Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-06
Between New Book Covers

j..
volume II, selections from Washing
ton Irving: William wappan Thomp-
son (Major Joseph Jonss) William
Austin; Francis Miriam Whicher (The
Widow Bedot); George William Cur
tis; Johnson T. Hooper Captain Simon
Suggs); Nathaniel Parker Willis;
Henry w. Shaw Oosh Billings; Oliver
erick S. Cozzens; David r. Locke
petroleum V. Nasby), and James
Montgomery Bailey (The Danbury
News Nam. The volumes are OF
handy pocket size and are designed to
be companionable collections of the
earlier examples--and some of the best,
they are too, of whatever time, old OIL
new-of what is perhaps Americas
most distinctive contribution to the
literature of the world
Early American Hunorists. Boston:
Small, Maynard & Co.
In Matthews Short tStory-Specimens
Illustrating Its Development" the short
story is distinguished from the novel
t.y it's brevity, and from the more brief
tale by it's unity, it's totality, its con-
centration upon a single effect or a
single sequence Of effects. In this
hook twenty-four specimen stories have
been selected to show the development
of the form-the slow evolution of this
literary species through the long cen
turtles of advancing civilization. Inc
earlier tales here presented are not
true short stories; each of them lacks
one or another of the essential charac-
teristics of the type. The more mod
ern examples are true short stories
and they have been chosen to exhibit
the many varieties possible within the
species. They have been selected from
the chief modern llteratures, English,
French, German, Russian and Norwe-
gian, and they present many contrast
ing shades of local color.
Short Stories. BY Rrander Matthews.
New York: The American Book COM
pany.
Eddy's "Text Book in General Physio-
logy and Anatomy" is suited for use In
the most modern schools and by the
most progressive teachers. Although
intended especially to supply all the
material required by the New York
state syllabus, and the requirements OF
the Harvard entrance examinations, Its
topical arrangement and division OF
subject matter adapt it equally tC
schools in other localities. In this book
physiology is treated as a study oi
function in living forms, and as par
not as an isolated subject.
Text Book in General Physiology ant
Anatomy. BY Walter H. Eddy. New
York: The American Book company.
Louis Joseph Vance, whose story
'"The Brass Bowl" was one of the big
gest sellers of last year, has written
q new book, a mystery story of today
entltled "The Black Bag" The yarn
moves with lively interest from first
to last, recounting the somewhat un-
usual adventures which befall Philip
Kirkwood, gentleman, of San Francisco.
and recounting, too, the details OF his
modern day knight errantry In be-
half of a distressed damsel whom, of
course, he marries in the end. There
is physical conflict by land and sea;
a runaway; an automobile love chase,
an1 other sprightly diversions. It Is
all very unreal, albeit related with all
the realism of jumping toothache; a
rafting good yarn for the Willing
away of an evening at home-it won't
last longer, because you won't go to
bed until you finish it.
The Black Bag. By Louis Joseph
Vance. Indianapolis, the Bobbs- Mer-
rill company.
Can you imagine a war between the
United States and Japan, continuing
for several months and resulting in
the complete defeat of the little brown
men, the surrender of the Japanese
navy and the acceptance by the Jap
anese government of the terms inn
posed by America, with total mortal
ity on both sides of only two killed
and none wounded?
That is what happens in Roy Nor
toms story, "The Vanishing Fleets,
now published in book form by the
Appletons. The story is more surpris-
ing than a Jules Verne novel and nc
less plausible. The mystery remains
such until nearly the close of the tale,
and the reader Is no less puzzled tc
account for the strange happenings
unfolded in the narrative than are
the rulers of Europe, who, in the novel
are depicted as stumbling through a
diplomatic fog, fearful of what the
morrow may bring forth
The Vanishing Fleets. BY Roy
Norton. New York: D: Appleton & Co.
Window Gardening" is an art little
practiced in Southern California, where
there is no reason for it. Nevertheless
the little book recently published un-
der that title by Herman B. Dorner
has some information of value to the
amateur horticulturalist whose home
is in the land of perpetual sunshine
There are chapters on the more COM
tinction which doubtless apply here as
well as elsewhere.
Window Gardening. BY Herman B.
Dorner. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-
Merrill company.