New-York tribune., 1905-08-19

ductive labor OF the soil. In the mean time
great wave of philanthropy swept over the land
induced by the need of providing for those who
were deprived of their usual means OF liveli-
hood-a philanthropy rendered the less onerous
since most of the former luxuries OF the wealthy
were either not available or incongruous
1t will not, perhaps, be wise to test the au-
thor's fancy too closely with fact In those tribes
which most nearly approximate to the state in
which London found itself do not discover
conditions such Mr.. Dickberry would lead us
TO believe absence from clothing would en-
gender. Social distinctions exist among them.
ranging from royalty to slavery. There are
wars and cruelty, envy. hatred, malice and
superstition. Indeed the author skilfuly avoids
the possibility of such a test. AS the Great
Storm is only a supposition so are its
consequences merely intended as suggestions.
Whether or not follow them TO their logical
conclusions, cannot fail to admit the
authors sincerity and to admire his cleverness
and cleanness.
For dish of rich romance, splced with abun-
dance Of adventure and served with a sauce OF
gentle humor, The Monks Treasure is an
admirably satisfactory concoction. Mr. Horton
does not take himself too seriously in his tale of
the lnfatuation of a susceptible young Chi
cagoan for the maid of all work of an American
missionary to of the Greek islands, who
turns out to be a long lost duchess, with un-
suspected fortune concealed in the crypt of a
neighborng monastery. He carries off his hero's
and heroine's thrilling adventures and hair
breadth escapes with a lightsome touch that rem
ders anything but happy ending inconceiv-
able. Even the long frustrated and frequently
dangerous efforts OF the Chicago youth and his
| Scotch companion to gain forcibe possession Of
the hidden treasure partake rather of the nature
| OF huge practical joke. Poetical justice is
nieted out with spendthrift hand. Improbable
as the story is, ii deals with just such a madcap
! enterprise as would appeal to q Chicago hero;
| and as related by the author it is an efectual
antidote boredom on vacation journey, q
rainy Saturday or a lonely evening.
! The author of THE Black Motor Car is in
1 deadly, very deadly earnest in his recital Of
| the adventures of that mysterious automobile
and it's demoniacal inventor and owner. The
| novel reeks with crime from its first page to its
| last. It is melodrama carried to the nth"
power. Enbezzlement, imprisonment, revenge,
| robbery. murder, mystery, torture above ground
| and below. follow in rapid and grewsome pro-
| cession Thrill succeeds thrill true love treads
| a stony path. and through it all the black motor
! car leaves havoc. horror and rapine in its wake
| The plot is as intricate as the mechanism or
the motor and full of surprises. Withal. the
story is told with certain crude. nervous force.
| and once the reader allows HlHlSelL W JIG Ai'N'
ested he is carried along despite the books un-
| wholesomeness and patent absurdities. That is
| the best and perhaps the worst that can be SAID
Of IT.
| Miss OConnors story OF homesteading ex-
| periences in the oregon Coast Range is hearty
natural tale Of outdoor American life for young
people who are old enough to look out for tnem-
| selves and to appreciate a suggestion or ro-
nance The vanishing Swede' Is an elusive
silver mine, in pursuit of which the leading
characters devote most of their spare energy
leading them into mysterious relations with
leather clad hermit and exciting adventures
with bears mountain lions, claim jumpers and
other lively inhabitants of the woods.