The Washington herald., 1908-01-19

The record Of popularity OF books at
the Public Library for the past week
shows that in nonhction the books most
called for were FletChers ''Mel ticulture'
and Fiske's Myths and Myth Makers"
In fiction the call was for Wharton's
THE Fruit OF the Tree" and Burnett's
The Shuttle" In Juvenile books the de-
mand was for Alcotts Little Women"
and for Lang's The Yellow Fairy Book"
Another popular subject during the week
was steam engines, and there was large
call for Peabody's "Dynamics Of the
i Steam Engine" and for Rpper's "The
Steam Engine in Theory and Practice"
A players edition" OF Anne Warmers
popular story, THE Regeneration of
Aunt Mary has Just been issued by her
publishers, Little, Brown & Co. Boston.
containing additional Illustrations from
scenes from the play in which May Rob-
son is starring. Originally published in
ls0j THE Regeneration OF Aunt Mary
proved 10 be as popular as the authors
original Susan Clegg stories, for the new
players edition makes the seventh time
Aunt Mary has been sent 10 press.
Several monographs, partly historical,
partly biographical, are promised this
month by z. P. Dutton e Co. One Of
these is called THE Story OF a Beautiful
Duchess" being an account OF the life
and times Of Elizabeth Cunning, Duchess
Of Hamilton and Argyll by Horace
Bleackley, NJ a. author Of Some Dis
tingulshed Victims of the Scafold." The
Duchess. who forms the main subject of
this book, was OF Irish parentage and
lived IN Scotland a century and a half
ago. OF her It is said that she was 'the
most famed Of England's beauties and
one Of the best of England's mothers"
OF quite different interest and period
Is the Life and Voyages OF Joseph Wig
gins, +. r. @. S." by Henry Johnson.
author of THE Exploits Of AIyles Stand
ish. &c. Capt. Virgins was the modern
discOverer Of the Kara Sea route 10 ST.
IBERIA. and the volume detailing his vow
ages Is based on his journals and letters.
He died only four years ago. and his ca
reer is judged worthy 20 give him rank
among other great navigatOrs, since the
way which he has opened to Siberia,
accomplished after many hazardous ex-
periences, is destined to be Of great value
TO the commercial development OF thar
country.
The NTH series Of the "sheIburne Es-
eays," by Paul Elmer More, literary
editor OF the Evening Post and the Ma
tion, is on the point of making its ap-
pearance. These essays, which have al
ways appealed to thoughtful and cult
waited people. are reaching a constantly
increasing circle OF general readers-a
q fact in which Mr.. More's publishers who
well know how to value his work. and
who regard him as one Of the foremost
critics now writing in English, take
very special pride and pleasure The rea-
son for his finding this larger audience is
plain; it IS because the more striking
qualities OF his work demand no tech
nical literary equipment on the part OF
the reader. Like the essays OF SaInte-
Beuve they appeal 10 every man whose
Intelligence IS awake. whose curiosity
about life and human nature is keen, and
who wishes, as well through the broader
experience OF books as through the
narrower personal experience. to know
the world better, and II possible. to come
10 better terms with IT, The fifth series
Of Mr.. More's "Shelburne Essays" VIII be
published early this year by G. P. Put
nam's Sons.
Little Brown & Co closed their pub
fishing season Of 1907 with the publication
OF their pocket edition Of the Master
pieces Of Victor Hugo" in ten volumes.
uniform in style and binding with their
pocket editions Of Dumas, BaIzac, and
Jane Austen, These pocket editions. be-
cause OF their handy size. clear print.
light but durable paper and handsome
cloth and limp morocco bindings. have
become great favorites with book lovers.
Miss Wormeley's latest translation IS
THE Memoirs Of Monsieur Claude" the
famods chief Of the French secret police
during the second empire. This book
originally appeared fin French IN 1881. five
years after the resignation Of Monsieur
Claude from his office. IN French fl is
ten volumes in length. and In her preface
Miss Wormeley gives as an explana-
tjO1 for this condensation into Il single
volume the excuse that many parts Of the (
original are out Of date. such as. for in
stance, the chapters on police regulation
and the prisons Of peril This is q point
upon which we are not entirely I'm accord /
with the translator Miss WOrmeley
seems 90 have taken entirely too much I
for granted. Those stringent police regI-
lati0ns were I'm a measure the very key /
stone Of Napoleon IT'S throne for the /
eighteen years OF his reign. AS we are /
told in one chapter on the subject which 1
has not been excluded, the police were ]
everywhere-in the army. In the press. /
among the bOurgeoisie, as we'll as among 1
81. r1.re MI
an invisible but UnbToken chain. which /
led from the lowest dens to the Tuileries .
itself.
Two novels that are promised for next /
Wednesday by the Frederick a. Stokes /
Company have 20 do with parts OF the |
world and with incidents which are al /
ways suggestive Of good material for fic- /
tion. The first OF these is a novel Of the [
San Francisco fire. It Is entitled "Trav- I
ers." and is written by Miss Sara Dean
who herself experienced the scenes she
describes. Although primarily a novel
Of action. its interest is largely derived
from the human problems involved in the
overturning of characters that occurs in
"a great catastrophe. The other novel is
by Harold BiudlOsS. who. under the title
OF For Jacinta," has written a story
OF the Canary Islands and the west
coast Of Africa. where two indomitable
men undergo tremendous hardships and
labor 10 save a sunken steamer. The
Jacinta Of the story is d young woman Of
q decidedly unique type who becomes the
main factor in the unraveling of the
plot
The same firm publishes, this month.
four new volumes in its series of The