The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-14


 THE LONE STAR" by Eugene P. Lyle, Jr, published by Doubleday, Page & Co.,, New York; S1.5o; at Judd's
 The gifted author of "The Missouri an" has given us In his new novel "The Lone Star" the best story of Neutral Ground" and Texas that has ever been printed It Is well said by the publish CTS: "Mr, Lyle has turned Sam Hous- ton and Bowie into picture characters without losing or misplacing historical facts, In way to make a man burn his light all night It is an epic of the Southwest the Iliad of Texas"
 The thrilling events of the struggle of Texas Independence from Mexi- co are vividly told in this historical romance and the new book will disap- point none of those readers whose ex- pectations were raised high by "The Missourian" The author, moreover, does not sacrifice the facts of history in the case for the sake of the fiction element. He adheres closely to the basic facts. The history of Texas was made rapidly in the days of which the story tells and there was an abundance of material for vivid description, and Mr. Lyle has most successfully depict ed the events. The story opens with vigor, thus:
 "The white men numbered exactly eleven and Bowie's nigger Jim and the 164 Indians screeching like thirsty vampires or hell around them on the prairies were desirous of an even dozen scalps. But the eleven white men beat them off,"
 This, as the author frankly admits, it is ''rather brash way to start" But, as he reminds us a moment later i've are in Texas now" though not know ing, as yet, who those eleven men are --and may as well brace ourselves at once against "the wonder of astound- Ing deed Besides, the thing really and truly happened, what then?"
 It is a story of course, of hard fight ing, bloodshNd, murder, the tramp of many men and many horses, of bivou- acs. and surprises, of daring deeds and ambuscades. There are heroes. bandits, sneal1s and spies and amid the smoke and carnage loom up such hero ic figures as Sam Houston, Col. Jim Bowie, "Deaf" Smith, the famous scout, Davy Crockett, Ben Milan Will Travis and Stephen Austin, "the fath- CT of Texas with honest old Jack Cas- tleman, Old Man Buckalew and other brave lovers of liberty and freedom. An idyllic love story is interwoven in which Harry Ripley, a Louisiana lad, eager for military glory and sweet saucy, courageous Nan Ripley, play the leading roles to the great satisfac- tion of the reader.
 Some of the many verdicts as to the story are appended as follows:
 Brooklyn Eagle: "He has much to tell; the drama Is so crowded with dramatic episodes that the book runs to over 400 pages but no lover of stir ring fiction will regret the length of the story. MT. Lyle has written with fire and spirit, and the book, as a whole, presents a fascinating descrip- tion of the Texan struggle for inde- pendence. MT. Lyles earlier effort. "The Missourian," gave fiction lovers an excellent impression as to his skill as a story-teller; "The Lone Star" strengthens that impression very con- siderably. It is a picturesque and an intensely dramatic romance"
 Springfield Republican, "Mr. Lyle has written his story wlth vigor and gives a decidedly interesting picture of Texas in the volcanic days of state building. But on the whole the story has been written with a care ful eye for detail. It is not a broad historical narrative like ''The Crisis" or "The Crossing" but it gives a clear notion of the conditions that led the restless Texans to revolt, and the spir- ited adventures and love romance of the hero do not interfere with a fairly clear narrative of the progress of mili- tary and political events It is likely to be one of the popular books of the coming season"
 New York World: "The massacre at the Alamo and the quickly following retribution on the field of San Jacinto afford chapters of "The Lone Star" in which the narrative rises to it's highest points of interest and power"
 MT. Lyles work is capitally illustrat. ed in colors by Philip R. Goodwin, who is one of the most successful of the group of young American artists. He i; a student of Howard Pyle and has been spoken of as the second Reming- ton It may be added in closing that Lyle is himself Texan, having been born In Dallas.
 Tn connection with MT. Lyle's "Tht Lone Star" 1t is noted that President Roosevelt once planned study of the early history of Texas. When he was a civil service commissioner he wrote in 8 private letter; You may possibly have seen a book of mine called "The Winning of the West I intend, as soor