Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-29

Miss Frances Baird. at low ebb in her
professional fortunes, Is given the oppor-
| tunity to rehabilitate herself in the eyes of
| her chief. What seems like a simple enough
| assignment, to watch the Denneen dia-
| monds until they are safely presented to
| Mr.. James J. Denneen's prospective daugh-
| term Law, is turned into serious problem
| through an inexplicable crime which occurs
| on the eve of what was to have been a bril-
| liant wedding. This problem the superiority
! of feminine insight is able to solve in the
1 very unexpected denouement. The fact
| that in so doing Miss Baird is able unself-
| ishly to act the part OF a scourging and Il
| rewarding providence adds, of course. to the
| interest of the story.
| AMERICAN HERO STORIES. BY Eva
| March Tappan. Pho. Boston, New
| York. Chicago: Houghton. Mifflin e
| Co.
| Miss Tappan has gathered together in
| this attractive volume accounts of the
| most significant representatives of those
| types of explorer, pioneer. warrior. which
| have been chiefly instrumental in making
| the American nation what it is today. The
| stories of the lives of these men are clearly
| and invitingly told. The series is chrono-
| logically arranged with connection enough
between the different chapters to retain the
| interest of the boys and girls for whom
| the volume is destined. The book Will
prove valuable one in the attempt to
1 make history awe anu appealing to the
| Juvenile world. american Hero Stories
! Is adequately illustrated and the type is
| clear and good.
KATRINA. BY Roy Rolfe ellison. Illus
trated by Alice Barber stephens New
York: The Baker & Taylor Company
1t has been matter of uncertainty among
| those who have been charmed with the dis
| tinct and individual charm of Mr.. Gibson S
| sketches, whether he would be able, in eX-
/ tending his field, to sustain his tone. In
| Katrina he has proved himself in large
| part, successful in doing this. 1t is not
| radical departure. 1t is still the magical es-
sence of childhood which is the theme But
| it is that essence distilled over the barren
| field of years, and revivifying and recreat-
| ing glamour.
| The story is of Larry McRae and Katrina
Larry McRae is a veteran newspaper man
of whimsical humor and whimsical kindly
ness. but the springs of youth have been
dried up in him until he meets Katrina.
In her he lives over again the story of its
life and dreams over its dreams. What
magic it is, beside the white magic of child
hood and belief in things that she brings
to his aid it Is the Office of Mr. Gilson's
story to develop. But he lives 1t over. even
to the end-and the end is the repetition of
the earlier story.
Larry McRae is a distinct creation He
Is, to some extent. newspaper type, and
he sounds true to newspaper men--as there
| is every reason he should 50. since he is the
fruit OF Mr.. Gilsons own experience in the
journalistic world. Larry Is compounded OF
quaint wisdom and of kindly impulse. Ka-
trina Is most successful as character in
her sweet girlhood. The child phases seem
sometimes a little forced. but her serious
ness. which no one would exchange for the
most ringing merriment. remains safely
in No of -hn
have known of her.
The glimpses of the newspaper world
which Mr.. ellison gives are delightful
comedy. THE Cub Reporters Tale and
Higher Things are to be enjoyed to the
full. Sometimes the reader might be more
prone to believe in the wit of Larry's Cap
and Bells if he were not told what he said.
But that is the common fate of the wit
monger.
In Katrina Mr.. ellison has written
charming story rich with much homely and
familiar wisdom. The style is flexible and
pervaded with genial glow Of humor
NEW APPRAISAL OF CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE. By Joseph Dunn BurreH
New York and London: Funk & Wag.
nails Company.
Many people will feel that in this little
book Mr.. Burrell has filled a want 1t is
clear and condensed treatment of the his
tory and principles of Christian Science.
NIL Dui ieii Silo"o tuo iuuucuC6 WHICH
probably were formative Of Mrs. Eddy's
philosophy. The attitude of criticism will
of course, not be approved by the Christian
Scientists themselves. who now number ac-
cording to figures quoted by Mr.. Burrell,
II ia. Those who are out of the fold. how
ever, will probably be interested in a calm
analysis
STAND PAT; or, POKER STORIES FROM
THE MISSISSIPPI. BY David A Cur
it's 1lNSf hv Henry OIL
York: l.. c. Page & Co. Washington:
Woodward & LothrOp.
A group of short stories, each one COM
plete in itself, but relating to the same per-
sonages and the same locality. is a popular
form of fiction today. Many of Mr.. Curtis
poker stories have appeared in the New
York Sun To the devotees of the great
American game these sketches of the vari-
Gus ways of cards and the men who deal
them will prove highly entertaining They
are ingenious and full of the atmosphere
of the wild life the upper Missfssippi
when every boat brought it's keen-eyed
gamblers to relieve the natives of their saw
ings. Stumpy and Gallagher and Long
Mike, with their colleagues, take part in
many episodes that are as full of the dra-
matte quality of surprise as was Pete Ken
ny's royal flush
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. Bv
George Hodges. With frontispfece por-
trait. New York: Doubleday Page &
CO. Washington: Woodward q 10th
rop.
Mr.. Hodges essay has distinct charm not
only In the convincing manner in which he
supports his arguments as to the funda-
mental helps to happiness, but also In the
ripe scholarship which gives all of his
pages simple and graceful style and a
wealth of allusion. His expedients for the |
attainment of happiness are determination
regulation, proportion, vision. ministra ton, |
and finally. religion. 1t may be suspected |
that the didactic purpose of the essay would |
make a distinct sermon of the pursuit of |
happiness. but SO sincerely has the thought |
been. presented and so imaginatively has |
the way been shown by Mr. Hodges that |
the book is real literary as well as moral |
treat.
THE WORLDS CHRISTMAS TREE. By |
Charles E. Jefferson. New York: |
Thomas Y. Crowell & Co
Selfshness in giving during the season
Of the great humanitarian feast has been
the theme Of many sermons, but 1t has
been left for vigorous speaker as Dr.
Jefferson to remind the generous that the
immaterial gifts to humanity in the spirit
INV, ss, l1Lr |