The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-31

Ihe therapeutic and soul regener-
ating virtues of her f&vorite swamp
are extolled again by Gene Strat,on-
Porter in her latest story. Michael
O'Halloran" doubleday, Page and
Company, and a remarkable moral
transformation Is achieved through the
identification Of bird notes with the
melodies OF popular operas. These
lead a hardened society woman who
has shamefully neglected her children
and husband to reform and to lead a
new life. The book itself Is made up
OF the discussion of many matters
which interest the author through
the medium of an angelic ncwsboy
with his friends and acquaintanCes.
The boy Is the embodiment OF all
manly virtues. combined with a wis
dom far beyond his years. He is stur-
Oily independent and adopts and sup
ports another little waif. a crippled
girl with a sharp tongue n temper
That part of the story Is very pretty.
but the relation OF the two remains
unchanged and their duet is repeated
by the author over and over again
with slight variations. The boy has "A
vigorous vocabulary OF slang. which
he employs in demonstrating various
abuses. sometimes humorously and
sometimes seriously. Among these are
the efforts to alleviate the condition
of the poor and other forms Of social
welfare. in which the best Of intentions
are Joined to blindness to the real
facts, handing over to servants the
care Of the children of the rich.
the treatment OF orphans and other
children in institutions: the dis
regard of men for the discomforts Of
their wives; the home training OF
children in city and country. APP
parently the author Intends also to
warn investigating reformers against
too great zeal. but the ethics of that
portion of the story are mixed up in a
rather puzzling way. The element OF
| time Is very indefinite. 80 that changes
in character seem TO be brought about
with amazing rapidity: there is a great
deal OF repetition and much preaching.
with talk about the wild lowers and
the singing birds; but the children are
bright and amusing. their elders are
pleasant. the author is cheerful. her
| euueTS are accustomed ~ hNi PNNN
liarities and there seems TO be no rea-
son why this story should not be as
widely read and enjoyed as its pre-
decessors.
Those who have met in previous
books the heroine of l.. NJ. Mont
gomery's ANNE of the Island 'The
Page Company, Boston.) Will be ga
to hear more about her. which may not
he the case with those who make her
acquaintance first in this story. AS
too often happens in series tales. the
author takes her heroine for granted
and puts more life into the new people
she brings in. Here Anne Is put
through college in a rather perfume
tory way and is busted with affairs oil
the heart. Little sympathy Will he
felt with the blunder she comes neal
making because the author hints
pretty strongly throughout that she
will not let the girl make a fool OF
herself. The book is redeemed by
bright and amusing girl with a rea
love story, by some delightful oc
ladies and by several vigorously drawn
! country people, whose stories nave
| little to do with the heroine.
The story of a boy captured ny inc
Indians of the Ohio Valley, the favor
tie tale OF the old "Beadle" days, l.
told again by r. Clyde Ford in 1.-The
White Captive" Grand. McNally an'
Company. Chicago. but with TN
modern improvements Of preeis'nes'
in the indian terms Ara accuracy II
historical details. The time Is tina; o
the Pontiac conspiracy and the plac'
Detroit. 1t should interest the moderI
boy, even If the author is Inclined II
be a trifie pedagogical.
Another more recent type OF story
will he found in Mabel G!nord SHRINE
Jacob. A Lad Of Nazareth" Grand
McNally and Company. This is tn
story Of Christ, as the author imagine
he appeared to his neighbors and othe
lookerson, told with due reverence, bu
deriving its interest. from the closencS'
with which II follows the New Tesla
ment narrative.