Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-04
Between New Book Covers

1.-THE Scarlet Shadow" by Walter Hurt, is
something new in the way Of historical
romance for 1t attempts to deal with contem-
porary history in exploiting the labor war in
Colorado and the trial OF William d. Haywood
on the charge OF numbering former Governor
Frank Steunenberg of Idaho.
The attempt is a sorry one. The greater part
OF the book is dime novel stuff, written with
amateurish cIumsness. The conversations are
excrutiating, and the writer's straining after
alliterative effects would make the work poor
one even If otherwise it had merit.
Haywood is mentioned occasionally, and Debs
stalks stiffly into chapter or two and talds
with an absurd pompousness from which the
actual speech Of the noted agitator is singu-
larly free
The hero of the story is a sort of a news
paper correspondent whom agents OF the Mine
owners association" try to kill in every other
chapter, In mussy dime-novel fashion, but he
is saved each time by the first, second ana
third assistant heroes at about the last mo-
ment. Much might be forgiven the writer, but
not the repeated disappontments In this re-
spect.
Walter Hur- Is a newspaper man himself
with a pleasing and effective newspaper style
as is shown by the quotation from some of his
genuine newspaper work in the cppendlN OF the
book; but he cannot write good dime novels
In ',Rosalind at Redgate" Meredith Nicholson
has written a story that proceeds swiftly TO It's
somewhat obvious denouement. 1t has the same
moving quality that distinguished the same
s,ithor's sPort of Missing Men" and 1.-The
House Of Thousand Candles, but Its plot
lacks the element Of surprise The nero Is an
heroically stupid freshman who continues pnno
20 the significance OF events happening apout
him long after the reader has solved the Sc
cret; but despite this drawback the sprightiy
form of the narrative and its wealth. Oh hcl-
dent make the book a pleasant companion pour
Rosallnd at Redgate. By Meredith Nichol-
son. indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrnl COM
pany.
Robert Nielsen stephens has shown happy
talent for investing with life and color and the
glamour Of romance any period OF history ABOUT
which he has chosen to tell a story, anu ne -
at his best in "Clementinas Highwayman' ms
latest book, written in collaboration Win
George Heinbert Wesley. 1t Is laid IN the
England of the Georges and contains partlcu~
larly lively and entertaining picture OF uine
when even London streets and parks were so
infested with lawless rowdies and footpads tnat
no decent person dared be out alone IN theHi
after dark while the highways Leading from
the city were swarming with knights OF the
read who made robbery an artistic profession
and were not infrequently objects OF adnlra-
ion with the sentimental bellies Of the period
OF course the charming Clementina's high
vayman was such only in Jest and as the result
of too much wine and foollsh wager put,
like many another Jest in less innammapie
times, It brought a very hornets nest Oh tIou-
bic about the ears of the joker. One can guess
the opportunity which his extrication ofrers Tor
one Of those lively and sparkling comedies now
30 thoroughly in vogue, In which the heroine Is
all loyeliness am uncertainty ana the nero All
ardor and DARING. Clementina is fascinating,
her highwayman acts up to his part IN nne
styles and Incidentally the reader gains nS NY
realistic glimpse of the strenuous thins HIs
was for even a plain citizen in the days OF
Clementina,s Highwayman. By Robert Neil
sen Ttephens Boston: L. c. Page Co.
oaorse Car Eeeleston will win readers, but
scarcely advance his literary standing by his
latest novel; Love Is the sum OF II All;
which tells fairly interesting story OF IRE IN
virginia after the Civil War had ruined the
nld plantations and most Of their owners. war
rem Rhett one OF the younger generation o.
southerners who has achieved reputation ana
wealth as a successtul civl ensinesl, os. ava
,he old plantation home for needed rest ana
IN solve the financial difficulties which are Did
ding fair to engulf his girl step-mother now
widow He finds the place wholly neglecIso
and run down, the fences broken or Wnohy
p,,ne the fields untitled, the darkies who nave
leased land failing to profit by the privilege,
and the hired hands who are paid to run the
ground Immediately adJacent 10 1ne hois siO ~
ful to the last degree. With nrm hand tne
Young man gFapples with this peculiar FORM OF
the NEGRO problem" but the book unhappny
leaves him in the same quandary that 1t mas
b
and To import Italian labor under tho miserable
nadrone system. The romance OF the book
IeaIs with a beautiful girl, Hazel Cameron.
who is visiting the young step-n nlI'I anu
Love Is the sum of 1t All. By George Cary
-ggieston. Boston: Lothrop Lee g. Shepard
company.
Tn the preface to Mosquito Life" the
author. Evelyn Groesbeeck Mitchell, writes;
Within recent years so much has been writ
ten about mosquitoes, and scattered throush
&, oh a vast number OF books and eriodicals'
that the average student now sorely feels the
need OF a single work containing in con-
densed form the essential facts so Tar MADE
known in regard to the different phases Oh thls
important and highly interesting subject. IL
was to meet the demands of the constantly
army of both professional and lay
workers that the present volume was designed
While aiming to keep II within ressohS ,,,le
bounds, that it might be easily used alike
in the field and in the laboratory still Il Is
believed that no portion Of the work has been
sighted, or fundamental information omitted
In the endeavor 10 carry this desire INTO erect
This is illuminatingy explanator There re-
mains to be said only that the book Is COM
pIehensive. that it is thoroughly well Illus
trated and that its material is so arranged as
Mosouito Life, by Evelyn Groesbeeck Nit
rhell. A. B., NJ S. New York; G. P. Put
nams Sons.
For several years II has been possible for a
boy who wanted to- TO construct a little home
made telephone. but the idea that he can make
a wireless telegraph Is new, and may sur
prise grown folks quite as much as the boy
himself A chapter OF ''rhe Electricity Book
for Boys" which has Just followed the out
door Book, in the Harper series designed for
the boy who likes to use his hands. makes It
appear not only possible but simple and mex
penslve as we'll At the beginning OF a season
when money is spent 50 iavlshly for mechanical
toys and contrivances that break almost before
they are tested, it is worth while noticing an
attempt 20 provide the fun all the same and
permanent useful thing as well. II parents are
once convinced the boy Is pretty sure to b