Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-28

the minions of a Chinese mandarin over
the possession of the mandarins pretty
niece. to learn some Of the secrets of the
negotiations between the Japanese and Chi
nese governments for the discontinue of
Russia during the war. Consequently the
mandarin was forced to adopt strenuous
expedients to prevent Grafton from max
ing use of his knowledge. The English
man was imprisoned on board a Japanese
warship, and his successive escapes and
recaptures form a dramatic chain of hap
peril. His escape. his return to England
and then his arrival in Washington
bearer of important dispatches for the
British ambassador start this sprightly tale
forward on its second round of interest
compelling narration. The love story be-
comes involved. The Chinese princess is
coerced into marriage with her japanese
admirer. Graftons life is placed again in
for position. diplomatic and romantic and
finally the story closes with an exciting
motor chase for the altar. where the right
people are eventually welded and the cur
tain rings down on the stage after tu-
multuous and altogether dramatic course
of adventures. The author has handled
her situation admirably and gives the
reader succession Of electric shocks.
AT THE SIGN of THE DOLLAR. By
Wallace Irwin. Pictures by E. w.
Kemble. New York: Fox, Duffleld s.
Co.
For several seasons discerning ones have
been reaching the conclusion that out of the
far west a new and vital force has come In
the person of Wallace Irwin, one of the
younger rhymsters, but already rated as
one of the cleverest and most foreeful. Mr..
Irwins work has been recognized as pos
sessing the quality that takes it out Of the
class of the ephemeral verse of the days
newspaper output. Striking the note of
timeliness, it always catches the true spirit
of the period, and thus In these collected
examples, appropriately titled AT the Sign
of the Dollar" he sings the song of six
pence in modern terms and in manner to
insure endurance. Mr.. Kembe's comical
illustrations aptly reproduce the spirit of
the lines, which treat playfully of the vari-
Gus phases of the "frenzed finance ques-
lions of the time. Mr.. Irwins PREDATORY
verses are worth reproducing:
AT the Sign of the Dollar the Pilgrim lags
And the Saint drives up, with his money bags.
Tinke- and chink goes the merry din
OF the Rll-night game they are playing within
''Ho! Mr. Landlord welcome them all,
Saint and sinner mighty and small,
While the shorn lambs bleat and gold calves bawl
At the jolly old Sign Of the Dollar!
''At the Sign of the Dollar the bets fly fast
As under the table BIZ. the cards are passed;
With the loaded dice which be slyly shakes.
Statesman. lawyer business man
Rob as-rob- Will catch catch-can,
At the jolly old Sign of the Doar!"
THUMB-NAIL sERIES-THE CHIMES;
Goblin Story of Some Bells that
Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year
In. By Charles Dickens. New York:
The Century Company.
A dantier and more attractive edition OF
this beautiful holiday tale by the master of
fiction could not well be conceived than this
presentation in the "thumb-nail' series,
Ing designed by Blanche McManus Mans
THE IRRATIONAL KNOT. BY Bernard
Shaw. New York: Brentano's.
The title page explains. evidently at the
dictation of the author, that this Is the
second novel of his homage" Mr.. Shaw
seems unduly sensitive. He apparently does
not wish that there should be any DISPOSE
ton to mistake "The Irrational Knot"
though now published for the first time In
book form, after twenty-five years. for one
OF his recent works. And. lest there be
any suspicion in the premises. he goes to
the trouble of writing long preface to the
American edition. IN which he explains how
he came to write thi3 novel, how 1t was In
part published by Mrs. Besant In her little
propagandist magazine. and how It has
slumbered ever since, partly In manuscript
Indeed, he acknowledges to have sent T to