.. Sands,
who is a single man until he reaches
the venerable age of thirty, but when
at that period his uncle dies leaving
him competence, then he straightway
builds him bungalow and becomes a
bachelor. His delight at being far
from all feminine folk is truly pathetic.
Alas, his hopes of solitude are some
what dashed at finding that his near
est neighbor, mile away, is a most
attractive young woman named Susie
Berrith. The manner in which she
ScornS him, fioutS him and manages
him, and the way in which his self
sufficiency is finally humbled, is truly
delightful and makes one of the most
readable little stories which has ap-
peared in many a day. This was the
last work of Mr.. Carryl, who died soon
after it was written.
1t would be quite impossible to do
justice to the cleverness of the tale
without making few quotations:
"A ma once delivered me a homily
on welded bliss, taking as his text a
birds nest which he had discovered in
some shrubbery. He would have drawn
tears from a. stone with his picture OF
the fond couple building their little
ho tor or
giving them lessons in singing and
aerial navigation; and finally parting
the shrubbery, he bade me look within
Indeed I never remember
having been brought in contact with
more eloquent parable. The parent
birds We're from home. and the young