Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-10-25

account Of the PickwickianS' Christ
mas at the Manor Farm, Of the
Adventures there; the tale of the
Goblin who stole a sexton, ana or the
famous sports on the ice. AS written
i'm the Pickwick papers by Charles
Dickens, with illustrations in color
and line by George Alfred Williams;
Price 500: New York; The Baker ~
Taylor Company.
The works Of Dickens lose little Of
their popularity with the lapse Of time
Nowhere does the ScintillatinR
character Of Dickens inimitable humor
appear IN frccr exercise or 10 greater
advantage than in the lightly joined
sketches that make up the "Pickwick
papers" The present volume is made
up of selections from these papers
cInbodyinE the chapters dealing with
the PickWickianS' Christmas at In"
Manor Farm. This IS illustrated III
color ANA line by G"org" Alfred
Williams. and is Il companion To his
very successful "Christmas Carol" Of
last year. 1t is Il superb holiday book
"a genuine masterpiece Of the book
makers art. printed on extra heavy
coated paper, in large clear type and
Supcrbly illustrated Il number Of The
subjects being treated i'll colorS. Mr..
Williams in these illustrations has
givcn the text 4 more Scri.S ana
dignlicd treatment than was accorded
them by the earlier artists. ana it
must b. admitted that The results are
altogether commentaries The ex-
| cellent Introduction to this work
written by Mr.. Williams, who seems
| us ready with his pen as with pencil
and brush, adds materially to the
| interest and value of the book.
| Blind Alleys, a novel Of nowadays, by
George Cary Eggleston, author of "A
| Carolina Cavalier" dorothy South"
etc, illustrated by f. Pollak: J. mo-,
cloth; price $50; Boston; LothrOp, Lee
&. Shepard Co.
| In this novel Mr.. Eggleston. whose
charming stories Of southern life ana
character have endeared him to thou
| sands Of readers, has esSayed a new
| field. "Rlind Alleys" is a story of life
ana work in New York City 1t is GER
| tuinly a bold ana unlocked for de-
| parture from accustomed fields. but il
must be admitted that, in this instance.
il has been attended by unquestioned
success. "Blind Alleys" has a plot at
once original ana full of interest. but
| the author does not undertake to use it
| as backbone for his narrative. 1t
| serves rather as a means Of introducing
his characters.
| Rarely has a novel picturing any Of
| the many phases Of life in the great
| metropolis Undertaken to deal vita 50
| many ana such diverse types of char
| acter as Nj fIgsi"StOn has in rOduC ed
| us to in this book. Moreover he ham
dies thcm-albeit he feels impelled to
disclaim any personal responsibility for
the opinions they eXprcSS-With a judg-
ment and skill that demonstrates the
high character Of his literary work
manshiI. The book is distinctly one of
the best Of the year. 1t is strong in
qualities that appeal to the mind, To-
the heart ana to the conscience 1t
cannot fail to win nierited success
upon its own unqucstioncd merits.
Hearts and The Cross. by Harold
Morton Kramer, illustrated by Harold
Matthews Brett: Il mo-: Cloth: Price,
$50. Boston: Lothrop. Lee & Shep-
ard 90.
This novel from the pen Of an Indi-
ana journalist and portraying with
vivid touch, the life in remote rural
section Of that state. will scarcely fail
to arrest attention ana win meritcd
favor with the reading public. 1t il
strong in the qualities that appeal to
the heart as well as the head. The
| writer has given uS some very clever
character creations. and n plot which
has much Of originality and freshness
| In its unfolding the interest of the
| reader. awakened at the start. is closely
held to the very last word. The at
| moSpherc of this story is strong and
| Wn"l some. In the plain. home
spun life it wildly presents. with
IA sympathetic appreciation Of its
| humorS, as we'll as of its more serious
aspects. are incidents and passages that
| take a strong hold upon the deeper
| things Of life. and which will linger
| long in the memory of the reader. The
hero is a young man who comes unher-
| aided ana unknown. into a small and
somewhat primitive rural community
Here he supports himself by working
as 4 common farm laborer. and preach
ing the gospel on the Sabbath with an
| earncstncSs and eloquence that gathers
about him all the better elements of the
| community. His courage and honesty
| make him some enemies. one of them
| IS an cd lover of the heroine who is in
| spirei by jealous rage. but ultimately
regents. VIXEN he realizes the hopeless
| ness of his suit. and becomes a member
of the young preachers church The
story closes. as it should in the warm
| glow of ,he sunshine 1t is Il book that
| leaves Il good taste in the mouth.
| The Silver Crown, Another book of
| Fables for Old and Young. BY Laura
+. Richards: With ornamental initials
and title-page by Julia Ward Shaw,
and four full-page plates by George AL