New-York tribune., 1905-12-02
JUVENILE.
Illustrated Tales Of Home Life and
of Adventure.

One of the most winning of the books meant
for children is Mrs. Richardss story, The Arm
strongs'' Dana Estes & Coz. This daughter Of
Julia Ward Howe has long been known as the
author of tales marked by wholesome common
sense, gentle feeling and irresistible hunor The
letters of the little Armstrong; addressed from
the home Of delightful country cousin to an
invalid mother far away are full of quaint char
acter and natural comicality. The little girl
who is a born dreamer poet and romancer, pict-
ures herself unaffectedly in her epistIes as
does the smallest sister with her extraordinary
spelling her tendency to ''skweel' and her doll
whose nam is Izerbeller.' If anything could
be better than the children's communica-
tions 1t Is the "life story of shrewd, humorous
Gregory, the "hired man." which May the ro-
mancer. sets down in faithful admiration. Even
a "grown-up" may take pleasure in the anus
ing little book. Another Juvenile which has
tenderness and fun is Miss Evelyn sharp's
'AIicky'' (The Macmillan Company. Two
naughty but lovable boys are the heroes Of the
story, one rather prim but well meaning little
girl is the heroine and their experiences are
full of fascinating 'make-believe'' ending in the
smallest boys unintentional flight with an aero
bat It is possible that there are few young
sters as clever as these; If So their proceedings
should serve to cultivate imagination in the real
little people who are too prosaic.
Beaufort Chums" (Thomas Y. Crowell & Coz
is the title of what a practical boy would prob
ably call "a corking good story" of youthful ex-
periences on the shore of the Mississippi. Nr.
Edwin L. sabin has put so much gusto into the
recital that we suspect the tale has foundation
Of truth The June rise Of the river in flood
furnishes a most picturesque chapter and intro
duces to Ned and Hal, the leading boy charac-
ters, a dear friend in Bob, puppy. Full Of lively
incident are the accounts of the great lumber |
fire. the breakwater accident, the fishing camp
on the river, the campaign parade ana the |
county fair. The lucky boy who finds this pooh
on the Christmas tree will hold his breath IN
excitement when he reads of Neds accident at
this most interesting fair How about getting
carried up, not in, but outside, balloon! A
much more romantic book for boys is MI Kirk
Munroes story, For the NGtkado" (Harper &
Bros) one of it's characters is a Japanese
student at Annapolis, a fine young fellow; an
other is his best friend and roommate. clever
American How these two youths find them
selves in the midst of the war between Russia |
and JAPAN how they taste some Of the |
horrors of a Siberian prison, how they
have wild adventures aboard submarine boat
all this is told with great spirit. We find our
selves quite in the position of the commander |
of the Japanese torpedo boat, who boarding
at Tsu-shina an incoming ship discovers there
on but two of his own countrymen and is
told that they, aided only by a young American
had captured a submarine from the Russians,
with il had compelled the surrender of the ship,
incidentally sinking Russian destroyer with
all on board and then, after queiling two mu
TIMES had brought their prizes safely across the
Japan Sea" Little happenings Of this kind are
all in the days work of these young heroes, and
it must be admitted that they very enter
tanning indeed. A book equally crammed with
excitement is Mr.. Herbert Strangs story, THE
Adventures of Harry Rochester" &C. P. Putnams
sons. This is tale of the days of the Duke
of Marlborough and Of Prince Eugene, and
Harry Rochester goes from thrilling situa-
ton to another The author tells US that he has
not only wished to tell a good story-which he
has certainly done-but has aimed to give some
account of the operations that resulted in va
rious brilliant British victories, and to throw
some light on the European life and manners of
two hundred years ago. He is TO be congrat-
ulated on his success. as no doubt many young
readers with rapt joy viii testify.
Anna Chaplin Ray has presented in Sidney:
Her Summer on the ST. Lawrence Uittle.
Brown & Co.) a story which is at once amusing
and improving. The young heroine is healthy
minded. sweet souled true hearted girl who,
without the least priggishness. helps as she
goes along. Contrasts in other characters make
her all the more attractive. The least engaging
in the book is the very bad little boy.
who is becoming something of bore. This one
s distinguished from his confreres only by the
possession Of a xylophone, a cloth elephant and
the name of Bungay. story less probable than
hat OF Sidney IS Evelyn Raynond's "The Brass
bound Box" Dana Estes & Coz. The scene
S old fashioned country place, and there are
secret chamber and box mysteriousy lost
which play important parts In the plot.