davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-07-29

HE story I have selected to
relate. began Judge Hun
ter at the weekly meeting
Of the Calf skin club. lis
not one lying within my
own experience. which as
you all know has dealt
with the cbancery and pro
bate rather than the Grim
inal law. For this reason
/ almost felt like asking
our president to release
The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-07-29

DNA FARffS HlR AIsn
0M RllEIl "a m4s
The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-07-29

v. y. y. ka0'a' CIV No. ai-isO0.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
Good Night Stories"

BY Mrs. Frank sittig author of '.Jupiter,s
IT'D TO the Moon. etc. Published l,y
Robert ]. Crombie Co. Brooklyn, n Y.
Good Night Stories,r by Mrs. Frank
Sittig, are just what the title implies
She tells in her preface. addressed to
mothers, how the stories came to be
printed:
They were bedtime stories. composed
Tor my little son. His nurse. without
meaning any harm, had been trying to
lure him to sleep with exciting hob
goblin tales, which had wrought up his
sensitive nerves TO such a pitch that
in order TO calm him, invented these
quieter and more natural ones. They
are printed in the hope that since
they amused and helped my own little
boy, so they may benefit other child
rem
The author goes on to say that of
course modern sensible mothers realize
the Importance of quiet and lack of
nerve excitement at the bedtime hour,
and these stories are designed to soothe
overexcited children There are a dozen
of these little fanciful tales. and they
are as charming as anything seen for
many day. Mrs. Sittig is the presi-
dent of the Brooklyn Christmas Tree
society and has had a great deal of
experience with children with all sorts
of dispositions, and her experience has
no doubt added largely to the success
of the present volume. 1t is to be
heartily recommended.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
"A Holiday Touch, and Other Tales of Un-
daunted Americans"

BY Charles Batteu Loomis Published by
Henry Holt Co., New York. Price SIPS.
The Loomis atmosphere pervades
these stories and gives them their in
dividuality and charm. Mr.. Loomis'
place among American humorists is
near the top, but he possesses another
quality not often found in humorists.
He has warm and tender sympathy.
which sometimes rises to pathos, and
he handles it like the artist he is.
The initial story, "A Holiday Touch
makes use of the hidden philanthropic
disposition of one of the great financial
magnates. Nonsense of the purest type
is found in THE Cannibal and Mr.. Buff
fun" and in Uncle Ellis Induced Am
bergris," either of which will cure the
worst case of blues known. There are
few delightful burlesques. including
stories of IL Western bad man.. who
was really very 1ovable, excepting for
an uncomfortable weakness for shoot
ing people; bride who was deter
mined to be married and a faithful
French bank clerk "a la Maupassant).
The stories mostly are pure Ameri-
can, and each and every one shows up
some prominent characteristic of people
or country
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
"BaedeAer's Berlin and Its Enyirons"
karl Baedeker. publisher and authol

Karl Baedeker. publisher and author. I'm
ported by Charles Scribners Sons. New
York.
Great is Baedeker. the travellers
friend but he is also petty in some
ways. His Berlin, etc, is an excellent
guide, being the best one can find to
Germanys capital. But, after all. why
should it be published as a separate
book, instead OF being included in ''Baed-
eker's Guide to Northern Germany? !?
This latter has practically nothing
about Berlin in it, beyond suggestion
that the traveller who wants to know
anything about that city should buy
the book that tells something of it.
That may be a money making propo-
sition, but it is not playing the game"
Mr. Baedeker, or whatever combina
tion is represented by that name, re-
peats this twlee-money- from your
pocket performance in several other
countries-which makes guidebook
buying an unfair tax on the travellers
purse. All the same, his Berlin" is
the very best on Berlin. and the educa-
tional wanderer must buy it.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
"The World | Live In"
By Helen Keller. Published by the Century
company, New York. Price $1.2O.

By Helen Keller. Published by the Century
company, New York. Price $1.20.
The strange case of Helen Keller has
Ibeen so thoroughly exploited by the
daily press of the whole world, and
Everybody is so familiar with the mira
Icle, nothing less, which has been per-
formed In teaching her, that people
Ialmost forget that she is yet the only
lone of her kind in existence. She is
Ideaf and dumb and blind, yet she has
Graduated from college, and ~ one did
mot know the facts IN her case, one
might read her writings and never
lsuspect for an instant that she had not
lcomplete control of all her faculties.
I'm fact, from literary point of view,
the book is far above the average, for
lshe does not drop into the slang and
Icolloquialisms of the day, which some
Think add to the picturesqueness of the
language.
The case of Helen Keller does not
lprove anything wrong in the teaching
Iof other people with the same dread
very remarkable mind she has and how
great she really is.
This little volume is composed of
|severa1 brief essays, some of which
have appeared in the Century magazine.
Miss Keller explains, as no intelligent
IperSon possessed or all his senses could
POSSIBLY do. what the world is like to
one who knows 1t only through the
medium of touch, taste and smell. The
book is marvel and no one can hope
Ito cultivate his senses 10 the extent
which this remarkable woman has. and
though no word OF complaint is writ
item, and a marvellous optimism shows
Through every page. the book rouses
THE most intense sympathy and a chok-
ling pity.
The story of her dreams is the most
interesting part Of the book from a
psychological standpoint. To the nor
NAL human being her whole life must
seem a strange dreamlike existence.
but she shows in this paper that she
has a perfect realization of dreams as
the world accepts them.
Miss Keller moves in a world of
beauty and so perfectly poised Is her
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
"The Appreciation of the Drama .

By Charles H. Cafnn. Published by the Ba-
ker & Taylor company, New York Price
$3.50
Many books on the drama and drama
lists. on actors and stagecraft have
appeared during the last year, but
mono more serious and important than
"The Appreciation of the Drama" by
Prof Charles FL. Caffin. The author
considers his subject from all points
of view; acting and stage management,
past and present, all are handled with
intelligence and in a manner calcu-
lated to interest every reader.
The first chapter is devoted to the
Audience its expectations and SEN
sations, and many valuable hints are
given to the play goer which will aid
him in forming his Judgment intelli-
gently as to the merit or otherwise Of
the performance. Professor Caftin then
tells of the stage in two very interest
ing chapters. the plastic and the pic
torial stage, and this in turn is fol-
lowed by the actor, the play the ma
terial of the drama, genesis of the
plot, the introduction, the development,
climax, denouement, catastrophe, the
motive of the plot and any and every
development of the idea.
'sThe American Outlook Is the title
of the final chapter in the book, and
doubtless will prove the most vitality
interesting of any of the chapters.
The author does not consider that
"the" great American drama has yet
been written The American writer
today writes of whatever theme is
uppermost in the public mind. and does
not bring to bear upon it the judg-
ment of a high and wide outlook.
Many Of the plays have big themes,
but the treatment is petty. To Illus
trate his point the author tells of the
French critics who have coined the
phrase northern spirit in speaking
of the Scandinavian and German drama.
BY this they mean certain note Of
pessimism present In almost all the
work from those countries He goes
on to forecast what the American
drama will be:
"on the contrary. when the truly
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
"The Wild Widow"
By Gertle de s. wentworth-James. Published
by the Empire book company, New York
Price $1.50.

By Gertle de s. wentworth-James. Published
By the Empire book company, New York
Price $3.50.
The only possible reason for such a
book as "The Wild Widow" is perhaps
a desire rather viciously to write up
the doings Of certain smart set in
England which we have had quite
enough of already. The book has no
literary merit and no wit nor spright-
liness Of style. 1t is cheap and fiippant
and. while not immoral in the ac-
cepted sense, is sensual and vulgar
to a degree.
The story is written around two
women, the wild widow and her friend,
a young girl who is managing chick
en- ranch when we first see her.
The life story of the wild widow Is
no mystery at ALL She is very poor and
her husband will not work because
he Is too we'll born to work. They
retire to the country to retrench. She
goes out for a walk and finds dead
man In field and a clever scheme to
raise money pops into her brain. She
claims him as her husband and col
Iects his life insurance and sends her
husband into hiding. She CANDLES at
Monte Carlo and adds to her fortune.
then invests in rubber and becomes
very rich and finally remarries her
husband under an assumed name. Her
friend makes her send back the life
Insurance money, anonymously, with
interest-and there you are.
This same friend ii is about whom
all the sensuality in the book Is writ
ten. She has been waiting for des-
perate and passionate love. It comes.
but the description of the love scenes
is nauseating. She can't marry the
lover. for she has married an unknown
person years before for property rea-
sons, but finally she Is persuaded to
forget him and marry anyway with
out the formality of a divorce. Later
on she discovers that the dead man
discovered by the wild widow was
her husband, so she need not have
suffered and hesitated so long. nor
tortured herself, thinking she had COM
mitted bigamy.
The book is SO poorly written that it
is inexcusable. and, search as one may,
there are no redeeming traits to be
found in it.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

account OF the reputation which DR..
Warner had made for himself by his
practical work. his book was accepted
as guide to methods of investiga-
tion and relief. AS manual on chari-
ties this book is said to be a model, and
1t has run through several large edi-
tions since its authors death, but the
growth of new conditions has naturally
caused its statistics to become out of
date. Therefore new. edition has been
prepared by Mary Roberts Coolidge. an
associate sociologist with DR.. Warner
in his Stanford days.
The text has been strengthened where
needed and all the figures of the book
brought down to the present date, so
thatsit stands today, as it has for the
last IA years, as the final authority on
American charities.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
" The Law of the Rhythmic Breath" /"
By Ella Adelia Fletcher Published by r.
Fenno & Co. Now York Price 81 90

BY Ella Adelia Fletcher. Published by r. F.
Fenno & Co., New York Price sl00.
Ella Adelia Fletcher has perfect
faith in what she has written about
The Law of the Rhythmic Breath, y
but she Is a little too dictatoriaI in
her statements She also seriously
handicaps herself by the too frequent
use of Sanskrit words when an English
word would do quite as WELL If not
better. The book purports to teach
the system of Yoga breathing, an
ancient Hindu teaching which ex-
planned the benefits to be derived from
alternate breathing through each nos
tril in turn. A work very similar to
this is already we'll known, Natures
Finer Forces" by Rama Prasad, who
had translated his book from a Hindu
Tautrie work
The present author does not hesitate
to state that health, vigor and long life
absolutely depend upon the rhythmic
manner of breathing End also tells of
many extraordinary cures wrought by
this practice.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
American Charities"

BY Amos q. Warner Phi. D. Revised by
Mary Roberts Coolidge. Published by
Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.. New York.
Price SO.
Fourteen years ago Amos CT. Warner
published his first edition of "Ameri-
can Charities, Study of Philanthropy
and Economics" At that time he was
professor of sociology at Stanford uni
versity and the book created instant at
tention. 1t was pioneer work on
charities, unique of its kind, but 1t be-
came at once an authority, because of
the known work of investigation of It's
author and his high standing. The book
traces pauperism to its very foundation,
and by carefully compiled statistics
shows how. in some cases, it may be re-
lieved and in others cured entirely. On
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
"The World and His Wife "

play, by Charles Frederic Nirdlinger. Pub
nshed by Mitchell Kennerley, New York.
Jose Echegaray's verse, "El Gran
Galeoto." has been made into a play
by Charles Frederic Nirdlinger, which
ne calls The World and His Wife"
While IL is remarkably we'll written
play, 1t is horr1d and disappointing
especially in its climax, and If one
had paid good money to see it one
would go home with a feeling of hav-
ing been defrauded. 1t is most un-
satisfactory.
The plot is by no means new. 1t
is a variation of the old theme they
say" but in this case they say causes
an unconvincing tragedy.
Don Julian and his wife Teodora have
taken Don Ernesto into their home to
live. He is the son Of an old friend of
Don Julian, and Julian is trying to
have him made his secretary at TIE
new legation, which has been half
promised to him. A vicious brother Of
Julian, Don Severe. and his wife Mer-
cedes and an asinine son of theirs
make endless trouble. They are de-
termined TO break up the friendship
between Ernesto and their brother and
his wife. Mercedes begins by telling
fedora that they say" that she and
Ernesto are far too friendly. Then
Severe tells Julian that they say"
ne - CdliSQ a poor Olu nuSpdnQ ana
poor blind fool" out in the world.
Then they tell Ernesto that Julian's ap-
pointment is being held up because they
do not wish to embarrass him by tell
ing him what they say" of Ernestos
presence in his home. All this makes
the three in question very uncomfort-
able and suspicious of each other, and
every simple little innocent act is
twisted into some semblance of guilt
The climax is not convincing for no
modern husband would be so blind and
deaf as Julian nor so foolish as to
listen only to a plainly self-interested
brother. Ernesto has one good long
speech to make at the last. when the
villainous brother has succeeded in kill
ing off Julian. He gives Severe and
Mercedes a few home truths and ends
by saying that they have forced Teo-
dora into his arms and that they may
as well have the game as the name.
The play has some strong points, but
leaves a bad taste In the mouth.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
Barry Gordon 4"
~ WlIIIam -

By william Fsrouhar Payson. author Of 'John
Vytal- etc. published BY the Mcclure com
pany, New York Price Sl.50
II one is not too critical Of details.
Barry Gordon" may be considered q
good story. Certainly there is no lack
OF excitement. every chapter is filled
with adventure or at least incident.
The scheme OF the story is the old
one Of hereditary influence. In this
case drink is the dreaded evil. In the
first chapter Barry, the elder Of two sons,
Of Colonel Gordon, a fiery Virginian, is
hastily summoned from college on ac-
count OF his fathers mortal illness In
the next few chapters the whole family
history IS told and IL is a most depress-
ing picture. It ends by Colonel Gordon
telling Barry abort the curse Of drink
which is fastened upon the family and
Of a famous old toast which ancestor
after ancestor has died drinking:
Up friends. up
Tonight we sup.
Tho tomorrow we die Of the reveli
Rise for toast
Tho tomorrow we roast,
a health TO his lordship. the devils
AS the father sings the toast he drops
dead and the first episode in Barry's
life comes to an end. The scene is
very graphically told, but IT is a horrid
and tragic setting. The volume is di-
vided into six parts or books. each OF
which covers a period IN Barry's life.
His pride OF family is splendid, his love
for his brother is beautiful, but his
years OF suffering on account of Muriel,
who, he supposes, loves his brother,
seem unnecessary except TO make his
own struggles against the hereditary
enemy all the harder and his victory in
the end more picturesque and complete.
The story opens in Virginia, but takes
us almost over the world before It ends
Paris. the heart OF Africa" Lake
Tchad. the forbidden city OF Benz Aloo,
Morocco (where his brother Tom has
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
Books Received

The Parchment and Other Poems'' By R. A
5. Wade; the Cochrane publishing company New
York
The University OF Virginia. Memoirs OF Her
Culbreth; the Neale publishing company. New
York
-'Oratory OF the South" by Edwin du Bots
Shurter; the Neale publishing company. New
York.
The Living Word" BY 3. Worcester; Morat,
Yard & Co.. New York.
Pictures OF Old Chinatown" By Arnold
Genthe. and VIII Irwin; Aloratt, Yard & Co,
New York.
'-Gillett's Industrial solution: World Corpora
tion." By Melvin l. Severy; the Ball publishing
company. Boston.
"a FIcrentine Tragedy. !" BY Oscar Wilde: John
". Luce & Co.. Boston
Lincoln. the Citizen; Lincoln. the President"
two vols. by Henry G. Whitney; the Baker .
Taylor company. New York.
''How TO Develop Power snd Personality IN
Speaking" By Greenville Kleiser; Funk Wag-
nails company. New York
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

best Juveniles of the season. The his
torical matter and tradition on which
the story is built are accurate, but told
with view to interest young readers
and not bore them. This Is the sixth
volume In the Roses of Saint Eliza
beth series, all of which have had the
instant approval of the young readers.
The book is beautifully printed and
bound, but the illustrations in color
by Ethelind Ridgway are badly drawn
and unattractive.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
BOOKS REVIEWED

The World Live H." By Helen Keller.
Robin ArOOn." By Armisteod c. Gordon.
Barry Gordon" By William ForquhU PaysOn.
The World and His Wife" bu Charles
Frederic NHdIingcr
Arthur Atkins.'
"C@lottd.' By Francis Margaret Fox.
'The Lam of The Rhythmic Breath" BY Ella
.Adclid Fletcher.
Good Night Storics." BY Mrs. Eulk Sitig.
The Wild WidOv." by Certe de S. Vent
north James.
American Chuifes.' By Amos C. Wana.
Ph. D.
II Holiday Touch and Other Tales" bp
Charles BotteH LOOMS
-Baedeka's Berlin and Its EnpHOns.' BY Karl
B0cdeka.
-The depreciation of the Drama" BY Charles
H. CGffm.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

characteristic American drama arrives
it will be distinguished by largeness
OF outlook and treatment, by the
equivalent OF that spirit which opened
up the west and has raised the ma
terial and political Importance OF the
country to its present height. While
its technique may be based on the old
world models, the handling of its theme
will reflect the social ideals of the
new" etc.
This volume is the sixth in the "Ap-
probation" series, which so far has
dealt with painting, sculpture, archi-
lecture. literature and music.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

been kidnapped by bandits), are few
Of the places mentioned. Many OF the
adventures require blind faith to be-
heve, but the tale as a whole is en-
tertaining and has a clean moral tone
throughout
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

fine mind that no suggestion of hel
bitter fate has crept into her writing
One sentence of hers is enough to make
this little book live forever:
While / walk about my chamber
with unsteady steps, my spirit
sweeps skyward on eagle wings
and looks out with unquenchable
vision upon the world of eternal
beauty.
1t is a notable book in many ways.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
"CarIota

By Frances Margaret Fox author Of Farmer
Brown and the Birds" etc. Published By
L. C. Page & Co., Boston. Price 81
"Carlota" is a story of San Gabriel
mission, and the time of the story is
the middle of the last century, when
there were no railroads in the great
southwest and all the picturesque Gus
toms Of the hospitable Spanish people
still prevailed.
Carlota was the daughter of an an
cient Castilian family of famous lin
cage. Two other characters are Jimmy
and Mary, brother and sister, Ameri-
can children, brought up under the
care Of the padre of San Gabriel The
story is extremely entertaining and
may be recommended as one of the
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
arthur Atkins"

His Letters. with Notes Upon Painting Pub
lished by A. IL. Robertson, San francisco
Price $1.25.
The little memorial of Arthur Atkins,
written as a foreword to his letters,
is not too long to give entire. 1t ex-
plains the reason for the publication,
and the reviewer can only add that the
hope in the foreword is more than
justified by the letters themselves:
For the friends Of Arthur Atkins
these extracts from his letters.
from the notes written upon the
margin Of his sketches. will have
real and touching value. They
win recall for. them his talk, his
interests, the lovely charm of the
serious and noble friend they knew.
For those TO whom he was un-
known the pages may reveal some-
thing OF the sensitive mind and
heart Of the artist; his response
TO the beauty and dignity of the
visible world
The publication rests upon the de-
sire OF his associates to supple
ment the pictures with whatever
remains as a record of his gifts
obscured as these gifts were by
the circumstances of life, by the
last sad circumstance of death in
early manhood.
1t is with the belief that his
place in art his influence upon
painting in California. will, in the
future. be perceived as distinctive
and important that these written
words are preserved. In deep affec-
ton for him and in trust for that
future.
The letters are few in number and
brief, as are also the notes, and one
who does not care for letters may say
it is we'll; but once begin one and the
slight little volume will be read
through at a sitting, and will be car
ried in ones pocket afterward. Such
an appreciation of nature is rarely
seen in words and one can not but
wish that Arthur Atkins had left more
writings. His few paintings have
been seen here and most favorably
commented upon by critics. and now,
with the addition Of these letters to
brighten his name, more regret comes
at his early passing.
The volume is daintily printed and
bound, and contains reproductions of
a few of his pictures as illustrations.
-
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
The method Of his hostess was diff

That bit OF local color may be as
valuable as Il is interesting, for the
author is accurately informed on ali
matters Of history and family and man
ners, so why not on cookery?
The book is well worth the time spent
IN reading IL. II is bright and gay and
amusing.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

Oliver Herfords simple Biography" is
not Tor very young children. but for
those whose sense OF humor Is de-
yeloped. or is naturally. keen. 1t Is
dffhcult for the admirers OF this clever
author to believe that he is an English
man, for all good Americans are
brought up TO believe that no English
man has sense OF humor. at least
not developed as American humorists
see IT. But humorfsts OF today are
divided into three classes. Americans.
English and oliver Herford. He is in
class by himself. and his simple jog
raphy proves it. No one can read IL
and not scream with laughter. (J. w.
Luce & Co., New York;
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

The other sara" IS a comedy ro-
nance by Curtis Yorke which might
have been much better. The heroine il
a middle aged ignorant woman who
suddenly becomes an heiress, and one
OF the conditions OF the Will Is that she
must live with some aristocratfc rela-
tives. 1t Is a most uncomfortable ar
rangement. productive OF 1udicrous and
pathetic situations. but the author Is
not content with this and must follow
the fashion OF the day and rail against
socialism and woman suffrage. The
story is not dull. but at times Is rather
crude. Dana Estes & Co., Boston.
$1-50)