The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
Brief Reviews

The Boy Explorer series receives a
new addition this week in "Dick in
the Everglades by A. w. Dimock 1t
is an excellent book or it's kind. good
for any boy. for it bears the stamp OF
truth. The author tells of the expert
ences OF two boys hunting and fishing
in the Everglades of Florida and ne
says that all the episodes actually oc-
CURED and are in no particular exag-
gerated. The book is simply and clearly
written, and not the least interesting
part are the 81 admirable half tone IL
lustrations from interesting photo
graphs taken during the trip. Cred
erick A Stokes company, New York;
Elsie and the Arkansaw Bear" is the
title of Albert Bigelow Paine's latest
book for children. 1t is a quaint con-
ceit and will be of sure interest to little
readers. Elsie is a little orphan girl
who runs away with a hddling bear,
Horatio. who proves more than friend
in need. After many marvellous adven-
lures Elsie becomes queen and school,
mistress OF colony OF bears. The
book is a companion 10 the authors
The Arkansaw Bear" and should stand
beside 1t In the nursery. The iluStra-
tions in tint by Frank Yer Beck, the
animal painter. deserve special men
tion. Henry Altemus company, Phila-
delphia; SD
"Honk. Honkr' is a new adventure OF
Shorty McCabe's by Sswen Ford It
tells OF his being lured into buying an
automobile and very much against his
will being taught to run it. He is not
the most expert chauffeur in the world
by the time the little booklet is fin
ished, but he has at least fair. ap-
probation of his own shortcomings and
- a-.s.-
other amateurs. The book contains a
few illustrations by +. Vaux Wilson
and is daintily bound. mitchell Ken
nerley, New York;
The Jack Lorimer stories have long
been popular boy stories and this one.
Jack Lorimer's Substitute" about the
acting captain OF the team. tells of the
sports-football. wrestling, tobogan-
ming and all the sports boy is inter-
ested in Jack is a fine type of high
school boy, and no boy can read these
stories and not be benefited Winn
Handish, the author, writes OF boys as
IL he understood them and sympathized
with them This book is more of a
school story than It's predecessors. (L.
c. Page & Co. Boston; s1.50)
Back to Hampton Roads" by Frank
lin Matthews, aims TO describe and
narrate the leading events that marked
the homeward cruise of the United
States Atlantic deet from San Francisco
TO Hampton roads. by way Of New Zea-
land, Australia. Japan and the Suez
canal, a cruise that extended from
July Z, 1908, to February 22. 1909 1t
is intended to supplement the authors
account OF the cruise OF the Atlantic
feet from Hampton roads TO San Fran
cisco, In with the Battle Fleet"
These two books complete the story
of a naval cruise without parallel They
form a story every patriotic citizen
will want to read (B. W. Huebsch.
New York. $500
Under the title OF Critical Essays Of
the Seventeenth Century" J. E. Spin
gam, professor OF composite hterature
at Columbia university, has assembled
all OF the material necessary for
thorough study OF the development OF
English criticisms for that time. He
has already issued two volumes, the
first includes the period from 1905 to
1850. the second 1850 to 1886 and this
one. the third. contains all matter
from 1855 TO 1900 The work is OF
value not only for reference but for
general and even entertaining reading
published at Oxford by the Clarendon
Press, and imported by the Scrioners)
faithful dog friend. Billy, their quaint
conversations and their exciting ad-
ventures will be eagerly read by thou
sands OF boys and girls The story Is
beautifully written by Frances Hodges
White and will take its place alongside
OF Black Beauty and Beautiful Joe.
The story Is the autobiography of
Shetland pony. The book Is full OF IL
Illustrations of more or less interest by
Frank vining Smith. and the binding
and cover lining are particularly ar
tistic. (L. c. Page Co.. Boston;
$1.50.)
sweet Nancy" by Marion Ames Tag
CART, contains further delightful adven-
lures OF the Doctors little girl whom
thousands OF little readers have grown
to love. She Is just as attractive as on
her first appearance IN The Doctors
Little Girl and the children who loved
her then will welcome this book like
an old friend. Nancy is character,
and il is difficult to think of her as
story book creation she seems so real.
The book Is illustrated by Ethelred
B. Barry and Is beautifully printed and
bound (L. c. Page & Co.. Boston.
PrfcA 81 SOY