Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-01

the position Of New York in the great
struggle. There remains to be told one Of
the most interesting chapters to write, that
embracing the modern period, in which
readers of today are actually and personally
concerned. 1t is the authors expectation
to complete his work by adding another
volume to his history. to bring it down to
1896 1t is to be hoped that he will ac-
complish this purpose, for he has unques-
tionably offered a valuable record of i'm
portant forces and facts, by the lack of
which students of the political development
Of the United States have heretofore been
handicapped.
SIR JOHN CONsTANTINE, Memoirs of
His Adventures at Home and Abroad,
and particularly in the Island of Cor
sica, beginning with the Year 1856,
written by his son. Prosper Paleolo
gus. otherwise Constantine. Edited by
Q. "a. T. Quiller-Couch). New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons.
Mr.. Quiller-Couch is never happier than
when digging up some fragment of history
and turning it over and over until it be-
comes neatly finished bit Of romance with
strong resemblance to recorded fact in the
records of the worlds affairs. He links
his fiction to the certaintes Of the past so
artistically that it is at times difficult to
know when the one begins and the other
ends. In '.Sir John Constantine he uses
as his theme the struggles Of the people of
Corsica to free themselves from their op-
pressors OF Genoa. King Theodore HIM
self an alien who has established his au-
thority only to flee from his responsibility,
dies mfSerably In London, having been but
recently released from the debtors prison
by Cornish knight of royal lineage whose
heart lies In Corsica. By the terms of this
release Theodore abdicates his kingIy
rights to Prosper. son of his benefactor
Later comes word that Queen Emilia,
abandoned by husband. neglected by her
own people and harrassed by her Genoese
enemies. is in distress Whereupon IN
leaps the gallant spirit of Sir John Con-
stantine, who has loved her in the past
and he forthwith departs for the unhappy
island with an army of six men. the most
fil-assorted army ever assembled for mr.
poses of invasion. In truth, Sir John il
clearly just little mad, as his neighbors
suspect but there is something altogether
me In MS madness. In Corsica he and his
son and their companions have strenuous
experiences. meet dangers encounter weird
mysteries, and run into a nest of insular
political complications which envelop their
own enterprise from the outset. On the
way they have thwarted a horde of African
pirates. but their sea experiences are
nothing compared with those they have i'm
mediately after landing.
Mr.. Quiller-Couch with all his fondness for
classical illusions, his subtlety of situa-
ton, his clearness of Characterization He
presents to his reader one comical picture
eieSI oioehcip dS WutU the mayor or Fall
mouth undertakes to check a Methodist
batting mob by reading the riot act and is
rescued from dangerous plight by Sir
john Constantine's party: when the ship
fiute-playing; when, as told by Billy
Priske, the two fools of the army ~
invasion. Mr.. Zett and Mr. Badcock
nee to some unknown quarter before a pet
story Then there are highly dramatic
moments. hair-breadth escapes, desperate
ventures pathetic death scenes, tender love
passages and all environed by the wonder
1ul beauties OF Corsica and perfumed with
the aroma of the macchia.
1t Is story long to remember
POWER LOT. By Sarah p. Mclean
Greene. author Of Cape Cod Folk"
&c: Illustrated. New York: The Baker
d Taylor Company
Mrs Greene has returned to the north
eastern coast and has told a story which is
strongly suggestive Of her greatest success
Nesty. 1t has the delightful quality of
that charming tale. a genial appreciation of
the elemental goodness of the denizens of
the rock-bound coasts. 1t has rather more
of evil forces in it than the other narra-
tives of the same class which she has pro-
duced. and the picture Is more rudely
marred by the delineation of characters
that fail to blend with the atmosphere. The
story Is hampered in it's telling by the de-
vice OF the first person singular" which
MIS- MIS-. Greene adopted with better effect In
Cape Cod Folks and "Vesty" In each
of those stories the teller of the tale might
be expected to use the language attributed
but in this case the strain upon the credu-
MY is entirely too great, and Jim Turbine.
as the medium of communication must be
regarded as Greek chorus. appearing only
at intervals and contributing nothing by
the force OF his own self-revealed person.
fnfu 10 NIL
lures than the illustrations contained In this
volume.
THE UPPER HAND By Emerson Off
ford Taylor. author of "a Daughter of
Dale" &c. New York: A. s. Barnes &
Co.
1t Is rather difficult bit of business to
invest disreputable old reprobate with
heroic qualities. and yet that is what Mr.
Taylor has accomplished in this brisklx
moving. interesting tale Of New England
life of today He has based his story upon
an elaborate series of Matchmaking enter
prises conducted by an ex-sea captain at
the expense of a man who years before had
wronged him. The characters are well
drawn and the plot is reasonable A ro-
nance forms an important part in the mar
rative. which moves to decidedly unex-
pected climax. In Captain Bassett, cheer
full liar. extortioner and finally master OF
a complicated situation which involves the
leading citizen of the community, he has
offered a figure that will be distinctly re-
membered by the reader even when many
| other novels have passed before his eye
THE RAINY DAY RAILROAD WAR. BY
Holman F. Day, author of kin o. Ka-
tadin," &C. Illustrated New York: A.
s. Barnes & Co.
What might from its cover design be a
book for boys proves upon reading to be an
intensely interesting little tale OF mans en-
terprise, of business acumen and deter
mination. Of fierce human passion. A young
engineeS is sent into the Maine woods to
build Short line to connect with the fish
| ing lakes up country and avoid six-mile
portage of exceeding difficulty. Conceived
somewhat idly, 1t becomes the pet scheme
| of two determined and resourceful railroad
officials. and their representative is charged
with a responsibility which tests his
strength of character and his courage to
| the utmost. He has to deal with veritable
Al.