The morning journal-courier., 1908-06-11
THE ENCHANTED CASTLE. By E. Nesblt. Published by Harper X Bros, New York, Sl,25,

THE ENCHANTED CASTLE. By E.
 Nesblt. Published by Harper X Bros,
 New York, $l25.
 Young people will follow with delight of Gerald, Jimmy and Kathleen as told charmingly by Mrs. Nesbit in this en- tertainlng volume and older folks who have still remaining love for fairy stories will likewise enjoy 1t and espe- cally so as Mrs Nesbit is an adept in her field of literary endeavor. Life is full enough of hard Gradgrind facts and experiences and an excursion with these happy delightful children into the realms ot the fancifu Is a charm ing diversio off we go therefore with these little people on a picnic. The three children are English and they have suddenly been confronted with the dire news that owing to an unfore- seen and unavoidable circumstance they must spend the summer vacation at school in charge of their French governess. Fascinated with their pie nic excursion they wander away until ttey are almost lost when they come to a cave which they explore and then find an underground passage which they explore also and at last find them selves In the grounds of beautiful castle and they learn from Mabel, the Eousekeeper's niece that 1t is an en- chanted castle. Mabel shows them va rious treasures that she has discover ed and oh, joy. magic ring, that makes its wearer invisible. The chil- dren cannot at first believe that the ring has any such magical power but Nabel soon convinces them. She tells them to shut their eyes and when they open their eyes again, sure enough Nabel has vanished Jimmy insists that Mabel Is only hiding but awak- ems from his incredulity when he finds Himself swaying backward and for ward in tho hands of Mabel who is shaking him, Gerald's turn came next for a shaking but lie grasps Mabels t6nds and finds himself grasping hands he cannot see Then, Spurred to en- ceavor by an invisible kick from Ma Eel. Gerald summons Cathy to seize Nabel's legs and Kathleen bravely comes to the rescue. But first Cathy wantG to know where Mabel's legs arc and despairlngly says. 'I don't see any legs whereat Gerald exclaims: This is her hands I've got. She is invisible right enough Get hold of this hand and then you can feel your way down to her legs. Kathleen did so. I wish could make you understand how very very comfortable and frightening 1t is to feel, in broad daylight hands and arms you cannot sec"
 Mabel laughingly reanpcars and then Gerald tries the potency of nc magic ring and while invisible cal acs some burglar in the act of robbng the cas- te Then lots of other things occur all due to the use of the magic ring hy the children. The many stunts done through the use of the ring, some ex- travagantly ludlcrous. some extremely curious and some temporarily alarming. make up a chapter of divertIng circum- stances that will keep young readers on tho alert to sec what is coming next And just think of it. In the end the lord of the castle was after all, real lord and finds his long lost lady love. all of this romantic development being due to the magic ring: and there Is very happy finale for all hands. And Mrs. Nesbit found out all this pretty story from the children themselves. She says so and that's enough for any body.