The San Francisco call., 1910-06-12
Brief Reviews of New Books

Fred NJ. White has done much better
work than Hard Pressed" He does
not understand the horse racing game,
or which he has chosen to write in
his latest piece of melodramatic fiction.
The whole cast is here the beautiful
girl, the parlous villain. the father in
his power, poor but honest lover. The
villain demands the maiden's hand at
the price of saving the father, of
course. and the lover returns in time
to expose the villain. 1t is cheap and
ordinary, but few new properties add
interest. The plot is ingenious and
will interest readers who are not ia
miliar enough with the methods OF the
racecourse to pick flaws in some OF
the situations. OR. f. Fenno & Co..
New York. $1.50.)
''The Fated Five" by Gerald Bliss. is
also called The Tale of Tontine." The
latter was a word once familiar in life
insurance circles 1t originated In
Italy with one Tonta. the idea being
that number of individuals form an
association, each contributing a fixed
sum as sort of insurance benefit, the
surviving member to receive the en-
tire sum.
Six men form a pool with a capital
of 100000. One is a famous London
lawyer, highly respected by everybody.
His private life will not bear too close
investigation and it is soon seen that
he is the villain of the scheme, where
by the other members of the tontine
become the "Fated Five" The book
is exciting throughout and extremely
we'll written. far above the ordinary
melodramatic fiction OF the day (Bren-
tano's. New York. $1.50.)
How to Study Birds is a book by
Herbert X. Job for those who wish to
become acquainted with their neigh
bors of the fields and forests. MIR.
Job takes up in detail the practical
side of bird study, showing how to
identify the various species. when and
where they may be found, their nest
ing time and habits. He also describes
the outfit necessary for studying the
birds in the open, and reveals all the
secrets by which he himself has Sc
cured his remarkable bird photo
graphs. 1t is indispensable for those
who wish to combine accuracy and en-
joyment in their observations OF bird
life. The book is beautifully Illus
trated with photographs showing the
birds and some remarkable pictures of
plumage and nests. (Outing publishing
company, New York. s1.50.)
play" a book by Emmett Dunn An
gell, is one of the most practical OF
the kind published. 1t contains de-
scriptions OF and instructions for play
ing over a hundred games, carefully
graded, including water sports, suitable
for both indoor and outdoor use; also
invaluable for coaching and playing
girls basket ball. The book may be
utilized by the physical Instructor, the
playground instructor, the public school
teacher or the parents, and children
themselves may easily work out the
games and enjoy them. Qittle, Brown
& Co., Boston. s1.5O)
Abraham Lincoln, the Tribute OF a
Century, is edited by Nathan William
MacChesney. To quote from the fore
word: This book has grown out of
desire which the editor had while sec
retary of the Lincoln centennial memo
rial committee of 100. appointed by
the mayor of Chicago, for a memorial
volume which should give permanent
form to the many masterly tributes to
Lincoln by noted men which marked
this unique centenary, and should pre-
serve to history the remarkable spirit
of the occasion" As such the work is
satisfactory. 1t, contains Lincoln ap-
preciations from all sorts of sources,
which show him in many lights. The
numerous illustrations help to make 1T
an attractive volume fit to grace the
shelves of history lovers throughout
the country. CA. c. McClurg & Co,
Chicago. s2.75.)
1t is a new picture of John Kendrick
Bangs which we find in Songs of
Cheer" a book of sincere joy poems.
He has so long played at being gro
tesque and frivolous that 1t requires
speedy adjustment of ones mental ball
ance to take this author seriously-but
not always soberly. One little sample.
entitled Exercised" is quoted. which is
quie irresistible:
c,fo5 bft - go +o5av
Looked black anything.
But he came up the way
began to sing.
Songs and triIls that thrilled with gIee
Songs Of JOY, and peace and dawn
Then l peeded out warily-
Mr.. Care had goneI
The book is daintily printed and
bound by Sherman, French & Co., Bos-
ton. ($1)
The Angel of Lonesome Hill" is a
little story by Frederick Lands Of
Roosevelt when he was president. 1t
tells of the wrong conviction of young
soldier for murder. a death bed confess
sion, but many difficulties line the path
to freedom. The father goes to Wash
4ngton to see the president. and the de-
scription of the meeting is well done.
Roosevelt's name is not mentioned In
the story, but the portrait is strong
and unmistakable. The pathos is gem
uine and delicate, and the booklet is
well worth the reading. (CharIes Scrib-
ner's Sons. New York. so cents net)
The less a man carries in his pack
the more he must carry in his head"
says Mr.. Horace Kephart In his latest
book, Camp Cookery" This book tells