New-York tribune., 1906-12-20
HISTORY AND ROMANCE.
Some ErcelIent Books for Young
PeopEe-Games and Open Am Fun.

An interesting and useful work has been pro-
duced by Miss Helen NfcoIay in "The Boys
Life OF Abraham Lincoln CThe Century Com
pany). II is avowedly based on the well known
biography written by John Hay and John J.
Nicolay. The author has performed her task
with good taste and good sense and a
strained enthusiasm which should stir every
young student Of the great Presidents char
acter and career. In the volume entitled Heroes
Every Child Should Know Doubleday, Page &
Co)-a volume admirably edited by Mr.. Hamil-
ton Wright Mabie-washington. Lincoln and
Lee are the three Americans in the splendid list
The selections and adaptations included in this
book are without exception suggestive Of the
high and noble qualities which appeal to gen
erous youth"
valuable and handsomely made little book
is that containing collection Of 'Tales from
Herodotus' IT. 7. Croweu & Coz. compiled by
H L. RaveH Some Of the most vivid. pict-
uresque and inspiring narratives OF the father
OF history are reproduced here. A similar
volume from the same publisher contains some
Of the most effective portions of Sir Walter
Seott's 'TaIes OF Grandfather" These selec-
tons made by NJ. l. Edgar, bear the title Of
STORIES from Scottish History They begin
with the youth OF William Wallace and end
with the accession Of James VI 10 the throne Of
England To Mr.. George p. Uptons series Of
Life Stories for Young People "a. c. Nc
Clurg & Coz have been added two attractive
volumes devoted respectively TO "Barbarossa,'
otherwise the Emperor Frederick I. and TO the
great Prince Of Orange. Both are translated
from the German In 'The Nibelungs' and
-Cudrun' the ancient epics OF Germany have
also been laid under contribution for this series
In THE Odyssey for Boys and Girls CThe Mac
milan Company the Rev. A J. Church has
put into vigorous English prose the most thrill
ing passages in the great epic 1t would be a
young dullard whose pulse would not heat
little faster as he hurries from one fascinating
chapter 10 another.
One Of the best books OF adventure we have
seen in many day is Mr.. Herbert Strangs In
Gives Command CThe Bobbs-Merrin Com
pany0. It recalls in manner and movement the
stories of the late G. A. Henty. and it has a
fiery dramatic quality of It's own. The chapter
in which is described the hero's escape from
slavery the AIalabar coast is one calculated
10 hold the reader In a state Of breathless sus-
pense. Mr.. Etrang does not attempt 10 give a
fun account Of Gives career. the period dealt
with IN the story covering only three years Of
his life. Those were three glorious years, since
they saw the battle Of Plassey and the capture
OF Ciheria. The background OF history provided
for this romance has been carefully evolved from
unlmpeachable sources and the young reader
will get almost as much instruction enter |
taInulent out Of these pages
z Nesbit-otherwise Mrs. Bland-has written /
,r ..r-be Railway Children" CThe Macmillan Com
nanv) a very effective little novel for youngsters
It's plot is improbable enough. but the children /
themselves are charming. They are by turns
naughty and winning. and almost always humor- |
oua G. E Brooks illustrations are as attrac- /
tive as the story itself. The Toy Tragedy CE. /
p r,utton & Coz. by Mrs de Ia Pasture is i'm
nrotable also and sentimental as well: but IT is
,,ndeniabIy interesting. and in chubby Tommy /
q natnts q delightful portrait OF sturdy. warm
,,sarted. literal minded child. Ellen Douglas De-
,ora,s hook, "A Little Son OF Sunshine (Harper
=. Brosl. tslls tbs eteEy q a ahtla 81 haI1x