The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-30

/, "The Gnme OF the Golden BAIL"
! By Elizabeth and Adrian Johnson
The Macaulay Publishing Co., OF New
York. s1.5o.
Elizabeth johnson is the daughter OF
Tom L. Johnson, OF Cleveland. Show.
ing her desire to be independent OF
the prestige belonging to her as he,
fathers daughter, she has collabor-
ated with her uncle, Adrian Johnson
! In producing a romantic novel The
manuscript OF this novel was mainly
written in Cleveland during the trac-
ton war, which Tom Johnson waged
and Its chapters were read aloud "a
this busy man when he sought his
home for periods OF rest and relaxa-
ton.
The story opens in London and close $
with an entertainment In the Venetian
palace of the Princess Altomonte, at
which the game OF the golden bal,
was played. nominally. for the first
time outside of an Indian Jungle The
prince held on high golden ball. and,
at a signal given by the princess.
maiden who found 1t was to utter a
cry. Then the men dashed forward as
contestants. and the one who found
the maiden led the cotillion with her.
the dance coming after the game.
The story begins with mystery and
a murder. the motive for which is not
explained until the last moment. There
Is an Englishman who undertakes an
important charge, and an East Indian
who fulfls uaission OF vengeance.
The search of the Englishman to
find the woman he loves. the effort
of his enemies to steal an important
package he carries. the breathless ad-
ventures and hairbread:h escapes end
ing in the meeting of the traitor and
the betrayed combine TO produce 2
book that is both exciting and en-
thralltng. s
By Josephine Helena Short. Thomas
Y. Crowell & Co.. of New York, pub
fishers. 81 net.
In this work the author has given
an intimate view of the life of those
wonderful villagers, who. IN the carry
ing out OF vow made by their an
cestors centuries ago. once IN ten
years attract vast throng of tourists
to their home in the Bavarian High
lands to witness the drama about
whose production centres their whole
existence. In 1900 Miss Short passed
several weeks in Oberammergau, see
ing the Passion Play seven times, and
later remaining month to observe
the closing scenes of the Passion sum-
mer. Probably no other American
traveller has become established on so
friendly footing with the Omeran-
n.ergauers and is as we'll qualified to
describe their real life. Incidentally.
Miss Short clears them OF all charges
OF sordid motives in their production
OF the Passion Play.
Two chapters in the book are given
up to an exposition OF the drama for
the assistance of visitors who do not
readily follow the German of the per-
Torrance and to an explanation of the
tableaux preceding the different acts
Of the main play and their significance.
The Illustrations are chiefly con1-
posed of photographs taken by the
author, showing typical views In and
about the village and of the people.
There are also scenes from the Pas
sion Play and of leading characters
In this years production.
"a Village of vaSabonds."
BY F, Berkeley Smith. Doubleday,
Page & Co., of New York. $3.50.
A little fishing village on the Norman
coast. near which he has farm. has
been chosen as the scene of Mr.. Smiths
most recent book In which the same
spirit Of good humor and canaraderie
which makes his other books such re-
freshing and recreatiye reading per-
vades this new tale of the 'lost VIII
lage by the Norman coast, in which
there's a paradise of good fellowship.
romance, love and sound red wine."
Mr.. Smith knows intimately both the
quaint village and its vagabond inhab-
itants, for the little "get-off the track
train" has brought him many times to
his own farm near this forgotten clus-
ter of huts, Here he grows American
corn. holds open house to the villagers
and goes on duck shooting expeditions.
It is apparent to every one that much
of the book is reality. Suzette, the
rosy checked girl In sabots," who
sang all day; Nine. Alice dc Breville,