Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-08


rectness in the fundamentals of her mar
rative Is fnslstent. She has chosen to
omit much nat would crafty the reader,
but what she has related is of convincing
sincerity.
Memories of My Life. by Sarah Bern
hardt. New York: d. Appleton & Co.
"The Vision of Sir Launfal'' and THE
Building of the ship are numbers three
and four of "The Abbey Classics" series
which, according to I, publishers an
nouncement. Is TO contain the shorter of
the great English and American poems
those which can be easily read at a cit
ting and which should be read often.
They are sumptuous little volumes, printed
on declxle edge Normandy vellum, with
rubricated initials. photogravure frontis-
piece and chaste bindings, but they are
sold at modest enough prices to sncour-
age the frequent reading of these classics
Apart from their attractive issue, tney
have another claim to attention In the
excellent introductions to each volume by
Walter Taylor Field, the editor OF the
series. Brief, but agreeably written and
comprehensive, each introduction Is de-
lightful ESSAY in little," and furnishes
fresh view point for the rereading of
what should be a familiar poem.
The Abbey Classics. San Francisco:
Paul Elder & Co.
Here in the southwest Stewart Edward
White should find ready appreciation for
his latest book, ARIZONA Nights" just
issued from the Mcclure press. Some. If
not ALL of the stories have appeared in
magazines. They are, however, eminently
worthy of book publication. The tales
are in the form of personal "reminiscences
recounted by old cattlemen and other den
izanc M he ra and the round q
camp fire, the author supposedly being
simply the chronlcler of the stories as
they are told The book is divided into
three parts or groups, of which the first
is composed of single tales, bearing no
relation to each other; some run through
several chapters, others are told in short
space; all relate to the life of the range
or the mining camps; all deal with life in
it's primitive conditions. its stark realism
and strong coloring. as found on the
! eriaSes ef civilization. There are dashes
of the sardonic humor that characterizes
the men of the range and the mining
camps--a humor that is caustic and ex-
aggerated, but which is dealt out with all
the seriousness and serenity that mark
the philosopher who is convinced beyond
all argument Of the soundness of his
philosophy.
The third division deals with single
group of characters, and centers about
the experiences of ranchman who an
swered an advertisement and so obtained
a wife, 1t is grim as real life itself in
it's tragic outcome. The title, The Raw
hide" gives no clew to the motive of the
story 1t is sufficient to say that green
hide has singular quality of shrinking
with an iron grip when left to dry in
the hot sun of Arizona and that anything
in it's clutch could escape as easily from
t.. Af..A
tesquerie about the use which is made of
| it in the tale, in the fashion in which it
is invoked to serve as a means of pun
ishment.
Arizona Nights. BY Stewart Edward
White. New York: The Mcclure COM
pany.
A peculiar literary feat is chronicled
from England, where considerable SEN
sation has been caused thereby.
The hero and heroine of this achieve
ment are c. N. and A. M. Williamson.
the famous fiction writers whose person
ality has so strongly made itself felt of
late years in the British world of letters,
and indeed all over the English-speaking
earth.
Mrs Williamson was formerly Miss
Alice Livingstone of New York. and from
early girlhood won name for brilliant
romantic writing She married G. N.
| Williamson. big Englishman. who di-
vided his time between engineering and
writing histories. A few years later the
two were discussing the plot of a pro-
posed story and Mrs. Williamson sug-
gested tat her husband collaborate with
her on it, lie had never written fiction
and had no idea he could do ii. But to
please his wife he consented. AS result
the brilliant, successful literary firm,
since widely known as THE William
sons" came into existence
Their motor car stories became popu-
lar at bound, and they took place at
once among the foremost English novel
lists But not content with cutting out
for themselves wholly unique line of
writing, this versatile couple have now
started On an entirely new field of story
writing and have just turned out novel
startling in it's novelty and enthralling
In it's human interest and excitement.
This book is entitled 1.-THE Powers and
Maxine" 1t deals with the most thrill
ing sides of life in London and in Paris.
In the latter city, especially, the reader
is introduced to phase of life hitherto
uns1spected by most Americans. 1t is a
veritable new world. peopled by strange
folk and vibrant with a mysterious fas-
cination that is all it's own.
The heroine OF the novel is girl be-
wtchingly charming and unusual as the
story itself. She is a French actress and
a secret service agent, playing one trade
against the other, and carrying on a
daring series of love affairs and political
ntrigues at the same time.
The Powers and Maxine, By G.. N. and
A. M. Williamson. New York: The EN-
pire Book Co.
Albertine Randall Wheean. has very
successfully alternated her work in de-
signing the costumes for David Be
lasco's Grand Army Man." creating
series of witty designs FOR den decora-
ton, warranted to provoke mirth, to
laugh at all jests however sad, and to
brighten any cozy corner however dim
a dull den indeed without one or more OF
these Jolly fellows to help drive out
the IVORY cow"
The publishers, Paul Elder e. Co.. have
reproduced the designs effectively in
bright quadri-color and send them forth
on their errand of good cheer in several
guises. For one they may be had hand
somely mounted on brown vellum cards.
size 9ikx11. Next these diverting animals
f.. H.