davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
Bierce's Collected Criticisms
Are TireSOn1e.

For many years the various weeklies
and dailies to which Ambrose Berce
has been contributor have published
little paragraphs from the "Cynic's
Word Book These he has now gath
cred into a volume of some bulk. AS
paragraphs they were amusing, but
in book form they grow tiresome Here
ie sample.
Liver, IA large red organ thought
fully provided by nature to be bilious
with. The sentiments and emotions
which every literary anatomist now
knows to haunt the heart were an
GENTLY believed to infest the liver;
and even Gascoygne- speaking of the
emotional side of human nature, called
1T .oure hepatticale parte.' 1t was at
one time considered the seat of life,
hence it's name-liver. the thing We
live with The liver is heavens best
gift to the goose: without it that bird
would be unable to supply us with
the Strasburg pate
doubleday, Page & Co., New York.
Price SID
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
Exquisite Is This Romance
of Old Japan.

It seems a pity to dispose of book
SO exquisite as The Dragon Painter"
in a short review. Klaus Indara. last
of his race and last OF mighty line Of
artists. his daughter. Uine-Ko. and
Tatsu. the wild mountain artist. the
dragon painter. are the chief characters
in this charming concert. The story Of
the meeting of Uine-Ko and Tatsu.
their betrothal. despite the protests of
Nata, the old nurse of the family. and
the subsequent dramatic events. are all
pictured with the same careful work
manship and brilliant background that
have characterized Mrs. Fenollosa. s
previous works. Truth Dexter and
The Breath of the Gods" written I'M
der the pen name of Sidney Mccall.
1t may interest the reader to know
that she is an American by birth. but
has lived much in Japan. and. curiously
enough, wrote her American story.
Truth Dexter" in Japan. and her Jap
anese tragedy. 1.-THE Breath of the
Gods" in Alabama
The Dragon Painter" is her most
finished and artistic work. representing
years OF careful study of these mys-
teriously interesting people. 1t is more
than well worth reading; il is certain
ly one of the prettiest and most attrac-
tive novels of the year.
(Littlc, Brown & Co, Boston. Price
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
New Treatment of Washing
ton Society Life.

In The Imperso- ator" Mary INLAY
Taylor has given us a clever novel of
washington society life, subject
somewhat overdone these last few
years While the plot is slightly sug-
gestive of The Masquerade" of a few
seasons ago, its treatment is entirely
new
The events-almost climaxes-follow
each other fast and ever faster through
$50 pages Of conledy-almost ira gedy at
times-and hold the readers interest
20 the Iast word 1t is well written
and the picture Of diplomatic life in
Washington, while hardly pleasant, is
not in the least overdrawn. we are
sorry to confess
The story is in a happier and lighter
vein than the authors earlier Efforts
and the love motive running through
Il is almost old fashioned in it's sweet
simplicity. Good illustrations by Oh.
Grunwald add to the attractiveness of
the volume.
little. Brown & Co. Boston s1.50.)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
Fine New Edition of Mr.. Pickwick's Christmas

x MOST exquisite edition of Mr. Pickicks Christmas"
~ beautifully illustrated
has been published in day The pictures in color
and line Alfred Williams whose edition
the Hearth marked success last year As Mr. Williams
appear pictures but the his public
called the talented pencils from George Cruhank
o Frederick Barnard"
Forster the biogaphc Dickens, rarely
aon were
to be
by
us rousng Wrinkle Snodgrass
and areher become human possibilities
Baker & Taylor Company, New York Price 5000
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
BOOKS RECEIVED.

MANUAL OF STYLE-The Univers-
fly of Chicago Press. Chicago.
ARE YOU A BROMIDEABy Gelets
Burgess; B. W. Huebsch. New York
.SALyAGE-By J. Aquila Kempster;
d. Appleton & Co. New York
RICH MEMS CHILDREN-By Ger
aldine Bonner: The Bobbs-MerrilI Com
pany. indianapolis
BEACHED KELSEY Henry NJ.
Rideout; Houshton. Miflin & Co, New
York
THE PETTIsON TwINsABy Marion
Hill: Mcclure. Phillips & Co. New
York
THE PLow-woMAN-B Eleanor
Gates: Mcclure. Phillips & Co, New
York.
SIR NICELY A. Conan Doyle;
Mcclure. Phillips & Co. New York.
PARDNER OF BLOSSOM RANGE
BY Frances Charles; Little. Brown &
Co.. Boston.
AMERICAN FINANcE-By W. r.
lawson: William Blackwood & Sons.
THE HIDDEN MANY Charles
FELTON, Pidgin; Mayhem Publishing
Company. Boston
THE SLAVE OF SILENC&By Fred
NJ White; Little. Brown & CO.. Boston
THE GOOSE GIRI-By Lucy Fitch
Perkins; A c. McClurg & Co. Chi
cago.
THE GOOD FAIRY AND THE BUN
Messy Allen Ayrault Green; A c.
McClurg & Co. Chicago.
THE ROOSEVELT BEARS-By Sey-
mour Eaton Edward Stern & Co. Phil
adelphia-
CRUMBS AND HIS TISfES4Bv Do
1ores Bacon; Doubleday. Page & Co..
New York
SET IN AUTHORITY-By sara Jean
cite Cotes: Doubleday. Page & Co.
New York.
THE CYNICs WORD BOOK-By Am
brose Bierce: Doubleday. Page & Co,
New York
CONFESSIONS OF HEATHER
IDOL-By' Marion Lee; Doubleday.
Page & Co. New York.
THE JOYOUS MIRACLE-By Frank
Norris: Doubleday. Page & Co, New
York.
PUCK OF POOR'S HILL-By Rud-
yard Kiplins. Doubleday, Page & Co,
New York
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

pieces the chance of a longer date by
collecting them between covers The
book is handsomely illustrated record
of this rapid transcontfnentaI trip.
which occupied less than a fortnight
from New York The account is also
made the vehicle of sundry patriotic
and philosophical reflections adapted
to stimulate reflection on the part of
subsequent voyagers by the same route
None OF the pictures that have been
published of Mrs. Deland are portraits
in the true sense of portraiture" says
a writer in the New York Times. upon
his return from an interview with the
author of The Awakening of Helena
Richie" Possibly this is because she
resents pose of any kind. and pho
Biography insists that people should
dissemble. The easiest way to picture
Mrs. Deland for those who have only
seen her portrait is to say that she
reminds one most of Mrs. Kendall the
English matron of the theater. Mrs
Deland is not as tall as Mrs. Kendall
but she has the same precise. brown
hair. the keen. kindly eve. the most
natural. convincing sincerity of man
ner. and the round, rich tones in speak
ing that are the echoes of tempera-
ment convinced.
The impression that Mrs Deland is
New England matron can exist only
among those who have never met her.
and because she lives in Boston. Ex-
cellent product as rhe New England
matron is. she lacks the most attract
i've ingredient Of prudence broad
proportion OF charity. that distinguish
es Mrs. Deiand's perception Of human
nature from the circumspect focus Of
purest Boston"
Is the Decent magazine passing
Slowly but surely the dime month";
magazines are e1evating themselves t.
15-centers. some of them openly and
brazenly, others without making any
announcement whatever. Everybodv's
and Tom Watson's have for some time
been on the lucent counter, and now
Smiths joins the group. Opinions Will
differ whether this state OF affairs Is
calamity or public benefaction. II
the reader Is follower OF the Tarbell-
Steffens school OF reform he may de-
plore the raise. but II he has been
nauseated more or less by the muck
raking" he is likely to conclude that
any movement tending TO the abbre-
Walton of its circulation is a beneficial
one.
England. usually so slow Of apprecia-
tion in regard to American books, has
give enthusiastic welcome TO Mrs
Deland's recently published MASTER
piece. The Awakening of Helena
Richie, and the fourth English edi-
ton has just appeared
The French critics with one accord
agree in. comparing that delicate and
penetrating art of Ivan Strannik with
that OF Maoterlinck in common power
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
Prince Fishes Well But
Makes Love Poorly.

The Prince Goes Fishing" by Eliza
beth Duer, strikes no new note in plot
and style The story is reminiscent of
Anthony Hope. with all his charm and
grace of style. but lacking his origin
atty. One finds oneself waiting to
the very end of the book for the love
story to develop. but it never gets
much beyond the gay borderland OF
lovemaking. Curiosity rather than any
compelling interest holds one to the
reading of it. It has a few good illus
trations and is well printed and leaves
good impression. The book does not
provoke criticism. for ii leaves one in
such an amiable mood. but it has hard
~ enough real lovcmaking in it to
commend itself as love story. the
love passages being suggested rather
than described
Cd. Appleton & Co. New York. $500
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
a Tale of Ancient Treasure
and the South.


The Treasure of Peyre GailIard. y
by John Bennett. is the story of a
cryptogram and its unraveling A
legend in the old Gaillard family tells
of untold wealth in gold and Jewels
buried by an ancestor in time of
trouble. The family is now in dire
stress and poverty. At this crisis a
young eurveyor cousin from the north
comes down, works out the cryptic
gram and finds the treasure buried in
swamp The tale of his clever un-
rayeling of the mystery is equaIed
only by the chapter which contains
the adventures of the treasure seeker
through the swamp.
Mr.. Bennett is a deep student of
subjects dealing with the South, plan
tation folk, music. primitive African
communal balladry in America and
kindred subjects
tThe Century Company, New York.
Price $500
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
| Scholarly Statement of
the Negro Question.

s1The Voice of the Third Generation"
by Henry Peck Fry. is an unpreten-
tious pamphlet. but it contains most
scholarly statement of the negro ques-
ton. plea from the third generation
of the South to the third generation
of the North and East and West to
notice and then investigate the ff-
teenth amendment.
1t is no literary dreamer's notion of
how race difficulties should be adj
justed. but n calm yet impassioned
statement Of fact and reasonable sug
gestion of remedy by lawyer of
patent ability.
published by the author at Chatta-
nooga, Tenn Price IS cents)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
The Chinese Question in
Twins Poetry.

The Chinese question worries the
rest of the United States more than it
IS the native Californian. But it
does seem as if the most bitter Chino
phobe might be convinced to at least
a passing tolerance by Wallace r.
wins verse. "Ybu Sabe Me contained
in his new short collection Of China
town Ballads
It is A refugees story of his ex-
periences after the great disaster in
San Francisco, his hurried trip from
the north to his home to find his
wife and child in all that maelstrom
OF horror faithfully cared for by his
Chinese cook
The first verse tells a great deal in
its eight short lines:
Believe in Chinese excIusjons
Well. maybe / did before
The day Of the great confusion
when the quake in its wrath uptore
The roots OF the town. and the Reaper
The faith of a race that's deeper
Than any exclusion law.
The nrst ballad in the book, Young
Mr.. YAM is in sentiment slightly
reminiscent of Bret Harte. but appeals
70 all who know the Chinese character.
The last verse is typical:
What has become OF young Mr. Van?
You car take Chink away from lis fan,
Awsy from lis lotteries 6ddles am loss
You can give his queue to the barber boss:
But you can't git down 10 the roots that start
From the yeller base OF is yeller heart
The illustrations by E. C. Peixotto.
while very dainty, are not good enough
for the ballads. which are more than
very good. These pictures seem weak
and hurried and altogether somewhat
of disappointment Better things are
expected of Mr. Peixotto
Cox, Dufleld & Co., New York Price
$3.50
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
New Fairy Tales Are Told
BY Mrs. Burnett.

Frances Hodgson Burnett has turned
her dainty pen to fairy tales and if this
one, "Racketty- Packetty House is a
sample. the children of this generation
will have something entirely new to
delight them. 1t is a story fof cast-off
dolls house when the new fine dolls
house arrives, and the sad tales of the
old. broken and ragged dolls when the
new ones take their places for q time
in the petted owners heart. The book
is exquisitely illustrated with twenty
pictures in color by Harrison Cady. and
illustration means much to the child.
(The Century Company, New York.
Price so cents.)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
A Clever. New Story by
JuSfuS Miles FOrman.

Justus Miles Forman, whose Tommy
Carteret" was last season delight, has
just published 'Buchanan's Wife" The
heroine is a beautiful girl forced by
her family to marry for money. Soon
her husband disappears and a year
later body is found and Beatrix allows
it to be identified as that of Buchanan.
her husband. Her marriage to an early
lover follows and then begins the really
dramatic rush Of events that sweeps
on to a skillfully concealed climax.
Forman is essentially q modern and a
craftsman Of no mean parts One finds
him in every magazine with any pre-.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

example: Tine Salvation Army reaches
a class of people that churches never
do" or, The Japanese are such an in
teresting little people, or, If you saw
that sunset painted in a picture you'd
never believe 1t would be possible"
burgess explains that st IS not mere
" because this remark is trite that il
is bromide; it is because that. with the
BrSmider. the remark is inevitable. One
expects it from him and one is never
disappointed Burgess himself we
would say, is true example of the
Sulphite.
We cannot refrain from quoting a de-
scription of a Sulphite. which fits him
only too well: The Sulphite. from his
very nature, must continually surprise
You by an unexpected course of action.
what he will say or do. He is always
sulphitic: but as often impossible. He
will not bore you. but he may shock
you. You find yourself watching hin
TO see what is coming next. and it M
be a subtle jest. a paradox or an atrf
cious violation of etiquette
The little essay is bit too long so il
grows heavy toward the last with dis
cussion more interesting to the scientist
than the casual reader. The most
amusing part of it is the list of bro
midioms and the first explanation of
them- To two or them. however. we do
take exception; they do not seem to be
true examples of bromidioms.
Now you have found the way. do
come often and Come ND and see us
any time. You'll have to take pot luck
but you're always welcome" Those
speeches are usually made honestly
with real hospitabe intent from the
heart out as it were Just there Bur-
CESS is too cynical The booklet is at
tractively printed. with decorations by
the author.
(B. W. Hnbsch, New York. Price soc,
postage SCI
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
An Interesting Guide t,
Marin County.

"In Tamal Land" by Helen Bing-
ham. is sufficiently interesting guide
book of Marin County, written with
more fidelity to the facts than atten-
ton to literary craftsmanship. The
cover design is beautiful and the book
is profusely illustrated with photo
graphs. Besides the usual guide book
information there are a few anecdotes
of early settlers and explanations of
the county named The book is an
honest description of its subject and
gives good picture of that attractive
county
lThe Calkins Publishing Company.
San Francisco. Price So
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
"The Face of Clay" Is Well
Worth Readfnp.

An interesting book is at hanc in
The Face of Clay" by Horace Annes-
ley Nachree, the Englishman who spent
some time in California a few years
ago and gave us then Life and Sport
on the Pacific Slope" and a group of
novels. He has not exhibited the best
literary taste in the novel. which is fill
ed with footnotes, chapter verses, dedi-
cation. etc. all in French.
A Breton background for the story.
full of color. and some well done artists
for the principal characters make this
story with its original plot yell worth
reading.
CDodd. Mead & Co. New York.
Price S1.50)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
Gossip Concerning Folk Who
Have Written.

Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons an
nounce among their publications for
the autumn a small illustrated vol
ume entitled Westward the Course Of
Empire" by Montgomery Schuyler. Mr..
Schuyler spent the closing weeks OF
1905 on the Los Angeles Limited" the
new train and the new route of the
Union Pacific and its associated roads
direct from Chicago to Southern Cali
fornia. He contributed his observa-
lions and reflections to the New York
Times. and it seemed worth while to
the publishers to give these fugitive
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
GeIett Burgess New Essay
Is Like Him.

Are You Bromide7" by Gelett Bur-
CESS, is a satiric little essay which can
hardly be discussed in commentaries.
He has divided the whole human race
into two classes-the Bromides and the
Supplies. The Bromides are disciples
of the obvious. the staid, respectable
people who never outrage public opin-
ion. sticklers for conventionality; peo-
pie who make trite remarks with an
air Of clever originality and SNUG self
satisfaction. The Bromide says. for
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
Sickening Situation: a Dis
agreeable Book.

The Avenging Hour" by H F. Pre-
vost Battersby, is a disagreeable book,
written around more sickening situ-
alton than the typical problem novel,"
all sense of decency having been ig-
nored. We are finally given to under
stand that the hero and heroine of
this unconvincing and unwholesome
story are to live happily after their
few uncomfortable years. There is
no excuse for the story 1t is un-
reasonable. unpleasant and not even
well written
Cd. Appleton & Co. New York. Price
41.5O.1
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
Henry M. Hyde's New Book
Is the Old Story.

1t may not profit one to be too
critical. for. after all, there is really
nothing new under the SUM-" THE
Upstart." by Henry M. Hyde, is a good
enough story If one has not read Tark-
ington's Conquest of Canaan" In
THE Upstart'' the poor. abused boy
stays at home and by the hardest kind
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

most modern. but the style is school
bookish. 1t drags. and is neither witty
nor engaging. His attempts at wit take
modern slangy form occasionally. To
speak of George II as a "boozing SOW
ereign" is out of all harmony with the
dignity of the subject
A dry book. with no new matter in
II. and little or no charm in the telling.
The print is small and poor
tMitchell kennerley, New York. Price
sI.5O.)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
A Dry Book Is This Story OF
the Love of Kings.

Edgar Saltus' Historic Amoris" is
what it's name implies history Of
love as IL has affected some conspicuous
actors in the worlds history. He pre-
sents to US many familiar anecdotes Of
people. nythoIogical-histo and al
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
Two Emerson Essays in the
Thur7bnaH Series.

To the little "Thumbnail Series" has
been added a new volume containing
the two best known of Emerson's Es-
says-"Friendship' and Character"
Added interest is given to this little
book by the essay on Emerson's per-
sonality by Emma Lazarus. The
frontispiece is a photogravure repro
duction of Daniel Chester French's
bust of Emerson.
Century Company, New York. Price
S1)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

tensions to smartness and one lakes
him there with interest. welcoming him
as among those who see and make their
readers all real people moving about a
real world. This and his earlier book
are evidence that he is something more
than a once a-month entertainer.
(Harper & Bros, New York. Price
$500
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
"The Joyous Miracle" as 4
Holiday Booklet.

That exquisite little book by the
late Frank Norris, an incident in the
life of Christ. "The Joyous Miracle has
been done into dainty booklet for the
holidays. 1t is one of the most grace
full children of Norris pen. and the
present edition of 1t is most attractive
doubleday, Page & Co., New York.
Price so centS)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

of work and with everything against
him ultimately wins success and hap
piness enough for what would be on
the stage the conventional fourth act.
Century Company. New York. Price
s1.5O.)
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

Another story by Onoto watanna-
= story IN her pre-empted VENTS "A
Japanese Blossom" The narrative re-
lates 20 the comedy of life in family
consisting OF five Japanese children
with a Japanese father and grand
mother and an American stepmother
with two American children Of her
own However. the international
complications are not wholly domestic
The Russo-Japanese war also enters
into the authors calculations, and the
father and the eldest OF her japanese
children are serving at the front
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

Du Maurier was so when he gave
'Trilby" 10 the world. but De Morgan.
whose Joseph Vance" has just ap-
peared and Is receiving high praise
both here and in England. il over 10.
and he is said to be still hearty and
writing other novels
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

The new Marion Crawford novel, "A
Lady OF Rome" Is IN certain respects
a return to the scene and style OF some
OF his earlier books. Indeed IL is said
to be more like The Heart OF Rome
than any other OF his novels of the last
half dozen years
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

A new edition Of Andrew Carnegie's
Empire Of Business has Just been
brought out in London Mary Dillon 3
political novel, The Leader" and Ham
lin Garland's book. ~Witch's Cold
have just been published in ENGLAND
and Australia
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

The Macmillans are publishing
White Fang by Jack London. which
is announced TO be of the same kind
and quality as The Call OF the Wild"
The scene Is again the frozen north
and the characters are animals and
men engaged IN the savage struggle for
existence up under the Arctic
Early American publication is an
nounced by the Macmillan Company OF
the memoirs of the late Chancellor
Prince Won Hohenlohe. which have been
the great literary sensation of the year
in Europe.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

OF creating purely Interior Grams. ORA
mas OF the soul in which external
evonts and the external world are i'm
portant only as sign posts OF spiritual
moods ard moral crises.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

The French critics with one accord
agree IN comparing that delicate and
penetrating art OF Ivan Strannik with
that Of Maoterlinck In common power