The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-12
BOOKS AND

have no adequate COMPARISON save In VIC
vagaries OF the weather report. since the
fluctuations OF the Thermometer have been
scientifically recorded the average tenn
perature Of the years has varied scarcely
a degree although there have been some
record breaking seasons. And In the DOCK
trade, though there have been fiat springs
they have been succeeded by brisk au-
tnmna, or an iytermediate season OF
steady sales, untE each year the tale oil
books bought and sold increases steadily.
Various and conflicting reasons are given
for the dull spring-the dearth OF really
great books, the popularity Of out OF door
sports, the motor craze, the general pros
perity Of the country which increases travel
and the San Francisco disaster which di-
verted the stream OF wealth to relieve
distress. But whether 1t is a matter OF in
dividual caprice, the aul OF golf or the
condition OF the stock market the lean
spring Is being followed by a promising
| autumn and this year. like every year since
the book revival OF the past decade, bids
fair TO show a decided advance in book
sales over Its predecessors.
The new Kipling book which will be
published in October under the title OF
~ROCK OF TOOK 3 Itll IN u ColACSeioA Va
imaginary tales written for children but
so much concerned with historical Tact
that they will arouse the interest as well
as require the Interpretation Of older read
ers as well. These stories, like others which
KipinR has written Of late years for Juve-
niles, were originally prepared for the enter
tainment Of his own children, and It IL said
that the royalties on the book will go directly
to the youthful readers who have been its
first critics. Two imaginative children
Dan and Una, acting "Midsummer Nights
Dream out OF doors in q part OF England
singularly rich In historical association
mwittingly call up Puck himself. who by
his magic makes them hear and see tho
events Of ancient days.
Mrs. Mary Dillon's new novel, THE
Leader is Of timely significance from the
fact that the incidents in the life Of the hero
follow closely the events in the political
career Of william Jennings Bryan. This
leading character Is q Westerner, a self
made man who fights the bosses and wins
political prominence through personal ef-
| fort. The book contains a description OF
the actual happenings Of the national DEM
ocratic convention at st. Louis, which
deepens the impression that Bryan IL the
prototype Of the hero.
NV Pilgrimage to the Wise Men Of the
East is the title Of Moncure d. Conway's
latest contribution to The literature and
thought Of the day. The book 10 made up
from the authors memoirs OF converse
tions with Buddhists, Brahmins, Parsees
Moelems and other leaders Of religious
thm,ght In the East and ends with his re-
Elections on the nature OF the leader Of the
Christian religion. In his saunterings mid
the ancient shrines Mr.. Conway made a
complete Journey round the world by way
Of Salt Lake City, San francisco, Australia
Cevlon and India. Among the famous
people with whom he converses are Sir
william Hunter, Nine. Blavatsky, Pc
reira. Ramnathan, the high priest Suman-
GALA. the authors Subhuti and Mira and
the positivist Jogendra Chandra Ghosh.
The book will be among the autumn publ
cations.
Mrs. Kate Douglas Wiggin is still at heE
country home in Maine where, following
her usual custom, she gave last week heu
annual reading in the old church at BuxtOr
Lower Corner. It was at one OF these read
inns that -Rebecca" first made her appear
ance. Every year at the time OF the harves
moon Mrs. Wiggin reads from her ow
works in the little church across tn
river from her home, Quillcote, the churcl
which she calls "our meeting house." an
where a. long as she remains in the oountr!
abe pIays the organ for the morning servic
and with her sister, Nora Smith, sings Will
the village choir. Her audience at thes
annual readings is made up OF friends an
nei4hbors, summer boarders and resident
in the country from as far away as Portlan'
and the inland villages and farns-to tn
4; substantial benefit OF the meeting house
treasury.
The San Francisco b~ookshops have a
opened again, and it is said that they ar
r~ivaIling even the dry goods stores in popu
/, larity, now that the libraries are bune
; and there are no theatres open. One Of tn
first novels to come from a San Francisc
author since the great disaster is "MOntlivetr
which will be published in September. Tn
hook is written by Mrs. Alice Prescott
smith, the author OF THE Legatee.' Mn
: Smith is a resident Of San Francisco, wher
} both books were written. -Montlivet"
a story Of the early trading days, whe
!, French and English and indian tribes wer
. engaged in the struggle for supremacy.
; Mr.. Hamlin Garland has thoroughly re