davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
"The FLYING Mercury"

By Eleanor W Ingram author Of The Game
and the Candle" published by the Bobbs
Merrill company. indianapolis. Price 81
The Flying Mercury" by Eleanor
N. Ingram. Will pass an idle hour in as
rapid q fashion as one can well i'm
pecially racing motors, and the story
moves with the speed its subject
demands. The Flying Mercury tells
q splendid love story and the chauffeur
hero is the very best type OF American
we have TO offer. The characters are
all well drawn; the stern father, who
after having made up his mind will
listen 10 no explanations; the quaint
old Scotchman who is the head of the
French manufacturing concern, steady
as rock, but quite willing TO bide his
time. the half worthless but not bad
young nephew, who as a result of the
prodding Of Emily and the magnetic
young racer finally turns over a new
leaf and reilly makes good; and Emily,
the lovely heroine, sweet, gentle, af-
fectionate generous and brave. The
chauffeur. Darling. is splendid. and
every girl reader will be in love with
him before she is half through the
book. we suspect his identity early
IA the story, but he does not discover
himself until the proper moment when
he has made good and al the tangled
threads are made straight and smooth
again
The book is delicately and daintily
printed and bound and contains some
exceIlent illustrations by Edmund
Frederick II VIII make a charming
gift book.
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
"The Tragedy of Nan
and Other PLAYS"
By John Msseheld. published BY NJ

BY John Maseneld published by Mitchell
kennerly, New York Price sl.25.)
Three little plays by John Masefield
are included in volume entitled The
Tragedy of Nan and Other Plays" They
are concentrated gloom and 1t is diff
ficUlt in a hurried reading to see the
reason for their being The one which
gives the title to the book is the long
ess. In the torm 9f play Git has been
produced twice IN London) IL tells the
wholly undeserved and unnecessary
tragedy Of Nan. Mans mother is dead
and the father has been hung for steal
ing a sheep. though TO the last he and
Nan protested his innocence. Nan then
comes 10 live with her uncle and aunt
and cousin IN a nearby town. She is
abominably treated by the aunt. who is
evil incarnate. She taunts her with be-
ing the child Of father hung for sheep
stealing; she makes her the scapegoat
for everything that goes wrong in the
house. She destroys her clothes: in a
hundred ways she nearly goads the girl
TO self-destructfon But Nan has a.
country admirer who comes one even
ing to small party. and arriving early
he and Nan have little love scene and
matters are satisfactorily arranged be-
tween them
Then the aunt comes in and tells the
boy during Mans absence that IL he
narries Jenny. her daughter his father
Will make him q partner in the busi-
ness and give him EGO to begin house
keeping. The ignorant boy, though he
despises Jenny. yields when he is at
last told about Mans father. Then the
guests arrive and the aunt makes pub
nc the announcement OF the engage
ment Nan is crushed. In the midst of
the party some officers OF the govern
ment arrive to tell Nan that the real
hc 4
was innocent and give her ESQ to salye
her wound. They all make up to her
too late. She stabs the lover who
scorned her and makes speech telling
the FAMILY what she thinks of them,
then goes out TO the river and browns
herself. The family do not particularly
care. They have the ESQ
The second play 0t has also been
produced once) is a grewsome thing. 1t
tells how John Perry. enraged with his
brother, told the constable that he and
ms brother and his mother had killed
neighbor. Mr.. Harrison, who has dis
appeared. They have not killed him
but, confessing, they must hang. few
minutes after they are all dead the ma
Harrison turns UP safe and sound. This
work. The Campden Wonder" is a
one act play and for sheer horror fl
can hardly be surpassed The one
brother. knowing the innocence of him
self and brother and mother, is willing
10 die himself for vengeance.
The third play is Mrs Harrison" and
might almost be monologue. II con-
slsts of Mrs. Harrison's upbraidings of
her husband for staying in hiding with
out reason and allowing the Perrys to
hang. There is a hint that he was
hired TO stay away and that makes it
worse. Finally Mrs Harrison takes
poison. for she can not live as wife to
a murderer
Pleasant little plays
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
"JingIes for Singles"

Verses by Ids II. Jullerat Decorations br
berIha n Boye Published by Ricardo j.
orozco. San Francisco)
Jingles for Singles-A Mother Goose
Tor Lovers Use" is just the right sized
little book for a bashful Young man
to tie TO the box Of Christmas candy
he sends TO the girl in the next block.
1t is little book that young folks
and lovers OF older acquaintance might
exchange with mutual delight IT is a
very pretty volume and the verses are
dainty sentimental adaptations of the
old cradle jingles. Miss Juillerat has
caught the diction of the Mother Goose
school Of poets. In her quaint dedica-
ton she says: Dedicated to all lovers
Of the past, present and future and to
Dan Cupid and the little birds no less"
For the authors sake IT may be hoped
that all 10 whom the book is dedicated
buy copy
Miss Boye's decorations and draw
ings are in the spirit of the book The
page borders are hand illumined, which
gives the little lovers trophy a per-
sonal tone.
As examples of Miss Juillerats wit
may be reprinted the following verses
from the book:
Little 30 Peep has lost her sleep.
And know where 10 hnd it
IN a letter, quite long
That somehow went wrong
But I'll not tell who signed 1t
Jack sprat could eat not fat
Jack Spraf could eat no lean:
But when the maid at last was won
He ate the platter Clean
Great love. little kiss-bound 10 be
When they're together and none 10 see.
Miss. Juillerat is g graduate of the
University OF California and a prorni-
nent member of the collegiate alumnae.
The little book is from the press OF
Ricardo ]. Orozco, San Francisco.
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
"The Holy Land"

By Robert Hichens Illustrated by sJules
Guerln. published by the Century COM
pany, New York. Price s6l
truly sunptuous hook is THE Holy
Land" by Robert Hichens, containing
the already famous Illustrations by
jules Guerin. The author is a master
OF colorfu1 prose as has been proved
by his Garden of Allah and other nov
els. and he makes these wonderful
cities of the holy land Baa1bec, Damas-
Gus. Nazareth, Jericho. Bethlehem and
Jerusalem, seem real and near TO the
reader, The seven chapters are the de-
scriptions of keen eyed and poetical
traveller through this wonderful coun-
try.
The Illustrations of Jules Guerin. the
French artist. were made in the same
way He, too, has his eve attuned to
the mystery and beauty OF this fascf-
mating and impressive land. and. though
he and the author were not together.
their work is In absolute sympathy A
beautiful holiday gift.
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
Edward and | and
Mrs. HOneybun"

Bg Kate horn Published by Breatano's. New
In Edward and and Mrs. Honey
Pln Kate Horn has written a decid-
eolyF unusual story With q couple Of
Young English aristocrats for her hero
and heroine They lose ali their money
through the dishonesty of LAWYER and
nave only Cue small property to fall
back upon. This consists Of a country
PLACE In Kings Chevral, which an old
aunt had bequesthed 70 them with
600 per year. When they were fabu-
lously rich they forgot all about II.
<ut now u proved 4 haven Of refuge
The book gOes on to tell how these
two young people. loving each other
IN a most unfs shiOnable wav trx TO
work aad save money. They know
nothing whatever about economy. but
their efforts are noble. Leve is the
Thing which saves them first. last and
cll tire time
Afls. EoneyRun has been the care
taker 81 the place before they came
down there to I've. and at first she
cooks for them. They soon discover
falling she has and part with her.
not however, before she has done
mach damage and given the reader
several laughs. Her friend. Seth Cat
termole, is also amusing at first He
IS hired TO do work in the neglected
pose on Edward and his wife shame
fully and allow them TO do nearly all
OF the work. Lady Avon. the mother
OF Edwards wife. is q most offensive
person. She is perhaps an overdrawn
type Of the London society woman
thoroughly selhsA cold and deceitful
The young people have a hard strug-
gle. but their difficulties are solved in
an extraordinary fashion. They have
many exciting adventures, among them
p railroad accident which is graphic
ally described. A country family in
The neighborhood furnish much amuse-
ment. They are typical snobs and
show themselves in their true colors
while the young couple are incognito
but when they suddenly discover the
identity OF their humble, hard work
ing neighbors, what q difference it
makes, The book is interesting
throughout, well written, gay and
amusing
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
"The Centenary Dickens"
Charles scrlbner's Sons. New York.

In view of the approaching centenary
Gin 1922 Of the birth of Charles Dick
ems, the first three volumes of THE
Centenary" edition have just been
brought out. They are 1.-The Adventures
OF Oliver Twist" in one volume. and
Sketches by Boz" in two. Other VOL
umes will follow at the rate of three a.
month until the entire set is complete
Charles Seribner's Sons are issuing
this edition, in which illustration is a
special feature. in conjunction with
Chapman & Hall, Ltd, of London. the
original publishers of Dickens works.
In these volumes all the prefaces.
dedications and notices which appeared
in the various editions during the au-
thor's lifetime viii be given, together
with all the original illustrations Of
which he gave approval. The illus
trations are being produced by spe-
cial new process from the original steel
plates and wood blocks and will num-
Der close upon 700, forming in them
selves a unique gallery of the finest
examples of the work of Halblot K.
Browne (Phiz), George Cruikshank.
John Leech, Daniel Maclise, r. a, etc.
The type used is large and artistic, the
paper of extra superfine quality, the
binding handsome and the price 81 per
volume.
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
sThe Second Elopement"

BY Herbert Floinverien. published by Breu-
tano's, New York Price Sl.5O.J
Here is what might have been
charming and most romantic love story
spoiled by the author making his hero
inc almost an idiot. The plot Is good
Basil H. George, a novelist. is buying
ticket from Westgate to London when
a young girl crowds her way TO the
wicket and tries TO buy one also, but
offers in exchange ruby pendant, say
ing she has no money. The novelist
buys her q ticket for the agent Of
course refuses, and they travel to-
gether to London. She has no luggage
and does not know where 10 go in Lon
don. She tells hirn she has to leave
home to savoid hateful maria ge and
she has some notion of earning her
living. she Is appalled, when ST. George
shows her the difficulties. for she
knows nothing TO DO 10 earn money.
and he offers to help her get settled.
showing her rooms. buying a few
necessities. and engaging her 70 come
to, his office the next day to learn to do
hfs typewriting. Now there Is the be
ginning OF very pretty romance. for
he has no idea who she is-she has
given her name as Erminie Smith-and
he is already interested But the
author has made this girl OF past rs
entirely too imbscilic In regard TO all
the practicelities of life. She, OF
course, would not know much about
the value OF money. bnt when told by
St George that she can earn 30
shillings per week when she is fair
typewriter. she goes into a shop 10
buy few toilet artieles--conab. tooth
brush, nightie-and spends f1o -Of
course. one must have dressing case"
1t Is too stupid one wonders where to
go to find any one SO infantiie.
Having concealed her identity the
reader is as curious as is ST. George TO
find out who she is. and when she be-
gins 20 talk about quite common peo-
ple' like ST. George-to his face--we
know that If she is an escaped prin-
cess. which we have half suspected. she
is sn insufferable snob.
The story is charmingly told. the plot
well sustained throughout and the
secret of the heroine's identity con-.
eealed up TO the psychological moment.
Only-how could such q splendid per-
son as Basil st. George fall In love with
so senseless a girl? What did he fall
in love with? She was not so 'awfully"
beautiful She did not have any re-
markable part or amount of educa-
tion 1T must have been this sweet
Innocence. or rather ignorance Car
ried to the extreme as 1t is in this
book II is ridiculous and spoils the
otherwise delightful tale. 1t all comes
out right He marries her in the end
with great difficulty. One wonders if
she calls him latter marriage) a quite
common person"
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27

Captains Of Industry" series is Jack
Collertons Engine by Hollis Godfrey.
II is an unusually good story of an
enterprising American youth who goes
to England and enters his fathers air
ship engine in competition for
$4,000 An unscrupulous company is
pitted against him, the members of
which steal his engine. Jack has in
Vulnerable adventures In England and
Europe trailing the thieves in his at
tempt to recover it. The story has not
dull line and boys with mechanical
turn of mind will enjoy it. (Little,
Brown & Co. Boston; s1.25)
Howard R. CARTS writes even more
entertainingly for wee youngsters
than Tor the older children His
Samulie and Susie LittletaiI'' is g de-
hghtful story Of family of rabbits
They talk to each other exactly like a
family of people, hut the adventures
they have could only happen to rab-
bits. The chapters are each complete
experiences. designed to be read to the
children at bedtime. (R r. Fenno G.
Co.. New York; s1.50)
The Billy Tomorrow series, which
were begun a year ago by Sarah Pratt
Carr. now has the second number
one, and in these further adventures
Billy Tomorrow not only tastes the
joys of camping in the woods-which
are described in alluring fashion-but
solves a. mystery and has to face some
circumstances that still further call
out the best of his growing manhood.
ca. c. MeClurg & Co, Chicago; s1.5o)
Seven Little Wise Men" is the title
0F str for hxyE FRO
ces Margaret Fox. 1t tells how seven
little children living in the San Ber-
tardino valley In California spent a
Happy time in the winter preparing for
Christmas The book is unusually we'll
printed and bound and contains six
beautiful illustrations in color by
Ethelred B. Barry. (L. C. Page & Co..
Boston; SD
Sherman Hale. the Howard Half
back" is the title of fine college
story by George Hart Rand. 1t is dis
tinctly a book for boys, full of action,
mystery and romance. Sherman Hale
suffers disgrace and prison for the
honor, as he believes. of the lady of
his love- OR. F. Fenfo & Co, New
York; so cents)
E. Nesbit, In "Hardings Luck" tells
a splendid story which many grown
ups will like to read. There is much
of the fairy tale about 1t. but whether
fairy or real, the hero, Dickie Harding,
is a most loveable lad. He is an or
phan boy and lame and has most ex-
traordinary things happen to him. He
is a real vagabond for a while with
the tramp. Beale, but later hobnobs
with the highest in the land Every
essential to stimulate the boys interest
is here; there are hidden treasures.
magic seeds, underground passages.
mysterious secrets and plenty of real
children, good and bad (Frederick A.
Stokes & Co. New York;
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
":The Confessions of a
RebeIIi0us Wife"

Anonymous. published by Small, Maynard &
Co. Boston. Price SO eents)
THE Confessions of a RebeIlious
Wife" is advertised as remarkable
human document and typicalIy Ameri-
can. Why everything that has to bear
upon married unhappiness should be
classed as American it is difficult to see.
Surely English and other Europeans
have unhappy homes occasionally. This
woman in her confessions tells in a
long and dreary 81 pages the old story
OF running for the streetcar. She ex-
pected to have the lovers ardent court
ship continue forever in the husband.
She does not seem to realize that he is
doing everything he can for her He
has no other interest but his home and
his business. He cares for no other
woman. She is selfish and neurotic
one of the poor things who is misun
derstood. She needs tonic.
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27

bers builds his novels around various
kisses; and he instances as among the
best and most plummy, the famous
rail fence kiss in "Ailsa Paige He
winds up by saying that our modern
novelists, like Chambers and David
Graham Phillips. are overworking os-
culation to the point where those of
the next generation will probably omit
it altogether.
John Fox Jr. writes "On the Trail of
the Lonesome Pine giving an amusing
account of his search for, the real pine
in the mountains and the interesting
characters that he met by the way.
George Wright accompanied him and
made the drawings on the spot.
George Wharton Edwards. author of
Brittany and the Bretons," etc, has
just returned to this country from
summers trip In Flanders. where he
procured material for a new volume of
travels.
F. Berkeley Smith. son of F. Hopkin-
son Smith and author of novel just
published. sailed lately for his home in
France.
Will Irwin is at Scituate making the
final revision OF his new novel, "The
Readjustment,Y which will be pub
lished shortly.
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
'1Ereda''

By Katherine lyman. published by Cassell &
Co.. Ltd. London. New York, Toronto and
Melbourne. Price $1.20.)
For readers who enjoyed Peggy the
Daughter" an earlier novel by this
author, Katherine lyman, this new
book has an especial appeal. The au-
thor introduces her heroine when a
child. and takes US along with her
until she has passed through all her
difficulties and is married happily.
Freda is an orphan, left to the care
of a low gambler and his mistress.
Some instinct seems to tell her the
difference between good and evil, and
no matter what temptations arise, nor
by what evil influences she is sur
rounded. she keeps her sweetness and
innocence. There is much unpleasant
ness and a great deal of sorrow and
unhappiness, but toward the last of the
book things are fairly well straight
ened out. Freda discovers that Lord
Grandson is her uncle and also that
his vast estates rightfully belong to
her. OF course, there is a love story,
and in the romantic fashion of novel
lists, our author makes this one begin
when Freda is a child She and her
fate are separated for many years. but
love each other all the more because of
the trials they are forced TO endure.
The bad are punished and the good
rewarded. SO, all in all, the story is
satisfactory.
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
Notes and Gossip

Albert Bigeiow Paine has resumed
preparations for Mark Twain's biogra
ply since the publication of his own
book of travel couple of months ago.
Mr. Paine, who makes occasional trips
from Stormfield. the Twain place at
Redding Conn. to New York, is one OF
the few authors who have been also
publishers.
The Heinz of the kissing business
lis the name given to Robert w, Cham
hers, the author of FAilsa Paige" and
The Danger Mark" on the ground that
Chambers has invented described and
copyrighted more than 81 varieties of
kisses. Before three chapters have
been read, continues the writer of the
article in question. some one will be
kissing madly. passionately. brashly.
neatly. bravely,' or in some other fash
ion. This essayist intimates that Cham
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
"Whirligigs"

By o. Henry (PubIished BY DOUBLEDAY. Page
Co., Garden City Long island, New York.
More American than Poe, more Amer
lean even than Harte, o. Henry swiftly
made his way upward in the hearts of a
constantly growing audience till he be-
came the most widely read short story
writer of his time. This last colIec-
tion of his stories. the title OF which
he selected shortly before his death.
is not confined to New York, but is
perhaps more representative of his
varied genius than any former volume.
Some people say that o. Henry lacked
seriousness. But one would search for
a very long time before finding any
where story as full OF quiet earnest
ness or tender pathos. of noble under
lying purpose as Blind Mans Holi-
day in this volume Of "Whirligfgs."
The well known inimitable style. the
cutting wit the whimsicaIity. the won
derful control of the element OF sur
prise, the keen characterization and.
above ALL the infinite love for and un-
derstanding of humanity in all its com
pick moods and phases. all are here in
this new volume-the things that will
De Maupassant and KipIing long after
other names have been forgotten
Grace Duffie Boylan, "a February
child, is the youngest OF the IL chill
dren of Captain PheNx Duffie. an Irish
man of distinguished birth and unusual
intellectual attachments. Her mother
daughter OF Cephas A. Smith, who, with
his Harvard degree in his trunk went
out TO become one OF the earliest judges
of the new state of Michigan. was a
pupil in the old academy a Wyoming.
n. Y. one of the many institutions
of learning established by her mater
nal grandfather, Rev. DIR. Joshua T.
Bradley
The author of The Steps to No
where is thus granddaughter of the
law and gospel, and a daughter of the
sword. There are many fighting men In
her family. and her work has a ma rtiaI
quality. She rarely writes a book
without a soldier in 1t. and the latest
story begins and ends with the appear
ance of gallant officer of the T. S A
The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
Son of the Wind
By Lucia Chamberlain. publish
Bobbs- Merrill company, Indianap
S1 Sn

By Lucia Chamberlain published By the
Bobbs- Merrill company, indianapolis Price
Sl.50.)
In her new romance Miss CHAMBER
lain develops a theme of classic beauty.
She tells of a young horse breaker ip
search of a magnificent wild horse
that is roaming the California noun
tains and whose secret places are
known only to a young girl whose dear
est wish is that the horse shall never
be tanned. Miss Chamberlain has told
her story beautifully. She builds up
In her customary manner an intense
anticipation. expectation. out of the
slightest things, from "a material point
of view: premonitions, curiosity, the
rustic of pine boughs against win
dow. question and answer that suggest
double meaning She finds Significance
in trihes. drama in the breath OF the
wind The progress of Francis Carron
up the narrow, winding mountain road
into the piney silences of the farther
heights, his arrival at the large, fan
tastic. almost deserted summer hotel
the air Of mystery steadily maintained
both Is to his exact purpose and as to
the nature of the four other people a t
the hotel. absorb the attention. The
author has summoned all the magic or
greenish twilight and distance and sol
itude to her aid and has woven a spell
OF them for the readers fascination.
Her mystery manner, that weaving OF
intanglbilities into colored web or
beauty and charm, has never been seen
to better advantage. She seems TO hear
and TO see a little farther and more
finely than ordinary folk. and the man
Hesitation OF acute senses is attractive
in books just as it is in human beings.
The whole leaves an impression of ex-
quisite fineness of a Photographic film
so sensitized that it HAS caught the
most 1eeting and delicate effects of
light and shade.
The people whom Carron sees one by
one at the hotel are all skillfully drawn
and presented so as to heighten the