Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-11


the outbreak of the revolution. She has
now followed that valuable contributor
to local history with a work which picks
up the story of Boston where st.
Botolph's Town" dropped 1t and carries
it along to the beginning of the nine
teenth century, stopping just short of the
time when the New England metropolis
became a municipality with mayor and
aldermen. 1t is singular that no work
has previously been prepared to tell this
story of Boston. and students of revolu-
tionary history will find in this admirable
compilation of facts and references nu-
merous items of value to them in their
researches. The story of Boston as thus
told. however, is not addressed directly
to the investigator 1t is an interesting
narrative, disclosing the activities of
numerous men and women of historical
renoWn and recalling forgotten episodes.
The work is profusely illustrated with
reproductions Of portraits and contem-
poraneOuS prints.
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT, Dreamer and
Worker: story of Achievement. BY
Belle Moses. New York: d. Apple
ton & Co.
Miss AIcott has been dead more than
twenty years. but her stories are still
read by thousands of young people, who
feel that she is their friend. An ade-
quate biography has never been prepared.
There have been "reminiscences and
sketches, but it has remained until now
for the present author to put forth
volume telling not simply of her literary
activities, but of the influences Whlch
operated to affect her career. In this
work is told simply and with deep appre-
citation the story of young woman sTus-
CLING to find herself, burdened with
cares, weighted with responsibilities ana
hand capped with poverty, but gifted WIN
an indomitable spirit and supreme faith.
The fortunes of her brain children are
traced sympathetically, and Miss Alcott
is shown through her varying elIoris at
school teaching, occasional writing, mousse
keeping and even attempts TO JOIN the
theatr. cal ranks. 1t Will be interesting
to all the readers of the Alcott books
to read the stories of those WORKS as
they were conceived and executed rms
is how Little Women gained publica-
ton: with the completed manuscript IN
his hands, Mr.. Niles wisely decided not
to trust his own judgment, and looked
around for an ADLER critic. inns ne loulio
in a small niece. and he left her curied
ND in a big armchair. with the closely
written pages of Little Women in her
eager hands. He peeped i'll every once
in a while, but he did not disturb her,
for the little girl was absorbed, forgetful
of everything hut the story: sometimes
laughing aloud, sometimes stopping 10
brush the tears away. but never hltiliS
her eyes from those fascinating pages,
until the last was laid down with IL sign
of regret She was an enthusiastic young
person, and had nothing but praise for
the story. Mr.. Niles hesitated no longer.
WHEN MAN MARRIES. BY Mary
Roberts Rinehart, author OF the
Circular Staircase etc. Illustrated
by Harrison Fisher and Mayo Bun
ker. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merriii
Company.
In some cases a mans matrimonial
troubles are serious when he actually
vests himself with wife, but they are
only slight compared with the dlft1cuitles
that arise when man persuades
woman not his wife to pass as such In
order to deceive his wealthy maiden aunt
upon whom his fortune depends. James
Wilson's foolish device to this effect
would have been embarrassing in its re-
suits at best, even If his entire dlnner
party, together with his uneXEectedy
arrived aunt and later his even mere I'M
expectedly arrived divorced wife. not 70
mention a policeman corralled in the eel
lar had not been imprisoned in his mouse
by the health authorities owing 10 the
seizure of his Japanese butter win
supposed case of smallpox. Then TO nave
Jewels mysteriously disappear from their
proper places with no one to suSpe I put
members of the party rendered the SIT
uation intolerable from any point or view.
But what could be done? The quara tine
was perfect, the house surrounded by
health officers. policemen and reporters,
and inside romance fairly boiling The
story is told by Miss Kit McNalr, she
who fooliShly consents to pose as mrs.
Wilson for the benefit of tho wealthy
aunt. 1t is an unguessable complication.
with many amusing situations. 1t would
have been better TO contine the 1iluStra-
tons to either the black and white Or the
color plates. The lack of harmony be
tween the two is disconcerting.
FELICITA; Il Romance of Old Siena.
BY Christopher Hare, author OF
Down the Village Street" etc. With
Illustrations from photographs. New
York: Frederick \. Stokes Company.
This book is one of 81 series of little
novels of famous cities The characters
create and maintain the atmosphere of
that way-back century in which 1.-The
black death journeyed from the east
and laid waste the whole of Europe and
the plot has for its climax the sacrifice of
girl who, escaping on her wedding day
from the man she was forced to marry,
returns to care for linn when he Is
stricken by the plague. y golden thread