davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
"The Great Wall of China"
By William Edgar Cell, f. r.

BY William Edgar Cell. f. r. G. S. Pub
lished by Sturgis & Walton, New York.
Price So
If the average person is asked what
he knows of the great wall of China
he will tell you it is one of the won
ders of the world, that it was built
ever so long ago as a defense for
China from the invading Tartars, and
that is about all he knows definitely.
Little bits of information can be
picked up here and there in the geog-
raphies-the wall will average 20 feet
in height and from 8 to 6 horsemen
can ride abreast of it, ETC.; but what
of the romance of the great wall? Who
knows about it? Who, indeed. at this
day? for it is buried in tradition and
one must go far into the interior to
hear any of the tales of wonder.
Doctor Cell is one of the curious
ones. He was not satisfied with book
knowledge to be gained in the west,
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
"The Rosary"

By Florence L. Barclay. Published by G. P.
Putnams Sons New York. Price 81 3D.
This book is frankly a love story
from start to finish. It is English in
location and character and the theme
is worked out at weekend visits which
have become to be as much an Ameri-
can institution as English. Jane Cham
pion, a wholesome but exceedingly
plain woman, is of the sort in whom
both men and women confide. She is
good old Jane" and stands second in
the affections of every one of her ac-
quaintance. She and Garth Dalmain,
an artist, have been very good friends
for years, a real platonic friendship,
with never a thought of love on either
side. He does not realize that life
would be empty without her, and she,
knowing Garth's love for beauty, knows
he could never love her; besides she is
three years his senior.
A musicale is given by James aunt,
and the professional singer engaged
for the occasion disappoints, so Jane
must sing Her song gives the title to
the novei; also IT overwhelms Garth,
who has never dreamed of this golden
accomplishment. Their friendship is
knit closer than ever. They are sepa-
rated for three days and when they
meet again they know they love. Garth
asks Jane to accept him. She begs for
a day to consider and at the end of that
time she refuses him, for in her heart
she believes he could not endure her
lack of beauty. but she tells him he is
too young. They part and Jane goes
for a tour around the world
For thSee years she endures the sep
aration and then finds that life is not
worth living without Garth, and deter
mines to go home and confess that If
he is still of the same mind she is will
ing to accept him. Just as she is ready
to start she learns that he has been
blinded for life by shot while hunt
ing, and she knows he will think that
pity draws her back.
She goes to physician, an old friend,
and tells her whole story and persuades
him to send her as nurse and compan-
ion to the man she loves. OF course it
ends right" She gains his love and
finally tells him OF her artifice.
The book is well written throughout
End is clean and wholesome.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
"The Letters of
Percy Bysshe Shelley"

Edited by Roger Ingpen Published by Charles
Scribner's Sons, New York. Two vols Price
Sc the set.
Roger Ingpens collection of the
Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley" Is
new contribution to Shelley literature.
though little new in the way of inter
probation of character is learned. There
are 4S0 letters in the collection, and of
these so contain some hitherto unpub-
lished material and 3S are quite new.
The author has not told us which are
the new ones, so one can not Judge OF
the value of the new material. The
volumes are formidable in size, and
when one considers reading $50 letters
he is appalled,. Shelley would never
have been considered a man of genius
II his letters were the only evidence.
They are as inferior to his poetry as
they can well be, and it is difficult at
times to believe his hand penned them.
The author of the books says that Shell
ley is zone of the great letter writers
of the nineteenth century," which at
once places him (Mr. Ingpen) in the
ranks of the hero worshipers
Shelley is very indefinite character
to most people. even to the admirers of
his poetry, and though these letters
can not be considered as literature
they are Illuminating as to the charac-
ter of their writer. Shelley is seen to be
a man of much sweetness of character,
and though he was a good thing" to
his relatives and his friends, he al
lowed them. to worry him for money
and was quite uncomplaining through
all his troubles.
His fame as poet is secure, but as
letter writer-no. The author, Mr..
Ingpen. has arranged the letters chro-
pologically. SO that fairly clear sketch
of his life can be read between the
lines. 1t was monumental work and
the enthusiastic compiler has done it
we'll
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
"The Power of Innocence"

By Arthur j. Westermayer. Published by r. F.
Fenno & Co., New York. Price $780,
One of the most morbid, overwrought
and unnatural pieces of fiction that
one can well imagine is "The Power
of Innocence by Arthur j. Wester-
mayer. Through 40 closely printed
pages we follow the fortunes of Fran
cesca. the very unfortunate heroine.
Her innocence is seriously in question
throughout the greater part of the
book and jus. why she was picked out
to be such football of fate one fails
to discover. This pitiable girl is the
child of very doubtful Venetian par
ents and is making her living as an
artists model. A German nobleman,
one Graf Grauenburg. of a scientific
turn of mind, has devoted much study
to the influences and effects of hered-
ity and environment He becomes
deeply interested in the girl, takes her
away and educates her.. but, untrue to
his trust, he betrays her.
After a time Francesca becomes the
model for a young American painter
in Munich ant the course of their love
seems to be smooth at last, but sud
denly the German nobleman, now elder
ly, appears upon the scene. OF course
everything is spoiled and every sort
of trouble that can come to people is
piled upon the head of the innocent"
young girl. William Blake, the lover,
suffers too, for he devotedly loves
Francesca and it is nearly a death
wound to learn of her past.
The old Graf falls i'll of pneumonia
and Francesca, who has become a sis
ter of charity by this time. nurses him
until he dies and then closes the
scene by blessing Blake and Helen,
a girl whom his parents had picked
out for him years before. Francesca
disappears, probably going into
clolstered retreat somewhere. There
is not smile or light spot in the
book; thoroughly morbid and unneces-
sary.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
'The Canvas Door"

Rr Mary Farley sanborn Published by B. W.
Dodge & Co. New York. Price S1.5O.
An extraordinary variation of the
reincarnation theory is used as the
background Of The Canvas Door"
the new novel by Mary Farley sanborn.
A lovely young wife is sitting by the
fire nusing over the infatuation which
her husband has suddenly developed for
a coouet. She gazes hxedly at life
size portrait Of an ancestor which
hangs above the mantel. when sud
denly the canvas at the bottom and
one side OF the frame parts, max
ing a sort of curtain or door While
she stares at the phenomenon in be-
wilderment a shapeIy foot appears.
1T was sarust forth and planted on
the shelf between a tai. Tokonabe vase
and blue Delft tobacco jar, and mass
Of yellow silk. caught up as to be
out Of the way, came after it.
When the head appeared and then
the whole body and dropped down on
the hearth quite as lightly as thistle
down. do you wonder that Alice Thorn,
the neglected young wife, rubbed her
eyes? This remarkable occurrence is
the beginning Of a very pretty little
love story The LADY in yellow" calls
herself Allegro, and is no end of good
friend TO Alice and nearly swamps her
in good advice. Her advice is really
good Tor Alice succeeds in all her de-
sires and everybody is happy. The
exit Of the lovely yellow lads is quite
q dramatic as her entrance. but you
must read this very pretty little love
story to find out all about it
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

so he made the trip himself He tells
the story in this book of the journey
all along the great wall, and it is one
of the most interesting books of travel
which has appeared in many years.
The book is filled with anecdotes, folk
lore, historic bits and traditions, which
the author picked up from time to time
in his travels. Added to this he has
an entertaining and clear cut style, and
his descriptions of even the most COM
monplace of his adventures are like
reading romances.
The illustrations of the book are as
interesting as the text, and there are
over hundred of them beautifully re-
produced and several Gear maps which
make it easy for the reader to go with
the doctor over the whole trip.
The opening paragraph of the book
gives a clear idea Of the spirit in which
the author approached his work
There is great wall of China. So
much the biographies tell everybody,
but they do not make it clear whether
it is built of china or why it is,
how long it is. or how long it has
been. There is developing Panama
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
"Eusapia PaIIadinO and Her Phenomena

W. Dodge & Co. New York. Price 81.
Neopolitan medium, complete sum-
mary being given of all the available
historic evidence. much hitherto unpub-
lished, including reviews of the ex-
periments made by Professors Lom-
broso, MorselIi, Richet, Curie, Bot
tazzi, Flammarion. D'Arsonval, Sir
oliver Lodge and many other eminent
savants This is followed by de-
tailed account OF the authors own
carefully conducted test seances re-
Gently held in Naples. Two interesting
chapters deal with the various theories
that have been advanced by scientists
to explain the phenomena, and the con-
cluding chapter studies the facts from
the biological and psychological points
Of view.
The most interesting fact regarding
the book is that Mr.. Darlington, him
self an expert prestidigitateur and
long noted as a confirmed skeptic and
an authority on the detection of psychic
frauds, has become finally converted to
a cautious belief in Eusapia's powers
The book gives an exhaustive biog-
raphy of this strange woman, dealing
with every phase of her remarkable
career in an intimate, sympathetic, yet
always critical, manner.
The book is very completely illus
trated with portraits and Photographic
reproductions of the phenomena.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

each.
The speeches of William Jennings
Bryan in two volumes brings together
some 40 of his political and miscellane-
Gus addresses covering the last Is
years. the most of his public life. His
wife. Mary Baird Bryan, writes the
predatory biographical sketch. which
has little to recommend il beyond the
fact of Its earnestness and her strict
attention to detail. There will be many
critical readers who will be sure to say
Bryan is not of sufficient Importance to
warrant such an exhaustive study Of
his lineage. The later years of his life,
which to us are by far the most inter-
esting. are given in barest outline.
The first volume contains fine pic
ture of Mr.. Bryan for a frontispiece and
nine speeches on taxation, the tariff. BIZ
metallism, etc. ranging in time from
1892 to 1908. The second volume con-
tains few political speeches, but is
principally devoted to addresses of re-
ligious, educational and miscellaneous
character
Each speech has a small PREDATORY
note, telling when it was delivered and
the character of the speech and occa-
sion One must confess to hurriedly
turning the pages to find the cross of
gold" speech. delivered in the Chicago
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
"Stephen A. Douglas

BY Clark E. Carr. Published by A. G. Nc
CIurg & Co., Chicago. Price So
In book entitled stephen A. Doug
las: His Life, Public Services, Patriot
ism and Speeches. Clark E. Carr. LID,
attempts to throw new light upon ''the
Little Giant" Having in the last few
years had the pleasure of reading Allen
Johnson's charming book on Douglas.
and only last spring Prof. P. o. Rays
searching study of Douglas and his mo-
tives, this book is entirely disappoint-
ing.
The author talks in a sketchy way of
Lincoln and Douglas. He was friend
and admfrer and eyewitness to much
that made history, and we can not but
expect more, much more. than we get.
One thing that the author may or
may not intend to convey is the impe-
rialism of Douglas politics. He shows
how the west was reaching out to con-
quer the earth, and suggests plainly
that the cause of Douglas work to re-
peal the Missouri compromise law In
1854 was a gigantic scheme of Pacific
railway building rather than desire to
increase the bounds of slavery and so
gain the support of the south for the
presidency.
Historians generally have agreed that
Douglas would have been president had
it not been for that one great blunder,
and the author INDUCES in some senti-
mental small talk to the same effect
The book is Hlled with contemporary
portraits of more or less interest and is
we'll printed and bound.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
BOOKS REVIEWED

Speeches of William Jennings Bryan"
"The Great Wall of China" by William Edgar Gel,
F. r. G. S.
"The Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley
"The Power of Innocence" by Arthur J. Westermayer
"The Rosary" by Florence L. Barclay
Stephen A. Douglas" by Clark E. Carr
The Royal Family in the Temple Prison." by Jean Bap
tiste Caut-Hanet
THE Prison Ships" by Thomas Walsh
Industrial Problems" by N. A. Richardson
"Eusapia Palladino and Her Phenomena" by Hereward
Darlington
"The Canvas Door by Mary Farley Sanborn
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
industrial Problems"

By n A. Richardson Published by Charles
Il. Kerr & Co, Chicago. Price 81
Among all the books on socialism
which has appeared in the last few
years this one. by \. A Richardson
OF san Bernardino. Cal, is by far
the cIearest. It is written by man
OF intelligence, and while one may not
agree with him it is at least a pleasure
TO read the revolutionary theories he
advocates. for they are systematically
stated and more nearly sane than any
SO far noted. The author has evidently
given much time TO the investigation
OF Industrial problems. and the results
OF his careful study are to be found in
this book In a brief foreword he says:
Il believe it contains the sort Of
matter that should be in the hands and
heads of the producing masses of our
country. have set down the things
that 7 think al should know, and have
endeavored 10 state them in language
that they can easily follow. There are
few Of our citizens but realize that
there is much wrong in matters indus
trial many things that should and must
be remedied- They know that we are
facing serious economic problems, but
they do not know either the nature or
the scope of those problems. Then it
follows that they do not know that
these problems have a common origin,
and therefore a common solution. To
teach that lesson is the chief mission
o. this work"
The author then enumerates the most
important of these problems
J. The concentration Of the owner
ship Of wealth.
p Corruption in all walks of life
o@cial and nonoficiaL
3. The unemployed masses of labor
8. Intermittent periods of business
depression. known as panics.
s. The practical enslavement of our
women and children in our industries.
@. Degeneracy in all classes, from
the palace to the slum.
z. Strikes. lockouts, boycotts-war
between employers and employed.
g. International wars.
g. The liquor traffic.
Here are nine great evils. Each is
a bar to human progress; each is. TO a
greater or less degree, inimical to
national life. Like diseases they are
upon us. and necessity for their cure is
Imperative. The task, then, set before
us is TO find the source Of these evils
and the consequent remedy for them.
II investiga discloses that they
have their origin in common cesspool,
that they spring from a common cause,
the question Of how 10 deal with them
is very much simplihed."
Mr.. Richardson believes that the So
luton Of this great problem, composed
Of many problems, lies in the direction
OF social democracy, and his arguments
are strong and direct. He appreciates
to the fun the dangers which menace
our country and his arguments are
founded on love of his country and a
desire to save it. The opponents Of his
theories viii not believe in his patriot
ism, but he is very much in earnest.
The book is decidedly worth reading.
and to the student is If real value. 1t
is the most valuable book yet to be in
cIuded in the International Library Of
Social Science.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
Notes and Gossip

An interesting feature Of this year in
the Century will be a series of essays
on Gardens of the Heart by Miss Hill
degarde Hawthorne. gardener. not the
work of professional landseapists. but
created by. the taste and intelligence OF
their owners. generally women. One
of the gardens to be described has long
been in the writer's family.
The new novel by Gertrude Atherton
will be ready, it is announced, in Feb
ruary. The character of the book is
for Mrs. Atherton is unwilling to have
it described in advance. 1t is UNDER
stood, nevertheless. that the forthcom-
ing book will be largely cosmopolitan
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
"The Prison Ships"
BY Thomas Walsh. Published by S
French & Co., Boston. Price 81.

By Thomas Walsh. Published by Sherman,
French & Co., Boston. Price 81.
The title poem is the ode read at
the dedicatory exercises of the prison
ships martyrs monument on Fort
Greene, Washington park, Brooklyn,
and its impassioned notes of patriotism
and justice sound a thrilling introduce
tion to the equally notable poems that
form the body of the collection. Highly
feeling and widely ranging experience
join in the poets varied expression of
mood. sentiment and reflection. The
southern warmth and richness of
thought and Imagination of not a few
of the poems may evince the authors
interest in French and Spanish litera-
ture, to which he has given much at
tention, aside from his lectures on such
topics as THE Gallo Bards" and 1.-THE
Troubadours" From delicate imagery
evidenced by such titles as 1.-The Epi-
taph of a Butterfly" and Where
Dreams Go BY" to the stirring themes
OF Gettysburg" and "At Nazareth" the
art of the poet reveals the human heart
touched by quickening impulses while
picturing to the mind vivid scenes of
suggestive facts or fancy.
The poems are notably indicative of
thorough technical Workmanship. yet
remain unhampered in freedom of ex-
preston and sincerity of feeling. The
poem quoted below is an example of
his most graceful style:
THE EPITAPH OF A BUTTERFLY
AS one by one she saw the leaves of red
And yellow waited slowly TO the ground,
Hope buoyed her heavy wings OF fame and said
That 'mong them still some comrade might be
found.
But when Ger all the autumn hills pail
OF gold was drawn before her glazing eye,
Yon mirrored pool made ready for her fall
A grave as lovely as her native sky.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
Brief Reviews

CASTOR Leroux evidently wrote him
self out in The Mystery of the Yellow
Room" for he has not been able to
even hold the interest since. The Dou-
BILE Life" is his latest offering, and it
tells the tale of man who remem-
bered a previous incarnation and found
himself a staid, respectable. middle
class citizen suddenly possessed of un-
accountable criminal instincts. The
book is not at all convincing, nor even
interesting, besides being poorly writ
ten The author has studied Sherlock
Holmes and does lot of "deducing." !"
but has no need to. there being little
or no mystery. (John E. Kearney, New
York Price s1.50.)
Religion and the Modern Mind" is the
title of group of essays in modern
ism by DR.. Frank Carleton Doan, pro-
fessor of the philosophy of religion in
the Meadville theological school. The
modern man." the author tells US, is
"a Mathematician and pure in his
mind, eager and sensitive in his soul.
searching always for a positive and
honorable experience of things eternal;
wanting and ready at every turn in the
spirit path to stand silent and con-
quered in the presence of that he may
yet call God The style of the author
might do for a certain type of pulpit
eloquence yet popular with some peo-
pie, but for an essay it is far too
demonstrative and lacks logic and CO.
herence. (Sherman French & Co., Bos-
ton. s1.10.)
Laird & Lees Standard Vest Pocket
English-Ita Italian English Diction-
ary is a timely little book and will be
found an invaluable help to all who
wish to learn to speak the italian
language. The work is carefully COM
piled and contains accurate pronuncia-
tion tables and an abridged compendi-
um of the grammar of both languages,
thus making it a valuable aid to stu
dents. as well as to the general public
The work is we'll and artistically bound.
(75 cents in leather, so cents in cloth.)
personal Information for Boys is
one of the personal purity publications
by Ernest Edwards. 1t will be con-
demned by good many fastidious peo-
pie who think it vulgar to call spade
a spade-the sort Of people who speak
of their legs as limbs; but it is a book
to give every boy. Not only can it
do no harm, but may do a great deal
of good. The author says: "If it be
true that one of the crying evils of
the age is impurity. surely one of the
necessities of the, age is a book on
purity and how to attain it,"
The aim of the book is good and the
author shows his earnestness of pur-
pose in every line. Or +. Fenno &
Co, New York. so cents)
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

Funk & Wagnalls, New york. Two vols, 81 ,
July s. 1896. 1t is there and
still remains. if one may use the ex-
preston, the most spectacular speech
of Bryan's career. The volumes
are well printed and bound. and deserve
a place among the worlds Orations.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
Poets and Their Woes

ID OETS may have some feelings-most
i of them have no writes. so TO speak
that editors ought to respect, but
tney don't always. if the sensitive souls
are to be believed. Anyhow, not long
ago Hamilton Holt of the editorial
staff of the Independent. a famous'-
pious periodical. received a poem FROM
a poet which was almost spiritual in
it's sentiment. The poet. of course.
thought he would have his spirit
promptly transformed into cash, but.
10. and behold. he got his poem back
accompanied by the usual printed slip
that goes to those who have not yet
risen to the Importance OF a written
letter of declination with the regret
ful thanks of the editor.
Now. Mr. Holt is in receipt OF a
printed slip. exactly similar to hun
dreds he has sent out on their visits OF
disappointment. but below the notice In
the blank is written this sentiment:
When poets. moved by grace divine.
Pour out the spirit. line for line.
Their truths TO tell
And in return get only this
Hard printed form OF cold dismiss,
II hurts like ---
This cry of the soul is unsigned, and
Mr. Holt is wondering which one OF
them did it. and whether. IL grace di-
vine moves the muse in that profane
manner. he hadn't better change the
form of declinatfon-
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

in "Eusapia Palladino and Her Phe-
nomena" Mr. Darlington deals ex-
haustively with the life Of this famous
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

Robert Kennedy Duncan, author of
.The Chemistry of Commerce" etc. has
where he has been observing the latest
work in the famous laboratories of
Europe Mr.. Duncan is now in camp
at Lake Muskoka. Canada
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

Richard le Gallienne has built him
self a shack near East Aurora, where
he spent last summer and autumn
working on a new volume Of poems.
He also put the finishing touches upon
the play "Orestes," which he has writ
ten for Mr.. Faversham-
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
Speeches of William Jennings Bryan

edited by himself Published wagnal Two vols
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

James Oppenheim has been in Kinne-
bunkport. Me, making a selection of
what he considers his representative
poetry. to be published under the title
of Monday Morning and other Poems"
In a recent article in Poet Lore Mr..
Oppenheim expresses certain views in
regard to the poverty of present day
poetry
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

Robert E. Knowles, author OF "The
Web of Time and The Undertow," re-
Gently left this country for a trip
through Europe. Before sailing he left
the revised proofs of his forthcoming
book The Attic Guest" with his pub
fishers.