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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1307.
NEW BOOKS AND THEIR MERITS AS SEEN BY ARTHUR PENDENNIS, JR
“OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM.” By
Richard L. Metcalfe. (The Woodruff'
Collin* Praia. Lincoln. Nebr.)
To those people who lore or want
to lore their fellow men. who believe
there le more Rood than bad in human
nature; that there la plenty of "good
In the worst of us” and not always
plenty of "bad In the best of us,” thla
charming little volume of short stories
from life by Mr. Richard L. Metcalfe, of
Lincoln. Nebr., will thoroughly appeal.
Many of the stories are told about
little children. Not, however, as has
been the almost criminal habit of many
writers of perpetrating upon a helpless
reading public prodigies, .but of real
children, such aa one meets every day
In our homes and on our streets,
addition to the tales about "Of Such la
the Kingdom,” there are some delight
ful little essays on old friends—old
songs—"Sweethearts and Wives”—In
fact, a great deal of everything that
touches the better side of the human
heart.
Mr. Metcalfe la the managing editor
. of Mr. William J. Bryan's great paper.
The Commoner, at Lincoln. Nebr, but
nothing that he has done to assist the
"Great Commoner" In his work will
excel these fascinating little essays
It Is Just such a book that one would
care to give to a dear, good friend—not
to skim over and put away, but to read
and re-read, for It is a book that grow*
upon one with each perusal, with ac
cumulated Interest and charm. In the
present literary desert of "tommy-rot,”
"murk-rakets” or even "Fra Elbertus,”
the reading public should feel deeply
grateful to Mr. Metcalfe for his little
book, which Is like an oasla amid the
parched sands of much modern litera
ture.
The essays were written first for pri
vate distribution among Mr. Metcalfe's
personal friends, but they, realizing the
beauty and the charm of these literary
gems, insisted upoiv their publication
for general circulation, so that thanks
are due to both Mr. Metcalfe and to his
discerning advisers.
It Is a book for the quiet hour when
worries assail one and bad thoughts
Insistently make themselves felt.
Many books have borne upon their
title page the lovely little request of
Dorothy Wordsworth to Coleridge:
"Yes. do send me a book. • • •
Not a bargain book bought from a
haberdasher, but a beautiful book, a
book to carats—peculiar, distinctive. In
dividual. a book that hath first caught
your eye and then pleased your fancy,
written by an author with a tender
whim, all right out of his heart. We
will read It together.In the glooming
and when the gathering dusk doth blur
the page, we'll sit with hearts too full
for speech and think It over.”
But none would seem to have so Just
a right to use this dedication as the
author of "Of Such Is the Kingdom.'
and It la respectfully suggested for the
sure-to-come-another edition.
There are many bonks these days
which overdo the quotation habit. Quo
tations arc all right when apt and fit
ting, but, like all good things, can be
come superfluous and unnecessary. Mr.
Metcalfe has struck the happy medium
and the little stories und essays are
strengthened with singularly appro
priate quotations fruit the classics—
not too many, please understand, but
Just enough to season the charming
serving of his gift.
Take, for Instanre, in writing of the
"Revival of the Old." wherein the au
thor pleads for the old songs—old
friends—old-fashion men. women and
girls, he ends this delightful little es
say thus:
much In the love-making, or the lack
of It. but It Is In the clear pictures of
that part of London of which so little
was known some twenty years ago.
John enters into this work, tneeu Eve
lyn. the secretary In charge of the
Charity Organization’s office in "The
Nile," a street of tour crime and crea
tures, In the worst part of London.
John Glynn has a great time in ingra
tiating himself In the good graces of
the habitues of "The Nile,” and how
he does it, by physical prowess and
by mental and moral force, la delight
fully portrayed In the book.
The "boas" -of 'The Nile." Perclval
Nyae. after long struggles la overcome
by- Olynn, and It la about bis mental
and physical struggles with Nyne and
John's growing love for M Iss Grey that
the book attractively treats. After a
time John finds his work in the regen
eration of "The Nile" nearing comple'
tlon. but his love for Miss Grey grow
ing stronger each day. so. he leaves that
locality to Dick Brabant, his friend,
with Instructions to go In and win. Miss
Grey never did love Dick, and grew to
love John Glynn. All things worked
out well and John and Evelyn were
brought together, not, however, without
many heart-burnings and disappoint
ments therewith connected.
Poor Dick Brahant seems to have
been dropped out of the running as It
were, and as for that he did not amount
to very much anyway.
The book Is an Interesting story of
the lower side of that Ilfs not so well
understood In London twenty-odd years
ago as It is today. Most tmoka writ
ten with a moral tied tightly to Its
theme, burden the reader sorely by
their Insistent sermonizing in season
and out of It. to the detriment both of
the story and like moral. "John Glynn"
Is different. The reader grasps the
moral, enjoys thoroughly (he tale and
the author has accomplished two great
results In the pleasing adorning of the
tale, with the acuta pointing of his
moral.
TJtr book Is enjoyable throughout and
Is as good a book from many points of
_ view as has been written for a long
j time. It deserves a Mg sale. It Is Just
such a book as one wants a friend to
read and then to dlseuV with him.
only one other question that worries
the hero great fy-also the reader-
namely. his love for Texas. The read
er finds himself hoping all the time
that be will at least tell Texas all about
It. especially after all his self-commun
ing and rhapsodies on the subject and
It Is a great disappointment when Tex
as has to make known her love for
him. before be does anything at all. The
hero was something of a prig. The
trouble with most Southern men is not
the withholding of their love stories;
on the contrary. It has been said that
they speak sometimes too quickly. In
"Texas, or The Broken Link," every
body connected with the backward
hero haring arranged hie affairs satis
factorily. he merries Texas, and. every
one. including the hero, is happy. The
book Is based on history and will be
found Interesting to people who like
their war stories diluted somewhat with
love.
"There (s change In the things I loved,
Bent Bolt—
They have changed from the old to
the new;
But I feel In the deeps of my spirit the
truth,
There never was change In you.
Twelve mnnths-twenty have passed.
Bent Holt,
-Since first we ware friends: yet 1 hall
Tour presence a blessing, your friend
ship a truth.
Ben Bolt, of the salt sea gale."
“TEXA8, OR THE BROKEN
LINK,” by Fannie Eollne Selph. (Tha
Cumberland Press.)
"Texas, or The Broken Link," I
story of war and love with the scenes
laid around the Siege of Vicksburg dur.
Ing the Civil War. It Is a most ambi
tious scheme, this attempting to por
tray the great events of the Civil War,
In light novels filled with lore making.
Love and battle may sometimes go to
gether, but In dealing with these two
themes In story-one or the other Is apt
to be unjustly treated In the majority
of such novels, because of the subor
dination of the one to the great det
riment of the other.
In rare Instances In real life, dur
ing a great battle, with cannons boom
ing and muskets rattling—both dealing
out death to the opposing enemy—men
may for the moment (minutes or hours,
as some books tell us) lose themselves
by gasing off Into space, with eyes
raised to heaven and thoughts all riv
eted on the absent girl—give forth long
rhapsodies to 'The Girl I I .eft Behind
tie." This may be true, but It does not
seem natural for even a hero, blessed
with every heavenly gift of face, form
and mind, not to be dodging bullets, or
at least, returning the enemy's fire.
Some books do permit the hero to wake
up after a time, when he captures a
flag, rescues a fallen comrade or leads
a forlorn hope.
"Texas, or The Broken Link." is an
interesting product of a talented South
ern woman, Mrs. Fannie Eollne Selph,
who has lived for a number of years in
Nashville, Tenn. Tha book gives some
very exciting descriptions of the siege
of Vicksburg, and to lovers of Civil
War stories It will be found very at
tractive and enjoyable. The story deals
with "Texas Marshall," her father and
mother and an adopted brother, Everet
"THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CASE,"
the experiences of M. F. Goron, edited
by Albert Keyzer. (J. P. Llpplncotl
Company.) ‘The Truth About the
Case" Is e delightful collection of short
detective stories. These stories are
said to have been taken from the pri
vate Journal of M. F. Goron. an ex-
chlef of the police detective force of
Paris, and whether they are true or
not. the author's preface to the book
lends a pleasing interest to their read
ing. because of the statement of their
genuineness.
In reading most detectives tales the
reader Is Impressed with the fact that
the discovery of the criminal has been
worked out In the author's mind, not
as a real occurrence, but as a means
to an end. telling a good story. The
majority of such stories are written not
to show how the criminal was caught
after the committal of his crime, but
how, after his capture, the schema of
the detective work should have been
pursued. It Is suggestive of reading
letters written In a cipher, after one
knows the key.
‘The Truth of the Case" consists of
thirteen short stories, every one of
which Impresses the reader with the
fact that they could and may have
happened, whether they are true or
not. The tales range from fake spir
itualists. poisonings, murders, mista
ken Identity, all through the gamut
of crime, and are very unusual and
entertaining. The,book Is well written
and It Is Just snch a volume as on?
takes up to read and finishes before
putting It aside. The old ex-chlef cer-
talnly was a wonder in hla working
out of the plota and In the following
up of hla suspects. When one lays
aside the book, it Is with regret that
there are not more stories contained
Ip it. It Is far ahead of the ordinary
collection of short detective tales, and
deserves a great sale.
“THE MAYOR’S WIFE," by Anno
Katherine Green. (Bobbs-Merrlll Com
pany.) 'The MayoFs Wife,” by Anna
Katherine Green, la not Inferior to
•The Millionaire Baby," ‘The Woman
In the Alcove" or 'The Filigree Ball."
and while it may not approach the au
thor’s best work and the one by which
she will always be rated. ‘The Leav
enworth Case," It la a first-class mys
tery-detective story.
The mayor's wife, much to the dis
tress of her husband, has some secret
sorrow. Whon he engaged a young
lady to act as her companion, he told
her of the situation thus wise:
“My wife Is well, but she Is not hap
py. She Is very unhappy, deeply, un
accountably so, and I do not knew
why. A week ago she was the light
est-hearted woman in town—the hap
piest wife, the merriest mother. Today
she Is a mere wreck of her former
self— pallid, drawn, almost speech
less, yet she Is not III. She will not
acknowledge to an acha or pain."
The young woman engaged as a com
panion enters upon her duties In the
mayor's house, virtually a spy. She
learns that the mayor's wife has been
in this unusual mental condition from
Mr. Ambrose Bierce is an old manu
script originally belonging to the
Franciscan monastery at Berchtesga-
den. Bavaria. The manuscript was
Maim .1, so the author says, fr , :
peasant by Herr Itielianl Voss, of Hei
delberg. from whose German version
the pint Is taken.
It Is a very' strong, delicate and beau,
tlful tale, this story of the little outcast
Benedicts, Whose mother Is dead, and
whom every one shuns because of her
father’s dreadful trade: the Innocent
maiden whom people brand to public
shame, her poor old broken father at
-her feet: and the young monk. Am-
broslus, first pitying the child for her
soul's sake, then loving the woman for
her own sake, loving her not In “the
holy way," but the human fray, with
good human passion so infinitely above
“the holy way;" loving her with a love
which rises to full acknowledgment,
then penance, then Jealousy, then trag
edy and death.
It la a very attractive, fascinating
story, worthy of the noble English form
which Mr. Bierce has given It
This revlewerhas already stated what
ll thought of Mr. Bierce as an author,
and It Is a great pleasure to call at
tention to another one of his delight
ful productions.
Houston Leroy. Leroy, adopted by
Judge Marshall, was on orphan, who . - _.
In sending a book to a dear, good was traveling around, under the name th^mavoFS
friend. Is there a prettier piece of sen- «f "Adalbert Houston." Being a very ’“j® 1 Ey -nvthlng
tlment than this which one could use young chap when he escaped from the JJJjJiiJuSnL but had*been!frightened
!> f A** «pecj«lly If Mobne. Ala. orphan asylum and not g*“**** 5Shn^mlneS who
seven years before she had married,
and believing him dead, had married
her present husband, the mayor. This
John Bralnerd was then acting as pri
vate secretary to the mayor In his race
for governor of the state. Cipher let
ters and sheets of paper pass between
the wife and Bralnerd, which the young
woman companion Intercepts, but falls
to unravel. A study of the cipher or
cryptograph easily makes It plain to the
reader why the companion failed. It
Is about the most complicated cipher
ever shown in any detective story. The
author says It Is similar to the one
used by Edgar Allan Poe In ‘The Gold
Bug." It may be, but by comparison
Poe's cipher seems as simple as A,
B. C.
The young companion straightens
out matters, relieves ths mayor's wife
of all trouble, both mental and physi
cal, and the story Is told In n very
Interesting way—Just as are all of Mrs.
Green's tales and novels. -A very en
joyable, diverting book Is “Tho May
oFs Wife," and well worth the read
ing.
“THE MONK AND THE HANG
MAN'S DAUGHTER* by Ambrose
Bierce. (Neals Publishing Company.)
The foundation of this little story by
It is “Of Huch la the Kingdom?" knowing hla own name (but old enough
to take care of himself) he Just select -
“JOHN GLYNN." By Arthur Patter- ed Adelbert Houston, as a pleasing
son. (Henry Holt & Co.) cognomen—he was, as the book tells us,
"John Glynn," by Mr. Arthur Pat- of a most romantic disposition.
tenon, is a very Interesting, delight- Judge Marshs!) and Everet Houston
fully written and thoroughly enjoyable I-eroy. alias Adelbert Houston, were In
hook. the Bouthern army defending Vlcks-
The dedication by permission to Her burg. Mrs. Marshall and Texas go to
Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales, Vicksburg to carry contraband articles
gives one the Idea that he may expect such as medicine to the Southern
with reason a first rate story and the troops. These two women have quite
bonk fulfills this promise throughout, a time of It, getting through the Fed-
John Glynn, an Englishman, having era! lines. In fact, at one time, Texas
made a lot of money In "the states," (like dear Brer Rabbit) was compelled
returns to England to enjoy life upon to climb a high tree to escape her pur-
the results of his labors. At home he suers. The hero with ths romantic
finds an old friend, who had been with two names, of course lovea Texas, and
him In the Western United States, now all of his waking hours ore filled with
engaged In doing social uplifting In thoughts of his love for her and of his
gensral and love-making In particular, determination to solve the mystery of
both without any noticeable success, hla parentage. Both of which were
John's friend, "Dick Brabant,’’ had once very natural and commendable sent]-
saved John's life, so when Brabant tells menta in a youth. Ths birth question
John of his hopeless love affair the la solved for (he hero, not by himself
latter derides to Join In this social (he seemed to lack greatly any inltla-
wnrk, wherein le employed aa a local tive hut he was a success on the refer-
serretary Brabant's sweetheart, Evelyn endum). but by Judge Marshall, who
Grey. John's hope Is that he may finds the orphan's parents, unfortu-
bring Dick and Evelyn together. The nately dead, and a large legacy ar-
outrnme the reader con Instantly eur- ranged for the child.
, Thla matter having been arranged
The charm of the book is not so 1 by somebody elso for him, there la
Physicians are often asked whether
there really la any virtue In what are
called madstones. One of them, writ
ing In The Medical Brief, declares these
stones are of value, bdi that they
would be of more value If Ihelr limita
tions were understood.
■There la no particular variety of
atone or substances which may be des
ignated exclusively as the madstone."
he says. "I have seen many of them,
so called, and no two were of exactly
the same composition, geologically con
sidered.
"Madstones act on the same princi
ple that a blotting paper does when ab
sorbing Ink. and there Is nothing that
makes a better one than baked pipe
clay. A new clay pipe, procurable for
I cent at nearly any store where to
bacco Is sold, can not be excelled by
any madstone, no matter how great Its
reputation.
'The action can be clearly demon
strated by placing a common dry, red
brick. In contact with the margin nf a
puddle of water and noticing what
capillary attraction will accomplish.
Therefore, to be efficient, the only
necessity is for the stone to be 'porus
and have strong adhesive and absorb
ent qualities. Nothing mysterious
about it.
"I have seen several that appear to be
concretions, either veriest, renal or bil
iary. and were found In the bladder,
kidney or Uver of some animal—those
taken from the deer supposed to be the
best.
“When a person Is bitten by a reptile
or dog supposed to be mad, and the
porus stone applied to the wound, the
blotting-pdkcr action begins, and the
blood, saliva from-the mauth .of the
animal and whatever poison these fluids
contain will naturally, by capillary at
traction. be absorbed by and Into the
substance applied, no matter what
name you' may give IL
‘The saying that If a stone slicks, the
wound Is poisonous, and If It does not
take hold, there Is no venom presenL Is
untrue If the stone Is clean and dry. It
will adhere when moisture Is within
reach till it becomes saturated.
"For Instance, a new, red brick will
absorb one pint of water. After the
venom has been taken Into the clrpula-
tlnn the madstone Is worthless, but as
the victim is usually filled with whisky
or alcohol at the came time the stone
Is being used, the spirits may counter
act the effect of the poison.
k— - mh . T know of a stone which has a wide
Kv P a^?.r th Thi h vnS^ "putat'on and make, a good living for
the family owning It. They never let it
go out of their sight, and when the vie.
tlm can not be taken to the stone one
member of the family can be hired to
take the stone to the victim. In addi
tion to traveling expenses they charge
IS for the application and IS extra for
each hour that .the stone sticks.
‘This stone Is busy a large part of
the time. Not long since the stone held
to a man's leg for over 100 hours, yet
the man died. His life could have been
saved If dependence hod not been
placed entirely In the stone."
Impossible.
The German's Incapacity for humor Is
more proverbial than hla aversion (o venti
lation, though perhaps less real. A year
or so ago an American student In Berlin
was attending a leetsro In a room drowsily
close. To keep awake be began whisper
ing to a German at hla aide tho story of
Mark Twain about the man who lived all
his life In a ehranle fear of fresh air. Tbo
relatives of this man, as la well known,
decided after hla death to liava his remains
cremated: and the climax of the story oc
curs When tha undertaker, opening tho door
of tho oven to see whether Incineration was
complete, was appalled to hear tho corpso
speak out and request him to close the door
and shut off tho drmnghL
'10 American sprung tho Joke as effec-
ly as he could. But never a smile was
. reward. Ilia Germnn friend remaln.il
for several moments In a perplexod study.
Then be leaned over to the American and
aald: "Bnt how could that be! The max
wax dead!"—Harper s Weekly.