The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-26

Brief Reuiews
of Interesting
Library Books

Here are a few brief reviews OF some
of the best of the 190S-9 crop of new
books that are now on the shelves OF
the Public Library:
THE Goose Girl by Harold Mac
Grath. The usual mythical German
kingdom is the stage whereon a prin-
cess and a goose girl play interchange
able parts and a king in disguise anu
a resourceful American consul are
equal to their roles of knights errant.
A delightful tale with a touch OF ro-
mantle charm.
THE Inner Shrine Story of the re-
formed life of an American woman
! whose reckless Partisan career has re-
suited in her husbands loss of fortune
and suicide. A striking novel, full OF
cleverness of invention n dramatic
effectiveness.
Romance of a Plain Man, by Ellen
Glasgow. A story of Richmond, Va,
after the war, showing the social guif
~aristocratics families fixed between their
ranks and the common people. Inc
early struggles and education of the
plain man, his business success, MS
winning of a girl of family" and his
varying fortunes, financial domes-
tic, make one of the authors best
| stories.
Among the Wild Tribes of the
Afghan Frontier" by F. l.. Rennell.
Record of singularity, interesting n
humanizing work among a remarkable
people living on h borderland
India and Afghanistan. The author is
a medical missionary who has spent
sixteen years in hospital practise at
Banner and has Travelled much over
northern India. Not only a. very read
able volume, but a significant COM
mentary on the value of medical mis-
sions as a civilizing agency. There are
numerous Illustrations and two maps.
"a Summer in Touraine,' by Frederic
Lees. A descriptive and historical ac-
count of the chateaux in the valleys OF
the Loire, vienne, Indre and other vi
entities in central France. Illustrations
are numerous, many of them being IN
color.
1.-THE People at Play" by r. l.. HART.
Clever studies OF the amusements OF
the masses in this country, howin
intimate knowledge of the various
kinds of entertainments theatres,
pleasure parks, dance halls, baseoar
games, skating Kinks and other forms
and the kinds of people that frequent
them. These diversions satisfy. the
authors thorough understanding of his
subject gives the book a decided So
Geological value, n his humor and
wholesome genia1ity make it good for
general reading. The illustrations are
unusual, both in subject, and in method
of reproduction.
1.-THE Passing Of the Tariff" by r. L.
Bridgman. A popular presentation of
free trade ideals in the light of eco
nomic evolution and present conditions.
1.-THE Picturesque Hudson" by Cliff
ton johnson. Presents the picturesque,
literary and legendary features of the
Hudson. The chapters travers the
whole course of the river from the tiny
rills of the Adirondacks to it's end az
the southern point OF Manhattan
Island. Forty attractive Photographic
illustrations in this compact little vol
ume add much to it's value n popular
interest. W.
g"Why Worry" by George, Lincoln
Walton. The author discusses worry
and obsession from the standpoint OF
the neurologist, and devotes much at
tention to the absurd and dangerous
mental altitude conceived and fostered
by ordinarily "fussy'' people. 1t is a
practical discussion from which any
one may, extract many beneficial pre-
scriptions.
''The House of Rimmon," by Henry
Van Dyke. In idea and feeling this
drama is religious; in interest it is
dramatic, and in form and phrase it is
poetic. The scene of the drama is laid
in Damascus in $50 B. c. Naaman, the
Damascus captain, is the central fig
ure. He is a leper, n a victim of his
unfaithful wife's plotting. He is cared
for by the Israelitish maid Ruahmah
and by her aid he is healed by the
prophet Elisha.
Culture by Conversation" by Robert
Waters. A plea for the resurrection of
the old lost art of conversation Anec-
dotes and illustrations are given with
helpful rules and illustrations of con-
versations. -
"Other Days. by William Winter. 1t
is mainly because of it's human quail
ties that "Other Days" is an important
book. 1t calls the great dead back to
life and is full of ~illuminative detail,
of analytical character studies, of wit
ty comment and eloquent appreciation
of the great people who have been con-
nGCIeu Will Lie EAlIItllCou obo6Ss
1.-THE R~iverman," by Stewart Edward
White. A story of the Michigan river
men and the fortunes of a log-driving
firm. The hero is a river-boss, who is
induced by a New York lawyer, rough
ing it for his health, to join him in
organizing a company to handle expe-
%ditiously all the logs of that section.
The treachery of the partner forms
the plot of the story. The book is full
of local color and action.
1.-THE Whispering Man" by Henry
Kitchell. This, book belongs to the
more successful class of detective
stories because of the precision with
which the parts of the plot are fitted
together and the clock-work regularity
of the action.
"The Black Bag by Louis J. Vance.
The same hurried action and absorb
ing strain of romance are found in this
story as in 1.-THE Brass Bowl" A ras-
cally diamond smuggler who pretends
to be the long-lost father of the heroine
plots to rob her of the most desirable
part of her fortune, a .black bag of
Jewels. How a young Californian k
orf in fhe oame and OtltWits the cOn-