The Detroit times., 1910-12-03
BOOKS

THE Purchase Price" by Emerson
Hough, Is stirring tale of the years
just preceding the great civil war.
This period OF American history Is
one that lends itself we'll 10 the
novelist because IL was a time OF
strife and turmoil, the preliminary
clashing between the slavery and
abolitionist parties which led up TO
the great conflict The Purchase
Price" deals chiefly with the strug-
gle in Missouri, the gateway 10 Kan
sas and Nebraska, where the first
fighting took place. Upon this back
ground Mr.. Hough has woven tale
Of adventure that is full of exciting
situations and human interest
The heroine is the Countess Jo-
sephine st. Auban, who has taken a
leading part In the struggle for free
dom in France and Hungary, and has
come 10 America inspired by zeal for
the abolitionist cause. She Is Sec
reilly transported from Washington at
the order of a high official because
she is regarded as dangerous by the
administration. She falls into the
hands OF Senator Dunwoody, a from
tier baron who lives like q feudal
lord on his plantation in a secluded
valley of Missouri He takes the
countess there by force and then at
tempts TO win her love.
Shortly after she arrives at the
Tallwoods estate there is an epidemic
of broken bones among the chief char
acters. Josephine breaking her arm
in an attempt 10 escape by way OF
an ivy lattice and Dunwoody break
ing his leg as result OF a fight with
some settlers who were helping "A
runaway slave girl into Kansas.
There is a dash and spirit to the
Purchase Price that accords well
with the stirring scene in which 1t
is laid What il lacks in subtlety OF
treatment is made up by the vigor
and rapidity of the action.
The Purchase Price Is the second
of a trilogy of books by Emerson
Hough, dealing with the growth of
the American spirit. The first was
$40 or Fight" and the Purchase
Price is worthy companion 10 that
popular book.
The Purchase Price" is published
by the Bobbs-Merrill Co., lndianapo-
lis, and Is for sale at the local book
stores.
The Land of Living" is the latest
of the series of Life Books" by
Ralph Waldo Urine, published by
Thomas " Crowell & Co, New York.
II is series Of philosophical essays
on the national problems Of the day
fchiefly political and economic. II is
an appeal for national life animal
ed by ideals OF right and justice
rather than a scramble for money.
While II may be criticized for the i'm
practical and sometimes exceedingly
tenuous theories OF right and gov
eminent, still it Is we'll to pause &C.
casionally and take view Of modern
problems from a theoretical point of
view.
Mr.. Urine succeeds in presenting
the ideal side OF modern questions
in a most pleasing form. Much must
BE- cast aside as visionary, of course,
but that should not preclude these
views from the consideration of the
man who is practically interested in
the affairs of the day. Ii has hap
rened not infrequently in the history
of the world that the ideal dreams OF
today become the actual facts of the
morrow. 1t is therefore not altogeth-
er mere speculation to pause with
Mr.. Urine to take broad general
view OF the meaning of the activities
that make up our lives.
The Land of Living Men is pub
lished by Thomas Y. Crowell 4 Co.
and may be obtained at the local
bookshops.
Mary Ward in Texas" Is the sea-
sons volume in the Little Colonel
Series. This series has won a warm
place in the hearts OF juvenile read
ers and Mrs. Annie Fellows John
ston who has written these pleasing
volumes is one OF the most popular
authors Of this class OF stories.
Mary Ware. who is well-known as
the chum OF the Little Colonel, Is put
in Texas for the adventures which
are told in this book and there are
many things 10 interest in the whole.
some excitement OF life in the open.
Mary Ware is wholesome and de-
lightful story for young readers.
Mary Ware in Texas is published
by l.. c. Page e. Co., Boston. and
is for sale at the local stores