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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1907. SOME NEW BOOKS OF LITERARY MERIT "THE PRINCESS VIRGINIA.” By C N. and A. M. Williamson. (McClure, Phillips & Co.) •The Princess Virginia" Is a veiy charming romance. It is similar and vet unlike tlio many "Prisoner of Zen ,ia" stories. It is far superior to tlie many novels and romances which have followed in' the wake of Mr. Hope’s ••7cmla" stories, but It Is based on a mythical kingdom, with Its reigning „rlnre finding his sweetheart and con sort In the girl he loves and who loves him also. “The Princess Virginia” is the daugh ter of a poverty-stricken princeling and has royal blood In her veins. Negotia tions were begun for her marriage with Leopold, the young emperor of Rhae tla—a paragon of manly beauty, abll Ity uprightness and all those things calculated to catch the fancy of a voung girl. Virginia had already fallen in love with Leopold and secretly dreamed of him as the one man of the whole world ever since she was a child, therefore she is not willing to be trad ed off by England, as is usual in most royal marriages, so the story 1% laid around the trip of the princess and her mother, under a disguise and name of an accommodating relative, to the em peror’s kingdom. The princess first meets the emperor, both Incognito and both climbing mountains, near the roy al city. When she arrives in the em peror’s city she has an opportunity which she quickly grasps of saving his life from-an anarchist The emperor Is as hopelessly In love with the princess :ls any young person could desire, and it is around the plots of tho old cold blooded chancellor, who attempts to break up this love-making, that the story is laid. The chancellor, of course, Is unaware of the princess’ identify—he really is fighting to protect the inter ests of tho genuine Princess Virginia, and insists that tho emperor shall car ry nut the partly begun negotiations for her hand. There are many thrilling adventures and curious complications, enough to satisfy the most romantic reader. The Princess Virginia was charming and the emperor. If he had failed "to be Im pressed with her, or even under any name to recognise her sweetness, should have been remoVed not only from his throne, but from association with nor mal humanity. The book Is very bright and clean all the way through, and the Williamsons have produced an other fine rapidly-moving romance most delightfully rose colored. In ‘‘The Princess Virginia” the reader often wonders why the lovers do not exert their mental equipment and straighten out matters, but he Is recompensed with the thought that if the characters In such stories did do so, there would be no such' books as tho one in ques tion, which always will find welcoming readers, with the discriminating liter ary public. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson must surely have been to America or they must have had unusual opportunities to thorough ly post themselves on American history. Therefore, It Is a little startling to rend of Princess Virginia that she was half English. ‘‘And In her there’s a dash of American blood which comes from a famous grandmother, who was de scended from George Washington,” etc. The Williamsons ought to know that George Washington, while a great man. and u domestic one, was never the fa ther of anything but his country. For summer reading, with the heart filled with the desire for light, bright things, one could not find a more pleas ing book than “The Princess Virginia.” Hire’s to her, and her kind, even If such a lovely young woman was denied of lineal descent from George Wash ington. THE WATTERSONS.. By William Murabell. (Published by the author through Stanley-Taylor Company, San Francisco, Cal.) There has come to the literary de partment of Tho Georgian a book which is way ahead of anything of Its kind that bus been published since the time Of the great English novelists, Thack eray. Dickens, Charles Reads and George Eliot. This book, “The Wattor- sons.” by Mr. William Marabell. 1s remarkable in Its worthiness. It Is Just such a book as will please anyone who bus become 111 over attempting to dl- *..“ LETTHE LAW DEAL WITH THE MADMAN; IT 13 MY WILL.* Illustration in “The Princess Virginia,” by C. N. and A. M. Williamson. gest the numernns trashy products, served ns realistic novels, to the public at large. Mr. Marabell may In the eyes of book-buyers labor under the handicap of having published his own book, but if any reader hesitates to purchase be cause of this fset he will make a great mistake; should he fall to get and read It he will commit a serious blunder. Mr. Marabell says, and It Sounds truthful, quite plausible, "If Thackeray, known, entered a modem publishing establishment with "I’endcnnle" under his arm, he would be laughed to scorn. Cut It down.’ he would be told,” and so on. Mr. Marabell, so this reviewer thinks, Is rather harsh and unjust to bonk publishers, but he does state sev eral truths In his preface and the fact that ho has published his own book must not be taken os an Indication of lack of literary merit. ‘The Wattersons” deals with a small city in Illinois, about the time of the presidential campaign of 1898. The principal charactor, or one of them, Is Watterson, a “boss," a good boss, who in spite of his calling lives honestly. The author admits that he has drawn an exception in the "boss.’’ as he does In a minister of the gospel, who is not honest, but he proves In the story bis good excuse for tho selection of his characters. They are all excellently well drawn. Thera Is the young daugh ter of ’’Boss” Watterson. who has Ideas” as to woman's suffrage—the athletic girl, and the fine old Southern gentleman, then publishing a newspa per In tho Northern city. Tho charac' ter of General Hamilton, late Briga dier General. C. 8. A., stands out llk< few delineations have done for many years. General Hamilton Is a real "ua- reconstructed,” In the hands (and some of the hearts) of the enemy. Tlio plot is finely drawn—the Interest r Bratmen & Anthony’s <( >> The Nearest Drug Store With our special attention to telephone orders and prompt delivery service, every family in this city can con sider ours “the nearest drug store.” —TELEPHONE US- FOE ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM A DRUG STORE, and for o£ It unusual and positive, and strongly holds the reader right through tile en tire book. - It wnukl really be unfair to prospect ive readers to give moro of the plot than to say that It Is concerned with the "Boss” Watterson and his family, a degenerate preacher, an up-to-date -"captain of Industry," his family and the life and troubles, likewise pleas ures, of a small middle West town. It Is a thoroughly enjoyable book. Splendidly written. It Is hard to see that If Mr. Marabell over did submit the manuscript of “The Wattersons' any of the large publishers, how he could have failed to gst an offer, right oat of hand. As previously stated, the fact of hU publishing the book himself should not prejudice the prospective buyer and reader; on the contrary, tho author deserves thanks for the courage of his convictions, as shown In sending forth "Tho Wattersons” upon his own responsibility. The book carries one back to the high plane of Thackeray and more pleas ingly than anything published, for a long, long time. It Is to be hoped that Mr. Marabell’ will have a deservedly great sale of this charming book. No discriminating reader will regret tho purchase, and this department expects to receive many unexpressed tha ' for bringing to the attention of lot of good books such a fine literary pro duction as "The Wattersons." “ARE YOU A BROMIDE?” By Oe- lett Burgess. (B. W. Huebsch, ;(Jv York.) One of the brightest small vol umes which has been issued for many a month Is a Uttle skit entitled "Are You a Bromide?—Or the Sulphite The ory," by Mr. Gelett Burgess. Mr. Burgess very properly says. Just what evrybody knows, namely, that people and things are or should be di vided Into two ports. Instead of call ing his two divisions—the common place and the unusual or Interesting people, "he designates the two species as the “Bromide" and the ’’Sulphite.” The book Is sent forth, as an Invitation to all readers, to take a look Inward and properly and promptly label them selves. The author's “Rromidisns.” of course, are the people who pour forth, os original remarks, such exas|>rrut- iDg expressions os "Of course If you leave your umbrella at homo It's sure to rain,” or “No. t never Intend to be married.” "I don’t care for money— it's what I can do with It.” "The Sul- vatlon Army reaches a class of people that churches never do.” "You arc a sight for sore eyes." ’’It Isn’t so much the heat (or the cold) as the humidity In the air.” "Nothing can stop a cold, unless you take It right at the start,” and so on. Mr. Burgess admits that the Intentlng or unusual people, his "Sulphites,” may have Just these same thoughts, but unable to frame In words nothing better, tbo "Sulphite'.’ re strains himself and says nothing. Mr. Burgess says the "Bromides" may love "and oven marry wisely.” Your own mother, your sister, your sweetheart may be bromldtc, but you Reviewed by Arthur Pendennis, Jr. are dot less affectionate. They aro restful and soporific. You may not nave unJrntood them; before you JJ555} °\ "Sulphite" theory ypu were ‘ annoyed ut their dullness, and their matin’® b n l W,th th,s wh,te ,, » ht Hlu- tfem, you accept them, now. aro nnd expecting noth- Paginal from them, you find a new If 11 * ,l new Joy in their society.” o *7 r - . ldett ls that we should strive to attain to that great height of human excellence, "Where we can ac- I?* 1 they are. even while !3Zt5?* g » t . ha f..J htre arc two k,nd *. the comfortable ‘ Bromldians” or the most interesting and electric “Sulphites." Are you a Bromide?” is very bright a'^? rth ,he reding, and It makes no difference whether the reader !S , or U ! e “H 1 ” 1 ' of t,lp author’s classes, to enjoy his delightful mile cs- “RED RUSSIA,” by John Foster Fra. scr. (The John Line Company.) One of the most Instructive, as well as most Interesting, books on Russia and her troubles yet Issued Is ’’Red Russia,” by Mr. John Foster Fraser. Mr. Fraser has made a number of trips to Russia and ho hns lived In the midst of the hotbeds of revolutionary sentiment and strife in that much affllrted country. The charm of the book is that it reads, in spile of Its facts and figures. Just like a romance. So many contra dictory reports have been sent from Russia regarding tho terrorists, the Black Hundred” and the many-sided Social Democrats, that Mr. Fraser's book comes like a flash of light In the gloom of differently Inspired reports. Mr. Frasor. an Englishman of relia bility, spent quite a time in Russia, at Moscow, Odessa, St. Petersburg Warsaw and “Bloody Baku." and of each Place where he lingered he glvea the reader a distinct. Instructive and Interesting picture of not only the effects, but the causes back of all of !?.? * tr '£® and , ^niggles in Russia. S , ..‘t 10 rea der has finished "Red Russia ho whl have gathered a clearer Idea of Just what Is tile trouble in that country than cun be possibly gotten from, any other book of so few pages, 5?“| i ; lt *■ , to| d In such an Interesting fashion. Instead of reading a disser tation on revolutionists, filled with dry facts and figures, the reader will have enjoyed a romance. Practically the principal thought which Mr. Fraser brings out In his excellent book is that all classes of the Russian people are actuated by the same sentiment, which ho styles "graft." The author insists and endeavors to prove that the terror ists, tho Social Democrats, the Labor- Ites, the Black Hundreds, the Jews; In fact, all are of the same kind—that placed In the position of the grand dukes, or the reactionaries, the revo lutionists would do,* from the very In born traits within every Russian, the very things that the "upper classes'* are doing today. The author Insists that it Is in Russia strictly a fight for spoils of the "outs” against the Ins. He proves that the labor lead ers cheat the laboring men under them even while attempting to pose as light ing for tho common good. The reader can get from "Red Rus sia" a better Idea, free of any preju dice, of Just what Is going on and may happen In the near future In the czar's empire, than from any other recent book published. The author gives us pleasing descriptions of tho czar, his empress and their children, and by Interesting pictures of the prominent men of Russia, now In tho eyes of the world through the douma, one gets a thorough basis for Judging the news, paper reports as they come day to day from St. Petersburg and Moscow. Another thing which Impresses Itself upon the reader from a perusal of the book (tuklng Into consideration Its fair, ness) Is the point well brought out by Mr. Fraser, namely, that of the utter callousness of the Russians regarding death, bomb throwing and assassina tions. The author opens his book with a description of the murder of a Rus sian citizen by an officer—the former Insulted by the officer In a prominent cafe. To people outside of Russia It seems so cold-blooded, the utter In difference of the lookers-on In that res. taurant. The diners In the cafe were startled, of - course, but the body of the murdered man being covered up by a table clotb, the "Joy unconflned” went on, as If nothing (at least, out of the ordinary,) had happened. All through the book such incidents Im press the reader—Just that spirit of utter disregard of death In all classes of the Russian people. "Red Russia” Is a most Interesting contribution to pres, ent-day literature. Awnings For Btoros, Offices, Residences, Public Buildings,etc. manu factured and put up. All work guaranteed Lowest price*. Phone or write for •itlmates. J.M HIGH GO. Atlanta. Ga.